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Next Generation Issue 25

ISSUE: 25Content

PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE

  • Sega Saturn
  • Super Nintendo Entertainment System
  • Nintendo 64
  • M2 (never released)
  • PC - PC CD-ROM
  • Sony Playstation
  • Sony Playstation Yarouze
  • 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.)

(In lieu of the usual PC/Mac compatible disc, the 'Disc edition' of this issue included a 'Christmas Nights Into Dreams... Sampler' Saturn game disc and mentions the disc in the issue's 'opening' section. In both editions, the game is previewed in the 'Alpha' section.)

(CD edition: $7.99 USA, $8.99 Canada; standard edition: $4.99 USA, $5.99 Canada (presumed))

talking

So what do they teach you at videogame school?
If you want to make games for a living, then you should listen to Claude Comair, president of Digipen school of videogame programming. In this exclusive interview with NG, he gives his advice to those who'd like to turn a hobby into a profession. (five page interview)

breaking

News

(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.)

PlayStation Expo: Sony shows off in Japan
One month before Nintendo's famous Shoshinkai expo, Sony shows that 32-bit is king of the hill. For now... (three pages)

JAMMA 96: Konami joins coin-op's elite
"Five million polygons per second" Cobra arcade board leads Konami's renaissance. (two pages)

Fall ECTS: Europe's top videogame show
European gamers still don't have N64, giving Sony the opportunity to shine brightly. (1.5 pages)

(Recurring news features; one page each unless noted:)

Stop Press (sidebar; short news stories)

  • Sega sweetens Saturn
  • Virtua Fighter versus Fighting Vipers?
  • Capcom's Nintendo 64 secrets revealed

Crib sheet (sidebar; 'everything gamers should know, but probably forgot;' 'No. 7 RPGs')

Datastream (sidebar; numbers related news/trivia)

Joyriding
Gaming on the Internet. ('Playing the online game: it's a tough job, but...;' online gaming news by Bernard Yee)

Arcadia
All the latest arcade and coin-op news. (misc. arcade news by Marcus Webb)

In the studio (1/2 page; games in development; from BMG, Hipnotic Interactive, The 3DO Company, Sega of America, Square, Nintendo, Interplay)

movers & shakers
The business news that affects the games you play. (misc. business news by Christian Svensson)

Datebook (1/2 page; calendar of events)

Gadget (1/2 page; 'Peripherals, accessories, gizmos, add-ons, thingies, and stuff')

  • NEC PowerPlayer (PC)
  • Diamond 12X Multimedia Kit (PC CD-ROM and 16-bit sound card)

ng hardware

Sony's new PlayStation: If you can build a better game...
Sony's latest machine costs around $800, is matte black, plugs into a PC or Mac, and is scheduled for a U.S. release this March. Excited? You should be. Because Sony's Yarouze system gives you everything you need to program your own PlayStation games. (ten pages, including the following articles and sections:)

  • What's the big deal anyway? (2.5 pages)
  • Out of box experience (1.33 pages)
  • The company line (approx. 1.33 pages)
  • Tips from the Pros (approx. 2/3rds page each):
    • Will Bottie - Ten things a 3D shooter should include
    • Dave Perry - Ten tips for game programming novices
    • Jordan Mechner - Ten things to do to do to ensure a more playable game
    • Mark Cerny - Ten tips for making money from your Yarouze game

ng special

Every Nintendo 64, Saturn, and PlayStation game reviewed
Yes, you read it right. Over 300 next generation videogames played, reviewed, and rated in the most comprehensive 32-bit and 64-bit gaming guide ever assembled. Don't buy a game before looking here - and don't end up buying a turkey this Christmas. (a collection of three articles, each featuring a collection of micro-reviews. Each review includes game title, publisher, developer, rating, and short commentary):

  • Every PlayStation Game Played, Reviewed and Rated (five pages)
  • Every Saturn Game Played, Reviewed and Rated (five pages)
  • Every N64 Game Played, Reviewed and Rated (one page)

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).)

  • Apocalypse (PS; three pages)
  • PaRappa The Rapper (PS)
  • Sangoku Musou (PS; two pages)
  • Power F1 (PC)
  • Galactic Conquest (PCCD)
  • D2 (M2; 2.5 pages)
  • The Last Express (PCCD; three pages including 'An interview with Jordan Mechner')
  • Forgotten Realms (PCCD; two pages)
  • Christmas Nights (Sat; two pages)
  • Grandia (Sat)
  • Carmaggedon (PS,PCCD; two pages)
  • Shining the Holy Ark (Sat)
  • Castlevania (PS; 1/2 page)
  • Speed King (PS; 1/2 page)
  • League of Pain (PS,PC)
  • Propaganda (PS,PC; 2.5 pages)
  • Solar Assault (arcade)
  • Super Mario Kart 64 (N64; five pages) (the eventual Mario Kart 64)

rating

Finals

(While all video game magazines make the occasional slip, NEXT Generation's game review section was especially notorious and/or exceptional for reviewing games never formally released in North America, or were instead eventually released under a different title. In some cases an import title would be reviewed with the domestic release also reviewed in a later issue. Japanese import reviews are noted when known. Reviews were usually 1/8th to 1/4th page in length, though this varied wildly and length was never pre-determined - one page reviews would see print on rare occasions. Higher rated and/or spotlighted games would usually receive more page real estate than lower rated.)

Nintendo 64

  • WaveRace 64

PlayStation

  • Andretti Racing
  • Blast Chamber
  • Contra: Legacy of War
  • MLB Pennant Race
  • NBA Live '97
  • NHL '97
  • Destruction Derby 2
  • NHL Face Off '97
  • Pandemonium
  • Pitball
  • Psychic Force
  • Suikoden
  • Samurai Shodown III
  • Tunnel B1
  • 2Xtreme

Saturn

  • Mr. Bones
  • Batman Forever: The Arcade Game
  • Worldwide Soccer '97
  • Tomb Raider

PC

  • Azrael's Tear
  • F-22 Lightning II
  • Hind
  • Leisure Suit Larry 7: Love for Sail
  • Lighthouse
  • MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries
  • Command & Conquer: Red Alert
  • Screamer 2
  • Star Control 3
  • Syndicate Wars

Super NES

  • Donkey Kong Country 3

corresponding

Letters
Yet more words of wisdom from our dedicated, argumentative, and - yes - smart readers. (reader mail; three pages)

  • Thanks 1


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Cover


Information

    Title: Next Generation Issue 25
    Month: January
    Year: 1997
    Publisher: Imagine Media
    Editor: Neil West
    Pages: 204
    Price: see description
    Country: United States
    Language: English
    Votes: 0

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