Our fax machine shall, probably, never recover. The earpiece of our telephone has nearly melted from overuse. And our appointment database has suffered several hernias as changes accumulate for entry on an hourly basis. We are, of course, talking about the biggest digital entertainment and edutainment show in the universe: E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) which kicks of this week in Los Angeles. We shall be in attendance for over 50 meetings with the leading game publishing companies in the universe.
As we are a rather small publishing company, we simply do not have the staff to report back to our loyal readers on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, some time will pass between the time we return to the office and the first information gleaned at E3 will be published on this site. However, we can assure one and all that the information so relayed to you shall be timely, accurate, and a great deal of fun to contemplate! If you would like preview information regarding E3, check out http://www.gamepen.com and read the news items at this WWW site. For daily coverage, you won't be able to beat the Dille/Kunkle/Yeats E3 coverage at http://www.happypuppy.com/. Be certain to check them out!
We are also on the verge of (yet-another) site redesign to make the daily news even more readable and applicable for your needs. There will be tons more reviews ahead, and some extra features we cannot discuss yet. We are looking at Java and Shockwave to add some additional highlights to our pages, yet please be cognizant that we still consider content to be the king. All other elements are simply snazzle and boomstuff to help ease folk into the information we present.
If you would be interested in becoming a reviewer for Inside Games & Entertainment Update, please email us at gamesup@gv.net. We'd be delighted to discuss such opportunities with you.
In the meantime, we hope to see everyone back with us on May 22nd! Take care and, for heaven's sake, GAME ON MOST FEROCIOUSLY!!
3Dfx & NEC: VOODOO HOODOO
Consumer desire for today's personal computers to deliver awesome graphics and sound for multimedia entertainment is the cause for new technological standards, seemingly on a nearly weekly basis. Because of the never-ending raising of the performance bar, NEC Technologies has signed an OEM agreement with 3Dfx for that company's Voodoo Graphics(TM) chipset, meaning that Voodoo Graphics will now be the 3D graphics engine for this PC-based game machine. The chipset brings advanced filtering, alpha-blending, anti-aliasing, MIP mapping, and Z-buffering, all required for realistically texture-mapped games. True 3D desktop graphics has become a reality and this means that PCs will be able to even compete on an even basis with the up-and-coming 64-bit video game systems. The NEC PowerPlayer systems will be officially announced this June with delivery expected later in 1996.
20th Century Fox: FILM MARKETING COULD COST $50 MILLION
The talk of the industry is the amount of money 20th Century Fox Film Corporation is expected to spend on promoting Independence Day, their science-fiction, alien-invasion, epic feature film that debuts on July 3rd. As an "event" film, the company is working with Coors Brewing Company who will run a sweeps that will be supported by in-store merchandising with 75 million cans, all sporting the ID4 logo. Additionally, TV support will be heavy. The Coors promo will be managed by Foote, Cone & Belding out of Chicago. Other film partners include Ace Hardware Company, Domino's Pizza, Service Merchandise Company, and TraveLodoge. The latter company also has rights to two additional Fox movies that'll debut this summer: Courage Under Fire and Chain Reaction. Other films in development from Fox include Anastasia, an animated feature film that is supposed to rival Disney's animation techniques and an Arnold Swchwarzenegger vehicle that is an updated Planet of the Apes.
47-TEK: WHAT NEXT? VIRTUAL BABY SITTER?
For those folks attending E3 in Los Angeles next week, a new product from 47-TEK Inc. will be demonstrated. Although it won't be available for PC-Windows 95, Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn platforms until 1997, Sitterware(TM), a line of children's games, is created using the revolutionary 47-DO(TM) 5D Graphics(TM) engine.
Geared to wee folks between the ages of four and seven, they'll interact with a true 3D environment, explore and perform tasks in each of twelve connected
areas. Kids will be encouraged to cooperate with non-player characters and to plan and follow a course of action. Children can immerse themselves imaginatively in the persona of their player-characters, seeing an interesting world from the character's perspective. To create this program 47-TEK's team recently expanded with the addition of more than 300 artists and computer programmers through a strategic alliance with Inventec, a Taipei-based multinational group.
Acclaim Comics: ILLUSTRATED CLASSICS
While growing up, one of the few comics most children were "allowed" to read were the Classics Illustrated titles. Those original comics also happen to worth a goodly sum of money if in their first printing state. Acclaim Comics has now signed a licensing agreement with First Classics Inc. to re-publish this enormously popular line of properties. These Classics Illustrated comics may also be published as interactive games or edutainment titles. This series of comics was developed in 1942 to illustrate the writings of noted authors and playwrights such as William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens. Even study guide publications are in the offering. Acclaim Entertainment is the parent company of Acclaim Comics.
Activision: MAKIN' MAC'ERS HAPPIER
Apple's newly-found emphasis on digital entertainment development and the release of their GameSprockets SDK is going to increase, dramatically, the number of game titles for Macintosh computers. Taking a lead in the release of new Macintosh titles are several large and important game companies, such as Activision. That company has now announced that, within the next five months, Macintosh versions of Spycraft: The Great Game (featuring former CIA director, William Colby, and former KGB major general Oleg Kalugin), Zork Nemesis (the fantasy adventure sequel to the classic Zork game series), MechWarrior(R) 2 (the smash-hit combat sim game), Muppet Treasure Island (the swashbuckling adventures of Kermit, Miss Piggy, with Tim Curry and other popular Muppet characters) and The Elk Moon Murder (an interactive mystery where you must solve a murder in a limited amount of time) are all coming to the Macintosh computer. When you realize there are more than 58 million Macintosh users, this represents enormous sales potential for those game publishers who present top-notch titles for Mac consumption.
Adobe Systems: BRAVO FOR ADOBE
At first the Internet was replete with ASCII text and graphics. Nothing much in the way of fancy pages, but tons of information. Then arrived the first graphics, normally more of a bother than a benefit, within Internet pages. The World Wide Web expanded the use of graphics, bringing icons, full images, even animations and sound and video. But still today, much of the wonder on the web is somewhat infantile and crude. Adobe plans to do something about this lack of proper imaging. The company developed Bravo. This is a portable imaging framework that is totally independent of the operating system beneath it. With Bravo, you'll be able to offer true color images from a palette of 16.8 million colors. Yes, they'll have PostScript line-art (scalable), transparency, and jaggie-free, on-the-fly, anti-aliased text. And these fonts will truly be independent of any specific font technology as all such technologies will work interchangeably. All of this is thanks to the unified Bravo API developed by Adobe. Additionally, Bravo's printing architecture directly generates PostScript which will definitely improve the quality and the speed of complex graphic printing. Consumers will not only have first-rate viewing experiences when viewing WWW pages . . .they'll also have better printed pages and more visually-appealing interaction with the pages.
What's best of all is that Bravo is already a proven technology in such top-notch apps as Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat and Premiere, as well as PostScript software. Adobe is going to create a new interactive authoring tool, whose current code name is Vertigo, that incorporates the Bravo technologies.
Adobe is not the only company excited about this WWW enrichment. Sun Microsystems is going to license the Bravo imaging model and JavaSoft will incorporate Bravo into a future implementation of the Java platform, specifically in the 2D specification for JavaMedia APIs. This will then give Java developers the ability to produce rich media programs.
America Online: TRIVIAL WRESTLING
Wrestling has always been a highly popular sport. Ever since the World Wrestling Federation became involved with marketing and television and film features starring various wrestlers, the sport has become an even bigger entertainment hit. Now America Online will be the home of a new interactive trivia game in their WWF area, thanks to an agreement between NTN Communications and the WWF. NTN has designed the new area for AOL. Promos will be running in May and June and those who earn the highest scores at the end of each during will win great goodies: hats, magazines, passes to WWF events, t-shirts . . .even free hours on AOL. The culmination will be The Grand Championship NTN WWF Summer Celebration Trivia Challenge (phew, that's a mouthful!). The winner of this event will receive tickets to the WWF Summerslam on August 18th, round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations and $500.
America Online: CYBER-TICKETS
The ability to now logon to your favorite on-line service or WWW site to investigate travel possibilities and costs is quickly becoming one of the most highly-appealing activities for folk. America Online now has a new airline ticketing service for their subscribers through Preview Vacations, Inc. The new service is called AOL One World Travel and to access this area, simply enter the keyword Reservations. You can become your own travel agent and purchase your tickets and, later this year, hotel and car reservations will also be your call. This ticketing service will also become available to WWW cruisers during the summer and you'll be able to reach the site at http://www.vacations.com.
APPLE JOINS BIG BLUE
With losses in the millions of dollars, and doing all they can to increase their market share, Apple Computer, Inc. has now licensed the Macintosh operating system to IBM</B>. This means that IBM will be selling PCs running the easier-to-use, friendlier Macintosh OS later this year, but will not be selling Macintosh computers as such. This move is a good move for both companies, as Apple needs the corporate clout of IBM to move more units into the Fortune 2000, and IBM needs an OS with more appeal than their current OS/2.
Art Data Interactive: THAT FANTASY FEELING
Digital chess games seem to be back in vogue, once again. A number of companies are releasing new chess titles, all with the most superior chess engine and algorithms a-plenty to stifle even the hardiest chess champ. Adding to this list is Art Data Interactive who are introducing at E3 Chess Wars. However, this title veers away from the pure chess sim and offers you a medieval fantasy that offers the challenge of chess with full-motion video battles. You'll find actors in full armor wielding weapons as the fight for their lives while defending you, the KING. This title, for Windows 95 machines, offers 16-bit audio, SVGA graphics and allegedly includes one of the most challenging chess logics available in any such offering.
ATI: ATI-tude IN ACCELERATION
NEC is going all-out with a variety of new PCs that will debut this fall. To ensure that these new computers are all multimedia entertainment enriched, NEC has signed a number of agreements with third-party hardware developers for various component technologies to further enhance their systems. One such agreement is with ATI Technologies. The new NEC machines will incorporate ATI's 3D RAGE graphics accelerator chip which will enable the new computers to present 3D action with 65,000 high-resolution colors, thereby competing with the deliverable graphics technology of video game systems. The accelerator chip brings into play ATI's mach64 2D accelerators in combo with full-screen MPEG1 video playback.
Berkeley Systems: THE UNION OF BERKELEY AND C/NET
Another union of wedded bliss brings together the efforts of Berkeley Systems, Inc.http://www.berksys.co, a software developer, and C/NET: The Computer Network. Berkeley an C/NET will use news from C/NET/s on-line presence at http://www.cnet.com/ in Berkeley's new product, Web.Max for Windows 95 on CD-ROM.
Web.Max is an Internet product that provides users with a variety of Internet utilities including Internet search capabilities, news retreval features, and communication tools. C/NET Online is to be part of the Web.Max TV, a utility which scans the Internet and provides users with up-to-the-minute information on a variety of subjects and comes with channels for national, business, sports and industry headline news, weather and more. C/NET will bring its own channel to Web.Max TV and contribute to current news and information on computers, multimedia and digital technologies.
BIG Entertainment: L. RON HUBBARD GRAPHIC NOVEL
The exclusive rights to L. Ron Hubbard's The Crossroads have been obtained by BIG Entertainment. The company will initially release a graphic novel and sell rights for other entertainment use to other media companies. The storyline encompasses a fantasy adventure with a world of infinite choices where possibilities intersect and life hangs in the balance. The author's most famous works include Mission Earth and Battlefield Earth, both New York Times' best sellers.
Box Office: <B>PASS THE POPCORN!<B/>
Results are in and the top 10 movies at the box office are:
1 The Craft (Columbia) .... $7.00 million
2 The Truth About Cats & Dogs (Fox) ... $6.00 million
3 The Quest (Universal) ............... $4.10 million
4 Primal Fear (Paramount) ............. $3.75 million
5 The Great White Hype (Fox) .......... $3.30 million
6 Last Dance (Disney) ................. $2.70 million
7 The Birdcage (MGM) .................. $2.50 million
8 James and the Giant Peach (Disney) .. $2.40 million
9 The Pallbearer (Miramax) ............ $2.35 million
10 Mulholland Falls (MGM) .............. $2.27 million
NOTE: Columbia Pictures is a unit of Sony Corp., 20th Century Fox is a unit
of News Corp., Universal is a unit of Seagram Co. Ltd., Paramount is a unit
of Viacom Inc., Disney's full name is Walt Disney Co., which also owns
Miramax, MGM is a unit of Credit Lyonnais.
CBS LAUNCHES MAGAZINE
CBS will launch CBS Magazine, a combined effort of CBS and Executive Publications. This pub will be a no-cost, complimentary magazine for the many thousands of visitors who watch television shows being taped at CBS Television City each year. The print run will be 70,000. Executive Publications is a division of the Marriott Publishing family, founding publishers of upscale magazines throughout the nation during the past 50 years.
Compaq: POWER TO THE PC
As a number of computer manufacturers turn their attention to develop Intel CPU-based GAME machines, third-party add-on silicon and board manufacturers are managing a field day in regards to new agreements. Now Compaq Computer has glommed onto two new partnerships that will help them create the PowerVR Presario home PC that is scheduled to debut later this year. The first partnership is with Harman International Industries for a new line of JBL Pro audio speakers for this line. And the new graphics technology agreement, which will result in the delivery of 3D graphicsas much as 4x faster than current video consoles, is with Videologic Group Plc and NEC.
Compuserve: MAIL FOR PDA
One of the personal digital assistants that has taken a lot of heat since its introduction a couple of years ago is Apple's Newton. This PDA had some initial problems with handwriting recognition and a price point that was unbelievably high. However, of late, especially with the latest model release, recognition is more than acceptable. And, of even more appealing news, is the continued support by important developers who are providing apps for the Newton PDA. One of the latest in this regard is Compuserve (CIS) who has announced they plan to offer Newtononians access to CIS mail that will allow this puppy to operate with electronic mailboxes. Other offerings that could include more features for the Newton are being discussed. Called the Compuserve Mail Client for Newton 2.0, you'll be able to connect to the standard CIS electronic mailbox where you can exchange messages via the Internet and other mail systems. The software will work in the In and Out Box on the Newton as well.
Corbis: ARTS AND POLITICS
Currently under development by Corbis Corporation, and expected to be released during the latter part of this year, are two new CD-ROM products. The first title will examine the leadership and the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and will include cinematic revelations of the most important events in his presidency. You'll be able to examine the progression of FDR's life in relationship to the major events that occurred during his life. The second title is a CD-ROM that presents a portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, the most fascinating artist and scientist of the Italian Renaissance. You'll be able to review the Codex Leicester's drawings and writings and commentary will reveal how Leonardo's examination of nature inspired all that he accomplished. These titles will both be revealed at next week's E3 show in Los Angeles. You can learn more about Corbis and their offerings at http://www.corbis.com.
Crystal Dynamics: ONE-LINERS ADD TO FRENETIC ADVENTURE
Curtis Mathes: COUCH POTATOES HAVE MORE EXCUSES TO CAMP ON THE COUCH
You've read about the future of TV and now it's happening--a new line of big-screen home entertainment centers and televisions featuring a proprietary computer technology called InterView(TM) will be presented by Curtis Mathes Holding Corporation, a leader in innovative television technology. This new technology permits parents to control programming while giving the whole family access to the Internet, E-mail and other interactive features.
The InterView technology is exclusive to an entirely new line being
introduced by Curtis Mathes. InterView converts a television set from a passive
viewing experience into a full-featured, interactive, multimedia device. Also available is an optional miniature keyboard that can be placed on the coffee table and be used for searching the Internet, E-mail or to search for movies or programs featuring specific subjects, stars or ratings. Additionally, the phone can be answered with the press of a button on the remote and the name and phone number of the caller are automatically displayed on-screen when the phone rings. Other capabilities are: VCR management, fax, conference phone and an on-screen program guide with full parental blocking capabilities.
Cyberdreams: CYBER-ADVENTURING
The amount of information we're receiving for next week's E3 exhibition is bordering upon the incredible. Fax after fax after fax, one pumping through our somewhat antiquated fax machine at an unbelievable rate. Calls of confirmation lead to, invariably, an awesome array of new games that'll debut this year. Cyberdreams Inc. has plenty to show. They will be showing The Incredible Shrinking Character at E3, where innovative 3D technology will build a game world that is in constant growth as your character shrinks while racing to find an antidote for a mad doctor's spell. Another title is Reverence, a mythological, multiplayer combat game with the ancient gods of air, earth, fire and water. Wes Craven's Principles of Fear offers a new adventure from this popular filmmaker that will appear in 1997 as an Asylum release. And the company will be showing NOIR, an interactive whodunit developed in the classic black and white film genre.
Diamar Interactive: ARE YOU A CLOSET CARTOONIST?
Do the likes of Snoopy and Dilbert make you say, "I can do that!" OK, now there's How to Draw Cartoons, from Diamar Interactive. This CD-ROM is based on the book Everything You Ever Wanted To Know about Cartooning But Were Afraid To Draw, by cartoonist Christopher Hart. Geared for teenagers to adults there are more than 50 topics, and include more that 800 illustrations. Diamar Interactive lets you try-before-you-buy with a special version of the Cartoon Lab accessible on the company's home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.diamar.com.
Electronic Arts: DEVELOPING INTEREST
As the demand for cool 32-bit console system titles increases, many developers are finding themselves of enormous interest to the larger game publishers. Such is the case for Florida-based Tiburon Entertainment Inc., who now has a new minority equity interest partner--Electronic Arts. As a result of this investment, Tiburon is going to develop PlayStation, Saturn, and other video game platform software for Electronic Arts.
FOXWORLD: FOXY SITE
If you really would like to engage in some interactive games, cool polls and some awesome graphics, you owe yourself a visit to FOXWORLD. This is Fox's new WWW site, completely redesigned for cruisers using Netscape Navigator v. 2.x. The site is totally icon-based, has audio revelations, and offers exclusive info regarding FOX programs. There are three main areas to visit: FOX Entertainment, FOX Sports and Fox Kid's Network. The sports area was just recently itself redesigned by News Corporation's iGuide and includes THE official site for Major League Baseball. You can reach the MLB site at http://www.majorleaguebaseball.com/.
Fox 2000 Pictures: DENZEL WASHINGTON AND MEG RYAN TOGETHER IN COURAGE UNDER FIRE
Courage Under Fire, the first movie from the Fox 2000 Pictures studio will debut ahead of time--originally scheduled for August 2nd the date has been advanced to July 12th. Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan will star in this drama set against the Gulf War. Washington portrays a military officer who is being investigated for his involvement in a friendly fire incident. He is unexpectedly put in charge of a review of a female Medevac pilot's (Ryan) candidacy for a Medal of Honor, to be awarded posthumously, for bravery in combat. It appears to be an open-and-shut evaluation, however, Washington meticulously sorts through her crew's conflicting stories and performs some deep soul-searching of himself.
Future Endeavors: ON THE BRINK OF VIRTUAL EXTINCTION--NO NEED TO PANIC, MUCH
From Future Endeavors, Inc. of Canada comes Tracer, the game that lets folks visit the brink of virtual extinciton. This CD-ROM cyberspace strategy is published by 7th Level, Inc. and it lets folks choose from one of four hackers, who then assume the role of a techno-thief, and folks must survive the relentless pursuit of the lethal Tracer virus by plunging to the computer's data core. Players (from one to eight networkable) match stepping stones of like colors that take folks through fifty levels of cyber-mazes filled with corrupted sectors, deep microchasms and malicious seeker viruses. Tracer also includes a free Level Editor, which allows players to create their own levels.
GamePen: IN THE E3 KNOW
May 16 to 18 will find the Los Angeles Convention Center abuzz and influxed by everyone who is anything in the digital entertainment world. Game developers, publishers, writers, editors, pundits, columnists, on-line gurus, programmers, marcom folk, prestige PR people, graphics specialists, MPEG-1 and -2 evangelists, vibrant video console and peppy personal computer manufacturers, the washed and the great unwashed, will all congregate for this annual, MUST-ATTEND event. If you're interested in learning about WHO is going to be at this show and WHAT these who's plan to introduce, we highly recommend a World Wide Web Site called GamePen. They are currently publishing THE LIST, which offers info on over 450 new products from more than 140 companies. This is early product info and covers everything from video to personal computer entertainments, plus the new multiplayer games. You'll also find reference titles, children's edutainment offerings, as well as hardware. This is one cool site and you really should check it out for this info. Head for http://www.gamepen.com/ for the latest in E3 info.
The popularity of sports sims continues to rise as the technological capabilities of the game machines, whether computer or console, start to catch up with software needs. Faster speeds, more dynamic graphic representation, animation and sound all are required for a sports sim to approach the virtual reality sports afficiandos demand in their software representations. Grolier Interactive Inc. is now present version 2.0 of Greg Norman Ultimate Challenge(R) Golf, designed by Friendly Software Corp. This is the first gold sim engine that captures virtually every element of the game, from the player's swing and style to his or her strategies and skills. There are a total of 44 game options you can access, from distance and accuracy to spin and height. To swing, you click on the swing icon which activates the sim engine for shot results based on hundreds of factors, not how well you manage an arcade-style swing meter and your manual dexterity. Weather and course conditions all play their role as well in how well you attack the ball. The technology employed in this title is the result of 19 years of R&D. Included is a fantasy golf course called Dorset Cliffs, a Lesson Tee with pro tips for improving your game, and visible ball tracks on your replays. Redraw speeds in version 2.0 are twice as fast as in the original offering. You may play solo or with any individual player profiled in the game. Plus, there are helicopter fly-bys which include Greg Norman's commentary, his intro and multiple view playing options with his candid advice. This title is for Windows-based machines only.
Jim Henson Productions: MUPPET-MANIA
The popularity of Jim Henson's Muppets is a tribute to the founder of the company's insight into the culling of brand delight by a broad range of consumers from eight to 80. No one that we are aware of possesses anything but the highest regard for Mr. Henson's characters and the truly first-rate production values applied to all manner of Henson properties, from film and television to plushes. Jim Henson Productions is also preparing for E3 and, through the hard work of the folk at Starwave, will be showing The Muppet Cd-ROM: Muppets Inside at the show. This title features classic Muppets as well as new characters in a mis-adventure game with family appeal. Seems as though the Muppets have become trapped inside the computer and only you can help them find their way out of the silicon forest. There are seven skill levels, five news songs, plus classic clips from the original The Muppet Show.
The company has also been working with Sega to produce a title for the Pico system. Called The Muppets on the Go!, this offering is targeted for children ages three to six and also features the classic Muppets on a road adventure in an all-terrain utility vehicle. Children can participate in an adventure all-the-while improving their skills in matching, memory and problem-solving. Also being shown will be the company's title list from Jim Henson Interactive and American Education Publishing. Jim Henson's Muppet/Brighter Child Software and Workbooks are designed for youngsters in preschool through kindergarten. There are several titles available, ranging from Beginning Sound to Sorting & Ordering. Each title features software with state-of-the-art graphics as well as full color workbooks to reinforce the lessons taught on the computer.
Jim Henson Pictures: ENSON'S LEGACY COMBINES EFFORTS
Those clever folks at Jim Henson Pictures have entered into a two-year
first-look deal for family films with producer Duncan Kenworthy's
London-based Toledo Pictures. Kenworthy, no stranger to Henson's productions, served as production executive and producer at Jim Henson Productions from 1979 to 1995. Kenworthy worked with the late Jim Henson on a number of film and television projects, including the feature films The Dark Crystal and The Witches. He produced the television series Fraggle Rock (remember the Sprockets?) as well as Minghella's TV-film, Living With Dinosaurs, and the Storyteller and Greek Myths, a television series.
Kenworthy took a leave of absence from the company in 1993 to produce the film Four Weddings and a Funeral, which yielded more than $250 million worldwide and received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations as Best Picture.
IDG Books: THE SCRIPTING STORY
There remains a great deal of confusion about the differences, and relationships, between Java and JavaScript. The former is the full-fledged language that is taking the programming world by storm. The latter is an internally-developed language that started life at Netscape as a way to demo browser capabilities. Both have their function in WWW development. To help you understand the latter, IDG Books has just published Danny Goodman's JavaScript Handbook. Danny Goodman is one of the industry's premiere authors--we still own a copy of his HyperCard book which remains THE definitive guide to hypertext and Hypercard authoring. His new books offers easy-to-follow instructions regarding client-side functions, interactivity, multimedia inclusion, real-time displays, HTML coding and, yes, Java applets. You'll learn about HTML docs that offer CGI-like functionality, multiple frames, expert script debugging and design tips with this new offering. For more info, check out Danny's site at http://www.dannyg.com/javascript/ or the IDG site at http://www.idgbooks.com.
ImagiNation Network: ON-LINE GAME DEVELOPMENT MADE EASIER
One problem many game developers face is the fact that they have to scramble for the tools necessary to deliver their products to on-line servers for distribution to an entertainment-hungry public. Major suppliers of this content are now developing Software Developer Kits (SKD) to assist in such development, supplying those who create and code with the necessary tools to create their games with hooks built-in for specific services. ImagiNation Network has now released their own SDK for games that will launch from their service now Internet-accessible and called Cyber Park. All game genres can use this kit. Developers receive access to the service's Pseudo Host which is a tool that lets developers simulate a multiplayer network environment. Once running, the developer can then test his or her product on their own PCs. and obtain a real-time emulation of how that game will play on the service. Also included are APIs, the development tools themselves, and the docs. There's even a guide to help developers
