Review by Helix Energy From: The IIgs Gaming Fairway Website http://www.inwards.com/~fairway/ --------------------------------------Ê Future Shock 3D for the Apple IIgs Future Shock 3D, if it was released at all, would have been in 1989, according to the title and about screens, by Neeka Electronics. The game itself is rather unique for the IIgs; it was to go hand in hand with a new gaming peripheral, the Future Pad. The Future Pad, from what I've heard, was like the Power Glove for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. I can't comment on whether the Future pad is, in reality, like the Powerglove, not having heard or seen anything about it in Apple II journals, which has lead me to believe both the game and the Future Pad weren't released. If they were released, it must have been so for a very limited time. I couldn't imagine that in 1989, anyone would develop new gaming hardware that was to be aimed as a standard and expect it to be successful. It was already apparent at that time that the Apple II market was shrinking and developers were already jumping ship for more lucrative platforms. That's not to say I don't welcome new means for input for computer games - I think its something that has been forgotten in recent years. Whatever happened to immersive virtual reality? The demo recording gives us a small real glimpse of the game. Perhaps the need for the hardware required by Future Shock was a desperate sign of the times. You can't play the game properly without the Future Pad, and the game will warn you when its loaded that the Future Pad wasn't installed. The ultimate anti-piracy technique? Without the Future Pad, Future Shock becomes nothing more than a collectible piece of novelty software. You can control your ball with the mouse for directional controls and the mouse button stops your ball (its effected by inertia). If you continue to keep the mouse button down, you can then view the entire play field by scrolling in the direction you want to see with the mouse. Without the Future Pad, you can't jump or do anything else that the recorded game, under the Play menu, demonstrates. Its a shame - the game looks quite interesting and well made. Brought to you by...Helix Energy Ê