WarWizard
Encyclopedia
WarWizard was a fantasy
computer role-playing game that was released as shareware
in 1993, first for Amiga, then ported to Ms-Dos for IBM-compatible computers. It was developed by MicroGenesis, a small company founded by Brad McQuaid
and Steve Clover in 1989. Today, the game is most notable as the commercial start for McQuaid, Clover, and artist Milo Cooper, who would later work together at Sony Online Entertainment
on EverQuest
and at Sigil Games Online
on Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
.
The player acts as a "WarWizard", a powerful magic
-using character that fights and completes quests. WarWizard features VGA graphics and sound effects, but touted greater emphasis on gameplay
than on anything else.
One notable feature of the game was its combat mode, which featured the ability to target specific parts of an opponent's body, hampering movement or disabling the opponents altogether, rendering them unable to flee from the battle or to retaliate. The same thing could also happen to the player, WarWizard, himself.
Today, the game is mostly unknown except to a few fans and appears impossible to find anywhere on the net. Even the official site, which became unavailable since September 2007 (possibly connected to Sony Online Entertainment
's takeover of Sigil Games Online
on 15 May, 2007) and right now only contains a short biography about Brad McQuaid, offered only a shareware version of the game for download. According to earlier inquiries to Brad McQuaid
, the full version seemed to be misplaced and nowhere to be found.
Few people mentioned to have ordered the full Ms-Dos/PC Version of WarWizard at the time, but never received any answer or the game. It appeared for a long time that the game has been discarded by its makers without any chances ever for the full version to become available today for anyone.
However in August 2009, a member of RPGWatch Forums indicated to actually possess a registered version of WarWizard. After Brad Mcquaid gave his approval to release the full Ms-Dos/PC Version of WarWizard to the public, the link for the game has been put up on the forums.
At the present moment the full game has also been reviewed and made available for everyone on an Abandonware (classic Ms-Dos and Windows games) site named Abandonia.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
computer role-playing game that was released as shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
in 1993, first for Amiga, then ported to Ms-Dos for IBM-compatible computers. It was developed by MicroGenesis, a small company founded by Brad McQuaid
Brad McQuaid
Brad McQuaid is an American computer game designer who was the key designer of EverQuest, a highly successful massively multiplayer online role-playing game released in 1999...
and Steve Clover in 1989. Today, the game is most notable as the commercial start for McQuaid, Clover, and artist Milo Cooper, who would later work together at Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment is a game development and game publishing division of Sony that is best known for creating massively multiplayer online games, including EverQuest, EverQuest II, The Matrix Online, PlanetSide, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, DC Universe...
on EverQuest
EverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
and at Sigil Games Online
Sigil Games Online
Sigil Games Online, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Carlsbad, California founded in January 2002 by Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, key development team members who created EverQuest, the most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game before World of Warcraft...
on Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is a high fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by Sigil Games Online, and now developed and run by Sony Online Entertainment. Originally, the game was co-published by Sony Online Entertainment , and the company producing it, Sigil Games...
.
The player acts as a "WarWizard", a powerful magic
Magic (gaming)
Some role-playing games or game systems can include a set of rules that are used to portray magic in the paranormal sense. These rules simulate the effects that magic would have within the game context, according to how the game designer intended the magic to be portrayed...
-using character that fights and completes quests. WarWizard features VGA graphics and sound effects, but touted greater emphasis on gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
than on anything else.
One notable feature of the game was its combat mode, which featured the ability to target specific parts of an opponent's body, hampering movement or disabling the opponents altogether, rendering them unable to flee from the battle or to retaliate. The same thing could also happen to the player, WarWizard, himself.
Today, the game is mostly unknown except to a few fans and appears impossible to find anywhere on the net. Even the official site, which became unavailable since September 2007 (possibly connected to Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment is a game development and game publishing division of Sony that is best known for creating massively multiplayer online games, including EverQuest, EverQuest II, The Matrix Online, PlanetSide, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, DC Universe...
's takeover of Sigil Games Online
Sigil Games Online
Sigil Games Online, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Carlsbad, California founded in January 2002 by Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, key development team members who created EverQuest, the most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game before World of Warcraft...
on 15 May, 2007) and right now only contains a short biography about Brad McQuaid, offered only a shareware version of the game for download. According to earlier inquiries to Brad McQuaid
Brad McQuaid
Brad McQuaid is an American computer game designer who was the key designer of EverQuest, a highly successful massively multiplayer online role-playing game released in 1999...
, the full version seemed to be misplaced and nowhere to be found.
Few people mentioned to have ordered the full Ms-Dos/PC Version of WarWizard at the time, but never received any answer or the game. It appeared for a long time that the game has been discarded by its makers without any chances ever for the full version to become available today for anyone.
However in August 2009, a member of RPGWatch Forums indicated to actually possess a registered version of WarWizard. After Brad Mcquaid gave his approval to release the full Ms-Dos/PC Version of WarWizard to the public, the link for the game has been put up on the forums.
At the present moment the full game has also been reviewed and made available for everyone on an Abandonware (classic Ms-Dos and Windows games) site named Abandonia.