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Zephyr (video game)

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Zephyr
Cover art
Developer(s)New World Computing
Publisher(s)New World Computing
Producer(s)Mark Caldwell
Designer(s)Jon Van Caneghem
Jonathan P. Gwyn
Programmer(s)David Hathaway
Gary B. Smith
Artist(s)Jonathan P. Gwyn
Writer(s)Milton W. Bland
Composer(s)Robert King
Platform(s)DOS, GOG.com, Steam
ReleaseDOS
December 1994[1]
GOG.com
December 18, 2020[2]
Steam
February 5, 2021[3]
Genre(s)Racing, first-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Zephyr is a racing/ first-person shooter video game developed and published by New World Computing for DOS.

Gameplay

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Zephyr is a shoot 'em up that takes place in an arena, and comes with network capabilities.[4]

Development and release

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Zephyr was developed by New World Computing. Although co-founders Jon Van Caneghem and Mark Caldwell received top billing in its credits, Caldwell admitted the two were not involved in its day-to-day production as they were more focused on the company's flagship Might and Magic series and its spin-off Heroes of Might and Magic at the time. He claimed they had long desired to do a "driving game" and Zephyr would contain the developer's first true 3D game engine. Caldwell went on to say that the game's title, boxart, and graphics all "rung out with people" to culminate in a project unlike anything they had done before.[5] This was the first New World Computing soundtrack completed by Heroes of Might and Magic composer Rob King.[6]

Zephyr was released for DOS in December 1994.[1] Despite advertising it, the game did not include multiplayer at launch.[7] Registered consumers had to mail in a card to New World Computing to receive network play at no additional cost.[8] The game's publishing rights were eventually purchased by Ziggurat Interactive, which distributed it digitally on GOG.com on December 18, 2020 and on Steam on February 5, 2021.[2][3]

Reception

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Critical reception for Zephyr was mixed. Next Generation reviewed the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "for those net fiends who have the urge to blow away friends over the phone line, there is some good gaming to be played here."[4] Writing for The Seattle Times, Steven L. Kent criticized Zephyr as an example of a mediocre product requiring a Pentium processor and that "programmed properly, this game should run beautifully on a computer with a 486DX processor at 50 megahertz."[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Zephyr by New World Computing". Coming Soon Magazine. March 1995. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "New World Computing Classics now on GOG". Ziggurat Interactive. December 18, 2020. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Retro First Friday Debuts 3 New World Computing Games on Steam". Ziggurat Interactive. February 5, 2021. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Next Generation staff (March 1995). "Finals". Next Generation. No. 3. Imagine Media. p. 93. ISSN 1078-9693.
  5. ^ Michael Devine (interviewer) (December 18, 2020). New World Computing Mark Caldwell Interview with Ziggurat Interactive. Ziggurat Interactive. Event occurs at 15:27. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Garrett (June 27, 2002). "Might & Magic Music Interview with Rob King". RPGDot. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Goble, Gordon (March 1995). "Review: Fight & Flight Gun Like The Wind In New World's Zephyr". Computer Gaming World. No. 128. Ziff Davis. pp. 108, 110. ISSN 0744-6667.
  8. ^ a b Perry, Kevin; Chapman, Ted; Kalafas, Tasos. "CGR Reviews: Zephyr by New World Computing". Computer Game Review. Vol. 4, no. 6. Sendai Publishing. p. 64. ISSN 1062-113X.
  9. ^ Wheeler, Chris (January 1995). "Review: Zephyr". Hyper. No. 14. nextmedia. pp. 70–1. ISSN 1320-7458.
  10. ^ Joystick staff (January 1995). "Vidéotest: Zephyr — Une course futuriste" [Video review: Zephyr — A futuristic race]. Joystick (in French). No. 56. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. p. 135. ISSN 1145-4806.
  11. ^ Bennett, Dan (March 1995). "Reviews: Zephyr". PC Gamer. No. 10. Future plc. p. 109. ISSN 1059-2180.
  12. ^ Maueröder, Petra (March 1995). "Review: Zephyr — Ein Kessel Buntes" [Review: Zephyr — A Cauldron of Colors]. PC Games (in German). No. 30. Computec. p. 40. ISSN 0946-6304.
  13. ^ Harris, David T. (April 1995). "Tanks for the Megacorps: Cyberpunk meets Tank Battle in Zephyr". Electronic Games. Vol. 3, no. 7. Decker Publications. p. 88. ISSN 0730-6687.
  14. ^ Génération 4 staff (January 1995). "Test Express: Zephyr". Génération 4 (in French). No. 73. Pressimage. p. 172. ISSN 1624-1088.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Schnelle, Martin (April 1995). "Zephyr: Ballern mit Helmpflicht" [Zephyr: Shooting with a Helmet Requirement]. PC Joker (in German). Joker-Verlag. OCLC 224612609.
  16. ^ Langer, Jörg (January 1995). "Spiele-test: Zephyr". PC Player. No. 26. p. 76. ISSN 0943-6693.
  17. ^ Geiger, Lars (March 1995). "PC-CD-ROM Review: Zephyr". Play Time. No. 45. Computec. p. 49. ISSN 0946-6320.
  18. ^ Hengst, Michael (March 1995). "test: Zephyr". Power Play. No. 84. Markt+Technik. p. 97. ISSN 0937-9754.
  19. ^ Fattel, Ted (1995). "On Your Mark.... Get Set.... OPEN FIRE!!!!! A Review of Zephyr". World Village. InfoMedia, Inc. Archived from the original on July 28, 2003. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  20. ^ Kent, Steven L. (June 4, 1995). "Dream Machine -- Here's An Opinionated Guide To Building Your Best Computer Game System". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
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