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Atari Online News, Etc. Volume 01 Issue 31
Volume 1, Issue 31 Atari Online News, Etc. October 1, 1999
Published and Copyright (c) 1999
All Rights Reserved
Atari Online News, Etc.
A-ONE Online Magazine
Dana P. Jacobson, Publisher/Managing Editor
Joseph Mirando, Managing Editor
Atari Online News, Etc. Staff
Dana P. Jacobson -- Editor
Joe Mirando -- "People Are Talking"
Michael Burkley -- "Unabashed Atariophile"
Albert Dayes -- CC: Classic Chips
With Contributions by:
Carl Forhan
Gary Duvall
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To download A-ONE, set your browser bookmarks to one of the
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Visit the Atari Advantage Forum on Delphi!
http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=atari
=~=~=~=
A-ONE #0131 10/01/99
~ IBM Joins Color Craze! ~ People Are Talking! ~ Lynx News!
~ Netscape Upgrade! ~ IE Security Patch! ~ Jaguar Survey!
~ Game Boy Color Antz! ~ Sega Goes Disney! ~ PC Death-Ray?!
~ US Lawyer Quits MS Case ~ Global Net Tax Ban! ~ No More Web Jams?
-* Users Winning In UK Web War! *-
-* E-mail Top Reason People Go Online! *-
-* Western Digital Recalls Defective Drives! *-
=~=~=~=
->From the Editor's Keyboard "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
I don't have a lot to say this week (YEA!). I guess that it's just been one
of those long arduous weeks when energy starts to drain along with the
autumn sun. The days are getting shorter, the nights a little cooler. The
leaves are just getting 'round to their annual color change. The pool has
been covered for a few weeks, the few remaining vegetables from the garden
will be picked this weekend. I only got one decent-sized pumpkin due to the
drought; it's sitting proudly on the front stairs! I have a lot of musk
melons, but I don't know whether or not they'll ripen in time. Next year,
maybe I'll have a better crop.
Otherwise, it's been fairly quiet around here lately. Life goes on. Atari
users are still the ultimate group of computer users around. I still manage
to learn something new, Atari-related, every week. Nostalgia...
Until next time...
Atari Auction Site is For Sale!
From: webmaster@atariauction.com
Due to time constraints of the current owner, Atari Auction
is being placed for sale. The current owner simply does
not have the time available to market and build the site
into the high-traffic, Atari Enthusiast site it can be.
Atari Online Auction at
http://www.atariauction.com/
4 domain names:
atariauction.com,
atariauction.net,
atari-auction.com and
atari-auction.net
are available with site.
Software can be purchased or leased.
For details, send an email to:
atariauctioninfo@auction-concepts.com
and you will receive a auto-response
with additional information about
the Atari Auction site.
=~=~=~=
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
compiled by Joe Mirando
jmirando@portone.com
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Right out of the chute, let me apologize
for my intro in last week's column. You see, I had twisted something in
my back last week and was taking pain killers to alleviate it a bit. I
guess that the combination of the medication and the pain that was left
over (have you ever noticed that pain killers seem to affect everything
except for the pain that you're trying to kill??), that made every
thought I had a mushy one. The really sad part is that everything I said
in last week's intro was one hundred percent true.
Just a quick note about the TEAM ATARI SETI@home Search Group...
I've noticed that every time I mention SETI@home and TEAM ATARI here in
this column the group picks up another user or two. While we are by no
means the smallest group looking for signals from an extraterrestrial
intelligence, we are still smaller than I'd like to see. Out of all of
the people who used to use Atari computers, only 33 people have found
their way into this group. Sure, Atari hasn't made a computer in quite a
while, and people do move on to other platforms, but there are still
lots of us who keep up on events in the Atari world and still remember
how cool Atari computers really are. And out of all those former users
who moved on to other platforms and those who still use Atari computers
AND another platform, only 33 people have joined up.
Okay, I understand that not everyone is as interested in astronomy as I
am, and not everyone wants to use a screensaver that searches through
data collected by a radio telescope and look for a possible signal from
outside our solar system, but there must be more than 33 of us. All
together, the members of TEAM ATARI have contributed almost four years
worth of CPU time to the project. And that's only happened in the last
two months or so with the 33 of us.
Even if you never end up joining in, stop by the main SETI@home website
and take a look at what's there. It's really quite interesting. And if
you DO decide you want to join up, just download the software for your
system and then go to the TEAM ATARI page and join up. Could there BE
anything cooler than this? I don't think so. The URL for the main
SETI@home website is http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu. The URL for the
TEAM ATARI page is
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/cgi?cmd=team_lookup&name=team
aatari.
I could go into more detail here, but I've already done that several
times and the folks who run the project do it so much than I. Go take a
look. Even if you don't participate, it's a heck of an interesting
project.
Another side note... I just received my update of Windows 98 for that
spiffy laptop. It's supposed to make 98 completely Y2K compliant. Funny,
but the 'old' version said that too. Let's see now... The average street
price for WIN98 is about $175.00. The price I paid for the upgrade to
The Second Edition was $26.00. To be fair, that included shipping, but
c'mon now, shouldn't all this stuff have been ironed out before the
FIRST version was ever released??
All I can say is that my good old TT... and in fact even my first ST
with TOS 1.00 was Y2K compliant. And that machine hasn't been "new"
since '86 or so. So much for all of Microsoft's advanced technology. My
TT has been running constantly for about four months now (I leave it on
continually to avoid heat-up/cool-down chip loosening) and is still
rock-solid stable. My brand-spanking new PC laptop needs to be rebooted
daily or it becomes simply too unstable to use. Interesting, ain't it?
Now let's get to all the news...
From the comp.sys.atari.st NewsGroup
-=-=-=--=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ben Hills asks for help with a floppy drive:
"I recently bought an Atari 520STFM from a Bric-a-brac type shop for ten
pounds. The computer itself works alright, but the floppy drive
doesn't. Although the drive makes all the right whirring and clunking
noises it will not read any disks. On closer inspection I found that one
of the Read/Write heads had actually broken off! I have managed to get
another 720k drive from an old Epson XT PC. The original drive from the
ST was an Epson SMD-380. This replacement drive taken from the PC is an
Epson SMD-300. Both are 720k drives and both look exactly the same, but
I cannot persuade the replacement drive to work. The drive spins
correctly, but nothing else happens. So, this is a bit of a long shot,
but does anybody know what the correct jumper settings should be on this
SMD-300 drive, or does anybody use an SMD-300 drive in their ST? Any
help would be greatly appreciated."
Nicholas Bales tells Ben:
"You need to set the drive number to 0 instead of 1. Check the jumper
settings on the original ST drive, they should be similar."
Matt DeJonge asks about networking his Falcon:
"Hello, all. It is time to take my Falcon out of the closet! I haven't
touched it in about three years, but the hunger has arisen. My
question:
I have two PCs on a 10MB 10-Base-T network running at my house. I'd
like to get my Falcon030 4MB/65MB/4.04 to participate too. What type of
hardware do I need? I am quite Atari-literate (coded for 6 years in MWC
and GFA), but I have lost track of what hardware (if any) is available
to convert from the AppleTalk type port to a RJ-45. Should I run under
GEM/AES? I'd like to run NetBSD 1.4.1 or Linux, though, if the hardware
will be supported...."
Martin-Eric Racine tells Matt:
"Have a look at Saka's homepage for an overview of the possibilities:
http://gallery.uunet.be/saka/
[On the AppleTalk type port to a RJ-45 thing,] Currently, none, because
none of the manufacturers of LAN-to-Ethernet converters agree to
releasing any programming infos to allow someone to write Atari drivers.
If you still enjoy any of your Atari software yes, run under GEM/AES.
> I'd like to run NetBSD 1.4.1 or Linux,
As far as NetBSD or Linux, they're entirely possible, though a bit
slow."
Steve Stupple asks for help with his Mega STE:
"I have a Mega STE... you probably figured that one out..., how do I
install and internal hard drive? it has an Ethernet card fitted... and
how do I get the thing to go above the 19,200 baud rate on serial 2?"
Jo Even Skarstein tells Steve:
"We really should have a FAQ on this, but here we go again <smile>
* The drive can't be bigger than 1Gb. * It must have parity disabled. If
this isn't possible on your drive, you can add a parity-generator
yourself, see http://atari.nvg.org/parity/parity_gen.html for details.
Serial 2, that's an SCC-port IIRC, you should be able to select speeds
up to 230k4. You should install HS-Modem though."
Don Shoengarth asks for info about an ADSpeed accelerator:
"I have a 1040 STf with a ICD ADSpeed and have no information on it.
I've found many pages with people who have this product but have yet to
find the information on it. Did it come with any utilities? When I use
Profile2 to view its information its says its running a 8mhz.Why?"
"Dr Clu tells Don:
"Got an AdSpeed eh? A fine machine. You'll need a 16 MHz utility to
tell the machine to jump to the 16 MHz option, and there is also a
utility to tell it jump back down to 8 MHz. Great machine, before I got
the TT, the AdSpeed was my main machine. Now it is the secondary
machine in the front room. But I used it for internet surfing and
everything else.
I'm not good at sending files yet using any of my Atari utilities, but I
believe you can find a copy of this one the Dark Forces BBS. I'll see
if I can find the number."
Stefan Svensson asks about swapping hard drives in his Falcon:
"I tried to change my 125 MB internal hard disk in my Falcon030 to a 2.1
GB 2.5" Toshiba IDE disk. However, AHDI doesn't seem to recognize this
correctly and can only allocate 50 MB! AHDI formats the disk fine, but
when I try to partition the disk, it just says that "boot information
corrupted".
Is 2100 MB too much for the internal IDE controller?"
Robert Schaffner tells Stefan:
"You should - NOT - format IDE hard drives.. Creating some partitions is
enough!
Looks like this drive lost manufacture track on the disc. Try HDDriver,
but I think this drive is dead."
You can use a 10Gig device, the -partition size- is the point. TOS 4.x
-> 1Gig per partition!"
Claes Holmerup adds:
"It's not too much for the controller - but it's too much for AHDI,
which only supports up to 1GB IDE-disks. I'd recommend HDDriver
instead."
The author of HD Driver, Dr. Uwe Seimet, tells Stefan:
"IDE is such a simple interface that there is no controller at all, just
a few logic chips. Anyway, there is no limit for the capacity of drives
you can connect to the Falcon's IDE or SCSI port. Note, however, that
old drivers might not work. Try the demo version of HDDRIVER:
http://home.nikocity.de/nogfradelt/atari_english.html
HDDRIVER supports IDE and SCSI drives of any size."
Frank Thomsen asks for information about reading Atari disks on a PC:
"I used to have an Atari 1040 ST E for making MIDI music. Later I got a
PC and sold the good old and trusty Atari. Unfortunately I forgot to
transfer my old MIDI-files on to the PC and now I have this load of old
Atari disks that my PC refuses to read. Is it possible to do something
about that? It would sure make me very happy."
Ernest Schreurs tells Frank:
"I think if you run GEMULATOR, the Atari ST emulator, it will let you
read Atari disks in your PC. You can then simply copy them over to a
partition of your PC."
Nicholas Bales adds:
"Unfortunately, PCs often cannot read the format of older STs, although
the other way round works fine.
You have the following options:
- Send the disks to someone who own an Atari and have them copy the
files over to DOS disks. This is a 10 minute job that can be done on any
Atari with a 720K drive. It's a shame you didn't do it before selling
your ST.
- Try messing with an emulator such as WinSTon or PaCifiST and a disk
image converter such as MakeDisk. You'll want to convert your disks to
.ST files, and use the emulator to copy the files contained in the .ST
disk images onto your DOS hard drive."
Alan Nelson asks for info about attaching files to email:
"I am having a problem sending someone an attached file - his emailer
can't decode UUE or MIME (he's using a PC), while the editor I am using
(Everest) with my emailer (Newsie 0.94) can't load the file I'm trying
to send if I don't encode it first. Everest reports that the lines are
too long and truncates them, thus presumably corrupting the file.
Has anyone got any suggestions how I can get this poor chap's file to
him before I resort to using snailmail?!
For reference, I'm using an STFM with STiNG, CAB 2.7 and, of course,
Newsie."
Kenneth Medin tells Alan:
"If the file is anything but a plain ASCII textfile you _must_ use MIME
or UUE, preferably the former. Try to mail the file to yourself to
check if Newsie can unpack it.
If it is a ASCII file with very long lines use another editor that can
handle them (I'm using QED) and reformat the text."
Hard drive questions seem to be the order of the day this time around.
Ritchie Swann asks:
"If the file is anything but a plain ASCII textfile you _must_ use MIME
or UUE, preferably the former. Try to mail the file to yourself to check
if Newsie can unpack it.
If it is an ASCII file with very long lines use another editor that can
handle them (I'm using QED) and reformat the text."
Uwe Seimet tells Ritchie:
"AHDI might be the problem. It's old and doesn't support all the SCSI
hardware you can connect to the Atari. Current driver software should
better fit your needs, e. g. HDDRIVER:
http://home.nikocity.de/nogfradelt/atari_english.html"
Ekkehard Flessa adds:
"...You could give CBHD a try, it's for free an can handle large
partitions. AHDI is completely outdated.
You may obtain CBHD (Archive name: CBHD502.TOS) from:
http://home.t-online.de/home/Steffen.Engel/CBHD.htm"
Well folks, that's it for this week. I'm off to find that bottle of pain
killers and to try to relax a bit. If you've ever suffered from back
pain (and who hasn't?) you'll understand.
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 - Antz! For Game Boy Color!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" G-Police! Jaguar Game Poll!
New Lynx Games! 'South Park'!
'WipeOut'! 'Xena' Ships!
And much more!
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE's Game Console Industry News - The Latest Gaming News!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
The Return of the Game That Kick-Started an Era!
Psygnosis Releases Wipeout 3, the Ultimate, High-Speed, Anti-Gravity Racer
At last, the wait is over! Psygnosis' eagerly anticipated high-speed,
antigravity racer, Wipeout 3, zooms onto store shelves today, promising the most
intense, adrenaline-pumping racing experience ever. Since the release of
Wipeout XL in 1996, gamers have been crying out for more of the extreme,
addictive gameplay that only the Wipeout series could offer. Now, the
long-awaited Wipeout 3 is ready to hit PlayStation game consoles
everywhere, and fans of the series will not be disappointed.
Since its unveiling earlier this year, Wipeout 3 has received critical
acclaim from the press worldwide. Gaming editors everywhere are marveling
at the strides Wipeout 3 has made in both technology and in gameplay. PSM
Magazine instantly declared ``this game is gonna be a monster hit," and
added ``this looks to be the PlayStation's killer app for the upcoming
Christmas season." UGO.com called Wipeout 3 ``the best incarnation of the
Wipeout series yet, and at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3),
Wipeout 3 was voted the Best Racing Game of the show by IGN.com, over a
number of high-caliber titles including Sony Computer Entertainment
America's Gran Turismo 2.
Wipeout 3 truly pushes the PlayStation game console to its limits,
utilizing full high-resolution mode throughout the game, even in
multi-player mode. The game also offers all-new craft designs, with three
new teams in addition to the five available in Wipeout XL, and seven new
weapons with five of the best retained from its predecessor. Wipeout 3
features eight new, highly detailed, polished tracks set in various areas
of a futuristic city. As with the two previous Wipeout games, the artistic
identity of Wipeout 3 was the brainchild of cult UK graphic design agency,
The Designers Republic, who created the landscape for each of the game's
eight circuits, as well as logos and identities for each of the game's
eight racing teams.
Wipeout 3 features an improved progression system to ensure that the game
is accessible enough in its early levels to make newcomers feel right at
home. As players progress through the game, the intensity increases, with
death-defying spiral tracks and terrifying 90 degree twists and turns,
providing the most extreme, antigravity racing experience that hard-core
fans could ever wish for.
Continuing the heritage of its predecessors, Wipeout 3 will feature a
cutting edge soundtrack compiled by renowned British DJ, Sasha, who, as
Musical Director, produced five exclusive music tracks for the game, and
also selected and worked with several international guest acts, including
The Chemical Brother and Orbital, for the project.
Electronic Arts Ships Xena: Warrior Princess for the Playstation
Electronic Arts announces it will ship Xena: Warrior Princess for the
PlayStation on Oct. 5, 1999, immediately following the start of the
television show's new season.
Xena: Warrior Princess will provide game enthusiasts their first
opportunity to take on the role of Xena, the ultimate mythological heroine
in a video game and experience epic adventures and non-stop action.
Xena: Warrior Princess will offer many unique gameplay features. They
include seven enormous worlds -- each based on scenes found in the TV show
-- that encompass more than 20 unique levels.
Xena will rely on her signature moves (back flips, bicycle kicks and
360-degree splits), weapons (sword, staff and Chakram) and special power
ups (a fire sword called Promethean Blade and a lighting bolt called Hand
of Zeus) to advance through each level.
The game challenges Xena to progress through multiple levels and battle
such enemies as Cyclops, Dryad, Golem and Medusa to save her friend
Gabrielle and defeat the King Valarian and Narsus, the evil Amazon Queen,
who plot to take over the world.
``Xena is a natural for a video game, given her dynamic and strong heroine
character appeal," says Frank Gibeau, vice president of marketing for
Electronic Arts. ``All the factors that make Xena such a popular television
icon lend themselves perfectly to creating a heroic female character that
gamers can appreciate and relate to."
Developed by Universal Interactive Studios, the producers of Crash,
Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, Xena: Warrior Princess incorporates many
recognizable elements from the syndicated action television series. The
series is produced by executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi of
Renaissance Pictures and is distributed by Studios USA Domestic Television.
Additionally, the game will introduce several newly created characters.
Among them are Kalabrax, a powerful sorceress bent on revenge with the
gods, and the Amazon Bird Women.
Additionally, Universal Interactive Studios completed more than 100
character animations for the game to help smoothly deliver and execute all
of Xena's action-packed moves. The development team also texture-mapped the
faces of stars Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle).
Xena: Warrior Princess for the PlayStation is a single-player, third-person
perspective title and supports dual shock analog control to deliver force
feedback. The game carries a ``T" (Teen) ESRB rating and will have an MSRP
of U.S. $39.99. More information on the game can be obtained via the
product Web site at http://www.xenagame.com.
Get Ready To Blow-Up Rocks... Asteroids for the
Game Boy Color Blasts onto Retail Shelves
Rock blasting action is back! Gamers can experience the biggest arcade hit
in gaming history anywhere and anytime when Activision, Inc. releases its
ultra addictive edition of Asteroids for the Nintendo Game Boy Color and
Game Boy systems. Based on Activision's successful 1998 PC and PlayStation
game console title, Asteroids will be available at more than 15,000 retail
outlets throughout the United States and Canada and will carry a suggested
retail price of $29.95.
Set deep within hyperspace, the original Asteroids challenged gamers to
shoot a path to the stars as they escape plummeting asteroids careening
their way and take aim against invading flying saucers. Developed by Syrox
Developments Ltd., the developers behind the 1998 PC and PlayStation game
console remakes, Asteroids for the Game Boy will recapture the non-stop
darting and blasting of the original, but will take the classic game to an
all-new level by challenging players to brave a multitude of distinct space
worlds or ``Zones," each comprised of levels of advancing difficulty.
Zones vary from an update of the classic, and a Black Hole world with
deadly gravitational pull to a world where hostile suns shoot arching
flames. A hidden ship and a new difficulty level have been created
specifically for the Game Boy. Additionally, the game features eye-popping
pre-rendered 3-D graphics, increasingly difficult space hazards, Game Boy
printer support and multiple modes of gameplay, including multi-player
games via Game Link cable.
Acclaim Brings Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny To
The PlayStation-R Game Console For The First Time
Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. Thursday announced that South Park, its
top-selling action game based on the hit Comedy Central program, has
shipped to stores.
``We're excited that over 20 million PlayStation owners can now play the
uproarious video game based on the popular `South Park' animated series,"
said Tom Bass, marketing manager at Acclaim Entertainment. ``With the
incredible success of both the cable program and the recent hit movie,
we're looking forward to giving fans a true, interactive gaming experience
- Mr. Hankey style!"
South Park is a hilarious, first-person, action-packed game that unfolds in
five episode-based, single-player adventures. Gamers can choose to play as
Cartman, Stan, Kyle or Kenny in single player mode, or select among a host
of 20 South Park characters when engaged in multiplayer mode. The story
begins when a mysterious comet, visible every 666 years, is discovered to
be heading right for the quiet little town of South Park and causing all
sorts of mayhem. It is up to the boys and Chef to save the day and bring
peace to South Park using a host of gadgets including a cow launcher,
sniper chicken, snowballs, and Terrance and Phillip dolls. Along the way,
players encounter all of South Park's classic characters - Mr. Garrison and
Mr. Hat, Mephesto and more. South Park also features custom voices recorded
specifically for the game by show creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, as
well as Isaac Hayes as Chef.
Electronic Arts Ships NASCAR 2000 for the PlayStation
Electronic Arts announced that it has shipped NASCAR 2000 for the
PlayStation game console.
NASCAR 2000 is the only NASCAR-licensed game for the PlayStation this fall
and offers the most complete and realistic racing experience for the NASCAR
fan. The game includes 33 active NASCAR drivers and cars, 18 official
NASCAR tracks and exclusive TV-style commentary from broadcasters Bob
Jenkins and Benny Parsons. Five new fantasy road courses allow the player
to drive on twisting, turning road courses with their favorite NASCAR
drivers, combining the appeal of traditional driving games with the power
and competition of NASCAR.
``I really enjoy racing the new fantasy road courses," said NASCAR legend
Dale Earnhardt. ``I've raced all the ovals such as Atlanta, Darlington,
Lowe's Motor Speedway and Bristol many times. I pretty much know every
inch of those tracks, but these new fantasy tracks are a kick. They keep
you on your toes."
New in NASCAR 2000 are beautifully rendered, motion-captured interactive
pit stops. EA SPORTS worked with real NASCAR officials to ensure the
authenticity of the moves performed during the pit stop. In real NASCAR
racing the skill of the pit crew is often as important as the skill of the
driver to the outcome of the race. NASCAR 2000 brings this element of a
race to life by challenging the user to hit certain buttons in a limited
amount of time as the car is serviced in the pits. How well this exercise
is performed determines the length of the pit stop.
``Races are won and lost in the pits every weekend during the season,"
said Richard Childress, owner of the No. 3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus car.
``Having the interactive pit stops in NASCAR 2000 makes a lot of sense
because any real NASCAR fan can tell you that's one of the most exciting
parts of the race. Rather than just sitting back and watching the pit
stops, the user now plays a big part in how quickly they can get their
driver back in the race."
A new ``create-a-driver" feature allows users to input their own name and
race special cars with high-resolution custom paint jobs. Adjustable
features on the cars include wedge, downforce, gear ratio, individual tire
pressure, fuel load, wheel lock, individual shock adjustments, and car
weight distribution.
NASCAR 2000 features a new physics model for the cars, new drivers and new
tracks. In addition to the five new fantasy road courses, Homestead-Miami
Speedway has been added to compliment the existing oval, superspeedway and
road courses. Those tracks include Atlanta, California, Lowe's Motor
Speedway, Bristol, Darlington, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Martinsville,
Michigan, North Carolina, Phoenix, Pocono, Richmond, Sears Point,
Talledega, Texas, and Watkins Glen®.
Dynamic lighting and shading both during day and night races bring a new
realism to the game. During day races reflections shift over time to show
the position of the sun. Custom seasons allow the race fan to stack a
season with shorts tracks, superspeedways or road courses to create a dream
season. Intense racing action is shown with sparks, car damage and wall
markings from collisions.
Depending on time available and personal preferences, it is possible to
race from three percent to 100 percent of a 500-mile race. A short pit
option can be utilized so that strategic pit stops are needed more
frequently in short races. Communication between crew chief, spotter and
driver is crucial to win in NASCAR 2000.
``We are always listening to our fans to determine what they like in the
game, and what they want in future versions of the game," said Michael
Pole, vice president and executive in charge of production at Electronic
Arts. ``One of the things we heard loud and clear last year was people love
to race on their favorite oval tracks, but they also wanted the variety
that a road course offers. So we added five top-notch fantasy road courses.
They also told us that pit stops were one of their favorite parts of the
race, so we went out and worked with NASCAR to make sure we nailed our new
pit stop option. Fans wanted to not only be able to race as their favorite
drivers, but they wanted to put themselves right into the game, so we added
create-a-driver. These are just a few examples of how we incorporate
feedback from the people who buy the games into our future products."
Continuing the tradition of licensing music that is popular with NASCAR
fans, NASCAR 2000 includes three songs from Blues Traveler. The Blues
Traveler songs and other original music in the game, along with color
commentary from Parsons and Jenkins, can be turned on or off depending on
user preference.
NASCAR 2000 includes 33 active NASCAR drivers and cars updated for the
current season including Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Tony
Stewart, Jeremy Mayfield, Rusty Wallace, John Andretti, Kyle Petty, Adam
Petty, Mike Skinner, Ernie Irvan, Kenny Irwin Jr., Kenny Wallace, Johnny
Benson, Ken Schrader, Ricky Rudd, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip, Bill
Elliott, Sterling Marlin, Bobby Hamilton, Ward Burton, Steve Park, Geoffrey
Bodine, Wally Dallenbach, Chad Little, Kevin Lepage and Joe Nemechek.
Historical racing buffs can attempt to grab the checkered flag racing as
past legends such as ``The King" Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Alan
Kulwicki, Davey and Bobby Allison, David Pearson and Benny Parsons.
``NASCAR prides itself on being the most fan friendly sports league in the
world," said George Pyne, NASCAR vice president of marketing. ``We are
always looking for ways to include the NASCAR fan in the fun and excitement
of this great sport. NASCAR 2000 is just another example of this philosophy
in action. EA SPORTS has captured the excitement of NASCAR and made it
accessible to everyone with a PlayStation."
3DO Releases Army Men Sarge's Heroes for the Nintendo 64
The 3DO Company Tuesday announced the release of Army Men -- Sarge's
Heroes, the fourth game in the highly successful Army Men brand, and the
first to be created for the Nintendo 64. With the main character ``Sarge,"
a one-man wrecking ball leading the toy soldier offensive, the Army Men --
Sarge's Heroes game sets a new standard in character animation in the
action shooter category.
A multi-million dollar marketing campaign featuring a 10-week television
advertising campaign and a seven-month print campaign in both consumer and
gaming magazines back up the biggest game launch in the Company's history.
3DO has partnered with major retailers to create a strong in-store
presence, including special sku and premium item programs.
``The launch of this game demonstrates how the Army Men brand has caught
fire," said Trip Hawkins, chairman and CEO of The 3DO Company. ``Sarge is
one of the most dynamic characters ever created for a video game and he
resonates with gamers and mass consumers alike. The game appeals to adults
who remember playing with the plastic toys and to kids who just like cool
game play. Our marketing campaign reflects the wide audience for the
Sarge's Heroes game."
The Army Men -- Sarge's Heroes game introduces a cast of nine different
characters with loads of personality in a rollicking adventure as Sarge
sets out to rescue the elite Bravo Company Commandos, foil the Tan Army in
its quest for diabolical weapons, and even take time out for a little
romance. A wide variety of hand-drawn animations bring the characters to
life, and Plastosheen, a lighting technique especially developed for this
game, gives the toy soldiers a realistic plastic look.
In his quest for world domination, the evil General Plastro sends his Tan
soldiers through mysterious portals to bring back horrible weapons of mass
destruction like the giant Magnifying Glass. Players lead Sarge though 14
missions of up to five separate objectives each. Seven levels in the
``Plastic World" feature everything from treacherous mountain terrain to
arctic wastelands, forests, towns, and heavily defended enemy army bases.
In ``Our World" the player will experience warfare like never before as
Sarge fights through seven levels set in a suburban home: the backyard
garden -- complete with giant insects and flowers -- the living room, the
kitchen, and the bathroom. Seven multiplayer missions for two, three or
four players extend the fun. Family Mode allows players of all skill levels
to enjoy the game together.
As Sarge rescues members of his squad, five commandos based on the classic
Army Men molded poses, he gains the use of their weapons including a
Bazooka, a Mortar and a Flame Thrower. A cadre of more weapons with
spectacular effects round out the arsenal. Players may also experience
sharper weapons effects and environments with the use of the Expansion
Pak for high-resolution mode. The Rumble Pak puts the player into the
middle of the action.
Other upcoming games from the Company include BattleTanx: Global Assault
for the Nintendo 64, Army Men -- Sarge's Heroes, Army Men -- Air Attack,
Crusaders of Might and Magic, and Vegas Games 2000 for the PlayStation
game console, and Army Men -- Toys in Space, Crusaders of Might and Magic,
Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade expansion pack, and
Family Game Pack Royale for PC.
Infogrames North America Marches Antz for Game Boy Color Into Stores
Antz go marching two by two...hurrah, hurrah...Antz go marching on to Game
Boy Color...hurrah, hurrah!
Infogrames North America in conjunction with DreamWorks, today announced
that Antz for Game Boy Color began shipping this week. Based on the hit
animated film, the game stars the famous ant Z, an insecure little bug who
has high hopes of finding Insectopia, a mystical world where food is
plentiful and all insects live in peace.
``Antz invites kids to experience the miniature world of last year's hit
movie," said Bonnie Scott, product manager for Infogrames North America's
I-Heroes Label. ``We are very excited to be working with Dreamworks.
Through this title kids can explore life through a bug's eyes and get
involved in a game that has all the charm and humor of the movie."
As Z, the player journeys through termite colonies and anthills on his
heroic quest to win over Princess Bala's heart. The game spans 19 levels of
wild adventures including such Ant-oriented hazards as acidic termites,
larger-than-life water droplets, gum-soled shoes and, the scariest of them
all, the sun-filled magnifying glass.
CLCE and Light and Shadow Production developed the title that is also
compatible with the original black and white Game Boy. The game's estimated
retail price is $29.99 and can be found at all major retail outlets.
Psygnosis Restores Order on the Streets and in the
Skies with the Release of G-Police -- Weapons of
Justice, the ultimate, free-roaming 3D Action-shooter
Psygnosis Tuesday released its 3D action shooter, G-Police -- Weapons of
Justice. The sequel to 1997's critically acclaimed hit G-Police,
Psygnosis' astounding helicopter game is back with a host of new features
to thrill hard-core fans of the series and newcomers alike. In addition to
the helicopters of the first game, G-Police -- Weapons of Justice includes
three new player vehicles, each one packed to the max with a variety of
deadly weapons. G-Police -- Weapons of Justice is now available in stores
everywhere, exclusively for the PlayStation game console.
G-Police -- Weapons of Justice picks up ten days after the first game left
off. The war between the G-Police and their enemy, Nanosoft, ended with the
destruction of the Nanosoft cruiser, but G-Police resources are depleted,
civil unrest is growing, and the organized crime syndicates are gaining
power. Fortunately, help is on its way in the form of the Marines, but
things start to go wrong when it appears that their Colonel has a hidden
agenda.
The G-Police recruit will face 30 new missions this time around, with 25
weapon-types available to them, and five air and land vehicles at their
disposal. In addition to the Havoc and Venom, helicopters, players can race
around the streets of Callisto, digging out trouble in the Rhino, an
armored car. There is also the Raptor, a giant mech-type vehicle which
allows players to leap from building to building, or glide down to earth to
traverse the city with ease.
Finally, there is the Corsair spaceship, which allows players to be
transported to battles taking place far beyond the Callisto environment.
All the space missions take full advantage of the PlayStation game
console's high-resolution mode.
When creating Weapons of Justice, Psygnosis was determined to better its
predecessor in every way possible and, after listening to feedback from
fans, the team developed a clear idea of what elements could benefit from
some improvement. The first was the difficulty of the game. The development
team looked at the complexity of the flight model and improved the controls
so that Weapons of Justice is more accessible to newcomers. The game will
still cater to hard-core gamers, however, with heavy doses of dog-fighting
and plenty of opportunity to develop their flying expertise and perform
amazing maneuvers.
The second hurdle of the original game was in the draw-distance. Because
the game's complex AI pushed the PlayStation's CPU to its limits, the
graphics engine took a slight hit, causing a shorter draw-distance than
expected. In G-Police -- Weapons of Justice, this obstacle has been
overcome with the addition of an ``echo-locator system," a device attached
to player's vehicle, allowing them to see further into the distance, and
making navigation much smoother and easier. Improving on the winning
formula in every way possible, G-Police -- Weapons of Justice will entice
newcomers to enter into its future-noir world, while ensuring that
hard-core fans come back for more of the same fast and furious action
offered in the first game.
Designed specifically for the PlayStation game console, G-Police -- Weapons
of Justice supports the DUAL SHOCK analog controller, for a truly
interactive flying experience. G-Police Weapons of Justice was developed
by the Psygnosis Stroud Studio.
Infogrames North America Ships Demolition Racer for the PlayStation
Infogrames announced Tuesday that its demolition derby-style racing game,
Demolition Racer, will begin shipping this week for the Sony PlayStation
game console.
The game will be available for the personal computer later this fall.
Demolition Racer lets players participate in action-packed races with 16
cars competing against each other on one of 10 different tracks. Set in
unique environments, Demolition Racer's tracks include an aircraft carrier,
a chemical plant, and a parking garage, with most of the tracks offering
players the chance to take alternate pathways or shortcuts.
Developed by the Pitbull Syndicate, the Demolition Racer team includes some
of the core members who created the highly successful Destruction Derby 1
and 2 games.
``We think that Demolition Racer is the kind of game that players have been
deprived of for a long time," said Steve Allison, director of marketing
for sports and racing at Infogrames North America. ``It's a racing game
with a twist. Not only can you inflict damage to cars, you must do so to
win." Players who cause massive damage to other vehicles, while falling
behind in the race, will not place well in the final statistics, due to
Demolition Racer's advanced scoring system. Damage points and one's
placement in the race are combined with a multiplier to determine the
winner of each race.
Players can choose from eight different car types and can compete in
several types of demolition derby events, including demolition racing, bowl
matches, stock car racing, last man standing, and suicide racing.
Following a collision, vehicles catch fire, billow smoke and visibly show
damage, such as wobbly tires, while hoods and other car parts fly off.
Gameplay includes huge jumps that send cars into 360-degree mid-air
corkscrews, with the pinnacle of destruction being a one-hit takeout move
that occurs when a car catches air and lands on top of another car.
In an effort to keep up the fast-paced action in Demolition Racer, players
can earn health points for their car by picking up strategically placed
repair power-ups, as well as picking up boxes with huge bonus points.
Players will have to watch out for the black boxes marked with a skull and
cross bones -- as these do major damage to the player's own car. An
immediate on-screen points system shows players how many points they
receive with each hit or power-up, as well as how much health their car has
left.
Demolition Racer's licensed soundtrack includes songs from Road Runner
Records' alternative band, Fear Factory; Moonshine Music's break beat trio,
Cirrus; British techno-dance music trio, Empirion; along with tracks from
industry veteran, Tommy Tallarico, and a remix from Holland's mix-master,
Junkie XL.
The game's new engine delivers incredible speed and collisions at 30 frames
per second and offers intense mulitplayer action via horizontal or vertical
split screen viewing, and supports the PlayStation analog and Dual Shocka
controllers.
The estimated retail price for Demolition Racer is $44.99. For more
information, visit the Demolition Racer web site at www.demolitionracer.com
New Konami Titles for PlayStation Take Gamers Back to Ancient Times
Suikoden II and Soul of the Samurai Offer Feudalistic Japanese Adventure
Konami of America, Inc. announced Tuesday the release of Suikoden II, the
sequel to the immensely popular Suikoden. Like the original, Suikoden II is
an action packed role-playing adventure that delivers extensive spell
attack combinations, detailed tactical map battles and introduces more than
108 new characters. Suikoden II offers both beginners and Suikoden saga
enthusiasts a chance to immerse themselves into this romantic story of
honor and betrayal.
Suikoden II centers around a magical friendship between two boys who
survive a vicious war against the Scarlet Moon Empire and long to return to
their beloved homeland, Kyaro. On their way back home the boys' platoon is
brutally ambushed -- a trap set by their own commander to derail the peace
process. Framed for the attack as part of a cover-up, the two are marked as
traitors and are plunged into another war that only one can survive. The
two now face the ultimate test of friendship, love and loyalty.
This adult-themed role playing game (RPG) allows players to utilize any of
the l08 characters to create the most tactical fighting force of infantry,
archers and spellcasters. Each type of character has distinguishing
strengths and weaknesses, and gamers must determine the best strategy for
each encounter. For example, infantry are strong against hand-to-hand
attacks, but are weak against archery and magic attacks. Players can modify
the formation of characters in combat and change party members throughout
the story to create the most effective positioning and attack plans against
each specific target.
A special new feature to Suikoden II allows gamers to save and utilize data
from the previous version of the story to augment their military strategy,
and unlock hidden story lines from the original saga. Characters may also
fight in combination with one another's designated strengths. Specific
character combinations within a party can accomplish special attack
maneuvers. Gamers may also command their unit to flee from an opponent
without fighting, or bribe an enemy with money. However, there is no
guarantee of escape and if the bribe amount is too low, the enemy unit may
not let the party get away.
Gamers can choose various attack items, including flaming arrows, fire
walls and winds-of-sleep to accomplish their campaigns. Players are also
able to increase weapon levels at Blacksmith Shops and earn money to buy
more advanced military items by bartering trade goods at Trading Posts. The
extensive spell ``rune" list includes more than 48 types of powerful spell
combinations accessible at various levels of the game.
Suikoden II is now available at retail outlets nationwide. The game is
rated ``T - Teen" by the ESRB and will be priced $39.99 SRP.
Another exciting title available this month from Konami is Soul of the
Samurai. Soul of the Samurai begins in the domain of Matsuna in the Tenmei
era (1781) where legend tells of mysterious practices of resurrection
taking place. The time is plagued with famine and corruption, as powerful
feudal lords seek to take over the Bakufu Shogunate. A ninja, Lin, travels
to Matsuna to investigate her brother's mysterious disappearance.
Meanwhile, Hiba Kotaro, a gifted samurai, is traveling back to Matsuna to
visit his parent's gravesite. Kotaro finds his parent's gravesite
desecrated and senses an evil presence within the entire village. Together,
Lin and Kotaro must discover who is behind the mysterious evil forces that
threaten the Shogunate and free all of Japan from its treachery.
Soul of the Samurai's intricate story line, high-resolution graphics and
authentic Japanese soundtrack will transport gamers into the romanticism of
feudal Japan. Gamers are able to choose either Hiba Kotaro or Lin to begin
their adventure.
The samurai, Kotaro, is a gifted swordsman and gamers can utilize more than
40 of his sword techniques based on real-life Samurai martial arts. By
building up mental and experience points acquired after defeating a series
of enemies, both Kotaro and Lin learn exciting special attack moves. Kotaro
can utilize his Hawk Dance, Pigeon Sonic or Spinning Eagle to wreak havoc
on his enemies.
Lin uses her ninja quickness and kicking techniques to defeat her enemies,
and throws various deadly objects at her enemies. Her special attacks
include sword techniques Cherry Blossoms and Amaryllis, and throwing
attacks Night Queen and Crimson Peacock.
The simple controls allow novice players to grasp basic fighting
techniques, while more advanced gamers unfold special moves through the
D-pad and button combinations.
But the tale is not over once gamers complete either Kotaro or Lin alone.
Throughout the story Kotaro and Lin intersect at various points. Gamers
will have to complete both Kotaro and Lin to discover the full mystery
behind the evil forces that threaten the Shoguante.
Soul of the Samurai is now available at retail outlets nationwide.
Available with a ``M - Mature" rating by the ESRB, the title will be
priced $39.99 SRP.
Sega Dreamcast Games and Technology Showcased
At Disney Innoventions Exhibit
Sega of America today announced a two year commitment to be an exhibitor at
Innoventions at Epcot, an interactive showcase featuring the future of
technology and consumer entertainment products.
Sega Dreamcast at Innoventions, which opens on Thursday, September 30,
will host over 8 million domestic and international visitors each year to
experience the latest in videogame technology and witness the future of
videogame entertainment as it evolves through advanced technology and
online capabilities.
Sega's 2900 square foot exhibit will feature 34 interactive stations
including playable games at kiosks and a presentation of ``Shenmue", a
role-playing videogame that showcases the latest breakthroughs in
videogaming. The exhibit will continue to evolve throughout its two year
commitment at Innoventions at Epcot® with game updates and exclusive
previews of online gaming technology prior to being introduced on the Sega
Dreamcast Network, the definitive gaming portal for consumers that enter
the web through the Sega Dreamcast console.
``Innoventions is an ideal forum for us to demonstrate Dreamcast's ability
to make the world a smaller, more enjoyable place by connecting people via
the Internet for the first time through a low cost gaming console. Sega
Dreamcast's 56K modem and realistic, evolving gameplay represent the future
of gaming and technology," said Peter Moore, Senior Vice President, Sega
of America. ``We look forward to continually updating our Innoventions
exhibit as new technology and Sega Dreamcast games are introduced."
Sega Dreamcast stations at Innoventions will feature games that allow
guests of all ages to experience the future of gaming. On display will be
revolutionary new Sega titles, a preview of next-generation game creation
and the Sega Dreamcast Network. Sonic Adventure, Sega Bass Fishing,
Sega Rally 2 Championship, Shenmue and the Sega Sports brand
including NFL 2K, NBA 2K and CART - Flag to Flag will be among
the first titles featured at Innoventions. Sonic Adventure displays the
incredible processing power of Dreamcast pushing out 60 frames per second
doubling the normal 30 frames per second found in a TV broadcast.
TrickStyle from Acclaim, its much anticipated stunt-based racing game
will also be featured in the exhibit area.
Sega Sports NFL 2K is the football title so realistic people often think
they're watching an actual game on TV due to details as specific as visible
breath when teams are playing in a cold climate. Sega Sport's basketball
game NBA 2K continues the detailed tradition set by NFL 2K by including
players' individual facial features, tattoos and hairstyles and exact
recreations of NBA arenas and courts. In an area designed to transport
guests to an authentic fishing hole, Sega Bass Fishing recreates the
fishing experience with a unique rod controller which responds to physical
commands such as casting, reeling and playing the line. Sega Rally 2
Championship is a true high-speed, off-road racing thriller so realistic,
players feel as though they are part of the action.
``Shenmue" was conceived five years ago by Japanese developer Yu Suzuki
and was designed specifically for the high powered Sega Dreamcast. This
masterpiece is so lifelike, landscapes change as time passes, responding to
time of day and weather. Characters move with the grace or clumsiness of
real humans. Videotapes of ``Shenmue" will detail the creative and
technical elements needed to make a videogame of this caliber.
Sega Zaps Stock Trading Into Game Zone
Japanese top guns used to slugging it out with online enemies in video
games could soon be just a click away from punching stock deals into the
same console.
Dreamcast gaming gear maker Sega and brokerage Nomura Tuesday agreed to add
share trading to the online games Sega already offers, as part of Sega's
push to steer e-commerce onto its cheap Internet access platform.
From October, Nomura will provide Dreamcast customers in Japan with
software to let them access its Home Trade online trading web site --
extending Nomura's reach in the Japanese retail market.
For Sega -- due to launch the console across Europe in October -- the move
is part of a drive to get a piece of not just the online action, but also
the money.
``It is the intention to develop e-retailing across the board through
Dreamcast connectivity," said a London-based Sega spokesman. With the
console now selling at around $199 in the United States, versus $500
minimum for a personal computer, the appeal to net newcomers is clear.
``As a low-cost Internet access device, you can see it's a lot more
appealing than buying a PC," said Frederic Diot, senior analyst at
research group Datamonitor.
Rather than a direct challenge to the personal computer as a route online,
analysts say the console -- as well as a similar Playstation upgrade
planned by Sony and a wireless online Gameboy promised from Nintendo --
reflect increasing segmentation in the access market.
The share-trading deal comes alongside similar ventures on the Dreamcast
console in auto sales and horse betting, both targeting the money to be
made in the segment of the youth market where PCs are uncool, but a game
like Mortal Kombat may well be worth a night in.
Some may say share-trading is not that different from existing Dreamcast
games where players ``just pit your wits and your punches against the
others." But from the investment point of view, the logic behind Sega's
strategy is clear.
Investors in Internet-linked stocks are getting more anxious about seeing
real returns, so a proposition that generates actual cash would make sense.
No one at Sega's European offices could say for sure what sort of
electronic money-making alliances are in line for Dreamcast's European
launch, but in the UK it will come with a promotional deal with BSkyB and
soccer sponsorships.
These could lead to cross-marketing, or for instance the direct sale of
soccer club merchandise through Dreamcast.
Dreamcast's European Internet access will be free, and even though the
online experience will not be as fast as is now possible in the United
States, U.S. sales have ramped up expectations for sales of the console.
Reaching half a million units in the first fortnight, they were well in
excess of even the most optimistic forecasts.
Sega's European spokesman said the target was for a million units in the
first 12 months, and Datamonitor's Diot said his forecast for end-year
sales was 700,000, although that had been based on the assumption of a June
launch.
``They are trying to see all the different ways they can use the online
capacity of Dreamcast to generate revenues," he said.
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE Gaming Online - Online Users Growl & Purr!
"""""""""""""""""""
Sokomania and Hyperdrome
From: Carl Forhan (forhan@midas.millcomm.com)
Just a quick reminder to Lynx fans that Sokomania and Hyperdrome are now
both available for the Lynx at Songbird Productions, along with many other
new releases and hard-to-find games like Lexis, Desert Strike, and
European Soccer.
Ordering details on the Songbird web pages.
Sincerely,
Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird.atari.org
Where Are All The Lynx Fans?
Since alt.games.lynx has picked up on posts a bit recently, I figure this
might be a good time to ask, "Where are all the Lynx fans?"
I understand that there are attractive new portables out there like the
GBC and NGPC. There are also lots of other ways to spend money, on
different necessities and interests.
The reason I pose the question is that Songbird Productions is currently
gearing up for the production of new Atari Jaguar games. Based on a recent
poll, it looks like each new game will be purchased by 100-300 fans. This
is a much stronger level of support than I have received for the new Lynx
games (SFX, Ponx, and Lexis).
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure is coming later this fall (hopefully end
of October, perhaps November). Beyond that, Songbird Productions is
evaluating future Lynx projects. I need to know there is serious interest
in new Lynx games to make the process worthwhile. Sales have been decent
but lower than my projections for the games Songbird has published.
Perhaps some Lynx fans are waiting until the holiday season to purchase
some new games. I hope so. And I realize that not everyone will want a
Ponx or a Lexis genre of game. But the only way Songbird can continue to
deliver new titles to Lynx fans is if current titles sell well.
Thanks for reading this article, and feel free to follow-up this post on
alt.games.lynx or email Songbird at songbird@atari.org with your comments
or suggestions.
Sincerely,
Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird.atari.org
Last call for the new Jaguar games poll
For those who haven't heard or were recently added to the AtariNews list,
Songbird Productions will be publishing four new Jaguar games in 1999 and
2000. The titles are Skyhammer, Soccer Kid, Hyper Force, and Protector.
Please vote for upcoming Jaguar games that you will definitely purchase
at:
http://apps3.vantagenet.com/zpolls/poll.asp?id=981715950
Thanks to everyone who has already voted in this poll! Your support is
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird.atari.org
From the Usenet and Jaguar Interactive II:
What ever happened to "Worms"?
Well, they were at CGE, but I wasn't there to see them or talk to them.
Telegames is definitely not another ICD, by any stretch of the
imagination. As per an email that I received from Telegames today, they
are monitoring the situation of people expressing discontent in JI2. I'm
willing to wait as long as it takes to get my copy of Worms, but...
Telegames is ready to cancel the preorders and refund the money.
Here's the email I received tonight from them:
---- Start of Email ----
Subject: WORMS and IS2 Cartridges
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 16:04:17 -0500
From: Telegames <sales@telegames.com>
We have been monitoring the comments on Jaguar Interactive II about our
"broken promises" and are disappointed in many of the comments. We
regret the delays in the 2nd runs of each cartridge but the problems
have been beyond our control.
Effective immediately, we will cancel all pre-orders for these products.
We will promptly refund all prepayments upon request, otherwise, we will
reflect credits on an individual's account for future purchases.
Please share this message with others on JI2. We sent an individual
e-mail to you so that it would not be perceived as a joke posting by
someone.
Thanks to all for their continued support for Atari systems.
Regards,
Telegames, Inc.
---- End of Email ----
I've been waiting since Aug 1998, but a well-known troublemaker on JI2
has been an impractical 'conspiracy theorist' who's been stating they're
'using the preorder money to fund their Gameboy publishing', and other
absurd things. No wonder Telegames got pissed and decided to cancel the
preorders! I stated on there that I was getting frustrated with the
delays, but would hold out until the carts were produced. As for the PCB
reason for the delay, I got messages from some people after I posted and
really realized that 'Hey, it could be a pretty hard task getting PCBs
made.' It's unfortunate that because of one person going overboard with
the accusations (well past my frustration levels), this guy pretty much
ruined it for everyone unless Telegames reconsiders. If nothing else, I
hope Telegames reconsiders enough to fill at least the preorders that
were filed with them, and have expressed concern to Telegames in this
respect. I urge anyone who's preordered from them to do the same at
sales@telegames.com.
*sigh*
And a follow-up:
>Guys, give Telegames a break. All of you should know by now what a small,
niche business it is to support Atari platforms. Telegames is not swindling
money and they are perhaps the most prominent and influential of the
remaining "classic" (pre-Hasbro) Atari supporters.
>Trust me, they will get the games out when they can. They've apparently
offered to refund money to those who have pre-ordered, so no one should
have anything to complain about. Either wait it out or get your money back.
>Sincerely,
>Carl Forhan
>Songbird Productions
Subject: Re: WORMS and IS2 Cartridges
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 18:01:34 -0500
From: Telegames
We did not state that we would cease our efforts to make another run of IS2
and WORMS. We stated that we were cancelling all pre-orders and refunding
payments upon request to remove any doubts about our use of these deposits.
Regards
Ok, perhaps that first message sounded a bit too apocalyptic. I'm pleased
to know that Telegames is still pursuing the release of these games, and
ONLY cancelling preorders (I'm leaving my money with them to use for
credit).
=~=~=~=
A-ONE's Headline News
The Latest in Computer Technology News
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Phone Costs Sink In Fresh Web War
Britain's two biggest Internet access providers unveiled services with
cheaper calls Monday as the telephone became the new battlefield of the UK
Web war.
Freeserve Plc launched a plan to let users earn up to 10 hours of free
Internet calls a month if they spend a minimum on other calls via its
partner, Energis Plc.
The free calls would only be for evenings and weekends.
AOL UK, part of a joint venture between AOL and German publisher
Bertelsmann AG, said its subscribers who pay a monthly fee would enjoy a
reduced flat rate of a penny (1.6 cents) a minute for all their calls to
the Web.
``This will increase the amount of time people spend online,'' AOL UK
Managing Director Karen Thomson told Reuters, who said simplicity of its
new
pricing was a major draw for consumers.
She said this was a major step toward U.S.-style flat-rate pricing that
made the Internet a mass-market phenomenon there.
AOL said its British users spend an average 17 minutes a day online -- a
quarter the time of their U.S. counterparts.
In Britain, local calls are metered and cost up to four pence a minute on
weekdays, deterring prolonged Internet use.
AOL was Britain's largest Internet service provider (ISP) until a year ago
when Freeserve, the brainchild of electrical retailer Dixons Plc, erupted
onto the scene offering Web access that was free except for the phone call.
Some 1.3 million people use Freeserve and its main income source to date
has been a share of phone-call profits.
Since Freeserve emerged, some 200 no-subscription ISPs have sprung up in
Britain, hoping to survive from phone profits, advertising and e-commerce,
but call costs are under pressure.
Smaller ISPs are already offering free calls, but only at off-peak times
and often with a monthly fee.
AOL felt obliged to join the UK craze for free ISPs by launching Netscape
Online last month but has said it is skeptical that this is a business
model that can last.
Some analysts expect government regulators eventually to pressure ex-state
monopoly British Telecommunications Plc to charge less for other operators
to use its local lines.
Worries about Freeserve's long-term profitability depressed its shares last
week to below the 150p offer price at its launch in July when Dixons sold
off a fifth of its child prodigy.
They recovered 11 pence to 147p by 1100 GMT.
In other countries, where call costs are lower, free ISPs are still a
rarity.
Alta Vista, a unit of CMGI Inc., last month launched the first major U.S.
free-access service which will have to live off advertising and e-commerce
revenues.
Most U.S. Web users pay around $20 a month.
Thomson said AOL UK, which has 600,000 users, had negotiated major
discounts with some phone operators it declined to name, and would pass the
savings on to its users, who mostly pay a monthly 9.99 pound ($16)
subscription on top of phone costs.
Netscape Online users will not get the cheaper calls.
Nortel Takes Aim At Web Traffic Jams
Nortel Networks Corp. said Tuesday it is developing a speedy networking
product that aims to make many Web traffic jams obsolete.
Nortel, one of the world's biggest makers of communications gear, will
bundle five products into a new package available late next year that is
designed to ease the transmission of data, video and voice through existing
fiber-optic wires. The bundle will consist of two existing products and
three in the works.
The Brampton, Ontario-based company touted its OPTera Packet Solution as a
``breakthrough" that will unite optical and packet networks into a single
one to carry all types of traffic.
``It will provide lightning fast, highly reliable optical switching and
routing capabilities that replace `Old World' routers responsible for 57
percent of all Internet failures today, and deliver massive bandwidth where
and when it is needed," Nortel said in a statement.
British telecommunications company Cable & Wireless Plc has endorsed the
product, saying it looks forward to using that kind of technology. Nortel
said it made the announcement far in advance to let potential clients plan
their purchases.
Clarence Chandran, head of Nortel's carrier packet solutions unit, likened
the capabilities of the upcoming package to replacing the engine of a
Formula One racing car. ``You're going to take his existing Formula One
engine out, you're going to put a new one in, and he's going to have speed
and reliability going around the corners that he's never had before,"
Chandran told Reuters.
In the race to develop equipment to cope with the exploding use of the
Internet, companies such as Nortel and its rivals are fighting to be first
to market with better products.
Michael Urlocker, analyst at Scotia Capital Markets, said Nortel's news was
a clear shot at San Jose, Calif.-based foe Cisco Systems Inc. ``They're
building on something they're market technology leaders in: that's
optical."
Phone and telecommunications carriers are trying to manage huge growth in
Internet usage, and have complicated networks that are becoming
increasingly unwieldy.
Demand for Nortel's optical products is exploding as the market grows. The
market is expected to increase 56 percent a year to more than US$35 billion
by 2000, the company said.
Chandran said that the optical division at Nortel has had a "wild ride"
in the past year as interest in its products surges. ``Even my most
optimistic views have been surpassed."
``The pie is growing phenomenally for everybody," Urlocker said.
``It looks like (Nortel's) playing a more aggressive marketing game," he
added.
Survey Says: Electronic Mail Leading Reason To Go Online
Electronic mail has replaced research as the leading reason given by people
in the United States for using the Internet, according to a survey released
Thursday by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Approximately 48 percent of U.S. consumers said e-mail was the primary
reason to go online, followed by research at 28 percent, according to
PricewaterhouseCoopers' 1999 Consumer Technology Survey. The numbers were
essentially reversed in last year's survey.
In the United Kingdom, 39 percent use the Internet for e-mail, while 37
percent use it for research. Both German and French users primarily go
online for research purposes.
PricewaterhouseCoopers polled 800 users in the United States, the United
Kingdom, Germany and France.
Around 43 percent of U.S. homes have Internet access, the survey said,
compared with around 27 percent in last year's survey. In the United
Kingdom, home Internet access nearly doubled to 24 percent.
U.S. users spend an average 5.3 hours a week online, compared to users in
the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, who spend 2.4 hours a week online.
Amazon.com To Let Anyone Sell There
Amazon.com will start looking like an online flea market on Thursday as the
Internet powerhouse begins allowing anyone - from industrial giants to
artistic grandmothers - to sell products through its Web site.
News of the vast expansion - which will add more than 500,000 items,
including fly-fishing rods and buffalo steaks, to Amazon.com's product mix
- sent the company's stock soaring 22.5 percent Wednesday.
``Amazon wants to get their fingers in every Internet purchase that takes
place," said Ken Cassar, an analyst at online research firm Jupiter
Communications. ``This is getting them closer to that goal."
Seattle-based Amazon.com has built itself into an Internet shopping hub in
just four years. While it once exclusively sold books online, it now offers
music, videos, auctions, toys and consumer electronics.
It has more than 12 million customers, up from 10.7 million just three
months ago.
Amazon.com also has been pouring millions of dollars into outside ventures,
such as online pharmacy drugstore.com and Internet pet shop Pets.com.
But the new services announced Wednesday will make Amazon.com even bigger
and more far-reaching, and will allow the company to expand without
incurring huge startup costs.
``We thought that Amazon's success would be based on their becoming a
landlord online, not just a tenant, and here we go. They are doing just
that," said Lauren Cooks Levitan, an analyst at BancBoston Robertson
Stephens in San Francisco.
The new service, zSHOPS, lets almost anyone - regardless of size, product
or location - sell online. Amazon.com will only prohibit the sale of guns
and live animals.
Shoppers can link to zSHOPS from Amazon.com's home page. They can search
for a specific item, such as a digital camera, or an entire product
category, like clothing, books or toys.
If shoppers like a particular zSHOPS merchant, they can click on the
merchant's name to find a list of all the products that the seller is
offering.
``Amazon is not the only site out there to host small businesses on their
site," said analyst Cassar, noting that Yahoo! and Lycos offer similar
services.
``What makes them different is that Amazon attracts more shoppers than any
other site on the Web ... and provides a major thoroughfare that many
shoppers will come through," he said.
Sellers pay $9.99 a month for space on Amazon.com's Web site, with premiums
charged for retailers who want their goods prominently displayed on the
home page of zSHOPS.
In addition, Amazon.com also gets paid by the sellerwhen an item is
purchased, with the size of the fee depending on the purchase price.
Sellers are required to stock the items they are offering and are
responsible for shipping the products promptly.
Shoppers can pay zSHOPS sellers directly by credit card, money order or
check. Amazon.com will also allow zSHOPS buyers to use its proprietary
1-Click payment feature, which keeps track of a shopper's credit-card
number and address so the information doesn't have to be typed in for each
purchase.
To protect consumers from unscrupulous merchants, Amazon.com will guarantee
refunds of up to $250 for any item that is broken or not as the buyer
expected. Those shoppers who use 1-Click payments are guaranteed up to
$1,000.
In addition, shoppers can find reviews and ratings from other customers as
they check out a product on zSHOPS.
For the small merchant, zSHOPS is a way to get products to a huge buying
audience without the costs of developing and marketing a separate Web site.
Phoenix businessman Keith Hertz sees zSHOPS as an opportunity to tap
shoppers that he'd never reach otherwise for his hand-carved replicas of
sports stadiums.
``There is a lot of competition out there and you can never get enough
exposure to keep your business growing," said Hertz, who heads Sport
Collectors Guild.
ZSHOPS sellers also have the option to cross link their products with items
Amazon.com sells itself, such as toys, books and music. That means a
shopper who searches for a list of books on college sports stadiums will
see other related products, such as Hertz' mini stadium replicas.
In addition to the zSHOPS launch, Amazon.com also will unveil a new
Internet search engine this week. That means if shoppers can't find
something, they can search other shopping sites directly from Amazon.com.
The search program also lets shoppers compare products and prices found on
Amazon.com with those offered by other Internet merchants.
Although Amazon.com receives no commission for referring shoppers to other
online retailers, the company still benefits indirectly because its new
services will attract additional Web surfers to its site.
Internet Management Case Settled
The cash-strapped group assuming management of much of the Internet agreed
Tuesday to allow a Virginia company to continue for at least four years as
keeper of the master list of World Wide Web addresses in exchange for a
$1.25 million payment.
Praised by participants as a landmark in the 30-year history of the
Internet, the complex settlement aims to resolve the most contentious
arguments surrounding transition of control over the Web from the federal
government to the California-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names
and Numbers.
Still, the impact on typical Internet consumers was negligible in that the
agreement involved largely the behind-the-scenes management of technical
issues and standards. Organizers said there would have been serious
problems had the talks failed.
``We think it's clear there would have been significant risk of disruption
to electronic commerce, to the growth of the Internet ... if there was
instability and controversy," said Andrew Pincus, general counsel for the
Commerce Department, which helped coordinate the settlement.
Executives at Network Solutions Inc., the world's largest seller of
Internet addresses, promised they will recognize the California group's
authority over the Web, a festering issue during negotiations that started
last year.
But they were confident the deal also held a promise of financial security
for shareholders in their company, whose stock climbed from $65.38 last
week to $85.50 at close of trading Tuesday.
``This is a system we need to ensure is stable and something we can build
the new economy on," said Mike Daniels, the company's chairman.
Commerce Secretary William Daley said he was pleased that ICANN and Network
Solutions ``worked this out at the negotiating table and not at tables in a
courtroom."
Since 1992, Network Solutions has coordinated the Internet's most important
functions under its role as a government contractor and registered more
than 5 million addresses with the ``com," ``net" and ``org" suffixes.
Under the deal, Network Solutions will act as one of about a dozen
wholesalers of Internet domains, selling Web addresses directly to the
public for about $35 a year.
But it will also continue for at least four more years to maintain the
master list of Internet domains, called the registry. In that capacity, it
agreed to charge other wholesalers no more than $6 annually for each Web
address a customer buys.
In exchange, Network Solutions offered to pay in advance half the expected
$2 million in fees ICANN expects to charge it as a name wholesaler, plus
the full $250,000 it will pay for maintaining the Internet's master address
list.
Esther Dyson, the interim chairwoman for ICANN's directors, called the
agreement ``a huge relief."
``Everybody here feels they gave a huge amount," Dyson said. ``This is all
about tradeoffs and compromise."
The government clearly wants Network Solutions to separate its functions as
a seller of Web addresses and as keeper of the registry. One clause in the
deal offers to allow the company to maintain the master list for up to
eight years if it splits those operations within 18 months.
Network Solutions announced in August that it split those functions into
``discrete business units," but not as full a separation as sought by the
government. Daniels didn't discuss future plans Tuesday.
``We have not started even to consider any particular details of what we
will consider doing," he said.
Government Lawyer in Microsoft Case Quits
One of the lead lawyers for the government in the antitrust trial against
the Microsoft Corporation has quit the case and resigned from the New York
attorney general's office just weeks before the judge's initial verdict is
expected.
Stephen Houck, who resigned Wednesday, led the courtroom fight for the 19
states suing Microsoft along with the Justice Department. He also delivered
part of the government's closing arguments to the judge last week.
His decision was not expected to affect the trial's outcome because New
York and the other states still are pursuing their claims. Iowa's attorney
general, Tom Miller, is coordinating the states' role in the trial.
``It's hard to see how this is going to affect the case," said Robert
Litan, a former senior Justice official. ``Turnover is normal. I don't
think you can really read too much into this."
Houck did not return messages left at his office Thursday.
Houck questioned only one of the 26 trial witnesses, IBM executive John
Soyring, who also was from New York. Much of the attention during 77 days
of testimony, has been on Justice Department lawyer David Boies, who
questioned Microsoft trial executives.
When Houck sought an expanded role early in the trial - asking a question
during testimony from the first witness - the judge snapped at him harshly
and reminded him that only one government lawyer was allowed to question
each witness.
Houck was perhaps best known for his strong views that Microsoft should
face the severest penalties for its alleged antitrust violations. On the
final day of testimony, he told reporters the company was a ``malignant
despot" and that its behavior ``will justify a very significant remedy."
Houck also was the only lawyer, besides Boies, to question Microsoft's
chairman, Bill Gates, during a sworn videotaped deposition over three days
last year. Shown at trial, excerpts from the tape of Gates professing to
forget key events and appearing to evade questions proved embarrassing for
the software giant.
Houck mentioned the Gates tape again during closing arguments last week
when he said the judge ``plainly has seen enough of Mr. Gates' videotaped
deposition to make your own findings" about his truthfulness.
A Microsoft spokesman, Jim Cullinan, declined to comment on Houck's
resignation beyond saying, ``He has not applied for a job in (Microsoft)
law and corporate affairs."
Houck was the head of the antitrust office for New York's attorney general
until last year's election, when Democrat Eliot Spitzer defeated the
incumbent and replaced Houck with Harry First.
PC 300PL: The World's Securest Desktop?
IBM claims its new PC 300PL desktops, announced Tuesday, are the most
secure PCs on the market.
Backing up that claim is a new embedded security processor, available in
new PC 300PL models. The chip, located on the motherboard of the PCs, will
support public key, private key security and digital signatures, IBM
officials said.
"For customers who are crossing the 'e-line' into e-business, security
becomes a big issue," said Anne Gardner general manager for desktop systems
at IBM's Personal Systems Group in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
The security processor is able to generate and store keys for private and
public key-sharing applications, such as those used for encrypted e-mail or
in electronic commerce. The chip can also generate and store keys for
digital signatures, according to IBM.
Using hardware to generate encryption keys offers users an additional level
of trust, Gardner said, because hardware is generally more difficult to
crack than software-based encryption.
IBM is targeting four areas of security with the chip, including
authenticity, privacy, information integrity and non-repudiation.
The chip will help, for example, with authentication, allow a company to
better identify that a party placing an order is really who they say they
are or develop binding, trackable documents in the case of non-repudiation,
she said.
IBM will ship PCs including the security processor with the chip turned off
by default. It can be turned on with a software applet included on the new
PC.
"It is up to the end user or the network administrator to go in and enable
this," Gardner said.
The chip is included for no extra charge in PC 300PL models. It will ship
later with other IBM client systems, including desktops and notebooks,
Gardner said.
IBM also intends to make the processor available to other PC makers in
hopes that it will become a standard technology in the PC industry, she
said.
Besides the security processor, IBM is also including with the new PC 300PL
models, a utility called User Verification Manager or UVM. IBM says the
utility can be used along with its Policy Director software to set up user
identities and determine access rights and privileges.
The new desktops also support Internet Protocol Security or IPSec. The
technology, which is embedded in network interface cards, allows for the
encryption of information sent over a network to another IPSec-enabled
computer. It does so by encrypting the data packets sent between computers.
This works to prevent information theft by a technique called packet
sniffing, where packets of information flowing over a network are captured
and re-assembled, allowing a person to read the data they carry.
The new IBM PC 300PL models will offer Intel Corp.'s latest Pentium III
processors. They are priced starting at about $1,349, according to the
company.
IBM isn't the only company working to offer hardware security. Intel has
included in its 800 family of chip sets a random number generator. The
random numbers generator translates thermal noise created by an Intel
processor into random number pattern. That number can then be used by
cryptography software in encryption.
Intel is also still shipping its Processor Serial Number feature on new
Pentium III chips. However, due to privacy concerns, it has cancelled plans
to deliver tools that allow Web sites and other businesses to take
advantage of the feature. PSN is now used mostly by network management
software to help companies keep track of their PCs.
IBM Joins Color Computer Case Craze
IBM joined the computer industry's color craze Thursday, introducing covers
for its ThinkPad i notebook series in ``Sirius red, ``Andromeda green,"
and five other out-of-this-world hues.
The colorful covers are inspired by an idea made popular by Apple Computer
Inc. with its successful launch of iMac desktop computers, which come in
six fruit-related colors.
International Business Machines Corp. joins Dell Computer Corp., eMachines
and other PC makers in injecting color into new computer offerings as a way
to differentiate their products from standard beige, gray or black boxes.
IBM's optional color covers, which retail for $29.99, also come in ``Mars
red metallic, ``Terra green metallic," Eclipse blue metallic, ``Lunar gray
metallic and ``Polaris Blue."
The covers fit over the top of the ``clamshell" casing of the computer.
The IBM ThinkPad 1460 and 1480 models also feature an illuminated keyboard
for use in low-light conditions. They list for $2,199 and $2,399,
respectively.
Netscape Releases New Communicator
Netscape on Thursday released a new version of its Communicator browser
that allows consumers to access a shopping portal with one click.
Communicator 4.7, currently available online, includes a Shop@Netscape
button, a feature of Netscape parent America Online Inc.'s program to
expand its commerce plan across brands. The button will take users to a
site that provides links to merchants, news and specials, and themed
merchandising.
The new version of Communicator also includes an updated version of
Netscape Radio, which rebroadcasts content from Spinner, and provides links
to artists and music groups through the Netscape Music section of
NetCenter.
Netscape has also bundled WinAmp 2.5, a digital music player, with the new
browser.
Western Digital Recalls Hard Drives
A defective computer chip has forced Western Digital Corp. to recall
400,000 hard disk drives.
Western Digital officials said it was unclear how many of the affected hard
drives actually were in consumer hands or how much the recall would cost.
The company, which supplies equipment to Gateway Inc. and Compaq Computer
Corp., said many of the disk drives were still in the hands of
manufacturers and sellers.
The defect can cause the hard drives - the part of the computer that stores
data - to fail to power up after six to 12 months of use, company officials
said Monday.
``No data has been lost, and none is in danger of being lost," said
Charles Haggerty, Western Digital's chief executive.
The recall is the latest in a string of problems, including recent layoffs
and a plunging stock price, for the Orange County-based computer company.
The hard drives being recalled are part of the WD Cavair series. They were
made between Aug. 27 and last Friday, and have drive capacities between 6.4
gigabytes and 20.5 gigabytes, the company said.
Consumers who purchased computers in the past month can check specification
sheets on their machines to see if they include a Western Digital drive,
officials said. The company's Web site, www.westerndigital.com, offers a
software program that can be downloaded to identify affected products.
Global Ban on Internet Taxes Sought
The Clinton administration and Congress are urging that the World Trade
Organization impose a permanent global ban on taxes and tariffs aimed
specifically at Internet commerce.
Of particular concern is the ``bit tax" on transmission of digital data
proposed by a recent United Nations report as a way for developing
countries to gain revenue. The tax would increase based on the size of a
computer file being transferred.
Legislation introduced Thursday by Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Calif., and Sen.
Ron Wyden, D-Ore., urges U.S. trade officials to work during the WTO's
November meeting in Seattle for the permanent ban. The measure also says
the United States should oppose an attempt by any nation to impose a bit
tax.
``We want to make sure we arrest this threat before it's too late," Cox
said.
Some Internet companies, Cox added, have questioned the Clinton
administration's commitment to the ban, but Wyden said Treasury Secretary
Lawrence Summers telephoned Thursday to offer full support for their
non-binding resolution.
``We need strong U.S. leadership to develop fair rules and a level playing
field for a healthy global electronic marketplace," Wyden said. ``Both
political parties have a reason to be supportive."
The 130-nation WTO last year adopted a one-year moratorium on Internet
tariffs and discriminatory taxes, but several European countries have
expressed interest in attempting to impose their value-added taxes on goods
sold there. France, for example, has a 20.6 percent value-added tax on
goods.
Pakistan and Egypt, among others, want to ``keep their options open," Cox
said.
``We're trying to get everyone to understand that this would be mutually
assured destruction," Cox said. ``It's appealing to people's better
judgment."
On the domestic Internet tax front, Cox and Wyden agreed that a federal
commission appointed by Congress should be left free to recommend future
U.S. tax policy on e-commerce by its April deadline. But if the 19-member
panel deadlocks or is ``hijacked," in Wyden's words, by one faction or
another, Congress should consider giving it more time.
The Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce, created as part of a law
banning new U.S. Internet taxes for three years, is divided between members
who fear loss of government revenue to tax-free Internet business and those
who argue that sales taxes or other taxes would hamper the medium's growth.
``What we're interested in is, what can they agree on?" Cox said.
``Naturally, everyone is not in harmony. Anything that group could agree on
would likely be good policy."
Zap! ... And Your PC's Dead
With $500 and a trip to the hardware store, saboteurs can build a device
capable of remotely disrupting computers, automobiles, medical equipment
and nearly anything else dependent on electronics, according to a
California engineer who demonstrated a homebrew computer death-ray at the
InfowarCon '99 conference.
Former Navy engineer David Schriner showed off an unwieldy device
constructed from a parabolic reflector, a horn antenna and two automotive
ignition coils, which he aimed at two personal computers about 20 feet
away.
When an assistant activated the Rube Goldberg contraption by connecting it
to a car battery, the conference room filled with a loud buzzing from the
PA system and a PowerPoint presentation on the projection screen flickered
and scattered. One of the computers instantly dropped out of its screen
saver.
When the device was switched off, both PCs were frozen, and wouldn't
respond to keyboard input.
The effects of High Energy Radio Frequency (HERF) emissions on electronics
are well known among engineers, and info-warriors have expressed concern
that adversarial nations may someday include computer-killing devices in
their arsenals.
Military aircraft are built with hardened electronics designed to survive
the electromagnetic pulse created by a nuclear detonation. Schriner
theorized that a single nuclear weapon designed specifically for the
purpose, "would probably take out all of the electronics on the East
Coast."
But Schriner, who has devoted his research to small-scale electronic
warfare, said the demonstration was intended as a "wake up call" to show
that even low-budget saboteurs can create viable electronic weapons.
"We bought the car battery at Wal-Mart yesterday," said Schriner. "It's all
stuff you can buy at the hardware store."
The HERF gun is not particularly high-tech, either. The device uses
technology dating back to Tesla, essentially pushing a 20 megawatt burst of
undisciplined radio noise through an antenna. The energy is enough to
interfere with sensitive computer components nearby, creating unpredictable
results ranging from minor anomalous behavior, to complete burnout.
Schriner said he's built larger HERF guns capable of crashing computers and
disabling automobiles at a range of 100 feet, with a cost as low as $300.
Jonathan Lemkin, a screenwriter working on an infowar script for Paramount,
was particularly impressed with the dramatic display and menacing hardware.
"That's definitely going in the movie," he said.
The computers targeted in today's demonstration worked fine after
rebooting, and Schriner said permanent damage is uncommon. "But if that
happens to be a computer in a tank, or in a piece of medical equipment, how
long does it take to reboot? . . . By that time you could be dead."
Conference organizer and infowar author Winn Schwartau said Wednesday's
demonstration validates a threat he first tried to warn Congress about in
1991.
"They asked if I thought they should add HERF guns to the Brady Bill,"
Schwartau recalls.
Switching Mechanisms Give New Insights
Probing small magnetic domains, two research groups have turned up
switching mechanisms that might have an impact on data storage technology.
Though different in many respects, the experiments at Cornell University
and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich came up with an
effect that had not been observed before: the direct reversal of magnetic
domains with an electrical field.
Currently, all magnetic storage devices use magnetic fields generated in a
read/write head to interact with magnetic domains on a disk. The recent
work suggests that on a smaller, higher-density storage system, the
read/write process might be simplified with electrical currents.
While the results are presently only laboratory experiments, the
information "will provide considerable new insights into magnetic dynamics
in the sub-100-nanometer regime, which is the regime that innovative
magnetic storage devices will most likely be moving into commercially over
the next decade," said Robert Buhrman, an engineering professor at
Cornell's School of Applied and Engineering Physics, here.
The Cornell group discovered that magnetic domains in adjacent cobalt
layers, separated by copper, can be switched between stable parallel and
antiparallel configurations by reversing the current flow through the
material. Multilayers of cobalt-copper-cobalt are used to produce giant
magnetoresistance (GMR), an effect that is now being used commercially to
push up the storage capacity of disk drives. GMR itself was until recently
a laboratory curiosity, but has made a rapid entry into the commercial
arena.
The Zurich researchers were able to create rapidly changing magnetic
domains in a thin cobalt film by using electrons accelerated to nearly the
speed of light to trigger the reversal. The group's findings are notable
because they may one day lead to faster write-head speeds for magnetic
storage devices.
Physicist Christian Back and several colleagues at the Zurich research
institute used beams of electrons created by the two-mile-long
electron-beam linear accelerator at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
in California.
Back's team found that very small electrical fields, of 200 kA/meter, could
reverse the magnetization of cobalt film at a switching time of 2 ps.
Currently, the fastest write heads take about 2 ns to make the switch. If
the Zurich group's experiment is any indication, a magnetic write head
could feasibly write 1,000 times faster than current write heads. But Back
is cautious about suggesting whether his team's work will lead to a product
any time soon.
"[The work] shows we can go down to these times from a physical standpoint,
but I don't know if it can be done technologically," he said.
Back said he sees the experiments as basic research that holds potential
for magnetic storage technology, but he believes commercial application is
"many years away."
However, Back noted that the group has applied for a patent in the United
States. "People didn't think GMR would ever be a product, either," he
observed.
The Zurich team seeks to optimize the magnetic process of reversal to make
it even faster. It's also working with the "damping" process, which occurs
before the reversal. Damping involves a loss of energy that returns the
system to the ground state, Back said. He referred to the phenomenon as a
"precessional magnetization reversal" wherein the magnetism precesses
around the field direction and eventually precesses into the field.
The experiment applied an electron pulse perpendicularly to the magnetic
field. That created torque, which triggered the reversal of the magnetic
fields. Traditionally, the pulse had been applied parallel to the magnetic
field.
The team has worked on the project on and off since 1995, whenever they
could get "beam time" at Stanford. Some of the group, including Back, also
spent time doing research for the storage systems division at IBM Corp.'s
Almaden Research Center (San Jose, Calif.). IBM has been a pioneer in
bringing GMR multilayers to high-density disk-drive technology.
Meanwhile, the Cornell results might be applied to building a solid-state
nonvolatile RAM, according to Buhrman. "We have demonstrated a possible
current-driven hysteretic switch which could be used as a static-RAM
device," he said. "The device depends on ferromagnetism but a
spin-polarized current, and not an external magnetic field, is used to do
the switching. This could have significant advantages with respect to
operation of large arrays of such devices."
The currents required, according to the experimental results, would be
acceptable in thin-film microcircuits when the diameter of the magnetic
domain being switched is smaller than about 100 nm. The magnetic-field
orientation would remain after the current is switched off, making it a
nonvolatile memory effect. The orientation could be easily detected by the
change in electrical resistance-the basic GMR effect-making it easy to read
an array of the devices.
The small size of the magnetic domains would make very high SRAM densities
possible, "but more research and development work will be required to
establish the competitive and comparative values of this type of device
over alternatives, such as the magnetic-field switch tunnel junction device
that IBM refers to as MagRAM," Buhrman said. The switching speeds of the
memory cells would be well below 1 ns, he said.
IBM researcher John Slonsczewski proposed the experiment a few years ago.
The Cornell experiment took Slonsczewski's suggestion for using the
copper/cobalt layers to study the effect of an electric current on magnetic
domains. The basic setup uses a copper region isolated from a thin cobalt
layer by a silicon-nitride barrier. The barrier is thinned at one point to
allow electrons to travel across. On the other side of the cobalt region is
another copper layer and then a thicker cobalt layer.
The electric current, rather than directly affecting a domain, acts as a
carrier that transports angular momentum from one domain to the other. The
current-induced change is called spin transfer.
Buhrman noted that the Zurich work is "using the magnetic field produced by
a very short pulse of electrons to cause the local magnetic-field reversal
of a region of ferromagnetic cobalt in a thin film." By contrast, "in our
case the polarized spins of the electrons do the job themselves; rather
than the magnetic field they generate via Ampere's law."
The Zurich group used very short local magnetic-field pulses generated by
high-velocity electrons to demonstrate the speed of reversal possible and
to get some insights into the dynamics of the magnetic reversal process. In
this case, the reversal is the direct result of a magnetic field and no
other magnetic domains are involved. Highly focused electron pulses are
able to generate high fields in a very small region, which explains how the
electric field is able to directly switch the magnetic orientation of
cobalt atoms.
"The volume of material that this group is affecting is orders of magnitude
larger than the sub-100-nm diameter areas that we are reversing. But in
both cases it is the dynamics of the magnetic reversal process that is key
to the potential switching speed," Buhrman said.
The necessity of generating such intense electric fields locally would make
the effect much more difficult to reduce to some practical system. In fact,
the high intensity of the pulses creates local damage in the films, which
would affect the read/write lifetime of a storage system based on the
effect.
3Com, Microsoft Ship Home Net Kit
3Com Corp. and Microsoft Corp. this week began shipping a home network kit
that allows consumers to link home computers and printers in different
rooms.
The HomeConnect kit uses Ethernet network cables to link computers,
printers and scanners to a network hub device, allowing the sharing of
files and multi-player video game playing.
The home network kits use Microsoft's HomeClick Network Software to
simplify installation, the companies said Wednesday in a statement.
3Com and Microsoft reached an agreement in March to create the networking
kit, which is similar to the Ethernet product 3Com provides for small
businesses.
Microsoft Patches Internet Explorer, ActiveX Holes
Microsoft has patched a handful of security holes in its Internet Explorer
browser and ActiveX technology that made computers vulnerable to attack by
malicious Web site operators.
The first patch takes care of a problem with IE's ImportExportFavorites
feature, which lets users tranfer lists of frequently visited Web
addresses. The bug lets a malicious Web site operator run executable code
on the computer of someone who visits that Web site.
"The net result is that a malicious Web site operator potentially could
take any action on the computer that the user would be capable of taking,"
Microsoft warned in a security alert earlier this month.
Microsoft's patch eliminates the problem, the company said today. Versions
4.01 and 5.0 of IE are at risk. The patch also fixes a related problem
involving ActiveX, Microsoft's technology for bringing interactive scripts
and controls to Web pages.
ActiveX has long been a security headache for Microsoft. Critics of the
technology fault its "trust-based" security model, in which signatures let
users choose whether to download an ActiveX control. With this system,
users are expected to judge that controls signed by well-known companies
like Microsoft are less likely to be maliciously designed than those signed
by unknown entities.
In the latest discovery, Microsoft identified eight ActiveX controls it
said were "incorrectly marked as 'safe for scripting,'" a designation that
assures users that they can download the controls without posing any
security risk to their own computers. The controls could be manipulated for
malicious ends, however, Microsoft said.
The controls in question are Kodak Image Edit: Wang Imaging; Kodak Image
Annotation: Wang Imaging; Kodak Image Scan: Wang Imaging; Kodak Thumbnail
Image: Wang Imaging; Wang Image Admin: Wang Imaging; HHOpen: HTML help
files; Registration Wizard: Internet Explorer Product Registration; and IE
Active Setup: Internet Explorer Setup.
Microsoft credited Bulgarian bug hunter Georgi Guninski with discovering
the so-called ImportExportFavorites bug. Richard Smith of Pharlap Software
and Australian bug hunter Shane Hird were recognized for discovering the
ActiveX problems.
=~=~=~=
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