Getting a Workout With Sports Software Titles

Unless the Olympic Committee decides to make Internet searching an official event, most of us aren’t likely to compete in the Games any time soon. On the other hand, you can be in the middle of the action--without leaving the comfort of your favorite computer chair--with a variety of software titles.

For would-be skiers, Front Page Sports: Ski Racing from Sierra (https://www.sierra.com) puts you on the slopes with world-class skier Picabo Street. This game lets you choose from five events--slalom, giant slalom, super G, downhill and all-around--on runs at six different, fully rendered world-class resorts. You can even choose your brand of ski equipment. Ski Racing supports the latest 3-D graphics cards, as well as Microsoft’s new force-feedback joystick. It runs on Windows 95 and sells for $49.95.

If you’re looking for realistic game play out on the ice, NHL Powerplay ’98 from Virgin Interactive (https://www.vie.com), boasts superior artificial intelligence that incorporates the playing styles of actual NHL players. Unlike some other hockey simulations, the drone players (the ones you aren’t controlling) act like real players who are interested in helping you win the game. The 3-D graphics are top-notch, with motion-capture player animations and support for 3Dfx-type graphics cards. NHL Powerplay ’98 retails for about $35 and requires Windows 95.

For those looking ahead to the Summer Games, there are plenty of titles available. If you’ve always wanted to shoot hoops with the Dream Team, check out NBA Live 98 from EA Sports (https://www.easports.com). NBA Live has long been considered the premier computer basketball game, and the 1998 version lives up to that status. Among the new offensive features are the ability switch hands while dribbling and to pivot and dribble backward toward the basket. On defense, there’s now a separate hand-check button that allows you to give the other player a little tap or--if you also use the turbo button--send him flying across the court. NBA Live 98 is a Windows 95 game and sells for about $50.

EA Sports brings about the same level of excitement and realism with its FIFA: Road to World Cup 98, perhaps the most popular PC-based soccer game on the market. Make no mistake, this is serious soccer, not a kick-the-ball-around game. Play is totally realistic. Players even start to lag when they’ve been on the field too long, and come in with renewed strength when called back from the bench. Road to World Cup 98 runs on Windows 95 and sells for about $50.

Mac users will have to cross the Atlantic to Gremlin Interactive (https://www.gremlin.co.uk) for a first-rate soccer simulation. Actua Soccer, part of the Actua Sports series, uses motion-capture technology to display talents of international and premier league players. This gives the game exceptional 3-D graphics. Actua Soccer is also an excellent multi-player game. It supports up to 20 players on a network, or four players on the same computer. The game sells for about $50.

Ever wonder who’d win a slugfest between George Foreman and Jack Dempsey? Queensberry ’98 from World of Boxing Software (https://www.boxing.clara.net) assembles 500 of the greatest boxers of all time in popular weight divisions. This game package not only offers great boxing action, it provides a good history lesson with records and stats on all the boxers. The software runs on Windows 95 and is available online for $39.95 plus $5 shipping and handling.

OK, I realize that Olympic wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation have about as much in common as do a SWAT team and the “Police Academy” movies, but for fans of this “sport,” there’s WWF in Your House from Acclaim Entertainment (https://www.aklm.com). This title was originally released for game consoles, but it’s also available for Windows 95. You get all the bone-crushing, jaw-breaking action of the real thing (if you can call professional wrestling real) for about $45.

If you’re a Macintosh user, you may be wondering about the obvious shortage of Mac titles in this column. The reason is purely economic: The gaming business is the most competitively fierce segment of the computer industry.

This means that in order to keep their doors open, developers need to create games that appeal to the largest possible audience. And the Mac audience isn’t that large right now.

Aside from Actua Soccer, about the best software for Mac users comes in the form of two not-quite-state-of-the-art shareware skiing simulations. MacSki is produced by Storm Impact (https://www.stormimpact.com) and is available for download from the company’s Web site.

The shareware fee is $28. The other is Ingemar’s Skiing Game, developed by Ingemar Ragnemalm, available on various Mac download sites and carrying a shareware fee of $20.

So go ahead, get in the spirit of the Games and dive right into the middle of some exciting sports action. All you need is a personal computer.

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Kim Komando is a TV host, syndicated talk radio host and author. You can visit her on the Internet at https://www.komando.com or e-mail her at komando@komando.com. Her national radio program can be heard on Saturdays from 7 to 9 a.m. on 97.1 KLSX-FM.