Editor's Warning: The following information contains not only information about Macintosh industry news and information, but also information about MS-DOS, 3D0, Genesis, etc. Readers who get squeamish when reading about other non-Mac platforms should skip this section.
WORLD’S LARGEST INTERNET GAME is going to be released by Domark Software, Inc. The title? Confirmed Kill. This is a WWII flight sim and was designed by a Gulf War vet. Truly, this is quite an undertaking as the title will enable as many as 500 players . . .yep, I said 500 . . .can participate in dog fighting action simultaneously. Play-testing has been handled by 2,000 testers worldwide. The game packs quite a wallop as there are climate changes and real-time action for even the simplest of missions. With advanced A.I., the computer itself offers impediments to your success, everything from a V-1 “Buzz Bomb” barrage, tank battles, and reconnaissance flights. Stay tuned for more info later . . .
FINALLY HELP FOR FARGO: We first met Brian Fargo in the mid-80s. Heid just completed 50 percent of a game called The Bard’s Tale. The game was grand and he earned a decent living from the royalties paid him by Electronic Arts for that title. Since that time, Brian forged and built Interplay Productions into a multimillion dollar entertainment company based in Irvine, California. Now Brian has stepped down as president of the company and will remain it’s ceo. Chris Kilpatrick is the new president, and the new cfo/coo is Steven Camps. We will miss Brian in his commanding role. Hopefully he’ll continue to manage the direction for electronic entertainment development. Brian’s rarely made a bad call!
NEW TITLE DEVELOPMENT: Using Apple Computer’s new Enhanced CD technology, EMI Music has signed several agreements to produce CD-ROM titles. The companies involved include Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Apple Computer and the Von Holtzbrinck Group. Virgin will work on creating the titles with the Apple technology which allows a disc to be played on either a CD-ROM unit connected to a PC or an audio CD player. EMI is also going to be developing other titles inhouse.
TYPE-CASTING: MacPlay (714-553-3821) has introduced a new edutainment title. Mario(R)Teaches Typing(TM) Enhanced CD-ROM features VActor(TM) technology that gives Mario human-like qualities as he speaks, laughs, tells jokes and talk. Students move through three levels of typing lessons and receive Mario’s upbeat lesson evaluations when he critiques their efforts and prepares them for the next exercise. Players can also select a mentor from the original Nintendo(R) cast of characters Luigi(R), the Princess(R) or Mario as they learn the keyboard while avoiding hazards. You’ll learn rote key strokes while your hero hits blocks, swims with whales and jumps for the sky. Progress may be tracked by means of the individual progress recording feature. The title allows multiple users, which means the entire family can be tracked from beginning through advanced levels. This tracking feature also records individual accounts of each student’s distinct problems, such as key accuracy, words per minute, and problem keys. This title is for 256-color Macs.
MOVIE-TO-DISC-DEAL: With over 2,000 titles in their catalog, Live Entertainment has signed with Philips Media to issue movies on Video CD format. This format allows for a single movie, compressed with MPEG-1 standards, to fit on two discs. The first title will be Total Recall which will also be bundled with Goldstar brand players. Other titles will include Rambo, Reservoir Dogs, Dirty Dancing and Stargate.
COMPRESSION COST DIMINISHED: The market for compression and decompression of video and sound, on-the-fly, without the need of special boards, continues to heat up. To make even more viable their Miracle SCSI II product (a PC/MCIA SCSI-2 interface card), Macnica Inc. has agreed to license SoftPEG(TM) from CompCore Multimedia Inc. SoftPEG will be bundled with this card that provides around a 10MB/sec Fast SCSI data transfer through Type 1 PC/MCIA slots, affording full audio/video sync.
MAJOR STAR FOR MAJOR TITLE: One of the most impressive companies I managed to contact during the recent E3 show in Los Angeles was Magnet Interactive Studios. I saw prelims of a fascinating new science-fiction title called Bluestar. The word is that LeVar Burton has signed to become one of the digital actors in this new offering, where he’ll become Dr. Truman Fairchild, biotronics genius. Bluestar is a visionary think tank that’s suspended in low Earth orbit during the year 2025. There are research labs and living spaces for the brightest minds--both human and dolphin--as all work with the biotronic supercomputer Aria in a most ambitious scientific undertaking.
PRICE PUSH: We knew it wouldn’t take long-that is, the price wars for the next generation of video game consoles. Especially for those platforms that are not experiencing the sales success they had hoped would become theirs! Such as the 3DO unit. Matsushita has now dropped the price of their Panasonic FZ-10 REAL(TM) 3DO(R) Interactive Multiplayer(TM) unit to $299.95, down a hundred bucks. They’d also get a few more buyers if they’d shorten the “official” name of this puppy! This move was definitely to counter the Sony Playstation debut pricing of around $299 SRP and to undercut the Sega Saturn price. Also tossed into the 3DO unit is a great bundle-the awesome title GEX from Crystal Dynamics. GEX will also be released for Saturn and Playstation consoles later this year.
GOING OVERSEAS FOR TITLES: Word is that Microsoft Corporation is in search of a Japanese partner to create video games that would run under Windows 95. These games would be conversions of current titles to the Windows platform. Discussions are underway with Sega, Nintendo and Softbank.
WINDOWS GAMES DEBUT: New World Computing (818-889-5600) has introduced Multimedia Celebrity Poker. Youill play your poker, interactively, with Jonathan Frakes (of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame), Morgan Fairchild and comedian Joe Piscopo. This title offers full video and interactive dialogue with these three celebrities. Additionally, there are intelligent opponents with unique playing styles as well as eight variations of poker and tournament play. Also shipping from New World Computing is Mind Games. This title features Chess, Backgammon, Checkers, Gomuku, Bridge, Go, Renju, 4 in-a-line, Chinese Chess and Othello. With multiple difficulty settings and an easy to point and click interface, these games are suitable for gamers of all levels, from Novice to Expert. All run under Windows and are priced at $49.95 and $29.95, respectively.
CLEARING OUT OF CES: Itis now official--Nintendo of America has opted NOT to make an appearance at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show thatill take place in Las Vegas from January 5 to 8, 1996. Instead, Nintendo intends to remain a player with the show put on by the Interactive Digital Software Association in Los Angeles (E3) in May of 1996.
MULTIMEDIA CHIP BREAKS OUT: A Multimedia Accelerator has been released by NVIDIA Corporation that offers a two-chip set for 3D graphics, full-motion video display, audio and GUI acceleration for PC expansion boards at a pricing of around $200. These puppies should be ready by this Christmas for consumer consumption. This offering is one of several new offerings that are trying for full-coverage approach of all of the needs of multimedia development, combining audio, video and graphics functions in a single board. SGS-Thomson will manufacture the media accelerator in 0.5 micron three-layer CMOS.
BLASTING ONTO 3DO: Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger(TM) managed great sales from PC CD-ROM gamers. Now Origin has ported this science-fiction action adventure game to the 3DO machine. This is the game that features actor Mark Hamill in the main role and you must save Earth as you deliver a doomsday weapon against the alien Kilrathi maniacs. The 3DO version features Dolby Surround Sound(TM), SGI-based synthetic sets, and interactive player control. The SRP is between $35 and $65, so shop around for this puppy.
SENSUAL CD-ROM: Penthouse Magazine (212-702-6000) is releasing Select-A-Pet II The Penthouse Pets of the Year Stock Photo Browser(TM), a special collection featuring intimate photos for adult viewing. This collection is culled from two decades of Penthouse photos featuring Penthouse Pets. Also debuting is Virtual Photo Shoot IV(TM), with the talents of Tiffany Burlingame, Bonita Saint and Seana Ryan as they act out three different fantasies: Egyptian beauty queen Cleopatra, a college student, and a computer hacker who transforms into a virtual dominatrix. Simulating the famous Penthouse photo sessions, all four of the popular Virtual Photo Shoot games merge full motion digital video with advanced multimedia technology. Virtual “photographers” can take photos of the Pets in an endless variety of poses, in various stages of undress, and in different fantasy settings. In the games, photos selected are critiqued by Bob Guccione and can be saved to disk or printed out. These disks are compatible with Macintosh and Windows CD-ROM platforms at a retail price of $69.98 for both titles.
PROTEUS TO PREMIERE: Look for Prima Publishing to launch a new fiction imprint, Proteus. These titles will initially be based on electronic and paper role-playing games with the first offering being The 7th Guest-A Novel, which will appear as a hardcover title this month. Prima already has 20,000 in advanced sales to bookstores for their debut novel!
CONTENT COP: A new program from Solid Oak Software is designed to block access to adult-oriented content on the Internet. Called CYBERsitter, the program monitors all computer activity. When the user (child) attempts to view or download pornography or other adult-oriented materials, the process is automatically aborted. The parent will learn about the attempt to obtain this data when they view a generated report. Running under Microsoft Windows, parents will learn about some of the dangers of Internet content and will be enabled to block such access.
WHOSE THE BOSS: When you intro a new machine at a price point that will provide for minimal, if any, profit, there’s bound to be arguments between the top brass as to why this action is necessary. And, as we’ve now learned, so is the way of Sony as the Japanese administration battles with the United States administration as to how the Playstation should debut. The Japanese arm of the company believes the price point is too low-the United States folk believe that any income shortfall for the console unit will be more than made up for by their software arm as more and more units penetrate the market at a cutting-edge price point. Also in the mix-disagreements over the advertising campaign to launch the Playstation in the United States.
THREE CHEERS FOR SPECTRUM H: In a most heartening development, the (of-late) stock-socked Spectrum HoloByte has managed to release their premiere, #1, A title-yep, Star Trek: The Next Generation: “A Final Unity” has made it to the marketplace. We’re all delighted for the company, which was suffering some nasty ink of late and some nasty stock realizations. For PC CD-ROM, this title has already earned a decent review from USA TODAY. We hope to look at it soon for our analysis of what could be a smash-hit for Spectrum HoloByte.
PLETHORA OF UPCOMING GAMES: SunStar Interactive (203-785-8111) has released a new program and has three more titles set for release this year. The recently released title is CyberTarot(TM), a Tarot reading program that features illustrations from the popular Rider-Waite and Mythic Tarot card decks. Digitized music and voice narration enhance the setting for each interactive reading. Additionally, readings can be saved for later use and interpretations with card illustrations can be printed. This title is for PCs.
Coming soon in August is FistFight(TM), where you kick and punch your way through 7 levels of martial arts action. The super secret Dragon or Phoenix powers can help you out of a tight jam. Battle the super bad guys at the end of each level and avert their power armor as you employ special moves. As many as two players may simultaneously. This game is also for PCs.
Blammo!(TM) finds you using your mouse to glide along and blast away at the onslaught of virulent viruses, creepy crawlers and bouncing balls. It’s retro!--get ready for a time tripping escape to “The Net.” Eradicate all the stuff flying in your face, avoid being blown away, and save the day--and Netspace. This game is for Macintosh computers.
The third title which will debut around October is African Adventure(TM), with murder, mayhem and mystery in the jungle. With six passengers aboard a steam cruiser, startling developments unfold when your partner, Jake Masters, is found murdered. You’re the prime suspect unless you discover what evil lurks in the heart of Africa. This mystery adventure is for PC platforms.
ONLINE OMBUDSFOLK: As the competition heats up, and as Microsoft continues to gobble content providers for its upcoming service, two biggies have decided to pool their online resources. Pathfinder from Time Warner and Encyclopedia Britannica will integrate and co-market their services. The latter will be available to Pathfinder subscribers for 60 days on a trial basis, free-of-charge. They will also be working together to figure out how to enhance their online offerings.
AUTHOR, AUTHOR: Macs and PCs have established themselves as platforms upon which multimedia authoring systems can be expertly used to create interesting, viable content. Now, a leader in computer-related video products, has designed a digital video authoring system for Windows PCs. Truevision has released their TARGA 2000 system which takes advantage of throughput via the PCI bus. The program features nonlinear video editing, 3D animation and multimedia development tools using the company’s well-known DVR Architecture. The product will run under both Windows NT and the upcoming Windows 95 OS. Additional information can be obtained at ftp.truevision.com or on CIS (GO TRUEVISION)
BETTER BUSINESS THRU FUN: Although being released on the less-than-blockbuster CD-I format, three new training programs are about to be released by Video Arts. This company, founded by John Cleese of Monty Python fame, has ported ten of their training-oriented videotapes to CD-I format. You’ll be able to relish those naughty bits and laugh with Meetings, Bloody Meetings, The Art of Assertiveness and The Dreaded Appraisal.
PUSHING THE LIMITS: A new action/adventure trilogy is expected soon from Virtual Reality Entertainment through a publishing and distribution agreement with GT Interactive Software. Entitled ZPG, this title will feature the artwork of well-known MTV animation artist Aidan Hughes. Virtual also has two other upcoming releases: Ice & Fire and Locus and they will be included in this expanded agreement between the two companies.
TUESDAYS AT EIGHT: Leonard Nimoy and Paul Bernbaum have teamed as executive producers for a new science-fiction adventures series that’ll appear on the UPN Tuesday evenings at 8:00 pm starting late August of this year. The title of the TV show is Deadly Games which finds Dr. Gus Lloyd (played by James Calvert) forced to do battle with his own evil creations when the characters in his homemade video game come to life. These characters are programmed to destroy anyone or anything that gets in their way. The good doctor’s assistant, Peter (played by Stephen T. Kay), attempts to reverse the process and get these nasties back into the computer, while Gus must play each round of the game to keep them from achieving their programmed goals, which include the annihilation of life on earth. The supreme villain is Sebastian Jackal (played by Christopher Lloyd) and the Level One bad guy is Killshot (played by guest star Tom Rathman of the Oakland Raiders) and are the first characters to emerge and they must kidnap Gus’ ex-wife, Lauren Ashborne (played by Cynthia Gibb). Gus and Lauren must act together to defeat Jackal. Other guest stars for the series include Shirly Jones, LeVar Burton.
STRAT ALLIANCE BEGINS: A division of Conquest Industries’ Wico Corporation subsidiary, Suncom Technologies, has signed a strategic alliance with Spectrum Holobyte, Inc. The latter company will aggressively market Suncom’s peripheral products into the European market, such as Suncom’s new F-15E Tactical Control Stick that was intro’d at E3 last May.
Online Stuff
ONLINE IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE: American Opinion Research has reported that nearly 50 percent of domestic newspaper executives they talked with indicated they had plans to initiate online content this year. Additionally, nearly 60 percent of the material printed in newspapers is obtained through online services as source info. And some (19 percent of 900 editors and publishers) seem to recognize that online product would definitely become a major competitor with them for paid advertising revenue over the next half decade or so.
SOUND HEARING: Apple’s eWorld online service is going to be offering a new feature called “Speak” soon that will allow users to actually listen to online dialogue. A boon for handicapped subscribers, this fully telephony feature will allow voice transmission in both directions. eWorld is also about set to launch 14.4 Kbps service in over 200 cities plus next-day direct Apple support for technical queries.
INTERACTIVE DEAL IN U.K.: A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Bell Cablemedia and TeleWest in conjunction with NYNEX Cable to create a new, nationwide interactive media service for the United Kingdom. The trail itself will consist of three phases and is expected to last nearly two years as a variety of equipment and applications are tested.
REAL ESTATE JUMPS ONLINE: CompuServe is going to be the electronic venue for a new online offering: The California Association of Realtors. This is the first forum of this type for CIS and will include the Real Estate Exchange and The Home Forum. A whole slew of business services’ll be offered online as well as answer forums for those interested in buying, and selling, homes.
GLOM ONTO A NEW SITE: Another great WWW site to check is the one for Electronic Arts. You can glom onto a bunch of cool stuff there as well as learn what jobs the company is currently seeking candidates to fill. You can reach the Electronic Arts site at http:///www.ea.com.
EXPLOSIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Infotainment World is expecting the entertainment industry’s growth to triple over the next five years. Nearly $23.5 billion in revenues will be generated with content forging into consumers’ homes via cable, direct broadcast satellite and phone lines. According to the study, one could liken this growth to that of the book business which offers hundreds of thousands of titles each year to address the various different customer segments.
160 EMPLOYEES RELEASED: The over-hyped and over-taxed Interactive Network has found financing extremely difficult to locate and has furloughed 160 of its workers. Plus, they’ve had to cut back on their market trial as well. The company’s lead officer indicated that NBC, Motorola, Spring, Gannett, TCI and A.C. Nielsen, all investors in the company, couldn’t agree on a correct strategy.
ONLINE WITH DESCENT: One of the biggest computer game hits this year has been Descent from Interplay. Info just recid that Interplay plans to create a special version of this title--a deluxe version--that’ll be playable exclusively through the GEnie online service. The game’ll run for about 6 months. Interplay will also be bringing their Magic: The Gathering electronic software title to GEnie as well.
ADS PAY ON WWW: According to Interactive Video News, interactive advertising is going to help fill corporate coffers for cable and broadcast TV services. The boiled down info reveals that programs without sponsors will cost more for the receiving, while those with advertising will cost far less. We feel the same holds true for web’ers and also believe that consumers into digiwalkin’ the WWW will become more and more cost conscious as they spend more and more time online. When those phone bills start coming in--when those premium service charges start rackin’ up, those rich content offerings that cost less simply because they are sponsored will become more and more attractive. Yep, advertising is the key to interactive success.
MCI DIGGING IN: The Internet is the space where MCI plans to increase its presence. Already involved in home electronics and flower sales, look for computer games, music, videos and books to become part of the MCI sales push as they expand their online market.
MICROSOFT NETWORK ADDITIONS: The Microsoft Network is going full bore after some awesome content. Here are just a few of the new IPs that have signed to join this new, online service.
Dunn & Bradstreet Information Services will be in attendance and they’ll offer a fee-based service. You’ll find business marketing, credit information, trend and economic information. Toss in a business chat area and a business bulletin board and future access to the company’s small business services and you have a viable offering of interest to many professionals. I mean, just consider that this online content’ll be provided from D&B’s more than 11 million business info sheets, all of that info that companies use to lower risk when trying to assess the credit capabilities of pending partnerships and so on. Quite an attractive offering, for certain.
Also on The Microsoft Network will be GE Information Services and they’ll offer a variety of capabilities to provide electronic data interchange (EDI) which enables companies to exchange documents electronically. This not only saves time, but also increases the accuracy of such work as well as eliminating the need for paper transactions.
Also hooking up with The Microsoft Network is Individual Investor Magazine. But don’t expect just an electronic version of their highly successful print product. Sure, you’ll get those text files, but other goodies’ll include updates and analysis of news that affects both mutual funds and stocks. There’s also an “Ask the Analyst” forum where the magazine’s team of financial gurus can field your questions. Watch for daily briefings, live chats with numerous money and investment managers, and even online instructional workshops to help you become a better investor.
Knight-Ridder is also going to be a content provider for The Microsoft Network. You’ll find company info as well as topics of interest for small businesses via their KR BusinessBase(SM) product. As you know, Knight-Ridder has run the DIALOG(R) online service for many years and selected portions of that content will be found on Microsoft’s new service.
However, due to the intense examination Microsoft has been undergoing lately by the Justice Department, the company is back-pedaling on the amount of content The Microsoft Network will feature when it rolls out. The main issue, and one of great concern to other online networks, is the ability of Microsoft to place their network within their core operating system, Windows 95. PLUS, watch for the company to start figuring out how they can separate their online service from Windows 95. The pressure from the Feds has them looking for alternate methods of distribution for the Microsoft Network.
MAGIC MOVES ONLINE: You probably already knew that Magic: The Gathering from MicroProse is being prepared with an online gameplay component. The CD-ROM program, expected to debut early this fall, will also contain the hooks necessary for online gameplay. MicroProse’ parent company, Spectrum HoloByte, has now signed with GEnie who will become the host for the online version of this exciting title.
MULTIMEDIA PROS: If you’re into multimedia authoring, or simply want more info regarding these environments, try the new Interactive Multimedia Association’s WWW site at http://www.ima.org. You’ll find a variety of info, from hot topics and the IMA Store and membership options.
MOVIE MOVES: A new WWW site has appeared, one that’ll contain all of the Primetime Emmy nominations as well as data about past winners, deadlines, trivia and the like. Yep, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences rolls out their home page at http://www.emmys.org/. There’s also news and info about the Television Hall of Fame, Summer Internship Program, Academy Activities, College TV Awards and Emmy Magazine. The site was designed by You Are Here Communications out of New York. During the Emmies that’ll be broadcast on September 10th, this site will offer an interactive guide to the show that contains the same photos and info the live audience receives in their program. Watch for audio recordings of Academy seminars and cool links to other entertainment-related pages on the Internet.
MARVELOUS MILLIONS: America Online now claims that the online service now possesses subscribers that number 3 million! That’s not bad, considering AOL stated they only had around 300K a couple of years ago. There are now local access numbers in around 600 cities and the company has reorg’d into 3 operating divisions. Ted Leonsis leads AOL Services, Mike Connors heads up AOL Technologies and David Cole is in charge of AOL New Enterprises. All report directly to Steve Case.
WEB WEAVING: Georgia Tech has completed their third, semi-annual Web survey, in which more than 13,000 users participated from April 10th to May 10th of this year. This survey was sponsored by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and the World-Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The survey measured use on not on the WWW, but also on America Online, CompuServe and Prodigy. Usage by females was up nearly 16 percent, with an increase of 6 percent just over the last six months. Of all those folk who logon to Prodigy, 20 percent were female. The current age for Web users is 36, compared to 32 in the last survey. Prodigy user average age is 39. Of all the reasons folk access the Web, the reasons were: 82.6 percent for browsing, 56.6 percent for entertainment, 50.9 percent for work, 47 percent for education and business research came in at 38.2 percent. Over three-fourths of those surveyed indicated they logon at least once each day, with 42 percent indicated they were Webbing as many as four times each day. Those surveyed also revealed that 52 percent use a Windows-based machine (up from 29 percent), 26.2 percent a Macintosh (up from 19 percent), and 8.8 percent a Unix machine (down from 44 percent). Access
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey-04-1955 for more info on this interesting survey.
MORE MELODIES IN CYBERSPACE: EMI has quite a library of music, none of it currently moving to the beat through the online community. That’s about to change, thanks to an agreement signed with EMI by Archive & Retrieval Systems, a British development partner of IBM. This system, using the IBM Digital Library Technology, will allow producers to not only file rights clearances electronically, but also obtain licenses and select film and television music.
RAIDER RACOUS: As most sports fans are aware, the Oakland Raiders are returning home to the Oakland Coliseum. Now there are two sites on the net that’ll handle ticket order forms for the team. The first is http://www.oaklandca.raiders.html. This site is suitable for Netscape users due to its graphic capabilities. The second site is http://www.cyberzine.com/raiders and is designed for use with other surfin’ software. The sites are run by MCANet and are the precursor to a complete Oakland site.
MUSIC MASTERS: Radio HK already supplies music programming through the WWW. In fact, when one “tunes” in, one can expect to hear music in a format that most closely resembles a commercial radio station, single channel, mostly modern rock. Now ASCAP has signed its first Internet music licensing agreement which is actually a template for music delivery. There’s no special anticopy protection and has no impact upon legislation already being bandied about regarding digital music performance rights. The ASCAP license reveals three fee schedules under which those who offer digital music on the Internet can pay royalty fees to the music copyright holder: 4.6 percent of revenue that can be directly linked to ASCAP-licensed music, or, 2.4 percent of income that can be directly related to the music service, or, 1.6 percent of the licensed company’s total Internet revenues. BMI is already believed to have undisclosed royalty service contracts with Internet providers, but they do not possess a variety of fee schedules.
NOT FAMILY FARE: The rather staid Prodigy is staging a turnaround . . .of sorts. This online services company is about to officially launch a new adult-only service. It’s called Pseudo. Prior to entering this new area, there are numerous warning screens and the software enables parents to block access to Pseudo by children. The area provides adult-oriented chat areas, software libraries, and bulletin boards.
MOSSLESS MOVEMENT: Now arriving on CompuServe is the new Rolling Stone Online which offers tons of new, interactive material beyond their print product. The area will be updated daily and presents a wide range of music-oriented news and info. You’ll also find live reviews, photos, video clips and sound samples. If you want to know what Rolling Stone thinks of a new audio CD, check out their reviews because there’s a shopping area as well. Included is a gateway to Muze which is an extremely detailed database of pop music. Plus, Concert Connection offers info on concerts occuring worldwide.
RATINGS REVEALED: As most of us are quite aware, there’s already one heckuva lot of government interference in our daily lives. From taxes to speed limits, from the insistence that what the feds do is for everyone’s benefit, we now have Washington D.C.-based legislatures tinkering with cyberspace. This time, their interference is to “protect our children.” So, there are a few companies that are attempting to preclude federal regulation by unveiling services that can manage protection without fed bureaucracy. SafeSurf an organization of parents who are attempting to perfect a rating system that could make the Internet safe for children’s viewing. All it requires is that WWW page authors insert at the top of their page a small code. This code can also appear in directories. This code not only informs the reader as to the subject of the entries but also the presence of adult content, and the degree of “adultness” that content possesses. Software which is then tuned to these codes would prohibit access to that page, depending upon how the settings are established on that software. Other objectionable material could be set up by the parent for the software for exclusion as well. For those companies that decide to falsely use misleading codes in their pages, severe legal penalties would be applied if children were enticed to those areas. One program, SurfWatch, is already in use blocking entry into various adult-oriented Internet sites. SafeSurf is also working with Oak Ridge Software to create the aforementioned software. For more info, logon to http://www.safesurf.com/wave.
TICKET TO RIDE: Although you can’t buy event tickets too easily over the WWW yet, a first step has been taken by ticket monolith Ticketmaster. The company has opened a Web site that now lists info on over 10,000 line events throughout the US. Access http:/www.ticketmaster.com and cruise through the equivalent of 12,000 pages of event info. You’ll find listings of local and nationwide performance schedules. As Microsoft co-owner Paul Allen purchased 80 percent of Ticketmaster, bet your bottom buck he pushed for this capability.
