AUDIO & SOUND
PC Virtual Audio Recording Studio
NewTech Infosystems’ NTI CD Maker 2000 will be available with Intel Desktop Boards beginning in the second quarter of 2001. This high–performance CD–R/RW mastering and recording application is designed specifically for Windows environments and delivers advanced features to keep up with the latest 1x through 16x CD–R/RW drives. For audio–oriented needs, the CD Maker includes MP3 on–the–fly recording, MP3 to WAV decoding, WAV/CD–DA encoding to MP3, CD Text support and high–speed ripping. More info.
FOR DEVELOPERS
Adobe’s New Motion and Visual Effects
The latest version of Adobe Systems’ motion graphics and visual effects software has been released with more than 100 new features, productivity enhancements and interface options. Adobe After Effects 5.0 enables creative professionals to generate compelling content for film, video, multimedia and the web with a true 3D compositing environment, vector paint tools, 16–bit color support, parenting, expressions, masking enhancements and Macromedia Flash output.
More info.
FOR DEVELOPERS
A Bigger Sandbox
At a time in the industry when it seems all that we hear about are cutbacks, comes word from Sandbox Studios Canada, which is planning to double their current employee count, from 50 to 100. Sandbox is known for their six titles shipped last year: Disney’s Emperor’s New Groove; Disney Interactive’s Dinosaur for PlayStation; Mattel Interactive’s Matchbox Emergency Patrol for PC; Sierra On–Line’s Hoyle Card Games; Konami’s ESPN NHL Hockey and Frisbee Golf for Game Boy Color. More info..
GAMES_HANDHELD
Power Rangers to the Rescue in Time Force for Game Boy Advance
THQ ramps up with the second round of Power Ranger game titles from the Power Rangers TV series, Power Rangers Time Force. Power Rangers Time Force is due out this fall for the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation and Game Boy Color.
GAMES_MULTIPLATFORM
Mary–Kate and Ashley Gallop onto the GBC and PSOne
Club Acclaim and Dualstar Interactive answer the cry of every little girl who has ever dreamed of owning her very own horse. mary–kateandashley Winners Circle is endorsed by the U.S. Equestrian Team and gives players the opportunity to compete in equestrian events and care for their steed. The game will ship February 27 for the Game Boy Color and March 1 for the PlayStation.
GAMES_PC
The Moon is Gold
The sequel to Earth 2150, The Moon Project, is now gold, and scheduled to ship on March 9 from GAME Studios, a division of The Learning Company. Topware Interactive is the developer of this 3D, real–time strat that includes a soundtrack, screensavers, a music video and more.
GAMES_PLAYSTATION
3D Tiger Hits the Green with EA’s Latest Release
Golf fans prepare to tee–off with Electronic Arts’ Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Golf 2001 for the PlayStation 2. This next–gen golf simulation rips one down the fairway with six elite PGA TOUR professionals, three prestigious courses, faster game play, crisper graphics and several different game modes, including a new EA SPORTS PGA TOUR Challenge mode and a Play Now mode.
GAMES_XBOX
3D Eyes on Xbox
Tetratel Inc.’s agreement with Microsoft enables the company to apply its EyeFX 3D technologies to Microsoft’s Xbox. Code named the "TIN Project", the combined technology and video game system incorporates 360 degree player movement within a full 3D viewing environment.
More info.
HARDWARE & PERIPHERALS
Accelerated PC Graphics Capabilities
NVIDIA Corporation’s GeForce3 GPU will be released for the PC next month. This comes days after the company’s announcement to release the graphics processing unit for the Macintosh platform. The GPU enhances visual quality and performance o Microsoft–based PC and console platforms including the Xbox.
INDUSTRY
Sega’s Voluntary Pink Slips
Sega Corp. will eliminate 300 jobs at its Tokyo headquarters through a voluntary retirement program in effort to refocus its business on software development and sales. This 23 percent cut represents 11 percent of Sega’s total staff and enables the company to reduce its labor costs by 1.9 billion yen or $16.38 million and report a special business loss of 1.3 billion yen for the fiscal year at the end of March.
INDUSTRY
Toshiba Wants a Stake in Heart of AOL Time Warner
Toshiba is interested in taking an equity stake with AOL Time Warner to collaborate and strengthen their Internet content business. Toshiba reopened negotiations with AOL Time Warner after the merger was approved by the FCC in January. To date Toshiba is offering their hardware, which includes mobile phones and Bluetooth wireless connectivity technology to distribute AOL Time Warner content.
WEB
Fox’s Goes Ape and Speaks in Tongues
Twentieth Century Fox now has a web site for Planet of the Apes that offers all manner of ape info in 10 languages that include: French, Italian, German, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and English, the most ever for a single motion picture site. The site takes you aboard the spaceship USAF Oberon, which crashes into a bog on a strange planet. Here you’ll see a new QuickTime trailer, a special weekly character and info about the making of the film that is due out March 2.
February 26, 2001, News
FOR DEVELOPERS
MP3’s on the Road, Super Sonic Scream Powerpuff, Konami Handles GBA With Four Titles, Motorcross for Next–gen Handheld, Lionhead Roaring, Dredd En Route Next Year, The Colors of Fun, Magic Comes To The Web, Two Nova Titles Land Awards, Sybex Sends Forth New Info, Surf’s Up With Activision, More Hoopz to Play, Double Chess Double Fun, Wireless Slower’n Snails, Interplay Bundling With Intel, Internet Gathering of Youth Increasing, Nuby Negates Nyko’s Claims, No Blue Light Special for Sega, IE Continues to Lead the Browser War Over Netscape, Look Ma, No Wires! Someday, Intel and Fonix Speak Up, WASPS Sting Competition, Oh Really, OMAP
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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