Amazing #01 29 сентября 1997

Игры

Miscellaneous - America's most popular game: Magic: The Gathering.

Category: Miscellaneous
Text: J. Jury
Music: IRONMAN
Information: Mr.Beeper, ZX-Review



This virtual column. As they say,
no me. And I'm not myself, and the horse is not mine. My 
thoughts are virtual, and I have them virtually - Through the 
idea that utterances are false - releases.

Understand that - it's your own
virtual reality. And what I had here
mind - this is my virtuality.
Interesting is the mass, and the news that
Every day there. So, if the authorities do not deny, this 
column will do constantly.



  Letters of your wait, and then write nonsense, and
you read it!
And not like it - again make this column from virtually - 
virtual reality simply. 

  Understand how you know. With what and I remain,
Yours sincerely,

                             Mr.Beeper.
________________________________________



       MOST POPULAR GAME OF AMERICA

           (Or what to expect)



  Soon, very soon, possibly as early as this
in autumn we have with you an interesting open
opportunity to practice the whole
our gaming experience.

  And the reason for this is quite banal.
The fact that all of America "crazy"
on a new game and left to wait chutchut and she will come to 
us. This game is not notorious DOOM and multimillionodollarovy 
WING-COMMANDER 3, it is quite accessible to the broad masses of 
the game Magic: The Gathering.


  Let us say at once - a game not a computer
and reading, but no one stop us
make her a computer for our favorite
"Sinkleristov.


  America just went crazy from this game.
Here for many years nebylo this insanity. And the blame on the 
one hand the unusual simplicity of the rules, but on the other 
hand - unusual depth of the game. The combination of a fairly

rare. Learn how to play this game easily. With the enclosed 
brochure each able to master it for any

half an hour.

  Game lead with the help of special deck
cards. A unique feature of maps is that the deck is in - the 
first is not a standard, and secondly that each player is his 
own. Of course, there certain "base pack" of 40 cards with a 
fairly wide range and can be purchased, but can be purchased 
and additional deck with a random set of maps, quantitative

in which, say, a thousand.

  So that each player is currently
a deck to your taste and mood.


  The game is based battle mages.
And since the theme of magic in recent years
widely used in computer games
in the literature and in the desktop role-playing games,
it is clear that the idea of ​​the game fell to the authors
well-prepared soil, and the game quickly
found its adherents. Much of
that form the basis of the game, well isvestna Western players 
on long-term familiarity with the system of rules AD'D, but we 
have to CIS, we hope to provide the maximum

awareness.

  At the beginning of the game, each player receives
20 units of "life force". The task of playing - lower level of 
the life force of his opponent. So, there are thousands of 
cards. They vary in type and frequency of occurrence. One of 
the main are maps depicting the "earth."

From them, the players draw energy to power
their actions. Other cards contain a spell. These cards are 
very, very much. Range of spells is huge - from the simplest

such as Lightning Bolt to the rare and powerful
with constant action.

  Another group of cards is designed to
Call different creatures into its service
(Spell type Summoning). They can be charged to attack an 
opponent or, conversely, block his attacks. There are cards 
that let you create useful magical artifacts for later use 
(such as spells Create). 

  There are maps that provide unusual ability or force which 
even allow to go beyond the rules, which gives unlimited 
potential in the development of this game. 

  Each card belongs to opredelennnomu "color" of magic, and the 
choice of how "Color" (that is, what kind of magic), use is up 
by players. If Only one, the result may

get pretty one-sided strategy, and if you use several, will 
feel the lack of magical energy. 

  The combination of all these factors eventually
leads to a very diverse game
high prityagyatelnosti. As an example, say that America has 
already sold more than a billion difference * GOVERNMENTAL 
cards and are now beginning to organize regular zamyh 
tournaments of different levels. 

  With this incredible success was inevitable emergence of 
computer games on this theme. And has undertaken business firm 
Microspace. Of course, she is preparing a game not for the 
Spectrum, and for IBM compatible machines, and for some of the 
most advanced videopristavok, in particular, reported that the 
matter connects the most up to date technology company Sony - 
prefix PlayStation.


  The authors decided to keep the computer version of your 
entire mechanics of the board game as dueling magicians. And 
really, it makes no sense to experiment there which has 
convincingly proved successful original idea.




  At the first sight of the fact that today a certain game, it 
is clear that there is no nothing that can not be projected

and lay in the Spectrum. Yes, the graphics can be
not be one that at IBM, but the game mechanics
so simple, that shortly after the IBM-compatible version of the 
CIS, and after study a system of rules to begin work

to create a "Sinklerovskogo" analog.

  Starting the game, you will have approximately
200 maps, from which can assemble themselves
deck. Furthermore, winning the game progresses the various 
wizards, you can pick up more new cards to the general 
repertory. 

  Game developers hope to soon after
exit the program to begin holding regular tournaments on the 
computerized version of the game Magic: The Gathering. 

  And, of course, the program will be single-player mode for 
those who can not or do not want to look for a partner. Here

important is the question of artificial
intelligence game, and this is the main difficulty
before which stood programmers. At this
direction and is now the main work.
The main thing to do - provide
an interesting game on any difficulty level selected by the 
user. 

  In general, fans of the interesting games have
what to expect, and programmers capable of
ERPI create games on the Spectrum will be
where to turn. The first player to launch
this game can count on a dizzying success.

  True, the Artificial Intelligence computer opponent can be 
for our Programmers serious stumbling block.


  Watch for our publications. As
only will IBM-compatible version of the game
(A preliminary raklama it has already begun and we expect the 
game this fall), we analyze its mahaniku and bringing it up to 
you together with proposals for Architecture

program.


  We assume that its conversion under
Spectrum goes in two stages. In the first
stage - moving mechanics and ideology for
order to be able to play with a live opponent. Finally, in the 
second stage, after learning of possible strategies, stuffing 
procedures for artificial intelligence play against the 
computer. 

  It is possible that the game will be two modular.
One module for creating and editing
own "deck" and discharging it in a standard format and the 
second module - tournament - to organize the bout mages. If 
this is so, then we think you need to accept and adopt its 
standard Format "deck."