Prozac's Personal Gaming Report (January 1999)
(If you'd like to make an intro ASCII, contact me on irc on EFNET)
It seems after you put your time in the gaming scene you should look into creating a gaming report as a way to kick back, but still be involved in the gaming scene. Many gaming reports have come and gone, and this report is pretty a much a month by month trial basis: When I get bored or too boggled down to handle the report, I just won't do it. This report is not 100% bias-free, as I am currently with the group Class and all attempts to abstain a truly unbiased report can not be fully possible. I had thought of calling this report "Prozac's Slightly Bias Report", but that'd just a rip off TRC's old bias gaming report. This report is sort of a hybrid cross (no pun intended) of Just the Facts & Mason's Gaming Report in the scoring system and monthly gaming report.
My personal history in the gaming scene
If you're reading this report and you have no clue who I am, I will give a history of gaming warez life. I've actually been in the scene since '92, and was a big-time courier & utility supplier up until about mid-96 where I decided to plunge into game supplying hardcore (before this I had supplied small games to small groups, but nothing significant) by helping startup a group called Illusion. When Illusion died in Oct. 96, I went over to Prestige until they finally disbanded on Dec. 31st 1996. On Jan. 1st, 1997, I joined a newly founded group called Class with ex-members from multiple groups. At this current time I've still sticked with Class, even though some hard times. At this current time I'm an active supplier in Class, and spend a great deal of time trying to help the group.
Rules of a release (May be revision, amended and modified at any given notice of one month. A % will be placed next to the rule if one has been modified or added in comparison to last month):
- This report will uphold to The Faction's rules, including the disk limit of 50 * 2.88M disks. Any release that purposely breaks The Faction rules will have -1.0 points deducted.
- Trainers and Update Cracks will receive 0.5 points. A trainer that is an exact duplicate with the same functions of another group's trainer will receive 0.0 points. Non-working trainers and uncracked updates will receive -0.5 points. A group that release a duplicate cracked update will receive -0.3 points.
- A game mispackaged will receive -1.0 points. A trainer or patch mispackaged will receive -0.5 points.
- -1.0 points will be deducted if a game requires a fix. If one group fixes another group release to make the game functional, that group that fixed the release will be transferred the release points and the original release group will receive -1.0 points for the game.
- Trainers, patches and add-ons for an over-the-limit or ISO release will receive 0.0 points.
- Add-ons for a game: a maximum of 2 are allowed for one game and will receive 0.5 points per add-on. These add-ons must be 100% completely functional with the original release and be under 25 disks, or the add-on will receive 0.0 points.
- Official add-ons for a game that is not standalone will receive half the points of a full release. Authorized or unofficial add-ons will receive 0.0 points.
- If two groups put out one game at the same time, the winning group on the FTP sites will receive the full points, and the losing group will receive 0.0 points. A dupe from a release last month or several months ago will receive -2.0 points.
- If a game is proven to be a beta, and the final is put out that month, the group who releases the final will receive the release points, and the group releasing the beta will be deducted -2.0 points. If a final is put out the next month or several months down the road, the group that released the beta will receive -2.5. The points from the group that released the original beta will have its points deducted from the yearly total. Beta to final patches from a group will receive up to 1.0 points, and the original group releasing the beta will be hit with -2.0 (less than a month old beta) or -2.5 (over a month old beta) points for the infracture.
- Games intended for kids, edutainment or just plain lame (Ex. 3D Maze Man) will receive -1.0 points.
- A game must work 100% to receive all of the points of the game. If the game must be installed in a certain matter it must be explained in the original release. If an installation fix is released to explain the release and details on how to install 100%, this will be considered a minor fix and -0.3 points will be deducted.
Scoring System
The scoring system mixes both JTF & Mason's report with this formula:
- Rating. This is based on how good the game is. This can collect between 1.0-4.0 points depending on the quality of the actual game.
- Company. A release will receive 0.1-0.5 points based on what company the game was published and/or developed by. The more well-known the company, the more points it will accumulate. An example is a game from EA will receive 0.5 points, while a game from Webfoot would receive 0.1 points. The game will not receive any points in this category if it breaks a rule like being a dupe or beta.
- Popularity & Anticipation. This depends on how awaited and how well receive the game is, like Quake 3, or if the game is a surprise smash hit, like Grand Theft Auto. If it's an unknown game by an unknown company, like Rising Star, it'd get 0.0. This can receive 0.0-0.5 points. The game will not receive any points in this category if it breaks a rule like being a dupe or beta.
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Release Name & Company Date |Rating|Comp.|Popu.= Total |
| | | |
Civ2 Gold Multi v1.1 (c) Microprose -DUPE 01/08| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = 0.0 |
Ignition TNC & V2 Update Patch (c) VIE 01/08| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
BattleCrusier 3000AD v2.0 (c) Interplay 01/09| +2.0 |+0.5 |+0.2 = +2.7 |
Rising Star (c) Blue Star 01/09| +1.2 |+0.1 | 0.0 = +1.3 |
Eat This (c) Image Line 01/09| +1.5 |+0.1 |+0.1 = +1.7 |
Bridge MstCls II /w Omar Sharif (c) Oxford 01/16| +1.1 |+0.1 | 0.0 = +1.2 |
Beavis & Butthead Do U. (c) GT Interactive 01/21| +3.1 |+0.5 |+0.2 = +3.8 |
Beavis & Butthead DO U. Speech Addon 01/22| +0.5 |+0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
GO Professional II (c) Oxford Software 01/22| +1.2 |+0.1 | 0.0 = +1.3 |
SimCity 3000 *FINAL* (c) Maxis/EA 01/24| +3.9 |+0.5 |+0.4 = +4.8 |
SimCity 3000 BETA TO FINAL Patch 01/24| +1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +1.0 |
Extreme G2 +11 Trainer 01/24| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Ultimate Soccer Manager 98-99 (c) Sierra 01/29| +1.8 |+0.5 |+0.1 = +2.4 |
USM 98-99 Editor Fix -FIX 01/29| -1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = -1.0 |
PowerSlide v1.01 Update (c) GT 01/30| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
__________________________________________________|______|_____|_____________|
Monthly Total Points | +21.2 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notes worth mentioning
The usual "stuff" came from Class, some good quality, others just plain crap. Class gets the points for SimCity 3000 because they are giving the scene the final that they can get in stores, despite what OGN wants the scene to believe. Another good release include Beavis & Butthead Do U. With several key people gone from the group, don't expect the Class domination to be like the past.
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Release Name & Company Date |Rating|Comp.|Popu.= Total |
| | | |
Myth 2 All Levels Cheat -FOR ISO 01/08| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = 0.0 |
Natural Fawn Killers (c) Gameplay Company 01/12| +1.4 |+0.1 |+0.1 = +1.6 |
Simcity 3000 (c) Maxis/EA -BETA/OVERLIMIT 01/13| -2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = -2.0 |
Liath (c) Project 2 01/14| +1.9 |+0.2 |+0.1 = +2.2 |
Simcity 3000 +2 Trainer 01/14| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Brood War Multiplayer Trainer 01/19| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Cow Hunter +3 Trainer 01/19| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Spins (c) The Foundation 01/19| +1.4 |+0.1 |+0.1 = +1.6 |
Natural Fawn Killers +2 Trainer 01/23| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
3D Frogman +2 Trainer 01/27| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Worms Armaggedon (c) Team 17 01/27| +3.8 |+0.3 |+0.5 = +4.6 |
Turok 2 CD Fix 01/29| +1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +1.0 |
__________________________________________________|______|_____|_____________|
Monthly Total Points | +11.5 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notes worth mentioning
While OGN wants the scene to believe they put out the final, the truth in CLS's nfo is a pretty damn good argument, no matter what OGN counters with (hey when will we see the paperback version of this controversy?). The rest of the month included an old adventure game & another hunting game synopse with the OGN name. With the alliance of DVNiSO now at there side, expect OGN to be a major force for '99.
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Release Name & Company Date |Rating|Comp.|Popu.= Total |
| | | |
Wargasm Cheat Mode Enable 01/01| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Carmaggedon v2.0 Patch (c) Interplay 01/02| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Civ2 Gold Multi v1.1 (c) Microprose 01/08| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
AFL v1.1 (c) EA 01/08| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
The Operation Art of War v1.05 (c) Talonsoft 01/11| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
DOT Announcement -NON Game Related 01/11| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = 0.0 |
European Air War v1.1 (c) Microprose 01/13| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
SC3K Trainer & Cheat Codes -4 RIP OVER LIMIT 01/15| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = 0.0 |
The Operation Art of War v1.06 (c) Talonsoft 01/17| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
EI v1.195 WORKING (c) Segasoft 01/20| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Gangsters v1.05 WORKING (c) Eidos 01/20| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Madden 99 v2.07 (c) EA 01/20| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Rainbow Six: Eaglewatch (c) RedStorm 01/20| +3.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 = +4.1 |
Castrol Honda Superbike Update 3 01/21| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Extreme G2 (c) Acclaim 01/21| +2.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 = +3.1 |
Luftwaffe Commander v1.1 (c) SSi 01/22| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Need For Speed 3 v1.02 (c) EA 01/22| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Player Manager (c) Ubi Soft 01/22| +1.6 |+0.3 | 0.0 = +1.9 |
Player Manager v1.3 (c) Ubi Soft 01/22| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Alpha Centari *FINAL* (c) EA 01/27| +3.7 |+0.5 |+0.5 = +4.7 |
Tellurian Defense (c) Psygnosis 01/27| +2.4 |+0.3 |+0.3 = +3.0 |
Battleground 9:Chickamuaga (c) Talonsoft 01/27| +2.1 |+0.3 |+0.2 = +2.6 |
Extreme G2 Cheat Codes (c) Acclaim 01/27| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Turok 2:Seeds of Evil (c) Acclaim 01/27| +3.7 |+0.5 |+0.5 = +4.7 |
Turok 2 Cheat Enabler 01/27| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Turok 2 FIX -REL. By Origin 01/29| -1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = -1.0 |
__________________________________________________|______|_____|_____________|
Monthly Total Points | +31.1 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notes worth mentioning
WOW! After almost being dead for the whole month except putting out like daily patches & trainers, PDM comes back and brings us some of the biggest games of the month, including Turok 2, Alpha Centari & RB6:Eagle Watch. Expect this to continue for quite a while, as long as they don't get lazy in the groups.
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Release Name & Company Date |Rating|Comp.|Popu.= Total |
| | | |
Extreme Tennis (c) Head Games -DUPE 01/03| -2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = -2.0 |
Baldur's Gate Expereince Cap Remover -4 ISO 01/03| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = 0.0 |
Dune 2000 v1.06 Patch (c) Westwood -UNCRCKD 01/04| -0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = -0.5 |
Caesar 3 v1.0.1.0 Patch (c) Sierra -DUPE 01/10| -0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 = -0.3 |
Alpha Centari (c) EA -NOT FINAL 01/15| -2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = -2.0 |
Alpha Centari +5 Trainer -4 BETA GAME 01/15| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 = 0.0 |
Extreme G 2 +3 Trainer 01/22| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Forsaken v1.01 Patch (c) Acclaim 01/26| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Turok 2 Cheat Codes (c) Acclaim 01/29| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
Johnny Herbert Grand Prix v1.1 (c) Midas 01/31| +0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 = +0.5 |
__________________________________________________|______|_____|_____________|
Monthly Total Points | -2.8 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notes worth mentioning
This is probably the first time I've ever seen a group start in the red. They start the month by putting out the US version of Table Top Tennis, then (accidentally) put out Alpha Centari beta, and put out a dupe patch. Hrm, not a good way to start the '99. Razor won't be the exact top of '99, be lucky if they manage to get to #3.
Other
This ranking will not be tallied each month, but this column is worth mentioning games from group not considered top groups in the scene. This is where groups like DiViNE, Backlash, & Fusion would typically fall under. If a group puts out a respectable amount of games, they will be put in the report and tracked accordingly.
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Release Name & Company Date Group
Rocky Mountain Trophy Hunter Alaskan Expedition (c) Wizworks 01/03 TPC
Triazzle (c) Head Games/Activision 01/11 DD
Cow Hunter (c) Xicat 01/17 iND
Tiny Trails (c) Games Arena 01/20 TRD
The BlobJob (c) Intelligames 01/21 BT
Frogman 3D (c) Romtech 01/26 iND
_____________________________________________________________________________Notes worth mentioning
The noname groups don't really come out with anything impressive, thought I did like Frogman 3D for what it is. If the smaller unknown groups can get some decent suppliers, maybe we'll see some competition.
Ranking of groups for the month.
Group Monthly Total Points
1. Paradigm +31.2
2. Class +21.2
3. Origin +11.5
4. Razor -2.8Yearly total so far:
Group Yearly Total
1. Paradigm +31.2
2. Class +21.2
3. Origin +11.5
4. Razor -2.8Feature of the month
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My first idea for this month was to do a poll of who was the top all time suppliers of the '90's, but only three people answered my poll, so this month I don't have anything shattering to talk about. If you want all the comments of what's been happening this month, read the scene review scene charts or read my weekly reports in NWR or on my website. Maybe next month will be a tad more interesting (haven't decided if I want to do an interview or do a scene wide poll). So for my inagrual issue, I give you nothing. Sorry :(
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(c) Prozac's Personal Gaming Report
This report may not be reproduced with out talking with me on irc first :)
Check out my weekly gaming report in NWR, all issues in #nwr on EFNET.
URL:http://ppgr.webjump.com - E-mail:ppgr@usa.net
