FGN4KIDS
Fisher–Price and the Purple Dinosaur
Next year, toy giant Fisher–Price will have exclusive rights to develop a line of Barney products including plush, crib and infant toys, preschool toys, electronic learning aids, games and puzzles. Barney & Friends is one of the top–rated TV shows for children ages two– to five–years, with more than 11 million viewers a week in the United States alone. More info.
FOR DEVELOPERS
Visual Web Authoring Solution Gets Extensions
Macromedia, Inc. has released a suite of Macromedia Dreamweaver 4 extensions, ideal for emerging developers and designers. These easy–to–use extensions simplify the development of complex web pages and allow new users to achieve professional results. Macromedia’s Quick Start Collection includes the extensions along with templates, tutorials, and graphics for Dreamweaver 4 Fireworks 4 Studio users. More info.
GAMES_ANALOG
Shadowrun Runs On
With the closure of FASA Corporation last month, many table–top RPG’ers were quite concerned over the possibility of Shadowrun ending its run. Good news, for Fantasy Productions and WizKids LLC have indicated they shall continue to publish the game. The individual responsible for co–birthing the Shadowrun universe, Jordan Weisman, will continue to direct the game’s advancements, as he also happens to be a founder of WizKids. Coming over from FASA to help supervise the game’s growth is Mike Mulvihill. The first Shadowrun offering from this team will be the soon–to–be–released Year of the Comet.
GAMES_HANDHELDS
Rayman to GBA
One of the popular titles to appear on console systems has been Rayman from Ubi Soft. Word is that Digital Eclipse Software is currently working on a conversion of Rayman for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance handheld system. The game will offer more than 30 levels that have all been reworked to take advantage of the GBA’s technologies in the areas of color and resolution. Additionally, two players will be able to engage in head–to–head gaming via a link cable.
GAMES_HANDHELDS
More Scooby Snacks
THQ’s Scooby–Doo and the Cyber Chase for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance will ship this fall in conjunction with Warner Home Video’s exclusive–to–video release. The game is action–packed with mystery, puzzles and clues that follow the story line and characters of the upcoming video. More info.
GAMES_HANDHELDS
WWF Fans Stay Tuned
THQ and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. will release two new games this year under the World Wrestling Federation license. WWF SmackDown! 3 will debut its over–the–top action this fall on the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo’s Game Boy Color will get its own WWF game as well.
GAMES_PC
LUNA with Massive Additions
Anarchy Enterprises’ LUNA: Moon Colony Simulator beta version 1.2 will be released next week. The 3D Sim/Strategy game for the PC will feature dozens of new buildings, customizable industries to control, enhanced game optimization, new music and more. The LUNA homepage features the very first screenshots from the new version. More info.
GAMES_PC
Europa Universalis Ships
Now available from Strategy First Inc. and Paradox Entertainment is Europa Universalis, the strat that covers 300 years of history from 1492 with the Age of Discovery to 1782 and Napoleon’s era. This North American release of Europa Universalis includes three additional scenarios; the German Campaign, the Polish Campaign and the American Campaign. Learn more.
GAMES_WIRELESS
Wireless Sea Monkies
Coming soon to your wireless appliance will be a new, Creature Labs created pet development game. Just signing with the Global Telecom Solutions division of Motorola to create such an offering, the very first title will revolve around those oh–so adorable Sea Monkey life forms. You’ll have to do all in your power to make certain these wet critters thrive through various developmental stages. The game itself will be served from a network that’s connected to your wireless net, so connection to this server is mandatory every now and then to check on your Sea Monkies’ health.
GAMES_WIRELESS
Million $$$ to Wireless
The show is a grand hit on television, so why should not also be true for wireless devices? Motorola plans to shortly offer their operator partners Who Wants To Be A Millionaire! for SMS and mobile Internet formats. The game should closely follow the teevee format, and Motorola has plans for a number of other new games to debut soon, as well.
GAMES_WIRELESS
Nokia and Eidos Take Gangsters to WAP Enabled Phones
Get ready to play Eidos’ games on your Nokia phones in the not–too–distant future. Gangsters will be the first title released in the first half of this year. Eidos will develop new and existing franchise titles for WAP enabled mobile phones over the next two years, which will be offered via wireless operators. Nokia has operators and service providers and a mobile game portfolio via the Nokia Mobile Entertainment Service. More info.
GAMES_WIRELESS
Forum Nokia Continues to Grow
Rage and Eidos join IO Productions,
Kuju Entertainment and Quiz Supplies in Nokia’s online community of third party developers creating mobile applications. In turn, Nokia offers wireless operators and service providers a mobile game portfolio by these developers and others via the Nokia Mobile Entertainment Service. More info.
INDUSTRY
Rave for Interplay
Within the PC game world, looks like two of the bigger names have come to an agreement wherein they’ll be distribution amenities. Interplay’s OEM division now has a distribution deal with Rage Software wherein the former will receive premium distribution status as well as worldwide rights for all of the latter’s titles on all platforms.
INDUSTRY
For Sale: Lucent’s Optical Unit
For a mere $8 billion you can purchase Lucent Technologies’ optical–fiber solutions unit. Already expressing an interest are Corning and Alcatel. Lucent is the second largest producer of fiber–optic cable after Corning, with revenues in 2000 of $2 billion, a sales growth of 60 percent.
INDUSTRY
Palm Isn’t Doing Handsprings Over Microsoft
Once again Microsoft prevails with their marketshare gain in another realm — handheld devices. While Palm and Handspring sales declined in January, Microsoft’s Pocket PC operating system gained ground. According to a report from PC Data, Palm had a 60.5 percent share of the U.S. retail market in January which was down from 65 percent in December, and Handspring, the folks who license the Palm operating system, also experienced a drop to 26 percent from a share of 27 percent. In contrast, Compaq Computer’s iPaq handheld device doubled its share to 4 percent from a 2 percent position in December, and Hewlett–Packard gained a 3.5 percent, up from 2 percent.
INDUSTRY
Bristol Bristles Over Loss to Microsoft
We’ve received work that software developer Bristol Technology has agreed to settle litigation between themselves and Microsoft for an undisclosed amount. The suit began way back in August of 1998 when Bristol filed a lawsuit against Microsoft. We don’t know what the suit was about but the jury found in favor of Microsoft on all the antitrust claims and in favor of Bristol on one claim under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. Bristol is pleased with the results, as over the past several months the Federal District Court awarded Bristol punitive damages for their attorney’s fees and all other relief.
INDUSTRY
Sybase Lights Up With NEON
Sybase, an e–commerce software company, will acquire NEON, a company that develops and sells data–collection software, in a stock swap valued at approximately $373 million. NEON is among a growing number of companies involved in the application–to–application market, which has been experiencing healthy growth since the late ’90s. NEON bridges language barriers between incompatible brands of software.
Scandinavian Game Developer Expands
UDS’ second Swedish studio opening in the
western port of Gothenburg brings their total number of employees
close to 100. The newly opened office is the company’s third
with its headquarters located in the central city of Norrkoping and
a subsidiary in Britain. UDS has decided to base its new interactive entertainment subsidiary GlobalFun in Gothenburg as well.
TECHNOLOGY
Immersion’s New Force Feedback Development Software
If you’re looking for new software tools for digital touch interaction technology, Immersion Studio version 4.0 from Immersion Corp. is your answer. Developers can conceive, implement and design touch sensations that can correspond to onscreen events in web pages and software programs. Immersion Studio version 4.0 also provides support for sound synchronization and tactile feedback mouse products, such as Logitech’s iFeel Mouse and iFeel MouseMan. More info.
WEB
Virtual Experiences by Internet
The Web3D Consortium has launched the Rich Media 3D standardization initiative to enable rich media content containing 3D graphics, video and audio to be delivered to media–capable Internet and broadcast devices and appliances. RM3D is driven by a wide range of OEM, graphics and content companies. More info.
WIRELESS
Where Isn’t Microsoft?
Microsoft is moving into the phone business with its lightweight
smart mobile phone platform that allows users to safely retrieve email, personal
information and access the Internet with end–to–end
security. Mobile Explorer 3.0, code named Stinger,
runs on a phone operating system or wireless network.
More info.
February 20, 2001, News:
3D Plug–In for 3D Studio Max Debut, Flash Goes Above and Beyond, Trade Wars En Route from Realm Interactive, Attention All NBA Fans, Electronic Arts Motors On, Interplay Ships Expansion, Beta for Nexon’s Title, Strategy First Offers Next Disciples, Game Designed for IT Pros, CD and DVD Authoring from Apple, Satellite in Power Position, Internet Useage Soars, Two Way TV Continues to Expand, VideoShare Empowers Unique Streaming, Digital TV and Web Content ZOOMs, Talking Heads on the Web, In Control of Streaming Media and Web Hosting
Current Reviews & Features
Links 2001 from Microsoft, reviewed by Ed Hurta
Oni from G.O.D./Rockstar, reviewed by Michael Askounes
Quake 3 Team Arena from id Software, reviewed by Reuben Ahmed
Giants: Citizen Kabuto from Interplay Entertainment, reviewed by Michael Askounes
Walt Disney World Magical Racing Tour from Activsion, reviewed by Reuben Ahmed
Delta Force: Land Warrior from NovaLogic, reviewed by Paul 'Sly' Wolf
The Cole Perspective #3: Game Industry Checkup by David Cole.
Spawn: In the Demon’s Hand (DC), reviewed by Alex Nekrassov.
Xtreme Sports from Infogrames (DC), reviewed by Reuben Ahmed.
Reach for the Stars from SSI (PC), reviewed by Michael Askounes.
Close Combat V: Invasion Normandy from SSI (PC), reviewed by Sean Freeman.
Racing Madness from Microsoft (PC), reviewed by Mike Chantry.
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