The year of peak might and magic • Hacker News Board

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#21

Post by 0cf8612b2e1e » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 9:53 PM UTC

morsch wrote: post #18

0cf8612b2e1e wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would be quite surprised if a modern Linux could run the original binary without gymnastics. Windows is the only OS which prioritizes backwards compatibility.

You're probably right about the native version, but the Windows version works fine: https://www.protondb.com/app/297000?device=pc

Heh. Which is why the only stable Linux ABI is Win32.

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#22

Post by hcs » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 9:55 PM UTC

ferguess_k wrote: post #8

As a side (but arguably related) topic: Is there any webpage or book or any media that analyzes the technical aspects of a game? Take HOMM3 as an example -- what are the most difficult technical problems and how did the developers solve them? What are the algorithms that run aspects of the game (e.g. how is path-finding implemented? How is AI implemented?)? What is the architecture of the engine? Does it have a scrip…

Warren Robinett wrote an interesting one on Atari VCS Adventure http://www.warrenrobinett.com/inventing_adventure/

It doesn't go super deep, he had a more technical book in the works but I haven't heard any updates about it for a while: http://www.warrenrobinett.com/ecv/annotated_adventure_toc/in...

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#23

Post by jaza » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 9:59 PM UTC

northhnbesthn wrote: post #4

Forget AI. Get in here this is our thread.

Amen!

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#24

Post by dekhn » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 10:00 PM UTC

I remember, as a kid, seeing the first ad for M&M in a computer journal I read. At the time I was happy playing Ultima and it looked like it was going to be a better ultima, and ordered it. Waiting for the floppy disk to arrive seemed like an eternity and at some point I literally dreamed I was playing the game. The game itself, I barely remember- it wasn't that great, kind of like ultima and wizardry but didn't really improve on either of them significantly.

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#25

Post by ModernMech » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 10:08 PM UTC

"By the seventh go-round, this was no longer quite the shock it once was, but series tradition must be served."

To be fair, MM7 was the first time for some of us, and it was quite a shock. What do you mean all the points I put into might and magic are now moot, as the only endgame weapons worth using are blasters?!

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#26

Post by GeekyBear » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 10:17 PM UTC

morsch wrote: post #18

0cf8612b2e1e wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would be quite surprised if a modern Linux could run the original binary without gymnastics. Windows is the only OS which prioritizes backwards compatibility.

You're probably right about the native version, but the Windows version works fine: https://www.protondb.com/app/297000?device=pc

That report is for the fixed version of HOMM 3 from GOG, not the original version of the game.

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#27

Post by TrackerFF » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 10:21 PM UTC

Me and my friends had really been playing M&M 6&7 in 98/99, such fond memories. We had really high hopes for Ultima 9 - which came out in 99, as it looked so much more modern than the M&M games...nope, a total turd. Think I still have the box somewhere in the attic though, that was probably the most impressive thing about the game.

M&M8 which came out the year after, was good enough though. That's around the time I stopped playing the M&M series.

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#28

Post by autoexec » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 10:33 PM UTC

One thing I loved about HOMM 3 was that even with just one computer you could take turns and get a game going with friends. Not many games offered that unless they were based on board games

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#29

Post by ktallett » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 10:34 PM UTC

Mars008 wrote: post #10

GeekyBear wrote: post #5

I keep a Windows 2000 virtual machine with no network access around just to occasionally play HOMM 3. There aren't many games from that era that are as infinitely replayable. Command and Conquer: Yuri's Revenge and Starcraft come to mind.

> I keep a Windows 2000 virtual machine with no network access around just to occasionally play HOMM 3. according to wiki there should be an easier way: Platform(s) Windows, Macintosh, Linux (PowerPC/x86), iOS, Android Release March 3, 1999

https://vcmi.eu/

There is also a great remake with a new engine, that of course requires the original assets.

Re: The year of peak might and magic

#30

Post by selimthegrim » Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 10:35 PM UTC

tdrgabi wrote: post #6

vunderba wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What I wouldn't give for a new Heroes of Might and Magic game with the pixel art style of HOMM2 and the gameplay mechanics of HOMM3...

Not exactly what you asked for but https://store.steampowered.com/app/867210/Songs_of_Conquest/ is somewhat close. I played the campaign and it scratched the itch

The SsethTzeentach review is something else