From the Info-Mac Digest, “Ares Demo 1.0; a networkable tactical space game”:
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From Changeling Software, “ARES RELEASED!!!”:
Changeling would like to thank all of you for your extreme patience and, more importantly, your enthusiasm. After more than 3 long years of work, Ares has now been officially released.
We intend to bring you the highest quality games possible, and continue to be completely committed to the MacOS™ platform. In that spirit, we are sure that you will agree that Ares represents a truly unique experience in gaming.
Ares is a groundbreaking game. Developed by Nathan Lamont, a Master of game design, Ares represents over 3 years of focused effort on the part of its designer. Nathan is responsible for every aspect of the game. He singlehandedly developed the story and concept of the game, created the 3D models used for the sprites, cut-scene movies, and interface, created the movies, developed the game engine and wrote all of the code in the game, in addition to composing the music. The few exceptions in the game that were not created by Nathan himself were created by none other than Reginald Dujour, who created the artwork for Marathon, and is currently creating the art for Dark Vengeance for Reality Bytes. All in all, Ares is a monumental work created by an exceptional individual who deserves a place in the Developer’s Hall of Fame.
The response from our beta testers, and those folks who placed pre-orders, and thus had the opportunity for early purchase, has been overwhelming.
Ares is one of the most anticipated games for the MacOS™, and we believe that the game will meet or exceed your expectations. Get Ares now!!!
From the Ambrosia Times, “Ambrosia Software Re-releases Ares: Space Action and Strategy Extravaganza!”:
Rochester, NY – September 30, 1999 – “OK, pilots, here’s the plan,” you say into the communicator, as you eye your shipboard computer. “The Gators have a base on that distant planet to the galactic south. It’s defended by a fleet of about 15 ships, plus a flak drone.”
Your speech is interrupted by the sound of ships slowing from super-light speeds. It is a wing of Gaitori cruisers, and they’ve stopped right in the middle of your fleet! The night sky is lit up with the rays from 30 of your ships’ photokinetic beam cannons. Half of the intruders leave just as quickly as they came; the others now bear a striking resemblance to space debris. Fragments of Gaitori’s finest technology pelt your windshield, reminding you of hailstorms back on Earth.
Unfortunately, a mission briefing is not the time for nostalgia. After a quick damage report, you continue relating the plans. Blue group will create a diversion away from the planet, and hopefully draw away some of the defenders. Green group will escort the engineers to the drone. If Green can take it, Blue and Green will converge at the drone and defend it until reinforcements can arrive.
Your comrades slide into formation, and prepare for battle. They’re doing remarkably well for folks who only started seeing intergalactic action yesterday. You smile to yourself, until you realize that you’ve probably just spoken to some of these guys for the last time. How many of them will live to see Earth again? The question races through your mind as you enter lightspeed, with the rest of Blue group in pursuit. The thought will have to be tabled – in an instant, you’ll find out whether your RADAR was right about those 15 defenders.
Ares is an exciting blend of action and strategy in uncharted space. Use your ships to control and protect planets, increase your manufacturing capacity, and fuel your war machine. A shrewd pilot with limited resources can decisively outwit a stronger opponent, so planning and execution are critical. Strategy outmatches guns any day in this game.
Start with simple patrol missions, and work your way up to planetary invasions. Capture and hold strategic points, or your victory will be more costly! Send a swarm of ships to engulf the enemy, or sacrifice a lone fighter to draw them into a trap! No technique is too unconventional in your quest to recapture your home planet.
Ares’ developer, Nathan Lamont, has crafted an exciting universe with 20 strategic missions for a single player to accomplish. But the fun doesn’t stop there! Two players can go head-to-head via AppleTalk or the Internet. Ares even sports integration with Scott Kevill’s GameRanger service, so finding an opponent should be a snap.
Another new feature is the addition of three in-depth tutorial levels to ease you into the commander’s chair, explain basic tactics, and teach game controls. Absorb the knowledge, and use it to spank the oppressors. Ignore it, and go home disintegrated.
Ares requires any 68040 or Power Macintosh computer with MacOS 7.5.3 or later, a 13” color monitor, and 6 MB of free RAM. Ares has a registration fee of $25.
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From the Ambrosia Times, “Ambrosia Software, Inc. releases Ares 1.2.0 & scenario editor”:
Rochester, NY – April 12, 2001 – Ambrosia Software, Inc. announced today the release version 1.2.0 of Ares, the tactical Inter-networkable space battle game that gives new meaning to the word “shrapnel.”
Ares 1.2.0 now includes Hera, a full-fledged scenario editor for Ares! Now you can modify Ares’ built in scenarios, play scenarios made by other Ares fans, or even create your own custom scenarios for Ares! The universe is limited only by your imagination! Oh, and did we mention that this upgrade (as well as Hera) is entirely FREE for registered users of Ares?
“Sure, Ares is an older game” says Ambrosia’s el Presidente, Andrew Welch “However, it still kicks ass, especially for net play – and now that we’ve unleashed a scenario editor on the creative hordes of Ares addicts, we expect to see Ares live on for quite some time with new and interesting user-created scenarios. See you on GameRanger!”
Users can download the new version of Ares for free at:
http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/games/ares/
Ares is an exciting blend of action and strategy in uncharted space. Use your ships to control and protect planets, increase your manufacturing capacity, and fuel your war machine. A shrewd pilot with limited resources can decisively outwit a stronger opponent, so planning and execution are critical.
Strategy outmatches guns any day in this game. Ares developer, Nathan Lamont, has crafted an exciting universe with 20 strategic missions for a single player to accomplish. But the fun doesnt stop there! Two players can go head-to-head via AppleTalk or the Internet.
Ares even sports integration with Scott Kevill’s GameRanger service, so finding an opponent should be a snap.
Ambrosia Software, Inc. – publisher of award winning programs for the Macintosh – distributes a full line of utility, productivity, and anti-productivity (game) software through the Internet, America Online, and CompuServe as shareware. Unregistered versions of Ambrosia’s products on CD can be obtained at Ambrosia web site, http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/, or by calling Ambrosia’s order center at 716.325.1910.
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