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Might and Magic

November 25, 2023

Might and Magic is a series of role-playing video games from New World Computing, which in 1996 became a subsidiary of The 3DO Company. The original Might and Magic series ended with the closure of the 3DO Company. The rights to the Might and Magic name were purchased for US$1.3 million by Ubisoft,[1] which "rebooted" the franchise with a new series with no apparent connection to the previous continuity, starting with the games Heroes of Might and Magic V and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.

History edit

Further information: List of Might and Magic media

Main series edit

Spin-offs edit

There have been several spin-offs from the main series, including the long-running Heroes of Might and Magic series, Crusaders of Might and Magic, Warriors of Might and Magic, Shifters of Might and Magic, Legends of Might and Magic, Might and Magic: Heroes Kingdoms, and the fan-made Swords of Xeen.

In August 2003, Ubisoft acquired the rights to the Might and Magic franchise for US$1.3 million after 3DO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[1] Ubisoft has since released multiple new projects using the Might and Magic brand, including a fifth installment of the Heroes series developed by Nival, an action-style game Dark Messiah of Might and Magic developed by Arkane Studios, a puzzle RPG Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes developed by Capybara Games, and the mobile strategy RPG titled Might & Magic: Elemental Guardians.

Gameplay edit

The majority of the gameplay takes place in a medieval fantasy setting, while later sections of the games are often based on science fiction tropes, the transition often serving as a plot twist. The player controls a party of player characters, which can consist of members of various character classes. The game world is presented to the player in first person perspective. In the earlier games the interface is very similar to that of Bard's Tale, but from Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven onward, the interface features a three-dimensional environment. Combat is turn-based, though the later games allowed the player to choose to conduct combat in real time.

The game worlds in all of the Might and Magic games are quite large, and a player can expect each game to provide several dozen hours of gameplay. It is usually quite combat-intensive and often involves large groups of enemy creatures. Monsters and situations encountered throughout the series tend to be well-known fantasy staples such as giant rats, werewolf curses, dragon flights and zombie hordes, rather than original creations. Isles of Terra and the Xeen games featured a more distinct environment, blending fantasy and science fiction elements in a unique way.

The Might and Magic games have some replay value as the player can choose their party composition, develop different skills, choose sides, do quests in a different order, hunt for hidden secrets and easter eggs, and/or change difficulty level.

Plot edit

Although most of the gameplay reflects a distinctly fantasy genre, the overarching plot of the first nine games has something of a science fiction background. The series is set in a fictional galaxy as part of an alternative universe, where planets are overseen by a powerful race of space travelers known as Ancients who seeded them with humans, elves, dwarves and others. In each of the games, a party of characters fights monsters and completes quests on one of these planets, until they eventually become involved in the affairs of the Ancients. Might and Magic could as such be considered an example of science fantasy.

The producer of the series was Jon Van Caneghem.[2] Van Caneghem has stated in interview[3] that the Might and Magic setting is inspired by his love for both science fiction and fantasy. He cites The Twilight Zone and the Star Trek episode For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky as having inspired Might and Magic lore.

The first five games in the series concern the renegade guardian of the planet Terra, named Sheltem, who becomes irrevocably corrupted, developing a penchant for throwing planets into their suns. Sheltem establishes himself on a series of flat worlds known as nacelles (which are implied to be giant spaceships) and Corak, a second guardian and creation of the Ancients, with the assistance of the player characters, pursues him across the Void. Eventually both Corak and Sheltem are destroyed in a climactic battle on the nacelle of Xeen.

The sixth, seventh and eighth games take place on Enroth, a single planet partially ruled by the Ironfist dynasty, and chronicle the events and aftermath of an invasion by the Kreegan (colloquially referred to as Devils), the demonlike arch-enemies of the Ancients. It is also revealed that the destruction wrought by the Ancients' wars with the Kreegan is the reason why the worlds of Might & Magic exist as medieval fantasy settings despite once being seeded with futuristic technology – the worlds have been 'cut off' from the Ancients and descended into barbarism. The first through third games in the Heroes of Might and Magic series traces the fortunes of the Ironfists in more detail. None of the science fiction elements appear in the Heroes series besides the appearance of Kreegan characters in Heroes of Might and Magic III and IV. Might & Magic IX and Heroes IV take place on Axeoth, another planet which the survivors of Enroth were brought to through portals after it was destroyed in an event called the Reckoning.

The Ubisoft release Might & Magic X: Legacy departs from this continuity and is set in the world of Ashan.[4] Ashan is a high fantasy setting with no science fiction elements in its lore.[5]

Reception edit

Might and Magic is considered one of the defining examples of early role-playing video games, along with The Bard's Tale, Ultima and Wizardry series.[6] By March 1994, combined sales of the Might and Magic series totaled 1 million units.[7] The number rose to 2.5 million sales by November 1996.[8] and 4 million by March 1999.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Namco, Ubisoft and MS carve up 3DO assets". 18 August 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  2. ^ . Computer Gaming World. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  3. ^ "RPG Codex Retrospective Interview: Jon Van Caneghem on Might and Magic". RPGCodex. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  4. ^ "RPG Codex Interview: Might and Magic X – Legacy". RPGCodex. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Discover World of Ashan". Ubisoft. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  6. ^ Barton, Matt (23 February 2007). "The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part 2: The Golden Age (1985-1993)". Gamasutra. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. ^ "READ.ME: NTN Networks With New World" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 116. March 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Power Play Magazine (November 1996)". Archive.org. 1 November 1996. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  9. ^ . Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. 2 March 1999. Archived from the original on 12 April 2000. Retrieved 17 June 2019 – via Yahoo.com.

External links edit

  • (archived)
  • (archived)
  • Might and Magic series at MobyGames
  • The plot and history of the Might and Magic series on Celestial Heavens
  • Might and Magic World

November 25, 2023
might, magic, series, role, playing, video, games, from, world, computing, which, 1996, became, subsidiary, company, original, series, ended, with, closure, company, rights, name, were, purchased, million, ubisoft, which, rebooted, franchise, with, series, wit. Might and Magic is a series of role playing video games from New World Computing which in 1996 became a subsidiary of The 3DO Company The original Might and Magic series ended with the closure of the 3DO Company The rights to the Might and Magic name were purchased for US 1 3 million by Ubisoft 1 which rebooted the franchise with a new series with no apparent connection to the previous continuity starting with the games Heroes of Might and Magic V and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic Might and MagicThe logo commonly used by New World Computing and The 3DO CompanyGenre s Role playingDeveloper s New World Computing 1984 2003 Arkane Studios for Dark Messiah Limbic Entertainment for Might amp Magic X Publisher s New World Computing 1984 1996 The 3DO Company 1996 2003 Ubisoft 2003 Creator s Jon Van CaneghemPlatform s Amiga Apple II C64 Macintosh MS DOS MSX NEC PC 9801 NES PlayStation 2 Sega Genesis SNES TurboGrafx 16 WindowsFirst releaseMight and Magic Book One The Secret of the Inner Sanctum1986Latest releaseMight amp Magic X Legacy23 January 2014Spin offsHeroes of Might and MagicList of spinoffsRelease timeline19861 The Secret of the Inner Sanctum198719882 Gates to Another World1989199019913 Isles of Terra19924 Clouds of Xeen19935 Darkside of Xeen1994World of Xeen19951996199719986 The Mandate of Heaven19997 For Blood and Honor20008 Day of the Destroyer200120029 Writ of Fate20032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201410 Legacy Contents 1 History 1 1 Main series 1 2 Spin offs 2 Gameplay 3 Plot 4 Reception 5 References 6 External linksHistory editFurther information List of Might and Magic media Main series edit Might and Magic Book One The Secret of the Inner Sanctum 1986 Apple II Mac MS DOS Commodore 64 NES MSX PC Engine CD ROM Might and Magic II Gates to Another World 1988 Apple II Amiga MS DOS Commodore 64 Mac Genesis Super NES Europe only Super Famicom Japan only different from the European Super NES version MSX Might and Magic III Isles of Terra 1991 MS DOS Mac Amiga Super NES Genesis prototype Sega CD PC Engine Super CD ROM Might and Magic IV Clouds of Xeen 1992 MS DOS Mac Might and Magic V Darkside of Xeen 1993 MS DOS Mac Might and Magic World of Xeen 1994 MS DOS Mac Might and Magic VI The Mandate of Heaven 1998 Windows Might and Magic VII For Blood and Honor 1999 Windows Might and Magic VIII Day of the Destroyer 2000 Windows Might and Magic IX Writ of Fate 2002 Windows Might amp Magic X Legacy 2014 Windows OS X Spin offs edit There have been several spin offs from the main series including the long running Heroes of Might and Magic series Crusaders of Might and Magic Warriors of Might and Magic Shifters of Might and Magic Legends of Might and Magic Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms and the fan made Swords of Xeen In August 2003 Ubisoft acquired the rights to the Might and Magic franchise for US 1 3 million after 3DO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 1 Ubisoft has since released multiple new projects using the Might and Magic brand including a fifth installment of the Heroes series developed by Nival an action style game Dark Messiah of Might and Magic developed by Arkane Studios a puzzle RPG Might amp Magic Clash of Heroes developed by Capybara Games and the mobile strategy RPG titled Might amp Magic Elemental Guardians Gameplay editThe majority of the gameplay takes place in a medieval fantasy setting while later sections of the games are often based on science fiction tropes the transition often serving as a plot twist The player controls a party of player characters which can consist of members of various character classes The game world is presented to the player in first person perspective In the earlier games the interface is very similar to that of Bard s Tale but from Might and Magic VI The Mandate of Heaven onward the interface features a three dimensional environment Combat is turn based though the later games allowed the player to choose to conduct combat in real time The game worlds in all of the Might and Magic games are quite large and a player can expect each game to provide several dozen hours of gameplay It is usually quite combat intensive and often involves large groups of enemy creatures Monsters and situations encountered throughout the series tend to be well known fantasy staples such as giant rats werewolf curses dragon flights and zombie hordes rather than original creations Isles of Terra and the Xeen games featured a more distinct environment blending fantasy and science fiction elements in a unique way The Might and Magic games have some replay value as the player can choose their party composition develop different skills choose sides do quests in a different order hunt for hidden secrets and easter eggs and or change difficulty level Plot editAlthough most of the gameplay reflects a distinctly fantasy genre the overarching plot of the first nine games has something of a science fiction background The series is set in a fictional galaxy as part of an alternative universe where planets are overseen by a powerful race of space travelers known as Ancients who seeded them with humans elves dwarves and others In each of the games a party of characters fights monsters and completes quests on one of these planets until they eventually become involved in the affairs of the Ancients Might and Magic could as such be considered an example of science fantasy The producer of the series was Jon Van Caneghem 2 Van Caneghem has stated in interview 3 that the Might and Magic setting is inspired by his love for both science fiction and fantasy He cites The Twilight Zone and the Star Trek episode For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky as having inspired Might and Magic lore The first five games in the series concern the renegade guardian of the planet Terra named Sheltem who becomes irrevocably corrupted developing a penchant for throwing planets into their suns Sheltem establishes himself on a series of flat worlds known as nacelles which are implied to be giant spaceships and Corak a second guardian and creation of the Ancients with the assistance of the player characters pursues him across the Void Eventually both Corak and Sheltem are destroyed in a climactic battle on the nacelle of Xeen The sixth seventh and eighth games take place on Enroth a single planet partially ruled by the Ironfist dynasty and chronicle the events and aftermath of an invasion by the Kreegan colloquially referred to as Devils the demonlike arch enemies of the Ancients It is also revealed that the destruction wrought by the Ancients wars with the Kreegan is the reason why the worlds of Might amp Magic exist as medieval fantasy settings despite once being seeded with futuristic technology the worlds have been cut off from the Ancients and descended into barbarism The first through third games in the Heroes of Might and Magic series traces the fortunes of the Ironfists in more detail None of the science fiction elements appear in the Heroes series besides the appearance of Kreegan characters in Heroes of Might and Magic III and IV Might amp Magic IX and Heroes IV take place on Axeoth another planet which the survivors of Enroth were brought to through portals after it was destroyed in an event called the Reckoning The Ubisoft release Might amp Magic X Legacy departs from this continuity and is set in the world of Ashan 4 Ashan is a high fantasy setting with no science fiction elements in its lore 5 Reception editMight and Magic is considered one of the defining examples of early role playing video games along with The Bard s Tale Ultima and Wizardry series 6 By March 1994 combined sales of the Might and Magic series totaled 1 million units 7 The number rose to 2 5 million sales by November 1996 8 and 4 million by March 1999 9 References edit a b Namco Ubisoft and MS carve up 3DO assets 18 August 2003 Retrieved 12 April 2019 CGW s Hall of Fame Computer Gaming World Archived from the original on 14 June 2016 Retrieved 12 April 2019 RPG Codex Retrospective Interview Jon Van Caneghem on Might and Magic RPGCodex 18 August 2012 Retrieved 12 April 2019 RPG Codex Interview Might and Magic X Legacy RPGCodex 5 April 2013 Retrieved 12 April 2019 Discover World of Ashan Ubisoft Retrieved 12 April 2019 Barton Matt 23 February 2007 The History of Computer Role Playing Games Part 2 The Golden Age 1985 1993 Gamasutra Retrieved 12 April 2019 READ ME NTN Networks With New World PDF Computer Gaming World No 116 March 1994 p 14 Retrieved 12 April 2019 Power Play Magazine November 1996 Archive org 1 November 1996 Retrieved 18 April 2019 3DO Ships Might and Magic VIII Day of the Destroyer Business Wire Berkshire Hathaway 2 March 1999 Archived from the original on 12 April 2000 Retrieved 17 June 2019 via Yahoo com External links editOfficial franchise website 2000 archived Official franchise website 2014 archived Might and Magic series at MobyGames The plot and history of the Might and Magic series on Celestial Heavens List of Might and Magic releases including games books and other collectibles Might and Magic World Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Might and Magic amp oldid 1173391902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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