Step Back into 1995 with This Nostalgic Issue of PC Gamer Magazine

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John Summers • Contributor
Jan 11, 2025 10:00 PM EST

There's something magical about flipping through the pages of old gaming magazines, and this 1995 issue of PC Gamer is an absolute time machine for any gamer who lived through that golden era. It's not just the games that make it special—it's the excitement, the nostalgia, and the sheer love for gaming that jumps off every page.

This issue is packed with articles on legendary titles like Mortal Kombat 2, Creature Shock, Warcraft (like, the first one), and The Lemmings Chronicles. But the real gem? The "Games of the Year" awards for 1994. Seeing DOOM rightfully crowned as Game of the Year still feels satisfying even decades later. Then you've got System Shock taking Best Adventure Game, X-COM: UFO Defense owning Best Strategy, and Goblins Quest 3 snagging Best Puzzle Game. It's a lineup that reminds you just how incredible that year was for gaming.

But it's not just about the awards—the ads, the features, the reviews all feel like a snapshot of a moment in time when gaming was evolving into something truly magical. If you're a fan of gaming history, or just looking for a nostalgia fix, this issue is a must-see. Dive in, and relive one of the best years in gaming history.

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  • 01
    3.5"HD Disk The First Annual PC Gamer Awards Edition PC GAMER Exclusive! The World's Finest PC and CD-ROM Games Magazine Your first look at Mindscape's Aliens ALIENS! It's The Bitch like you've never seen her before! Scoops! • Powerhouse X-COM: Terror From the Deep Conqueror ON THE DISK! Incredible Machine Create your own Rube Goldberg-style machines in this addictive puzzler from Sierra. Vol.2 No.3 March 1995 Now only $4.95 with HD disk No.3 Vol.2 No.3 Vol.2 No.5 Vol.2 No.3 Could this game laun
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    The Legend Returns Dungeon Master Years ago, it set the standard for role playing games. Now, just when the nightmares are starting to fade, it's back ...and it's bigger and badder than ever. Introducing Dungeon Master II: The Legend of Skullkeep. From its storm ravaged villages to trap-filled dungeons you'll face creatures and characters that actually think for them- selves and react to your actions. It's the most realistic role-playing world ever created. Where real-time com- bat combines with
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    PC GAMER VOLUME 2 NUMBER 3 ⚫ MARCH 1995 Features 44 The First Annual PC Gamer Awards The editors of PC Gamer put their collec- tive heads together, and picked the very best computer games of the year. Will Game of the Year go to TIE Fighter or X-COM? You'll have to turn to our Awards Feature to find out.... 53 1994 PCGAMER Award 44 Cover Story Exclusive! Aliens This month, we take a look at the development of Aliens, the latest graphic tour de force from Mindscape and Cryo-the design house behin
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    Game Dark Forces U.S. Navy Fighters The Incredible Machine 2 Klik & Play Virtuoso Shadows of Cairn * The Lemmings Chronicles Ultimate Backgammon Casino Tourn. of Champions World Cup Golf* \UBG Spectre VR* Cyclemania Wings of Glory Brett Hull '95 Drug Wars Under A Killing Moon * ImagiNation Network GEnie DOOM Wads Directory \LUCASART \USNF \TIM2 \KLIKPLAY \VIRTUOSO \CAIRN \LEMMING Installation Command DEMO INSTALL INSTALL SETUP INSTVIRT SETUP INSTLEMM \CAP INSTUBG INSTCTOC SETUP \SPECTRE SETUP \C
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    "Triad is a truly awesome game!" But don't take our word for it. RISE TRIAD OF THE DARK WAR "Rise of the Triad is sure to have every DOOM freak in the world lining up just to drool all over it. Interactive Entertainment "Rise of the Triad provides everything an action gamer could want." - Computer Game Review "This game is the most multiplayer-friendly product we've seen. DeathMatch will never be the same again." Computer Gaming World Taunt your opponents with RemoteRidicule™M during 11-player n
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  • 06
    THE CD The Lemmings Chronicles C an you believe it? This is at least the fourth generation of Lem- mings to grace the PC, and these crazy critters still haven't evolved a decent survival instinct. Naturally, it's up to you to save them from themselves - again. But experienced Lemmings fans will notice that Psygnosis has made some changes this time around. Basic talents like walking and jumping are available to any lemming at any Psygnosis time, but others like those umbrellas that save the littl
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  • 07
    VIRTUOSD Life Sucks. Rock And Roll Is Dead. So Blast A Few Heads. TM PC CD-ROM In the year 2055, life is just another word for chaos. Sure, your music has given you some moments of escape, but your rock superstar status has also given you too many nights locked away in hotel rooms, away from the din of crazed fans. Virtual Reality is the only reality that means anything anymore. In the world of Virtuoso you'll blast cyborgs in cavernous, sub-Martian passages, encounter the living dead in a Haunt
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    THE FLOPPY INSTALLING ⚫PLAYING QUICK TIPS On this month's floppy disk, we've got one of the most addictive puzzlers of the year. You'll get hours of joy from our demo of The Incredible Machine 2! Quick Start: The Floppy You say you're a PC guru, and you don't need any help getting the demo up and running? Well, OK then! 1. Insert The Floppy, and change to your 3.5" drive (usually A or B). 2. Type INSTALL, and press Enter. 3. There you have it! You'll be gaming in just a few minutes unless someth
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  • 09
    THIS CAT LOVES TO DOGFIGHT DESIGNED BY THE BEST: The award- winning creators of Chuck Yeager's Air Combat TOTAL IMMERSION: Full texture-mapping, digitized explosions, video briefings, and hyper-realistic 4-track stereo sound effects and wingman audio. 4 WAYS TO PLAY: 50 Single Missions, Campaign with carrier wing command, Quick Mission Builder, and Pro Mission Builder with extreme detail. When it comes to defending its share of 24,000 feet, the F-148 Tomcat will tangle with anything. But so will
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    NOTHING, NOTHING CAN PREPARE YOUR PC. DO HING FINISH HIM! SMOKE AWAITS DO LING FRIENDSHIP FRIENDSHIP? CHOOSE YOUR FICHTER MATURE M AGES 17+ MIDWAY MORTAL KOMBAT NOTHING, NOTHING CAN PREPARE YOU...for the ultimate arcade translation of Mortal Kombat® II. "Finish Him" with all the true graphics, character animations, CD-quality music and awesone sound f/x of the ALL 12 KOMBAT WARRIORS? THE LETHATE ARCADE TRANSLATION! G arcade blockbuster. Brutal special moves, Friendships, Babalities, hidden MORTA
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    SCOOP! Your first look at... X-COM: Terror From Sequel Threatens Humanity With Watery Death! X-COM: UFO Defense came out of nowhere to win critical acclaim. But can the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit's next mis- sion match the excite- ment of the first? by Dan Bennett D Brett Davies 135 F====== FOR YOUR INFORMATION Brave members of the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit fight to defend their ride home. 20 Game: X-COM: Terror From the Deep Developer: MicroProse UK Publisher: MicroProse Software Inc., 180
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    the Deep their last resort and initiated a second line of attack. You might even say they've called in the marines; they're reviving a hidden army of oceanic verse and others which used the engine in other settings. In the end, we chose to develop Terror From the Deep because it's unique. "We knew we had a great game on our hands and sat down to brainstorm what else we could do with the game's engine" Valentina Britten, MicroProse brand manager aliens who've been hibernating in the murky depths
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  • 13
    Advanced Dungeons Dragons 2nd Edition AD&D Horror Role- Playing Rises Again! Ravenloff STONE PROPHET Escape the dreaded realm of Har Akir before the ancient mummy Anhktepot awakens and ends your stay himself! This all-new adventure in the RAVENLOFT game world has more puzzles than any other AD&D computer game! Treacherous dungeons abound. New monsters lurk around every turn. New tactics make combat more challenging. Now you can even fly, which adds a whole new twist to battles. High-res VGA grap
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    EYEWITNESS NEWS • PREVIEWS BEHIND-THE-SCENES REPORTS New Connections with Windows 95 Microsoft plans it's own online service DESE Ron D's MOVIE REVUE With the Microsoft Network included with Windows '95, online ser- vices may never be the same. M Тре Мескотой W hen one of the world's largest software pub- lishers decides to take on a new market such as online communication, it's sure to draw a lot of attention especially if the software giant in question happens to be Microsoft. During the COMDE
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    APACHE-GUNSHIP Armed and Dangerous SIMULATION 1984... "Wild Bill" Stealey and MicroProse introduce the first Gunship attack helicopter APACHE- GUNSHIP simulation. 1989... Gunship 2000® arrives, incorporating the hottest technologies and graphics. INTERACTIVE MAGIC ■ Hot new 3-D visual technology ■Combat helicopter simulation for the serious sim fan and the first time helicopter gunner in arcade free-for-all level ■ Outstanding high resolution low level terrain graphics with highly variable explo
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    PRAY IT'S ONLY A NIGHTMARE Go ahead and scream. From deep Iwithin your nightmare, utter a piteous cry as though your life depends on someone hearing you. Because, in this reality, it does. From the master of computer gaming comes an interactive suspense thriller so shockingly real you'll pray it's only a nightmare: Phantasmagoria. PLANTASMAGORIA Phantasmagoria is no ordinary game, no tawdry attempt at horror. We wouldn't dare. Blending the talents of best-selling game designer Roberta Williams a
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  • 17
    The graphics in today's games look just like photos. If you'd rather play movies than watch a slide show, you'd better get them developed on a Falcon. "if you want to go all out for games, the Falcon is the best bet for your money." -Paul C. Schuytema, Computer Gaming World The Pentium 90 they sent me is a beautiful piece of work, primarily because they don't go with the lowest bidder when buying standard componentry. 96% Overall Score" -Ted Chapman, Computer Game Review intel inside THE FALCON
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  • 18
    Build a Railroad Empire with Iron Horses and an Iron Will! 1830 Railroads & Robber Barons Welcome to the 19th Century! With immigrants pouring in, America is poised for explosive westward growth. Magnates famed for their greed and busi- ness acumen rush to cash in. Can you handle the challenge? Lay track, build stations, purchase trains, and manipulate stocks to build an empire of iron and steel. History's greatest Robber Barons will try to stop you by undercutting your lines and buying out your
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    FEATURE The First Annual 1994 PC Gamer PC GAMER Awards Award - The Editors In a year that saw the release of some of the finest PC games in history, we knew singling out the very best of the best would be tough and it was.... - e're just back from the Winter Consumer Elec- tronics Show as we put this piece together, and the experience just confirmed something we've been saying for months now: The PC has come into its own, and is now viewed by most publishers as the gam- ing platform of the futur
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    FEATURE 1994 Game PCGAMER of the Award Developer: Publisher: Doom id Software Year id Software 18601 LBJ Freeway, Suite 615, Mesquite, TX 75150 (800) 434-2637 onsidering that we named Doom the Best Game of All Time just a few months ago, we spent a surprising amount of time debating whether it deserved Game of the Year honors. But after taking into account the impact this shareware-only release has had on the computer-gaming industry, the choice was clear. Was there any doubt that Doom would be
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    FEATURE A s developers struggle to make fantasy roleplaying games more appealing to a wider audience, veteran roleplayers have had fewer and fewer pure roleplay- ing games to choose from the kind that feature highly detailed character genera- tion, complex magic systems, and a satis- fying combat system. Temple of Peraine in Kuvirasim REALMS Aroosh Serena Regulon Holveri Friedbe Sonja Realms of Arkania may not have the flashiest graphics you've ever seen, but its deep, challeng- ing gameplay mor
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  • 22
    FEATURE 48 1994 Best PC GAMER Historical Award Simulation Lords of the Realm Developer: Publisher: Impressions Impressions Software, Inc., 222 Third Street, Suite 0234, Cambridge MA 02142 (617) 225-0500 The premise of Lords of the Realm is a familiar one-you're one of several nobles with designs on the throne of England during the Middle Ages - but after a few minutes of play you'll realize that this is a very special product. Many empire-building games either bog you down in minutiae or present
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    FEATURE Special Achievement in Design Excellence Under A Killing Moon Developer: Publisher: Access Access, 4910 W. Amelia Earhart Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (800) 800-4880 The concept of "interactive movies" has been hyped almost to death, but Under a Killing Moon is one of the few games to truly immerse the player in a cinematic adventure. Sure, the digitized video is good it'd better be, with big-name tal- ent like Brian Keith, Margot Kidder, and Russell Means but it's the ability to expl
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    TO CREATE THE ULTIMATE STAR WARS EXPERIENCE WE HAD TO SET OUR SIGHTS A LITTLE HIGHER. LUCAS Arts DARK FORCES™ FIRST PERSON FIREPOWER IN THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE. AVAILABLE NOW ON CD-ROM. Dark Forces game 01994 Lucasfilm Ltd. and LucasArts Entertainment Company. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization. Star Wars is a registered trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. Dark Forces is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. The LucasArts logo is a registered trademark of LucasArts Entertainment Company. CHECK OUT THE
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    Aliens In Cyberspace, no one can hear you scream FEATURE -Matt Firme The Aliens films introduced us to the galaxy's most perfect killing machines. But as fans of the Dark Horse graphic novels know, there's a lot more to the story than even Sigourney Weaver had the chance to discover. ot many monsters survive the torch-bearing villagers to become cultural icons-per- haps because most of them are spawned in the forgettable and cheesy realms of the B movie. I can't even count the number of f times
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    FEATURE that's cheesy. In one of the game's most memorable intro sequences, we see the disaster that befell B54C. Aliens drop from above... But in the final scene of Humanoids, something so horrific happened that I can still remember every detail. A preg- nant woman was on the delivery table in a hospital, when suddenly her belly began to move and a baby Humanoid popped right through her flesh. It was such a shock after the proceeding silli- ness, so incongruously disturbing, and I remember thin
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    IT'S CYBERIFFICK -COMPUTER GAMING WORLD "THE PERFECT COMPUTER GAME" YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL WHO HAS THE CD VERSION. STRATEGY PLUS SPECTRE VR. THE ENHANCED CD-ROM VERSION, NOW ON PC. THE MOST ADDICTIVE VIRTUAL REALITY SHOOTOUT OF ALL TIME NOW HAS NEW, MIND BENDING 3D GRAPHICS NEW GAME ACTION. NEW ROBOT CHALLENGERS. A FULL HOUR OF ACTION CONCURRENT VIDEO AND YOU CAN JACK IN SOLO, OR NETWORK WITH UP TO EIGHT PLAYERS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CD DRIVE YET, THIS IS ALL THE REASON YOU NEED TO GET ONE FREE TWO
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    Introducing Avalon Hill's STALINGRAD asssss STALINGRAD BAOGOPOHU 0000 German assault on the Tractor Works. fe Options Staff Duties Planning Phase TAAMHIPAA Stalin's powerful Red Army is poised along the Don River, ready to strike! File Option WOLGH WORLD at TM WAR Volume II Following fast on the success of Operation Crusader comes STALINGRAD, VOLUME II of the World at War series of computer wargames. This collaboration between Avalon Hill and Atomic Games highlights the epic struggle that sealed
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  • 29
    PINBALL ARCADE CD-ROM PC MULTI-MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT ENTER THE PINBALL ARCADE You already know how to play pinball! Just how good are you? Step up to the arcade, make your selection from any one of the eight great tables, set up your game, pull down that plunger and get some glass. This is the award winning technology that made 21st Century first in computer pinball. INCLUDES & GREAT TABLES WITH... Terrific table designs with all the features of a real table-flippers, ramps, passages, tunnels, mus
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  • 30
    15 Games or your PC ACTIVISION CLASSICS ACTIVISION RIVER RAID KABOOM! ACTVBO SEAQ ACTIVION ATARI 2600 ACTION PACK FOR WINDOWS KOVO PITFALL! ACTYBOK ER FIGHTER RIVER RAID ACTIVETION CHOPPER COMMAND ACTVSION GLAND NIX FREEW IBM CD-ROM for Windows™ 25 ACTIVISION All The Games Your Mother Still Doesn't Approve Of. You're older now... No more arcade over-nighters. Did the cartridge-thing. Now you're cutting-edge. Big man with a PC. Introducing 15 original Atari 2600 video RIVER RAID KABOOM! BM CO-HOM
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    INFERNO THE ODYSSEY CONTINUE STM We have seen the future, and it's not very pretty. No matter what you've done. No matter where you've been. No matter who you've crushed to get there. Nothing...can prepare you for this. No, not Iraqis. Rexxons. Relentless, Al-controlled alien mercenaries with military capabilities far greater than that of ten thousand Third World nations. And all of it-every bit of this deep space hell-takes place in a brilliant, hyper-realistic 3D universe 500 million miles int
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    REVIEWS King's Quest VII: The Princele Category: Graphic adventure Developer: Sierra On-Line Publisher: Sierra On-Line, 3380 146th Place SE, Suite 300, Bellevue, WA 98007 (206) 641-7617. Required CD-ROM drive; 386; DOS 3.3 (or Win- dows 3.1); 4MB RAM; 5MB hard- drive space; Sup- ported sound card; SVGA; Mouse. M.S.R.P.: $49.99 We Recommend Double-speed CD- ROM drive; 486; 8MB RAM nce upon a time, there was a lovely princess named Rosella who was so happy she didn't even realize that she came fro
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    ss Bride The crystal dragon holds the final ingredient Rosella needs to escape her life of warts and sallow skin. Getting the item, however, must wait until the dragon takes a nap. works well if it doesn't look as incredi- ble as Disney, it at least equals Don Bluth. Each character has a lot of animation, too. But it unfolds too slowly even on a 486, so the comical stretches and funny facial expressions take about twice as long as they should. What would a King's Quest game be without a person u
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    PLAY ANYTHING ELSE AND YOU'RE DOOMED. D E S C E N Full 30 level version! Coming in March to a store near you! DROP STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE MOST MIND-BENDING, STOMACH-CHURNING ACTION GAME EVER. IN DESCENT, YOU'LL ENTER A TRUE 360° 3-D ENVIRONMENT-MOVE UP, MOVE DOWN, MOVE EVERYWHERE AS YOU PLUMMET DOWN NEVER-ENDING TUNNELS BLASTING MECHANICAL HORDES. TOP BECOMES BOTTOM, UP BECOMES DOWN AND YOUR SENSES TURN INSIDE OUT...AND THIS IS JUST THE FIRST 7 LEVELS. EXPERIENCE THE SHAREWARE VERSION OF DESCENT
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    REVIEWS Microsoft Space Simulator Category: Simulation Developer: Bruce Artwick Organization Publisher: Microsoft, 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 (206) 882-8080 Required 386/25; 768K ex- panded memory; VGA; Mouse M.S.R.P.: $49.95 We Recommend 486/33; SVGA; Supported sound cards ou've conquered the galaxy in X-Wing, TIE Fighter, and Wing Commander. But isn't it about time you got serious about space? Sure, you're a hero, but do you have what it takes for real space exploration? Forget ab
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  • 36
    EVIL EPIC KING'S QUEST THE PRINCELESS BRIDE ENCHANTING EXPERIENCE THE MOST HEARTWARMINGLY HUMOROUS CINEMATIC ADVENTURE EVER. CREATOR ROBERTA WILLIAMS PRESENTS THE SEVENTH CHAPTER IN THE BEST-SELLING COMPUTER ADVENTURE SERIES OF ALL TIME: KING'S QUEST® VII: THE PRINCELESS BRIDE. JOIN PRINCESS ROSELLA AND HER MOTHER VALANICE AS THEY BATTLE THE EVIL ENCHANTRESS MALICIA FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE MAGICAL REALM OF ELDRITCH. DON'T MISS THIS BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL EPIC ADVENTURE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. FO
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  • 37
    Warcraft Category: Action-Strategy Developer: Blizzard Entertainment Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment, PO Box18077, Irvine, CA 92713 (714) 556-66712 Required 386/25 MHz; CD- ROM drive; 4MB RAM;2MB hard- drive space;VGA; Mouse M.S.R.P.: $69.95 M We Recommend 486SX/25 MHz; Compatible sound card any strategy gamers will find that Warcraft strongly reminds them of an earlier game. Often, this would be a problem but in this case, that earlier game is Virgin's Dune II, one of the most entertaining an
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  • 38
    REVIEWS "The feature that will excite some gamers more than anything else is Warcraft's two-player mode." LUMBER: 3750 SOLD: 9300 which in turn lead to some of the nastier military units, like giant spiders, scorpi- ons, elementals, and even daemons. What all this means is that you'll never find a single, sure-fire strategy that'll serve you throughout the game; your tactics will have to evolve as each new wrinkle appears. That translates into oodles of replay value, ensuring that Warcraft is de
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  • 39
    PHOENIX FLIGHT & WEAPONS CONTROL SYSTEM Take control of your elevators, ailerons, throttle, rudder, and flight and weapon commands with this unique two-handed joystick - the Phoenix Flight & Weapons Control System. Each of the 24 buttons can be programmed using a graphical interface, designed for simplicity. The Phoenix is compatible with all games and flight simulators that support a standard joystick and keyboard controls. No special support is required. Available now for IBM/PCs & compatibles
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  • 40
    of PCE ment and CD-ROM Today ga CD-ROM drive? Read this first! GAMER AMER ture is the The World's Finest PC Games Magazine ting guide-p ON THE CD ROM Time Favorites Issue! Piobe rites Issue! Fantasies & Sink or Swim PC and CD-ROM Games Magazine S 앵 FREE BONUS CD! When you subscribe to MERR PC GAMER The Do-It-Yourself Wargamer's Resource Guide-p.50 PCGAMER First look! Wing Commander ON THE Es Fir and CD-ROM Canes Magazine ON THE 756 Time to upgrade your PC? Here's what to buy-and why! GAMER PC GA
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  • 41
    TRUE WAVETABLE SYNTHESIS ⚫16-BIT RECORD & PLAYBACK ⚫ 3 CD-ROM INTERFACES ⚫32 VOICE POLYPHONY/MULTI-TIMBRAL ULTRASOUND MAX Advanced GRAVIS 3D HOLOGRAPHIC SOUND SUPPORTS WINDOWS 3.1/MP2. SOUND BLASTER. MT-32 & GENERAL MID signeditly. Advanced Gravis & Forte Technologies EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF ADVANCED WAVETABLE SOUND TECHNOLOGY Experience the power of studio-quality music and heart-pounding special effects from your PC games and music programs with UltraSound MAX™. The newest wavetable PC sound c
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