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FOR
IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
PopTop
Software Announces Tropico
Gathering
of Developers to Publish 3D Building, Strategy and Simulation Game on
Multiple Platforms
Dallas,
TX, March 6, 2000 – Computer game developer PopTop Software today announced
the development of Tropico, a 3D building, strategy/simulation game for
the PC and Macintosh computers and Sega Dreamcast. Tropico takes the addictive
building gameplay style of PopTop’s hugely successful Railroad Tycoon
II and adds a hearty helping of Latin American political intrigue to create
an absorbing gaming experience. Developer-driven computer and video game
publisher Gathering of Developers will publish Tropico in late 2000 for
the PC and Macintosh computers and in early 2001
for Sega Dreamcast.
"PopTop
specializes in creating ‘virtual world’ replicas of real life," said
Phil Steinmeyer, CEO of PopTop. "With Tropico,
we will provide gamers with a slice of
political life – topsy-turvy third world dictators and the nations they
rule – pitting the rich against the poor, the army against the church, and
natives versus outside carpetbaggers."
In
Tropico, players take on the role of a newly instated dictator of a remote
Caribbean island and are challenged to build a
path of progress for a nation mired in
poverty, civil unrest and infighting. Based on their economic vision, gamers
build hotels, mines, factories, and over 100 other structures. Diplomacy
and politics will factor heavily in Tropico, as players must pacify various
internal factions and external threats. If the island’s growth is well
planned, the player will have plenty of money to buy the peoples? favor
and ensure prosperity. If growth is poorly planned
and the economy falters, the population may
revolt, forcing the player to institute martial law.
"PopTop
has an incredible knack for envisioning and developing games that combine
historical authenticity with imagination," said Harry Miller, president
of Gathering of Developers. "Railroad Tycoon II was tremendously successful,
and we believe Tropico, with its unique storyline, setting and engrossing
gameplay, will be another prized PopTop title."
Tropico
is based on an improved version of PopTop’s proprietary S3D engine allowing
for highly detailed 3D graphics and renderings. The S3D engine was initially
used in Railroad Tycoon II. The engine will support hardware acceleration,
variable resolution support from 640 x 480 up to 1600 x 1200 and variable
color depth support from 8-bit to 32-bit color.
Based
in Fenton, MO, computer game developer PopTop Software was founded in 1993
by programmer and game designer Phil Steinmeyer. After working with New
World Computing on three titles from 1993 through
1996, PopTop began developing Railroad
Tycoon II in 1997. Released in November 1998, Railroad Tycoon
II has received rave reviews from the press and the gaming industry, and
is a bestseller worldwide. In April 1999, Railroad Tycoon II: The Second
Century, the expansion pack to the 1998 computer
game hit, was released to stellar reviews.
Railroad Tycoon II: Gold Edition, a complete collection of the
Railroad Tycoon II series plus additional scenarios, was released in August
1999. The company is currently developing Tropico, a building-oriented strategy-simulation
game. http://www.poptop.com.
Founded
in Dallas, TX in January 1998, Gathering of Developers is a developer-driven
computer and video game publishing company. The company’s mission
is to be the worldwide leader in the development and delivery of commercially
successful computer and video game software designed for a range of
platforms. The company’s pioneering partners are industry leaders and proven
hit makers 3D Realms, Epic Games, PopTop Software, Ritual Entertainment,
Terminal Reality Inc and Edge of Reality. For more information visit
Gathering of Developers’ Web site at http://www.godgames.com.
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