Game Central The gaming world of K. Fields
Between 1993 and 2000, I was committed to IBM's OS/2. It was my operating system of choice on my IBM PS/2 Model 56SX and IBM IntelliStation M Pro. DOS was old technology and I wasn't enthused about Windows so OS/2 was the next step for me. Best of all, OS/2 ran DOS apps and Windows 16-bit apps in addition to its own native apps. I was always searching for native OS/2 apps but continued to run DOS and Windows apps as well. I had plenty of DOS games such as my beloved Earl Weaver Baseball, which ran extremely well under OS/2. There weren't many commercial OS/2 games but I bought as many as I could. They are listed on the Video Game Library page but I've provided a bit more detail here.

Stardock

The biggest developer of commercial OS/2 games was Stardock. I bought almost every OS/2 product the company released. Below are some pertinent links regarding Stardock and OS/2:

OS/2 Past, Present and Future (Part 1)
OS/2 Past, Present and Future (Part 2)
Stardock 10 Year Anniversary
Stardock’s 30th Anniversary
Stardock’s OS/2 History

Avarice


Stardock released a Preview Edition before releasing Avarice: The Final Saga.

From the disc's back cover:

"Avarice'": The Final Saga" is the world's first adventure game for OS/2! The search for your missing uncle takes you on a first-person perspective adventure through his mysterious mansion and beyond. What happened to your uncle? Where has he gone and what dues did he leave behind to his whereabouts? Your quest will require you to carefully explore the mansion and take advantage of the fully interactive objects and characters which are used to give clues, solve puzzles, and flesh out a richly detailed environment.

Stardock - Avarice Product Page

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Entrepreneur


From the README file:

Start a company and try to conquer the world as a monopoly.Entrepreneur is already played by the CEOs at companies like Microsoft, Nets Apple, Oracle, Sun, General Motors, and Nabisco. That is, they are doing the same sorts of things that appear in Entrepreneur - making product, crushing competitors and trying to control perception.Why should only CEO's at multi-billion dollar corporations get to play this game? Now you too can play it!


Stardock - Entrepreneur Press Release
Stardock - Entrepreneur Product Page

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Galactic Civilizations


This was probably the most famous commercial game released solely for OS/2. It paved the way for more native OS/2 games. Stardock would go on to release additional entries in the GalCiv series for OS/2 and later for Windows as well.

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Galactic Civilizations 2


After releasing
Galactic Civilizations in 1994, Stardock followed up with Galactic Civilizations 2 in late 1995. Finally in 1998, they released Galactic Civilizations 2: Gold Edition.

Stardock - Galactic Civilizations 2: Gold Edition Product Page

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IBM Family FunPak for OS/2 Warp


The
IBM Family FunPak for OS/2 Warp was a collection of games and applications designed to be used at home or in the office. The non-game applications were The American Heritage Dictionary (Concise Edition), The Child Development Guide, InCharge at Home!, and Magic Canvas. The games are listed below:

  • Havoc for OS/2 Warp - You are the commander of your own ship. Your mission is to clear your territory of space debris, mines, and other military hazards. Use your ship’s unique “thrusters” to maneuver your way out of any obstacles. Have at it and play Havoc!
  • MicroLearn Game Pack - Volume 1
    • BlockBouncer
    • Combo
    • Four Fun
    • Go-MoKu
    • Manta Ghiis
    • MindSweeper
    • Soko PM
    • Solitaire
    • The Wall
    • WordMaster
  • OS/2 Black Jack - Enjoy the excitement and challenge of playing Blackjack in Las Vegas. OS/2 Black Jack has all the features of the traditional casino Blackjack. Player and dealer will start with two cards. The object of the game is to accumulate cards totaling as close to 21 as possible without going over. You win if your hand is higher than the dealer’s hand.

    Enjoy the fun of Las Vegas without risking a cent!
  • OS/2 Poker - Play OS/2 Poker as if you were playing a real Las Vegas Video Poker machine. You also can play your hand against the computer. You can modify the rules to match your favorite casino.
  • Rapid Assault - Imagine the year 2035. You are serving time in a federal prison. The United World Council offers you a second chance. In exchange for your successful completion of a simple military operation, you can have your freedom. This is the world of Rapid Assault! The United World Council provides a rapid-assault vehicle with state-of-the-art equipment and an unlimited number of military weapons. Now it’s up to you. Freedom is within your grasp. Enjoy the graphics and music that add to the atmosphere of suspense.
  • SimCIty Classic Limited - Play SimCity and rule the city! Be the ruler of a computer simulation of a city. Become the master of existing cities, including San Francisco, Kyoto, and Hamburg, or create your own dream city (or slum)! Whether you take over an existing city or build your own, you are the mayor and city planner with complete authority.

    SimCIty includes a set of rules and tools that you can use to describe, create, and control the system. In the case of SimCity the system is a city. The challenge of a system simulations program is to figure out how the system works and then take control of it. When you play SimCity, you can use the tools provided with the program to create and control the cities you create. The tools enable you to plan, lay out, zone, build, manage, and destroy your city. The program includes online help to explain the rules of the game.
  • Star Emperor - Imagine that as Star Emperor, you must bring a distant galaxy under your rule through diplomacy or military conquest. As emperor of the land, you must first bring aligned worlds together. As time passes, you realize that only through military confrontation will you increase your jurisdiction and add new worlds to your mighty empire.

    Highlights of
    Star Emperor include appealing graphics, multimedia sound and music, and an advanced artificial-intelligence engine. The galaxy awaits your command!
  • TD-Gammon - TD-Gammon is a world-famous computer game that has revolutionized backgammon. Based on breakthrough research in Artificial Neural Network technology, TD-Gammon taught itself to play backgammon, and is now one of the very best players in the world.

    TD-Gammon uses the facilities of the OS/2 operating system to bring this world-class game to you. Now you can play against this amazing computer opponent. Are you up for the challenge?

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Links OS/2


Access Software's
Links was a popular golf video game available on several platforms, most notably DOS. In 1997, Stardock partnered with Access to release Links OS/2.

Stardock - Links OS/2 Product Page

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MicroLearn OS/2 Game Pack Vol. II


  • MirrorMan: Help the Barkto twins Aramis and Portos find their homes. The poor twins are lost and need your help.
  • ML Memory: Test your mental skills to the limit. Match pairs and win! The trick is you have to remember where the cards lie.
  • Rockbot: The most advanced digger robot forages for treasure. Soup int up with the Turbo GX2 kit! Watch out, don’t get blown away!
  • Combo II: Guide the balls through a field of pipes and send the right colors home. Look out for a devious frog, a boxing glove and mushrooms that magically reduce your score.
  • Sauron’s Eye: Whack away at the wall destroying it brick by brick. This a a real game of hardball.
  • Blox: See if you can clear the warehouse in this strategic puzzle game. Mysterious boxes explode, disappear or stubbornly stay in place. You can’t lose at Blox, but you might fail.
  • Morris: Play the ultimate in computer board games. Defeat your enemy by taking away his markers and blocking him in.
  • LongLegs: Longleg needs your help in this action packed adventure. Watch out for the Fireman and Bill the Lizard who are always getting in the way.

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PlusPak: B.U.G.S.


This was the OS/2 version of B.U.G.S (Bill's Unbelievably Ghastly Spaceships), a 2D space shooter somewhat similar to Galaga.

Stardock - B.U.G.S. Product Page

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Trials of Battle


Stardock called
Trials of Battle "OS/2's FIRST truly native first person action game." It was a futuristic game of combat with armored hover tanks.

Stardock - Trials of Battle Product Page

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