Review by Helix Energy 
From: The IIgs Gaming Fairway Website

http://www.inwards.com/~fairway/
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Future Shock 3D for the Apple IIgs

Future Shock 3D, if it was released at all, would have been in 1989, according
to the title and about screens, by Neeka Electronics.

The game itself is rather unique for the IIgs; it was to go hand in hand with a
new gaming peripheral, the Future Pad. The Future Pad, from what I've heard, was
like the Power Glove for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. I can't
comment on whether the Future pad is, in reality, like the Powerglove, not
having heard or seen anything about it in Apple II journals, which has lead me
to believe both the game and the Future Pad weren't released. If they were
released, it must have been so for a very limited time. I couldn't imagine that
in 1989, anyone would develop new gaming hardware that was to be aimed as a
standard and expect it to be successful. It was already apparent at that time
that the Apple II market was shrinking and developers were already jumping ship
for more lucrative platforms. That's not to say I don't welcome new means for
input for computer games - I think its something that has been forgotten in
recent years. Whatever happened to immersive virtual reality?

The demo recording gives us a small real glimpse of the game.

Perhaps the need for the hardware required by Future Shock was a desperate sign
of the times. You can't play the game properly without the Future Pad, and the
game will warn you when its loaded that the Future Pad wasn't installed. The
ultimate anti-piracy technique? Without the Future Pad, Future Shock becomes
nothing more than a collectible piece of novelty software. You can control your
ball with the mouse for directional controls and the mouse button stops your
ball (its effected by inertia). If you continue to keep the mouse button down,
you can then view the entire play field by scrolling in the direction you want
to see with the mouse. Without the Future Pad, you can't jump or do anything
else that the recorded game, under the Play menu, demonstrates.

Its a shame - the game looks quite interesting and well made.

Brought to you by...Helix Energy 

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