Tag: duke nukem

Having trouble tracking down some stupid MIDI files containing the awesomeness of Bobby “Robert” Prince, the composer for many classic DOS games? Worry no more. I finally ripped the Duke Nukem II soundtrack while replaying it via DOSBox. All PCM files have been encoded with the 160kbps lame mp3 codec. My apoligies for sometimes “cutting” it off, as the game has these weird soundtrack loop issues, I had to draw the line somewhere.

Cool? Awesome? Sexy? Oh wait, He’s back!

Bobby, we love you! The Doom I and II soundtracks can be found all over the internet, since there has been an official soundtrack release. Remember downloading those things isn’t exactly called legal. The above is, since I ripped it directly from the game (which I own legally via the Duke3D CD). Enjoy!
Download DukeII Soundtrack here (25.5 MB)

Addendum - level 1 as an example.

Platform games, one of the most dominant game genres in gaming history. They spawned a whole lot of spin-off series (run-and-gun, platform puzzles, Apogee’s shareware system, Mario 64’s 3D platform debut). Platform gaming has been the dominant type on every gaming platform for quite a while, but classic platforming is rarely seen on nowadays computers. Consoles have taken over the 3D platforming aspect while handheld games kept producing 2D variations (Castlevania, Wario Land), but what happened to PC platformers? Try to sum up more than five recent commercial classic 2D platform games. Euurhhghmmmhghyhg… Right.

Unfolding the History of Platform gaming would be rather boring and you can read the details at Wikipedia. So let’s instead try to sum up that list… The first, and most obvious entry would be of course Captain Claw by Monolith, since I’ve mentioned the game more than once before. Being a game from 1997, one can imagine more exciting recent 2D platform games for the Personal Computer.

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People feeling nostalgic can play enhanced versions the games:

For Quake, you’ll need:

1. ezQuake Win32 Installer (Just install in a directory)
2. Pak0.pak Quake Demo version (Or copy pak0 and pak1 from your original Qake)
3. Create a new dir in the ezQuake install dir called “id1″ and Unzip pak0.pak
4. Play! (start with ezstart, press ESC in the console!)

For Duke3D, you’ll need:

1. eDuke32 Win32 Installer (Just install in a directory)
2. Duke3D Demo - only keep DUKE.GRP after installing
3. If you feel like it, install the High Resolution Pack! (115 MB) (Already includes eDuke32)
4. Play! (setup your GRP install dir first)

For Doom, you’ll need:

1. zDoom Win32 Binaries (Just extract in a directory)
2. Doom.wad Demo Version (you can delete other files)
3. Extract the WAD file to the zDoom install dir or copy your full version ones (DOOM, DOOM II, Final Doom e.a., Hexen, Heretic all fully supported!)
4. Play!

For Wolfenstein 3D, you’ll need:

1. DOSBox Win32 Installer (Just install in a directory)
2. Wolfenstein 3D Demo (Unzip in a new subdir of the DOSBox install dir)
3. Play! (Start DOSBox, mount your dir and execute ‘wolf3d’)

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Skip to the Videos part!

Only the new and young generation of gamers might not be familiar with Apogee Software - that is, until one has read the article. Apogee, the legacy of shareware PC games. I remember everything like it was yesterday! Impatiently receiving my first oversized floppy disk containing a demo version of Cosmo’s little adventures, racing through the first few levels of Duke Nukem, defeating way too much zombies in Monster Bash, capturing the first castle in Mystic Towers, … The video game company literally created the shareware distribution model using various monthly subscribed magazines and one free floppy which was without a doubt numberous times passed on.

Apogee Software not only published excellent DOS (platform) games from various companies like Micro F/X Software or Scenario, but also created their own brilliant spin-offs or even whole separate branches. The perfect example is of course Duke Nukem, I’m quite certain Duke is one of the most well-known gaming franchises/character of the entire PC gaming world. Besides the Duke Apogee also created a few enjoyable platformers as well as shooters like Bio Menace, Crystal Caves and Rise of the triad. You can consult a full overview including release years at Wikipedia.

JAM Productions’ Blake Stone uses id’s “Wolf3D” Engine.
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What could possibly more fun than playing a PC game on your own? Why, cooperative gameplay mechanics of course! Every modern released game nowadays features at least one cooperative (co-op) game mode where you can play with your friends, mostly against the computer AI. Since this is part I, let’s talk about Strategy games on the PC and its coopeartive capabilities. I can’t possibly imagine a strategy game without multiplayer options available, even games from 1998 came with some (limited) multiplayer modes, mostly using the IPX protocol. What really separates a couple of games is the unique co-op mode. You can play with your friend, not against him.

The Games

Technically speaking, an average multiplayer death match mode can also be classed as co-op as long as you and your buddies are on the same side. So I should at least mention a dozen strategy games where you can play a quick skirmish among a random chosen map, with the computer AI and anyone who joins your created game isntance. Warcraft or Starcraft mostly play like this and are still overly popular. Sometimes, one side shares resources and you should work together more carefully. Mostly though your team mates are there in case your army fails and some backup is required or they can help you defend towns. Rise of Nations, among other well-known classic RTS games like Age of Empires, also feature a dozen multiplayer options where strictly speaking “co-op” is one of them. In most RTS games, this mode is disguised as a standard Multiplayer Game, where the creating player adjusts a set number of players slots (Open, Closed, AI or Reserved) and team allocations.

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