614 lines
30 KiB
Plaintext
614 lines
30 KiB
Plaintext
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Here is an unofficial transcript of Bob Brodie's "Dateline: Atari" November
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4, 1993, the day of the Jaguar rollout! This file has not been edited
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except to remove unneccessary items and to make it more visually appealing
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(and readable).
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<[HoST] ST.LOU>
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This is the night we've been eagerly anticipating ... the official
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Jaguar roll out from New York City with a live report on the news
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conference held just two hours ago.
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As usual for our Dateline Atari RTC's, our special guest is the
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Director of Communications, Bob Brodie. Despite a very hectic and
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exciting day, Bob has chosen to give GEnie users the first accounts
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of this evening's news conference.
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Elsewhere in the Atari ST RoundTable there is growing excitement
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about the Jaguar, the host of new game developers and the unbelievable
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climb of Atari stock which hit a high of 12 1/8 today!
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Now, without further ado, heeeeeeeere's Bob!
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Thanks, Lou. We have a very brief account of the evening that
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we'd like to upload at this time, then we'll be happy to take
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any and all questions from the audience. I'd like to express
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how very excited Ron and I are to be here tonight on Atari's
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official online service: GEnie!!! The size of the group here
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tonight is just wonderful, and really helps to show the high
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level of interest in the Jaguar. With that, here comes our
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prepared remarks.
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Welcome one and all!! We have just returned from the jungle!!
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Atari has just rolled out the 64-bit home entertainment system
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to a standing room only audience on the 48th floor of the Time-
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Life Building in New York City.
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I am joined here tonight with my wife Jerri, Ron Kovacs and
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John Gagne of the Z*Net News Service. We are coming to you live
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from the Paramount Hotel on 46th St in Manhattan. We invited
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the cast from Les Miserables, but they were too busy to attend.
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:) They're just across the street.
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What we have witnessed tonight is a new era for Atari
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Corporation. The introduction and announcement of release of
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the Jaguar, a 64-Bit home entertainment machine. On hand at the
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press conference were Jack Tramiel, sons Sam, Leonard and Garry,
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myself, Bill Rehbock, James Grunke, Augie Ligouri, Terry
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Valeski, John Skruch, Susan McBride, Purple Hampton, and many
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other staff members from Sunnyvale.
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Major press agencies such as CBS,NBC, ABC, CNN and local
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reporters from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal,
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entertainment and Atari media were in attendance at the event.
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Heard from nearly ALL of the attendees were WOW and shouts of
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excitement from the presentation hosted by Sam Tramiel.
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Guests were greeted by three male and female jet black leather
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and vinyl costumed jaguar cats. Tropical foliage, flowering
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bamboo, moist fog, blue and green tinted pin spots and animal
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cries, deep from within the heart of the jungle.
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Inside the concept changed dramatically, encircling the entire
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event were Atari Jaguar and Lynx kiosks accented with blue neon
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rods, ice blue pin spots and more tropical foliage. Positioned
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in two corners of the room were wire caged with the jaguar
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costumed dancers.
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Sam gave a presentation, accompanied by video displays of the
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Jaguar TV commercial, and sales videos for the retail stores.
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There was no expense spared to convey the messages to the
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attendees that Atari is serious about marketing the Jaguar. No
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less than 12 screens positioned throughout the room carried the
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video, as well as Jaguar game play. 10 Jaguar kiosks were
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stationed throughout the room, each
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showing a different video game title. John Skruch and other
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employees were also prowling the crowd with pre-production EPROM
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carts in hand, ready to show the visitors the future of Jaguar
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gaming.
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Atari announced the signing of a number of new developers for
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the Jaguar tonight, including Virgin, Interplay, Microprose,
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UBI Soft, Gremlins Graphics, Millenium, and Accolade. Accolade
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will bring Bobsy, Jack Nicklaus Gold, Al Michaels Announces Hard
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Ball, Brett Hull Hockey, and Charles Barkley Basketball to the
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Jaguar. Atari Games announced that they will be using the Jaguar
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as a board for their arcade games. There will be a few other
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developers that will be announced in a press release a little
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later on, as well as more details regarding the specific titles
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that they will be developing for the Jaguar.
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Tonight, it was also brought to my attention that there are
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reports circulating stating that we have stopped our computer
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business. I'm happy to state that this rumor is 100% FALSE!
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Atari is not leaving the computer business, we are still
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producing the Atari Falcon030. Just a few weeks ago, James
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Grunke was here in New York for the Audio Engineering Society
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Show, where Cubase Audio for Falcon by Steinberg was released. We
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feel that the Falcon is just now starting to see applications tha
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take advantage of it's unique capabilities. With that, we're
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ready to take any questions about the event tonight, Lou, or
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anything else that our users might like to ask either Ron or I
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about. ga
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<[Dave] D.SHORR>
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Congrats on the Jaguar, Bob! I did have a computer question
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but as I'm the first person at the mike, I'll change it;): will I
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be able to use my Atari SC1224 color monitor with the Jaguar? GA.
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Hi Dave, yes....you will be able to use youe SC1224 or your
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SC1435 with the Jaguar. In fact, we'll be using the SC1224 in th
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BOB-BRODIE> in store interactive Kiosks that we're designing. It
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will requir you to have the optional RGB cable to use the SC1224
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with the Jaguar, though. It's a great picture. :) GA
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<[ScottJ] S.CORLEY1>
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Bob, could you give us an idea as to when Jaguars will be
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released nationwide? Also, is Atari going to put out a promotional
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videotape like the one put out by Panasonic for 3d0? It was really
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impressive. GA.
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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The Jaguar will be sold nationally next year. If you live in an
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area where the Jaguar is not presently being sold, but wish to
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purchase on, you can do so via our customer service department. I'll
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pass all of the information on purchasing a Jaguar to Atari Explorer
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Online so they can write it up for everyone. We showed the videos
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tonight at the launch event, and they were very well received. One
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of them is designed to be run as a commercial, "sandwiched" around
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another commercial.
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<[Graham] G.NORTON>
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Bob can we expect the Jags in Canada Jan 1?
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Also do you have any cheap Atari stock to sell! :)
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<
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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I'm honestly not sure what timeframe we're looking at for Canada
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Graham :) Cheap stock? Not this week!! :) :)
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<[NevMan] NEVIN-S>
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Thanks. I have two questions. First, is the Jaguar in production,
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or were you showing a prototype? Second, on a more personal note,
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how did it feel tonight after years of struggling in the computer
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market to get the press to pay attention to you, to have them all
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there in that room? ga
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Yes, the Jaguar is in production...but we did show units from the
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pilot production run that was done first. Re you're second question,
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it was very nice. Especially nice was to meet so many of the
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international press members that I have read about or corresponded
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with over the years. I met with Steve Young of CNN today and spoke
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with him before and after his filmed interview with Sam. (Boy does
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he hate Windows!) Paula Richards of ST Format was also on hand, and
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I really enjoyed getting to talk with her. All in all, a really
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exciting experience. I know that Ron enjoyed getting to meet the
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Tramiels. All of them, including Jack were very happy to meet one
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of thier longest, and best known supporters. When Sam was introduced
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to Ron, he spent quite a bit of his time letting Ron know how much he
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appreciated his many years of service to the Atari Community. I like
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him, too. :)
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Hope that covered it, Nevin. :)
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<[Ed] E.LIN1>
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how do the initial Jaguar games compare to the 3DO in terms of
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graaphics?
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Ed, I have only seen Crash 'n Burn. It's a different sort of game
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than we have done so far. We've provided a number of screen shots
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that are available for downloading from the ST RT library via Atari
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Explorer Online Magazine. Rather than Ron and I giving you our
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opinion, why don't you download the Jaguar pics yourself and take a
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look at them? I'm sure that you'll be very impressed with them.
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Especially Crescent Galaxy! :) ga
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<[Sean@TWP] P-DIRECT>
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Bob -- To change the topic a little, Atari may still be producing
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the Falcon030, but with perhaps only a few thousand units sold it is
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obvious something more needs to be done than make them. <grin> Does
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Atari have plans to sell the Falcon030 through less passive means?
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For instance, with the help of some enthused writers, the Falcon030
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has gained the interest of several special interest magazines, and it
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seems this would be the perfect way to "sneak" into a market, and at
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very little expense... GA
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Sean, at this point we have no such plans. We're always interested
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in listening to proposals, though. I'd suggest that you contact
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Garry Tramiel if you have some suggestions about selling the Falcon030
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via a unique means. :)
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<[Zombie] R.ANISKO>
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Bob, with the Jaguar about to come out, and the Lynx available, is
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Atari planning on releasing the same games on both systems - it makes
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nice cross-over sales and advertising... (like Nint*ndo w/ the SNES
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and Gameboy)? ga
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Yes and no, Rob. :)
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There is no question that there is some terrific opportunities to
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do EXACTLY what you've described. However, on the other hand we know
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that the hand held market is no where as big as the home console
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market. Plus, the Jaguar makes possible things that canno be done on
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ANY OTHER GAME MACHINE, including the Lynx. So it's only natural,
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IMHO, that developers will look to do something new and exciting to
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stretch the envelope with the Jaguar. We do envision there being
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some titles that will be made available for the Lynx as well though.
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<[Dale] D.ELLIS16>
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Congrads Bob, Ron, John, Jerri. Jerri was Bob really there or
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across the street at Les Miserables? ;-) Real Questions:Have you
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thought about selling any of the products via TV Shopping? Any TV
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shows about the Jag? Like Discovery or FutureWatch? GA
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Jerri says he was really there...thanks for checking up on him.
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Now, on to the "real" questions, we are open to all of those
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opportunities, but first want to get back into the "regular" retail
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environment. We feel that it is important that consumers be able
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to go into a store and actually see, and try out a Jaguar to fully
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appreciate it. So we're very excited to be in stores like Toys 'R
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Us, The Wiz, Babbages, Electronic Boutique, Kaybee Toys....and
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others.
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<[Gary] G.STOLLMAN>
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Bob, I am interested in programming for Atari as a developer.
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In your honest opinion, is this release the "do-it" thing that will
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put Atari back in the forefront of computers,and why is it taking so
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long for the Falcon to get software???
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Hi Gary. Yes, I think that the Jaguar is going to be a very big
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product for Atari. If you hae aspirations about developing for the
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Jaguar, I'm sure that Bill Rehbock would like to talk to you. Re
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the Falcon...I think there are several reasons that it's taking so
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long. #1 - Poor Sales. The economy in California where we do much
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of our business, is MISERABLE. And it's true not only for Atari,
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but other companies as well. One of the stock analysts that was at
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the event tonight told me that Apple is now sitting on a HUGE
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inventory of products. He said numbers that frankly, I had a hard
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time believing. So, the computer hardware business is just really
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tough right now. One of the other reasons it's taking so long is us:
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we've reduced our company in size to such a small level that it is
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really tough to be able to do everything that we would like to be
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able to do. For example, there was some staff at the event tonight
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from ST Informer. But I never had a chance to spend more than a few
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seconds with them at a time. I hate that, frankly. And think that
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once we've added some additional staff we'll be in a better position
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to do the things that we need to do to properly support ALL of our
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products. GA
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<[delroy Blake] D.BLAKE>
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I have 3 questions for you.
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1) What are the specs on the Jag over sees news travels slow
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2) do you inted to market to the Army-AirForce Excange Stores Lots
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of people with money to spend and
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3) What ever happen to UNIX FOR THE TT,
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Good evening Delroy, thank you for attending our RTC tonight!!!
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Regarding your questions....WOW! :) I'll give you a quick run down
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on the specs, but I'd prefer that you check out the library here on
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GEnie in the ST RT for file AEO_SE1.ZIP That file has full set of
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press releases including block diagrams of the entire Jaguar system.
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The Jaguar is a full 64 bit system that has 5 microprocessors on
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three chips, including a 64 Bit RISC processor, a 32 Bit RISC
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processor, and a 68000. The bus is a full 64 bit bus. It is capable
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of 32 bit color, with over 16.7 million colors, and 16 bit stereo CD
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sound. BTW, I've just been informed by Travis Guy, Editor of AEO that
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the correct file name is AEO_SE_J.ZIP :) Thanks, Travis. The file
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will also have some Jaguar screen shots in it in GIF format. :)
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Re the Army/Air Force stuff....not right away, but maybe next year.
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At first we're doing a New York/San Francisco rollout of the Jaguar
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this year, then we'll finish our plans for the rest of the US later.
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Certainly, we want to find a way to provide the Jaguar to the
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Military.
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Lastly, re TT UNIX, we cancelled the BOB-BRODIE> project because we
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didn't feel that our version of UNIX was cost effective enough to be
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chosen by a broad base of people. We did feel that Atari UNIX could
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have been run as a text based UNIX on the Falcon, but we couldn't have
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close to being able to support it properly, so we cancelled it. GA
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<[Chris] C.OATES2>
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Two questions: First, when might we see the first Jaguar TV ads?
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Second, about how many Jaguars have been manufactued to date?
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Chris, in the areas that the Jaguar is going to be sold (NY or San
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Francisco) you'll start to see teaser ads next week. The "real ads"
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will start shortly after that. Re how many Jags have been built, to
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be honest, I don't know. I'd need to check with our VP of Manufacturing
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....he's not here. It's an incredibly small hotel room. :)
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<[Sir Fransis] K.DRAKE>
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What do you forsee being the first network use for the Jaguar (Other
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than ComLynx)
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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I really don't know. :) I haven't had enough time to think about
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that yet. For the most part, we've been looking at the system as a game
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machine for the home to compete against Sega and Nintendo, not so much
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as a network machine. I do know that Sam is very keenly interested in
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interactive TV via cable. ga
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<[Tony Tramiel] WETMORE>
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Bob and everyone: Bravo! You've all done an incredible job! I have
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2 questions, but they're related... (actually, I have more)
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3) Will I be able to mail-order a Jag from Atari this month?
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4) If not, when will retail stores in NY begin receiving Jags?
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Yes, and the week before Thanksgiving is when they are due in.
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<[Chris] C.CASSADAY>
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Bob, can you comment about the possible Dallas distribution point?
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Will the Jaguar be sold at the Incredible Universe this fall? GA
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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I've not been told officially that we're going to be there, but I
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hear tell that we are, Chris.
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<[Sam030] SAM-RAPP>
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Hi Bob, Ron, (and others...) What are the possibilities for a modem
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for the Jag? Is there an RS-232 on the expansion port?
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Yes, there is an RS-232 on the expansion port, and we envision using
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the DSP connection to be a modem. ga
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<[Dave] D.SHORR>
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Has Atari considered offering a cooperative multitasking environment
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to its ST customers? Couldn't the multitasking AES and Desktop
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contained in the current version of MultiTOS be loaded without MiNT?
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
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Dave, I'm just not techincal enough to discuss that with you. The
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best solution that I can see now is to use MultiTOS with Geneva from
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Gribnif Software.
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<[GOT FALCON!] R.HALL49>
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More than 1 question but only requires small answers! :) I just
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yesterday got my base unit Falcon(yea!) when can I get an official
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hard drive upgrade kit? Will Atari be able to challenge CD-32 in
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Europe since they are producing 20,000 units a week now? Tantalize me
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with visions of a Lynx II with the Jaguar chipset!!! Final Question...
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Jaguar sales truly to be funneled to Falcon!!! (hope,hope,hope) LOVE
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my Falcon BTW...thanx GA
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<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Don't know about the HD kit, get a SCSI-II cable and go external
|
|||
|
for now. The drives are bigger and cheaper than the tiny IDEs. We
|
|||
|
will not challenge CD-32 in Europe...we will defeat them.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Kevin Houser] PG.MUSIC>
|
|||
|
Bob, any hope for a Falcon based dev system for the Jag &/or Lynx?
|
|||
|
Also, could I get a 'factory' direct Jag when I go to Charlotte this
|
|||
|
weekend. <g> I'm interested in doing music related Jag titles. Doezit
|
|||
|
have a Midi port? <g> Kevin in Atlanta, PG Music Atari development...
|
|||
|
BTW, all PG Music stuff (new) is written on a Falcon030/14/120 <g> Good
|
|||
|
European sales too.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Hi Kevin. Yes, there is a TOS based dev system for the Jaguar now.
|
|||
|
I think it is quite logical to assume that it will be ported to the
|
|||
|
Falcon. Sorry, IBM is not selling the Jaguar Factory Direct at all.
|
|||
|
They build it, warehouse it, and ship it. That's all. No MIDI port,
|
|||
|
but wow! It can make terrific music!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[NewSTar Tech] C.S.SMETON>
|
|||
|
Bob, where (what stores) and when can I tell my buddy in NYC
|
|||
|
to buy a Jaguar for me? ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
The Wiz, Babbages, Toys 'R Us, Electronic Boutique, Kaybee Toys,
|
|||
|
that enough Charles? GA
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[FSU #1!] AEO.MAG>
|
|||
|
Evening sirs! It sounds like everyone had a great time tonight.
|
|||
|
Bob, I think I can speak for every Atarians in saying it's good to
|
|||
|
finally have Atari back on track to the forefront - where we feel
|
|||
|
Atari belongs. Can you give us some specific reactions from some
|
|||
|
of the crowd at the event? Paul Harvey mentioned Atari and the
|
|||
|
Jaguar today in his radio show, and it was very positive. Go Atari!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Evening, Travis! It's great to see you online tonight!! Ron
|
|||
|
sez Hi!! We at Atari are very grateful for the fine job that you
|
|||
|
and rest of the very fine staff at Atari Explorer Online do to
|
|||
|
support the entire Atari Community. If only all publications would
|
|||
|
follow your excellent example of how to do an online mag! (Well, I
|
|||
|
can dream, can't I?!?!?!) Today, USA Today ran a very nice article
|
|||
|
about Video Games, and featured a full color picture of the Jaguar
|
|||
|
on the LIFE Section of the paper. The San Jose Mercury News also
|
|||
|
ran a terrific article on the Jaguar. Many of the people that were
|
|||
|
at the event tonight were financial writers, or business writers.
|
|||
|
They to a large degree, were not exposed to the Jaguar games until
|
|||
|
tonight for the very first time. They thought that the games
|
|||
|
looked and sounded great, as well as the pricing on the Jaguar
|
|||
|
for real consumers, rather than the high prices that 3DO is charging
|
|||
|
for their player. Overall, it was a very exciting night. Many
|
|||
|
people came to see how serious Atari was about the Jaguar... they
|
|||
|
came skeptics and left believers! Look for a Jaguar cover on an
|
|||
|
upcoming issue of Die Hard Game Fan, as well as 8 full color pages
|
|||
|
of coverage from Die Hard!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[J.Battey] J.BATTEY1>
|
|||
|
Was Ziff-Davis there tonight? (What, no coffee mugs!) ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
I'd have to look at the final attendance list to be sure. There
|
|||
|
is a list of people that did RSVP, but not all of them made it. Not
|
|||
|
sure about Ziff, sorry.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[ScottJ] S.CORLEY1>
|
|||
|
Bob, why did Atari raise the list price of the Jaguar by $50? Also
|
|||
|
do you have any idea of the price that Jaguar games will sell for?
|
|||
|
Thanks. GA.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
To cover the cost of the included game, which was a bit more than
|
|||
|
we had expected it to be. The price of the games will be in the
|
|||
|
49-89 range, depending on the title, and the developer. ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Andy] L.SMITH70>
|
|||
|
Bob... First, Congrats!! Second, I heard the following on the
|
|||
|
Internet... I heard the Jaguar has a 'startup' sequence consisting
|
|||
|
of the Atari Fuji, a digitized roar, and a rotating cube with a
|
|||
|
jaguar on each side. True? false? More info? :) Also glad to
|
|||
|
hear you got Virgin! ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Andy, TRUE! When the Jaguar is first turned on, the Red Jaguar
|
|||
|
logo comes on the screen, there is a digitized roar, and then a
|
|||
|
group of letters spelling out ATARI drop down from the top of the
|
|||
|
screen. Then there is a cube with digitized pics of a jaguar that
|
|||
|
rotates while a quick version of "Have you played Atari today?" is
|
|||
|
played.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Network 23] R.MARTIN22>
|
|||
|
Bob, is Atari still earmarking $3 million for the NY/SF release,
|
|||
|
and what is the $$$ for 1994 nationwide release? ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Yes. We are earmarking that much for this y ear's release and
|
|||
|
we are finalizing next year's plans now. Part of the planning is
|
|||
|
dependent on who our retail partners are.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Gene] E.WINDELL>
|
|||
|
About 10 minutes ago, CNN Headline News described the Jag's
|
|||
|
technical features as part of a larger story about new computer
|
|||
|
graphics technology. Other than the Fuji logo, no pictures were
|
|||
|
shown. I'm sure they will play it again.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Mike Lipson] M.LIPSON>
|
|||
|
Hi Bob and Lou! Does the Atari/IBM contract allow IBM to
|
|||
|
license Jaguar technology for Big Blue's computers and is IBM
|
|||
|
interested in having Jaguar expansion boards?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
No, the contract does not allow IBM to use the Jaguar chipset
|
|||
|
for any of their products. We are having some discussions with
|
|||
|
them about other possible uses for the Jaguar chipset.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<F.CUCCI>
|
|||
|
Bob, did you let the cat out of the bag i.e.the BIG developer that
|
|||
|
was to surprise all of us and is the TT030 still alive ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Which BIG developer??? Accolade, Virgin, or Interplay? :-)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Tim@AEO] AEO.8>
|
|||
|
On an earlier question about the falcons, I happen to know that
|
|||
|
Tecnation and High End will be selling Falcons as use in Discos as
|
|||
|
lighting systems, with nifty video effects. anywayss my question:
|
|||
|
When is the jaguar to be sold in europe? (BTW, that product is
|
|||
|
called Cyber V)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Yes they are Tim, thanks for pointing that out for everyone. We
|
|||
|
will be selling some units in the holiday season this year in Europe.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[David] D.FREELAND>
|
|||
|
Are there any plans to advertise the Falcon030 at all? What can
|
|||
|
you tell us about new Falcon products such as DSP modem, etc... It
|
|||
|
seems the Jaguar should allow Atari to push the Falcon more than it
|
|||
|
has so far. Go Jaguar!!!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Dave.... Plans to advertise the Falcon remain unchanged. We
|
|||
|
will advertise cooperativly in the markets where we have an
|
|||
|
advantage, such as music with partners like Steinberg, thank you!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Harj] H.NAGRA1>
|
|||
|
What games will be available for the Jaguar this year? (...just
|
|||
|
saw the Atari Fuji on CNN about 10 minutes ago!!!) You should
|
|||
|
let Video Games magazine know that the Jag is truly 64-bit and
|
|||
|
not 32-bit as they state in their latest issue.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Bob is near death! :-) Ron typing@ Hi Harj... Bob has
|
|||
|
already written a letter to Video Games and will mail it when he
|
|||
|
returns to Sunnyvale. Your right, they certainly made some
|
|||
|
mistakes! GA
|
|||
|
THe four games available will be:
|
|||
|
CyberMorph,
|
|||
|
Crescent Galaxy,
|
|||
|
Raiden and
|
|||
|
Dynodudes.
|
|||
|
We expected Checkerd Flag to be ready but it's late! GA
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<J.THORNHILL>
|
|||
|
Bob, can you tell us specifically what the Atari vs. Sega suit
|
|||
|
is all about concerning the scrolling? ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Jim Thornhill, other than the press release, I have no other
|
|||
|
information to share with you at this time.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[James] J.VOGH>
|
|||
|
How large are the areas (NY and SF) where the Jaguar will be
|
|||
|
released. For example, will stores in Connecticut and possibly
|
|||
|
Massachusetts also have the Jaguar?
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
James: I believe for the retail chains we are talking metro
|
|||
|
NY and the San Fran bay area. Connecticut _MIGHT_ see a few
|
|||
|
Jags but I really doubt Mass will except for our current Atari
|
|||
|
dealers. GA
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[--Sandy] AEO.9>
|
|||
|
My 1st RTC. Can you tell us anything about how you interact with
|
|||
|
Time Warner
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Sandy.. Welcome to your FIRST RTC here on GEnie. We have an
|
|||
|
arrangement with Time-Life to have access to their vast library of
|
|||
|
film and sound clips to be used with Jaguar titles. Other than
|
|||
|
that, they own about 23% of Atari. GA
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Gregg] AEO.7>
|
|||
|
I'm impressed, I wish I could have been up there in NY for the
|
|||
|
show.... However, while we're all hoping to see the Jag become
|
|||
|
THE dominate factor in the game industry, I'm more Atari computer
|
|||
|
oriented and have to ask if you've any idea how long it will be
|
|||
|
before we can expect to see the Jag's fnatastic graphics and audio
|
|||
|
made available in a TOS-based Atari computer and/or on a VME card
|
|||
|
for the TT/MegaSTe line? thanks, and keep up the great work.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Gregg, Nice to hear from you. At this point in time, it's nearly
|
|||
|
impossible to project when that might happen. For one thing some
|
|||
|
of the developer tools for the Jaguar are still maturing. Also,
|
|||
|
doing such an enterprise would require the addition of even more
|
|||
|
staff to assure that it could be done properly. Let us get the
|
|||
|
Jaguar properly launched, supported, and in the market place and
|
|||
|
we'll see that we can do on the computer side.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Sir Fransis] K.DRAKE>
|
|||
|
How many sounds can the Jag generate simultaneously (3DO=8)?
|
|||
|
Where is the ComLynx port? Any CD titles in development (7th
|
|||
|
Guest)? Thanks 4 coming! ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
The ComLynx port is incorporated in the expansion port at the
|
|||
|
rear of the machine. ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<WETMORE>
|
|||
|
A couple real quickies (I hope): Will the "accessory" cables
|
|||
|
and such (S-Video, etc) be available at launch (ie. 2 weeks or so)?
|
|||
|
Also, can we expect/hope for any Atari coin-op translations next
|
|||
|
year? Such as: Hard/Race Drivin', Steel Talons, etc?
|
|||
|
And, again - thanks(!!) for coming online and staying so long!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Yes, there will be conversions of coin op games, although not
|
|||
|
all of them will be Atari Games products. For instance, Virtua
|
|||
|
Racing is one of the games that we are looking at as a model for
|
|||
|
what will be done with at least one of the racing games that
|
|||
|
we're working on. Re the cables, not 100% sure on that, although
|
|||
|
they should be along quite soon. :) ga
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[HoST] ST.LOU>
|
|||
|
A record breaking night for Atari and Dateline Atari! Record
|
|||
|
length, record number of questions, record number of attendees.
|
|||
|
What can I say. Congratulation to Bob and his guest (and friend)
|
|||
|
Ron Kovacs for their service above and beyond. GA
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[Bob & Ron] BOB-BRODIE>
|
|||
|
Lou, THANKS! It has been a really long day for us here in New
|
|||
|
York. I'm very grateful to our official online service GEnie and
|
|||
|
to our friends that staff the Atari RT's for allowing us to share
|
|||
|
this very special evening for a Dateline: Atari Conference. While
|
|||
|
we normally do this on a Friday night, I will be up in the air, on
|
|||
|
my way home to California when the conference will normally be
|
|||
|
running. Thanks to GEnie for allowing us some slack in scheduling
|
|||
|
this time. :) I'm also grateful that my very good friend Ron
|
|||
|
Kovacs could be here to share his impressions of the Jaguar launch
|
|||
|
event, as well as help with the typing tonight. A rare privlidge
|
|||
|
for me to hand over the keyboard and just give my answers without
|
|||
|
having to type all night long!! :) Thank you all for coming. We
|
|||
|
had a very enjoyable evening. And we look forward to our next
|
|||
|
session of Dateline: Atari with you next month, here on the official
|
|||
|
Atari online resource: GEnie. I hope that you all enjoy the rest of
|
|||
|
the evening, and the beginning of the holiday season. Happy
|
|||
|
Thanksgiving to you all. Good night!
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<[HoST] ST.LOU>
|
|||
|
You are most welcome, Bob. The pleasure truly is ours. Folks,
|
|||
|
look for this transcript in AEO or in library 13 on Saturday morning.
|
|||
|
Thanks to everyone for coming and have a safe drive home :-) <Bob,
|
|||
|
get to sleep!!>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|||
|
| + // / \ // \ + UseNet troed.ct.se |
|
|||
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|||
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