[Alpha Kodiak]

Another sign of the way the PC game industry is going is what happened to Sir-Tech, the makers of the Wizardry series of RPGs. I had played the early Wizardry games on my old Apple II+, then lost track of the series. When I heard that Wizardry 8(!) was coming out, I knew I had to get a copy. Well, they couldn't find a publisher (having sold off their own publishing arm years ago), that would take a risk on the non-mainstream game (at least at a price that would allow Sir-Tech to stay afloat).

Finally, they worked out a self-publishing arrangement with EB and got the game out, but they are finished as a company. It is another sad story of one of the industry's early innovators going under because they stayed true to the game format that they wanted to produce.

As an aside, if you like the classic RPGs (such as the Wizardry and Might & Magic series), pick up Wizardry 8. It is true to the stat heavy, non-linear, hack/slash/incinerate RPG style, with a decent story line and very good (not great, but very good) graphics. If you like this style of game (as I do), the game play is great and you will be lost in it for many, many hours.