May 18th, 2000

[3:30 PM] Ethically Challenged Drug Dealing Game Comes To The Mac by Staff Illusion Software has announced a Macintosh port for the PC game titled Dope Wars. The description below really says it all. According to Illusion Software: Dope Wars, an EXTREMELY popular game for the PC, which involves the selling of illegal substances in order to gain money, has now been ported to the Macintosh. The original game, by Beermat Software has been a huge success. This first release supports virtually all of the features found in the PC version, excluding support for playing online. The gameplay of Dope Wars consists of trying to earn as much money as possible in 31 days by selling as many illegal drugs as possible. These drugs include: cocaine, acid, heroin, smack, opium, ecstasy, and many others. Gameplay includes such things as paying off loan sharks, eluding police officers, watching for price fluctuations, and many other exciting events. Note: Due to the subject matter of the game, Illusion Software recommends that the game be played by only mature individuals or those with parental guidance. Dope Wars is free (until the pimp comes to your place) and you can find a download link about it at Illusion Software's site. The Mac Observer Spin: [Editor's Note: We are already getting e-mail on this, and I wanted to clarify that this Spin is my opinion. Some Mac Observer staff members have played this game and do enjoy it, as do many of our readers. Most have said that the game play is excellent and that the fact that one is dealing with drugs is inconsequential to the game itself, and that indeed, one quickly forgets about it. From my standpoint, the game still deals with the drug trade, something which I personally am against.] The following Spin is based not on playing the game, but on the description of the game above. We are big believers in the Freedom of Speech at The Mac Observer. It is that belief that is behind our mention of this game, because it is our opinion that it is morally and ethically bankrupt to in any way glorify the drug trade. However, suppression of information is seldom the answer, and is not so in this case. With that in mind, we are sorry to see this title come to the Mac. Illusion Software - Beer Mat Software