New World Computing

Background: New World Computing (no relation to New World Entertainment) was an american game company, best known for its Might & Magic universe series. It was founded in 1984 by Mark Caldwell and Jon Van Caneghem, and became the subsidiary of 3DO in 1996. Since that time it acted as merely a M&M-developing appendix. When 3DO filed for bankruptcy in May 2003, NWC also ceased to exist.

1st Logo (1988-1990)
Nickname: "NWC Spacefield"

Logo: There is a simple spacefield on a black background, consisting of three small planets, stars and Earth pierced with a sword. The text in special font can be read: NEW WORLD COMPUTING and below: PRESENTS...

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Appears on King's Bounty and Might & Magic II.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1986-1999)
Nickname: "Pierced Globe"

Logo: This is a pool of common logos based on the same design. There is a starfield and Earth rotating on it. The sword pierces the planet through its axis. The company's name often appears in capital italics over the globe.

Variants: Zephyr - The sparkle runs over the solar system and passes the same logo as in the previous variant. 1995: Heroes of Might and Magic - Very similar to the above, except a bit brighter and the name cast shadow. The planet rotates and stars shine.
 * 1989: Nuclear War - The planet is red and blue, the sword and the company's name (placed over the picture with "PRESENTS" word) are golden.
 * 1994: Inherit the Earth: Quest for the Orb - Simple blue and green version of Earth and the name written above with "A PRESENTATION OF" addition.
 * 1994: Iron Cross - The name is shining gold without italics.
 * 1994: Anvil of Dawn - The name letters are red and have 3D effect with yellow sides.
 * 1995:

FX/SFX: Usually none, except for Zephyr version, where it was built in the intro movie.

Music/Sounds: Space kind music.

Availability: Appears on many early games named above.

Scare Factor: None.

3rd Logo (1991)
Nickname: "Pierced Globe II"

Logo: An early manifestation of the Earth globe logo, this one has the sword vertically and the name in two lines, in red computerized font.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Appears on Planet's Edge.

Scare Factor: None.

4th Logo (1991)
Nicknames: "NWC Gold", "Pierced Globe III"

Logo: There is a line of sky and the spacefield below. On the sky, the NEW WORLD and COMPUTING below take place in golden font, with first O shaped like globe and has a sword through it. We also see PRESENTS in black below. The logo moves down and touches the water, making ripple.

FX/SFX: The ripple.

Music/Sounds: The sound when the water is touched.

Availability: Appears on Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra.

Scare Factor: None.

5th Logo (1991)

Nickname: "Pierced Globe IV"

Logo: On a sky-blue background, there is an sword-pierced Earth, with the outline, continents and the sword gray, and oceans blue. Around this, we see the thick gray circle with the name written in blue. The logo has relief 3D look.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Appears on Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja.

Scare Factor: None, it's nothing special this way, but good color gamma and design.

6th Logo (1992-1994)

 Nickname: "Monster Marquee"

Logo: There are two logos based on the same idea: the monster face in the MGM-kind ribbon and the name below in exactly the same way as the 3rd logo (only turquoise color).

Variants : On Clouds of Xeen, a gray monster is facing left. A fly comes and buzzes around, and the monster takes it down with his fire breathing. Then he roars. On Darkside of Xeen, a different blue monster watches right. When the fly appears, he tries to burn it but fails and becomes angry, then he gets a bug repellent and uses it, grinning as the fly falls down.

FX/SFX: Simply generated sounds of the fly and roaring.

Music/Sounds: The sounds of buzzing and roars.

Availability: Appears on fourth and fifth Might & Magic games, namely Clouds of Xeen and Darkside of Xeen.

Scare Factor: TBA

7th Logo (1995)

Logo: Just the black italics of the company's name written over red glowing area.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Appears on Wetlands.

Scare Factor: Absolutely none.

8th Logo (1996-1999)

Nickname: "Pierced Globe V"

Logo: We see Earth rotating is space, as the name "NEW WORLD COMPUTING" fades over in a shiny red italics font. Then an elaborate golden sword pierces the planet, letting away the golden dust. The logo quickly shines in three spots and the 3DO byline appears.

FX/SFX: The planet rotating and sword going down, the shine.

Music/Sounds: A sweet soundtrack with piercing and shining sounds.

Availability: Seen on Arcomage (still), Wages of War and Heroes of Might & Magic 2. Also appeas on the intro movie of Might & Magic VI - The Mandate of Heaven.

Scare Factor: None.

9th Logo (1998)

Nicknames: "Pierced Globe VI", "Earth Looking At The Ocean"

Logo: We see a night view of a sandy beach, with clear water. We see the moon rising on the sky, while a dolphin jumps out of the water. The moon, after settling, fades into the pierced globe logomark. "NEW WORLD COMPUTING" in a shiny red italic font (like before) fades in front of the globe and the sword glows. The beach then fades out and the logo zooms into the center.

FX/SFX: The moon rising, the dolphin, the fade, the glow, the zooms.

Music/Sounds: An ethereal choir and orchestra theme.

Availability: Seen on the PC version of Vegas Games 2000.

Scare Factor: Low.

10th Logo (1999-2003)
Nicknames: "Pierced Globe VII", "Ages of Computing"

Logo: We see several changing images depicting the NWC logo at the stages of world existence. First picture shows burning orange planet pierced by formless pike and surrounded with fiery universe. Then it changes to the logo across the ancient rock carvings, then in the middle of relief wall, with Earth supported by Atlas and name in Roman font. Next shot shows a medieval print with castles and knights and the logo slowly rotating in the circle of Zodiak. Next shot shows the Renaissance ages picture, and the logo finally turns into normal starfield, mostly similar to the previous one. The worlds then lose red color and become golden and blue. The shine runs and ends on the right side.

FX/SFX: The logo changing through eras, then it moves around and the shine runs.

Music/Sounds: Medieval-style soundtrack.

Availability: Seen on Heroes of Might & Magic III and IV, as well as on Might & Magic VII and IX.

Editor's Note: This a good and favorite logo.