Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Atari Online News, Etc. Volume 02 Issue 49
Volume 2, Issue 49 Atari Online News, Etc. December 8, 2000
Published and Copyright (c) 2000
All Rights Reserved
Atari Online News, Etc.
A-ONE Online Magazine
Dana P. Jacobson, Publisher/Managing Editor
Joseph Mirando, Managing Editor
Rob Mahlert, Associate Editor
Atari Online News, Etc. Staff
Dana P. Jacobson -- Editor
Joe Mirando -- "People Are Talking"
Michael Burkley -- "Unabashed Atariophile"
Albert Dayes -- CC: Classic Chips
Rob Mahlert -- Web site
With Contributions by:
Dan Loosen
To subscribe to A-ONE, send a message to: dpj@delphi.com
and your address will be added to the distribution list.
To unsubscribe from A-ONE, send the following: Unsubscribe A-ONE
Please make sure that you include the same address that you used to
subscribe from.
To download A-ONE, set your browser bookmarks to one of the
following sites:
http://people.delphi.com/dpj/a-one.htm
http://www.icwhen.com/aone/
http://a1mag.atari.org
Now available:
http://www.atarinews.org
Visit the Atari Advantage Forum on Delphi!
http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=atari
=~=~=~=
A-ONE #0249 12/08/00
~ Brit Police Orwellian? ~ Free ISPs Dwindling! ~ JagFest Update!
~ MP3.com Back Online! ~ FBI Cyber Surveillance ~ Netscape 6 'Glitzy'!
~ Compaq To Add Wireless ~ 3Com Debuts Audrey! ~ Beware PSX2 Scams!
~ eBay Not Buying uBid! ~ People Are Talking! ~ Video Turtle Review!
-* Atari Gets A New Home, Again *-
-* Opera Offers First Free Web Browser *-
-* Infogrames Acquires Hasbro Interactive! *-
=~=~=~=
->From the Editor's Keyboard "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Well, we all knew that the writing was on the wall; we just didn't know all
of the details. Now we do - Hasbro Interactive, which included everything
that they bought from Atari, has been (or will be) acquired by Infogrames.
I've seen all kinds of reaction to this announcement - ranging from apathy
to elation. Personally, and I'm a daily Atari user, I don't think this
acquisition will do anything that will positively or negatively affect us as
Atari users. I see the potential for some more of the retro-games coming
out with an Infogrames/Atari label on it, but little if anything else.
Really, did anyone really think that Hasbro was going to bring Atari back
from the ashes? Well, yes, many did. Didn't happen. Hasbro bought Atari
for "a song" and made a few bucks. Infogrames will likely do the same.
Otherwise, Atari just happened to come with the deal. They'll probably make
their money because games.com was part of the deal.
So, here comes another footnote in the history of Atari. Another footnote
which is taking us closer to the end of the book. It was fun while it
lasted.
Until next time...
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE Reviews! - Video Turtle!
""""""""""""""
by Joe Mirando
We all know the feeling. You've just spent the whole day optimizing
your Mega. The new power supply, the RAM upgrade, the hard drive, and
even those spiffy little keyboard key switches make this a machine you
can be proud of... the machine you've always wanted.
Then, horror of horrors, you spy your SC1224 monitor perched atop your
computer. It's a fine monitor to be sure. It's served you faithfully
and well through all of the word processing, online sessions, graphics
demos, and games you've thrown at it. In its day, it was a marvel: A
monitor without flicker or fuzziness. It still performs well enough
today... but what about tomorrow? Atari hasn't made a computer in
years and, needless to say, monitor manufacturers have long since
forgotten that Atari even made computers. Should something go wrong
with your monitor, you could search around for a fix-it shop that would
be willing to take a stab at it or, if you're electronically gifted,
you could search around for replacement parts yourself. But for most of
us the only choice is to search around on the UseNet or on eBay for a
used monitor and hope that the seller hasn't abused the unit too much
and that it's got more than a couple of months of life left.
The other consideration is the size of the screen. Twelve inches
diagonal was quite a windfall back when most PC users were struggling
along with nine inch screens, but today's computer users have grown to
expect and demand larger and larger monitors.
Some of us have RF modulators on the motherboard, but RF isn't really
an option for someone who wishes to do anything in a resolution above
ST LOW. RF transmission on a television just doesn't allow for the
clarity or definition that medium resolution requires. Anyone who has
tried it knows that TVs are okay monitors for game-play, but something
like word processing is all but impossible.
So what are we to do? If only there was a way to convert the video
signal from the computer into something that could be used by a
standard television without the loss of clarity that RF modulation
brings with it. THAT would truly be a worthy addition to any ST-series
computer.
Evidently, these thoughts have also occurred to the folks at Turtle
Enterprises. Their solution, the Video Turtle, is a small device that
connects (via an optional cable) to any ST/STE, Mega/Mega STE, or
Falcon030 computer and converts the computer's RGB output into
"S-Video". Many televisions today have S-Video connectors. It's
becoming more and more popular as video options like Laser-disk
and DVD provide higher video quality than standard RF modulated
televisions can take advantage of. S-Video provides crisp, clear video
without flicker and without the interference associated with RF
modulators. If you've ever used a "split video" monitor on an 8-bit
Atari, you've seen S-Video. S-Video simply replaces the once familiar
"Chroma" and "Lumin" RCA connectors with a four pronged connector. It
looks something like those silly "PS-2" connectors that keyboard and
mouse manufacturers like to use these days.
Because S-Video is not hobbled by RF modulation, the original color,
clarity, and resolution remain intact. A large S-Video television will
give an even better display than a smaller one because, unlike an RF
modulated signal, S-Video makes use of the more numerous scan lines
that the larger television provides.
From my point of view, the best thing about the Video Turtle (aside
from the huge display, quality, and availability of monitors, of course)
is the ease of installation. There are no video cards or add-on boards
that need to be installed inside the computer. There are no drivers to
provide hours of torment while you try to find just the right
configuration. You simply connect the computer to the Video Turtle and
the Video Turtle to the S-Video television. Apart from powering the
Video Turtle with the supplied 9 volt AC adaptor, that's it. You simply
turn everything on and do what you normally do. Since the Video
Turtle is externally powered, you don't even need to worry about
over-taxing your computer's power supply.
Having had experience only with standard Atari monitors and RF
modulated signals with my Atari computers, I was surprised at the
clarity and depth of color possible on a television. Graphics look as
they should, and text is clear and surprisingly sharp. And because
there are no drivers needed and no CPU overhead there is absolutely no
slowdown in either the display or computer performance.
The Video Turtle unit is relatively small (3 3/4" wide, 2 5/16" deep, 1
7/16" high) and requires no special consideration other than proximity
to an electrical outlet (about 5.5 feet).
The Video Turtle package includes the Video Turtle, its AC adaptor, an
S-Video cable, and instruction manual. The manual is short (9 pages),
but includes all of the information necessary for successful
installation and use of the Video Turtle. It also includes information
on troubleshooting and configuration for other RGB output devices.
Jumper settings for interfacing the Video Turtle with Amiga computers
is also included. Because the Video Turtle is not an Atari-only
interface, the necessary RGB (monitor) cable is not included as part of
the package. Cables can be purchased separately, or you can build your
own if you are so inclined. I'd highly recommend purchasing an RGB
cable at the same time you purchase the Video Turtle unit. Building
these cables yourself can be a pain in the neck.
The Video Turtle unit itself has four connectors:
The RGB input connector.
A nine pin DIN female connector. This is where the computer is
connected to the Video Turtle.
The AC adaptor connector.
This is where the AC adaptor is plugged into the Video Turtle.
S-Video Out.
This is where the S-Video cable gets plugged in. The other end of the
cable goes to the S-Video input on the television.
Composite out.
This is an RCA type connector. There isn't much said about this
connector in the documentation, but with easy access to an S-Video
signal, there doesn't seem to be much need for a standard composite
signal.
For those with an STE, MegaSTE, or Falcon030, an S-Video capable TV
with stereo sound is an added bonus. Instead of having to connect the
stereo output from the computer to a set of speakers or some sort of
amplified sound system, they can be connected directly to the audio
ports on the television.
For those computers without stereo output, the sound signal that is
normally carried via the monitor cable can be "brought out" and
connected to the television's audio input.
Reviewer's notes:
I'm quite impressed with this product. It's usually not easy to make a
device (any device) that does what it needs to do and takes up so
little space. The design and performance are good indications that the
producers understand not only the product, but the market as well. If
you have a need for a large display on an ST or Falcon030, the Video
Turtle is the way to go.
One thing must be clearly stated about this device: It does not add to
the number of colors or resolutions that can be displayed. Think of it
as your Atari monitor... ON STEROIDS!
Product Info:
Product Name: Video Turtle
Manufacturer: Turtle Enterprises
Authorized Distributor: Tex Comp Ltd.
1-800-846-3474 (orders only)
1-626-339-8924 (tech support)
Retail Price: $149.95
Available: Now
=~=~=~=
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
compiled by Joe Mirando
jmirando@portone.com
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Well, I know you don't need to be told
this, but the holidays are quickly approaching. We're expecting our
first real snow as I'm writing this. Now, if you're from Buffalo, that
doesn't mean much to you. But here in Connecticut it's news.
I'm one of those odd ducks who actually likes cold weather. I couldn't
tell you exactly why, but I normally tell people who look at me
strangely when I say that I prefer the cold that it's because, if
you're cold, you can always put another blanket on the bed. But if it's
too hot, you're out of luck.
On another subject, I'm pleased to announce that the Team Atari
SETI@home group has contributed almost 31.5 years of CPU time to the
search for extraterrestrial intelligence. If you have the urge to join
in the search, visit http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu (main SETI@home
page) or
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/cgi?cmd=team_lookup&name=team+atari
(Team Atari page). Even if it just tickles your imagination a bit, stop
by and check it out.
The A-ONE website is coming along nicely, even though we'd like to see
more people submitting news and other items of interest. Did you know
that we've also got a links engine? You can submit your Atari-related
link to us and share it with everyone.
Well, let's get on with the news and STuff from the UseNet.
From the comp.sys.atari.st NewsGroup
====================================
Øystein Trollsås asks for info on CD burners:
"Can one of you out there tell me how to install the CD burner to a
Falcon with SCSI. I've got one SCSI hard disk from before, so what should
be the first and last. I bought a TEAC CD-R55S and it was at the
"CDlab-list" and the CDburner list. I tried the CDlab, but I couldn't
open it after installing the burner with the Hard disk driver."
John Cummins tells Øystein:
"2 things to be aware of:
SCSI ID number
Termination
If your drive is working well now, then termination is probably OK, and
will stay that way if the existing items are kept in order at the end
of the chain and the CD-Burner is installed close to the host adapter.
Termination is a resistor load at the end of the chain that keeps
signals from bouncing off the end of the SCSI cable and "ringing" like
a bell... destroying the clean data signal. It is sometimes built into
a drive and enabled/disabled via jumpers or just removed if not
needed. Sometimes it's a separate item on the end of the SCSI cable.
The ID number of your CD-Burner should be unique on the chain. In PC
systems the Host is usually id 7 (highest priority) with 6 down to 0
following in priority. This is usually set with 3 jumpers on the device
(no jumpers = 0, all jumpers =7, etc.) and if two devices have the
same ID, you need to change one. You'd be safe with the HD as id 2
and the burner as id 1 if you don't plan on adding any other items.
HD as id 6 and CD-ROM as ID 5 would probably be best."
Artur Stachon asks about Falcon Accelerators:
"I was looking at some of the Atari Falcon accelerators and they are more
expensive than the computer itself. Weird stuff. At least if that was
300-600mhz increase maybe it would be worth buying but 30-40mhz speed
increase won't even speed your computer up 100% Are there any
reasonably-priced atari falcon accelerators out there? Used ?"
Jo Even Skarstein tells Artur:
"An Afterburner at 32MHz is ~8 times faster than a stock Falcon, @40MHz
it's 10 times faster (average figures). If you're lucky you might find
second-hand Afterburners, but expect to pay at least $200-300 for it."
Artur tells Jo Even:
"Today for $300 you can buy Athlon 1Ghz CPU (way faster than G4) +
motherboard (on auction) plus you can overclock it to 1.2 Ghz or more.
Weird isn't it ?
I think that Atari TOS is an exceptional OS not like those mammoth Mac
or Pc OS."
William Wong asks:
"I guess all the amount are in US$.
Over here, I see an classified ad for a complete K6-2 system for about
US$300, with HDD, CDROM & sound card. The K6-2 is 400MHz which equates
to a P2 class CPU. Run a good ST emulator on it and you have a fast
Atari emulator.
One thing, the feel is not the same as an real Atari. The mouse feels
smoother and smaller than that squarish Atari mouse and the also click
are softer on the PC mouse. The PC keyboard are the worst, there is no
HELP key on it."
Dolan Morrison asks about transporting files from PC to STE:
"How do I copy files from a PC to my Atari STE. The PC does not
recognize the ste floppy and vice versa."
Steve Stupple tells Dolan:
"The Atari ST uses a DOUBLE DENSITY disks (720k) not a 360k one!!!
Modern PCs use HIGH DENSITY disks (1.44).
The disks are different, HD have 1 write protect hole and a hole you
can't close, they usually have 'HD' on them. The media, the stuff that
your valuable data is written too, is different as well.
Some Atari's will cough and splutter reading a HD disk formatted as a
720k one!
NONE of my DD Atari floppies will read one (hd one that is)! I do have a
very generous external drive that WILL read them.
All it takes is 1 bit, in the bit stream and your data is gone. What's
more you may not be aware of the corruption, the file may read ok, but
it only takes 1 eighth of a byte!!! 1 fraction of a fraction of a nano
second wile reading and you've lost that valuable data!"
One of the greats from Atari days gone by, Bob Retelle, tells Dolan:
"Format the disk on the PC, but at the top of the Format dialog box,
select "720K" instead of the default 1.44Meg setting.
The Atari uses a low density disk drive that can't read standard PC
disks, but by formatting it as a 720K disk, both systems should be
able to read it."
Hallvard Tangaraas posts this about Atari and Mac disks:
"Here's a strange problem which I can't seem to figure out:
I format a (DD) disk on my Mac (choosing the MSDOS format) or my STe
with "Hcopy" (as it formats MSDOS properly, unlike many other
formatters), but they only work with the machine they're formatted on!
I.e. if I put the previously Macintosh formatted (MSDOS) disk in my STe
I get a "defective bootsector" error when I try to read the directory
using "Hcopy".
Then I reformat it using Hcopy to the usual DD standards.
I put the disk in the Mac, and nothing happens for a loooong time.
Then I'm asked if I want to format the disk.
I do this, choosing MSDOS again, and the disk works fine (I believe
-this is getting pretty confusing) on the Mac, but.... you guessed it!
not on the STe.
I've tried to "zero disk" using Hcopy to clear any information on it,
but still no go. Is the disk bad? I don't think so as it works on the
platform it was formatted on, so what other options are left to rule
this out?
Well, I have a Yamaha TX-16W sampler (music instrument for recording
audio). It's got a DD disk drive and formats the MSX-DOS operating
system which is *almost* 100% MSDOS compatible.
You have to format the disks for the sampler in the sampler itself, but
once that's done you can read/write to it on any Atari ST, Mac, PC etc..
So I formatted the disk in the TX-16W. It verified fine.
I put it in my STe -it worked fine.
I put it in the Mac -again it worked fine!
Then I reformatted it on the STe using "Hcopy". Tried it on the Mac and
it.... worked fine!!!
So what does all of this mean? Is there some kind of data which normally
isn't deleted when formatted the usual way? Apparently the TX-16W could
remove it.
And this isn't a one-off incident. I've tried it many times with many
disks.
Can anyone shed any light to this and perhaps offer a simpler solution?"
'Chris' tells Hallvard:
"Use PC formatted disks. They can be read by the Mac or Atari. Works
with Zip disks on my Falcon/G3."
Hugh Lutley asks...
"I'm interested in doing my invoices on my falcon but I need to know
what printers I can use with it. I have an oldish Bubblejet... could
that be used with my old thang?"
Steve Sweet tells Hugh:
"I have used a DeskJet 560C and a 520 with my ST, via NVDI."
G.R. Greenway adds:
"I'm using a H.P. Deskjet 610C. I wonder if that's the last
"proper" non brain-dead Windoze printer they'll produce? The mono
and colour output are both fine, but I lack the software to tweak the
alignment of the cartridge."
Peter West adds his knowledge to the mix:
"Almost any parallel-port printer can be used with the Falcon, *provided*
you have the correct driver for it (or can adapt an existing one). Does
your Bubblejet support the HP commands, or Canon's? If the former than
any Laserjet driver can be used - but some older programs only have
drivers for pin-printers or offer a limited number of commands that can
be entered for a given setting, which may not be enough for an HP-type
printer.
A lot depends on what program you are using to generate your invoices.
I still do most of mine in 1st Word Plus, which has drivers for most
printers. If you use NVDI and the text program supports GDOS output,
there is a very wide range of printer drivers available. Even more can
be found in IdeaList, which allows more layout control of ASCII text or
1st Word files for printing."
Derek Hunt asks about problems he's having with email:
"Over the last 2 days I have been getting some trouble with my
emails. Your thoughts,advice etc would be appreciated.
I am using,as you can see from the headers,NEWSIE 0.96 to collect my
mail and newsgroups. All goes well to download my news for Offline
reading,over to "Get Mail" and,providing there is something there
NEWSIE starts to download it. If (just as an example) there are say 4
messages the first 3 come through with no problem the last one will
start to download,hits roughly 4116 bytes (status window) and bombs
with 2 bombs and sends me to the Desktop.
Going back to NEWSIE and opening the Mailbox shows it is empty, BUT if
I go back to the Desktop and open the NEWSIE file and then the Mail
Folder the 4 messages are there to be read. The last one (In this case
MAIL004.TXT) is incomplete. THIS MESSAGE IS FROM THE SAME SOURCE (same
message to be honest) each time. Deleting it makes no difference,
leaving it in the Folder only means I start a collection of the same
files in the folder.
Any thoughts on how to get rid of this email? I have tried wiping
NEWSIE completely and starting afresh."
John Garone tells Derek:
"If you haven't already, try using "Get Selected Mail" and delete the
file on the server without downloading it."
Derek tells John:
"I have tried that but as I explained the emails just are not seen by
NEWSIE,thats those before the offending one,and as NEWSIE reads the
last one it bombs out throwing me back to the desktop.The mails can be
found though by manually entering the MAIL folder."
John replies:
"Newsie still may show the list to download (get selected mail) even
if the mail does'nt show in the box. It's happened only once to me but
it was a royal pain in the butt to have to go through my ISP to delete
it! I'm not sure whether it was visible or not (been a while) but I
saved it for John R. in case he got around to working on the problem.
It's buried somewhere in my files but I believe it was from
fruitstick@earthlink.net"
'Keeper of the flame' in Syracuse, Tom Andrews, adds:
"I had the same problem with one particular email and Newsie 0.94. I
use a local ISP. I called them and asked if they could delete the
offending email, and after confirming I was who I said I was, they did.
I haven't had any trouble since."
Kenneth Medin adds his experiences:
"Get Popwatch from http://www.the-gap.demon.co.uk/
This program is simple to setup and can retrieve the dodgy(?) email
to a local file and delete it on the server. I have used Popwatch for
a couple of years and it works very well.
Popwatch can be set up to perform all online activity for Newsie as
well. In combination with Newswatch you hardly need to go online with
Newsie at all."
Well folks, that's it for this week. Tune in again next week, same
time, same station, and be ready to listen to what they are saying
when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
=~=~=~=
->In This Week's Gaming Section - Hasbro Interactive Sold!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Infogrames Gets Atari Rights!
Looking For A PlayStation2?
JagFest Update! And much more!
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE's Game Console Industry News - The Latest Gaming News!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Hasbro To Sell Games to Infogrames
Hasbro Inc. warned its fourth quarter earnings will fall below expectations
and said full-year earnings would be break-even ``at best."
The warning came as the toy maker announced the sale of its interactive
games divisions and licensing of many of its most well-known products to
Infogrames Entertainment for $100 million.
Shares of the Pawtucket-based company fell 16 percent to $9.69 a share in
after-hours trading after finishing the regular session down 19 cents at
$11.56 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Hasbro said it may post a loss for fiscal 2000 of 10 cents and 20 cents a
share before one-time items. Analysts surveyed by First Call/Thomson
Financial had pegged earnings for the year at 43 cents per share. Estimates
for the quarter had been 23 cents per share.
``The reduced expectations can be attributed in large part to the decline
in worldwide revenue of trading card games. Frankly, while Pokemon Trading
Card Game cards are still selling well, we were too aggressive in our
forecast following incredible demand in 1999 and 2000," said Alan G.
Hassenfeld, chairman and CEO.
Hasbro will halve its quarterly dividend to 3 cents from 6 cents per share,
effective Feb. 15. The move is expected to save $21 million annually.
The company also has increased the number of planned job cuts, from up to
550 announced in October, to 750 jobs.
The sale of Hasbro Interactive gives the company a long-term revenue stream
and relieves the company of two divisions that have lost a significant
amount of money in the last two years, spokesman Wayne Charness said.
``This has been a difficult business for us," he said. ``This partnership
is an important step toward sustaining long-term profitability."
Infogrames, which makes games for PlayStation and Nintendo, will acquire
Hasbro Interactive, based in Beverly, Mass., and Games.com, Hasbro's game
portal on the Web.
The French company will get full rights to Atari and Micropose, including
the popular Roller Coaster Tycoon game.
Infogrames also will gain exclusive rights for 15 years to develop
interactive versions of Hasbro products such as Monopoly, Scrabble and Mr.
Potato Head.
Charness would not say how much Hasbro expects to earn from the licensing
deal. Infogames will pay Hasbro $5 million cash and $95 million in stock
for all the outstanding shares of Hasbro Interactive.
The sale, which requires regulatory and shareholder approval, is expected
to close by the end of the first quarter of 2001.
Infogrames Entertainment to Acquire Hasbro
Interactive and Games.com
Infogrames Entertainment SA and Hasbro, Inc. jointly announced that they
have entered into a strategic agreement, creating one of the foremost
powerhouses in the mass market digital interactive entertainment world. The
agreement is comprised of three main elements, including the Infogrames
acquisition of Hasbro Interactive; a long-term licensing agreement giving
Infogrames exclusive rights to develop and publish digital interactive
games based on current and future Hasbro properties on all existing and
future digital interactive formats; and the acquisition of Games.com.
Infogrames will purchase 100% of the common stock of Hasbro Interactive and
Games.com for $100 million - comprised of $95 million in Infogrames
Entertainment SA securities (approximately 4.5 million common shares) and
$5 million in cash. In addition, Hasbro will receive an annual guarantee
from Infogrames based on sales generated from the licensing agreement. The
agreements are subject to the approval of the shareholders of Infogrames,
regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. The companies
expect the deal to close early in the first calendar quarter of 2001.
``Infogrames and Hasbro are truly poised to become worldwide leaders in the
digital entertainment market," said Bruno Bonnell, Chairman and CEO of
Infogrames. ``Infogrames' external growth strategy consists of three
requirements: a willingness of the prospective partner's management to
share our strategic vision, a complementary set of skills and products, and
finally, value for our shareholders. The Hasbro Interactive and Games.com
acquisition meets these criteria," said Mr. Bonnell. ``Infogrames' access
to Hasbro's long list of well-known properties fits perfectly with our
long-term publishing strategy to become the leader in family entertainment.
The terms are beneficial for Infogrames Entertainment, since they have no
direct impact on the company's future investment capacity."
``This arrangement with Infogrames is a very positive one for Hasbro on
many different levels," said Alan Hassenfeld, Hasbro's Chairman and CEO.
``First, we have aligned ourselves with a premier player in the interactive
arena. Second, this strategic agreement with Infogrames meshes with our
strategy of reducing costs as we focus on consistently delivering profits
going forward. Third, this arrangement will provide a continuing revenue
stream to Hasbro over the long-term through Infogrames' expertise in
leveraging our current and future properties."
The agreement is comprised of three main elements:
Infogrames Entertainment's acquisition of 100% of the common stock of
Hasbro Interactive, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.
The acquisition gives Infogrames a catalog of titles based on well-known
properties, including:
* The MICROPROSE brand and titles, including the international hit
CIVILIZATION, FALCON, and ROLLER COASTER TYCOON, the number one
selling PC game in the US according to PC DATA'S latest report.
* The legendary ATARI name and properties, such as CENTIPEDE, MISSILE
COMMAND, and the historic PONG, which pioneered the video game
revolution.
The exclusive rights to develop and publish interactive games based on
current and future Hasbro, Inc. properties, including:
* The interactive versions of popular Hasbro board games, which include
MONOPOLY, SCRABBLE(1), CLUE, RISK, AND BOGGLE.
* The interactive versions of children's games and toys, such as MR.
POTATO HEAD, TONKA TRUCKS, ACTION MAN, MY LITTLE PONY, and CANDYLAND.
* The massively multi-player game DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS.
Under the terms of the agreement, Infogrames gains the rights through a
licensing agreement with Hasbro to develop games based on Hasbro properties
for a period of 15 years plus an option for an additional 5 years based on
performance, on all existing and future digital interactive formats. Terms
of the licensing agreement are consistent with other traditional
Infogrames' Entertainment licensing agreements.
These formats include: current and next-generation video game consoles such
as Sony PlayStation2, Microsoft Xbox, Sega Dreamcast, and Nintendo GameBoy
Advance and GameCube, personal computers, broadband networks, interactive
television, cellular telephones, arcade, and hand-held devices (PDAs). In
keeping with its global multi-platform strategy, Infogrames will leverage
Hasbro's unmatched content by developing titles on a variety of platforms
that appeal to a global market.
These Hasbro Interactive brands, together with Hasbro's owned brands, make
up a catalog of more than 200 family titles that are being managed by a
team of mass market product experts who have helped Hasbro Interactive
succeed in becoming the third largest PC publisher in the U.S.
Additionally, approximately 60 titles are currently in development,
including PlayStation2 and Xbox versions of franchises from HASBRO,
MICROPROSE and ATARI: ZOO TYCOON, MONOPOLY, MICRO MACHINES, TWISTER, CIRCUS
MAXIMUS, CIVILIZATION, AND GRAND PRIX 4.
Infogrames will also seek out additional partnership opportunities with
telecommunications providers, media companies and hardware manufacturers to
bring these franchises to other platforms.
The long term licensing agreement combines Hasbro's expertise in developing
successful mass-market properties and Infogrames' expertise in bringing top
properties to the digital interactive market.
Hasbro's catalog of games and toys will be strengthened by their digital
interactive counterparts, published and globally distributed by Infogrames.
In addition, Infogrames' titles based on Hasbro properties will benefit
from Hasbro's powerful marketing programs for their games and toys.
As part of the agreement, Infogrames acquires Games.com, an online games
portal launching in early 2001. Games.com has already attracted over four
million visitors to its site, with more than one million people having
already registered to receive information about its launch.
At its launch, Games.com will allow visitors to play more than 30 online
games based on Hasbro properties, some of which include MONOPOLY, CLUE,
SCRABBLE(1), ASTEROIDS, and RISK. In addition, visitors to the site can
find news, information, tips and hints about games featured on Games.com.
Visitors to the site will also have the ability to chat with other players
and participate in tournaments based on widely recognized games from the
Hasbro catalog. Games.com's revenue strategy includes e-commerce,
sponsorships and individual subscriptions. Infogrames plans to extend
Games.com to broadband users in the future.
For additional information, Infogrames has posted a detailed presentation
on today's announcement at www.infogrames.com and
www.infogrames-corporate.com.
Old PlayStation Tops Holiday Game Console Sales
As expected, Sony has the top-selling game console at the start of the
holiday shopping season. But it is the PSone, a repackaged version of the
5-year-old original PlayStation, that is topping sales charts, not the new
and impossible-to-buy PlayStation 2.
Market researcher PC Data reported Tuesday that the PSone was the
top-selling game player for the week ending Nov. 25, capturing 42 percent
of the market and claiming the top spot for the third consecutive week.
The PlayStation 2 accounted for just 6 percent of the market, as supplies
all but dried up. Sega's Dreamcast and the Nintendo 64 came in second and
third with 27 percent and 26 percent market share, respectively.
Sony released the PSone, a repackaged version of the original PlayStation,
three months ago to the befuddlement of some analysts. It is unusual for a
game console maker to keep an old format alive after it introduces a new
one, and Sony's efforts to position the PSone as a somewhat-portable
device were muddled.
But the PSone has enjoyed an unexpected advantage over the PS2: You can
buy one.
Component shortages led Sony to cut in half the initial shipments when it
introduced the PS2 in North America in October. The company has yet to
ramp up production to expected levels, leading to frenzied competition for
the few units available through stores and online auctions.
With its $99 price tag--compared with $299 for the PS2--the PSone looks
like a good deal for parents ready to outfit their kids with their first
game player, said Matt Gravett, game analyst for PC Data.
"I don't think the masses of people buying a PSone are necessarily the
ones who went out looking for a PlayStation 2," he said. "I think some
parents thought they could get the PS2 for their kids. Now they see they
can't, and the PSone looks like a pretty good deal."
Sony's supply problems may also be helping Sega. The company experienced
the biggest holiday boost, with Dreamcast sales jumping 104 percent the
week of Nov. 19, compared with the previous week, PC Data reported.
Nintendo 64 sales jumped 76 percent. PSone sales climbed 58 percent, while
PlayStation 2 sales declined 71 percent because of the supply crunch.
"Dreamcast sales have been on the rise since they dropped the price back
(to $150) in September," Gravett said. "They had a great week. Almost
everyone did, except for PS2."
PS2bargains.com Helps Online Shoppers Find
PlayStation 2 Video Game Console
PS2bargains.com is keeping an eye on the top online retailers and reporting
updates on where and when you can buy a PlayStation 2 (PS2) video game
console.
This holiday season has been wrought with scams, unfulfilled promises and
misinformation as a result of the high demand and low supply of PS2. An
online community has formed at PS2bargains.com to help protect, inform and
notify shoppers looking for this hard to find video game system. At
PS2bargains.com, online shoppers are sharing information about where to
find a PS2, when they will be available for sale and which sites are
potentially conning shoppers out of their holiday dollars.
Online retailers sell hundreds of PlayStation 2 consoles each week. The
problem is no one knows when or where they will be for sale.
PS2bargains.com clears up some of the confusion by posting online sale
information on their web site. If a retailer puts any PS2's up for sale,
visitors to the site will find out immediately.
In addition to the PlayStation 2 availability reports, PS2bargains.com
offers valuable coupons, bargains and other discounts from the top online
game retailers.
PS2bargains.com is the sister site of BargainFlix.com
(http://www.bargainflix.com), one of the top DVD Internet sites over the
last two years, offering coupons, specials, news and reviews on DVD movies.
``Our original plan for the site was to create the PlayStation 2 version of
BargainFlix," says Greg Bottorff, president of PS2bargains.com .
Online coupons and bargains for thrifty shoppers remain the site's focus,
however, Bottorff says they have shifted into ``find-it" mode for the
holiday season. According to Bottorff, ``Right now, the goal of the site is
to let consumers know ahead of time where they will be able to get
PlayStation 2 for the holidays."
PlayStation 2 is the hottest holiday gift this year. PS2bargains.com hopes
they can help put as many as possible in the hands of those that want the
video game system.
Mad Catz Announces Licensed Memory Card for PlayStation 2
Mad Catz, a subsidiary of GTR Group Inc., and a leading manufacturer of
video game accessories, announced that it has signed a license agreement
with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe to license its 8-megabyte (``MB")
memory card for the PlayStation2 computer system.
The SCEE license allows Mad Catz to manufacture and sell a licensed memory
card throughout Europe and in the PAL territories, including Australia, New
Zealand, the Russian Federation, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and
numerous other countries. The European/ PAL territories license follows
that of a similar North American license. The Mad Catz 8 MB memory card
marks the first officially licensed memory card for any PlayStation system.
The agreement means Mad Catz's memory cards will work with all compatible
PlayStation2 software. Unlicensed memory cards have no such assurance.
Memory cards are expected to account for an overwhelming one-third of all
accessories sold for the PlayStation2.
The new 8 MB memory cards will have a storage capacity of 8 megabytes of
data (64 times the original PlayStation memory card capacity), as well as a
data transfer rate of up to 250 times faster than the current memory card.
The new memory cards will be blue and contain several innovative design
features that Mad Catz is famous for.
``This is a fantastic development for Mad Catz because Mad Catz will be the
only company at launch with a licensed third-party memory card with the
"MagicGate`` Encryption Technology", said Darren Richardson, president of
Mad Catz. ``Without access to the MagicGate technology, it is not possible
to produce a fully compatible memory card for the PlayStation2," added
Richardson.
Infogrames Sends Sega Dreamcast Into Orbit
This Week With Looney Tunes: Space Race
Forget making that left at Albuquerque Bugs, you're on the wrong planet!
Infogrames, Inc. announced that it is bringing everyone's favorite Looney
Tunes characters to life in Looney Tunes: Space Race, an out-of-this-world
kart-style racing game for Sega Dreamcast available at stores this week.
All is fair in love and racing, so stock up on gags and traps and get ready
to rocket!
The ACME Corporation, maker of the universe's most sought after products,
is the sponsor of the wildest race of the new Mil-Looney-Um, Looney Tunes:
Space Race. The game's objective is to achieve the top prize -- a lifetime
supply of ACME products! Up to four players will take on the role of eight
different Looney Tunes characters and their outrageously unique
rocket-powered space vehicles including Bugs Bunny in his Carrot Racer and
Elmer Fudd in his Sabre Jet. Inspired by the world of Looney Tunes, players
will race through graphically rich, intricately detailed environments and
interact with other characters in genuine Looney Tunes style, placing them
in the middle of a lifelike Looney Tunes' cartoon.
``Looney Tunes: Space Race is a refreshing break from traditional
arcade-style racing -- it stars the famous Looney Tunes characters,
features the classic comedy elements of the Warner Bros. cartoons and
combines them with a space age take on kart racing," said Jeff Nuzzi,
director of marketing for Infogrames' I-Stars Label. ``Players of all ages
will marvel at the beautiful, vibrant graphics and the fluid, realistic
gameplay showcased by the Dreamcast technology."
In the only racing game of its kind with licensed characters for the
Dreamcast, players will race through 12 unique Looney Tunes inspired tracks
such as Off World City, the Asteroid Belt and Planet ACME. Each track
features unique environmental gags, challenging jumps, tunnels, shortcuts
and traps players can use to help them get ahead in the race. In addition
to the eight playable characters, there are seven more popular Looney Tunes
characters that make special appearances, including Foghorn Leghorn
who stars as the event announcer and Lola Bunny as the track-side
reporter.
Developed by Infogrames' Melbourne House, Looney Tunes: Space Race is
available at an estimated retail price of $29.99 and can be found at most
major retail outlets.
THQ Ships 'Evil Dead: Hail To The King' for PlayStation
THQ announced the release of ``Evil Dead: Hail To The King" for
PlayStation.
``Evil Dead: Hail To The King" is based on the ``Evil Dead" movie trilogy
that earned a cult following among millions of horror fans with its gory
effects, campy humor and ultra-cool hero, ``Ash," played by Bruce
Campbell.
Campbell is back to reprise his signature role in ``Evil Dead: Hail To The
King" where he returns to the infamous cabin in the woods to battle
deadites on a quest to save his girlfriend, Jenny.
Developed with full support of creators Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, and Bruce
Campbell, ``Evil Dead: Hail To The King" invites players into an authentic
``Evil Dead" survival horror adventure. ``Evil Dead: Hail To The King" is
now available at major retail outlets nationwide.
``Working with THQ on the development of 'Evil Dead: Hail To The King' has
been a blast," stated Bruce Campbell, star of the ``Evil Dead" trilogy.
``It was great to reprise the role of Ash in 'Evil Dead: Hail To The King'
without having to get beaten up like in the movies."
``'Evil Dead: Hail To The King' puts a new spin on the survival horror
genre by combining the successful formula of extreme action, cliff-hanging
plot lines, and puzzle-solving with Ash's signature humor," stated Scott
Krager, executive producer, THQ. ``As a huge fan of the movie trilogy, I
was thrilled to be able to work with the "Evil Dead`` creators in bringing
the first games to the millions of fans anxiously waiting to play as the
chainsaw-armed hero."
In ``Evil Dead: Hail To The King," players assume the role of Ash, the
chainsaw-armed hero from the ``Evil Dead" trilogy, in a story that
continues the ongoing saga of the Necronomicon ex Mortis, otherwise known
as ``Book of the Dead."
When Ash returns to the cabin in the woods, he is faced with the challenge
of battling over 20 startling enemies including deadites, skeletons, and
even Evil Ash with freedom to move and attack with multiple weapons
simultaneously.
Gamers are offered fully upgradable weapons including the axe, rifle,
shotgun and chainsaw in combat. Huge environments include a blend of
favorite ``Evil Dead" settings and brand new locations that serve to
expand the ``Evil Dead" universe.
Offering a wide variety of enemies, puzzles and settings, the story unfolds
with several in-game and pre-rendered sequences. ``Evil Dead: Hail To The
King" for PlayStation mixes the fun of a campy horror movie with intense
combat sequences and clever puzzle-solving.
For more information on ``Evil Dead: Hail To The King" games visit
www.evildeadgame.com and for the rest of THQ's holiday lineup, visit
www.thq.com.
Max Steel: Covert Missions for Sega Dreamcast
Now Available in Stores Nationwide
Mattel Media and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced the availability of
Max Steel: Covert Missions.
Driven by a successful television series from Sony Pictures Family
Entertainment and an extensive line of action figures through Sony Pictures
Consumer Products, the multi-million dollar brand by Mattel soars to a new
level. In this all-new action thriller for the Sega® DreamCast(TM), players
won't just be watching him on TV -- they will be the ones controlling his
destiny and the fate of the free world. The game is available for an
estimated retail price of $39.99.
In this third-person shooter/adventure game, the terrorist group
D.R.E.A.D has kidnapped Max Steel's boss and has stolen a deadly biological
weapon to ravage the world and create it anew. Only one obstacle stands in
their way, Max Steel. Enhanced with powerful nano-technology and armed with
an arsenal of high-tech weapons, Max Steel will need to use his superhuman
strength and blazing speed to rescue his boss and prevent D.R.E.A.D. from
achieving its goal of world domination.
``Continuing Mattel Media's effort to broaden its offering of titles to
boys of all ages, we are bringing to life Max Steel, one of the coolest
spies in history," said Amy Boylan, senior vice president of Mattel Media.
``Players can now experience first-hand all of the intrigue and mystery of
being an undercover agent."
Eight unique levels and missions lead up to the climactic showdown with
Dawn Shadow, where players can fight in hand-to-hand combat or choose from
a large selection of lethal gadgets and weapons including trip wires,
repeater guns and sniper rifles. Stealth mode allows gamers to slip by
their enemies undetected or go turbo for staggering strength and speed.
Highly detailed 3D effects and more than 65 unique animations bring Max
Steel to life, while the compelling storyline propels the game forward,
throwing the player into Max's world of high-tech terrorism.
Mattel Media Ships Tyco R/C Racin' Ratz
to Retail Stores Nationwide
Tyco R/C Racin' Ratz Gives Game Boy Color Players
a Dose of RAT-itude!
Mattel Media announced the availability of Tyco R/C Racin' Ratz for Game
Boy Color. Racin' Ratz, based on the smaller scale radio-controlled vehicle
toys, is Mattel Media's first Tyco R/C title for Game Boy Color. The title
delivers a challenging game experience for all ages and features a variety
of puzzles and hazard-ridden levels. Racin' Ratz is rated 'E' for Everyone
by the ESRB and is currently available in retail stores nationwide for an
estimated retail price of $29.99.
In Racin' Ratz, players take on the role of either Chris or Betty and can
wreak havoc with their R/C vehicles while trying to complete more than 25
missions through 10 exciting levels. Kids snag as many household items as
they can get as they tear through the bedroom, the living room, grandma's
house, the garage and other areas of the house.
``With Racin' Ratz on Game Boy Color, Mattel has given kids a whole new
dimension of R/C fun," said Amy Boylan, senior vice president, Mattel
Media. ``In Racin' Ratz, kids have a chance to do things with R/C vehicles
that would be impossible in the physical world."
During each mission, gamers search for power-ups that help them make the
Racin' Ratz cars jump across furniture, climb obstacles and shrink the size
of the car to race through tight gaps. In addition to finding the right
power-ups, players must solve a variety of puzzles before successfully
completing each level. To extend the challenge and fun of Racin' Ratz, kids
also can unlock the intense Boss Level to dual against another Racin' Ratz,
cat or bird, as well as discover other hidden levels.
Activision and Disney Interactive's
Disney/Pixar's Buzz Lightyear Of Star
Command Touches Down at Retail
Buzz Lightyear will burst onto retail shelves nationwide when Activision,
Inc., Disney Interactive and Pixar Animation Studios release Disney/Pixar's
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command for Nintendo Game Boy Color. Based on the
new animated television series, Disney/Pixar's Buzz Lightyear of Star
Command video game is rated ``E" by the ESRB and is currently available
for a suggested retail price of $29.99.
Disney/Pixar's Buzz Lightyear of Star Command is a third-person, all-action
adventure in which players take on the role of the gung-ho, galactic space
hero Buzz Lightyear. Players explore dynamic environments and plush levels,
while meeting a multitude of characters from the series including Zeb
Nebula, Mira, Booster, Little Green Men and others. Gamers are charged to
fight the Evil Emperor Zurg and his minions in an ongoing saga that
features awesome action elements, high-tech space-ranger abilities and a
variety of over-the-top, retro-futuristic worlds like Trade World, Karn,
Gargantua and Planet Z.
EA Ships NCAA March Madness 2001 for the Playstation
Electronic Arts has announced that it's shipping EA SPORTS NCAA March
Madness 2001 for The PlayStation.
March Madness 2001 brings the college basketball video game experience to
the next level with many new and updated features from the 2000 edition.
``March Madness 2001 is the most realistic college basketball experience
ever for the PlayStation," said executive producer David DeMartini. ``The
addition of the Coach Mode challenges gamers to build their coaching resume
from the ground up until they reach the 'big-time,' and the 64 All-Time
Top-Teams allow the top teams of today to match up against the classics to
determine court supremacy. Once again, with the assistance of NBA star
Steve Francis, Dynamic Ball Control will deliver amazing, ankle-breaking
moves that leave defenders looking at a trail of rubber. March Madness 2001
is a true college basketball experience."
Coach Mode is the newest addition to March Madness' stable of gameplay
modes. This feature allows masters of the ``X's and O's" to work their way
up from a small college to ``shoe contract-U" where they vie for the NCAA
title. EA SPORTS also welcomes back an old friend: College basketball
legend and Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K lent his vast knowledge
of basketball to the production team for Coach Mode in order to ensure that
March Madness 2001 captured all the ins and outs of coaching college hoops.
The last time EA SPORTS and Coach K teamed up, the duo produced the classic
title Coach K College Basketball.
New unlockable dribbling moves have been added to the Dynamic Ball Control
feature and are guaranteed to electrify. 1999-2000 NBA Co-Rookie of the
Year Steve Francis made sure of this by bringing his on-court wizardry once
again to the March Madness franchise. More than 20 of Francis' best moves
were motion captured, as well as the dunks he performed in the 2000 NBA
dunk contest. All are available (to be unlocked) in March Madness 2001.
Team-specific playbooks and play styles let gamers run up the score with
Duke or slow it down with the back-door offense of Princeton. Fast-break
artificial intelligence has been improved allowing players to run the floor
in the fast break and hit the wing for the three-ball or the cutter for an
easy lay-up. In addition, Dynasty Mode has been expanded, for those who
want to dabble in the behind the scenes and off-season action of college
basketball.
So, you think that the 1990 UNLV team is the best ever, but your buddy
thinks that any of the UCLA teams from the 1970's could take them? March
Madness 2001 features an All-Time Top-Teams Tournament that enables players
to drive the road to the Final Four® with the top 64 teams of all-time,
allowing gamers to settle age-old arguments on the court instead of with
debates and statistics.
As always, March Madness 2001 brings to life an authentic college
atmosphere delivering the excitement and intensity that is college hoops.
Authentic college fight songs performed by their marching bands as well as
team-specific chants and cheers produce a true-to-life college basketball
feel, immersing gamers to the point where they feel like they are in a
college arena. Gamers can choose from more than 150 men's Division I teams,
16 women's Division I teams, and 20 historical men's teams to go to battle.
March Madness 2001 is delivered in a TV-style presentation with more than
ten adjustable camera angles and instant replay with a full 360 degree
view. Adding to the realism are detailed player ratings supplied by
Broadband Sports based upon 2000-01 rosters, weekly Top-25 Polls listing
conference and overall standings and ``Championship Week" tournaments
representing all conference postseason tournaments, each with their own
unique brackets and layouts. March Madness 2001 also welcomes two new
recruits to campus in quip-meister Bill Raftery doing color and Verne
Lundquist handling the play-by-play duties.
March Madness 2001 is rated ``E" (Everyone) by the ESRB and is analog
controller compatible supporting up to eight players.
Mounties Launch Probe Into PlayStation 2 Net Store
Canadian police have launched an investigation into a Web store that
customers say sold them Sony PlayStation 2 consoles but has yet to deliver
them.
Detective Barry Elliott of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
confirmed Monday that his office is investigating the company that runs
Web sites PS2storecanada.com and PS2storeusa.com, but declined to give
specifics.
On Friday, the main branches of the Canadian and U.S. Better Business
Bureaus issued a warning to consumers about Web sites that falsely
advertise the availability of popular electronic games. The warning came
after hundreds of customers from both countries complained they had paid
for but did not receive a console.
Scott Byers, the operator of the Web sites, told CNET News.com on Friday
that he shipped consoles to every customer who paid for one. He said the
problems stem from a different Web store that operated under the same
name--PS2storecanda.com--which ran off with its customers' money.
Customers had mixed up the two companies, Byers said.
"We are a new company getting together slowly," said Byers, who is from
New Brunswick, Canada. "If I was a fraud, would I be trying to clear my
name? I'd be long gone."
He said that Sony had agreed to give him access to 15,000 PlayStation 2
consoles.
"If he has 15,000 PlayStation 2s, then I have a Lear jet in my office,"
said a Sony representative. "That's how ridiculous it is. I've given his
name to the authorities-Needless to say he does not have 15,000
PlayStation 2s."
Sony said that only authorized dealers are receiving the consoles and that
Byer's Web sites are not among them.
Like Beenie Babies, Cabbage Patch Kids and Tickle Me Elmo dolls before it,
the popular console has touched off a wild search by thousands of
consumers. Some sites selling the PlayStation 2 have crashed under the
waves of game hunters.
That, perhaps, is why some customers agreed to send photocopies of their
credit cards--front and back--to Byers' sites. The credit card companies
have said this is highly unusual and that sensitive information is printed
on the cards.
A series of safety measures are in place, however, that prevent the
information from being used by someone other than the owner said Visa
International spokeswoman Cheryl Heinonen.
She strongly recommended that consumers never fax photocopies of their
credit cards to any store and that they shop at well-known and reputable
stores.
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE Gaming Online - Online Users Growl & Purr!
"""""""""""""""""""
Jagfest 2K1 Plans Made Official
December 2, 2000 - Go Beyond Tempest at Jagfest 2K1
The GOAT Store, an online store specializing in the support of classic
video games, has agreed to host Jagfest 2K1 in Milwaukee, WI on June 30,
2001. The fifth annual event that centers around the Atari Jaguar system,
but will be expanding as it has in the past to include all classic video
game systems and even classic computers.
"The event is going to be subtitled, 'Beyond Tempest'," said Dan Loosen of
the GOAT Store, "because with all of the great products that have come out
for the Jaguar in the past year, it is definitely true that we have moved
beyond the storm of doubt and disbelief and can now look at a very bright
future for the Jaguar and all of Atari."
This years event will include an exhibit of every Jaguar game ever made,
rare Atari games, systems, prototypes and many more surprises! There will
also be a vast array of tournaments, with the GOAT Store supplying prizes
to the winners.
Admission for this years event will be $8.00 for pre-registers and $10.00
for tickets at the door. Tickets will go on sale January 1, 2001.
"Jagfest is a great opportunity for anyone with an interest in Atari to
explore many rare and one-of-a-kind items and meet some new friends while
doing it!" said Gary Heil. "I think that Milwaukee is a great location, and
we will build on the success of past Jagfests to make Beyond Tempest into
the best Jagfest yet."
Please make sure to visit the Official Jagfest 2K1: Beyond Tempest Web site
at the GOAT Store (http://www.goatstore.com). Dan Loosen can be reached at
loosen@goatstore.com and Gary Heil can be reached at heil@goatstore.com for
more information.
The GOAT Store Announces 2600 JAMMA Release Dates
December 8, 2000 - The GOAT Store Announces 2600 JAMMA Release Dates
The GOAT Store today announced that they have completed work on their two
new GOAT Store Exclusive products, the 2600 JAMMA Joystick and the slightly
larger brother, the 2600 JAMMA Joystick LX. These two joysticks, the second
in a series that the GOAT Store hand builds and sells to collectors, is
made from real JAMMA arcade parts.
"The JAMMA Joysticks series are products that I really have enjoyed
creating, building and selling," said Dan Loosen of the GOAT Store. "Our
Jaguar JAMMA Joystick series has been a huge success for us. We hope that
enthusiasts for the 2600 find this joystick just as useful!"
The 2600 JAMMA Joystick (Retail price - $41.90) and the 2600 JAMMA Joystick
LX (Retail price - $46.90) will go on sale Monday December 11, 2000. Please
direct any questions to The GOAT (thegoat@goatstore.com).
From Jaguar Interactive 2:
Hasbro Interactive for sale....
A source close to Infogrames Inc. has told GameWEEK.com that a deal is
close to being completed that will have Infogrames buying Hasbro
Interactive. Such a deal would build up Infogrames' software library with
such properties as Frogger, Monopoly and RollerCoaster Tycoon, as well as
Atari's catalog of game brands. It would also enable Infogrames to leap
right into the online-game market, thanks to the inclusion of Hasbro's
Games.com network, which is currently in beta testing and slated for public
consumption later this month.
GameWEEK.com reported in October that toy giant Hasbro was "exploring
strategic alternatives" for the interactive portion of the business, with
the end result being anything: A spokesperson was quoted then as saying
that Hasbro Interactive could end up as a "sale, partial sale, joint
venture or continue as is."
For Infogrames, this would add serious weight to the company; with good and
bad potential. The addition of such recognizable brands is something that
many game publishers would like to have; however, Infogrames still hasn't
seemed to consolidated efficiently after its purchase of GT Interactive.
Adding Hasbro Interactive to the mix would likely create some serious
logistical and workforce considerations for the company.
No information as to how much the deal would be worth was provided, and
calls for comment by GameWEEK.com to Hasbro, Hasbro Interactive and
Infogrames weren't returned by the time this story was posted.
=~=~=~=
A-ONE's Headline News
The Latest in Computer Technology News
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
3Com Debuts Audrey, Internet Appliance
3Com Corp. on Tuesday unveiled a home Internet appliance named Audrey that
provides electronic mail, Web access, a calendar, address book and
synchronization capability for personal digital assistants.
``Audrey marks 3Com's entrance into a virtually untapped high-growth
consumer market and represents 3Com's strategic focus on providing radical
simplicity to the consumer," Eric Benhamou, 3Com chairman and chief
executive, said in a statement.
The product is available in the United States at a starting price of $499
and can be bought online (http://www.3Com.com/ergo) or at retailers.
Audrey works with various Internet service providers and give consumers
access to favorite Web sites. A user can scribble a hand-written message,
type or speak a message and send it to the Internet by using a stylus.
Audrey features a built in V.90 56K modem and can be set to dial into the
Internet several times per day to refresh its Internet channels and
download new e-mail. Audrey is also adaptable
to broadband connections.
Compaq to Add New Wireless Port to Laptops
Compaq said on Tuesday it would add a new port to its laptop computers that
would allow consumers to surf the Internet and connect to other computer
devices wirelessly.
Compaq said the MultiPort located in the back of the notebooks would be
compatible with 802.11b wireless local area network (LAN) and Bluetooth
short-distance wireless technologies.
The company said chipmaker Intel Corp. has designed a new wireless LAN
product that is compatible with MultiPort. When Intel's product is
connected to the MultiPort, consumers would be able to connect wirelessly
to a high-speed physical connection through a hub.
As Bluetooth products are introduced, consumers would also be able to take
advantage of Bluetooth products that would allow computer devices to
communicate with their laptops through the same port.
Compaq said it expects to introduce MultiPort into its commercial notebook
line-up starting in the spring of 2001.
Netscape 6.0 Likened to Fashion Show
Netscape has unleashed Version 6.0, the Web browser that looks like a
fashion show.
Available for the PC, Mac and Linux platforms, Netscape 6.0 has taken
Version 4.7, the dependable browser in a Wall Street business suit, and
moved it to the East Village, complete with nose ring and dyed orange hair.
The default interface is consciously hip-looking. Like those tall platform
shoes, it's stylish, but not right for everyone. In this case, the look is
a ``theme."
You can revert to the ``classic" theme in which the stop button looks like
a stoplight instead of an ``X." And there are other themes available for
download on the Web site (http://www.netscape.com).
Those of us who associate ``hip" only with ``replacement" will grumble
that if you're worried about which theme your browser is wearing today, you
need to get a life. But if you can get past that and some other annoyances,
you'll find a solid technical underpinning.
The main toolbar URL field of Netscape 6.0 does double duty as a search
field, so you don't have to hop to a search page first to start looking for
something. (The browser uses - surprise! - Netscape search as the default.)
The ``sidebar," a window at the left of the page that can display
real-time information (or just about anything else you want), can be
distracting, but you can make it disappear. In, fact, you can customize a
bundle of things, which is OK if that's how you want to spend your time.
Both 6.0 and 4.7 versions can run simultaneously, good if you've download
the newer version and are ambivalent about it. After some time running
both, 4.7 still gets the nod if you're in a hurry to see all your
bookmarks, which it displays in multiple columns while 6.0 shows them in a
single column that scrolls. But 6.0 is better at handling multiple e-mail
accounts, if you're into using aliases.
Netscape claims the later version is faster, but it wasn't all that
noticeable in side-by-side tests on the same PC. The password and cookie
manager functions are good, if privacy is a concern. The browser also has
links to plenty of Internet content, making it an information source of
sorts, perhaps the ruboff from corporate parent America Online.
If you must have the latest (and won't bow to Microsoft's Internet
Explorer), the price is right: The download is free, or you can get a
CD-ROM by mail for $5.95.
Even on a fast Ethernet connection at the office, downloading the PC
version took about 14 minutes. Depending on the speed of your Internet
connection and any toll charges that might be involved, the ``free"
download might not be so free.
For most users, it's a question of style and taste, and the only way to
decide is to try it. Beforehand, note the system requirements for Netscape
6.0 as given on the Web site:
-Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT 4.0: Pentium, 133 MHz, 64 MB of RAM.
-Mac OS 8.5, OS 8.6 or OS 9 with PowerPC: 200 MHz PowerPC 604 or G3, 64 MB
of RAM, with virtual memory turned on (or 48 MB of dynamic RAM).
-Red Hat Linux 6.1: Pentium, 133 MHz, 64 MB of RAM.
The site also cautions, ``If you are running Netscape 6.0 on SuSe Linux
6.2, you must install the file ``libjpeg.so.62," which it has available
for download.
Opera Offers First Free Browser
The maker of the world's No. 3 Internet browser offered its first free
version on Wednesday in a bid to close the gap with Microsoft's
market-leading Internet Explorer and AOL/Netscape.
Opera Software's market share is microscopic, at less than 1 percent.
The Oslo-based company's launch of an advertising-sponsored version of
Opera 5.0 for Windows intends to heat up the competition, said company
co-founder and chief executive, Jon S. von Tetzchner.
``Opera's status as just an alternative browser for the most Internet-savvy
users is ending, and we place ourselves firmly in the middle of the ongoing
browser war," he said.
What set privately owned Opera apart was that its estimated 1.5 million
users were willing to pay $39 for the program, while the competing products
were available for free.
Opera plans to distribute millions of compact discs to be included in
computer magazines, as well as offer the browser through software makers
and on Web sites.
Opera was born as a project by the Norwegian state telephone company
Telenor, which had Tetzchner and his partner Geir Ivarsoey develop a
browser from scratch. The company lost interest and gave the two the rights
when they founded Opera Software in 1995.
Word of the browser spread on the Internet, and heavy Web users were drawn
by Opera's speed and simplicity. It had no advertising to slow it down,
could run several windows within one browser frame, zoom Web pages and be
run from a keyboard, without needing a mouse.
The free version offered for download Wednesday does contain advertising, a
break with Opera's tradition that the company insists will not reduce
speed.
``The banner sized ad is quiet small, and they are only downloaded into the
browser once a week and cached for later use," said head of technology
Haakon Lie.
Opera said it has set strict limits on advertising and will include nothing
that is too distracting, like sound or potentially offensive material. It
also said users of the free version can, at any time, revert to the paid
version - which will continue without advertising.
Opera executives say company income has recently been boosted by the sale
of licenses to wireless makers - and the free browser move intends to
further boost revenues.
Because Opera is 92 percent staff-owned - most still held by its founders -
it does not publish financial results.
ISPs Find Free Internet Costs Them
Online search portal AltaVista on Sunday will cut off some 3 million users
from its free Internet access service, the latest sign that freebies over
the Web do not always pay.
The announcement comes after a host of smaller free Internet service
providers shut down earlier this year and as Kmart-owned BlueLight.com said
Monday it will be reevaluating its current, unlimited free service after
the holidays.
``We're seeing a very necessary shakeout among the free ISPs," said Dylan
Brooks, an analyst at Jupiter Research. ``The ad-supported ISP business
grew far too quickly for what was healthy."
The demise of AltaVista's Web access giveaway is linked to the downfall of
1stUp.com, an Internet service provider that funneled 3 million out of its
5.5 million paying and non-paying clients through AltaVista. 1stUp, which
like AltaVista is a unit of CMGI Inc, is closing down by Jan. 31.
Only NetZero, Juno and BlueLight.com remain as the major free Internet
service providers, with BlueLight's giveaway potentially coming to an end.
AltaVista worked out a deal with Microsoft Corp. to offer AltaVista's 3
million non-paying users three free months of access on MSN. After that,
they would pay $21.95 a month - among the priciest for dial-up service.
Jim Shissler, an AltaVista spokesman, said the company could not find
another company to pick up the free service. AltaVista, whose online search
engine will continue to operate, stopped taking new subscribers Monday and
sent out notices to existing customers Monday and Tuesday.
AltaVista considers nearly 1 million of its users active - they logged on
at least once in the past month. Many others register for free access as a
backup to a paid service or otherwise rarely use the free service.
Meanwhile, Kmart-backed BlueLight.com took over assets of its failed
provider, Spinway Inc., on Monday in order to retain more than 5 million
registered users through the peak shopping season.
BlueLight spokesman Dave Karraker said the company will decide the fate of
the service in January.
Although BlueLight may drop its current plan, which offers free access with
unlimited use, Karraker said Wednesday that ``we will always have some form
of free (access)." But he said BlueLight may charge a fee for unlimited
use.
Typically, users of free services agree to keep open an advertisement
window, and the services get almost all of their revenue by selling ads. As
more dot-coms failed, Karraker said, there were fewer advertising
opportunities.
BlueLight is restructuring its access service, he said, to become a gateway
to Kmart and BlueLight shopping products. So instead of depending on ad
revenue, the service wants to make money from additional sales of books,
toys and jewelry.
That doesn't mean the era of free access is over.
Rather, providers of such services may have to look beyond selling ads -
for instance, by bundling free service with a new computer or offering it
as a gift for opening a brokerage account. Some telecommunications
companies, including AT&T, offer Internet access $4.95 a month as part of a
package of services.
In fact, Brooks of Jupiter Research said, 13 percent of users in 2003 will
primarily use some form of free access, compared with about 8 percent now.
Mark Goldston, chairman and chief executive of NetZero, said the fact that
other free providers failed does not mean free access is a bad business.
Though NetZero, which has some 6 million registered users, has yet to make
a profit, Goldston insisted, ``This is a very good category to be in."
eBay Not in Talks to Buy uBid
Internet auction site eBay Inc. is not involved in talks to buy uBid Inc.,
a unit of CMGI Inc. that specializes in business-to-consumer online
auctions, a source close to eBay said on Sunday.
Barron's reported in its Dec. 4 edition that the online auction giant was
interested in buying the business-to consumer auction company.
The eBay source told Reuters that eBay has ``not been in any discussion to
buy uBid," nor were they looking at uBid ``in any shape or form." An eBay
spokesman declined to comment on the report.
According to Barron's, uBid Chief Executive Greg Jones recently met with
representatives of San Jose, Calif.-based eBay and with Benchmark Capital,
an early backer of eBay that remains a significant stockholder.
UBid's current 1.5 registered users would complement eBay's
consumer-to-consumer business, whose core business is reaching a plateau,
Barron's said.
UBid plans to launch a consumer-to-consumer auctions site next week to
compete with eBay, the newspaper said. The new endeavor, Auction Exchange,
will differ from eBay in that consumers will be required to secure their
purchases by using a credit card.
Representatives from CMGI and Benchmark could not be reached immediately
for comment on Sunday.
Chicago-based uBid runs an online auction site for refurbished and closeout
merchandise, mostly computers and consumer electronic goods. The auction
format gives vendors an outlet to dispose of inventory.
MP3.com Restores Listening Service
MP3.com restored its beleaguered music locker service Tuesday, seven months
after lawsuits from record labels and music publishers forced its shutdown.
The MyMP3.com service, which was once free, will now feature two levels of
service. For no charge, members can store up to 25 CDs. That service will
be advertising-supported.
For an annual fee of $49.95, members will be able to store up to 500 CDs
and enjoy more features and less advertising.
MyMP3.com, which allows members to store songs on the Internet and listen
to them over any Web-enabled device, triggered a copyright infringement
lawsuit in January by the five major record labels, music publishers and
several independent labels.
The plaintiffs argued that by allowing people to instantly listen to music
stored in the popular MP3 digital format on MP3.com's servers - even if
users had bought the CD from MP3.com or proved they owned it by briefly
inserting the disc into a computer for verification - MP3.com illegally
distributed music for which they did not own the rights.
MP3.com, based in San Diego, disabled the service in May to prevent anyone
from storing music produced by the major recording companies that filed the
copyright lawsuit.
Over the course of the summer, the company reached settlements with most
labels, agreeing to pay a lump sum for past violations and a licensing fee
for future use. Every major label settled, except for Universal Music
Group, which forced the case to trial.
In September, U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff ruled that MP3.com
willfully violated record company copyrights and ordered the company to pay
damages.
Last month, MP3.com ended the lawsuit by agreeing to pay UMG $53.4 million.
The company also reached a separate licensing agreement with rock star
David Bowie.
The company still faces lawsuits from several independent labels.
Several critical issues still remain for the company, including its efforts
to negotiate licenses with independent labels that represent major artists
such as The Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync.
And it remains to be seen if consumers will embrace the new service and
will pay a subscription fee to listen to music they already own.
``Nobody yet knows how popular the premium service may prove to be," Phil
Leigh, an analyst at Raymond James & Associates wrote in a report Tuesday.
``To date there has been little evidence that consumers are willing to pay
for content on the Web, as evidenced by the experiences of organizations
like Slate and TheStreet.Com."
U.S. Embraces European Computer Crime Proposal
The United States has endorsed the gist of a controversial European drive
to tighten cybercrime laws over the protests of privacy, civil liberties
and human rights advocates.
The central provisions of the 41-nation Council of Europe's latest draft
convention ``are consistent with the existing framework of U.S. law and
procedure," the Justice Department said in a Friday posting on its
cybercrime Web site.
At issue is the first multilateral pact drafted specifically to deal with
the cross-border nature of much computer-related crime.
When ready, it would be opened for signature worldwide in an effort to
slash the procedural and jurisdictional obstacles that law enforcers say
play into the hands of criminals operating through the Internet.
Targeted are such things as malicious code to disable Web sites as well as
computer use for such garden-variety crimes like fraud, copyright
infringement and distribution of child pornography.
The United States will decide whether to join only after the drafting is
wrapped up, probably later this month, and the treaty is opened for
signature, perhaps by the end of next year, the Justice Department said.
But in a ``Frequently Asked Questions" text, it played down charges that
the pact would stretch the long arm of the police improperly in cyberspace,
trample on individual privacy and erode government accountability.
One key issue had to do with data-retention requirements for Internet
Service Providers, companies that serve as electronic gateways to the Web.
In an October 18 statement signed by groups around the world, critics said
logs based on such archived data had been used to track dissidents and
persecute minorities.
``We urge you not to establish this requirement in a modern communications
network," said a 27-group coalition including the American Civil Liberties
Union, Privacy International and the Internet Society.
``Police agencies and powerful private interests acting outside of the
democratic means of accountability have sought to use a closed process to
establish rules that will have the effect of binding legislation," the
groups added.
In its response to these concerns, the Justice Department said there was no
such retention requirement at issue but a data ``preservation" provision.
``Preservation is not a new idea; it has been the law in the United States
for nearly five years," the statement said.
Similarly, it discounted critics' fears that the convention would mandate
surveillance capabilities be built into service providers' architecture.
But ``there is no prohibition on states imposing such requirements if
necessary under their legal systems," the posting said.
The latest draft by a panel of the Council of Europe, the 24th in a
marathon that began in the late 1980s with U.S. support, was released on
Nov. 19. The United States has had a "real voice" in the drafting
process, represented by the Departments of State and Justice in close
consultation with other U.S. agencies, the FAQ said.
David Sobel, general counsel of the Washington-based Electronic Privacy
Information Center, said the Justice Department was in effect acknowledging
that the treaty could be read ``to require some things that are very
controversial," including redesign of system architecture to facilitate
surveillance.
Washington currently exempts Internet service providers from the
Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The law, crafted
largely at the behest of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, requires
other U.S. telecommunications providers and equipment manufacturers to
build in a window for court-ordered wiretaps.
Barry Steinhardt, associate director of the American Civil Liberties Union,
said the pact could force police in the United States to conduct searches
under rules established by treaty "that don't respect the limits of police
powers imposed by the U.S. Constitution."
British Police Want to Spy on Phone Calls, E-Mail
Britain's police and intelligence services are seeking the right to access
records of every telephone call, e-mail and internet connection made in the
UK, the government said Sunday.
The country's crime-fighting and intelligence agencies want all such
communications to be logged, and the information stored for seven years in
vast government-run ``data warehouses."
``They have passed a document to us which we are now looking at, but it has
to be stressed that there has been no decision made on this," a Home
Office spokeswoman told Reuters.
``We work very closely with these organizations and want to ensure they
have the tools they need to tackle serious, organized crime, but there are
other important issues, such as human rights, to be considered."
The spokeswoman said the powers sought would require new legislation, but
``that is a long way off at the moment."
The request, from the police, customs and intelligence services, was first
reported Sunday by The Observer newspaper, which had seen a copy of the
document submitted to the Home Office.
The document said new powers were needed to tackle growing problems of
cyber crime, pedophiles' use of computers to run child porn rings,
terrorism and international drug trafficking, according to The Observer
report.
Politicians and campaigners cited by the paper as condemning the idea
included Conservative peer and privacy expert Lord Cope.
``We are sympathetic to the need for greater powers to fight modern types
of crime," he said.
``But vast banks of information on every member of the public can quickly
slip into the world of Big Brother. I will be asking serious questions
about this."
The document, written by Roger Gaspar, deputy director-general of the
National Criminal Intelligence Service, says the new demands are ``vital
in the interests of justice."
Computer Data Key to Racketeer Case
In a case that could test the limits of FBI surveillance in the Information
Age, an alleged racketeer is going to trial on evidence gathered by agents
who rigged his computer and monitored his every keystroke.
Nicodemo S. Scarfo Jr., 35, the son of the jailed former boss of the
Philadelphia mob, faces federal charges of running a bookmaking and
loansharking operation.
According to court documents, agents modified a computer Scarfo used at his
Essex County business so that the FBI could monitor every keystroke,
according to court documents.
Scarfo could become the first defendant to challenge covert computer
surveillance by the FBI.
Electronic surveillance by government agencies is under scrutiny by civil
liberties groups, which maintain such techniques violate privacy and invite
abuse.
No court has yet considered a challenge to evidence from keystroke capture,
said David L. Sobel, general counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information
Center, a Washington-based nonprofit group.
``If this kind of technique were to become commonplace, we're talking about
a dramatic increase in the number of police break-ins into private
residences," Sobel said Tuesday.
``It really points out how potentially invasive the FBI's high-tech
surveillance techniques can be, and it really pushes the envelope on
current wiretap law."
The Justice Department and FBI had no immediate comment on whether the
keystroke capture technique has been used in other cases.
Its use in the Scarfo case was revealed Monday by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Former Scarfo lawyer Donald F. Manno said, ``Anything he typed on that
keyboard - a letter to his lawyer, personal or medical records, legitimate
business records - they got it all."
Scarfo faces trial sometime next year on charges he operated an illegal
gambling business from 1996 to 1999 in New Jersey that took in more than
$2,000 a day and tried to collect loans through extortion.
Ronald D. Wigler, the federal prosecutor in the case, did not return a call
for comment Tuesday.
FBI Chimes In On Shockwave Email Virus
The FBI has joined a growing number of experts that are warning computer
users about a new email virus that last week struck several U.S. companies
and comes disguised as an Internet movie.
Although it carries no destructive payload, the virus, which is an
Internet worm, routinely sends itself to a victim's email address book,
making it possible to clog email networks with its mass mailing
capability, the FBI's Washington, D.C.-based National Infrastructure
Protection Center warned.
Experts warn that if the new virus gains enough momentum, it could crash
email servers in the same way the notorious " I Love You" virus did.
The government has been watching the virus for some time and has given it
a threat assessment of "medium." The worm comes as a Shockwave Internet
animation format with the header, "A great Shockwave flash movie,"
referring to the popular animation format.
When activated, the virus copies itself on the C drive and start-up
directory and shoots itself as an attachment to all the contacts in the
victim's Microsoft Outlook address book.
Over the past week, several antivirus companies have also posted warnings
about the worm, assigning threat assessments ranging from "low" to "high"
risk.
Free Software Downloads Have Strings Attached
Little on the Internet is truly free. That's the message from privacy
advocates who are red-flagging some popular and free downloadable software
that may come with hidden costs.
In a report by the University of Denver in conjunction with the Privacy
Foundation, researchers found that consumers unknowingly give up personal
and often sensitive information in exchange for certain products.
The data is then used to direct advertisements that speak to a person's
tastes.
"I think consumers are confused when they find out what they have to give
up" for some products, said David Martin, a professor at the University of
Denver who spearheaded the report. "They learn that it may be free of
charge, but it's not a free gift."
For his report, Martin looked at 16 browser extensions designed to making
surfing easier. Since the study began, however, three have gone out of
Business, and a few others have drastically changed their business models
so the findings no longer apply.
Some of the products studied still exist, and the practice of software
providers culling personal data without spelling it out to consumers has
raised a few eyebrows in privacy circles.
All of the products examined for the report failed to provide clear notice
to the consumers. Most transmitted more personal information than
necessary. A few either didn't give people choices about which details
would be collected, or they stored the data in insecure systems, the
report said.
The greatest concern, however, was the practice of monitoring search
queries, which can be sensitive and personal. For example, if a person
using some of the free software looked up information about AIDS, that
query could then be stored as part of a consumer profile.
Zack Network, a San Mateo, Calif.-based company, appeared to be the most
egregious offender, according to the report. Martin and the other
researchers concluded that Zack collected more personal information than
necessary, didn't tell customers the extent of the company's data
gathering, offered no opt-out choices, and lacked security.
Representatives at Zack disputed those claims and charged that the
findings are outdated. They say the company has since changed its business
model, which now focuses on working with other businesses than with
consumers.
"We don't log data, and we don't pay attention to the information," said
Kristie Lolje, public relations manager at Zack. "Never do we coordinate
Web surfing habits to a person's name."
Ray Everett-Church, chief privacy officer at Hayward, Calif.-based
AllAdvantage, said some of the information in the report was useful--such
as breaking down privacy policies into subgroups such as choice, notice,
security and access.
But he said criticisms of privacy policies being too long or too difficult
to understand were "contradictory and confusing."
AllAdvantage was knocked in the report for not giving consumers notice.
Other companies and products mentioned included SurfMonkey, NeoPlanet,
CueCat and Flyswat.
Martin said he believes many companies didn't intend to collect sensitive
data, but rather it became an unintended consequence when developing
products.
An easy way to remedy the problem after the fact, he said, is to rewrite
privacy policies that explain exactly what kind of information is being
gathered from a consumer and how it will be used.
=~=~=~=
Atari Online News, Etc.is a weekly publication covering the entire
Atari community. Reprint permission is granted, unless otherwise noted
at the beginning of any article, to Atari user groups and not for
profit publications only under the following terms: articles must
remain unedited and include the issue number and author at the top of
each article reprinted. Other reprints granted upon approval of
request. Send requests to: dpj@atarinews.org
No issue of Atari Online News, Etc. may be included on any commercial
media, nor uploaded or transmitted to any commercial online service or
internet site, in whole or in part, by any agent or means, without
the expressed consent or permission from the Publisher or Editor of
Atari Online News, Etc.
Opinions presented herein are those of the individual authors and do
not necessarily reflect those of the staff, or of the publishers. All
material herein is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing.
