Beyond the Genesis-An Alternate Video Game History

[Geordie]

Thank you for the kind words and feedback. I'm glad you're enjoying the timeline. At this point most sports titles are same as OTL but will be changing soon and I will post those changes.

You're welcome.

Sports titles is likely my biggest area of expertise in the late '90s, but there may be other things that strike a chord. Actually, one other question on sporting titles: is the Curse of Madden a thing in this TL?

Again, if you keep the Ultimate Soccer Manager games rolling, that's enough for me!

 

[Confortius]

It's been a while, huh? Sorry, I have been very busy, but I'm back with a new update and there is more to come soon.

1999

FINAL FANTASY: THE MOVIE ON HOLD
In an announcement today, Square president, Hisashi Suzuki announced that the Final Fantasy film was on hold and that Square would focus on video games, the industry at which it has excelled over the years.

VALVE’S NEW GAME COMING THIS JUNE
Microsoft’s Valve Software has revealed that their next title, Prospero is due for a June release date. Prospero is a first-person shooter featuring psionic powers. While the game features a campaign, the hype has surrounded the multiplayer mode.

DISNEY BUYS ACCOLADE
In a move to expand their gaming initiative, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to purchase Accolade for $60 million.

RAREWARE EXODUS
Several members of developer Rareware have reportedly exited the company. Rareware was acquired by Nintendo last year and there have been reported conflicts within the company. Those who have left Rareware include several developers behind the highly successful Golden Eye 007. It is reported that some former members have left for Acclaim and others have left to form a brand new studio.

SEGA BANDAI ANNOUNCES PLANS
Just about two years ago, Sega and Bandai announced their plans to merge, forming into the biggest entertainment company in Japan and the second biggest in the world. Sega Bandai held a conference announce some of the new things that were coming out of the merger.

They highlighted Tamagotchi and how successful the toy has been and also mentioned the upcoming Game Gear Touch game, spinning into how the Game Gear Touch is the first game system designed under the merged company and how it will revolutionize gaming. They also talked about Digimon and how it too would be getting a game on the Game Gear Touch. These discussions led into the announcement that both Tamagotchi and Digimon would each be getting their own animated series.

Tamagotchi and Digimon were not the only properties getting animated. Sega Bandai announced that Sonic the Hedgehog would get a new animated series written by Sukehiro Tomita (Sailor Moon, Macross 7). Sega Bandai also previewed a second Virtua Fighter anime series written by Reiko Yoshida, who also penned the first series and they also showed Altered Beast from Yasuhiro Imagawa (Beserk, Giant Robo).

Sega Bandai did not stop there, they showed action figures from many popular Sega franchises and a brand new Gundam video game based on Turn A Gundam. They ended the show by announcing a partnership with Paramount Pictures to produce live action Sega Bandai films.

 

[starwarsfan]

So Free Radical leaving as OTL?

 

[Nivek]

It's been a while, huh? Sorry, I have been very busy, but I'm back with a new update and there is more to come soon.

That is normal buddy, life is full of issues and that impact us-

FINAL FANTASY: THE MOVIE ON HOLD
In an announcement today, Square president, Hisashi Suzuki announced that the Final Fantasy film was on hold and that Square would focus on video games, the industry at which it has excelled over the years.

What is what i'm seeing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ0OUq_kDh8
Hope ITTL square make better one based on AC, yeah otl was trash, but better trash that The spirith withing

RAREWARE EXODUS
Several members of developer Rareware have reportedly exited the company. Rareware was acquired by Nintendo last year and there have been reported conflicts within the company. Those who have left Rareware include several developers behind the highly successful Golden Eye 007. It is reported that some former members have left for Acclaim and others have left to form a brand new studio.

Why? they shouldn't be happy ITTL? by better and more powerful n64? well again that is normal in western based studio, when job movilties and ego become bigger, so well, good luck for those guys, we still have perfect dark team.

SEGA BANDAI ANNOUNCES PLANS
Just about two years ago, Sega and Bandai announced their plans to merge, forming into the biggest entertainment company in Japan and the second biggest in the world. Sega Bandai held a conference announce some of the new things that were coming out of the merger.

They highlighted Tamagotchi and how successful the toy has been and also mentioned the upcoming Game Gear Touch game, spinning into how the Game Gear Touch is the first game system designed under the merged company and how it will revolutionize gaming. They also talked about Digimon and how it too would be getting a game on the Game Gear Touch. These discussions led into the announcement that both Tamagotchi and Digimon would each be getting their own animated series.

Tamagotchi and Digimon were not the only properties getting animated. Sega Bandai announced that Sonic the Hedgehog would get a new animated series written by Sukehiro Tomita (Sailor Moon, Macross 7). Sega Bandai also previewed a second Virtua Fighter anime series written by Reiko Yoshida, who also penned the first series and they also showed Altered Beast from Yasuhiro Imagawa (Beserk, Giant Robo).

Sega Bandai did not stop there, they showed action figures from many popular Sega franchises and a brand new Gundam video game based on Turn A Gundam. They ended the show by announcing a partnership with Paramount Pictures to produce live action Sega Bandai films.

Nice, seems synergy is good for them and would be potential goldmine for both companies(a missed chance in otl too, and later when nintendo tried it)

So Free Radical leaving as OTL?

Yeah, check what say before, i think with more popular n64 and more power they would be more happy but western studios is more easy to jump ship it seems, well good luck for them

 

[Confortius]

So Free Radical leaving as OTL?

Yes, part of the exodus is Free Radical. Chris Seavor also left in this TL.

Why? they shouldn't be happy ITTL? by better and more powerful n64? well again that is normal in western based studio, when job movilties and ego become bigger, so well, good luck for those guys, we still have perfect dark team.

In this timeline they are unhappy with the project Nintendo stuck them with. They wanted to focus on new experiences but Nintendo asked for a sequel to Golden Eye.

 

[starwarsfan]

Yes, part of the exodus is Free Radical. Chris Seavor also left in this TL.



In this timeline they are unhappy with the project Nintendo stuck them with. They wanted to focus on new experiences but Nintendo asked for a sequel to Golden Eye.

Seavor leaving seems a bit ASB (and I try not to use that term lightly) he put up with MS for a long time and they treated him like shit.

In OTL, RIP Rareware remaining talent 1982-2014

 

[Nivek]

Yes, part of the exodus is Free Radical. Chris Seavor also left in this TL.



In this timeline they are unhappy with the project Nintendo stuck them with. They wanted to focus on new experiences but Nintendo asked for a sequel to Golden Eye.

Seavor leaving seems a bit ASB (and I try not to use that term lightly) he put up with MS for a long time and they treated him like shit.

In OTL, RIP Rareware remaining talent 1982-2014

Agree with starwarsfan, Seavor endure til 2010 even in the worst enviorement with MS, HECK SEAVOR IS STILL DOING CONKER WHAT I CAN RECALL, maybe free radical will leave(in otl was they wanted more audience,because their genre was always shooter) thus commsiong a sequel is almost asb reason to leave.

Still nice the rest, sega part was in a hurry, but still potential is huge, not only gundam but robotech/macross, specially if the can buy Harmony gold before they comission robotech dvd(who save their live)

So still rare feel odd one.

 

[Confortius]

E3 1999

3DO
3DO needed to prove a lot at this E3. Over the past year, Sega took most of the third-party exclusives that 3DO and M2 had and made them available on the Evolution. Silent Hill from Konami had just released, but beyond recent releases, 3DO didn’t have many big third-party games announced for the future. At E3 1999 they did have one big game called Medal of Honor from Electronic Arts and DreamWorks Interactive. It was a World War II themed first-person shooter worked on by Steven Spielberg. They also had Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage coming this Fall from Insomniac Games and Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness from Konami. As for other titles, they had not anticipated so many developers to go multiplatform, so they spent the conference highlighting the first-party exclusives.

The first exclusive being a first-person shooter from Cyclone Studios called Requiem: Avenging Angel. The other big first-party title was D2, developed by WARP. D2 was a sequel to D, a horror game that launched a few years back, but the biggest title from 3DO Studios was Shifter from Crystal Dynamics. Shifter was shown at the previous E3, but 3DO went into depth at this E3.

Overall E3 1999 was seen as a disappointing E3 from 3DO and gamers began to wonder about its future in the industry.

SEGA
Sega opened their show by taking away 3DO’s exclusivity for Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage, showing a new trailer and revealing that it would be coming to the Evolution as well. They followed up by bringing out Eidos Interactive to show off their new Evolution exclusive, Fear Effect.

Next, Sega revealed Sonic Smash Tennis, a tennis game featuring characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, developed by Camelot. Sega then showed the newest entry in the Tomb Raider franchise, Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, it was teased to be “Lara Croft’s last adventure”.

The announcement of The Last Revelation led to the announcement of a Game Gear Touch title called Tomb Raider: Explorer, a 2D side-scroller that would release alongside the new handheld in the fall.

Also shown for the new Game Gear Touch was Digimon Adventure and Tamogatchi Touch as well as previously unannounced games like Shining Force: Legions, Ecco: Against the Vortex and Comix Zone: Next Page. The Game Gear Touch would be set to launch at $229 US dollars. After announcing the price, Sega revealed Sonic the Hedgehog 4 exclusively for the Game Gear Touch.

“We have one more surprise,” Sega CEO Steve Race commented, bringing Chairman Tom Kalinske to the stage with him. In Kalinske’s hands was a brand new console. “Introducing the Sega Next.” Race continued. The new console was advertised as the “Next generation, the Next evolution, and a console for the Next Millennium.” The number 2000 appeared on the screen behind them and the “Sega scream” played, ending the show.

NINTENDO
Nintendo started their event with a new trailer for Mother 3, immediately following up with an announcement of Ogre Battle III. They highlighted that the UNES was “the console for RPG fans” before bringing Square to the stage, where they showed new trailers for Super Mario RPG 2 and Chrono Trigger II. They then proceeded to reveal an all new RPG called Vagrant Story, which showed promise in becoming Square’s next big series and speaking of big series, they revealed Final Fantasy VIII.

Nintendo followed up with a trailer of a new Kirby game, Kirby: The Crystal Shards, before highlighting more third-party titles. They showed a reel of third-party games like SoulCalibur from Namco and Resident Evil 2: Ultra Edition, which featured exclusive content.

Rare came to the stage promising plenty to show and they didn’t let anyone down. They showed Jet Force Gemini and Donkey Kong Country 3D both set to launch by the end of the year. “But we have one more title for the end of this year.” Rare then showed a trailer for a follow-up to Golden Eye, titled Tomorrow Never Dies.

Nintendo’s last announcement was Super Mario Bros. 3D, a new co-operative experience based on the Super Mario 3D Adventure engine. Players would take control of Mario, Luigi, Wario and Yoshi in a split screen adventure to save the princess.

APPLE
Apple’s first E3 conference was short but sweet. Gamers were excited to see what would come from Apple’s acquisition of Atari and that is exactly what they saw. Steve Jobs took the stage to reveal the Apple GameCore, a new console to start a new generation. The GameCore would be available at the end of the year for $299 US dollars. It featured a 233 MHz PowerPC processor and an 83 MHz ATI GPU. It also had 16 MB of RAM, doubling the current generation’s most powerful platforms.

They announced that they would have strong support from third-parties, showing EA Sports titles, Shadow Man and Ready 2 Rumble from Acclaim, and that anticipated shooters like Unreal Tournament and Quake: Arena would not be available on any other console.

Apple then showed their first-party offerings revealing Alien Breed: Collision a fully 3D first-person shooter from Team17, which also revealed their other game that had been in development, Worms Revolution. Both titles would be available at GameCore’s launch. Also revealed was a fully 3D sequel to Atari’s hit, Rayman. Rayman 2 would also be available at the GameCore’s launch.

OTHER
At E3 1999, Microsoft showed their new operating system, Windows X. Windows X would have a huge focus on gaming and would not only run on computers, but there would be a version of it specifically tailored for other devices, including game consoles. Microsoft announced that it was partnering with hardware manufacturers to develop game consoles and other devices that would run Windows X. All upcoming Windows X games would have compatibility on all devices and all Windows X hardware would have a set minimum for specs.

Activision was impressing at the show with Ritual Entertainment’s new shooter, Sin. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater won several Game of E3 awards and MechWarrior 3 impressed as well. They also showed new projects from Looking Glass Studios, including a sequel to Thief and a new sci-fi shooter titled Junction Point. The real big title for Activision was The Sims, a life-simulation game from SimCity creators at Maxis.

Electronic Arts also had an impressive showing with BioForge 2: Black Raven, Medal of Honor, Shogun: Total War and Wasteland 2.

Monster Bash by Universal Interactive Studios and Capcom made waves at the show. It was a fighting game featuring monsters from classic Universal films, headed by Alex Jiminez.

GT Interactive revealed X-COM: Alliance, a first-person shooter in the X-COM universe, as well as Pirates! 2, a sequel to the Sid Meier hit. While GT Interactive didn’t have a strategy X-COM title, they did have Guardians: Agents of Justice from Simtex. Guardians appeared to be an X-COM style game, but instead of an alien fighting organization, it featured a team of superheroes saving the day from villains and disasters.

 

[Nivek]

E3 1999

It's alive, pretty good you posted here again fella, and pretty packed update too.

3DO
3DO needed to prove a lot at this E3. Over the past year, Sega took most of the third-party exclusives that 3DO and M2 had and made them available on the Evolution. Silent Hill from Konami had just released, but beyond recent releases, 3DO didn’t have many big third-party games announced for the future. At E3 1999 they did have one big game called Medal of Honor from Electronic Arts and DreamWorks Interactive. It was a World War II themed first-person shooter worked on by Steven Spielberg. They also had Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage coming this Fall from Insomniac Games and Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness from Konami. As for other titles, they had not anticipated so many developers to go multiplatform, so they spent the conference highlighting the first-party exclusives.

The first exclusive being a first-person shooter from Cyclone Studios called Requiem: Avenging Angel. The other big first-party title was D2, developed by WARP. D2 was a sequel to D, a horror game that launched a few years back, but the biggest title from 3DO Studios was Shifter from Crystal Dynamics. Shifter was shown at the previous E3, but 3DO went into depth at this E3.

Overall E3 1999 was seen as a disappointing E3 from 3DO and gamers began to wonder about its future in the industry.

Umm Seems 3DO Weakness in First Party and lack of second parties are showing pretty big, in general their number have been pretty good again comparing what fare otl but they are a little worse that was MS in the generational change so far. Maybe MS will step down to save those guys or maybe will next gen being decisive to 3DO future?

How Will be 3DO next console? like Xbox specs wise?

SEGA
Sega opened their show by taking away 3DO’s exclusivity for Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage, showing a new trailer and revealing that it would be coming to the Evolution as well. They followed up by bringing out Eidos Interactive to show off their new Evolution exclusive, Fear Effect.

Next, Sega revealed Sonic Smash Tennis, a tennis game featuring characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, developed by Camelot. Sega then showed the newest entry in the Tomb Raider franchise, Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, it was teased to be “Lara Croft’s last adventure”.

The announcement of The Last Revelation led to the announcement of a Game Gear Touch title called Tomb Raider: Explorer, a 2D side-scroller that would release alongside the new handheld in the fall.

Also shown for the new Game Gear Touch was Digimon Adventure and Tamogatchi Touch as well as previously unannounced games like Shining Force: Legions, Ecco: Against the Vortex and Comix Zone: Next Page. The Game Gear Touch would be set to launch at $229 US dollars. After announcing the price, Sega revealed Sonic the Hedgehog 4 exclusively for the Game Gear Touch.

“We have one more surprise,” Sega CEO Steve Race commented, bringing Chairman Tom Kalinske to the stage with him. In Kalinske’s hands was a brand new console. “Introducing the Sega Next.” Race continued. The new console was advertised as the “Next generation, the Next evolution, and a console for the Next Millennium.” The number 2000 appeared on the screen behind them and the “Sega scream” played, ending the show.

This sega would have bitchslaped OTL one how failed that bad OTL(until dreamcast but still) and pretty good games for Evolution so far(nice my idea i share to salnax of Sonic tennis is becoming popular).

The GameGear Touch pretty interesting, is like a DS Lite with similar power but 5 year early but the price will make adoption a lot slower, is a handled for hardcore and gadget enthusiast and with pricedrops will become more acessible to the childerns and other consumers.

So the next console will be called Millenium? will be the equivalent in raw power to PS2(so Shenmue will looks closer to yazuka and that would be amazing)

NINTENDO
Nintendo started their event with a new trailer for Mother 3, immediately following up with an announcement of Ogre Battle III. They highlighted that the UNES was “the console for RPG fans” before bringing Square to the stage, where they showed new trailers for Super Mario RPG 2 and Chrono Trigger II. They then proceeded to reveal an all new RPG called Vagrant Story, which showed promise in becoming Square’s next big series and speaking of big series, they revealed Final Fantasy VIII.

Nintendo followed up with a trailer of a new Kirby game, Kirby: The Crystal Shards, before highlighting more third-party titles. They showed a reel of third-party games like SoulCalibur from Namco and Resident Evil 2: Ultra Edition, which featured exclusive content.

Rare came to the stage promising plenty to show and they didn’t let anyone down. They showed Jet Force Gemini and Donkey Kong Country 3D both set to launch by the end of the year. “But we have one more title for the end of this year.” Rare then showed a trailer for a follow-up to Golden Eye, titled Tomorrow Never Dies.

Nintendo’s last announcement was Super Mario Bros. 3D, a new co-operative experience based on the Super Mario 3D Adventure engine. Players would take control of Mario, Luigi, Wario and Yoshi in a split screen adventure to save the princess.

So Matsuno Still keep the Ogre Franchise strong with his quest buddies? awesome, did Person of Lordly Caliber was released yet, and Xenogears too? how will be takahahsi career? jumping to Nintendo Early or maybe goochi, Kitase, Toriyama and other will not be dicks and sidelined him? Nice better push to Vagrant Story, with more power the game would be awesome

Nice kirby, will Smash bross come soon to the TL, and nice third party support, Namco will kill it with Soul Calibur and Capcom was abscent, what did they show at all here?.

Rare is killing it, maybe Dinosaur planet will come at time? and they still keep Goldeneye Licensed...please put Perfect Dark as next gen title,maybe in place of timesplitter.

So not major news in portable front, pokemon is killiing it a mention should be made.

APPLE
Apple’s first E3 conference was short but sweet. Gamers were excited to see what would come from Apple’s acquisition of Atari and that is exactly what they saw. Steve Jobs took the stage to reveal the Apple GameCore, a new console to start a new generation. The GameCore would be available at the end of the year for $299 US dollars. It featured a 233 MHz PowerPC processor and an 83 MHz ATI GPU. It also had 16 GB of RAM, doubling the current generation’s most powerful platforms.

They announced that they would have strong support from third-parties, showing EA Sports titles, Shadow Man and Ready 2 Rumble from Acclaim, and that anticipated shooters like Unreal Tournament and Quake: Arena would not be available on any other console.

Apple then showed their first-party offerings revealing Alien Breed: Collision a fully 3D first-person shooter from Team17, which also revealed their other game that had been in development, Worms Revolution. Both titles would be available at GameCore’s launch. Also revealed was a fully 3D sequel to Atari’s hit, Rayman. Rayman 2 would also be available at the GameCore’s launch.

That in Black should be 16 MB in RAM unless atype and still pretty little, maybe something like 32MB would be good 24 if 32 IS too expensive.

The system seems like a sigthle overcloked dreamcast, with the extra year, unless the extra money is going the DVD, you should add more power and mayve extra ram too.

Pretty basic launch title, is Bungie still with apple? maybe Halo as their killer app for 2000(like gears of wars for X360?)

OTHER
At E3 1999, Microsoft showed their new operating system, Windows X. Windows X would have a huge focus on gaming and would not only run on computers, but there would be a version of it specifically tailored for other devices, including game consoles. Microsoft announced that it was partnering with hardware manufacturers to develop game consoles and other devices that would run Windows X. All upcoming Windows X games would have compatibility on all devices and all Windows X hardware would have a set minimum for specs.

Activision was impressing at the show with Ritual Entertainment’s new shooter, Sin. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater won several Game of E3 awards and MechWarrior 3 impressed as well. They also showed new projects from Looking Glass Studios, including a sequel to Thief and a new sci-fi shooter titled Junction Point. The real big title for Activision was The Sims, a life-simulation game from SimCity creators at Maxis.

Electronic Arts also had an impressive showing with BioForge 2: Black Raven, Medal of Honor, Shogun: Total War and Wasteland 2.

Monster Bash by Universal Interactive Studios and Capcom made waves at the show. It was a fighting game featuring monsters from classic Universal films, headed by Alex Jiminez.

GT Interactive revealed X-COM: Alliance, a first-person shooter in the X-COM universe, as well as Pirates! 2, a sequel to the Sid Meier hit. While GT Interactive didn’t have a strategy X-COM title, they did have Guardians: Agents of Justice from Simtex. Guardians appeared to be an X-COM style game, but instead of an alien fighting organization, it featured a team of superheroes saving the day from villains and disasters.

Umm will MS not enter directly ITTL, would be interesting a Dolphin/Gamecube powered with windows or maybe MS will got 3DO group as is failing, well they OTL offered to buy Nintendo, will try to do it again?

Other thid party have good title but not too different from OTL except GT who show more nice games.

Excellet updated buddy keep going have been pretty good so far

 

[Confortius]

How Will be 3DO next console? like Xbox specs wise?

3DO'S next console will be one of the more powerful machines of the generation.

The GameGear Touch pretty interesting, is like a DS Lite with similar power but 5 year early but the price will make adoption a lot slower, is a handled for hardcore and gadget enthusiast and with pricedrops will become more acessible to the childerns and other consumers.

Well the Game Gear Touch has much lower specs than a DS Lite. It is only 16-bit, but the touch screen technology is there.

So the next console will be called Millenium? will be the equivalent in raw power to PS2(so Shenmue will looks closer to yazuka and that would be amazing)

It will actually just simply be titled Sega Next and yeah it will be close to PS2 in power.

So Matsuno Still keep the Ogre Franchise strong with his quest buddies? awesome, did Person of Lordly Caliber was released yet, and Xenogears too? how will be takahahsi career? jumping to Nintendo Early or maybe goochi, Kitase, Toriyama and other will not be dicks and sidelined him? Nice better push to Vagrant Story, with more power the game would be awesome

Ogre Battle III is Person of Lordly Caliber. Tactics Ogre was launched as Ogre Battle II, despite the differences. Xenogears was delayed to September 1999, so they had over a whole extra year to work on it. Sakaguchi and others at Square have mentioned that they didn't want the company to just become a Final Fantasy machine, so in this TL they are building multiple IPs.

Nice kirby, will Smash bross come soon to the TL, and nice third party support, Namco will kill it with Soul Calibur and Capcom was abscent, what did they show at all here?.

I may have completely neglected to write about Smash Bros. but yeah it already came out by this point in TL.

Rare is killing it, maybe Dinosaur planet will come at time? and they still keep Goldeneye Licensed...please put Perfect Dark as next gen title,maybe in place of timesplitter.

Yup Dinosaur Planet will come to UNES and Perfect Dark is planned for next gen...but it won't replace TimeSplitters. Free Radical is still formed and so is an extra studio, headed by Chris Seavor called Bad Day Studio. In this TL Seavor left early enough before he headed a project and Conker went with the original concept so Seavor headed out to do his own thing with some other developers. Bad Day Studio's first title will be revealed in 2000.

So not major news in portable front, pokemon is killiing it a mention should be made.

I'll be sure to mention more in the future. Thanks for pointing that out.

That in Black should be 16 MB in RAM unless atype and still pretty little, maybe something like 32MB would be good 24 if 32 IS too expensive.

The system seems like a sigthle overcloked dreamcast, with the extra year, unless the extra money is going the DVD, you should add more power and mayve extra ram too.

Well it's 16 MB of Main RAM, there is also Video RAM to account for and everything. In total it will be 24 MB.

Pretty basic launch title, is Bungie still with apple? maybe Halo as their killer app for 2000(like gears of wars for X360?)

Bungie is still with Apple and Halo is coming in 2000 for the GameCore. They will reveal next year.

Umm will MS not enter directly ITTL, would be interesting a Dolphin/Gamecube powered with windows or maybe MS will got 3DO group as is failing, well they OTL offered to buy Nintendo, will try to do it again?

Microsoft is focusing on their own answer to the 3DO by merging PC and console gaming with their software. They are looking to work with other companies, but are not approaching Nintendo for acquisitions.

 

[Confortius]

OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS OF 1999
-Electronic Arts acquires Simtech and merges its development studio with EA Canada, EA also acquires Beam Software, rebrands it as EA Melbourne
-Infogrames acquires Gremlin Interactive, Ripcord Games and Spec Ops IP
-FASA Corporation’s Virtual World Entertainment Group fully acquired by Activision
-Sierra Entertainment acquires Cyberlore Studios
-Interplay acquires Xatrix Entertainment and Bethesda Softworks
-Microsoft acquires Rage Software, Dreamworks Interactive and Turbine Inc.
-Chris Seavor and some former Rareware staff open Bad Day Studios

 

[Nivek]

3DO'S next console will be one of the more powerful machines of the generation.

So the Xbox, Nintendo maybe will Overcloked gamecube and add more ram but would be similar in raw power with 3DO having an edge

Well the Game Gear Touch has much lower specs than a DS Lite. It is only 16-bit, but the touch screen technology is there.

Yeah and if they think some game can go even with the brutal pricetag(rememeber GBA WAS 99 dolar and GBC is still that price but i think nintendo will improved the GBA and raise a little the price tag)

It will actually just simply be titled Sega Next and yeah it will be close to PS2 in power.

Umm prefer a planet name(or galaxy) and yeah, shenmue and yazuka will be good there.

Ogre Battle III is Person of Lordly Caliber. Tactics Ogre was launched as Ogre Battle II, despite the differences. Xenogears was delayed to September 1999, so they had over a whole extra year to work on it. Sakaguchi and others at Square have mentioned that they didn't want the company to just become a Final Fantasy machine, so in this TL they are building multiple IPs.

Well, keeping the line with the franchise them, was hope was other, still Lordly caliber with superior hardware and more space will be brutal, nice takahashi is not being hazzled by other and square is not the FF factory with otl issues who come and nice bredding both Takahashi and matsuno ideas.

I may have completely neglected to write about Smash Bros. but yeah it already came out by this point in TL.

yeah and with extra capacities(and for this time, the even bigger magnetic disk who were planned, closer to zip disk) of DD, the game would have a lot of starters, like FE ones and maybe an square third party one?

Yup Dinosaur Planet will come to UNES and Perfect Dark is planned for next gen...but it won't replace TimeSplitters. Free Radical is still formed and so is an extra studio, headed by Chris Seavor called Bad Day Studio. In this TL Seavor left early enough before he headed a project and Conker went with the original concept so Seavor headed out to do his own thing with some other developers. Bad Day Studio's first title will be revealed in 2000.

Still with doubts with rare exodus with different butterflies but at least, specially seavor who endure the worst under MS, still this your timeline and next gen Perfect Dark will be amazing, waiting for it

I'll be sure to mention more in the future. Thanks for pointing that out.

Yeah a big update in sega part but nintendo as leader of handled was out, hope ITTL GBA Have four Buttons and improved specs, will that, Square and Enix RPG ports and more original game would be amazing on it(maybe wi-fi as yokoi and other wanted)

Well it's 16 MB of Main RAM, there is also Video RAM to account for and everything. In total it will be 24 MB.

Bungie is still with Apple and Halo is coming in 2000 for the GameCore. They will reveal next year.

Well a Dreamcast in every sense of the world, maybe with some improved development tools would help a lot able in long term, Halo would not be that big graphic wise but would still be able to keep their multiplayer with some comprmoise(not vehicles)

Microsoft is focusing on their own answer to the 3DO by merging PC and console gaming with their software. They are looking to work with other companies, but are not approaching Nintendo for acquisitions.

Umm interestting and making unify software using DIRECT X as the key? would be interesting, specially if catch antentiona big four like Nintendo or Sega and would be interesting.

nice updates waiting for more, keep going buddy

 

[Confortius]

NOTABLE GAMES OF 1999

Q1 1999
Digimon World (EVO) Sega-Bandai
Dragon Quest VII (UNES) Enix
Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (M2) 3DO Studios-Crystal Dynamics
Guardian Force (UNES) Square
Heroes of Might and Magic III (WIN) Electronic Arts-New World Computing
Pokemon Stadium 2 (UNES) Nintendo-Nintendo EAD/HAL Laboratory
RollerCoaster Tycoon (WIN) GT Interactive-Chris Sawyer Productions
Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri (WIN,MAC) Electronic Arts-Firaxis Games
Silent Hill (3DO,M2) Konami
Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance (WIN) LucasArts-Totally Games
Street Fighter III (M2,EVO,UNES)
Super Smash Bros. (UNES) Nintendo-HAL Laboratory
Syphon Filter (EVO) Sega-Eidetic

Q2 1999
All-Star Baseball 2000 (EVO,UNES) Acclaim Entertainment-Iguana Entertainment
Conker’s Pocket Tales (GBC) Nintendo-Rare
Conkers Quest: Twelve Tales (UNES) Nintendo-Rare
Dark Sun: Across the Planes (WIN,MAC) Sierra Entertainment-Synergistic Software
Driver (3DO,EVO,UNES,WIN) GT Interactive-Reflections Interactive
Counter-Strike (WIN) Microsoft-Valve Software
Descent 3 (WIN,MAC) Interplay Entertainment-Outrage Entertainment
Flashback Legend (EVO,WIN) Electronic Arts-EA Paris
Kingpin: Life of Crime (WIN) Interplay Entertainment-Xatrix Entertainment
Outcast (WIN) Infogrames-Appeal
Persona 2: Innocent Sin (EVO) Atlus Falcom, Co.
Prospero (WIN) Microsoft-Valve Software
SaGa Frontier 2 (UNES) Square
Shenmue (EVO) Sega-Virtua Studios
Team Fortress Classic (WIN,MAC) GT Interactive-id Software/Team Fortress Software
Triple Play 2000 (M2,EVO,UNES,WIN) EA Sports-Treyarch
Warzone 2100 (WIN,MAC,M2) Eidos Interactve-Pumpkin Studios
Wing Commander: Infinity (WIN) Electronic Arts-Origin Systems

Q3 1999
Ace Combat 3 (M2,EVO,UNES) Namco
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (WIN) Microsoft-Ensemble Studios
BioForge 2: Black Raven (WIN/MAC) Electronic Arts-Origin Systems
Crash Team Racing (M2,EVO) Universal Interactive-Naughty Dog
Descent: FreeSpace 2 (WIN) Interplay Entertainment-Volition Inc.
Dino Crisis (EVO,UNES) Capcom
Drakan: Order of the Flame (WIN) Psygnosis-Surreal Software
Eternal Arcadia (EVO) Sega-Star Team
Guardians: Agents of Justice (WIN,MAC) GT Interactive-Simtex
Hidden & Dangerous (WIN) TalonSoft-Illusion Softworks
Homeworld (WIN) Sierra Entertainment-Relic Entertainment
Junction Point (WIN) Activision-Looking Glass Studios, Irrational Games
MechWarrior 3 (WIN) Activision-Zipper Interactive
Might and Magic VII (WIN,MAC) Electronic Arts-EA New World
Monster Bash (EVO,UNES,M2) Universal Interactive-Capcom
Ogre Battle III (UNES) Nintendo-Quest
Pac-Man World (UNES,GBC) Namco
Prospero (WIN) Microsoft-Valve Software
Requiem: Avenging Angel (M2) 3DO Studios-Cyclone Studios
Resident Evil 2: Ultra Edition (UNES) Capcom-Angel Studios
Re-Volt (EVO,UNES,WIN) Acclaim Entertainment
Shifter (M2) 3DO Studios-Crystal Dynamics
SiN (WIN/MAC) Activision-Ritual Entertainment
Soulcalibur (UNES) Namco
Spider 2 (EVO) Infogrames-Boss Game Studios
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (EVO,UNES,GC) Activision-Neversoft
WWF Attitude (3DO,M2,EVO,UNES,GC) Acclaim Entertainment-Iguana Entertainment
Xenogears (UNES) Square

Q4 1999
Alien Breed: Collision (GC,MAC) Apple Games-Team17
Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. (EVO,UNES) Acclaim Entertainment-Acclaim Studios London
Asheron’s Call (WIN) Microsoft-Turbine
Chrono Trigger II (UNES) Square
D2 (M2) 3DO Studios-WARP
Destruction Derby RAW (M2,EVO,UNES,WIN) Psygnosis-Studio 33
Diablo II (WIN,MAC) Interplay Entertainment-Blizzard North, BioWare
Digimon Adventure (GGT) Sega-Bandai Development Studios
Donkey Kong Country 3D (UNES) Nintendo-Rareware
Fear Effect (EVO) Eidos Interactive-Kronos Digital Entertainment
Front Mission 3 (UNES) Square
Grand Theft Auto 2 (EVO,UNES,WIN) Infogrames-Visual Sciences
Jet Force Gemini (UNES,GBC) Nintendo-Rareware
The Longest Journey (WIN) Funcom
Mario Party 2 (UNES) Nintendo-Hudson Soft
Medal of Honor (3DO,M2) Electronic Arts-Dreamworks Interactive
Omikron: The Nomad Soul (WIN) Eidos Interactive-Quantic Dream
Prax War (WIN/MAC) Electronic Arts-Rebel Boat Rocker, Inc.
Quake: Arena (WIN,MAC,GC) GT Interactive-id Software
Rayman 2 (GC) Apple Games-Ludimedia
Ready 2 Rumble (EVO,UNES,GC) Acclaim Entertainment-Point of View, Inc.
Shadow Man (EVO,UNES,GC) Acclaim Entertainment-Acclaim Studios Teesside
Shining Force: Legions (GGT) Sega-Camelot Software
Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage! (M2,EVO) Universal Interactive-Insomniac Games
Super Mario Bros. 3D (UNES) Nintendo
SWAT: Close Quarters (WIN) Sierra Entertainment
Tamogatchi (GGT) Sega-Bandai Development Studios
Test Drive 6 (EVO,GC,WIN) Accolade-Pitbull Syndicate
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (EVO) Sega-Core Design
Tomorrow Never Dies (UNES) Nintendo-Rareware
Turok: Rage Wars (UNES) Acclaim Entertainment-Acclaim Studios Austin
Unreal Tournament (WIN,MAC,GC) Interplay Entertainment-Epic Games, Digital Extremes
Wasteland 2 (WIN,MAC) Electronic Arts-Beam Software
WCW SuperBrawl 2000 (EVO,UNES) THQ-AKI Corp.
Worms Revolution (GC,MAC) Apple Games-Team17

 

[Confortius]

GAMEFORCE REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS OF 1999

Alien Breed: Collision (GC): 8.5 “A great first-person shooter debut for the GameCore. It shows off the power of the GameCore and delivers a good campaign.”

BioForge 2: Black Raven (WIN/MAC): 8.5 “BioForge 2 takes place directly after the original and improves on a few things. The graphics are improved and thankfully more machines can run the sequel and the combat is leagues above the original…the difficulty pacing is unbalanced and the story leaves on a cliffhanger.”

Chrono Trigger II (UNES): 9 “Chrono Trigger II looks good in 3D and the story has some interesting twists, but it also leaves lots of questions unanswered at the end. Chrono Trigger III is probably a given.”

Conker’s Quest: Twelve Tales (UNES): 8.5 “Rare delivers another fun platformer to experience on your Ultra Nintendo.”

Dark Sun: Across the Planes (WIN/MAC): 9 “Hellfire developer, Synergistic Software returns to the Dungeons & Dragons license with Dark Sun: Across the Planes, an isometric RPG…Dark Sun: Across the Planes features a dark story that will keep you captivated and quests that will keep you absorbed in the world of Athas.”

Diablo II (WIN/MAC): 9 “Diablo II is a great sequel to a great game…Battleground: Infinity developer, BioWare was brought on to the project to work with Blizzard and it shows.”

Eternal Arcadia (EVO): 9.5 “Eternal Arcadia is one of the best RPGs of the generation.”

Guardian Force (UNES): 9.5 “Guardian Force provides a deep story with beautiful cut scenes and an imaginative new world from Square.”

Guardians: Agents of Justice (WIN/MAC): 9 “Agents of Justice is basically X-COM with superheroes, and that’s awesome.”

Junction Point (WIN): 9.5 “Junction Point presents us with a beautifully twisted and disturbing sci-fi world, featuring role-playing elements and near-perfect first-person controls…the game presents you with moral choices and ones that you sometimes do not know if you are choosing the right thing.”

Medal of Honor (3DO/M2): 9 “The best shooter available on 3DO…we do wonder if we will see a Medal of Honor 2 since DreamWorks Interactive was acquired by Microsoft.”

Monster Bash (EVO/UNES/M2): 8 “A great fighter featuring classic monsters and intense battles. There is potential in this game that never felt reached however.”

Prax War (WIN/MAC): 9 “While many shooters in 1999’s holiday season are battling over the best in multiplayer and arena shooters, Electronic Arts has bet on a single-player focused experience from Rebel Boat Rocker and it may pay off…Prax War brings a great story and allies that make you care.”

Prospero (WIN): 9 “Valve’s second game doesn’t let us down…experiencing online multiplayer in Prospero has been one of the greatest highlights in my gaming history.”

Rayman 2 (GC): 9.5 “Best game available for GameCore…If you plan on getting yourself a shiny new Apple console, absolutely buy Rayman 2 with it.”

Shenmue (EVO): 10 “Shenmue pushes the limits of the Evolution.”

Shifter (M2): 9.5 “Crystal Dynamics’ new game is worth upgrading to the M2 if you don’t already have one.”

Super Mario Bros. 3D (UNES): 10 “Super Mario Bros. 3D takes the near perfect formula of Super Mario 3D Adventure and brings multiplayer into it, now making it perfect.

Tamogatchi Touch (GGT): 7.5 “Tamogatchi Touch brings color and more life into the Tamogatchi experience and makes for a fun portable experience that will appeal especially to kids.”

Tomb Raider: Explorer (GGT): 8 “Explorer takes Tomb Raider and makes it feel like Genesis classic.”

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (EVO): 8.5 “The Last Revelation is what you would expect by now in a Tomb Raider game, but with the best cut scenes we have ever seen and a great conclusion.”

Tomorrow Never Dies (UNES): 8.5 “Tomorrow Never Dies doesn’t add much to the GoldenEye formula in terms of gameplay, but does provide a new story, new weapons and new characters to keep players entertained.”

Wasteland 2 (WIN/MAC): 9 “Resurrected probably by the success of the Fallout series, Electronic Arts brings back the eleven year old Wasteland and does a good job…EA Melbourne (formerly Beam Software) has done a great job in making this an alternative to Fallout.”

WCW SuperBrawl 2000 (EVO/UNES): 9 “With tons of match types and modes, create-a-wrestler and solid gameplay, THQ’s WCW games continue to get the victory over WWF.”

Xenogears (UNES): 10 “The most immersive RPG of the generation.”

 

[Nivek]

Early Skies of Arcadia?(with japanese name), Mario,Shemue and Xenogears with perfect score, man you knew how push us to want to play those games

 

[Romantic Nihilist]

Good update!

 

[Confortius]

Early Skies of Arcadia?(with japanese name), Mario,Shemue and Xenogears with perfect score, man you knew how push us to want to play those games

Haha that was the intention.

Good update!

Thanks

 

[Confortius]

Total Consoles Sold Worldwide by the end of 1999
3DO: 21.3 Million
Sega Evolution: 29 Million
Ultra Nintendo: 22 Million
3DO M2 (consoles and add-ons): 6.7 Million
Apple GameCore: 700,000

Game Boy Color: 21 Million
Game Gear Touch: 650,000

Top Selling Games of 1999
1. Madden NFL 2000 (3DO,M2,EVO,UNES,GC,WIN)
2. Pokemon Stadium 2 (UNES)
3. Super Mario Bros. 3D (UNES)
4. Tomorrow Never Dies (UNES)
5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (EVO)
6. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (EVO,UNES,GC)
7. Quake: Arena (PC,MAC,GC)
8. Shenmue (EVO)
9. Donkey Kong Country 3D (UNES)
10. WCW SuperBrawl 2000 (EVO/UNES)

 

[Pyro]

Just a thought: were there any concept notes for what was Knuckles' Chaotix IOTL? I believe it would be interesting to see if some characters, notably Espio the Chameleon, could find new life in TTL's Sonic Adventure 2. Given his ability to become invisible and the fact he has a prehensile tongue would make for some interesting stealth-based game play, with some speed added in.

 

[Confortius]

Just a thought: were there any concept notes for what was Knuckles' Chaotix IOTL? I believe it would be interesting to see if some characters, notably Espio the Chameleon, could find new life in TTL's Sonic Adventure 2. Given his ability to become invisible and the fact he has a prehensile tongue would make for some interesting stealth-based game play, with some speed added in.

Sorry, but Knuckles' Chaotix was butterflied away due to several factors such as no 32x. That would make for some interesting gameplay though. His concept could show up in a future game, perhaps