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April 2003 Charts
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At the end of April 2003 there is a clear winner. Championship Manager 4 has wiped the floor with the opposition! The new MacSoft release Master of Orion 3 put up stout resistance in the early part of April thanks to MacGold's very low price, but CM4's staying power put it out of sight even of MoO3. Legion managed to hang on to a respectable third place, and in fourth position we see a, finally defeated, Sims Unleashed. Age of Empires II Gold Edition holds a respectable fifth position, again due mainly to the MacGold price cut. In the face of such opposition the revamped Civilization III, now known as the Game of the Year Edition, did well to get to seventh spot.
On the gamepad front there is no doubt that the MacAlly iShock 2 is the winner. The fact it is Mac OS X compatible and that it benefits directly from improvements included in Mac OS 10.2.4 has clearly helped this become the market leader.
Further down to chart we see RPG gaining a foothold with Baldurs Gate 2 Shadows of Amn in 14th position, doubtless helped by the continuing unavailability of the original Baldurs Gate in the UK. Mac gamers with an eye for a bargain have spotted that Civilization 2 is only £16.99 and their buying power has moved this classic title up to thirteenth, lucky for some!
The bargain hunters have also moved the Big Six Vol 1 game compliation up to 16th. However, this title is in limited supply so this will probably be it's last chart postion.
Surprisingly, the rest of the chart is principally made up of older, classic titles rather than the newer releases of 2002-3. It shows once again that Mac gamers prefer quality and value for money to just buying the latest game. Publishers should take note that in the UK Mac arcade and driving games do not sell in sufficient numbers to make them chart toppers. We've seen Aspyr announce Tony Hawk's Skater 4 and NASCAR 2003 as sequels to recent games that could not achieve sales high enough to get in our Top Thirty even during their month of release! Obviously, US and UK buying patterns are vastly different and will continue to diverge. Lets hope, therefore, we see the emergence of more UK Mac publishers bringing out games that the UK market wants rather than cloning the tastes of the US market.
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| Top 30 Mac Games
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1, Championship Manager 4
New version of the world's top football management game. Enhanced game engine. Includes 2D graphics engine so you can see your tactics in action.
2, Master of Orion 3
In Master of Orion 3 startegy players assume their biggest role ever. No longer do players represent mere interplanetary dictators. In Master of Orion 3, players become the controlling force behind entire galactic civilisation! 16 races or create your own!
3, Legion
Legion is a revolutionary turn-based strategy game based in ancient Rome. At the strategic level the player controls vast armies and must carve an Empire from the assortment of tribes and city states that occupied ancient Italy, Britain and France. At the tactical level the player must position their armies to take advantage of terrain and make use of the best formations, to ensure victory. Do you have what it takes to become the next Emperor?
4, The Sims - Unleashed
The next add-on for The Sims. The Sims have pets! Plus there's over 40 new lush areas with new homes, cafes, shops and markets for your Sims to explore! Expand your Sims world with the Unleashed add-on.
5, Age of Empires 2 Gold Edition
Age of Empires II Gold Edition is the sequel to Age of Empires. Includes the Conquerors Expansion pack which was sold separately on the PC. Classic real-time strategy game. Features mediaeval civilisations, troops, technology and warfare. Campaigns and random scenario generator. Different styles of games, including against-the-clock. Excellent graphics. Will keep you engrossed for hundreds of hours. Brilliant and a bargain.
6, The Sims
Build, design and furnish dwellings; populate with Sims, guide their careers, help them make friends, and find romance. Fast becoming THE game to have. MacFormat 90%.
7, Civilization 3 Game of the Year
The third instalment of Civilization now with added features, such as the editor. Now there are new ways to win, new pathways to explore, strategies to employ and more powerful tools to build and manage.
8, Medal of Honor Allied Assault
Top selling WWII game. 1942-45. Survive the D-Day landings and fight across Europe to the Bridge at Remagen. Even don enemy uniforms to evade capture! Over 20 levels of action using the Quake III engine. Over 20 authentic WWII weapons and 22 different types of enemy from snipers to the Gestapo!
9, Tom Clancy Ghost Recon
From the Makers of Rainbow Six and Rogue Spear. Squad-based tactical combat with next-generation military action in stunning 3D environments. Mission-driven storyline with 15 different single player maps (as big as 400m x 400m), and 6 dedicated multiplayer maps.
10, Black & White
Black and White is a god game. Packed with strategy, it gives you control of the destiny of an entire world. You must use your godly powers to rule over and look after your people. As you do so they pray to you and worship you more and more, and you use this power, this belief to carry out Miracles and to extend your influence over the world.
11, Theme Park World
Also part of the part of the Big Blue Box compilation Build and manage a theme park - blood chilling five-loop roller coasters and all! Design and ride your own rides! Explore from the visitors' perspectives. Suitable for the whole family, non-violent. MacFormat 8/10. Read our full game description by clicking on the name above.
12, Baldurs Gate 2 Shadows of Amn
You're now in the exotic southern kingdom of Amn, amidst the opulence of the sinister capital city of Athkatla. Journey through the fierce, unforgiving wilderness of Amn, and through the treacherous caverns of the Underdark, in your quest. Scored 100% in IMG review!
13, Civilization 2
Great value. Hundreds of hours of challenging play from Sid Meier. Take a civilisation from the Stone Age to the Space Age. MacFormat 92%.
14, Alien Crossfire
EXCLUSIVE! New factions, including two warring Alien Species, tons of new technologies and weapons. The game's not just bigger it's far more challenging. IMG score 9/10.
15, Aliens v Predator Gold
Chase, hide or ambush in over 40 levels of the most nightmarish, chillingly detailed futuristic environment your mind could ever imagine. Now the 3 most ferocious species in the galaxy are pitted against one another in a battle for survival!
16, Big Six Action Pack Vol 1 (18)
Contains - Duke Nukem, and its add-on, Duke it out D.C.; the ultra-violent Postal, the martial arts Shadow Warrior, Prime Target, and Damage Inc..
17, Rainbow Six (inc Eagle Watch) - Tom Clancy
Includes 'Eagle Watch' add-on. Lead the West's armed response to terrorists from the former Soviet Bloc in 22 missions. Action/Strategy. MacFormat Review 85%.
18, Final Doom (15)
After Doom 2 and Ultimate Doom comes Final Doom... It's two 32-level episodes. It's time to finish what you started. 1st person shooter.
19, StarCraft & Brood Wars Bundle
One of the most challenging real-time space strategy games together with its add-on pack. 92% MacFormat review score. MacGold 'Must Buy' Rating!
20, WarCraft 3 Reign of Chaos
Orcs and Humans are joined by the Night Elves and The Scourge, the army of the Undead in this next instalment of the excellent Warcraft series. Each have distinctive units, magical abilities and weapons of war. New 3D engine. Features Neutral buildings and characters for the first time. Azeroth now also contains legendary Heroes who can collect items and then use them to cast spells. Improved Battle.net features.
21, Rune
Uses Unreal Tournament engine. 3rd person perspective. 40 levels. 15 different weapons. Multiplayer. Gory Viking bloodfest at its best! MacFormat 9/10.
22, Total Annihilation Gold Edition
Brilliant real-time strategy; MacFormat review score; 94% great value-for-money because this Gold Edition includes Total Annihilation and both add-ons: Battle Tactics and Core Contingency.
23, Heroes of Might & Magic 4 (Import)
Turn based, fantasy, strategy game. All new game engine. Six new campaigns and 24 scenarios. 48 Hero Classes and all-new skill and magic systems.
24, Terminus
Terminus is a space combat/RPG that is the first of it's kind. Featuring a game world that's ALIVE with an intricately woven storyline.
25, Diablo 2 Lord of Destruction
Baal, with a horrific army of demonic minions, plots to corrupt the powerful Worldstone that protects the world. Includes a new 6 quest Act situated in the Barbarian Highlands; 2 new character classes, the Assassin and the Druid, each equipped with 30 unique skills and spells; thousands of new weapons, armour and magical items, including class-specific, crafted items, Rune Words and Elite Unique items; over 50 new monster classes, with 7 innovative boss monsters.
26, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Sequel to The Sorcerer's Stone. It's Harry's second year at Hogwarts! Time for more adventures, new friends and foes and more powerful magic.
27, Myth 2 Worlds
Myth II: Worlds is a squad-based tactical strategy game delivering an impressive assortment of 3D battlefields created by experts and fans alike in the Myth community! Inside you will find three CD's bursting with total conversions, characters, solo levels, and multiplayer levels, as well as the award winning Myth II: Soulblighter!
28, Duke Nukem 3D (18)
Murderous aliens have landed in futuristic Los Angeles. Explore an interactive 3D world of towering skyscrapers, deep canyons, and murky bodies of water - with many realistic features such as level altering earthquakes, exploding buildings, working security monitors and functional subways. 10 hi-tech weapons and level editor.
29, Ten for X Games Vol 1
Ten for X Games delivers thrills, action, and fun to everyone in one convenient package at one great price. Hours of entertainment are yours with poker, puzzles, pinball, adventures, races, and more! A great way to have more fun with your Mac! 3D Bridge Deluxe, Airburst, Astrosquid, Bommo Sweeper X, Bugdom 2, Burning Monkey Puzzle, Classic Cribbage, Cro-Mag Rally, Deep Trouble, Geneforge, Jinni Zeala Pinball, Video Poker 5000, WingNuts: Temporal Navigator.
30, Oni
Also part of the part of the Big Blue Box compilation. 3rd person all fighting action/adventure game. Close Quarter Combat all the way. MacFormat score 9/10 - 'Must Have' Rating. Excellent Japanese manga-style graphics.
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