ST Report: 04-Sep-98 #1428
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 09/07/98-09:48:47 PM Z
From: aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: ST Report: 04-Sep-98 #1428
Date: Mon Sep 7 21:48:47 1998
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September 04, 1998 No.1428
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"Often Imitated, Never Surpassed!"
- Maptech Chartware - Earthlink SUED - Redneck Rampage II
- Adobe Rejects Quark's Try - The Lonely Net - DaVinci Handheld
- Mad Katz Panther XL - COOL Chips - Northstar DGPS
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Microsoft Subpoenas Netscape Messages
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From the Editor's Desk...
Well now... as the saying goes.... "all good things must come to an
end"... Beginning with this issue, we go back on our regular, weekly
schedule. Maybe next year we'll go to three summer monthly issues
instead of two like this year. In any case, as most of you are aware,
lately we've been enjoying rapid air changes here in Florida. Better
known as Hurricanes and Tropical Storms. So far, thankfully, it hasn't
amounted to much in North Florida. It does however, hamper the outdoor
activities. In our new Bits & Bytes column, this is discussed
further.
It'll be interesting to watch Senator Orrin Hatch's actions over the
next few months. In all probabilities, he'll ranting over Clinton and
Gates... trying to keep the pot stirred as best he can. We shall see.
Hatch... a virtual unknown before the "Republican Revolution" has, in
recent months proven himself to be "just another politician". While he
appears to be "squeaky clean" by his dress and mannerisms one has to
wonder. This guy has been in the Senate for how many years? Where was
his BIG MOUTH during the Iran/Contra Hearings? The Panamanian Debacle
and of course the Bank Failure Investigations??? Obvious by his lack
of presence and silence?? This is one politico who needs to be booted
by the TERM Limits law that's proposed. Hatch plays favorites like
John Q. Public plays his TV. I simply cannot wait to hear Hatch's new
tirades about Bill Gates and Bill Clinton. I need a good laugh. And
the politicians wonder why there is LOW Voter Turnout? Hatch and his
cronies are good examples of some of the causes.
It is sad to see low turn out but its a sign of the times. Maybe the
sleaze ball politicians we have in Washington want it that way so its
easier to get "their" people out voting and thus fairly push the vote
whichever way they wish. Maybe just maybe.... the masses ought to get
out and vote. It would be nice to see the thieves, liars and backroom
wheeler/dealers we now call politicians blown right out of office and
Washington D.C. in one fell swoop. This year and the year 2000 are
deciding factors. Please get out and vote; locally, Statewide and
Federally.
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STReport Headline News
LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Microsoft Asks Court To Limit Gates Deposition
Microsoft lawyers asked a federal judge on Tuesday to limit the U.S.
government to no more than eight hours of deposition with its chairman
and chief executive, Bill Gates. In response to the Justice Department's
request last week that Gates be made available for two consecutive days
of testimony, Microsoft accused the government of "gamesmanship" aimed at
disrupting the company's efforts to prepare for a landmark antitrust
trial, set to begin Sept. 8. In its 25-page filing, the world's leading
software company said the government "inexplicably" waited two months
after filing its lawsuit to seek depositions from 17 Microsoft executives
including Gates. The federal government and 20 states filed a broad
antitrust suit against Microsoft on May 18, accusing the company of
illegally using a monopoly in personal computer operating systems to gain
control of the Internet software market. "Plaintiffs' decision to wait 60
days to serve their first deposition notice is inexplicable and ...
appears timed to interfere with Microsoft's trial preparation," the
Redmond, Wash.-based company said in its filing.
"The court should not countenance such gamesmanship." Microsoft said it
offered to make available Gates, Microsoft President Steve Ballmer and
seven other executives of the government's choosing. U.S. District Judge
Thomas Penfield Jackson has set a hearing for Thursday to hear arguments
on the pretrial maneuvering, which threatens to delay the start of the
trial. Microsoft also argued in the filing that the government
consultants should not be allowed access to closely guarded source code
to its Windows 98 operating system unless they sign agreements that would
limit their ability to work for Microsoft rivals for up to 18 months. The
source code, which includes notes on how Windows 98 works, is among
Microsoft's "most valuable and closely guarded assets," the company said.
"That source code, for a currently shipping product responsible for
generating billions of dollars of revenue for Microsoft, should not be
treated cavalierly," it said.
Gates Questioned in Antitrust Case
Government lawyers on Friday spent a second day questioning Microsoft
chairman Bill Gates in preparation for a trial next month of their
antitrust suit against the software giant. One attorney, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said Gates was "more responsive" during 81/2
hours of questioning Friday after being "evasive and non-responsive"
during a similar session Thursday. A third round of questioning will be
held next Wednesday, the attorney said. Gates, the world's richest man
with more than an estimated $50 billion in assets, was questioned in a
conference room at Microsoft's headquarters near Seattle. A Microsoft
spokesman, Mark Murray, said of earlier complaints that Gates wasn't
being responsive: ``The facts don't support the government's case, so
it's not surprising that the government doesn't want to hear the facts.''
U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, who will preside over the
trial, previously told government lawyers they can interview Gates "as
long as it takes." The government planned to interview 15 Microsoft
executives, including Gates, as it prepares for the Sept. 23 trial. The
Justice Department and 20 states allege that Microsoft used its market
influence as the dominant producer of operating software for personal
computers to stifle competition in the high-tech industry.
Attorney Sam Miller of San Francisco, who deposed Gates in 1994 for the
Justice Department during its last investigation of Microsoft, cautioned
that pre-trial depositions often can seem ponderous. "Unlike in a trial,
the lawyer can ask questions over and over again, until they get an
answer they're happy with or until the defending lawyer tells the witness
not to answer any further," said Miller, now with the law firm Folger,
Levin and Kahn. "It's a difficult situation for any witness, not a
natural conversation."
Steve Houck of the New York attorney general's office, representing the
20 states suing Microsoft, questioned Gates for roughly six hours
Thursday, then the Justice Department's David Boies took his turn. Boies
also will handle the interview with Gates next Wednesday. In addition to
Gates in the conference room, there were three lawyers each for the 20
states, the Justice Department and Microsoft, for a total of 10 people.
"Bill Gates will be very well prepared," said Miller, who isn't connected
with the current case. "He's the son of a lawyer; he's been deposed
several times, so he's well aware of the legal process. He is, by
personality and background, very smart and generally can be combative."
Miller said the government also likely is considering whether Gates will
make an effective witness during the upcoming trial. Gates has testified
publicly in at least two previous lawsuits, once in 1986 and again in
1994.
"It gives you a very good opportunity to make a judgment about a witness,
to size up a witness about how he will perform before a judge or jury,"
Miller said. "That would be one of the objectives of the government's
lawyer." The Seattle Times reported that Gates told the government during
Thursday's deposition that he knew nothing about a reported attempt to
persuade rival Netscape Communications Corp. to divide the market for
Internet browsers.
The Justice Department and 20 state attorneys general contend that
Microsoft met with Netscape in May 1995 and offered to divide the market
for Internet browsers. Citing a deposition with Netscape co-founder Marc
Andreessen, the government alleged that Microsoft offered not to make
browsers except for Windows 95 if Netscape agreed not to make browsers
for Windows or to help design rival operating systems.
Gates previously called the allegation about collusion "an outrageous
lie." He said the 1995 meeting ``was to discuss various technologies
Microsoft proposed sharing with Netscape, so that Netscape's browser
could take advantage of the cool new features we were developing for
Windows 95.''
Microsoft Subpoenas Netscape Messages
Microsoft Corp. has demanded ``flame mail'' messages from Netscape
Communications Corp. in a bid to scorch its competitor in next month's
antitrust trial. Hinting at one strategy it may use at the Sept. 23
trial, the Redmond, Wash., software company has subpoenaed internal
electronic forums run by Netscape employees, the Journal reported. One
forum, known as "bad attitude," is used to vent about everything from
competitors to cafeteria food, and a second, "really bad attitude," is
where a small circle of young engineers posted barbed messages, known as
flame mail, about their workplace and products. Microsoft may plan to use
some of the more embarrassing of these electronic messages to show that
it was management errors or weak products that led to a decline in
Netscape's share of the Internet-browser market -- not the predatory
practices of a monopolist, as the government charges, the Journal said.
The subpoena surprised the engineering ranks at Netscape, where frank and
often deeply cutting criticism was common on electronic "bulletin boards"
that were never intended to be seen by outsiders, especially the
arch-enemy Microsoft. Bad attitude was intended as "an anything-goes
forum for venting in as inappropriate and vitriolic a way as you felt
like" without fear of management reprisal, one engineer wrote, the
Journal reported. The second, private bulletin board was open by
invitation only. "You could be on RBA only if you first flamed so hard
that bile flowed from your eye sockets," the forum's creator, Jamie
Zawinski, wrote on his personal Web site. He says that he has
discontinued the forum. The Journal said Zawinski could not be reached
for comment.
Microsoft's internal e-mail: More ammo for the DOJ
Microsoft's internal e-mails are starting to look like the high-tech
industry's version of the Nixon tapes. The words of Microsoft's own
executives and other employees ultimately could do more damage to the
software giant than any other evidence that the Justice Department is
gathering as it prepares for its Sept. 23 showdown in court. At first
glance, the evidence appears damning in terms of how Microsoft tried to
bully friends and foes alike to cave in to its demands. This will likely
be a key piece of the government's strategy to convince U.S. District
Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson that Microsoft abused its monopoly power.
If Justice wins that major battle, it will have a much easier time asking
for harsh remedies to rein in Microsoft's dominance.
But what do we learn from reading these memos? Here are a few takeaways
that should come as no surprise to anyone who's done business with
Microsoft or bought its products:
* MICROSOFT IS A BULLY. Microsoft and its employees have become more
arrogant as the company has become more successful, and it takes
advantage of every opportunity to leverage that success to win sales
and force concessions regarding technology.
* BIG BUSINESS IS TOUGH. I'd be willing to bet Bill Gates and Andy
Grove had many more knock-down, drag-out fights than the one
chronicled in memos leaked to the press last week regarding Intel's
planned support of native signal processing technology. That's what
business is all about, isn't it? Put two powerful CEOs in a room to
talk about future plans, and it's guaranteed that each one will try
to browbeat the other into submission.
* MICROSOFT CHEATS. Inserting code in a product to intentionally break
another company's product, as Microsoft allegedly did with Windows
3.1 and DR-DOS, is just plain dumb. Documenting the strategy in
e-mail is even dumber. Saving the e-mail completes the dumbness
troika.
The first two items beg the question, So what? Bullheadedness, arrogance
and hardball tactics, like it or not, are accepted practices in the
business world. In these areas, Microsoft execs are not much different
from their peers--despite what competitors want you to think. And
internal e-mails alone don't give a fair picture of a company's strategy.
The third item is more disturbing, since it potentially shows that
Microsoft plotted to intentionally subvert a competitor by technical, not
marketing, means. Originally gathered under subpoena in Caldera's
antitrust suit against Microsoft, the evidence could become a key part of
the federal antitrust case.
As these and other internal memos continue to swirl around Microsoft with
the force of Hurricane Bonnie, the company seems more vulnerable now than
at any other time in the past decade. While it laughed off the consent
decree handed down in 1995 after the first government investigation into
its business practices, things are different now. The government seems
much more prepared this time, and every step Microsoft has taken lately
to sway opinion its way has been a misstep. Granted, it won a key battle
in June when a U.S. Appeals Court overturned a preliminary injunction
against bundling Internet Explorer with Windows 95. But it has yet to win
the war. Who knows what additional damage lurks inside the internal memos
the Justice Department has gathered during its investigation? Right now,
Bill Gates is probably wishing he had the e-mail equivalent of Richard
Nixon's 18-minute gap.
U.S. Asks Judge Not To Throw Out Microsoft Case
The U.S. government urged a federal judge not to dismiss its antitrust
case against Microsoft Corp., and accused Bill Gates and other executives
of an "astonishing lack of recall" when questioned under oath. In an
89-page filing made late on Monday in U.S. District Court here, the
Justice Department and 20 states said they had substantial evidence that
Microsoft had abused its dominant position to thwart rival Netscape
Communications Corp. (NSCP - news) and take control of the market for
Internet browsers. The filing was in reply to Microsoft's Aug. 10 request
to have the government's landmark antitrust suit against the software
giant dismissed. "Because Microsoft believed that it could not win what
it repeatedly described as 'the browser war' legitimately and on the
merits, it resorted to the predatory and anti-competitive agreements and
conduct described," the government said.
The company's executives, when interviewed under oath by government
lawyers, ``claim an astonishing lack of recall,'' the brief said.
"Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, who is placed at the center of key events by
numerous documents, displayed a particular failure of recollection at his
deposition," the government said. "Mr. Gates' testimony appears to be
part of a pattern of Microsoft attempting to rewrite history." Microsoft
has repeatedly denied the government's charges and earlier this month
asked that the case be dismissed for failing to meet basic legal
standards.
Filmmaker Sues Internet Provider Over "Spam" Label
New York filmmaker Peter Hall says he dislikes spammers as much as
anyone. "They're idiots," he says. But he dislikes being accused of being
a spammer even more. So last Thursday, the former journalist and his
independent filmmaking company, Big Bad Productions Inc., filed a lawsuit
against Earthlink, the California-based Internet service provider, for
falsely identifying him as a spammer.
Among the seven counts is the charge of libel, stemming from a list of
terminated Earthlink accounts that was posted to Internet newsgroups. "We
are taking the position that 'spammer' is a pejorative term," says Hall's
lawyer, Andrew Grosso, who is seeking damages in excess of $1 million.
"Spammers are disliked. There is even legislation before Congress that
would prohibit spamming."
The suit stems from a case of mistaken identity. It's nearly a year to
the day from the morning Hall awoke to find himself starring in a
real-life Kafka-esque drama. Hall was preparing for the theatrical
release of his first full-length feature film, "Delinquent," when he was
suddenly cut off from all electronic communications by his then-ISP,
Earthlink. The reason? Earthlink had received information from UUNet, its
backbone Internet traffic carrier, that Hall's account had been used for
spamming AOL members.
Unfortunately, the information was wrong. Apparently, the confusion arose
because of a numerical identification system used to track users' online
activity. The ID numbers are reassigned each day, but when the initial
spam complaint -- which originated from an AOL user in Japan-was received
by UUNet, a clerk neglected to factor in the international dateline
difference to determine the proper user identification number. The
confusion resulted in Hall being mistakenly ID'd as the culprit.
UUNet then passed on the wrong information to Earthlink and the ISP took
immediate action: Earthlink "toasted" Hall's account. Hall tried
frantically to contact Earthlink personnel to get to the bottom of the
problem, but claims he was rebuffed by the company's abuse department,
which refused to listen to Hall's protestations of innocence. After UUNet
admitted its mistake, Hall claims that Earthlink promised to immediately
reactivate his prepaid account but inexplicably did not.
Furthermore, Hall says that six days after his account was terminated and
more than 24 hours after being promised that his account would be
reopened he received a phone call from Earthlink's VP of Communications
with an offer for six months of free service-less than what he'd spent on
long-distance phone calls trying to remedy the situation. "I went
ballistic," he admits.
"I'd been up all night waiting for them to turn on my account. I'd just
spent five years working on this film and I was desperate to get my
email. If you want to systematically drive someone mad, this is how you'd
do it." The next day, Hall signed up with an alternate ISP and soon found
some emails had been forwarded from his Earthlink account. But from that
day until the day that the lawsuit was filed, Hall says, Earthlink has
been accepting Hall's e-mails, refusing to either forward them to him or
bounce the messages back to the senders to alert them that the emails
were not being received by Hall.
According to Hall, there are at least 591 messages to him at his old
Earthlink account which he cannot access. Grosso alleges that, under the
Electronic Communications Privacy Act, "ISPs have a duty to either
deliver the mail or inform the sender that it cannot be delivered."
Hall is claiming that he suffered financially from the inability to
promote the film's commercial debut and is seeking damages, as well as
compensation for his mental anguish and humiliation. Earthlink had no
comment on the lawsuit. Despite UUNet's role in the fiasco, Hall has not
pursued legal action against the backbone.
"UUNet asserts that its reports are not intended to be construed as
concrete evidence of wrongdoing," explains Hall. "They were responsive
and treated me courteously. They never treated me like a criminal. And
they apologized."
Microsoft Blamed in Software Glitch
Mark Alberding, a college student in San Francisco, was perplexed: His
computer running Windows 95 was working fine until he installed some
popular multimedia software called QuickTime. Suddenly, whenever he
double-clicked to look at any of the hundreds of digital photographs on
his hard-drive, his machine launched the new QuickTime software from
Apple Computer instead of a rival Microsoft program he had been using to
view pictures.
This sometimes happens with personal computers. Ill-mannered new programs
clash with old ones. The software ``victims'' can be programs from any
vendor, even Microsoft. But what had been a common and fairly esoteric
technical annoyance is a new focus in the landmark debate over whether
Microsoft unfairly uses its enormous influence to stifle competition in
the high-tech industry.
In Alberding's case, Microsoft's program stopped working. But the
company's toughest critics say that Microsoft's own software too often is
the victor not the victim in battles with rival programs. They want the
Justice Department - already suing Microsoft in a broad antitrust lawsuit
- also to investigate whether the software maker is deliberately trying
to stamp out rivals using a sort of software sabotage.
Alberding suspects that in his case, Apple's QuickTime established itself
as the default software to view his pictures, supplanting the viewer
programs from Microsoft and other companies. "It basically set itself up
as the default," Alberding said. "Sometimes when you install the most
innocent-looking applications, all kinds of silly stuff happens," said
Mark Stotzer, a support engineer for about 200 computer users at a
California textbook publishing company. "I don't know how normal users
can get anything to work after installing this stuff. In Washington,
executive Rob Glaser of Seattle-based RealNetworks Inc. fueled the debate
when he accused rival Microsoft of deliberately designing some of its
newest software to ``break'' his own popular product, which lets people
hear audio and watch video over the Internet.
In a dramatic demonstration during a Senate hearing last month, Glaser
showed his own Real Player G2 software working perfectly on a computer.
But it failed with an error message after he installed Microsoft's new
Media Player. In that case, Microsoft's player not only tried to take
over the duties of playing audio and video files, it went belly-up
because, unlike the G2 player, it's designed to recognize only the
earliest types of RealNetworks audio and video data. It was as if your
stereo's CD player suddenly decided it would try to play all your
eight-track tapes. The largely sympathetic Senate panel appeared
indignant. "I would think that a responsible corporation would know
better than to deliberately disable a competitor's product,'' said
Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, calling it "something the Justice
Department has to take seriously."
Microsoft's engineers blamed a mistake in Glaser's own software. They
detailed what they called a faulty entry that RealNetworks makes in the
Windows Registry, a repository of system settings, and they've since
noted that RealNetworks quietly fixed the problem in software it released
last week. Mike Elgan, the editor for Windows Magazine, complains the
whole incident showed that Washington doesn't understand technology
issues: "Hatch wouldn't know a registry key if it bit him in the gavel,''
Elgan said.
Glaser stands his ground, although his company's stock has lost one-fifth
its value since his testimony. And one company that complained with
Glaser about Microsoft's new Media Player, Xing Technologies, has
retracted its statements. Meanwhile, Glaser and some of Microsoft's
biggest rivals - including Netscape Communications and Sun Microsystems -
want new industry-wide principles to let computer users decide which
programs as they're installed will take control of common data files.
Alberding, the college student, never got his problem completely solved
espite his tinkering and a request for help on the Internet. He's all for
the new industry plan. ``That certainly makes sense, doesn't it?'' he
says.
"Internet Virgin" Site Sparks Lawsuit and Bickering
Ken Tipton, the mastermind behind the Our First Time Web site, where two
teenagers were supposed to lose their virginity online, says the fiasco
has become a professional and personal nightmare. The event, which was
conceived as a theatrical hoax a la Orson Welles' fake radio broadcast
War of the Worlds, is now the subject of a bitter legal battle.
Tipton filed a lawsuit for defamation and breach of contract this week
against the Internet Entertainment Group, his former Internet service
provider in the virgin venture. IEG is the company behind one of the most
profitable porn sites in the world and owns the rights to the infamous
Pamela Anderson-Tommy Lee video. Tipton wants $3 million to $5 million in
contract damages and another $10 million for defamation.
"My client has lost millions of dollars in potential ad revenues,''
claimed Los Angeles attorney Stan Lieber, who has advised Tipton against
speaking directly to the press. ``Not to mention the permanent damage to
his reputation as a filmmaker and an actor." Lieber said that Seth
Warshavsky, IEG's president, pulled the plug on the site in mid-July when
he learned that the teenagers were not really going to consummate their
rosy, weeks-long online romance with sex, but were instead going to opt
for abstinence -- the message being that safe sex, and especially
abstinence -- are best.
Warshavsky says that was just part of the problem. "At first, we thought
Tipton, who was calling himself 'Oscar Welles' at that point, was being
straight with us, that these 'teenagers' were really who they said they
were, and that they were really going to lose their virginity online.
After we had signed a contract with Tipton, we started to get suspicious
about the whole arrangement.
When Tipton was pressed to have the teenagers -- actually actors in their
20s -- sign model releases, Warshavsky said he refused. Then, he said,
Tipton admitted to the whole event being a sham set up to promote
publicity for a movie he was trying to make. "He was a little tipsy when
he confessed, and he tried to persuade us that we were all going to make
lots of money by charging $5 a pop to viewers on the day that the two
were supposed to lose their virginity online," Warchavsky said.
IEG pulled out of the project a few days later, and posted an angry
disclaimer at their club.love site, said Tipton and his company were
simply out to rip off the public. The ourfirsttime domain name was sold
to another company, according to a press release from Lieber, which did
not name the buyer. The new site uses the space to hawk skin flicks and
sexual paraphernalia. "These people have made a mockery of the Internet
media," proclaimed Warshavsky.
Of course, Lieber and his client tell a different story. "Tipton was
never going to charge for the site," Lieber said. "It was going to be a
public service announcement about safe sex. It was only after the threat
of legal action from religious right groups that he came up with the
safety net plan of charging people a dollar on their credit cards, to
prove that they weren't minors."
Tipton is no stranger to pressure from the religious right. He says they
were responsible for shutting down his chain of lucrative video stores in
St. Louis, because he was distributing X-rated movies. The movie idea
that Tipton hoped to promote with the "Internet Virgins" idea is actually
an autobiographical story about his personal and professional struggles
after tangling with the religious right. Tipton calls it "In the Eye of
the Beholder."
Any damage done to the credibility of the medium by the hoax should be
minimal, says the Electronic Freedom Foundation's Stanton McCandlish.
"People believe in moderated media, be it print or online or broadcast,"
he said. "This stunt was unmoderated, so regular users of theInternet
were probably skeptical from the beginning." "The only people who seemed
to buy it was not the public, but newspaper editors, who are always
scrounging around for dirt about the Internet." Warshavsky, who was only
made aware of the lawsuit against him when a Wired News reporter told him
about it on Thursday, said that he and IEG will fight, and may even take
counter action against Tipton.
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EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed
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Contents
Panel Recommends Increased IBM Tightens Computer Security
Spending On High-Tech R&D
P&G Seeks To Set Standards For Online Banking Growth Is Slower
Web Advertising Than Expected
StampMaster Granted Permission To Developers Flocking To Macintosh
Begin Testing Fold
CyberGold Claims Patent On Stoll Prepares New Critique Of
"Attention Brokerage" Computers In Schools
Justice Dept. Asking Whether DARPA Leads Fight Against
Gates Pressured Groves Domain-Name Hackers
Adobe Rejects Quark's Overture Canadian Internet Infrastructure
Closing Europe's Technology Gap L&H Thrives On Multilingual Roots
New Handheld Device For Half The The Lonely Net
Price
Patent Law In The Information Age Lucent Serves Up New Perspective On
Tennis
New Developments In Holographic Cool Chips
Storage
Depositions Continue In Microsoft AOL Just Grows And Grows
Trial
Listening To E-Mail
PANEL RECOMMENDS INCREASED SPENDING ON HIGH-TECH R&D
The President's Information Technology Advisory Committee, a 26-member
panel of prominent computer scientists and industry executives, has
recommended that the U.S. government boost spending on information
technology research by $1 billion over five years, for a total of $2.5
billion. The committee also suggested reviving the large, long-term
projects that proved so productive in the 1970s and '80s. "The future
great ideas that are not going to pan out for 15 years aren't getting
enough support now," says the panel's co-chair. In its report, the panel
warned against the tendency among federal agencies to focus on small,
short-term projects to the detriment of larger, more basic science
studies. In particular, the panel recommended additional funding for
research into robust software, faster supercomputers and "scaleable"
communications networks capable of handling a billion users -- the number
of estimated Internet users in 2005. The next step for the panel is to
conduct a series of meetings with community and federal leaders to
develop specific funding proposals with a goal of being included in the
FY 2000 budget. (Science 21 Aug 98)
IBM TIGHTENS COMPUTER SECURITY
Working with colleagues at a Swiss university, IBM researchers have
developed a new security scheme that effectively closes off back-door
attempts to overwhelm computer security systems using so-called "active"
attacks. Such attacks, which analyze the electronic responses to messages
from Web sites to derive information that can then be used to decode an
intercepted session, are considered to be the most dangerous hacking
attempts that most encryption systems face. The Cramer-Shoup method,
named for researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and
IBM Research respectively, thwarts active attacks by preventing such
eavesdropping. "The game is over as far as cryptography systems being
subject to these nasty kinds of attacks," says IBM's manager of network
security and cryptography, who notes IBM plans to disseminate its
findings to other researchers. "This is not the sort of stuff you hold
tight and patent. This is the sort of stuff you publish and hope everyone
adopts it quickly." (Reuters 24 Aug 98)
P&G SEEKS TO SET STANDARDS FOR WEB ADVERTISING
Procter & Gamble held a summit last week, inviting rival firms such as
Unilever, Chlorox, and Nestle to join P&G in a unified effort to draft
standards for measuring online audiences and establish a set of ad types
that Web sites will accept. The company has set November as the deadline
for accomplishing these tasks, and by April hopes to develop a way to
reconcile contradictory data supplied by various online services. "Let's
face it," says the P&G VP in charge of worldwide advertising. "There's a
massive revolution in consumer habits. No one organization, or even a
handful of organizations, can be the driver. No one is in control, and
that's really disrupting the marketing landscape -- in a really positive
way." The company says that in five years as much as 80% of its
$3-billion advertising budget could be spent on "interactive digital
media," including the Internet, cable, interactive television and
high-definition TV. (Wall Street Journal 24 Aug 98)
ONLINE BANKING GROWTH IS SLOWER THAN EXPECTED
Although the number of financial institutions offering online banking has
grown rapidly (54% in 1998 compared to 38% in 1997), consumers are taking
their time changing their habits, and only about 6% of customers
nationwide use electronic banking. Use of the World Wide Web is what may
make the difference, because it offers a universal interface to almost
any computer system. An executive of Integrion, a consortium of 17 banks,
IBM, and Visa USA, says: "In the last six months, the Web has become more
important, and banks that might not have focused on a transactional Web
site are now doing that." (New York Times 24 Aug 98)
STAMPMASTER GRANTED PERMISSION TO BEGIN TESTING
StampMaster Inc., says it has received permission from the U.S. Postal
Service to begin testing its PC postage-metering technology, using a base
of 21 individuals and small businesses in the Washington, D.C. area. Last
March, E-Stamp was granted similar approval, becoming the first company
to receive such approval since postage meters were first introduced in
1920. Unlike E-Stamp, which requires users to purchase a small hardware
device that attaches to their PC printer port, StampMaster requires no
additional hardware. Users set up accounts with the company and then
download postage from the StampMaster Web site. Software on users' PCs
then prints out the stamps as each transaction is verified. Both
StampMaster and E-Stamp are talking to Pitney Bowes, which claims it
holds the patents on PC postage-metering, but neither company thinks its
technology infringes on the Pitney Bowes patents. (Wall Street Journal 25
Aug 98)
DEVELOPERS FLOCKING TO MACINTOSH FOLD
Software developers are turning their eyes back to the Apple Macintosh
platform, and liking what they see. Apple has committed $100 million to
marketing its new iMac machine, and the company is providing more free
developer tools and working with key partners to bring more titles to
market. Apple's strategy to stabilize its operating system has also
contributed to the renewed confidence that many software developers have
in the platform. "We're definitely seeing more Mac titles," says one
computer store manager. Sales of Mac-only titles rose 12% to $21.4
million in the first half of this year, according to PC Data. (Computer
Retail Week 22 Aug 98)
CYBERGOLD CLAIMS PATENT ON "ATTENTION BROKERAGE"
CyberGold says it now holds a patent that covers "attention brokerage,"
the business of buying and selling the attention of Internet users. "We
tried to make the patent application as broad as we possibly can," says
CyberGold's CEO. "This new way of brokering the attention of people
offering their attention to other people who want their attention -- is
pretty much covered." The company says it will license its method to
rivals in the online incentives market, possibly for a per-transaction
fee. (Wall Street Journal 25 Aug 98)
STOLL PREPARES NEW CRITIQUE OF COMPUTERS IN SCHOOLS
Iconoclastic computer security expert, astronomer, and fierce Internet
critic Clifford Stoll, who authored the best-selling book "Silicon Snake
Oil," is working on a new book critical of the use of computers in
primary and secondary education. Stoll told the Dallas Morning News: "I
became a computer expert in my freshman year in high school, writing
Fortran, Assembler, machine language and developing programs. Along the
way, I've discovered that using computers . . . was a great way to make
it look like I was doing wonderful academics when, in fact, I'm just
screwing around. And for all the many, many hours that I've spent online
and on computers, seems to me that most of the important work that I've
done has happened independent of the hours that I've spent online. When I
think of the skills that I need as an astronomer, they're skills like
knowing mathematics, understanding physics, being able to manipulate a
telescope, being able to write a paper, being able to read analytically
and understand what someone else has written. Being able to poke holes in
arguments. To be able to stand up in front of a meeting and present my
ideas. These days, the computers are loaded with programs to guide the
kids through things. Do they spend more time playing and learning . . .
rather than just doing the rote work as you were doing? The main thing
the computer is teaching . . . is that if you want to learn, you sit
behind a screen for hours on end, that you'll accept what a machine says
without arguing, that relationships that develop over e-mail, Web pages
and chat rooms are transitory and shallow. That if you're ever
frustrated, all you have to do is pull the plug and reboot the machine."
(Dallas Morning News 24 Aug 98)
JUSTICE DEPT. ASKING WHETHER GATES PRESSURED GROVES
As part of its antitrust suit against Microsoft, the U.S. Justice
Department is trying to determine whether Microsoft chief executive Bill
Gates made "vague threats" in 1995 to Intel chief Andy Grove about
development of "native signal processing" (NSP) technology and about
Intel's evolving Internet strategy. Intel wanted to develop a
microprocessor that supported Java, which would have threatened the
dominance of Microsoft's Windows operating systems, because programs
written in Java could be run on any operating system. Attorney Charles F.
Rule, an advisor to Microsoft, says: "Business partners like Intel and
Microsoft occasionally have minor disputes, and the fact that the Justice
Department and the states are apparently trying to shoehorn this into
their case at the last minute shows how desperate they are." (New York
Times 26 Aug 98)
DARPA LEADS FIGHT AGAINST DOMAIN-NAME HACKERS
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a $1.4
million contract to Network Associates to develop a cryptographic
authentication system for the Internet's domain-address system. The new
system will enable the Net's routing points to verify the origin of any
given Web page, preventing hackers from corrupting Web page caches or
rerouting domain traffic altogether. It will not, however, prevent
hackers from breaking into individual Web servers and changing pages.
"That's not part of this particular approach," says the director of
Network Associates' TIS Labs. The company is working with the Internet
Software Consortium, which will distribute the security system to Unix
vendors when it becomes commercially available. Beta versions are
expected to be ready in about six months, with a final product on the
market in about 18 months. (TechWeb 26 Aug 98)
ADOBE REJECTS QUARK'S OVERTURE
Quark Inc., maker of publishing and graphics software, says its offer to
purchase rival Adobe Systems Inc. has been rejected. "Adobe has advised
Quark that it is not interested in pursuing discussions with Quark and
that Adobe is focused on the exciting opportunities available to the
company, its stockholders, employees and customers," says an Adobe
spokesman, who said the offer from Quark "failed to state any material
terms that could constitute a firm and bona fide offer, including price."
(Los Angeles Times 26 Aug 98) What's behind Quark's sudden offer for its
much-larger competitor? The company says the timing is related to a
sudden dip in Adobe's stock price: "This is not based on anything else
but our evaluation of the company's stock," says Quark CEO F. Fred
Ebrahimi. "Is there something wrong with being a capitalist? Well if so,
that's too bad." (Investor's Business Daily 27 Aug 98)
CANADIAN INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE
Canadian Industry Minister John Manley has unveiled plans for a
high-speed Internet backbone, capable of moving data at speeds 1.5
million times faster than is possible using an ordinary 28.8 Kbps modem.
Dubbed CA*net3, the $120-million project is being touted as a showcase
for domestic technology firms, as well as companies following Canada's
lead in building third-generation Internet infrastructure. CANARIE, a
Canadian research consortium, and a group led by Bell Canada will build
the system, which could be fully operational by October. Initially, only
the most advanced computers will be capable of handling the network's
speed and capacity, restricting its use to university researchers and
certain government laboratories that currently use another CANARIE
research network. (Toronto Star 26 Aug 98)
CLOSING EUROPE'S TECHNOLOGY GAP
Analysts are predicting that by 2005, Europe may have significantly
narrowed its technology gap with the U.S., thanks to the unifying
influence of the euro currency, which will draw in new investment, and
deregulated telecommunications markets, which will attract innovation and
reduce prices overall. Currently, low PC prices (even lower than U.S.
prices in many cases) are making Europe the world's fastest-growing major
PC market, with sales up 17.8% for the first half of the year. Meanwhile
Europe is pouring money into high-speed data networks, augmented by the
estimated $125 billion that European companies are spending to prepare
their computers for the coming euro. "Market liberalization is going to
free up investment in Europe, and the money's going to go into high
tech," says the president of Cisco Systems' European operations. "A new
economy is going to be built as a result." (Business Week 31 Aug 98)
L&H THRIVES ON MULTILINGUAL ROOTS
Leading speech recognition software maker Lernout & Hauspie Speech
Products NV is located in the heart of a region known as "Language
Valley," aptly named for an area in Belgium, which is surrounded by
France, the Netherlands and German. The country has three official
languages -- French, Dutch and German -- and English is also widely
spoken. "They have a much more global outlook than their competitors,"
says the head of a software consulting firm. "The world doesn't speak
just one language." L&H, which focuses on both speech and language
translation businesses, is releasing its Voice Express Pro next month --a
product that enables users to give verbal commands and dictate documents
to a computer -- and another product, code-named Popeye, will let
software developers add voice recognition to e-mail programs. L&H is also
working on a product called iTranslator, which will translate Web pages
from one language to another and allow users to do multilingual Web
searches. Initially, the intended market will be non-English speakers,
but that's going to change. "...In four to six years, there will be more
Web sites in Chinese than in English," says the company's CEO.
(Investor's Business Daily 26 Aug 98)
NEW HANDHELD DEVICE FOR HALF THE PRICE
The daVinci handheld device, introduced Monday by Royal Consumer Business
Products, looks and functions like 3Com's popular PalmPilot but, at
suggested prices of $99 and $150, costs only about half as much as the
PalmPilot's $250-and-up pricetag. The basic daVinci model includes a
256-kilobyte memory, writing recognition software, a docking station, PC
synchronization and an optional keyboard, and the high-end daVinci Pro
boasts a 1 megabyte memory, built-in e-mail and fax software, and a
dockingstation with a PCMCIA card modem slot. The basic version is
expected to hit the shelves in October, and the Pro in November. "We want
to hit the high-volume price points," says Royal's executive director of
marketing. The daVinci uses a proprietary script and its own operating
system. (Computer Retail Week 26 Aug 98)
THE LONELY NET
A two-year, $1.5-million study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon
University, funded by the National Science Foundation and major
technology companies, has concluded that Internet use appears to cause a
decline in psychological well-being. A director of the study says, "We
are not talking here about the extremes. These were normal adults and
their families, and on average, for those who used the Internet most,
things got worse." One hour a week of Internet use led on average to an
increase of 1% on the depression scale, an increase of 0.04% on the
loneliness scale, and a loss of 2.7 members of the subject's social
circle (which averaged 66 people). Although the study participants used
e-mail, chat rooms, and other social features of the Internet to interact
with others, they reported a decline in interaction with their own family
members and a reduction in their circles of friends. "Our hypothesis is,
there are more cases where you're building shallow relationships [on the
Internet], leading to an overall decline in feeling of connection to
other people." Since the 169 study participants, all from the Pittsburgh
area, were not chosen in a random selection process, it is not clear how
the findings apply to the general population, but a RAND Corporation
senior scientist says, "They did an extremely careful scientific study,
and it's not a result that's easily ignored." (New York Times 30 Aug 98)
PATENT LAW IN THE INFORMATION AGE
The U.S. Patent and Trademark has in recent months offered patents to at
least five online business models, including an award last week to
CyberGold Inc. for creating a system that lets Web users earn money by
clicking on banner ads and corporate Web sites (a business model
described in the patent as online "attention brokerage"). University of
Texas at Austin law professor Mark Lemley fears that this trend could
stifle competition by granting overly broad patents, whereas University
of California at Berkeley law professor Pamela Samuelson thinks it's
reasonable to recognize that business models can be in and of themselves
technological advances. Samuelson says, "If patents worked for
manufacturers, surely they will work for the information economy." (New
York Times Cybertimes 28 Aug 98)
LUCENT SERVES UP NEW PERSPECTIVE ON TENNIS
Lucent Technologies has debuted a new TV camera that gives tennis match
viewers the ability to see the whole court from the side, thereby making
it easier to follow the game as the ball is lobbed from one end to the
other. It has also tested a system that shows all of the movements made
by a player during a match, using a technology similar to that used for
the Doppler Weather map. The technology uses computers and video to track
information and display it, says a Lucent researcher. Meanwhile, IBM will
be covering the U.S. Open, which begins Monday, on its Web site, which
will feature an interactive camera that allows users to aim it and zoom
in and out of their views of the action. The site will also have
real-time scores and statistics, and live chat sessions hosted by special
guests. (Wall Street Journal 28 Aug 98)
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN HOLOGRAPHIC STORAGE
Academic and industrial scientists have been researching ways to use
holograms in information storage devices, but one key disadvantage has
been the tendency of holograms to be very "volatile" -- reading them
tends to degrade their content. Now a group at the California Institute
of Technology has discovered that by using special, thin crystals of
lithium niobate that incorporate traces of iron and manganese atoms, the
resulting holograms were much more stable. The researchers found that
they could record data durably in the crystals using ultraviolet light,
while at the same making a hologram using two red laser beams. The UV
light stimulated the iron and manganese atoms to liberate the electrons,
ensuring that the hologram created by the lasers was stored by both types
of atoms. The resulting hologram could be read by illuminating it with
red laser light alone, which did not excite the UV-triggered manganese
atoms, so they retained the imprinted data without loss (there was some
degradation in the iron atom version). The work "is a step toward a
practical holographic storage device," says Hans Coufal of the IBM
Almaden Research Center, but says the technique will need to be modified
to bring it to the mass market. (Scientific American Sep 98)
COOL CHIPS
Using technology developed by Intel and NCR, Columbia, S.C.-based
KryoTech is selling PCs that use chip-cooling technology similar to that
in your household refrigerator. Cooling chips down speeds up performance
because the reduced thermonuclear resistance in transistors and
interconnects means bits of data can move faster. The company's
"thermally accelerated" systems replace the traditional cooling fan with
a design that places the computer atop an environmentally friendly fridge
-- cold air is pumped up from below to the processor, which is encased in
an insulated "kryo cavity" that keeps the cold inside, protecting other
parts of the machine from the ice and condensation. (Popular Science Sep
98)
DEPOSITIONS CONTINUE IN MICROSOFT TRIAL
In preparations for the U.S. Justice Department's antitrust suit against
Microsoft, government lawyers questioned Microsoft chief Bill Gates for
two days last week and the federal judge who will preside over the
September 23 trial has indicated that the government can question Gates
for "as long as it takes." Microsoft officials are accused of meeting
with Netscape in 1995 and illegally offering to split the market for Web
browsers. Gates has called the allegation "an outrageous lie." (AP 29 Aug
98)
AOL JUST GROWS AND GROWS
Without even counting its CompuServe members or its membership beyond the
U.S., the America Online membership figure now surpasses 13 million
subscribers. Peak usage now is 750,000 users at a time (compared to
400,000 a year ago) and the current number of modems available is 800,000
(compared to 447,000 last year). Modem growth rate is 34% higher than the
rate of membership increase. (Investor's Business Daily 28 Aug 98)
LISTENING TO E-MAIL
A new service called CoolMail http://www.planetarymotion.com/ allows
e-mail users to call from any phone and hear their e-mail read to them
via automated voice after they listen to a 10-second advertisement. The
call is free from a local access number and costs 10 cents a minute
otherwise. A reply feature is also available. (USA Today 28 Aug 98)
NEW!
[BITSBYTES.GIF (64527 bytes)]
by R. F. Mariano
Between Bonnie, Danielle and Earl.... Florida has done rather well in not
facing the brunt of the ever fearsome Hurricane. We've had plenty of
rain, less than gale force winds and rough seas but all in all, the only
thing hampered was working on the boat outdoors and unfortunately,
fishing. In this issue, we're going to begin the before and after with
the development of the 30' Imperial Cruiser. This is the vessel that's
getting the Furuno Radar, Northstar DGPS and Garmin 235 GPS/Depthsounder.
But these goodies are secondary to the actual "labors of love" being
enjoyed in getting this vessel ready for the superb Florida Fishing
Season and of course, our detailing of our visits to various marinas,
participating in fishing tournaments and giving seminars about the
electronics on our boats and the interfacing of a laptop.
To begin at the right point, I'd like to show you a before and after of
the boat's hull. My son Vincent worked his tail off getting the hull to
look brand spanking new. He first washed the hull then he wet sanded it
to his satisfaction. Then came the compounding with an electric buffer
and finally, the application of the wax and a final buffing. But all that
came after he and his brother Victor rebuilt the V6 4.3 litre engines.
This boat is, for all intents and purposes almost brand new at this
point.
[imp.gif (116862 bytes)]
[imp_bow.gif (144225 bytes)]
Once we begin the installation of the electronics, which is covered
elsewhere in this column, you'll understand why I said that. Personally,
I can't wait to get going on our "jaunts" to various marinas, fishing
clubs and yacht clubs. Doing computer related seminars will be "old hat"
to me but doing them for the marine community will be new and I might
add, a highly anticipated joy. After all, I do believe that if I had the
equipment and knowledge I have today thirty years ago, I would've never
left the Party/Charter Boat business. Being able to do things one can do
with a laptop interfaced with the Radar, DGPS and Sonar is true
navigational power and then some.
[northstar1.gif (8273 bytes)]
About the Installation of the Northstar 951XD;
Northstar supplied everything for the installation of the 951XD but the
antenna mounting hardware. That's understandable since the variations
involved with each installation are virtually unlimited. I obtained a
Shakespear 173 compact fibreglas whip and installed that in the
Differential Antenna's tip top. The actual installation went so easily
that there is very little to write about. The main item was connection
the patch cable to interface the laptop with the DGPS. That was also
easy. In reality, a serial mouse cord will do the job nicely. Once all
the electronics are installed... and the decals are placed on the hull,
we go in the water. Then we fiorst get the opportunity to tell you abuot
how the Northstar performs. I must admit... I used a Northstar on a
friend's boat and we so impressed with it that I decided months ago I'd
fight for the opportunity to tell you all about such a wonderful
navigational aid. Coupled with the Navionics Chart Chips... this baby
is hard to beat. Navionics... they make just about the very best in
"Charts on a Chip".
When we decided to go in this direction, we also wanted to tell you about
some of the finest software packages available for the both the boater
and avid fisherman. We have them and will tell you all about them.
Software packages like Maptech, Chart View Pro, Florida Fish & Tide
Guide, Fishnet and of course, Thumbs Plus with our own compiled library
of east coast fish.
[nstar_951.GIF (48085 bytes)]
In addition to the northstar, we'll be installing a Furuno Radar 1621mk2
and a Garmin 235 Depth Sounder. Of course we'll show the before and the
after in regard to the installations. At about the same time we will be
placing the Decals on the boat. You gotta see these to believe 'em.
They're done by Graphitek in Vermont and will be installed by Jean Schemp
of Jacksonville... perhaps the finest Specialty Marine Lettering and Sign
Company in Jacksonville. More about that later.
[Casts.GIF (10988 bytes)]
Got a question relative to something....
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[Image]
Jason's Jive
[Image]
Jason Sereno, STR Staff
jsereno@streport.com
Hello everyone,
We've got a lot of catching up to do. In this installment of Jason's Jive
we'll take a look at a couple of great games, Red Baron II from Sierra
and Interplay's Redneck Rampage Rides Again. But first I'll tell you what
I think about Mad Catz' Panther XL.
Panther XL
[Panther.jpg (21439 bytes)]
a complete 3D combat controller
$79.95
Mad Catz
http://www.madcatz.com
All right, so John Romero seems to love this controller. He was quoted as
saying, "If you wanna deathmatch with the big boys The Panther XL is
your weapon of choice!". So I should be saying something similar to that
right about now. However, there are a few drawbacks to this controller
that keep me from giving it the title of "PC Controller of the
Millennium".
The Panther XL is supposed to be the last controller you ever buy. It
contains a total of seventeen programmable buttons, a tracking ball,
flight stick, throttle, and a port for a connecting rudder. This is a
heavy duty combat controller and great for avid gamers.
However, there has been a lot of complaints concerning the flightstick.
You'd think with two 4-way point-of-view hatches, two thumb buttons, one
for the index finger, and even an extra for the pinky, every gamer would
love this stick. Despite all of this, users with larger hands have found
the pinky button basically unusable and the stick as a whole hard to
operate. I didn't find these problems myself, but the Panther XL digital
stick was a little stiffer to maneuver opposed to other flight sticks.
Those of you who don't appreciate touchy controls could benefit from this
controller.
The tracking ball is the second half of this unit. It is designed to be
operated with your left hand while playing a game such as Quake or Duke
Nukem. (I'm neutral). This tracking ball can also be used to replace your
mouse with a special program that can be run in Windows. I tried it and
the performance on my computer was a little slower than using the mouse
and the tracking ball was awkward to control. I also enjoy eating things
like chips or other greasy food when I play games, if I were to do that
with the Panther XL I would surely damage the tracking ball.
Surrounding the tracking ball are five rather large buttons. Three are on
the top and two are on the right side. Laying between the joystick and
tracking ball is a throttle control. On the topside of the controller is
a port for a rudder. All of the buttons on the Panther XL are user
programmable. There is a front end program you can run in Windows before
you start a game with the Panther XL to configure the controller. Most
popular games are supported such as: Unreal, Jedi Knight, Redneck
Rampage, Turok, Airwarrior II, and over 25 others.
So this is a very good controller, but it does have some drawbacks. Snack
eating gamers and users with large hands may find some minor problems
with it. the Panther XL is a very good deal at $79.99 however, and I
found it pretty enjoyable. Look for it in stores now.
Red Baron II
Windows 95 CD-ROM
$49.95
[Redbar~1.jpg (14258 bytes)]
Sierra On-Line
http://www.sierra.com
All right, so you think flight sims these days are all starting to look
alike? Me too. All of them have user definable difficulty settings,
extensive network support, amazing polygon graphics, and of course a
groundbreaking artificial intelligence system. So why should you go out
and buy a new one?
Well, Red Baron II from Sierra does have all of these accessories and a
few added bonuses that others on the market do not. The first is a custom
paint shop that is reminiscent of Sierra's Nascar and IndyCar series.
Graphics can be imported or you can also alter the planes paint scheme
like you would in Sierra's Front Page Sports football or baseball series.
It also has a very extensive mission generator. It is very simple and
allows you to create your own waypoints on a historically correct WWI
map. You can also use it to control squadrons and the types of aircraft
that fly in each battle. The truly groundbreaking feature is Dynamix's
new 3Space 2.0 Engine. This engine's performance was superb. Gameplay was
not effected at all when large amounts of planes entered my vicinity.
Something else you can look forward to is the WWI booklet that comes with
the game. It has a lot of interesting information about the first world
war. It also contains diagrams and flight maneuvers of each plane which
could be used to your advantage in multiplayer dogfights. Of course Red
Baron II is also the really only World War I flight simulation on the
market right now. Although this a quality simulation, to be honest, the
looks aren't all that different from other sims. The speed, on the other
hand, is very noticeable.
So, until there comes a truly groundbreaking step in the evolution of
flight sims, this game filled with polygons and textured mapping is going
to probably stay king. It doesn't have the complicated computer systems
of the modern flight sims, where you lock on and kill someone that is
forty meters behind you. It just stays with the simple yet aged old
concept of, "catch me if you can!"
Redneck Rampage Rides Again
PC-CDROM
$39.95
[Rednec~1.gif (22237 bytes)]
Interplay Incorporated
http://www.interplay.com
The original was, and still is, one of my favorite games of all time. So
I was very excited to hear of the release of Redneck Rampage Rides Again.
14 new action packed levels which include new weapons and enemies fill
this game up to the teeth with mayhem and laughter. Also included is a
new soundtrack that really makes you feel like killing some alien
hillbilly clones.
The opening sequence of Redneck Rampage Rides Again shows Leonard and
Bubba trying to navigate home in an alien space ship. After crashing
through a cosmonauts' space station, the duo finally arrive on earth.
However, they are a long ways from home. So of course the goal of the
game is to reach your hometown of Hickston, alive.
Along the way you may find it useful if you destroy some of the Alien
clones that seem to possess a need to make your trip as difficult as
possible. Some of the new characters in the game include the dynamite
wielding cheerleader, Daisy Mae, and the King of Rock n' Roll himself!
Dogs and a special hybrid of jack o' lopes also tend to be very
discouraging at times.
But don't sweat it, this sequel has a few new weapons you can use at your
disposal too. (Don't worry, the alien pectoral shooter is still there.)
Instead of shooting just normal dynamite with your crossbow, now you can
shoot dynamite-loaded chickens. I'm sure you can imagine where the
dynamite is lodged in. If you want to get up close and personal with the
aliens, you can use the always exciting slingblade. And whenever you use
it you hear a voice very reminiscent of Billy Bob Thorton, "Mmmm-Hmmm".
It's very humorous.
What really adds dimension to this game is the use of automobiles.
Leonard is able to drive not only a motorcycle in this sequel, but also a
hydroplane. They are both loaded with their own special kind of artillery
too. In case your run out of ammo for either vehicle, you can just run
over any alien that comes your way. But don't get too reckless because if
you crash your vehicle, you crash yourself. What is really cool about
these two accessories is you can use them for pretty much a whole level
if you want to.
With levels like a brothel, riverboat, chicken killing factory, and many
others, it may not be a bad idea. Each level is very immense and contains
at least three of four secrets. Just when you think you've covered a
whole level, you'll open a door and find an underground well that leads
you to a whole new section. In one level the current from a river takes
you on a wild ride through some kind of a water purification plant. From
there you have to climb up about four stories on a ladder and enter a
maze of caves to find Bubba and end the level. The developers of this
game really made each level and adventure.
To help you obtain the true hillbilly experience, Mojo Nixon has returned
to put yet another soundtrack together for this game. It's great because
it truly capture the spirit of being a redneck. (Take it from me, someone
that has bailed hay, detassled corn, and used to live on a pig farm!)
Song lyrics reiterate the life of rednecks and their guns, overweight
women, and farm animals. This really makes the game complete.
I was very satisfied with Redneck Rampage Rides Again. It's not a whole
lot different from the first game, as far as graphics and sounds are
concerned. However it has gone up a level in excitement, action, and of
course stupidity. If you're looking for a 3D action game with large
amounts of humor and outrageousness, definitely pick up Interplay's
Redneck Rampage Rides Again.
Until next time,
Jason
[Image]
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STReport International Online Magazine
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Classics & Gaming Section
Editor Dana P. Jacobson
dpj@streport.com
From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
I can't believe that this is Labor Day weekend already! It seems like
yesterday that we opened our pool and had our first barbecue. Those three
months just blew right by!
I really shouldn't complain [too] much, however. I had a total of five
weeks vacation - spent a lot of time in the pool, working in the yard,
spending time with family and friends, countless barbecues, and numerous
times just relaxing on the deck with various cold beverages. It's been
our first summer here at the house and an enjoyable one. It was
satisfying to see the good results of our labors to the yard and exterior
of the house. Flower and vegetable gardens flourished, grass actually
grew, and the pool was clean. Still some work to do but I'm waiting for
some cooler weather for that. It's been great so far; it's time for the
next season to move in. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the last [unofficial]
weekend of the summer.
It's a long holiday weekend, so take it easy on the roads. Remember,
schools are opening so be extra careful out there. If you're going to
drink, stay off the roads; the life you save could very well be mine!
Until next time...
Croft Soft Software Press Release
3 August 1998
Atari Times Special Edition...
We are pleased to announce the first 'special edition' of the Atari
Times. This is the first (and hopefully not the last) ever paper based
issue of the Atari Times. It runs to 44 A5 pages.
Special Edition 1 is centered on tutorials and contains some from
previous issues of AT in a the more convenient paper format, as well as
some which haven't appeared in the disk magazine at all... The first 50
copies of the special edition are in color on high quality paper, however
due to the high cost after these are sold further copies will be in black
and white - make sure you get your order in quick to get this rare,
limited, once-in-a-lifetime color edition!
If this first special edition is a success, we will consider further,
more generic, special editions to supplement the on-going HTML magazine
Prices including postage and packing are shown below. Unfortunately, we
do not currently have any distributors so all orders must be sent to the
UK. Please note, we are only just about covering our costs (ie printing,
copying, envelopes and postage), and we are not making any profit from
this venture.
Special Edition 1 is available NOW!
Prices (inc. P&P)
* UK:
* #2.00 (2 UK Pounds)
* Europe:
* #2.50 (2 UK Pounds and 50 pence)
* Rest of World:
* #3.50 (3 UK Pounds and 50 pence)
* All payments should be made in Sterling and are payable to 'Colin
Polonowski'
* Payment Methods:
* UK:
* Cheque
* Postal Order
* Cash (NOT RECOMMENDED)
* Rest of World:
* Cheque drawn on UK bank
* Sterling Eurocheque
* Post Office payment (GIRO)
* International Money Order
* All orders should be sent to:
* AT Special Edition,
* c/o Colin Polonowski,
* The Croft,
* Hope Rd,
* Nibley,
* Nr Yate,
* Bristol,
* BS37 5JH,
* ENGLAND
Please allow 14 days for delivery...
DISTRIBUTORS
If you don't live in the UK, and would like to help spread the Atari
Times Special Edition around the globe, we need your help! We're looking
for distributors in as many countries as possible. We'll send you a FREE
color copy of the Atari Times Special Edition, all you need to do is copy
it (in color or black and white) and sell it!
You don't need to send us any money, all we ask is that you only charge
what it costs you to print/copy and send. If you are interested in
helping to distribute the Atari Times Special Edition(s) then please get
in touch at the address above or e-ma polonowski@zetnet.co.uk
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Any further information regarding the Atari Times Special Editions will
be available from the Atari Times Homepage at
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/polonowski/atimes/
Or, e-mail polonowski@zetnet.co.uk
Unfortunately, we cannot supply further details via post due to time
constraints...
AtariNews: On The Prowl
09/02/98
LATEST HEADLINES:
A LOOK BACK AT THE WORLD OF ATARI '98
Were you unable to go to the World of Atari '98? AtariNews: On The Prowl
has some links to places to find out more about what happened there and
see pictures of what you missed:
Next Generation Online's World of Atari Report:
http://www.next-generation.com/jsmid/news/4268.html
WIRED: Something Old, Something New:
http://www.wired.com/news/news/culture/story/14613.html
IC WHEN: Don Thomas looks back at the show
http://www.icwhen.com
NEW SOUND TOOL FOR THE LYNX COMING SOON
Carl Forhan is pleased to announce the soon release of SFX for the Atari
ynx. This exciting new audio tool should appeal to developers and
tinkerers alike. Carl is currently accepting pre-orders for the SFX
package (no money is required at this time). For more information and to
place a pre-order, visit the SFX web pages linked to The Lynx Domain.
http://www.millcomm.com/~forhan/lynx.html
PRICE IS RISING FOR LYNX VISION
Wizztronics recently demoed their "Lynx Vision" Lynx-TV adapter at World
of Atari '98 in Las Vegas. The current estimated price is $199, and
according to their web page, Wizztronics is now accepting orders for this
device.
http://www.wizztronics.com/lynx.htm
HAVE YOU SIGNED THE PETITION TO HASBRO YET? WANT MORE LYNX GAMES?
There are currently only 116 names on the petition to Hasbro. Would you
like to see more games on your Atari systems? Systems like the Jaguar, or
more realistically the Lynx? There is a chance that if Hasbro knows
people will buy games for the Lynx, that they may just release more, or
even better, re-release it. But we need a lot more names on this
petition! We need your help! Sign it today!
http://www.geocities.com/timessquare/arcade/8063
Send any comments or submissions for "AtariNews: On The Prowl" to:
Brian Gudzevich (Editor) at: Brionhold@aol.com
Sponsoring web sites:
-The Atarian Atmosphere: http://atmosphere.atari.org
-The Jaguar's Domain: http://www.millcomm.com/~forhan/jaguar.html
Gaming Section
* PSX and N64 Price Reductions!
* Microprose!
* "Xena"!
* Nyko News!
* "World of Atari" Reports!
* "Danger Girl"!!
* And MUCH more!
From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is!
I have to tell you that I'm really jealous of those of you who were able
to attend the World of Atari show a couple of weeks ago!! It sounded like
it was an incredible time. Congrats to Keita Iida, John Hardie, and Rich
Tsukiji for their enthusiasm and diligence in making it possible. All of
that Atari nostalgia in one place at one time! And the many people from
our past. I had to order the video to see what I missed; but reading the
various reports, I realize just how much. The time was right as I was on
vacation, but the money just wasn't there. As you can imagine, being a
"new" homeowner can be a financial strain the first couple of years. I
hope it may be worthwhile for them to have another show in a year or so.
Anyway, we've got some coverage of the show this week, as well as tons of
other gaming news and information. So let's get to it, shall we!!
Until next time...
Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - The Latest Gaming News!
Sony Computer Entertainment America Lowers Price
FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (Aug. 25) BUSINESS WIRE - August 25, 1998 - Lower
Prices on Hardware, Software and Peripherals Make PlayStation the System
to Beat this Holiday Season
Continuing its role as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer
Entertainment America announced today that effective August 30, its
best-selling PlayStation game console will be available to consumers for
$129, a more than 10 percent reduction from its current manufacturers
suggested retail price. As an additional benefit to consumers, the
company also announced lower prices on several PlayStation-branded
peripherals and the addition of more than a dozen best-selling games to
the "Greatest Hits" collection, a series of the most popular PlayStation
games available for as low as $19.99.
In June 1998, Sony Computer Entertainment America introduced a new
PlayStation hardware offering packaged with the Dual Shock(TM) Analog
Controller and since its market introduction, this model has been widely
embraced by consumers and retailers. Because the PlayStation business is
experiencing a 60 percent increase in sales from this time last year, the
company expects sales of the already popular console to increase
following its price reduction to $129, especially among first-time
videogame consumers.
"With a PlayStation now in approximately one in every 10 U.S. households,
consumers have already demonstrated their overwhelming support and
loyalty for our products," said Kaz Hirai, executive vice president and
chief operating officer, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "As a
result of the popularity of the PlayStation worldwide, Sony Computer
Entertainment has been able to grow the gaming category as a whole
representing tremendous opportunities for our partners and ultimately,
for the consumer. With today's announcement, the PlayStation experience
becomes attractive to an even greater audience."
In just three years, PlayStation has become the dominant leader in
videogame entertainment, with a North American installed base of more
than 11.5 million consoles, and life-to-date software sales exceeding 85
million units. According to the life-to-date figures in the June report
from the NPD Group, a leading source of information on the videogame
industry, PlayStation currently enjoys an impressive 56.5 percent market
share for next generation hardware and 64.2 percent market share for next
generation software.
The pricing announcement is accompanied by the addition of several game
titles to PlayStation's "Greatest Hits" series. The new "Greatest Hits"
inductees include the following: Cool Boarders(TM) 2; Crash Bandicoot 2:
Cortex Strikes Back(TM); 1Extreme, formerly known as ESPN(r) Extreme
Games; Jet Moto(TM) 2; and Twisted Metal(r) 2. With the new inductees,
the "Greatest Hits" collection now includes more than 45 of the
top-selling and most popular PlayStation games of all time. Consumers can
find "Greatest Hits" titles for an MSRP of $24.99, with many retailers
advertising game titles for as low as $19.99.
"With the announcement of our new pricing structure, the PlayStation
business is poised to dominate the holiday selling season," said Jack
Tretton, vice president, sales, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "It
is clear to us that consumers are drawn to the PlayStation because of the
ongoing entertainment value of our videogames titles. The 'Greatest Hits'
series is an excellent opportunity for new PlayStation purchasers to get
the very best of PlayStation and for core gamers to add classic titles to
their existing libraries."
Also announced today, Sony Computer Entertainment America will lower the
price on several PlayStation-branded peripherals. On August 30, consumers
will be able to find PlayStation memory cards retailing at a low price of
$14.99 and in a variety of new colors, including: black, clear, gray,
emerald and blue. In addition, consumers will be able to find lower
prices on other peripheral units, including the Digital Controller for
$14.99; the Multi-tap for $29.99; and the RFU Adapter for $14.99.
Sony Slashes PSX Again; Nintendo Follows Suit
Aug. 26, 1998 (MULTIMEDIA WIRE, Vol. 5, No. 165 via COMTEX) -- The latest
skirmishes in the next-generation console war began yesterday as Sony
Computer Entertainment America and Nintendo locked horns in the run-up to
Christmas.
Instead of taking the price of its PlayStation below the magic $100
price-point, Sony yesterday opted to throw its Dual Shock Controller,
currently valued at $32.99 at Best Buy [BBY], into the $129 package.
However, with Sony's PSX-only unit currently shipping for $129, Sony may
offer rebates to retailers to allow them to offload unsold inventory,
making a $99 PlayStation a likely outcome for at least a couple of weeks.
Nintendo responded immediately with a tit-for-tat N64 price cut to
$129.95 with a $10 instant coupon, redeemable on any of 23 N64 games, a
controller or a Rumble Pak. However, consumers had been paying this price
anyway, as Nintendo was offering retailers a rebate to cover the
$149-$129 price differential.
Sony also announced lower prices on several PlayStation-branded
peripherals and the addition of more than a dozen best-selling games to
its "Greatest Hits" collection, with an MSRP of $24.99.
Sony and Nintendo: Chronology of a Price War:
* Sept 5, 1995: PlayStation launches in US at $299.
* May 16, 1996: Sony drops PSX to $199 in US, claiming worldwide sales
of 5m units, of which 1.2m were in N. America and 700k in Europe.
More than 7m PlayStation games shipped in North America, Sony
claims.
* September 30, 1996: Nintendo launches N64 at $199.95.
* March 3, 1997: Sony drops PSX to $149. Meanwhile, Nintendo has "no
immediate plans" to drop prices on hardware or software.
* March 17, 1997: Nintendo drops N64 from $199 to $149.95, matching
Sony. Nintendo hopes to sell 5m more N64 units by this time next
year to add to the existing 2m US installed base.
* June 2, 1998: Sony cuts PSX price to $129.99. Nintendo follows suit
with an identical price cut.
* August 25: Sony cuts PSX price to $129.99, including Dual Shock
Controller. Nintendo responds with identical price cut.
Source: MMWire
Sega Releases 1st Software for New Game Machine
TOKYO, Aug. 22 (Kyodo) -- Sega Enterprises Ltd. made a bid to regain its
lost market share Saturday with the unveiling of "Sonic Adventure," the
first game software for its new 128-bit Dreamcast home video game system
set to hit stores in November. Sega said it hopes to win back customers
it lost to Sony Corp.'s PlayStation.
The company spent four years and hundreds of millions of yen to develop
Sonic Adventure, the latest version of Sega's popular "Sonic the
Hedgehog" video game series, which has been a big hit with sales of 20
million copies worldwide. Sega plans to release the game by the end of
this year, a Sega official said.
The Dreamcast system -- equipped with a 128-bit processor produced by
Hitachi Ltd., a customized Windows CE operating system developed by
Microsoft Corp., and a 64-channel sound system made by Yamaha Corp.
will be put on the market Nov. 20 with a price tag of 20,000 yen to
30,000 yen.
At the end of March this year, Sony's 32-bit PlayStation was the
best-selling video game machine in the world with a 32.82 million units
shipped.
Nintendo Co.'s 64-bit NINTENDO 64 ranked second with 16.14 million units
shipped, and Sega's 32-bit Saturn lagged behind in third place with 8.86
million units shipped.
"Colony Wars: Vengeance" Blasts the Competition
FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (July 20) BUSINESS WIRE - July 20, 1998 - How exactly
perfection can be expanded on is simply an issue of time and space. The
time is 100 years after the League's victory in the original "Colony
Wars," and the space you'll have to work with is seemingly infinite, from
the distances between stars, to a planet's war-torn surface. "Colony
Wars(tm): Vengeance," Psygnosis' 3D space combat epic exclusively on
PlayStation(R) game console delivers space fury home to Earth.
Tides turn, as do allegiances, and this time you take on the persona of
Mertens, an aspiring pilot bred on a distaste for the oppressive League
of Free Nations' criminal treatment of the weakened Navy. The game
launches you into a war waged in the name of justice, but justice is
merely a thinly disguised way of saying "vengeance." "Colony Wars:
Vengeance" is planned for release in November 1998.
"Colony Wars: Vengeance" features, then builds upon the qualities enjoyed
in the original "Colony Wars"(tm). Complex, multiple-objective missions
are action-packed with more fighters, and the game's engine, AI, graphics
and physics models all are significantly upgraded. The gaming environment
is richer with more animated and detailed objects, and the characters
have distinguishable personalities and their callous nuances pack some
memorable emotional punches.
In this living universe of deception, subterfuge and revenge, there are
numerous plot twists and multiple endings sure to keep you on the edge of
your seat. Overall, "Colony Wars: Vengeance" is a more involving gaming
experience, going beyond the original from every angle.
In-depth storylines, tight gameplay control responses, and futuristic
graphics that go beyond the realms of the sci-fi genre are all
implemented into "Colony Wars: Vengeance" to redefine the way that
space-shooters are perceived.
This highly anticipated sequel not only picks up the ever-evolving saga
of the conflict between the League and the Navy, but it also starts all
over at the beginning to a new adventure. A "promise and deliver" feature
game that dwarfs a perfect predecessor. "Colony Wars: Vengeance" stands
alone as the premier space epic and then leapfrogs over the horizon by
introducing all-new, planet-based missions.
Hit The Ground Running: The League has shut down the Navy's resources
with the closure of the warp hole in one of the endings from the original
"Colony Wars." This is where "Vengeance" picks up. In closing the Navy's
supply channel, the League doomed the populace to a slow and painful
demise.
The war that was initially limited to space is now thrown "surface side,"
as you'll be expected to traverse varied landscape areas in accordance
with the protection of any Naval installations and/or strategic points.
Five planetary missions await you as you pilot your vessel deep into the
inner-atmosphere of surface warfare.
You'll captain an all-new "non-space" ship as you attempt to intercept
and destroy all Navy opposition present on these varying planetary
fronts. You'll remain committed to the seemingly impossible task of
defending Navy outposts against all low altitude League assault vessels.
Re-invent your previously learned outer space flying virtuosity just
inches from a planet's surface in these five varying planetary
atmospheric environments present under the vast blanket of space.
Technological Advancements: Virtually every technological element of
"Colony Wars: Vengeance" is new or significantly enhanced, making the
game faster, darker, more intense and even more realistic. An updated and
extremely optimized space combat engine increases mission populations
significantly.
Big ships, too, are improved with weak spots and animating sections that
you must seek out and fire upon in order to destroy the enemy vessel. An
enhanced physics model for objects allows fighters to realistically spin
out of control when hit by missiles until you make the proper
corrections.
There are 24 total weapons, almost 50 percent more than in the original
game. The game will also feature about 90 individual models and ships,
all of which are new to "Vengeance." All of the models feature animating
sections and textures. Additionally, collision is extremely accurate and
runs four times faster than in the original "Colony Wars."
A new graphics engine supports a more detailed and captivating space
environment that is loaded with nebulae, asteroid belts, space ship
graveyards (see some of the relics from Colony Wars past), black and
white holes, and mine fields. The game's overall look is darkened,
hardened and realistic with a focus towards industrial techno-gothic,
though glowing neon weapon effects, suns and other objects provide a
startling contrast to this futuristic nightmare.
Planets appear spherical and have atmospheres, crafts and installations
that appear distinctively advanced from their predecessors. Fighters
don't just look better, they also fly better. There's also enhanced AI
for wingmen and enemy aces alike. This allows for the implementation of
realistic characteristics like inertia and gives you the ability to use
objects within the nearby environment for distinct tactical advantages.
Climactic orchestral themes, from famous composers such as Beethoven and
Dvorak will add a tried and true classical (pardon the pun) depth to the
involved atmospheres. Dolby surround sound is used for the bold sound
effects like explosions, roaring engines and weapon firing.
Speech samples also convey messages and feedback from other pilots.
Ethan Hunt, 'Mission: Impossible' Drop in on Espionage
SAN JOSE, CALIF. (July 20) BUSINESS WIRE - July 20, 1998 - Infogrames
Entertainment, Inc. announced today that "Mission: Impossible," the
eagerly-awaited action, adventure title for the Nintendo 64(TM), is now
shipping to major retail outlets nationwide. Based on the Paramount
Pictures feature film, the highly-charged, spy thriller engages players
in a daring set of clandestine missions and covert operations in an
espionage-filled world as secret-agent Ethan Hunt.
"Mission: Impossible" is sold out through Sept. 1. High consumer demand
for the game has forced Infogrames to allocate product shipments to its
national retail partners. "Demand at both the consumer and retail levels
for 'Mission: Impossible' has exceeded our wildest expectations," Mike
Markey, vice president sales and marketing, Infogrames Entertainment,
Inc., said.
Developed in-house by Infogrames, "Mission: Impossible" takes players on
a whirlwind adventure from the Russian Embassy in Prague to CIA
headquarters in Langley, Va., to the climax at Waterloo Station in
London. Through each top-secret encounter, players must be cunning.
Strategy, rather than mindless shooting rampages, is required to succeed.
"'Mission' jumps players directly into a fantasy world where they really
feel like a top-secret agent in a dark world of counter-intelligence,"
Markey said. "This game delivers a heart-pounding adventure at a
suspenseful pace, ensuring fans, from video game die-hards to casual
players, endless hours of enjoyment."
Infogrames' title, published under the company's Ocean brand, revives the
classic Mission: Impossible gadgets and weaponry, as players utilize
tools including blow darts, exploding chewing gum, laser deflectors,
night-vision goggles and face makers. "Mission: Impossible" also
incorporates the traditional teamwork and camaraderie of the original
series, allowing players to interact with fellow Impossible Mission Force
(IMF) members Jim Phelps, Sarah Davies, Andrew Dowey and Jack Keifer.
Befitting a summer blockbuster, Infogrames is supporting "Mission:
Impossible" with a $2 million marketing campaign. This summer, movie
trailers are playing in more than 7,000 theater screens nationwide. The
company also plans a series of television and radio spots this fall. The
one-player adventure for the Nintendo 64 is now shipping to retail
outlets including, but not limited to, Toys 'R' Us, Electronics Boutique,
Babbages, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, Sears and Montgomery Wards
at an estimated retail price of $59.95.
Accolade's New Big Air Snowboarding Game
to Feature 10 Bands, and More
SAN JOSE, CALIF. (July 29) BUSINESS WIRE - July 29, 1998 - Game to
Feature Five Professional Snowboarders and Hot Soundtrack Including Songs
From Blink 182 and Nine Other Bands. Accolade, a leading publisher and
developer of video game software, announced today that 10 bands, nine
licensed snowboarding companies, seven clothing manufacturers and five
professional snowboarders will appear in the company's upcoming
snowboarding game, Big Air(TM).
The game will be available for the PlayStation(R) game console in the
fall of this year. We are really trying to capture the authentic look and
feel of snowboarding," said Monte Singman, senior producer of Big Air.
"Big Air's exciting gameplay and inclusion of licensed music, pro
snowboarders, official snowboards and gear lets gamers partake in a true
snowboarding experience."
Gold-selling MCA recording artist, Blink 182, will have two songs on the
game's soundtrack, "Dammit" and "Untitled." In addition to Blink 182,
nine other bands will appear on the Big Air soundtrack: punk bands Diesel
Boy, Limp, Leatherface and Snuff, ska bands Gangster Fun and Monkey, rock
bands Caustic Notions and The Odd Numbers, as well as alternative club
band Andalusia. Users will have the ability to customize the soundtrack
by selecting the songs and play order during the game. The Big Air
soundtrack will include more than 25 songs.
Five professional snowboarders in Big Air appear as "boss" characters and
include Nike Big Air champion Mike Beallo as well as Burton team rider
and this year's Playboy Halfpipe champion Ian Spiro. Three additional
snowboarders will also appear in the game. Big Air will feature more than
80 real snowboards from such manufactures as Palmer, Ride, Morrow,
Joyride, Arbor, Maui and Sons International, Burton, K2, and Nitro.
Authentic clothing from such manufactures as Wave Rave, Westbeach,
Quiksilver and Sessions will also be included in the game. Snowboarding
companies K2, Ride, Maui and Sons International and Burton will
contribute clothing as well.
Big Air allows players to choose from 30 courses including five unique
Halfpipe, Big Air, Boardercross, Slalom or Freeride competitions in any
of six countries. Courses are featured in Canada, Japan, Scotland,
Switzerland, United States, and Germany. As players win competitions,
they gain points and are awarded the opportunity to "travel" to other
countries and compete in advanced snowboarding contests. Big Air offers
intense multiplayer action via horizontal or vertical split screen and
supports PlayStation analog and Dual Shock(R) controllers.
989 Studios Unleashes an All New Concept in Racing
FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (July 30) BUSINESS WIRE - July 30, 1998 - 989
Studios, formerly known as Sony Interactive Studios America, announced
today that it is publishing the upcoming title Running Wild(TM) --
available late October, exclusively for the PlayStation(R) game console.
Created by Universal Interactive Studios Inc., the producers of the
top-selling PlayStation game Crash Bandicoot(TM), Running Wild fuses the
high-speed action of traditional racing-style games with whimsical animal
characters who compete entirely on foot.
"We are pleased to add Running Wild to the stable of great titles 989
Studios is releasing for the PlayStation," said Jeffery Fox, vice
president, marketing, 989 Studios. "Running Wild combines cartoon-style
animal characters into a compelling racing environment. The result is a
videogame experience which is perfect for gameplayers of all ages and
skill levels; this is a family game."
A departure from traditional racing games, Running Wild features a cast
of six zany, fast-running characters. Each character has a signature
racing style and special attributes that add to their superior animal
athleticism. Running Wild challenges gameplayers to rocket through six
courses of rigorous terrain, including hot lava fields, frozen rivers,
drainage tunnels and winding city streets. In addition to the high-speed
race, obstacle ridden game environments provide a challenging element to
the gameplay.
"Running Wild is one of the first combination racing and character action
games, which are the number one and number three most popular console
video game genres," said Mark Cerny, president of Universal Interactive
Studios. "The title offers a stunning 60 frames per second to support
intense speed and action, and boasts excellent depth of play with mighty
power-ups that let players really 'run wild'."
Adding to Running Wild's appeal to gameplayers of all ages and skill
levels is the option that allows gameplayers to decrease the game's level
of difficulty. Difficulty levels can be adjusted by accessing the "Auto
Run" option which automatically operates the accelerator button on the
game pad, allowing gameplayers to focus on maneuvering the characters --
a helpful feature for younger gameplayers. Featuring adjustable game
modes, Running Wild roars at 60 frames per second in single player mode.
Running Wild also features a multi-player mode that allows up to four
players to compete simultaneously on a four-way split screen.
Key Features
* Auto Run: lowers difficulty settings and allows gameplayers of all
ages to compete in the fast action race
* Richly textured environments with crisp graphics and 3-D polygons
creates an immersive game-playing experience
* Viewing Modes: split-screen racing action in vertical, horizontal or
letterbox
* Control up to six fast and furious characters, including Brazz the
zebra, Gwynne the rabbit, Boris the elephant, General the ram,
Coronado the bull and Mei Ling the panda
* Varying Racing Modes: challenge, circuit, time trials, practice race
and power-ups
* Six detailed worlds loaded with power-ups, hidden areas and menacing
level bosses
* Adding to the blistering racing action is the precision control
feature which allows game characters to increase momentum and
experience friction based on the terrain they are racing on
* Supports analog and dual shock controllers
THQ, B.A.S.S. to Debut First 3-D Fishing Game for PC
GREENSBORO, N.C. (Aug. 5) ENTERTAINMENT WIRE - Aug. 5, 1998 - Game
publisher THQ Inc. and the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society Inc. (B.A.S.S.)
have teamed to debut the first 3-D PC fishing game, "BASS Masters
Classic: Tournament Edition," at the 1998 BASS Masters Classic
Tournament, Aug. 6-8, in Greensboro.
The official game of B.A.S.S., "BASS Masters Classic: Tournament Edition"
is scheduled to ship to retailers across North America Sept. 8. A limited
number of copies of the game will be on sale at the B.A.S.S. and THQ
booths during the Classic Outdoor Show, inside the Greensboro Coliseum
Special Events Center.
The first and only 3-D fishing game available for the PC, "BASS Masters
Classic: Tournament Edition" is the most realistic fishing simulation on
the market. The game features 3-D lakes and environments, amazing
underwater views and the world's best-known fishing license: the Bass
Anglers Sportsman Society.
"We couldn't be happier to be participating with B.A.S.S. on a game that
not only provides a true fishing simulation but also is fun to play,"
said Germaine Gioia, vice president, marketing, THQ. "The Classic -- the
Super Bowl of bass fishing -- is a great opportunity to introduce this
ultimate fishing game to all of the BASS fishing enthusiasts."
"BASS Masters Classic: Tournament Edition" features tips on casting and
lure selection from bass-fishing legends Roland Martin, Shaw Grigsby, Ken
Cook and Paul Elias. Based on the most prestigious bass-fishing
tournament in the world, "BASS Masters Classic: Tournament Edition"
challenges players to test their skills against those of real-life
tournament pros on actual competition lakes like Lake Fork, Lake Mead,
Lake Minnetonka and Lake Logan-Martin.
"'BASS Masters Classic: Tournament Edition' really captures the
intricacies and the excitement of competitive bass fishing on the
BASSMASTER Tournament Trail," said Charlie Shamburger, director of
licensing, B.A.S.S. "We couldn't be more pleased with the job THQ has
done in creating this game, and we are thrilled to be able to feature it
here in Greensboro during the Classic." In addition to the single-player
format, "BASS Masters Classic: Tournament Edition" supports free
multiplayer tournament competition for up to eight cyber-anglers over
LAN, modem or Internet.
Berkeley Systems Launches YOU DON'T KNOW JACK for PSX
BERKELEY, CALIF. (Aug. 6) BUSINESS WIRE - Aug. 6, 1998 - Berkeley Systems
Inc., a division of Sierra, today announced its award winning game YOU
DON'T KNOW JACK(R) will soon be available for the PlayStation(R) game
console. This edition of YOU DON'T KNOW JACK will turn any PlayStation
into a party with more than 1,400 hilarious questions, multi-player
action, and features specifically for the PlayStation. Created in
partnership with Jellyvision Inc., of Chicago, the title will fall under
the Sierra Attractions brand of games when it ships this November with an
estimated street price of $39.95.
"YOU DON'T KNOW JACK for PlayStation is the most fun you can have in your
living room with your clothes on," stated Kory Stradinger, general
manager of Berkeley Systems. "Viewing YOU DON'T KNOW JACK game play on
television will enhance the irreverent quiz show party game experience by
bringing the TV metaphor full circle." Recreating the swift pace of a TV
game show and the sarcastic musings of a game show host, YOU DON'T KNOW
JACK takes players on a wild ride from the green room all the way to
prime time. YOU DON'T KNOW JACK for the PlayStation game console combines
classic trivia with pop-culture references in a witty, brain-twisting
mixture that is as challenging as it is entertaining.
The game features original music, sound effects and hilarious dialogue as
well as supporting new PlayStation peripherals such as the Dual Shock(TM)
analog controller. In addition to its fast pace and hilarious content,
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK for the PlayStation game console takes the tradition
of social gaming to a new level by letting up to three players compete
while lounging in the comfort of their own living room. YOU DON'T KNOW
JACK for PlayStation contains favorite question types from past JACKs
such as the DisOrDat(TM), ThreeWay(TM), Shortie, Impossible Question, and
the Jack Attack(R). High culture and pop culture collide in all of the
questions found in this irreverent quiz show party game.
The original YOU DON'T KNOW JACK, created by Jellyvision and Berkeley
Systems, became an instant classic when it was launched in 1995. The
series has garnered more than 35 awards and includes YOU DON'T KNOW JACK
Volume 2, YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Volume 3, and the all new YOU DON'T KNOW
JACK The Ride shipping in November. YOU DON'T KNOW JACK The Irreverent
Collection combines the entire JACK series and will also be released this
fall. YOU DON'T KNOW JACK The Ride has an estimated street price of
$29.95 and YOU DON'T KNOW JACK The Irreverent Collection has an estimated
retail price of $49.95. Both will be available for Windows 95, Windows
3.1, and Macintosh.
Konami of America: Swing Into the Gameplay
With 'Bottom of the 9TH'
AUG 11, 1998, M2 Communications - Konami of America, Inc., leading
developer of electronic entertainment for the home video game and PC game
markets, is now shipping its newest addition to the Konami Sports Series,
Bottom Of The 9TH '99 for Sony PlayStation.
Bottom Of The 9TH '99 features improved 3D texture-mapped players; faster
gameplay, smooth, arcade-style batter/pitcher interface; nine polygon
body types; six playing modes; 16 beautifully rendered stadiums; multiple
camera angles; and a real-time "play-by-play" announcer. In addition, the
game includes the 1998 season-opening team rosters, incorporating all of
the off-season trades and free agent signings.
"Konami has taken the best features of last year's edition and
dramatically improved the overall graphics and sound, taking gameplay to
another level with Bottom Of The 9TH '99 for the Sony PlayStation,"
states Jon Sloan, Konami's director of Marketing. "With the addition this
year of texture-mapped players, new motion-captured animations, the
exciting play-by-play announcer and the new scenario mode, it compares
favorably to any baseball game on the market."
The six modes, which include Training, Exhibition, Full Season, Scenario,
Playoff and All-star modes, provide a wide variety of game play options.
For instance, in the Scenario mode, the user can play a specific part of
a dramatic game the score is tied, two outs, the bases are loaded and
you're up with a full count in the bottom of the ninth inning. The
Training mode allows gamers to hone pitching, fielding, batting and
base-running skills.
With more than 750 Major League Baseball Players Association players'
career statistics and photos, gamers have the option to play as general
managermaking their own trades and putting together a dream team that
will take them to the Fall Classic.
BTI Signs "Genesis" as U.S. Sales Agent
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Canadian Corp News, AUGUST 19, 1998)--Battery
Technologies Inc., today announced that it has entered into an exclusive
sales agreement with Genesis Sales and Marketing of St. Louis, Missouri
to introduce and sell its new Game Buddy(TM) Power pack. The unit is a
portable plug-in rechargeable RAM(TM) battery pack for Nintendo's(R) Game
Boy(R) pocket, that triples the use time of Game Boy to 22 hours of
non-stop use. Total available hours of use with the pack exceeds 300,
replacing at least 75 disposable batteries for significant cost savings
to the consumer. As well, the unit has a luminescent glowing charge light
that functions as a night-light when plugged-in. Product will be in
stores for Christmas.
"Nintendo has sold in excess of 30 million Game Boy pocket units, and
there has been a resurgence of late with the introduction of the Digital
Camera software and printer. "We are very confident that the Game
Buddy(TM) Power pack will be a great success, given the increasing need
for economical portable energy in the fast growing video game market"
said J. Bruce Pope, President and CEO of BTI. The portable video game
market is a multi-billion dollar global industry and Nintendo, Sony and
Sega are all competing aggressively for market share with new innovative
applications.
"Genesis" is an electronic and game manufacturers' agent with an
infrastructure and network of sales managers across the US. The
principals at Genesis have been instrumental in the introduction of
numerous Video game and Consumer electronics lines, such as Atari, Sega,
Acclaim, EIDOS, T HQ, NAMCO, Sanyo, Toshiba and Yes Entertainment. Mr.
Mike Lee, President of "Genesis" said, "The Game Buddy(TM) Power pack is
a super unit that not only looks great, but satisfies a real need for
more play time at reduced cost. The Game Buddy(TM) Power pack gives you
hours of use; you can drive from Chicago to Florida without changing
batteries, then, just plug it in to recharge, it's that simple."
Hasbro Buys PC Game Publisher MicroProse
Pawtucket, R.I.-Aug. 12-FWN/UPI--HASBRO INC. SAID TODAY it has entered
into a definitive agreement to acquire MicroProse Inc., a publisher of
popular simulation, 3-D action and strategy games for the personal
computer (PC), in a deal valued at approximately $70 million, including
assumed debt and redeemable preferred stock. Hasbro said its wholly owned
subsidiary will begin a tender offer no later than Aug. 18 for all of
MicroProse's outstanding common shares.
The offer will be conditioned upon, among other things, the expiration or
earlier termination of the applicable waiting period under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976 and the tender of a
majority of the common shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis of
MicroProse. Following completion of the offer, Hasbro's subsidiary will
be merged with MicroProse and any remaining MicroProse common shares will
be converted into the right to receive $6 a share in cash. Hasbro will
combine the activities of MicroProse with Hasbro Interactive, its
entertainment software publishing arm.
GT Invests in Blizzard Fugitives
Aug. 21, 1998 (MULTIMEDIA WIRE, Vol. 5, No. 162 via COMTEX) -- Recently
departed development talent from Blizzard Entertainment and a former GT
Interactive [GTIS] staffer formed a new development house, Fugitive
Studios, which turned down an offer from Sega and signed with GT. GT said
yesterday it obtains exclusive worldwide publishing rights to Fugitive's
PC and console titles in addition to print and merchandising rights.
Blizzard is not likely to be badly hurt by the defections since its
developer ranks remain robust. While the vast majority of Fugitive's
development talent had their hands in Starcraft, Warcraft II and Diablo -
PC titles - Fugitive co-founder/CEO Greg Williams says "we will
definitely" develop console titles. In talking to Sega, Fugitive learned
a lot about Dreamcast technology. And depending on the timing of
PlayStation II's release, both PSX and PSXII are also attractive
platforms, he adds, citing PSX's large installed base.
Fugitive's first title, a 3D action game with RPG elements, is expected
late next year for PC. The studio may port it to Dreamcast or PSX.
Meanwhile, Williams -- a former director of product development at GT
plans to add a few staffers before the game is complete and expects to
take on a second development project within six or seven months. Quelling
speculation to the contrary, Williams says the guys from Blizzard left on
good terms and simply pursued an opportunity.
NYKO Technologies Launches Classic Game ...
LAS VEGAS (Aug. 19) ENTERTAINMENT WIRE - NYKO Technologies Inc., a
leading video accessories company based in Los Angeles, came to Las Vegas
recently to pay homage to the classic games that built the foundation for
today's gaming industry, as well as to launch its newest products for
demanding video game players. n the eve of the Classic Video Game &
Computer Show in Las Vegas, the company launched what it calls "Today's
Technology for Yesterday's Classics," exciting new additions to its
well-known line of controllers and other peripherals designed for avid
gamers.
NYKO recently announced that it has been licensed by Sony Computer
Entertainment to produce gamepads, joysticks and other popular items for
its PlayStation game console. Since the Sony PlayStation platform will be
supporting the introduction of new versions of the old classic games this
fall, such as Hasbro's Centipede and Westwood's Command & Conquer, NYKO
selected the Expo to debut its new Classic TrackBall, as well as the
Scorpion Dual Shock Controller, to honor these titles.
The oversized, high-density Classic TrackBall brings back that classic,
smooth arcade quality and feel to gameplay, explained Robert Rienick,
newly-appointed vice president, sales & marketing, for NYKO. Designed for
all Mouse-compatible games, the NYKO Classic TrackBall offers a Turbo
Fire feature. The debut marks the launch of the first official accessory
designed specifically for these new classic game titles. To add to the
TrackBall's authenticity, the design is formed from the original molds of
the first Atari TrackBall, which NYKO has obtained for its use in the
product's manufacture.
Confirmed Games Compatible with NYKO
Classic TrackBall for Sony PlayStation
TITLE BY
Broken Sword THQ
Command & Conquer Westwood Studios
Retaliation Westwood Studios
Red Alert Westwood Studios
Centipede Hasbro
Monopoly Hasbro
Atari's Greatest Hits Midway
DiscWorld II Psygnosis
Elemental Gear Bolt Working Designs
Clock Tower II ASCII Entertainment
While taking care of the classics with the Classic TrackBall, NYKO is
ffering its new Scorpion controller to address a much newer trend, "Force
Feedback." With a high-tech, ergonomic shape, the Scorpion features a
built-in Force Feedback (dual shock adapter) and Dual Analog controls for
use with compatible software. The controller may be switched to analog or
digital play mode, and features Independent Turbo button functions as
well as allowing game play in slow motion.
Last, the company showed its SuperCobra advanced dual-system Light Gun,
compatible with all light gun games including Namco's Gun Con mode. It
features Force Feedback, Auto Bullet Reload and Adjustable Auto Fire. The
SuperCobra gun is compatible with Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn
consoles.
"It is exciting to note that today we may be creating tomorrow's classics
in our industry," Rienick added. "New trends like Force Feedback will be
part of a gamer's repertoire for years to come."
For further information, contact David Naghi, NYKO Technologies,
888/444-NYKO or go to the NYKO Web site directly, at http://www.nyko.com
Xena: Warrior Princess Makes Her Polygonal Debut
FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (Aug. 21) ENTERTAINMENT WIRE - Aug. 21, 1998 - 89
Studios, a Sony Computer Entertainment Group Company, announced today
that it is publishing the upcoming title Xena: Warrior Princess(TM). The
millions of fans of the hit TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess" will now
have a chance to enjoy the hard-hitting action only Xena can deliver,
exclusively on the PlayStation(R) game console. Available in March 1999,
Xena: Warrior Princess couples the intrigue of an adventure game with the
non-stop action of a fighting game.
Bringing to life the humorous and entertaining storyline of the
television series, the videogame version of Xena: Warrior Princess
features characters and locations taken directly from the TV show, as
well as an ensemble of newly created villains and dynamic new worlds to
explore. "We're very excited to be a part of the worldwide phenomenon of
Xena," said Jeffrey Fox, vice president, marketing, 989 Studios. "By
creating a compelling videogame based on the characters and storyline
from the number-one internationally syndicated television show, we're
confident we'll deliver a game that will appeal to millions of Xena
fans."
Gamers will enjoy the dramatic ancient adventure as Xena fights her way
through immersive 3D game environments including Valarian's Castle,
Hades' Underworld and the Temple of the Pinnacles. On the treacherous
quest, gameplayers will confront vicious villains, gorgons, cyclops and
Dyzan the fire-breathing gatekeeper of Hades. In the game, Xena embarks
on an epic adventure to stop the Minotaur King and Amazon Queen's
diabolical plot to kidnap Xena's friend Gabrielle and deliver her for
sacrifice to an evil sorceress. Xena must defeat monsters, ogres and the
minions of Hades before confronting the ultimate master of black magic.
Xena: Warrior Princess features unparalleled 3D technology that provides
advanced light sourcing and textured polygons that render at 30 frames
per second. Dynamic gameplay, fluid animation and vivid graphic realism
also heightens the intensity of the fast-playing action.
Xena: Warrior Princess Key Features
* Characters and locations taken directly from the top rated,
internationally syndicated TV show
* Arsenal of weapons: swords, staffs, hidden weapons and the Chakram
-- Xena's trademark weapon
* Fast-action gameplay that runs at 30 frames per second
* Multiple dynamic light sources
* Eight game environments each with multiple missions
THQ To Publish PlayStation Game Based On Hit Comic, 'Danger Girl'
CALABASAS, CALIF. (Aug. 25) BUSINESS WIRE - Aug. 25, 1998 - THQ Inc.
Tuesday announced that it will publish and distribute a PlayStation
adventure game based on characters from the new hit comic, "Danger Girl,"
created by J. Scott Campbell and published monthly under Image Comics'
Cliffhanger label.
Interactive game developer n-Space will design and develop the game,
scheduled for worldwide release by THQ in the fourth quarter of 1999.
Demonstrating the comic book's popularity, New Line Cinema recently
optioned live-action film rights. The third-person action adventure game
will revolve around the bold exploits of an elite team of sexy, smart and
sassy women recruited by the top-secret Danger Girl spy agency and
charged with fighting evil. Featuring multiple characters, each with
unique skills, "Danger Girl" imperils its beautiful and curvaceous
heroines in seemingly hopeless situations against menacing villains as
they use their wit and charm to fight for the forces of good.
"'Danger Girl' is a fantastic opportunity to leverage a hot c