Windows NT does multimedia, too!
Okay, don't lie. You play games on
your office computer, whether your boss likes it or not. In fact, you probably
set up your Windows NT system to dual-boot with DOS so that you could play Wing
Commander or Hexen. Even though your computer is a serious piece of hardware,
you can still have fun with it.
For the most part, multimedia games started out as DOS-based programs that
sucked up every bit of memory and processor power on your machine to deliver
reasonable graphics at reasonable speeds. When Windows came along, a number of
games developers made the jump to the Windows environment, which lured them with
the promise of standardized graphics and multimedia interfaces. But then Windows
NT arrived, and suddenly many of the games you relied on to relieve the stress
of your job wouldn't work because they make direct calls to hardware adapters--a
violation of NT's C2 security--or they use DOS memory in a way that conflicts
with how NT maps memory for Virtual DOS Machines (VDMs). You may feel that your
game-playing prospects are dwindling rapidly.
Well, stop worrying! The Windows NT Magazine Lab staff
slaved and toiled to find you games, music, and other interactive titles that
run properly on Windows NT Workstation 3.51.
Testing
Originally, Microsoft required any 32-bit product that sought Windows 95
logo-certification to also run on NT. This was a great policy from the
perspective of the Windows NT market because it opened the door for everything
that had been designed for the consumer Windows 95 market. Unfortunately,
Microsoft has relaxed that requirement: This was undoubtedly a marketing
decision, but it is easier to program only for Windows 95.
Because of this change in policy, software products released for Windows
95--even if they are implemented as 32-bit applications--won't necessarily work
under NT, although some companies still follow the original requirements. To
make matters even more interesting, some Windows 95 programs work on NT, even
though they weren't specifically developed for it.
The following guide provides a sampling of the multimedia titles available
for Windows 95. I tried them out on an Intel-based Windows NT system configured
with a 90-MHz Pentium, 32MB of RAM, a SoundBlaster AWE32 adapter, and SVGA
graphics.
Interactive CDs
If you look at the history of computer programming during the last 15 years,
you'll see that the computer game industry wouldn't have gotten where it is
today if you or people like you hadn't been playing Adventure, Maze, and Hack on
dumb terminals. I know that you still use your computer for entertainment--even
at work. Your secret is out, exposed by the success of titles such as network
Doom. Times have certainly changed, and the games have become much more
sophisticated.
Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time
As the title implies, this product is a complete waste of time (see screen
1)--but that's a good thing, so be careful when you're using it! If you're a
Monty Python fan, you'll be sucked into their deranged sense of humor faster
than you can say "spam."
Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time
This title from 7th Level is more than 650MB worth of audio, video clips,
screen savers, and odd games that can provide hours upon hours of distraction.
It is fully NT-compatible, provided you have a double-speed (or better) CD-ROM
drive and a SoundBlaster-compatible card that supports the Windows Sound System
standard. 7th Level is one of the few games developers that adheres
to the NT-operability for Windows 95 titles.
The Python CD is an excellent adaptation of the original Monty Python's
Flying Circus television program from England, and I have nothing but the
highest compliments for it. This product is a must-have for any diehard Monty
Python fan who has a Windows NT Workstation!
Al Unser, Jr. Arcade Racing
Even if it isn't exactly the same as strapping yourself into the driver's
seat of an Indy race car, this program will leave tread marks on your desktop.
Al Unser. Jr. Arcade Racing seems to be the only product in Mindscape's current
crop of titles that is NT-compatible. The others are DOS-based, and as such,
they are not NT-aware.
To run the program, all you need is a CD-ROM drive and a compatible sound
card--although it works fine without the sound card if you just want to drive
and don't care about the audio. The program installs from CD but runs from your
hard drive. There is an additional audio track on the CD for music during game
play if you want to leave the CD in the drive while you play.
Al Unser, Jr. Arcade Racing is a good game: It features a number of
different tracks and cars and has options for keyboard or joystick input and
sound setup. The graphics, although not quite on the level you could expect from
a Sony PlayStation or other similarly accelerated videogame systems, are
adequate and include plenty of texture mapping for added realism. A big plus to
this game is that it runs just as well on a 75-MHz 486 portable as it does on a
90-MHz Pentium desktop.
Look for titles in the future from Mindscape that use advanced graphics
techniques that greatly enhance realism during game play. (Mindscape
demonstrated a new driving game at Comdex that was quite impressive). Future
titles that the company develops for Windows 95 should, like Al Unser, run under
NT.
Frankenstein--Through the Eyes of the Monster
Cinematic CD games are getting better and better (see screen 2). They are
also attracting bigger and bigger stars: Frankenstein features actor Tim Curry
as Dr. Frankenstein.
Frankenstein -- Through the Eyes of the Monster
This story, based on the timeless tale by Mary Shelley, is told from an interesting
perspective: You are the creature. You awake with only dim memories and
no sense of purpose. Your objective is to find out who you are and why you are
here. To do this, you navigate Frankenstein's lab and castle, and while you
won't have a real idea of your purpose at first (just as the monster doesn't),
you will discover it.
Frankenstein--Through the Eyes of the Monster is a well put-together game.
It has excellent full-color graphics, smooth animation, and high-quality sound.
Curry pops up periodically as an appropriately evil visage of Dr. Frankenstein,
and he's joined by several incidental characters.
Battle Beast
It's hard to tell exactly who the audience is for this game. On one hand,
Battle Beast features Mortal Kombat-type action. But on the other, the
animation is decidedly cartoon-like with cute little fish and lizards who don
combat gear for a battle to the death.
Game play is straightforward, although there is an enormous number of key
commands. You have multiple beasts and arenas to choose from. Battle Beast also
supports game play over a network or modem connection.
The action is smooth and the sound is good, but anyone older than 10 might
find the game a little difficult to get used to. You might consider this one for
your kids when they visit your office.