New World Computing

New World Computing was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1984 by Jon Van Caneghem, Michaela Van Caneghem, and Mark Caldwell. The studio became one of the best-known creators of computer role-playing and turn-based strategy games during the late 1980s and 1990s. Its central creative and commercial achievement was the Might and Magic property, which began with the first-person role-playing game Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum and later expanded into the Heroes of Might and Magic strategy spin-off series. The company emerged during the growth of home-computer software, initially developing and publishing role-playing games for systems such as the Apple II, Commodore 64, Macintosh, and MS-DOS. Jon Van Caneghem programmed the original Might and Magic over a period of more than three years. Released in 1986, the game established the series’ combination of party-based exploration, character progression, dungeon crawling, and large fantasy worlds. New World subsequently developed several sequels, gradually improving its graphics, interface, and technical foundations as personal computers became more capable. New World also broadened its activities beyond the main Might and Magic line. In 1990 it released King’s Bounty, a tactical role-playing game that introduced concepts later reworked for Heroes of Might and Magic. The first Heroes title appeared in 1995 and transformed the underlying King’s Bounty formula into a campaign-oriented strategy game involving exploration, resource management, settlement development, hero progression, and turn-based battles. Heroes of Might and Magic II and Heroes of Might and Magic III established the spin-off as a major computer strategy franchise, supported by expansion packs, compilation editions, and the Heroes Chronicles episodic releases. The company was acquired by NTN Communications for stock valued at $10 million and subsequently purchased by The 3DO Company on July 10, 1996. Under 3DO, New World Computing became an internal development division rather than an independent publisher with the same degree of autonomy. It continued producing major Might and Magic and Heroes releases, including Might and Magic VI, VII, VIII, and IX, Heroes of Might and Magic IV, and related expansions and spin-offs. The studio also experimented with changing genres: Legends of Might and Magic began as an online multiplayer action role-playing concept but was released in 2001 as a more conventional first-person action game. New World’s later years were shaped by the financial problems of its parent company. The 3DO Company laid off much of the studio’s staff in April 2002, leaving a smaller core team. Might and Magic IX and Heroes of Might and Magic IV were released during this difficult period. Although both titles continued important series, Might and Magic IX was criticized for technical problems and an unfinished-feeling presentation. The 3DO Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2003 and later sold the rights to Might and Magic to Ubisoft. New World Computing ceased to exist when 3DO dissolved later in 2003. Subsequent Might and Magic and Heroes titles were developed by other studios and publishers, and New World Computing was not involved in those later productions.

New World Computing was established in 1984 by Jon Van Caneghem, Michaela Van Caneghem, and Mark Caldwell. It operated in the early home-computer software market, when small development teams could create commercially viable role-playing games for platforms including the Apple II, Commodore 64, Macintosh, and MS-DOS. Van Caneghem programmed the first Might and Magic game over more than three years. Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum was released for the Apple II on June 1, 1986, with additional versions following for other personal-computer systems. Its success enabled New World to develop Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World in 1988. The early Might and Magic games established New World’s characteristic design approach: broad fantasy settings, party-based adventuring, extensive character statistics, equipment and spell systems, and a mixture of outdoor exploration and dungeon encounters. Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra, released in 1991, introduced a redesigned engine and 256-color VGA graphics. The same general technology supported Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen and Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen, released in 1992 and 1993. When combined, the latter two games formed the larger World of Xeen experience. An enhanced CD-ROM edition followed in 1994 with recorded music and spoken dialogue. New World’s second major franchise grew out of King’s Bounty, released in 1990. Designed by Van Caneghem, the game combined role-playing elements with tactical, turn-based encounters. New World returned to those ideas in Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest, released in 1995. Heroes added a stronger strategic layer built around heroes, towns, resources, armies, and campaign maps. Heroes of Might and Magic II followed in 1996, with the Price of Loyalty expansion released in 1997. Heroes of Might and Magic III arrived in 1999 and was expanded by Armageddon’s Blade and The Shadow of Death. New World also used a limited version of the Heroes III engine for the Heroes Chronicles series between 2000 and 2001. In July 1996, The 3DO Company purchased New World Computing from NTN Communications in a transaction involving $10 million in stock. The acquisition brought the studio into 3DO’s internal development structure. New World continued to make games primarily for the Might and Magic universe. Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven, released in 1998, moved the main series into 3D graphics and Microsoft Windows. Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor followed in 1999, and Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer in 2000. These games used related technology while adding support for hardware-accelerated graphics. The studio also pursued projects that departed from its established formulas. In 1989 it developed Nuclear War, a satirical game based on the Flying Buffalo card game, and it published titles such as Spaceward Ho! and Empire Deluxe. After its absorption into 3DO, however, the company’s work became focused almost entirely on Might and Magic. Legends of Might and Magic was announced at E3 2000 as an online multiplayer action role-playing game, but its final 2001 form was closer to a first-person shooter. In the same period, an enhanced King’s Bounty adaptation was released for PlayStation 2 in Japan as Heroes of Might and Magic: Quest for the Dragon Bone Staff. New World’s final production period coincided with severe financial pressure at 3DO. Might and Magic IX, released for Windows in 2002, replaced the older series engine with LithTech and was the first mainline entry rendered entirely in 3D. Its rushed release and numerous software defects drew unfavorable critical attention, and only limited post-release remediation occurred before the studio disappeared. Heroes of Might and Magic IV was also released in 2002 and received two expansions, The Gathering Storm and The Winds of War. The latter, released in 2003, was the last New World Computing-developed title. The 3DO Company laid off a substantial part of New World Computing’s staff on April 15, 2002. A smaller team remained, but 3DO’s financial condition did not recover. The parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2003. Before the company was dissolved, 3DO sold the Might and Magic rights to Ubisoft. New World Computing ceased to exist with the dissolution of its parent organization later in 2003. Ubisoft and other developers subsequently produced additional Might and Magic and Heroes titles, but those later works were not developed by New World Computing.

• 2003

  Studio ceases to exist

  [1]New World Computingen.wikipedia.org

  Following 3DO’s bankruptcy and dissolution, New World Computing closes and the Might and Magic rights are sold to Ubisoft.

• 2002

  Major staff reductions

  [1]New World Computingen.wikipedia.org

  3DO lays off much of the New World Computing team during its financial decline.

• 1999

  Heroes of Might and Magic III released

  [1]New World Computingen.wikipedia.org

  The third Heroes game becomes a central New World Computing release and receives multiple expansions.

• 1998

  Might and Magic enters 3D

  [1]New World Computingen.wikipedia.org

  Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven moves the main series to 3D graphics and Windows.

• 1996

  Acquired by The 3DO Company

  [1]New World Computingen.wikipedia.org

  The 3DO Company purchases New World Computing from NTN Communications and operates it as an internal studio.

• 1995

  Heroes of Might and Magic debuts

  [1]New World Computingen.wikipedia.org

  Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest adapts ideas from King’s Bounty into a broader turn-based strategy format.

• 1990

  King’s Bounty released

  [1]New World Computingen.wikipedia.org

  New World publishes the tactical role-playing game that later provides the mechanical foundation for Heroes of Might and Magic.

• 1986

  Might and Magic Book One released

  [1]New World Computingen.wikipedia.org

  The first Might and Magic title launches on Apple II and later reaches additional computer platforms.

• 1984

  Company founded

  [1]New World Computingen.wikipedia.org

  Jon Van Caneghem, Michaela Van Caneghem, and Mark Caldwell establish New World Computing in the United States.

A specialist developer of fantasy computer role-playing and turn-based strategy games, centered on expansive worlds, character development, exploration, and tactical combat.

• Computer role-playing game series · 1986

  Might and Magic

  New World Computing’s principal first-person computer role-playing series began with Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum in 1986. The games emphasized party creation, exploration of large fantasy environments, character statistics, equipment, spells, quests, and dungeon combat. The series evolved from early Apple II and MS-DOS releases to more technically ambitious Windows titles. Might and Magic VI introduced 3D graphics, while Might and Magic IX moved to the LithTech engine for fully 3D rendering. The property was transferred to Ubisoft after 3DO’s bankruptcy.

• Turn-based strategy game series · 1995

  Heroes of Might and Magic

  The Heroes series transformed ideas from King’s Bounty into a strategy format combining map exploration, resource gathering, town management, hero development, army recruitment, and turn-based battles. New World Computing released the first game in 1995, followed by Heroes II, Heroes III, and Heroes IV. Heroes III received major expansions and later supported the Heroes Chronicles releases. The series became one of the most enduring fantasy strategy properties associated with the studio.

• Tactical role-playing game · 1990

  King's Bounty

  Released in 1990, King’s Bounty blended role-playing progression with tactical combat and served as an important design precursor to Heroes of Might and Magic. New World Computing later revisited the property through a PlayStation 2 remake marketed in Japan as Heroes of Might and Magic: Quest for the Dragon Bone Staff. The King’s Bounty name was subsequently acquired by another publisher after New World Computing’s closure.

• Episodic strategy game series · 2000

  Heroes Chronicles

  Heroes Chronicles was a set of episodic fantasy strategy titles released between 2000 and 2001. The games used a limited form of the Heroes of Might and Magic III engine and presented separate campaign-based adventures. Some installments were distributed through online download arrangements connected with purchases of other entries. The series extended the commercial life of Heroes III while New World Computing was operating under The 3DO Company.

• Satirical strategy game · 1989

  Nuclear War

  Nuclear War was a 1989 New World Computing development based on the Flying Buffalo card game of the same name. It represented a departure from the studio’s usual fantasy role-playing focus and used satire to depict nuclear confrontation. The title was published by U.S. Gold and did not achieve notable financial success, but it illustrates the company’s early willingness to work outside its principal franchise.

• First-person action game · 2001

  Legends of Might and Magic

  Legends of Might and Magic was released in 2001 after undergoing a substantial change in concept. It was initially presented as an online multiplayer action role-playing game, but the released product was closer to a first-person shooter set within the Might and Magic universe. The project used the LithTech technology that later supported Might and Magic IX and reflected 3DO-era efforts to broaden the franchise’s genres.

• 2003

  Might and Magic rights transferred to UbisoftM&A

  Background

  The 3DO Company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and required asset sales during the resulting dissolution process.

  Action taken

  3DO sold the rights to the Might and Magic property to Ubisoft before the parent company ceased operations.

  Aftermath

  Ubisoft became the rights holder and later commissioned new Might and Magic and Heroes projects without New World Computing’s involvement.

  Source

• 2002

  Move Might and Magic to LithTech 3D technologyGeneration change

  Background

  The earlier Might and Magic engine was increasingly dated by the early 2000s.

  Action taken

  Might and Magic IX adopted the LithTech engine, replacing the technology used by the sixth through eighth mainline entries and rendering the game entirely in 3D.

  Aftermath

  The technical transition was ambitious but the rushed release was criticized for bugs and other unfinished elements.

  Source

• 2001

  Reposition Legends of Might and MagicStrategy

  Background

  The project was originally announced as an online multiplayer action role-playing game.

  Action taken

  Before release, New World Computing and 3DO shifted the project toward a more traditional first-person shooter format.

  Aftermath

  The release demonstrated an attempt to extend the Might and Magic brand into a different genre, although it did not become a replacement for the studio’s established role-playing and strategy franchises.

  Source

• 1996

  Join The 3DO CompanyM&A

  Background

  New World Computing had been acquired by NTN Communications before The 3DO Company purchased it in 1996.

  Action taken

  The studio became a division within The 3DO Company, continuing development primarily on Might and Magic-related projects.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition provided a larger corporate home but reduced New World Computing’s independence and tied its future to 3DO’s financial condition.

  Reported transaction value. $10 million in stock (1996)

  Source

1. 1New World Computingen.wikipedia.org