news archive

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press links | latest news

JUNE 2001

30-06-01
New spell-of-the-week, "pestilence" added to the expanding spell tactical index

23-06-01
New diary entry - part11 at /artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml

23-06-01
New spell-of-the-week, "morph" added to the expanding spell tactical index

17-06-01
work on the site
significant update of the wizard attributes

16-06-01
New spell-of-the-week, "meteor shower" added to the expanding spell tactical index

09-06-01
New spell-of-the-week, "magic eye" added to the expanding spell tactical index

09-06-01

work on the site
- all links re-validated
- full site moved for faster download speeds and increased capacity
(from www.intoto-online.com/magicandmayhem to www.magicandmayhem.co.uk)

02-06-01

New spell-of-the-week, "lure" added to the expanding spell tactical index

source: PCGAMER

"an exiting, character led RTS? You Betcha."

Read the full article on p42, of PCGAMER #97 (JUNE 2001)

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MAY 2001

26-05-01
HOT HEX updated
Rankings added, and Rocco Loscalzo, discloses his top six spells.

26-05-01
New spell-of-the-week, "lightning" added to the expanding spell tactical index

26-05-01
New screenshots, focusing on the 3D terrains, here

22-05-01

new preview at pczone

20-05-01
HOT HEX updated
Hal Angseesing and Larry Binks from the software team, submit their advice.

19-05-01
New spell-of-the-week, "heal" at spells

new wizards section!

Click here for continually updated rankings, to help you choose the ultimate avatar

12-05-01
New spell-of-the-week, "judgement" at spells

05-05-01
New spell-of-the-week, "iron skin" at spells

developer folds! AOM future uncertain!

Developers, Charybdis, have collapsed! - the full story here
source: pczone

"all the elements that made the original so addictive
have been retained"

See the front cover and 3 page preview in may's issue (#102) of PCZONE

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APRIL 2001

28-04-01
New spell-of-the-week, "invisibility" at spells

22-04-01
New spell-of-the-week, "heal" at spells

16-04-01
New spell-of-the-week, "haste" at spells

07-04-01

new screenshots at www.gamespot.co.uk

07-04-01
New spell-of-the-week, "totem of resurrection" at spells

03-04-01

new preview at justadventure

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MARCH 2001

31-03-01
HOT HEX section added - the latest spell choices of the development team.
Steve Norris, Mark Steele and Paul Twynholm kick off.

31-03-01
New spell-of-the-week, "gooey blob" at spells

28-03-01
work on the site
- all creatures pickup and eating status verified
- all creature locomotion type verified
- first 4 ingredient summaries updated

26-03-01
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots

24-03-01
New spell-of-the-week, "fireball" at spells

3rd AOM site launches!

Publishers, VIE, launch their "Art of Magic" site at www.art-of-magic.co.uk

17-03-01
New spell-of-the-week, "fire elemental" at spells

17-03-01

Release date [above] changed to May, based on new publisher projection

12-03-01
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots

11-03-01
Significant work on the site:
- Screen shots section optimised (for faster downloads)
- navigator opened up to allow nested options
- portmanteau and battle menu options descriptions added

10-03-01
New spell-of-the-week, "excalibur" at spells

08-03-01

new preview at maximum3d

04-03-01

new screenshots at www.ga-strategy.com

03-03-01
New spell-of-the-week, "fear" at spells

source: gamezone

"all the elements that fans of this [RPG] genre
embrace, enjoy and revel in"

Read the full interview at www.gamezone.com

source: voodooextreme

"I can say from first-hand experience
that this game is the real deal"

Read the full interview at www.voodooextreme.com

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FEBRUARY 2001

24-02-01
New spell-of-the-week, "totem of remote casting" at spells

2nd AOM site launches!

US distributors, Bethesda, launch their "Art of Magic" site at aom.bethsoft.com

19-02-01
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots

17-02-01

new screenshots at www.gamespydaily.com

new screenshots at www.ga-rpg.com

17-02-01
New spell-of-the-week, "gorgon stare" at spells

15-02-01
New diary entry - part10 at /artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml

10-02-01
New spell-of-the-week, "totem of pacifism" at spells

source: avault

"The Art of Magic becomes
a potentially explosive title to watch for"

Read the full preview at www.avault.com

08-02-01
New diary entry - part09 at /artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml

08-02-01

new screenshots at voodooextreme

06-02-01
site housekeeping - search engine updated - all outstanding links fixed

02-02-01
New diary entry - part08 at /artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots
New spell-of-the-week, "dragon's breath" at spells

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JANUARY 2001

source: betabites

"a 'busy' RTS game
with the strategy end keeping you on your toes"

Read the full preview at www.betabites.com

30-01-01

interview with Paul Whipp, Executive Producer (VIE) at www.gameseek.com

25-01-01

new screenshots at www.betabites.com

25-01-01
New diary entry - part07 at /artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml
New spell-of-the-week, "disenchant" at spells

source: gamespy

"creatures I summoned actually showed signs of independent action as the game progressed"

Read the full preview at www.gamespy.com

19-01-01

new screenshots at gamespy

19-01-01
New diary entry - part06 at /artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots
New spell-of-the-week, "bury" at spells

source: firingsquad

"holding true to the features that initially separated Might and Magic from the rest of the RTS populace"

Read the full preview at firingsquad.gamers.com

source: gamepower

"Charybdis has come up with some excellent special effects"

Read the full preview at www.gamepower.com

source: dailyradar

"we found the camera system to be utterly intuitive"

Read the full preview at www.dailyradar.com

17-01-01

Q&A with the producer at gamepower

15-01-01

new preview at yahoo

source: www.mpog.com

"expect to have a lot of fun with this"

Read the full preview at multi-player online gaming

source: www.zdnet.com/gamespot

"a stunning new 3D engine, a more involved campaign and spectacular special effects"

Read the full preview at gamespot

09-01-01

new screenshots at gamespot

source: www.pc.ign

"you'll be calling your friends over to take a look"

Read the full preview at pc.ign.com/previews/14778.shtml

04-01-01

preview at at quartertothree

03-01-01

link page at pcgamereview

28-12-00

update at gamespot

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DECEMBER 2000

31-12-00
All ingredients now detailed at /artofmagic/portmanteau/ingredients

source: CNET Gamecenter

The genre-breaking RTS, Art of Magic, is focused upon in a CNET Gamecenter feature article examining "eight great RTS games in the works."

"trying to push the genre "

More at www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Rtsroundup/ss03.shtml

new spells section!

All non-summoning spells structure in place - individual details to be released weekly

12-12-00
New diary entry - part05 at /artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots

10-12-00

links only at gamesup well-rounded gamingbliss dailytelefrag gamefaqs

03-12-00

more screenshots at bonusweb

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NOVEMBER 2000

19-11-00

preview at at gamecenter

preview at at gamespot

14-11-00

more screenshots at eurogamer

13-11-00

progress report and screenshots at the adrenaline vault

12-11-00

screenshots at gamespot

new preview at gamesdomain

"like "Sacrifice" crossed with what "Warcraft III" was originally announced as being..."

Full preview at http://www.eurogamer.net/content/p_artofmagic

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06-11-00

new preview at cdmag

new preview at gamespy

screenshots at pcdome

concept art at gamespot

update at electricgames

update at cdmag

08-11-00
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots
08-11-00
source: eurogamer press release

04-11-00

new screenshots at eurogamer

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OCTOBER 2000

29-10-00
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots
New creatures at /artofmagic/creatures
New wizards at /artofmagic/wizards

29-10-00

interview with the producer of The Art of Magic at ga-rpg

concept art at gamespy

09-10-00

update at avault

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SEPTEMBER 2000

source: PCZONE magazine

"the most impressive 3D effects we've ever seen
in a strategy game"

extract taken from NOV 2000 issue (#95) p14

31-09-00

more screenshots at bonusweb

22-09-00
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots

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AUGUST 2000

29-08-00
New diary entry - part03 at /artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml

21-08-00
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots

13-08-00
New diary entry - part02 at /artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml

07-08-00
New screenshots at /artofmagic/screenshots
07-08-00
source: gamespy

Interview with the producer of The Art of Magic, Charybdis' Andy Smith.

"Our first request was that we be allowed to move the franchise into a 3D world. There is nothing better than seeing a dragon swoop in from the sky, spewing forth a wall of flame onto a band of goblins cowering amongst some trees - all in full 3D."

more at: http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/interviews/andysmith_a.shtm

07-08-00

press release at at gamezone

screenshot info at at dailyradar

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JULY 2000

31-07-00
source: voodoo extreme

"The spell system is quite unique
and amazed me when I saw it in action"

previewed at: http://www.voodooextreme.com/games/previews/artofmagic/

30-07-00

exclusive! - the developers diary

/artofmagic/latest/diary.shtml is proud to be exclusively reporting the ins-and-outs of the development of the game, for the duration of the project. The coverage starts here

18-07-00
New screenshots at www.magicandmayhem.co.uk/screenshots

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MAY 2000

25-06-00
source: PSillustrated

"Art of Magic has great 3D effects and topography along with an addictive strategic element"

Read the full article at http://www.psillustrated.com/e3_2000/game_art_of_magic.shtml
25-06-00
source: ga-strategy

Charybdis: From Machines to Magic

GA-Source has learned that Charybdis the developers of Machines, a game that we called one of the best real-time strategy's of 1999, has recently taken over the development of Magic & Mayhem: The Art of Magic' (M&M2) from Mythos Games (the creators of X-COM and Magic & Mayhem).

more at: http://www.ga-strategy.com

25-06-00
source: gamersgazette

Virgin Interactive: Switch!

" It seems that developing the original is no guarantee that you’ll be developing the sequel. Although Mythos Games was the force behind the 1999 real-time strategy game Magic & Mayhem it will NOT be developing the upcoming sequel. That task will go to English–based developers Charybdis, creators of 1999’s RTS title Machines. The change was not made due to any deficiencies on the part of Mythos; as a matter of fact, Mythos and the publisher met to discuss the possible change in developers and Mythos agreed that Charybdis would be a better choice to develop the title. "

more at: http://www.gamersgazette.com/feb/0220/pc.shtml

25-05-00

Art of Magic press release

http://www.bethsoft.com/pr014.shtml

Bethesda Softworks Announces Sequel to Critically Acclaimed Magic & Mayhem

Magic & Mayhem: Art of Magic Set to Deliver Innovative Blend of Real-Time Strategy, Role-Playing, and Adventure

May 8, 2000 (Rockville, MD) -- Bethesda Softworks'™ continuing quest to deliver innovative and entertaining PC titles continues in January 2001 with the eagerly awaited sequel to the award-winning Magic and Mayhem™ -- Magic & Mayhem: The Art of Magic™. Designed by Mythos Games and developed by Charybdis, Art of Magic effortlessly mixes real-time strategy, role-playing, and adventure into an immersive experience that will once again entertain and enthrall PC gamers looking for something new.

Set within a lush, 3D environment, players control a novice spellcaster who is stranded in a world beset by chaotic forces. Each faction is attempting to seize control of the world, using their armies to fight raging battles through the game. Armed only with a limited supply of spells and powers, players must master their magical abilities and command their armies in order to survive a variety of tactical missions. As they progress, new skills will be learned and used as the player moves through the story to reveal a sinister plot.

"Magic & Mayhem was extremely well received by gamers and the press," said Mark Hardistry, lead designer for Art of Magic. "We wanted to give the game a fresh new look and a fantastic storyline full of plot twists, without messing with the core elements of the game that worked so well before."

Art of Magic will feature state-of-the-art 3D graphics with fantastic spell effects, mythical creatures, and lighting effects. Players can smoothly zoom in close to check out the teeth on a marauding demon or zoom out to direct their armies across the battlefields.

While the game features the same intuitive interface and spell creation system as the original, Art of Magic will also feature a host of new spells and creature types that will provide increased tactical options during combat. Players can move in close on the action and attack with devastating spells, like meteor showers, or keep a safe distance and summon creatures to fight for them, like knights, skeletons, and even dragons. Once players have mastered the single-player campaign, they can compete with up to three other wizards on the Internet to find out who has truly mastered the Art of Magic.

"Magic & Mayhem offered a combination of strategy, role playing, and adventure gaming that nobody had been able to achieve before or since its release," said Vlatko Andonov, president of Bethesda Softworks. "Art of Magic will build on the success of the original, adding new elements and ideas that will take the gameplay to the next level."

Magic & Mayhem: Art of Magic will be released on the PC in January 2001.

25-05-00
source: pcgameworld

Best Runner-Up
in the Real-time Strategy Section
E3 awards this year

more at: http://www.pcgameworld.com/e32000/realtimestrategy_runnersup.htm

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11-01-00
source: avault

Art of Magic Details

" Springboarding from concepts in Magic & Mayhem, Charybdis is set to deliver an enhanced interface, spell system and new 3D engine with a title code-named Art of Magic, an upcoming strategy and role-playing title due in Quarter 1 2001. "

more at: http://www.avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=1112000-113416

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11-01-00

update at at ga-source

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