We'll be updating our E3 news at every opportunity, so check back often; many of the articles are being revised with more detail, so keep watching for in-depth information on upcoming Mac games!





Next Nintendo Console to use PPC Chips
Nintendo to use a 400mhz PPC 750 Processor? You bet! The "Gekko," a custom version of the PPC 750 used in the new Blue and White g3's will be debuting in the new system. From the press release:

Japan's Nintendo Co. Wednesday said it has enlisted International Business Machines Corp. to make a powerful new chip for its next-generation game system in a $1 billion deal that heats up the race for dominance in the video game market.

Under the agreement, to be implemented over several years, computer giant IBM is to design and manufacture the "Gekko,'' a 400-megahertz custom version of its PowerPC microprocessor.

Nintendo said its next-generation gaming console, dubbed the "Dolphin,'' will hit the market in time for the 2000 holiday season and would boast the fastest and most realistic action yet in an industry where blistering speed is everything.

For IBM, the deal is a chance to show off its latest microprocessor technology that uses smaller, copper wiring that is more efficient than traditional aluminum connections.

The Dolphin will succeed the Nintendo 64 console. Nintendo 64 hardware and software held a 28 percent slice of the $5 billion 1998 U.S. video game market. That trailed the Sony PlayStation's 54 percent, according to research firm PC Data.

Wow. As many of you know, Sega Dreamcast, which has already hit the Japan market, has a Hitachi SH4 reduced instruction set chip (RISC), which boasts floating point instructions 4x quicker then a P2. Hopefully, with IBM and the PPC 750 in the new Nintendo system, more people will realize the potential of the processor and the machines it runs on. [Lawrence-Richards]





Dualism.Org Releases New Duality Screenshots
Though this game seems to drop from the radar for long periods of time, the Duality team at Double Aught still seems to be hard at work. Four new screenshots have appeared at Dualism.Org which highlight the curiously organic design and surreal creatures of this long-promised game. In addition, the Double Aught website, long renowned for its innovative and eye-popping design, has undergone another revision worth checking out. [Eilers]





Graphic Simulations Announces OpenGL Support
Graphic Simulations today released a beta version of F/A-18 KoreaGL which offers stunning graphics and unparalleled realism when used with Apple Computer's new OpenGL software. The new version also supports Input Sprockets which allows the use of all Mac friendly USB input devices.

In this new version, F/A-18 KoreaGL displays beautifully textured terrain, sky, water and airbase runways at consistently fast and fluid speeds in high-resolutions, as high as 1024x768. Also visible are enhanced effects like translucent smoke, sun glare, haze, cloud-layers, dynamic sky illumination, per-pixel fog, and HUD transparencies. These features require OpenGL and Rage ProÆ or greater graphics with 6MB of video RAM. All current iMacÆ and G3Æ computers are compatibly equipped.

The beta version also includes support for Apple's Input Sprocket device manager. Now, all Mac friendly joysticks and other input devices are compatible with F/A-18 KoreaGL. USB sticks from popular manufacturers like CH Products, Thrustmaster, Saitek, Gravis, Ariston and others are supported.

A free upgrade patch for the beta version of F/A-18 KoreaGL is available for download from the GSC website located at http://www.graphsim.com. F/A-18 Korea v.1 or greater is required to upgrade. F/A-18 Korea is available for purchase through major Macintosh software retailers. Currently a promotional price of $29.95 is offered for F/A-18 Korea, which includes a free copy of F/A-18 Hornet v3.0.