Whew, an aggressive posture has been taken by Accolade. The company has announced that they will develop more than 20 sports and action games this year. The games will run on Macs, PC CD-ROM, Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation (PSX) platforms. The first three titles have been announced. They include PO'ed for the PSX, Deadlock for PC CD-ROM, and HardBall 5 for the PSX. Accolade's super star, Bubsy the Bobcat, is expected to return to the gaming world this fall in a space chase title that's set in five, 3D space worlds. Accolade's products are distributed by Warner/Elecktra/Atlantic (WEA).
SNL AS A SCREEN SAVER
Thanks to a new agreement with NBC and Broadway Video Inc., Berkeley Systems Inc. now has total distribution rights to the CD-ROM title Saturday Night Live Goes Political. This offering includes classic video clips and games from the late-night comedy show Saturday Night Live and will ship for Windows and Mac platforms this March. More than 20 years of political humor from the show will be offered as you cruise through seven categories: Presidents, Politicians, Elections, Timeline, The World, The Press and Games. There's Dan Aykroyd as Richard Nixon, Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford, and Phil Hartman as Clinton. Also included are parodies of top journalists, world leaders and the first family. For more info, visit the company's WWW site at http://www.berksys.com.
CRITICAL SUCCESS
One of the great programs running on PCs these days is YOU DON'T KNOW JACK from Berkeley Systems. This title has now won five awards, and all after only four weeks on retailers' shelves. The awards won include the Innovations '96 Software Showcase Honors, Computer Game Review's Golden Triad, MacUser's Editor's Choice Award for Best Strat, PC Entertainment's Editor's Choice Award for Best Brain Drain Game, and Multimedia World's All-Star Award. The title has also placed solidly within the top 10 games at several major retailers.
RECKLESS RACING
Now enroute from Bullfrog Productions Inc., for the Sony(R) PlayStation(TM) and Sega(R) Saturn(TM), is Hi-Octane(TM). This is a combat racing sim where even the tracks themselves fight back. Set in the future, illegal racing is now the sport of choice. If anyone cuts you off, activate your chain gun or your missile launcher and teach them the real meaning of offensive driving. But watch out--the tracks are also deadly. You may select from 6 different "sleds" and race on nine tracks, each with side alleys and streets that are quite secretive. There's even split-screen, 2-player action. Bullfrog titles are distributed by Electronic Arts.
CUT BACKS FEARED
Seems that Digital Pictures is suffering from distribution headaches as well as less-than-expected sales. This is resulting in a large staff layoff, rumored to be nearly 40 percent of the company. At least their Quarterback Attack made it through production and the distribution channel, as we have seen the title on retail shelves. Perhaps if additional monies can be found, this trend-setting company can turn their fortunes around. Let's hope so!
NEW VEEP
There's a new senior vice president for North American studio, at Electronic Arts. The promoted individual is Don Mattrick, who was the former general manager for EA Canada, as well as the former chairman of Distinctive Software which was acquired by EA in 1991. We wish Don well in his new position.
ROCK MUSIC AND VIDEO GAME
Integrating motion picture technology and video games and alternative rock music videos is Road Rash from Electronic Arts(R) for the Sony(R) PlayStation(TM). The term Road Rashing, according to EA, refers to high-speed, everything-bared, outlawed motorcycle racing--forget helmet laws here! Gutsy riding and fists can make the diff between finishing in first place or chewing concrete. You can blaze through curves on photo-realistic, texture-mapped tracks, ranging from cities, canyon runs, to country backgrounds. Music from six alternative music bands is included, this was accomplished as part of a deal between EA and A&M Records. Each band provides one to four tracks of music. The game integrates video footage of the bands and several of their music videos.
MACS TO GET FIVE HOT TITLES
Three extremely successful PC titles, and two original entertainments, will be released for the Macintosh by I*Motion during calendar Q1 of 1996. The first is Prisoner of Ice, adapted from the works of H.P. Lovecraft. As American agent John Ryan just prior to W.W. II, you must uncover and foil a horrible Nazi plot to make a weapon out of a hideous life form. You must solve the mystery of this creature before it is unleashed on the world.
Then there's Chaos Control. You're transported to the future where you must battle a vicious extraterrestrial intelligence for control of the earth. You must liberate Manhattan from swarms of invading aliens, neutralize the core of an alien virtual reality computer and destroy the alien fleet.
Alone in the Dark 3, converted from the PC version, you are a supernatural private eye and you've been called to Hill Century Studios. There, the studio's latest movie set, the ghost town of Slaughter Gulch, is the scene of the abduction of the entire movie crew. You must solve the mystery through location exploration and engage in combat in this hostile environment.
I*Motion's first sports title is International Tennis Open. You'll have the option of a friendly match or participate in the strenuous international tournament on a circuit between Paris, London and New York. The objective is to win the Grand Slam title. There are a wide variety of court surface and difficulty options.
The next title for Macintosh and PCs and is Virtual Chess. This offering features a library of over 46,000 classic games and is a superb learning tool for beginners and a challenging opponent for game masters. The game has a multi-axis engine enabling you to zoom in and out and to rotate the board to any angle to view the pieces.
JUNGLE BOOK CD-ROM FOR KIDS
IBM Multimedia Studio (770-644-4881) will soon release Jungle Book Moviegame CD-ROM. The title includes 90 minutes of feature film footage that includes never-before-seen clips and new characters in addition to the original, Hollywood cast. Patented IBM speech technology is used to give children an easy and natural way to interact with their favorite Jungle Book characters. They'll imitate chimpanzees, tigers and other animals as they master the language of the jungle to find King Louie's crown and restore order to the jungle kingdom. The title is designed for children ages 5 to 10. You'll need Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, DOS 6.2 or later, a 486/66 PC with 8MB of RAM and 8MB of hard drive space to run this game.
ONLINE AIR COMBAT GAME DUE
Air Warrior II is set for publication by Interactive Magic after final development on the title by Kesmai Corporation. The title will contain the latest 2.0 technology from Kesmai as well as 75 missions that will allow you to really master your flying skills--BEFORE you compete against others, on-line. You be able to fly 30 different airplanes from the WWI, WWII and Korean war eras. The game features an intuitive Windows 95 interface that makes it easy for even beginners to get into the game play. The CD-ROM version will also contain an easy-to-use tutorial plus a free on-line time coupon. The game will also support modem-to-modem play for head-to-head competition. For more information, check out the company's WWW site at http://www.imagicgames.com.
HELICOPTER SIM GARNERS NOMINATIONS
Interactive Magic is also quite pleased over the fact that their Apache helicopter combat sim has received two nominations for the Codie Award from Software Publishers Association. The categories are for Best Debut of the Year and Best Simulation Software Program for 1995. The Software Publishers Association (SPA) is the largest software association in the world and, in that capacity, recognizes outstanding consumer, business and education titles. Interactive Magic's Apache was selected by a panel of leading software reviewers from more than 900 titles, all released during 1995. Now, SPA members will vote by mail for the winner in each of the categories. Apache has sold more than 200,000 copies since its release last August.
KIDS TO LEARN WITH 3D PERSPECTIVE
Logic Quest(TM) has been introduced by The Learning Company. This software program with proven educational content is the first such offering to use a 3D, first-person perspective. This title offers children ages eight to 14 a medieval adventure with challenging mazes, puzzles and construction activities all designed to develop key thinking skills, spatial awareness and mapping skills. A mysterious medieval village provides the overall setting. Children must navigate their way through a castle by deciphering secret panels, finding hidden objects and maneuvering through a maze of doors. Using aerial maps, kids can plan strategies to unlock a sequence of castle doors to earn passage to the next level. This title will be released this Spring for Windows CD-ROM machines. To provide guidance, the game has a narrated introduction and spoken player hints.
MICROSOFT REALLY INTO GAMES
New game development relationships have been announced by Microsoft Corporation with Atomic Games, Crystal Dynamics, Rainbow America and Terminal Reality. Atomic, out of Houston, TX, is best known for the V for Victory and Worlds at War titles. They will work with Microsoft to bring Close Combat to the market in both Windows 95 and Macintosh formats. Crystal Dynamics plans to bring their number one selling title, GEX, to Windows 95. This is a side-scroller with tons of action that has received two prestigious video game awards from Electronic Gaming Monthly and Game Fan magazine. Rainbow America developed The Hive and will now develop an underwater action game for Windows 95 machines. The company has worked in the past with TRG3 artists who are responsible for the visuals in the TV series SeaQuest and Star Trek: Voyager.
WINDOWS GAMES CD NOW AVAILABLE
Games for Windows 95 CD is going to be available at retail outlets commencing January 15th. With a cool price of $9.95, this CD will feature 39 playable trail version titles that have been designed to offer an interactive, 3D graphical interface under Windows 95. Each game takes advantage of AutoPlay technology--all you have to do is insert your CD into your computer and installation is handled by the operating system. Games range from Al Unser Jr. Arcade Racing from Mindscape to DogZ from PF. Magic to Zork Nemesis from Activision. You'll need a Windows 95 PC, 8MB or RAM and a compatible sound card.
COMIC BOOK ADVENTURE COMES ALIVE
From Origin (512-335-5200) comes CyberMage: Darklight Awakening for PC CD-ROM. This new game presents comic book entertainment with cutting edge technology in a science-fiction adventure. You'll find yourself in a dark and violent Earth of the future, where greedy corporate entities struggle for ultimate control over Earth's resources. One in particular has been ruthlessly extending its control by means of a new technology and you become involved in this conflict when you rescue a powerful, corporate executive marked for execution. He gives you an alien implant and you begin to encounter foes who want to stop you at all costs. Your final showdown is against NeCrom, the only other being in possession of an alien Darklight gem. The comic book is available from The Eden Matrix Press. You'll need a 486/66, 8MB RAM, 10MB hard drive space, and a 2x CD-ROM drive to run this game.
MAC CYBERSPACE ACTION GAME
Also from Origin is System Shock(TM), now for the Macintosh. Using a first-person perspective, this title weaves real physics, puzzles and cyberspace to create a thinking action game. You start the game on the space station Citadel where you've been artificially enhanced with a neural implant in order to hack into the main station computer, known as SHODAN. You find dead bodies littering the station. Hosts of mechanical and mutant armies attack you at every turn. You soon realize that SHODAN has gone out of control and must be stopped at all costs. The game was designed by LookingGlass Technologies(TM) and you'll need a 7100/80 Power Macintosh(TM) or greater, 8MB RAM, and 22MB hard disk space for this title.
BABYLON 5 SCREENSAVER ARRIVES
From Sound Source Interactive comes a brand new CD-ROM product that is actually a screen saver, AudioClip and wallpaper utility product. The neat feature is that this package is based on the popular Babylon 5 TV series, licensed by Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment to Sound Source Interactive. This utility program contains everything a Babylon 5 fan needs to turn his or her computer into an extension of the TV series. There are wallpaper art backdrops that feature scenes directly from the show. Special effects from the show are incorporated into the utility's AudioClip feature. And there are a number of screensaver options that offer Babylon 5 moments through both video clips and stills.
* VIDEO GAME NEWS *
2-MILLION SOLD
According to Sony Computer Entertainment, that company has now sold more than 2 million video console units since December of 1994. According to a variety of sources, Sega has also sold about 2 million of their Saturns. Both companies are, naturally, predicting even greater sales by spring of this year. Sega says they'll reach 5 million units, while Sony is predicting a far more reasonable 3 million in unit sales. Time will tell!
** INDUSTRY STUFF: DIGITAL DELIGHTS **
3DO TO ENTER NEW DOMAIN
To continue the bolster of the company, 3DO is now going to enter the MPEG encoding biz. The company has announced an entire digital, video product line that includes 3DO MPEGXpress that uses a real-time, Mac-based MPEG1 encoding technology. 3DO hopes this system will be used by anyone involved in content development for the Net, video games and CDs, multimedia, and corporate authoring projects. The system features 5 megabit-per-second data rates, extensive digital filtering, full digital audio support, audio/video sync, balanced XLR inputs, all integrated into a rack-mounted breakout box called the 3DO DigitalConnect. This unit converts all input to D1 video and digital audio. Plus, full MPEG-2 support is expected later this year with an easy upgrade path available. For more info, visit the 3DO home page at http://www.3do.com.
APPLE AND ADOBE BUNDLE UP
A limited edition of Power Macintosh 8500 systems from Apple Computer will now come bundled with Adobe's After Effects 3.0 and Premiere 4.2 software programs. These two titles are currently some of the leading video and special effects offerings available on the market. The former is a high-quality 2D animation and special effects program and the latter is a powerful digital video editing solution that lets you create movies on your desktop. The limited edition bundle will have an estimated SRP of $4,799, which means a savings of about $1,000 if each item were to be purchased separately. Availability date is January 26th.
SUPER ENTRY-LEVEL VIDEO SOLUTION
One of the strengths of Power Macintosh is the manner in which this computer can handle creative work, whether design, audio or animation. However, for those with the lower end systems, such as the 7100, video is a wish, not a reality. Now Diamond Multimedia Systems has announced their Javelin AV/TV. This is a PCI card that'll bring both video capture (640x480 and 30 fps) and a TV tuner to such systems as the PowerMac 7200 and Power Computing's PowerCurve 601/120. The low cost board, expected to sell for around $169, will also pack S-video, composite and audio connectors. No MPEG-2 is expected for this board, but mebbe a daughterboard will be offered later.
MULTIPURPOSE PC
Aimed at households, NEC Corporation is planning some new PCs for release this spring. These new personal computers will enable not only game playing, but communications such as TV or radio. The CD player in these units can also be used to listen to compact discs. In design, the PC looks very much like a horizontal cylinder and runs on a Pentium CPU. A thin-film transistor LCD display and stereo speakers round out the offering.
RECORDABLE CD PRICE DROPS
Now, for less than $1,000, you can have a 2x CD recorder and a 4x CD reader. This unit is from Pinnacle Micro and is known as the RCD 5040 Recordable CD system. The SRP is $995 for the internal PC version and $1,295 for the Mac and external PC versions. Figure a street price of just over $800 for the former version. The unit comes with a custom version of Corel's CD Creator 2 app that supports data and audio recording, audio editing, photo CD viewing, and more. The Mac and PC versions also include backup for creating permanent archives of important data.
GAME PLAYING MORE EFFICIENTLY
Quarterdeck Corporation (310-309-3700) has released GameRunner3, an upgrade to the previous game memory enhancement product lines that now works with Windows 95, Windows 3.1 and DOS. What's grand is that you can now run your favorite Windows game without needing to first enter the gloomy world of DOS-when you're through being slaughtered, you simply leave your game and return to your Windows environment. This product speeds up and stabilizes your machine, plus there's the GameCheater, which allows you to somewhat equalize the player's odds through use of a hotkey while running one of the supported games.
You get QEMM 8 Game Edition, with is a memory management utility for Windows and DOS. QEMM works behind the scenes and provides your machine with as much memory as is possible, just what you need to run digital entertainments. Your games will run more reliably, won't have to access your media as often, and you (more than likely) won't need to create boot disks anymore for specific titles. Plus there's Cache86 which reduces the number of disk reads and writes. For those games that extensively use files copied to your hard drive, this little utility can definitely improve game performance. Then there's the game cheater feature, wherein "hotkeys" for specific games that increase such goodies as your strength, your ammo, health, or supernatural "gifts" when you depress that key. Many times, the designers of games build-in these cheat keys. GameRunner3 can print a list of those keys so you can make full use of them! For more information, check out Quarterdecks' Web site at http://www.quarterdeck.com.
3D GAMES MARKET ATTRACTS ANOTHER
Spaceball Avenger II is coming--this is a new 3D game controller with six degree freedom of movement that features a digital PowerSensor ball and proprietary circuitry. The unit can be used on Mac, Windows or DOS machines as well as 32- and 64-bit video console units. The peripheral is from Spacetec IMC Corp. and a number of distributors are reportedly interested in moving this unit through the consumer channels. The original unit, Spaceball Avenger I, is already supported under Windows 95 DirectInput as well as by such games a DOOM and DOOM II, Dark Forces, Descent, Descent II, Hexen, Rise of the Triad, Mech-Warrior 2.
MAJOR AWARDS TO SPATIALIZER
Winter CES proved to be quite a winning platform for Spatializer Audio Laboratories. The company was honored with Innovations Awards and nine new products that incorporate the company's patented Spatializer(R) 3D stereo technology also debuted. These products include a stereo surround sound system, amplified computer speakers, a monitor, dual tuner stereo receivers and amps for Macs and PC, plus a new Panasonic VCR.
* ONLINE STUFF *
3D FOR WEB PAGES
Thanks to VR Server from WebMaster, Inc., your HTML pages can now be converted to VRML pages to environments that look like an office, an empty room, a spaceship or even a castle. This means that what was previously 2D may now be viewed as 3D. Plus, whenever you make changes to your pages, the VRML code is automatically updated as well. Those images you've labored over to convert to GIF89 to rest amiably in your HTML pages will appear in the VRML rooms as artwork. The Windows 95 or Windows NT software is priced at $249. More info may be obtained by accessing the WebMaster home page at http://www.webmaster.com.
MSN UPGRADE
Within the next couple of weeks, Microsoft is expected to announce major enhancements to the service. The first is ISDN connection and the second is the ability to logon to the network from the Internet. There's also faster downloading of messages and other files with version 1.2. Upgrades will be available via download to MSN subscribers.
COOL SCIENCE COMING TO THE WEB
MultiActive Technologies and Concord Pacific Developers Corp. are bringing a virtual science center to the WWW. Expected to be available in mid-'96, this site is called Science, Eh? and will be targeted toward students in grades 4 to 9. What will be available at this site is a multimedia interactive magazine that is full of science info. Virtually every aspect of physical sciences will be offered and teachers, students and home users will participate in this medium that'll be continually evolving as folk interact with, and create, on-line materials. The concept is from Dr. Gerri Sinclour, the founder of GeoSync Interactive and head of Simon Fraser University's ExCITE Center in Vancouver.
PERSONAL PRODIGY PAGES
Now Prodigy subscribers can bring graphics, sound and photos into the WWW pages. Best of all, this is accomplished at NO extra cost to the subscriber. These new capabilities are accomplished through the service's upload/download Site Manager Program which will allow for as much as 1MB of data to be stored. There are additional charges for pages that require from two to 15 MB of space, running at about $1 per megabyte. No coding skills are required as all you do is fill-in the blanks on a number of different templates. The HTML conversion takes place automatically for you. You can also incorporate VRML into your Personal Web Pages.
ONLINE SPORTS ENHANCED
Sports Byline USA has jointed with SportsLine USA to offer new comprehensive content on-line. Ron Barr hosts Sports Byline, which is heard on more than 300 radio stations in the USA, and on the Armed Forces Radio Network. This month, Barr will promote the on-line Sports Byline USA service and will distribute software for the service during his nightly show and at live, remotes. In return for this work, SportsLine USA will take Sports Byline USA onto the net by developing a special content area. You'll be able to get info on Barr, the show's programming schedule, upcoming guest info and remote broadcast times, plus listen to previously aired shows and sound clips.
DEVELOPER DUMP
TETRIS FOUNDERS LAUNCH NEW TECHNOLOGY
Two innovative titles resulted in AnimaTek International, Inc., becoming known as a super development company. In fact, Tetris and ElFish were recognized as truly ground-breaking titles. Now the company is going to enable developers to acquire their technology with a new set of development tools. The plan is to offer a one-stop shopping center for these tools, which includes animation, 3D environments, landscape technologies and tools and real-time technologies, such as Voxel-based character rendering in real-time and Z-buffered branched movies. Many developers are already using their AnimaTek's World Builder environment generator.
TOP-DRAWER 3D PACKAGE ENROUTE
Coming soon from Macromedia is their new 3D modeling and animation package, Extreme 3D. This new package will replace two of Macromedia's previously most widely used 3D programs MacroModel and Macromedia Three-D. Extreme 3D will be cross platform plus you can have as many copies on your Macs or PCs that are on your net so you can render your work using the power of all of the associated machines at the same time. This offering is a spline-based modeler that enables your use of Bezier curves. Once built, these models can be extruded, revolved, or moved into a 3D world. FreeHand, Illustrator and other DXF, EPS and PICT files can also be imported. You can animate anything you've built in the modeler. Object tracking is enabled for lights and objects-even texture mapping can be animated. The upgrade price for current users of Macromedia's older products is quite reasonable-$199.
** PERSPECTIVES: RATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS OF NEW PRODUCTS **
Mudgeon: On Games(TM)
Curse of Dragor for Macintosh
from Domark Software
You are absolutely correct--there are NOT enough games for Macintosh gamers. Although there are far more digital entertainments these days than in days of yore, the ratio of PC to Macintosh games is rather dismal. Some developers continue to doggedly produce games that they know will sell fewer than 40,000 units. Hardly enough sales to warrant the R&D expenditures, never mind the massive marketing budget and retail sales "influence" needed to find shelf space for these titles.
And so, it is with deep regret I must admonish folk regarding the purchase of the above title. Initially, I felt as though this fantasy role-playing game had merit. Now I must change my tune of joy to a dirge of disappointment. The title certainly has potential, although the oft tried and now stale tune of evil kith coming back to flaunt their powers in the face of good is becoming quite trite.
The game play is solid enough, save for an interface that absolutely requires you to operate both your mouse and your keyboard to get anywhere. This is, at times, quite frustrating. Allow me to explain. Let us say you are approaching a closed door. You are using your keyboard to direct your movement. You must also use your keyboard to activate the weapon being carried by your leader of your party of four adventurers. You approach the door and you must move your hand from the keyboard to your mouse to actually open the door, then move back to the keyboard to move through the doorway and be ready for a possible attack of some kind. Useless motion. Why not enable the mouse to do everything, or the keyboard to do everything? Why cause the user unnecessary motion sickness?
The graphics are quite cool, as the screen shots reveal. The sound effects are OK, save for the idiotic laughter that echoes through your Mac speakers when you quit the game. Whoever was responsible for THAT voice over should probably not consider radio as a career. The auto map is only viewable when you're not doing something else and before you can return to the game, you must put the map away. Nor can you use the map to actually move your characters about in the game, which is a set back. As compass directions are not revealed on your screen, the map is the only way you can determine exactly where you are in the scheme of things and can be the only revelation of which way you should actually turn.
The nasties that oppose you are nicely rendered. The static objects such as furniture and walls are also texture-mapped. All-in-all, a pleasant game. Ahhh, but that's the rub. A moment of happiness fills your soul when you realize you can save your game at any juncture. No need to rush to a special icon or a special location to save your adventure. Any time, any where, the saved game is yours to command.
Unfortunately, approximately 50 percent of the time I recalled a saved game (usually necessary when some of your characters have been lain to waste by some evil critter in the game) in order to master an ambush or a puzzle, all I received in return was the exact spot I wish to avoid again. In other words, my save game 3, which digitally encoded my hard drive with the last great location of my adventurers, would not load correctly. What I received was the culmination of the last great misadventure where my wizard and my cleric were both slain by a spell-wielding nastie. As I had purposely saved the game at a position that I knew I would need recalled, to be so rudely set upon by the game and given a position I have no desire to continue leaves a great deal to be desired. In fact, I desired so little, and received so little, I finally surrendered all semblance of rationality and simply gave up on the game.
There you have it, then. Dragor is a Macintosh FRPG with, seemingly, tons of potential to entertain adventurers. What it delivers is a miscoded save game feature that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't--nothing worse than spending time with a particular scenario only to have your best moves evaporate into the digital netherlands. Now, if Domark can fix this problem, hallelujah--Mac gamers will rejoice and rejoin this grand adventure.--Mudgeon
F-16 COMBATSTICK for PCs
from CH Products
I have a problem-that problem revolves around the names manufacturers award to their product line. Naturally, much consideration and deep thought is given product names. After all, how many SB130-455s have you recalled to your memory when you're looking for a new VCR player or CD-ROM drive. (This latter naming affliction seems to hold most true for manufacturers of hardware.)
Fortunately, folk who build peripherals, such as joysticks and keyboards and mice and the like, seem to get at least half of the formula correct! For example, I have been using--quite admirably, I might add--the F-16 COMBATSTICK on my PC. Yes, this is a finely crafted I/O device that certainly finds its home integrated with your combat flight sims. After all, the "F-16" part of the unit's moniker certainly indicates a familiarity with the awesome jet the United States military uses for a variety of critical missions.
Unfortunately, should one simply consider the name of this device, one MIGHT believe this joystick was truly only attuned for combat games! Throw in the latter half of the name, "stick," and at least you can figure out this peripheral is a joystick, or a member of the joystick family.
Allow me to inform one and all that the F-16 COMBATSTICK is far more than just a peripheral for use with your flight sims. I've run a wide variety of games using this peripheral, from WipeOut! to Stonekeep, and I believe this unit has added to my agility with digital entertainments. The super cool feature is that the F-16 COMBATSTICK works with ANY program that supports joysticks--there's no special driver to load or use when running your game. Oh, sure, some of the more advanced features of the joystick require support, but that's usually for an additional six or more features. Most advanced flight sims support the CH Product line in their entirety.
There are a couple of 4-way switches, five--yep, count' em--five fire buttons, a most comfortable and quick-to-use trigger, rotary throttle and trim pots. CH also offers FIVE-YEAR warranty on this product. WOW!
Don't ignore the name--just realize that the F-16 COMBATSTICK controls a lot more than just combat flight sims. The SRP on this puppy is around $99.95, which is a bit on the steep side. Street price, of course, will be a lot lower. But if you need a lower-cost joystick with much of the functionality of the F-16 COMBATSTICK, try CH's F-16 FLIGHTSTICK. Although this unit has far less functionality, it's still an advanced I/O device for about $30 less! You may obtain more info from CH Product's WWW site at http://www.chproducts.com.-Mudgeon
