New World Computing

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New World Computing, Inc.

Type	Corporation
Founded	1984 (defunct 2003)
Headquarters	Agoura Hills, CA
Key people	Jon Van Caneghem (President) Mark Caldwell (VP/General Manager)
Industry	Computer and video games
Products	Might and Magic Heroes of Might and Magic
Employees	100
Parent	The 3DO Company (1996)

New World Computing, Inc. was an American computer game developer and publisher founded in 1984 by Jon Van Caneghem and Mark Caldwell. It was best known for its work on the Might and Magic RPG series and its spin-offs, especially Heroes of Might and Magic. The company was bought by The 3DO Company in 1996. In 2003, with 3DO falling into bankruptcy, New World Computing disappeared as well. Ubisoft bought the rights to Might and Magic in 2003.

1 Might and Magic
2 Heroes of Might and Magic
3 Other games
4 Games by New World Computing
5 External links

[edit] Might and Magic

Originally, New World Computing was created to publish Might and Magic: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum for the Apple II. In 1988, New World Computing released Might and Magic II: Gates To Another World, which further pushed the capabilities of the Apple II.

In 1992, New World Computing released its first game developed specifically for the IBM PC, Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra. With Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen and Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen, released for the IBM PC in 1992 and 1993 respectively, New World Computing did something that hadn't been done successfully before (or since). If one had both games installed together on the same hard drive, one could move between the two worlds, and in fact could access new content not individually available in either title. A previous series, Alternate Reality, attempted this same feat a number of years earlier, but was ultimately unsuccessful due in part to the floppy-based nature of the systems at the time.

After a pause of five years, New World returned to the Might and Magic series with Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven, their first 3D graphics RPG. Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor, Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer and Might and Magic IX: Writ of Fate followed between 1999 and 2002.

[edit] Heroes of Might and Magic

In 1995, 1996, and 1999, New World released Heroes of Might and Magic I, Heroes of Might and Magic II, and Heroes of Might and Magic III. The fourth game followed in 2002. New World also developed a PlayStation 2 version, a 3D remake of their older game King's Bounty.

[edit] Other games

In 1989, New World Computing developed the satirical game Nuclear War, based on the Flying Buffalo card game of the same name. While this wasn't particularly successful from a financial perspective, it was notable as a departure from RPGs. In 1990, the company released King's Bounty for the Apple II and it was later ported to the Sega Genesis. This game is notable because it is the forerunner to the Heroes of Might and Magic series.