Britsoft darlings Codemasters have signed up recently defunct Britsoft coders, Sensible Software, and Microsoft have signed an online affiliation programme with Europe’s leading Internet-based games retail service, U R Wired! You can read all about these deals and the rest of the week’s news inside. TrickStyle for the Dreamcast smacks of futuristic, stunt-crazed potential. Go our previews section for an early look at the title that blends Wipeout -style speed with some cool boarding. Croc's back in all his garish glory – his second outing seems to be a big improvement on the first. Check out our reviews section for further confirmation,. Our feature of the week is a thought-provoking introduction to artificial intelligence in videogames. In a couple of weeks we'll be continuing this line of thought, with an article that looks to the future of AI and examines the wider implications of creating alternate realities. For now, though, FG looks at the basic principles of the art. As ever we've taken a sideways look at the games scene in Gamer Life, just to prove we don't take things too seriously here on Future Gamer. Enjoy the issue. Andy Smith - Editor

News headlines:

Codemasters' Sensible link ... Dreamcast network details revealed ... Skydive! ... Driver TV ads ... Infogrames sign Spurs boss ... FIFA 2000 to miss N64? ... Microsoft get Wired ... Graphical minds think alike ... Rainbow Six headed for Dreamcast ... Tomorrow Never Dies ... Sega's New Challenge Conference '99 Report ... Three-way tie ... Bandai game figures ... Pikachu proven as Pocket Monster pest ... MP3 for PlayStation ... Nibbles ...

In this issue:
Preview: MiG Alley (PC) A new combat flight sim from veterans of the genre, Rowan Software, is bound to make people sit up and take notice. Set during the Korean War of the early '50s, this won't disappoint. You'll be itching to check out our screenshots on the website.
Review: Star Wars: Episode I Racer (N64) It's great to get in N64 games for review and this one’s more high profile than most for obvious reasons. The film’s been slated and film licences have a terrible reputation but put that aside and prepare to be fired up by this review.
Feature: Get A-Life A leisurely look at this thing we call artificial intelligence. Think you can outsmart the cleverest of adversaries? The human brain is more advanced than any computer but, as you'll realise when you’ve read this, the games are programmed to let you win.

Future Gamer was brought to you by: Andy Smith [editor], Steve Bradley [deputy editor], Vicki West [production editor] and Andy Ashwin [staff writer]. Contributors: James Price, Jes Bickham, Ben Morris, Gideon Kibblewhite, Dale Bradford, Tony Banks, Michael Foster.
Advertising enquiries: please contact Mike Hawkins.

Recommended setup: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4, screen resolution 800x600, thousands of colours. (It's only our opinion. The site will work fine on other configurations.)

Copyright Future Publishing 1999. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission from Future Publishing is prohibited.