MacFormat España 19/macformat_19.iso/Shareware/Info/Inside Games Update/Inside Games Update.rsrc/TEXT_135.txt

Text File | 1996-06-30 | 33KB | 584 lines

affiliation with 7th Level. The game will ship next month.



GameTime: MILLION BUCKS WORTH OF ENTERTAINMENT
The viability of online sports sites continues to prove itself--a new site,
packing over a million dollars worth of Sun Microsystems software and
hardware, went live last month and can handle millions of inquiries per
hour. This site can also accept eight million online contest entries within
a four-hour period of time with bandwidth so broad that such an activity
only requires 25 percent of the site's processing power. This is the
GameTime Challenge(SM) WWW site which may be reached at
http://game-time.com. From SportsNet Inc., you'll get everything from the
latest scores and stats to sports news. Plus, you can go up against the
pros and test your own game-picking skill sets for tons of bucks in prize
money. A 44.7 Mbps DS-3 fiber optic commlink, provided by AT&T WorldNet,
feeds this site which already has plans for glomming onto sub'ers outside
the good ol' U.S.A.



GRAND GOODIES ENROUTE
E3 was a grand environment to witness the digital evolution of companies
who, here-to-for, had been involved only minimally in game and edutainment
production. Enter Grolier Interactive full bore with numerous new titles.

GRISLY GOING: A new interactive horror film is enroute from Grolier
Interactive entitled Terror T.R.A.C.K. Track of the Vampire. You lead an
elite group of undercover agents against supernatural perpetrators of
grisly crimes. You have some rather unusual help--a computer-animated ghost
named Ether. You must aid specially-trained police officers battling
vampires, demons and other undead. Each game can have different
results--the correct combo of actions one time can mean the capture and
demise of goulish nasties, but the next round of challenges could spell a
fearsome end. The game was developed by Ground Zero Productions and is now
available for Macintosh and Windows CD-ROM machines.

WHO-DUNNIT: Also available now is SFPD Homicide Case File: The Body in the
Bay. This title won the New Line Cinema/Havas' Prize of the Professionals
at the 1996 Multimedia Festival of the MILIA D'OR awards in Cannes, France.
This murder-mystery CD-ROM (for Macintosh and Windows machines) is based on
an actual police investigation. Former San Francisco deputy police chief
Kevin Mullen hosts the title, and Frank Falzon, the detective who solved
the case, provides you with advice on how to solve the crime and bring the
killer to justice. Footage was shot on location in San Francisco. There are
more than 80 minutes of video sequences, sound, original music, photos and
dramatic, true-to-life testimony. You can also access maps of the city,
hidden evidence, lab tests, missing persons logs, plus forensic reports as
you hunt for the killer.

CIVIL UNREST: One of the most intriguing aspects of the Civil War was the
use of ironclads by the Union and the Confederate forces as they changed
the course of naval history. Battle of the Ironclads gives you command of
these innovative warships and you participate in the 1862 Civil War clash
between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (the Merrimack). You take the
helm of either vessel. If you command the Virginia, you bring to bear
superior size and firepower. However, the Monitor can exploit a shallower
draft and greater maneuverability. In either role, you must make sound
command decisions in your quest for naval supremacy. This title was
developed by Hypergolic Studios and the ships, weapons, tactics and
technology of the era have been meticulously reconstructed through use of
original vessel blueprints, charts, maps and daily logs from the National
Archives, Navy records and private historical collections. There are
several levels of difficulty and alternative battle scenarios. This game
will release in September for Macintosh and Windows-based computers.

SCREEN SPLATTER: Banzai Bug finds you piloting the most acrobatic aircraft
ever devised--a bug. You'll find yourself flying in this quirky, fast-paced
game that will release this September. The title was developed by Gravity,
Inc., and offers you unrestricted flight capabilities in a fully-rendered
360-degree environment. You'll encounter every imaginable obstacle in an
insect's worse nightmare as you pursue your quest--to drive the humans out
of the house.There is an original story line that advances game play and
offers witty dialogue. Banzai, who claims to be the fastest bug in the
west, finds himself trapped in a seven-room home. The house, styled to
reflect a 1950's view of the future, belongs to a [gulp] exterminator and
his family. Plus, the resident bugs are planning a revolution and will try
to build a Stinkulator, an anti-human bomb. You must guide Banzai and his
creepy buddies through the obstacles and through the various rooms, where
each aerial challenged becomes greater and the puzzles more complex. This
title will be for Windows 95 machines and is supported by Microsoft DirectX
technology.

TRANSVECTED TROUBLES: Using Silicon Graphics'(TM) new FireWalker(TM)
technology, Surf and Destroy finds you engaged in saving the earth inside
the pathways of the Internet. You are transvected from solid matter into a
digital form that can exist within the Internet's urban graffiti tunnels.
To be available this October, this is a real-time escape-and-pursuit-style
game that was created by screenwriter Larry Kay, Toonsmiths and software
developer MediaX. In this story, a vicious computer virus is trashing the
world's computers. Rood O'Dor, who has unlimited high-tech resources, is
responsible for this nightmare. You must foil his plans. You'll fly through
seven "toobs" interconnecting the bizarre worlds inside the Internet. Your
homemade cyberjalopy must dispatch the misfit mutations with weapons that
have been thrown together and include the likes of a leaky ice maker and a
goozooka. This title is for Windows 95 machines.



IBM: JAVA BUILDING BUDDIES
To say the change at IBM, at least as far as public perception is
concerned, is one of radical movement. We happened upon Big Blue's booth at
E3 and were delighted to note a far more relaxed and entertainment-oriented
display, graphically-rich, staffed by folk that understood the market and
were extremely helpful. IBM appears to be helpful, as well, for folk who
are involved in the creation of HTML-coded pages for the World Wide Web
(WWW). Through the use of Java, IBM plans to leverage that language to link
browsers with back-office systems. Plus, the company is building a new app
entitled WOMBeast. This will build HTML pages from database or host-based
apps and will form the base for the company's Olympic Games WWW server
infrastructure. You'll also note the company is going to be working closely
with Netscape in regards to upgrading their WWW server capabilities to work
more in unison with third-party products as well as with their OS/2 Warp
client. IBM must convince Netscape that the company should port their
Navigator browser to OS/2, however. Initially, the WOMBeast technology will
run on AIX and additional plans call for its integration in Windows NT and
Lotus Notes.



IBM: APTIVA APTITUDE FOR MULTIMEDIA
PCs used in the home for a variety of entertainment and edutainment
purposes, in many cases, required the consumer to become adept at juggling
a variety of add-in boards to accomplish the reception of stereo sound,
SVGA graphics, and so on. IBM has decided that they would like to assist in
this arena and have introduced their new Aptiva computers. These PCs are
targeted at home users who want to have 3D graphics and have machines that
are ready to access 3D WWW sites when such are available. The fastest of
these new machines will pack a Pentium 200MHz processor, 3.2GB hard drive,
an 8x CD-ROM drive and 32MB of RAM. A number of software titles, from
Microsoft's Encarta '96 to Creative Writer, are bundled with each system.
There are even some Aptivas bundled with the most popular mass storage
media cooking today, the Zip Drive from Iomega. IBM will also offer a model
that'll include a video camera as part of the Video Phone package from
Intel. These puppies'll debut next month with prices to start around
$1,799, SRP. You can glom onto more info at http://www.pc.ibm.com/aptiva.



Kaplan: NO EXCUSE TO SIT WITH THIS SAT
Kaplan, a leader in test preparation, admissions and career services has
produced the first multimedia product in their RoadTrip series--SAT
RoadTrip Multimedia. Described as a fun and entertaining program for
students, that claims to take the stress out of preparing for the SAT, this
software evaluates a student's academic skills and preferences, creates a
personalized study plan, provides extensive practice opportunities and
delivers detailed feedback on each user's performance. Incorporating humor,
SAT RoadTrip Multimedia includes info that provides students with critical
information on their test-taking skills, and evaluates behavior in areas
such as guessing, answer switching, pacing and confidence. This program
will be available in August for Windows 3.1, Windows95 CD-ROM and Macintosh
System 7.01 or greater.

Student Success is the first title from Kaplann's line of personal
enrichment programs. Here the emphasis is on teaching the fundamental
skills required for academic work, assess how users process information,
and create a successful frame of mind for future achievement. One element
of the software is that users can cut reading time in half; enhance study
habies; and learn to communicate better. Avaliable in the third quarter '96
for Windows 3.1 or higher or Macintosh System 7.01 or higher operating
systems.



Kesmai: FUTURE ACCORDING TO FASA
The world of online gaming is exploding. New alliances, new technologies,
new services--all are blossoming around the fact that you, apparently, want
more multimedia onlinegames where you can compete against others from
around the world. One of the leading developers in this arena, a company
that's been involved in this environment for many years, is Kesmai
Corporation. They have now announced MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris. This
is a futuristic sim based on FASA's extremely popular BattleTech universe.
This game accurately presents the world of armored combat that's found in
BattleTech board games, literature and novels. The game is set in the year
3025. Solaris VII is the battle planet and it is here that you explore,
select Mechs and negotiate with other participants for your next battle.
The emphasis in this offering is BattleMech(R) combat. Your view from the
cockpit of your Mech is simulated through the use of 3D SVGA graphics. Your
goal is to acquire fame and glory and the title of champion as you slug it
out with other Mech pilots. The game runs on DOS CD-ROM machines and is
currently in beta testing.



KidSoft: EIGHT TITLES FOR KIDS
The rush to offer interactive titles for children continues, as more and
more parents and schools realize the value of computer-based learning
tools. Now, KidSoft has signed an exclusive, multiple title license with
Mindscape, Inc., who will distribute eight products under this branded
label. Expect these goodies to show up this summer.



Kodak: DIGITAL PHOTO PHUN
Fitting in a shirt pocket, Kodak has introduced a new digital camera. Their
new product is the Digital Science DC20 digital camera and includes the
software that allows you to download an image directly to your personal
computer. The camera is easy to use as there are only three buttons. One
turns the camera on and off, there's a shutter button to take the picture,
and a third button to erase unwanted images. The software works with
Macintosh and Windows 95 machines. You can download their Digital Science
Picture Postcard software, at no charge, from their home page at
http://www.kodak.com/. You'll be able to email images via email and through
online services and you won't need to specify file formats, resolution, or
the addition of enclosures. However, to manage this process you'll have to
sign on with an online or Internet email service provider that supports
this format so you can view and re-send picture postcards. This visual
link, known as Cybersnapper, will become a true visual link for Internet
users. The camera is bundled with PictureWorks' PhotoEnhancer Special Fun
Edition software. This app will let you manage simple image enhancements as
well as drop your digital pictures into a variety of home computer-created
projects. There's also Kai's Power Goo include, a program that morphs
images through the distortion or enhancement of features. Even more goodies
are included that will let you set your "presentation" to music and add
titles. You can store eight or 16 pictures in the camera, depending upon
the resolution that you select.



Ralph Lauren: FRAGRANCES ON THE WEB
Ralph Lauren is bringing his fragrances to the WWW. No, you can't smell the
perfume, but there will be an area pertaining to what's cool and what's hot
in the world of Ralph Lauren Fragrances. There'll be gossip about his
models, Bridget Hall and Tyson, and info about how to get product samples.
Also, background info will be available about Lauren's career as well as an
online episodic drama, The Pulse, that explores the lives of four friends
who live and work in a hip, cosmopolitan city (sound like Friends?).




Macromedia: AUTHOR, AUTHOR!
In the world of CBT, few programs are as popular as Authorware from
Macromedia. The company has now released version 3.5 of this authoring
program for Power Macintosh and Macintosh and Windows 3.1/95/NT. As a
matter-of-fact, this is one of the first native, 32-bit authoring programs
to actually receive Microsoft's Designed for Windows 95 logo, for those who
might be wondering about compatibility issues. Plus, the Authorware
Interactive Studio(TM) is bundled with Director(R), Macromedia xRes(TM),
Extreme 3D(TM) and sound software, making the package a truly powerful
multimedia programming environment. And don't forget that Macromedia has
also released Shockwave for Authorware 3.5, ensuring that selected files
can also be piped over the WWW after compression by Macromedia's
Afterburner(TM) for Authorware. One of the biggest improvements to this
program is the fact that it now runs 200 percent faster than version 3.0!
There's Transition Xtras(TM) which are plug-ins from third-party developers
that offers hundreds of new transitions. And speaking of transitions,
Director transitions can now be used in the program.

Also of news from Macromedia is the fact that a special edition version of
MetaTools KPT Vector Effects is to be made available in a bundle for the
Macintosh and Windows versions of FreeHand. As most of you know, FreeHand
is a design and illustration program that features open architecture that
fully supports vector-based Xtras on Windows. The special version of Vector
Effects contains an exclusive subset of the full program plus a collection
of rather unique pre-defined settings. This is the first time this program
has been made available to Windows users.



Maxis: WHAT DO YOU FEED SIM ELEPHANTS?
Maxis Inc., producers of some of the most famous sim software, has a new
alliance with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to produce SimCircus, a
new entry in its Maxis Kids' line of entertainment software. Coming in
1997, SimCircus will offer children of all ages the opportunity to assume
an interactive role alongside the ringmaster, clowns, acrobats and animal
trainers and experience the unique lifestyle of The Greatest Show On Earth
without getting sawdust in your shoes. Information about Maxis is available
on the Internet at http://www.maxis.com; America Online (keyword Maxis or
SimCity); or CompuServe, Go Gambpub (for Game Publishers B forum).



Microsoft: ACTIVEX ACTIVATED FOR WWW PAGES
Trying to create sophisticated pages using HTML 2.0 is tough. You can't
obtain precise 2D control over objects you place on a page. Nor can you
overlap objects and frames. So, naturally, the two leading browser
publishers are putting into place plans to remedy the situation. Microsoft
has now made available Microsoft(R) HTML Layout Control and the ActiveX(TM)
Control Pad which will be usable with browsers that support ActiveX (read:
Internet Explorer). You can glom onto the first puppy at
http://microsoft.com/ie/controls/ and the second item at
http://microsoft/com.intdev/. The ActiveX Control Pad is an authoring
utility the simplifies your addition of ActiveX Controls and Visual
Basic(R) scripts, Scripting Edition or JavaScript(TM) to your HTML-coded
pages. All you need do is point-and-click to accomplish these value-added
tasks. The HTML Layout Control is actually based on the Cascading Style
Sheet spec that was recently published by W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)
and offers 2D layout extensions to the standard.



NAMS: RAPPIN' RANGES ON THE WWW
For the first time, a complete rap music video is now available for you to
download via the WWW! Yes, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, courtesy of the publishing
company Ruthless Records, has released their hit single entitled Tha
Crossroads, which has already reached double platinum plus unit sales, is
available for download at http://www.mw3.com/nams. If you have a 28.8k
modem, this puppy will require anywhere from 25 to 35 minutes to download,
with the complete file hanging tough at 5.7MB in size. The site is the NAMS
International Inc. site. But, you have to install the NAMS 320 x 240
playback software on your PC in order to view this complete video in its
proprietary play-back format. Good thing, too, 'cause if you had to try and
download this video in QuickTime or .AVI format, you'd be online for over
five hours. There are other music videos available at this site, from Todd
Rundgren and Queen to Bad Sun and Jimi Hendrix. The NAMSnet 2000 WWW site
is hosted by Music Interactive.



NBC IS FAT CAT
A prime-time TV sales record has been broken with a record $5.8 billion by
NBC for the second year in a row. The network enjoyed an 18 percent surge
from last year's $1.7 billion in advance sales and the highest
cost-per-thousand (CPM) increase of any network-10 percent to 13 percent.
And, the hip Thursday night lineup brought increases of 15 percent or more.
Contrary to these statistics, CBS sales were down 4 percent and ABC was
flat with $1.6 billion in prime-time sales.




Nielsen Media: TV'S TOP TEN NIELSON RATINGS
Here are the prime-time ratings as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for
June 3-9 that include the rating for the week.

 1. NBA Finals: Game 1, NBC, 16.8 percent
 2. Seinfeld, NBC, 16.3 percent
 3. NBA Finals: Game 3, NBC, 15.8 percent
 4. NBA Finals: Game 2, NBC, 13.9 percent
 5. ER, NBC, 13.4 percent
 6. Home Improvement, ABC 12.7 percent
 7. Dateline NBC, (Tuesday) NBC, 12.6 percent
 8. (20/20, ABC, 12.1 percent
 9. NBA Finals: Tip-Off Game 1, NBC, 11.9 percent
10. 60 Minutes, CBS, 11.7 percent



Nintendo: SNES HITS A HOMER
THe first sports video game to utilize Nintendo's Advanced Computer
Modeling (ACM) graphics is now available. That's right--Ken Griffey Jr.'s
Winning Run, the 32-megabit, one- and two-player game for SNES, offers
human players motion captured and rendered using ACM by Rare, Ltd. Aided by
PowerAnimator(TM) from Alias|Wavefront, these technologies create lifelike
3D characters, scenery and graphic effects. Under license from Major League
Baseball properties, Major League(TM) stadiums, uniforms and team logos are
replicated in this offering. A unique feature found only in this title is
the ability to control a moving camera. This lets a pitcher instantly and
smoothly sweep his vision from baseline to baseline to check base runner
positions. You'll also have superior control of where and how you hit the
ball, including sacrifice flies, hit-and-run grounders, or pulling the ball
down the line. A Defensive Alignment lets you change the position of the
fielders to respond to the specific tendencies of opposing batters. The
game features ongoing individual and team stats so you can compare your
offensive skills against the rest of the league leaders in every offensive
category. You can also use secret codes to access hidden teams and--yes,
other surprises as well. There are four different game play modes
available. And, as many as eight folk can take a team through the 1995
Major League Baseball schedule at the same time.


OmniMedia: GRAND LAUNCHES
Grammy-award winning artists not only celebrate platinum singles and
albums, but they are also invited to participate in the development of
interactive, multimedia "albums" that feature their work. Such is the case
for Sade, who has worked with OmniMedia (UK) Limited to develop Sade
Interactive, a CD-ROM for PCs (with or without MPEG cards) running Windows
3.1. This disc is an electronic hybrid of Sade's greatest hits, her best
video, biographical info on her band, and more. Sade's band, with Sony
Music, contributed never-before-seen videos and photos from Sade's personal
collection. THere are nine, full-screen videos of her most classic
recordings. The disc also contains a karaoke section, interactive quizzes
and a WWW connection to Sade's site. She has sold more than 12 million
records in the U.S. and more than 27 million worldwide. OmniMedia developed
this title using their own MPEG CD-ROM development tools, known as MPEG
Maestro.

A CHILD'S ADVENTURE: In September, The Kidnapped Princess for Windows 95
and Macintosh CD-ROM machines will debut. This is a delightful adventure
developed for children ages 4 to 9 which offers 15 original characters, 20
original songs, and is produced with broadcast quality animation. Children
help the king find Princess Abigail by searching for clues and solving
puzzles. The adventure begins in the King's 16th century English castle.
Rumors are circulating about a ransom note which indicates the whereabouts
of the princess--as well as the identity of the rotten kidnappers!
Youngsters will travel puzzling paths, enter secret rooms, encounter
mysterious magicians and dark dungeons, enter deep forests, and confront
enemy armies as they try to solve the mystery of Abigail's disappearance.

EAGER FOR THE 80'S: Just released is The Ultimate Video Jukebox. This is a
two volume CD-ROM set that captures the essence of 80s music videos. These
discs are packed with 10 classic videos and employ the company's MPEG
technology software which delivers top quality video and playback and
stereo audio on standard PCs without the need for an MPEG card. Each track
also contains on-screen liner notes about the group, the song and the
video. Volume One features Bl, Joy Division, Eurythmics, Ultravox, Tears
for Fears, Lisa Stansfield, Spandau Ballet, The Christians, Godley & Creme
and Sinead O'Connor. Volume Two contains Mica Paris, R. Kelly, Third World,
New Order, Cathy Dennis, M People, Womack & Womack, Barry White, Billy
Ocean and Cameo.

DEVELOPER HELP: OmniMedia is also releasing version 1.1 of its Video CD
Production Toolkit(R). This is an app that creates MPEG-based video CDs.
The package contains a multiplexer, mastering software and a burning tool
that allows you to create true xplatform video CD titles. The Toolkit
produces Video CDs compatible with the Philips White Book 2.0 spec, meaning
your results are playable on standard PC CD-ROM drives, Macintosh and CD-i
players. There are no license fees. Data is effectively written to a
CD-recorder exactly as described in the disk image. The writer receive data
at the correct rate by checking the buffers on the PC, dramatically
decreasing the incidence of incorrectly mastered disks. With a unique,
built-in error correction process, existing files are automatically
collated according to their file name extensions.



Origin: MUCHO-HAPPY MAC'ERS
There has been a great deal written and said about Wing Commander(R) IV:
The Price of Freedom(TM), most in a highly positive vein. The only drawback
to this Origin mega-hit was the fact that the initial release was for PC
CD-ROM machines. With over 3.5 million units sold, the game has already
reached classics status. Now Macintosh gamers may rejoice and may their
voices fill the hallowed halls of their gaming rooms...Origin has now
released the Macintosh version of this super entertainment. This title
incorporates several hours of live-action video and features many of the
talented actors that appeared in Wing Commander III--Malcolm McDowell, Mark
Hamill, John Rhys-Davies, Jason Bernard and Tom Wilson. The story comes
from veteran screenwriters Terry Borst and Frank DePalma. You, once again,
play the role of Col. Christopher Blair, portrayed by Hamill in this
interactive entertainment. The war between the humans and the Kilrathi is
over, but problems are starting to crop up on a new front. This time, the
conflict is in your own back yard in the Border Worlds. Blair is recalled
to assist the Terran government stamp out the growing rebellion, but it
won't be easy. The Confederation is beginning to splinter under the new
pressures and you must determine how to save it...or if it should be saved
in the first place.

There are moving camera shots and real movie sets. Graphics explode in high
resolution colors and are much improved with photo-realistic textures on
fighters. There's greater control of missions and drama. Because of a Power
Macintosh enhancement, you also get an option not available on the game's
PC version, the ability to custom program your joystick. The title is
available now.



Philips: VOYEURS ON THE WEB
There's a new WWW site available from Philips Media that is filled with
sordid characters, suspense, and intrigue. The site was created by
InterWeave Entertainment as a prequel for their Voyeur II CD-ROM whodunit
game which will be published by Philips Media. The site is located at
http://www.philipsvoyeurII.com and presents three episodes within the
voyeur's diary that lead to other virtual sites. The site offers the story
in The Voyeur's World and you can download QuickTime teasers and screen
shots. Plus, you'll obtain clues as to how best to play the game. You can
read about the cast and creators of Voyeur II and obtain outtakes and
screen shot bloopers. The game stars Jennifer O'Neill, David Groh and
Dennis Weaver. The game will release for Macintosh and PC CD-ROM machines
in July.




PHILLIPS AND TURNER DO GETTYSBURG
An ambitious project undertaken by Philips School 2000 and Turner
Educational Services has resulted in the CD-i release of Gettysburg, an
interactive version of the feature film adaptation of Michael Shaara's
Pulitzer Prize-winning, Civil War novel, The Killer Angels. Gettysburg, the
first in a series of collaborations, contains four CD-i discs with
customized teacher's guides, lesson plans and student worksheets which
enable teachers to create an individual lesson plan of their choice. This
title is targeted at students aged 12-years and older. Gettysburg will
release in time for the upcoming 1996/97 school year and is available to
educators by calling 800-265-8086, writing
Philips Media Systems at 7185 Vista Drive, West Des Moines, Iowa, 50266-9313,
or  by visiting the Philips Web site at http://www.philipsmedia.com/systems.



SEGA GOES HOME
There is now a new Sega Enterprises Ltd. Internet home page--in Japanese.
At this site are links to other companies' within the entertainment
industry and their home pages. This group of 60 comprises the Sega
Entertainment Universe and includes such folk as film and music
distributors, operators of theme parks and those always evident game
software publishers.



Sega: GAME GLEE IN HOTELS
Core, target marketing and product development enables a company to broaden
their customer base by enticing folk into an environment not previously
offered in various venues. To bring glee to those who would otherwise be
stuck in hotel rooms with only cable TV to ponder, Sega Enterprises has now
developed a new system for hotels that will offer games-on-demand. Based on
the 32-bit Sega Saturn, there will be as many as 50 to 60 titles offered,
overall, including VirtuaFighter2. Sega will have to install a central
server and game terminals and I/O devices. This Sega occupation of hotel
rooms will occur in Japan and Toshiba Corporation is expected to start
taking orders for such units this week.



Sierra: JOCKS CAN WIN AT SIERRA ON-LINE
Folks don't have to be coordinated to be part of Sierra Sports Spectacular
sweepstakes and promotion which runs from July 1 through Aug. 15, 1996. The
Sports Spectacular offers consumers free games on a selection of Sierra
sports titles plus a chance to win a new multimedia computer system. Buy
two of Sierra's sports titles (Front Page Sports: Baseball Pro '96, Front
Page Sports: Football Pro `96, Trophy Bass, NASCAR Racing, and IndyCar
Racing II) and get one free. Folks will automatically be entered in the
Sports Spectacular sweepstakes to win a grand prize Micron P166 Home MPC
that includes a 17-inch SVGA monitor, two Advent speakers with 30 watt
subwoofer, an AWE 32 Wavetable sound card, 16MB EDO DRAM, 2.1 Gig Hard
Drive, 28.8 Modem w/telephony, 8X CD-ROM, 2MB EDO DRAM video, MPEG and a
variety of pre-loaded software. Second-place contestants (there'll be 25)
will win a full year's subscription to PC Gamer Magazine.



Sir-Tech: COLOR YOUR WIZARDRY GOLD
For those folks that ejoyed Sirtech Software, Inc.'s Crusaders of the Dark
Savant, the enhanced CD-ROM version is available. Wizardry Gold is a
completely re-engineered version thanks to the efforts of Sirtech and Media
Interactive Studios in Dan Diego that includes full speech, new cinematic
sequences, enhanced sound and music, and desktop accessories for Windows
and Windows '95.

Wizardry gold is an adventure that exists in Lost Guardia, a world on the
brink of war, where the fate of Lost Guardia rests on your shoulders. The
game proceeds with folk battling their way through multiple quests in which
the gamer hopes to find the Astral Dominae, an artifact that contains the
secret of life. But Phoonzang, the creator of Astral Dominae, also created
Lost Guardia to hide his secret. The Astral Dominae is entombed in the
planet and good ole Phoonzang turns into a litter-bug, dropping parts of a
map throughout the world. Phoonzang then thinks he's taken care of the
issue, that no one can solve thispuzzle, so he disappears forever. That's
where clever gaming comes in handy, as the player competes with other
parties to find the map pieces that ultimately lead to the tomb of the
Astral Dominae.



Sony: VRML VIABILITY
Geez, when you look around at ALL of the technologies becoming available
for the World Wide Web and the Internet, you wonder how on earth you'll
ever be able to digest everything that's coming straight at you! In the
world of VRML, Sony has now made their entry. The company has released
Cyber Passage Browser Version 2, Beta 1. This is a VRML 2.0-based 3D
browser that'll enable you to create interactive 3D worlds based on VRML
2.0 through use of Java. The static 3D object modeling functions from
Version 1.0 have been extended in Version 2.0. Plus, there's now 3D object
behavior, 3D sound and 3D video image support. The biggest addition is the
inclusion of Java so that behaviors can be assigned to 3D objects. There is
also full control over playback of sound and visual images. The beta
software has been available from Sony's Japanese URL and will soon be
available in the US at http://sonypic.com/vs/.



Sun Microsystems: BUG BUSTED
As you probably heard, an English researcher by the name of David Hopwood
found a Java security bug last week during his ponderous examination of the
language. Sun Microsystem's JavaSoft division has now written and tested a
fix for this security bug. This fix will be shipped to every Java licensee
by the end of this week. Hopwood is, so far, the only individual who has
been able to exploit the security bug, which is described as "complex."
There have been no reports of any real-world attacks through the use of
this bug.



United Kingdom: ACTIVE WEB'ERS IN BRITISH SURVEY
For those of you that enjoy statistics, we have the results of a survey
from more than a million people throughout the UK in which characteristics
of the average Internet surfer was revealed: the average web'er is a
high-earning company director-- 23 percent are professionals, 14 percent
managers, 10 percent are company directors and 10 percent are
self-employed. The average web'ers''s age is between 31-50, with an
appreciation of fine wine and good food. Around 4 percent of the population
are already online with 8 percent planning to go online soon. Of those