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Text File | 1993-11-12 | 20.6 KB | 495 lines

c =========================================================================== _____ _____ ____________________/ /___________/ /_______________________/\________ \ ____ _____ \ / _____ \ / _____ _____ \________ \ \// / / /____/ / / /____/ / / / / /____/ / /____/ / ____/\___ \\___ / /____ _ / / /\___ \ /\___ \ / |_/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /_____|\_____ /___ /\_______/__/ /\_______/____ /___/____ / <-----------\___/---\___/-----------/____/-------------\___/-[Sy-K!]\___/---> sUPPORTING: __________________________________________ sYSOPS: ~~~~~~~~~~~ \_ \ \_____ \ ___/ ____/ _ / ~~~~~~~ SuperNES Mb/ __| /|_ | / /\__ \ _/\ |__/ C/\FFEiNE Genesis _/ \____/ _/ | / \_ | \ | \ | | cEVIN kEY Neo-Geo \_____|____| |__\____/_____/______\_____| MAELSTROM HandHelds |____| <W><O><R><L><D> <H> <Q> ** YEH-YOU-WISH ** Console Only ** f I N D t H E n E W u S E R p A S S W O R D =======================================(cAF-tXT v0.9 bY cAFFEINE/pSYCHOSIS) Download This You Dumb Fuck! ° ============================================================= PROGRESSIVE INNOVATIONS INC. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1-800-4WILDCArd (3 LINES - ORDERS ONLY) 1-800-494-5322 1-909-598-0145 Questions,Customer Service 1-909-598-1399 FAX (24 hours) ------------------------------------------------------------- BUSINESS HOURS: 8:30am to 5:00pm - MONDAY-FRIDAY 10:00am to 3:00pm - SATURDAY Pacific Standard Time _____________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3DO SUPER WILD CARDS SUPER MAGIC DRIVES SUPER PRO FIGHTER Q PLUS SUPER MAGIC DRIVE PLUS MULTI GAME HUNTERS ASIC SUPER MAGICOM -> SUPER WILD CARD UPGRADES 16M -> 24M SWC upgrades ============================================================= BULK DISCOUNT - RESELLERS WELCOME - SHIPPED WORLDWIDE _____________________________________________________________ ============================================================= ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 D O is now released in United States + more on 3DO ------------------------------------------------------ TYPED BY : CRAIG OF CRYSTAL 199FUTURE On October 4 the initial batch of Panasonic's FZ-1 units hit shelves across the US, most going into software stores like Babbages, Electronic Boutique and Software Etc. Most stores got just two or three units, and in the week prior to launch, many of the computer and console retail outlets Edge questioned knew nothing about 3DO, let alone when - or if - they would be stocking it. Even American games magazines have had to buy their own machines, because Panasonic haven't got enough machines to go around. Our 3DO was purchased from Software Etc, but there was no point-of-sale material, no demonstration stand, no software - and only one boxed 3DO sitting behind the `Pay Here' counter. Obviously 3DO and Panasonic are bullish about facts and figures: BILL PRITCHARD, Panasonic's main PR man, said `initial sales over the first few weeks have gone very briskly; it's sold out very quickly in certain stores and reaction has been very, very positive. `In terms of units shipped, that's proprietary and competive information that we'd rather keep to ourselves. The initial shipout was to 1,200 or 1,500 individual store fronts by the christmas period.' So what about peripherals? `we're currently offering an additional controller, the FX-JP1X, for around $40,' proffers Bill, `and in Spring of next year, we'll be introducing our FMV cartridge, which i believe conforms to the MPEG1 standard.' Of course, a machine of this calibre is a software-hungry beast: `I dont know specifics,' says Bill, `but we're looking at 18 or 20 titles within a week or two after launch. Sanctuary Woods' Its A Bird's Life delivered a week ago, and there are additional titles that will be available this month. By the main Christmas selling period up to 20 or 25 titles should be available.' Considering TRIP HAWKINS, 3DO's boss, keeps reminding people that there are over 350 software licenses, two titles onsale at launch is pretty dismal. So what do you get for your $699(roughly 420)? Well, you get the Panasonic FZ-1 REAL 3DO Interactive Multiplayer and cables, joypad, a 3DO demo disc, a Kodak Photo CD disc and Crystal Dynamics' racing game, Crash 'n Burn. And not only has 3DO met its deadline, Edge is happy to report thats it's a very smart piece of kit. Build quality is good - certainly as good as any other Panasonic branded hardware. Both casing and internals are decent quality and even the joypad comes with a sensible long lead - roughly 8FT. The only worry is the slideout CD tray which is fragile and wobbly: prime suspect for an early repair bill. But how well foes it perform? Well, without the aid of any hidden Apple Mac Quadras, our 3DO machine loaded and manipulated Kodak Photo CDs with alarming speed. The rotation, mirroring and zoom functions happen in realtime with the minimum of fuss. CD audio sounds quite punchy and is accompanied by some spectacular 24bit colour cycling and pattern making in time to the music. And then, without swapping machines or plugging in extra chips, the FZ-1 quite happily loaded in the 3DO demo disk. Fine. Next up was Crash 'n Burn. This visually impressive game loaded and ran, but before going we went to press the game crashed. Over two day's solid play, the game crashed four times. Not a good sign, but there's probably some debugging of hardware and software to be done over the coming months. Hopefully, the UK PAL system will be completely bug-free. The 3DO experience will first appear in the UK under guidance of Panasonic, and the man chosen to make it all happen is PHILIP KIPLING. In a company noted for its conservative `make no wares' executives, Panasonic's 3DO project leader certainly speaks his mind. The reason behind his combative manner may be down to the seven years' time he put in for Panasonic's Business Systems division. Kipling describes this as a `relatively young' division within the austere Panasonic/ Matsushita entity, and one that has been brought up in the rollercoaster ride of the UK's personal computer industry. So when Edge enquired as to the likely price for the FZ-1 when it launches here in the second quarter of 94 (our bet is on April) we didn't get the usual `no comment'. `We haven't set a retial price in the UK yet,' he begins. `It's $699 in the US; we'll make our decision depending on how many they sell and how Sega and Nintendo react to that. And undoubtedly they will respond.' And he continues: `My motto is hit them where it hurts. If they want a price war, as the man from the computer industry where price war is an everyday thing, that kinda stuff doesn't worry me. For us to grab attention, how about 3DO at 299? - thats would shock the pants off Sega and Philips.' This fighting talk has already provoked a miffed reaction from Sega: `sticks and stones may break my bones, but i'll be kept safe by my installed user base of Mega CDs,' responds Sega's Simon Morris. But if such sabre-rattling at rivals is to be expected, Kipling is not above gently chucking some mudpies at the saintly figure of Trip Hawkins. The trouble it seems is that while dear old Trip is a salesman par excellence, he does tend to fly off on visionary tangents. Philip Kipling, by contrast, is more of a hard-nosed realist. When asked if he shares Trip's glowing forecasts of hardware sales (forecasts which, incidentally, have helped his 3DO company's share price along) Phil says no, not really. `I've seen some of the figures from Mr Hawkins - he certainly wears rose tinted spectacles doesn't he? He's talking about 250,000 units a month from day one. I'm not too sure about that. If you look at the UK market, Sega ship 50,000 Mega CDs a month - let's say they're going to sell 500,000 a year. If we could sell that i don't think we will have a problem.' But Kipling's job is `sorting out' the software companies to try and make sure there's a decent raft of titles ready for 3DO's UK debut. And once again he is under no illusions about the task ahead. While Trip Hawkins hails to the 350-odd licenses of 3DO evidence of a ground swell of support for the system among publishers, the view on the ground is rather good. I bet the number of development kits sold is nowhere near the number of licenses especially when you take on board that EA alone probably has around 20 kits.' To help speed things along, Kipling is examining several options which range from footing the costs of software development, striking longterm publishing deals with software firms, to even going out and buying a publisher outright. Nothing has been decided yet, but Kipling hints that longterm deal making is the front runner. Despite his problems mobolising UK software companies Kipling maintains he is still a fortunate man - at least he isn't in the shoes of his US counterparts. `The machine's launched and they've got about six software titles finished and ready,' he chuckles. He reckons the first titles to really exploit 3DO's fearsome capabilities will start to appear November and December. `Meanwhile I can sit here and watch the titles build up and build up.' He plans to have 85-100 games for the UK - which suggests that even Mr.Kipling is not immune to Trippus Estimatus (otherwise known as `think of a number, double it and add a Zero' syndrome). On the hardware front though, Kipling says things are moving nicely. Sanyo has already shown a player and `it is only a matter of time before JVC have a 3DO box.' But there are some potential problems with distribution. Dixons, which accounts for a massive 25% of all videogame sales, have told Kipling they will not be stocking 3DO. `They've got a hugh affinity for CD-i. When they heard we were producing an interactive CD player the first thing they asked was `is it CD-i compatible?' We said, `perhaps not.' They said `We won't be selling it then". Kipling predicts Dixons will change its tune when the 3DO sales figures come in. On CD-i generally he is more generous than you might expect. `The concept of CD-i is great, [but] they were unfortunate in the timing. There was nothing like it on the market when it came out,' says Kipling. `Philips are the classic pioneer - he's the guy with all the tyre marks across his back as the other peoplehave ridden over him.' But with Philips staring to get its act together with Digital Video and genuine quality titles, isn't CD-i emerging as a serious rival to 3DO at last? `They've put a hugh amount of money in the software [and] it's going to be a pretty unpleasant fight. There's a lot of money at stake for both sides,' is Kipling's reply. And he is adamant that in any boxing match, 3DO is the Lennox Lewis to CD-i's Frank Bruno. `We don't want consumers to lose out because my dad brought a V2000 VCR and then brought a Betamax! I know what I'm talking about here...' 3DO SOFTWARE ------------ Among the 350-plus 3DO licencees, here are some of the titles in production: AMERICAN LASER GAMES Mad Dog McCree [OUT NOW] BULLFROG Creation Syndicate Theme Park CRYSTAL DYNAMICS Total Eclipse Crash `n Burn [FREE WITH 3DO] The Horde DYNAMIX Red Baron ELECTRONIC ARTS John Madden Football PGA Tour Golf Road Rash Shock Wave Twisted World Builders Inc GAMETEK Air Warrior INTELLIMEDIA SPORTS Intelliplay Cowboy Casino INTERPLAY Battlechess Out of this World MCA Jurassic Park Interactive Universal Studios Orbital ORIGIN Super Wing Commander PARK PALACE PRODUCTIONS 3D Adventures 3D Football PSYGNOSIS Lemmings Microcosm READYSOFT Dragon's Lair SOFTWARE TOOLWORKS Dragon Tales Megarace Oceans Below SPECTRUM HOLOBYTE Star Trek: Next Generation VIRGIN 7th Guest - Part II Demolition Man The 3DO Company claimed there'd be 10 titles available to coincide with the roll-out of Panasonic's REAL players in early October. But in reality it wasn't to be. Admittedly the lack of software wasn't quite as embarrassing as the Commodore CD32 fiasco - the inclusion of Crash 'n Burn meant you could actually play something - but a base of decent games will certainly take some time to be established. With over a hundred titles currently being developed. CRASH 'N BURN [3do] ------------------- FORMAT : 3DO PUBLISHER : CRYSTAL DYNAMICS DEVELOPER : IN-HOUSE PRICE : NA SIZE : 1 CD RELEASE : OUT NOW (US) For the 3DO to succeed it obviously needs exceptional software. If the games are poor, the machine will fail. It's that simple. A `killer app' as the americans love to call it, is critical for the first few weeks of the 3DO's lifetime. It's something the Super Famicom had, and something the Mega CD has miserably lacked ever since its conception. Crystal Dynamics are first up to try and convince us that the 3DO is the machine to have - Crash 'n Burn comes bundled with the Panasonic REAL Multiplayer, so buyers don't have much choice. But is it good enough to sell 3DOs, or does it leave the dreams of a certain Trip Hawkins a little fragmented? Let's start with Crash 'n Burn's most appealing aspect, its graphics. Take it from us - since Edge saw the game at Crystal Dynamics back in July, things have progressed considerably. The frame rate is higher - approaching 20 frames per second - and the 3D perspective is even more stunning - it's both original, and at times breathtaking. While the style of the game steers towards the simple, no-you-can't-turn-off-the road type racer, the 3D environment more than makes up for it. Everything moves in 3D - hell, even the sky moves in 3D, and the road dips and twists with the most impressive banking effects you'll see outside an arcade. In all there are five circuits and each circuit has six tracks. The circuits range from the comparatively mundane Crash Course to the wildly undulating Whiplash. There are two play options: Rally Racing and Tournament Racing. The former is a simple blast down the circuit - finish within the first three positions to qualify for the next track. Tournament racing is an ongoing campaign, complete with weapon upgrades. Yes, weapons. Not your ordinary `bang, bang' weapon, but great `whoosh boom' ballistic missile-type weapons. Crash 'n Burn certainly lives up to its name, and all the cars have an impressive armoury. Weapons are essential and you soon learn the tricks of the trade - like allowing some of the harder opponents to overtake, then showering their vehicle with a barrage of missiles. There are some disappointments. Quite a few, in fact. The sound's not great for one thing. In true american style the tunes are bland and rock-based. And then there's your car - it isn't the most responive thing in the world. You have to start turning early in order to negotiate the corners. But even if you don't, your car can't fall off the edge of the track. And remember this is a CD-only system, the loading times are a bit off putting [TOTAL BULLSHIT CrAiG] - they're especially bad considering the 3DO's 300K/s drive, and this is something that becomes more and more noticeable. As the first game for the 3DO this is impressive enough, and certainly challenging. But then for $699 (with free 3DO machine) what do you expect? EDGE RATING 8/10 CRAIG RATING 8/10 * Crystal Dynamics Crystal Dynamics, the creators of Crash 'n Burn and Total Eclipse, is a small company based in Palo Alto, California. Formed by Dave Morse, boss of the New Technologies Group, and the team behind 3DO's hardware the company has already established itself as a new breed of games producer. Company boss Strauss Zelnick allegedly pulled in a million dollars a year in his previous role - as ex President of Twentieth Century Fox no less. Now he heads up Crystal Dynamics, steering the company in the direction of Hollywood production techniques while the programmers concentrate on imporving gameplay - something Hollywood has yet to learn about. Expect to see a lot more of 3DO releases from Crystal Dynamics - the company is establishing an affiliate licensing program, like the one Electronic Arts has already set up, where it will publish and market other developes' games for the 3DO system. ************the end************* NEXT TIME A REVIEW ON TOTAL ECLIPSE ETC New game due for this week is STELLAR FIRE cross between STARFOX and a tank style game! [should be kewl]. TYPED BY : CRAIG OF CRYSTAL 199FUTURE To order your 3DO from the 1st UK importers of this great breakthough call my friends MD CONSOLES on 0384 480047 ask for Mick or Dean (normal working hours apply 09:00-16:30) _____________________________________________________________ ============================================================= PROGRESSIVE INNOVATIONS INC. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1-800-4WILDCArd (3 LINES - ORDERS ONLY) 1-800-494-5322 1-909-598-0145 Questions,Customer Service 1-909-598-1399 FAX (24 hours) ------------------------------------------------------------- BUSINESS HOURS: 8:30am to 5:00pm - MONDAY-FRIDAY 10:00am to 3:00pm - SATURDAY Pacific Standard Time _____________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3DO SUPER WILD CARDS SUPER MAGIC DRIVES SUPER PRO FIGHTER Q PLUS SUPER MAGIC DRIVE PLUS MULTI GAME HUNTERS ASIC SUPER MAGICOM -> SUPER WILD CARD UPGRADES 16M -> 24M SWC upgrades ============================================================= BULK DISCOUNT - RESELLERS WELCOME - SHIPPED WORLDWIDE _____________________________________________________________ ============================================================= ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ============================================================================ _______/\ /\___ /\_ ____ __________ /\______ /\___ /\__ /\___ \_____/ \/\/ // / /_\_ /\__/ \____ \/\/\/ //___//\/ /\ \___/ / ___/_\___ / /___/ / / / // ___/_\___/ ___/ / /\/ / ___/\__ \/ / // / / / / /\__ \/ /\__ \\/ // \/\_/ / / / / // / // / / // / //\ /___ / / \\ ____/\______/\______/___/___/\______/\ ____/____/\ ____/ / \___\/ / \/\___\/\_____\/\_____\___\___\/\_____\/\/\___\____\/\/\___\/ \/ \/ \/ \/[Sk!n] tHIS bOARD iS rESERVED fOR tRADERS aGE 16 aND oLDER sUPPORTING: __________________________________________ sYSOPS: ~~~~~~~~~~~ \_ \ \_____ \ ___/ ____/ _ / ~~~~~~~ SuperNES Mb/ __| /|_ | / /\__ \ _/\ |__/ C/\FFEiNE Genesis _/ \____/ _/ | / \_ | \ | \ | | cEVIN kEY Neo-Geo \_____|____| |__\____/_____/______\_____| MAELSTROM HandHelds |____| <W><O><R><L><D> <H> <Q> (410)-653-2845 ** Console Only ** (410)-PRI-VATE f I N D t H E n E W u S E R p A S S W O R D DATE: 08-Nov-93 TIME: 13:32:27 NODE: 1 =======================================(cAF-tXT v0.9 bY cAFFEINE/pSYCHOSIS) ¹ *^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^* % iT CAME FROM WHERE THE ALiENATED PLEASURE REMAiNS! % % iT CAME FROM WHERE THE TRUE OLD SCENE SPiRiT REMAiNS! % % iT CAME FROM WHERE BEEiNG iNSANE iS NO DiSGRASE! % % iT CAME FROM WHERE THE WORD BACKSTABBiNG iS UNKNOWN! % % Signed Your M&S Crew in 1993 % *^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^*