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Next Generation Issue 42

ISSUE: 42Content

PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE

  • Sega Dreamcast (development news coverage)
  • Game Boy (news coverage)
  • PC
  • Sony PlayStation
  • Nintendo 64
  • Atari 2600 (news coverage)
  • arcade

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(The following is loosely based on this issue's table of contents, with select issue excerpts included. Magazine accurate text formatting (lower case headers, etc) purposefully retained. (Notes) and bullet lists are added for clarity.)

(With this issue of Next Generation, the formulaic 'breaking: news' section begins its evolution into the more flexible - but arguably somewhat disjointed - 'analyzing: intelligence.' These news section changes will continue over future issues, with new and renewed sidebars introduced and long-running news columns diminished or removed entirely. Also this issue, a new, regular feature is added to the 'ng software: alphas' section. Named 'Milestones,' it's essentially a collection of screenshot galleries with captions. 'The Gamer's Guide' returns to the review section after a long absence.)

(According to the letters column of Next Generation #46, two cover variations of Next Generation #42 exist. A limited print run of 5000 - featuring a gold Nintendo 64 Zelda cartridge on the cover - was distributed at E3.)

talking

A force to be reckoned with
As the president of LucasArts, Jack Sorensen has the rights to what is arguably the sweetest license in video and computer game history, working it into a string of (sometimes undeserved) PC hits. With new Star Wars movies looming in the very near future, Next Generation takes a moment to ask: Is this a license to print money, or what? (six page interview)

analyzing

Intelligence

(Original news articles along with regular, recurring news features; one page each unless noted. While original news stories regularly included related sidebars, unrelated sidebars would often be used to fill space as well - these are noted.)

Sega lays down gauntlet
As Katana plans solidify, Sega's Bernie Stolar offers tough talk. (approx. four pages, including interview with Bernie Stolar)

Game Boy gets the gift of sight
Nintendo's handheld shows its colors with a line of hardware accessories. (1/2 page; camera, printer)

Then and now
Catching up with 2600 Pac-Man's Tod Frye (approx. 1/2 page; discussion commentary)

Haven't we met before?
Here are a few contemporary titles, and beneath, their possible aspirations... (footer bar; brief game overviews, each with screenshot:)

  • X-Files Unrestricted Access; Hacker
  • Silicon Valley; Paradroid
  • Bust-A-Move; BreakDance
  • Creatures; Little Computer People
  • Quake 2; 3D Monster Maze

Microsoft unveils next generation game controller
Unless you plan on playing games on the moon, gravity-based gamepads are a solid concept. (1/2 page; Sidewinder Freestyle Pro; includes untitled Wing Commander: The Movie sidebar)

Official Videogame and Pinball book of World Records
Walter Day's compilation of high scores may be flawed, but it's the most ambitious book of its kind. (1/2 page; book review)

(Recurring news features; 1/2 page each unless noted:)

This month in videogame history (past video-gaming moments having occurred during the month of June)

In the Studio
Development news as it develops. (Beavis & Butthead; 3DO's Army Men; Bullfrog's Dungeon Keeper 2; From Software's Echo Night; Activision to publish Nihilistic Software titles; Activision to publish Tenchu)

Movers and Shakers (1 page; misc. business news by Colin Campbell)

Arcadia (misc. arcade news by Marcus Webb)

Retroview ('Lucky Break' by Steven Kent; video game history)

ng special

Zelda 64
OK, so it didn't turn out to be the launch product for the 64DD, and sure, it's been delayed - a lot - but The Ocarina of Time looks as if it's turned out to be worth the wait. (see 'ng software: alphas' section for preview)

ng special

How games will conquer the world
The videogame industry is growing faster than ever, but can it ever break into the mainstream? Next Generation thinks so. (nine pages, including the following sub-sections:)

  • What's ahead for online gaming
  • The history of game pricing
  • The future of graphics technology
  • The future of the game business

ng software

Alphas (game previews, sometimes presented as part of a themed overview or interview; one page each unless noted:)

(Next Generation's game previews often varied in scope and size. Smaller previews were usually traditional in presentation, while larger previews often incorporated developer commentary. The largest previews were typically presented as a themed article (focusing on a development studio, accessory, etc) previewing one or more titles and were often accompanied by an interview (noted).

  • Legend of Zelda 64: The Ocarina of Time (N64; five pages)
  • Spyro the Dragon (PS; three pages)
  • ESPN Digital Games (studio overview; three pages)
  • Slave Zero (PC; three pages)
  • Giants (PC; three pages, including one page 'An interview with Nick Bruty and Bob Stevenson')
  • FASA Interactive (studio overview; four pages)
  • Arokh (PC; four pages)
  • Tomorrow Never Dies (PC,PS; three pages)
  • Rogue Trip (PS; two pages)
  • LAPD 2010 (PC,PS; four pages)
  • Prax War (PC)
  • VR Baseball '99 (PC)

Milestones (screenshot preview galleries with gallery caption; approx. 1/2 page each unless noted)

  • Time Crisis 2 (arcade)
  • Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (PS)
  • Moto Racer 2 (PC,PS)
  • Thief: The Dark Project (PC)
  • Asteroids (PC,PS)
  • Buck Bumble (N64)
  • Recoil (PC)

(sidebars (1 or two screenshots each) with caption:)

  • Shaolin (PS)
  • Psybadek (PS)
  • XCOM: Interceptor (PC)
  • Sword and Sorcery (PC)
  • Vigilance (PC)
  • World Cup 98 (PC,N64)

ng special

The way games ought to be...
Hamlet on the Holodeck. (one page; by Neil West; this section is not listed in this issue's TOC)

rating

Finals

(Next Generation reviews were usually 1/8th to 1/4th page in length, though this varied wildly and length was never pre-determined - 1/2 and one page reviews would see print on occasion. Higher rated and/or spotlighted games would usually receive more page real estate than lower rated. Import reviews are noted with '(Japan)' below.)

Nintendo 64

  • 1080 Snowboarding

PlayStation

  • Blasto
  • Deathtrap Dungeon
  • Diablo
  • Gex: Enter the Gecko
  • Judge Dredd
  • March Madness '98
  • Pitfall 3D
  • Tekken 3
  • Powerboat Racing
  • Punky Skunk
  • Speed Racer

PC

  • Alien Earth
  • Die by the Sword
  • Grand Theft Auto
  • Sega Touring Car Championship
  • Tex Murphy: Overseer
  • Battlezone

Arcade

  • Motocross Go!
  • NFL Blitz
  • Rival Schools United by Fate

The Gamer's Guide (two pages; collection of past game review scores for N64, PS, online, PC)

corresponding

Letters
This month, a diatribe against scapegoating and a less in Spanish grammer. (reader mail; two pages)

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Cover


Information

    Title: Next Generation Issue 42
    Month: June
    Year: 1998
    Publisher: Imagine Media
    Editor: Chris Charla
    Pages: 170
    Price: $5.99 USA, $6.99 Canada
    Country: United States
    Language: English
    Votes: 0

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