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31 KiB
Plaintext
654 lines
31 KiB
Plaintext
=========================================================================
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(C) 1994 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables. May
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be reprinted only with this notice intact. The Atari Roundtables on
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GEnie are *official* information services of Atari Corporation. To sign
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up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection
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type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt.Type XTX99437,GENIE
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and press [RETURN]. The system will prompt you for your information.
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==========================================================================
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Dateline Atari! with Bob Brodie
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Live from Las Vegas
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Winter Consumer Electronics Show
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Friday, Jan. 7th, 1994
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Host - Lou Rocha
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> We have a lot of newcomers here tonight that I would
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like to welcome. When you use the /RAI command to call me it will take
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me a few minutes to acknowledge you. Please don't /RAI more than once.
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It pollutes my screen <grin>
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Also please use the /nam command so I know who you are. For example /nam
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HoST gives me the HoST that you see. Please use a short nickname
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tonight. Please :-)
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Welcome to our first Dateline Atari of 1994! Tonight is
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the last evening of the Winter Consumer Electronics Show and Atari has
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been in Las Vegas showcasing the Jaguar. We expect to hear a report on
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the week's events from Bob Brodie, Director of Communications.
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Bob has been real busy this week so we really appreciate the extra
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effort in joining us tonight. Having done Comdex this year myself, I
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know what an exhausting week Bob must have had. Thanks for joining us
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on GEnie, Bob!
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The last few weeks have seen the posting of various Jaguar developer
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lists in the Bulletin Board. Elsewhere ATC stock is starting to inch up
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again. Some of our recently enriched observers are speculating on a new
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high of 30.00! Time will tell.
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There has also been some recent chatter about new production runs for
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the TT - Atari's workhorse workstation. Rumours also abound about a
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68040 computer being developed by a third party European company. Are
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these "visions of sugarplums" or post-holiday bonuses? Why don't you
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join us and we'll ask Bob. Bob, the floor is all yours. Please GA
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<BOB-BRODIE> Happy New Year, to all of our friends on GEnie! I trust
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that you have all enjoyed the holiday season very much. Activity at
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Atari is at an all time high as we continue with the our release of the
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Jaguar.
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For the third month in a row, this session of Dateline: Atari is coming
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to you from the road! In November, you may recall that we came to you
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live from the New York City Launch event, in December I was back in New
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York visiting with retailers. This month, I come to you live from the
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Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas.
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Today's session concluded about an hour ago, and I've rushed back from
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the show floor to my hotel room to join you online tonight. We have
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lots of exciting news to share with you, so let's get started right
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away!!!
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The Jaguar can truly be called an award winning product!! Atari was
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presented with a number of awards so far here at CES.
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Die Hard Game Fan Magazine has presented Atari with two awards, one for
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Cybermorph as "December Game of the Month", and another for Jaguar as
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the Best New Product of 1993. Video Game Magazine presented Atari with
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an award for Best New Product of 1993, and Best Print Ad of 1993 for
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the Jaguar.
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Game Informer Magazine announced at their 2nd Annual Game Informer
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Magazine Awards that they have awarded the Atari Jaguar the Best New
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Product of the Year award!! Today, Electronic Games told us that they
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were naming Tempest 2000 on the Atari Jaguar the award as Best Game of
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CES! We're very excited and pleased with all of the accolades that the
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Jaguar has earned to date!!
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Atari has returned to the main floor of CES. Our booth is located in
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Pavilion A, rather than using a suite as we have in the past few years.
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The amount of activity in the booth has been just incredible. We have
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visited by retailers from all over the world, and many prominent
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members of the media as well.
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Today we hosted CNN for coverage of the exciting Jaguar title "Alien
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vs. Predator". We're displaying Jaguars in our booth in the interactive
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display kiosks that will be available for retailers to utilized. These
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kiosks feature the striking Jaguar "cat eye" logo, and use an RGB
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monitor, and a set of stereo speakers to showcase the Jaguar's
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capabilities.
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We also have a large screen TV that we're using to highlight some of
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the newest titles, like Alien vs. Predator, and Tempest 2000. We have a
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series of Lynx kiosks set up as well, showing off the new titles that
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are available for the Lynx.
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We're pleased to have some exciting products on display in our booth at
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CES for both the Jaguar and the Lynx! For the Lynx, Telegames is
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showing Super Off Road, and Krazy Ace Miniature Golf. They have
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recently released Desert Strike for the Lynx as well. Atari is showing
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Lynx Raiden, Eye of the Beholder, and Ninja Gaiden III. Beyond Games is
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showing new titles as well, including Ultra Vortex. I'll make sure that
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complete descriptions of the Lynx titles are made available online here
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within one week of today. I had expected to have the completed text
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files outlining the story lines of all the games by today, but it
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didn't reach me in time for the CO tonight. (Sorry!)
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On the Jaguar side of things, Alien vs. Predator is coming along very
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nicely, and is a huge hit here at the show. This game is a 3D rendered
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tunnel/maze game with texture mapped walls, and striking digitized
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renderings of the Alien and the Predator creatures. As you play the
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game, you have the option of being the Alien, the Predator, or the
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Colonial Marine. Each character has their own set of unique skills, and
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weapons!!
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Telegames is showing a preliminary version of Brutal Sports Football.
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Anything goes in this football game, THERE ARE NO RULES! Just pick up
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the ball and run for your life!! Players compete on the gridiron
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against 16 of the most unforgiving mutant teams ever to separate a
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cyborg from his generator pack! Telegames announced that they would be
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producing European Soccer Challenge for the Jaguar. This title will be
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a significantly enhanced version of the same title currently available
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on the Lynx.
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In addition to true color graphics, the product will have an expanded
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season and playoff format for the 170 teams. A specific personality and
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performance ability will be established for each players, and you can
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earn the ability to trade payers under certain circumstances. Ultimate
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Brain Games is an expanded version of the Ultimate Chess Challenge
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title for the Lynx as well. In addition to a chess game, there will be
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a backgammon and checkers game. This product will features specific
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game set up for computer solution, and digitized graphics.
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Atari is showing an early version of Checkered Flag II for the Jaguar,
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featuring real time 3D generated action. The player is allowed to
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customize racing cars to his wishes. The cars, buildings, and roads are
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rendered in real time 3D. Racing speed is intensified by 100 percent
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true sound effects, crashes feature realistic sounds and imagery with
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parts flying, and tires screeching.
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Tempest 2000 is one of the most popular games in arcade history, back
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in it's original form as well as in three new versions. On one
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cartridge, you get four games! Tempest (original version), Tempest
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Plus, Tempest 2000, and Tempest Dual! The games feature two player
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cooperative play, the use of an android, cycle shaded webs, and many
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new weapons and challenging bonus levels.
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All told, there are over 15 new titles that have been announced at the
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show for the Jaguar!! Among those are: Battlewheels, Car Wards,
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Commando, Doom, Dungeon Depths, Evidence, Hosenose and Booger, Return
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to Zork, and Ultra Vortex.
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Atari is continuing it's roll out of the Jaguar on a national basis,
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effective immediately. All of the partners that we have been working
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with in New York and San Francisco that are national accounts, like
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Toys R Us, Babbages, and Electronic Boutique, will go national
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immediately. We will then roll out to the top ten markets in the US
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throughout the first quarter. Beginning in the second quarter, we will
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go to the top twenty markets. Our retail partners are pleased with our
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promotional efforts to date, and we have agressive marketing plans
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scheduled up through June of this year that we have committed to.
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I'm sure I could go on for quite awhile longer, but seeing as how we're
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getting started a bit late tonight, I think this probably is a good
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point to open the floor to any questions, Lou.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> OK, Bob. Lots of people are waiting and we have lots of
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newcomers. Folks, remember, only /RAI once. First we have M.BALDEON
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<[SWiTCHB0ARD] M.BALDEON> Any new developers (CAPCON, or ACCLAIM?)? Any
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new CD ROM info... I don't think lack of software supports is a good
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reason to delay it.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> BTW, I can only allow one question in the first round.
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<BOB-BRODIE> Yes, there are a number of new developers that are coming
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on board. We are having meetings with Capcom here at the show. Re the
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CD Rom, the hardware is quite close, and will be available in June.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Any ideas on the price for CD, Bob?
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<BOB-BRODIE> BTW, one of the other titles that we're showing in the
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booth is Kasumi Ninja, a fighting game with graphic violence. The CD
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will go for approx $200, Lou.
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<[Dave] D.SHORR> Atari has stated that the rendering speed of the
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Jaguar is over 850 Megapixels per second compared to 3DO's 64
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Megapixels per second; is this a fair comparison given that Atari's
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pixel is represented by a single bit?
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<BOB-BRODIE> Of course it is.
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<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Bob, I have a question from a friend (Paul
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Plants) who does not have a GEnie node in his town. He wants to know
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how/if his Atari Explorer subscription will be filled out. Or is the
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magazine gone forever?
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<BOB-BRODIE> Charles at this point we don't plan to bring Explorer
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back. Paul should contact our Customer Service Department and request a
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refund. We'll be happy to refund his money.
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<[Chris] C.KROWCHUK1> Bob, congrats on success in 93. I am a retailer
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in Edmonton offering Atari peripherals & software. I would like to
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offer Jags & Falcs but am concerned about warranty. I have left
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messages and mail, no response. So, how about it, any plans?
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<BOB-BRODIE> On the Falcon side, there are no problems with the
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warranty at all. Our policy is quite clear on it, it has a one year
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warranty. Dealers are allowed to replace 6 components in the field;
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those are as follows: the keyboard, power supply, hard disk, floppy
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disk, ram board, and something else that I can't recall at the moment
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(sheepish grin) On the Jaguar side, we're not ready to sell to Canada
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yet. That will probably happen around June.
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<[Ken] K.STEVENS1> Hi Bob, Got Raiden in yesterday and haven't been
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able to stop playing. Great implementation of the arcade game.
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Question, Sega and a couple other console developers have released some
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of the specs of their game systems. Most are due sometime around
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Christmas. From what they have release on the specs they are going to
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compete with and beyond the Jaguar. The question, is Atari working on
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the Jag II or a accesssory that will move the Jag to or beyond the
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specs of the new game consoles coming out?
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<BOB-BRODIE> Ken, I haven't personally seen those specs, but discussed
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them with our VP of Technology today. He agrees that the machines sound
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neat, but feels that they are going to be priced very high compared to
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the Jaguar. Do you recall the price they announced?
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<[Ken] K.STEVENS1> Bob, to answer your question about price. About 500
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dollars for the Sega Saturn (US dollars). This includes the CD (Quad
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Speed)) I personally think that they are biting off more than they can
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chew with the specs they have release at that price.
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<[Mike Lipson] M.LIPSON> Hi Bob! Do you know if Atari plans on issuing
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more stock in 1994?
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<BOB-BRODIE> No I don't know the answer to that, Mike. Sorry.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Lots of hands tonight, Bob. Next we have D.VANTREASE
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<[SHADOW] D.VANTREASE> Will you post us a list of the national rollout
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city schedule? And what's the latest AvP or SVideo release dates?
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<BOB-BRODIE> I apologize for not having the national roll out press
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release at my side. I will see to it that the information gets put out
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ASAP. Look for the S Video cable the end of this month, and AvP around
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April.
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<[ED] E.BAIZ> Is Atari going to make a case for the Jag similar to the
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one for the Lynx?
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<BOB-BRODIE> We're in discussion with a number of companies for
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accessories like that, Ed. I'm not sure if we will do it, or allow
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other companies to do them for us.
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<[Ed & Mac] ERIDDLE> What was 3DO's reaction to the Jaguar being @ CES
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in FULL FORCE, What did they have to "combat" the Jags presence?
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Waiting for Aliens vs. Predator...
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<BOB-BRODIE> Trip Hawkins gave a presentation at CES. He addressed
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virtually every competitior EXCEPT Atari in his discussion of the
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market. When he opened up for questions, he was asked specifically
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about the Jaguar.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Don't leave us hangin' Bob :-)
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<BOB-BRODIE> His response was that he didn't feel that the Jaguar
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competed against 3DO because 3DO isn't a Toy.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Hahaha!
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<BOB-BRODIE> When it was pointed out to him that the Jaguar is
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outselling the 3DO by a factor of 10:1 according to some retailers, he
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said "...Go to the Atari booth and see it for yourself!" And hundreds
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of people did just that. :) We're grateful. On a slightly more serious
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note, I'm told that there are some impressive titles in the 3DO booth.
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However, the retailers claim that it simply isn't selling.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Travis Guy from Atari Explorer Online is next!
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<[Nat'l Champs] AEO.MAG> Hi Bob, it sounds like everything's going
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well.... Can you take a minute and give those of us who can't be there
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an anecdote or two that would help convey the reaction the Jaguar is
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receiving? (Aside from Trip's reaction! :) I'm interested in what
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Jaguar title seems to be generating the most intense interest.
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<BOB-BRODIE> We've been showing Alien vs Predator on the big screen, so
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it's getting the most interest. There have been a large number of
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people that have asked to purchase one on the show floor. We had a
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number of employees from Sega and Nintendo visiting the booth, and
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playing our games. They seem to be very impressed. Among the more
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interesting stories from my role in dealing with the media has been the
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many members of the Japanese press who have visited our booth,
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DEMANDING review units. :) Many of them were wearing Sega hats, too. :)
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<[Sam] SAM-RAPP> I was gonna ask about the cheats for crescent Galaxy,
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but I thought I would ask if you have any new developers you can name
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specifically? Of course, You could always answer both! ;-)
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<BOB-BRODIE> Why don't I talk a little about the cheats, and we'll deal
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with the devs AFTER the show. We have some key appointments at the end
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of the week. Re the cheats for Cresecent Galaxy....When the Crescent
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Galaxy title comes up, press 1193. This will activate the cheat mode
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for Crescent Galaxy. The codes are entered in from the second
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controller. For example, pressing the joypad to the right will make you
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scroll really quickly across the screen.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Still 15 in the queue. If you are waiting, please have
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your question ready and wait for Talk-Mode before pressing [RETURN].
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Next is B.DUNCAN.
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<[BaltimoreBoy] B.DUNCAN12> Will There be a Virtual Reality Device for
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the Jag anytime soon?
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<BOB-BRODIE> There is one in the works, but I'm not sure how soon it
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will be available. We want to be sure it isn't a hokey device like some
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of the virual reality stuff.
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<[Sir Fransis] K.DRAKE> All of the games until now are 16 meg and
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retail at $49.99. As the more visually impressive games will use larger
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meg sizes, will the prices get too close to becoming unbearable? (like
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the $99.99 price for Sega's VR racing).
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<BOB-BRODIE> I don't think so, Kenneth. We do have some developers
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talking about $89 games, but I haven't seen any real firm plans for
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them yet. Crescent Galaxy is really impressive graphically, and it
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isn't that expensive.
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<[Graham] G.NORTON> Bob, I have a few questions for you. 1) We have
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been trying for while to get hold of either Shirley Taylor or yourself
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for a while and haven't been able to. Can you suggest a good time to
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call when we might be able to speak to someone...or is there such a
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thing? :) 2) Is Atari going to be addressing the dealer warranty
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program that had been canceled any time soon? It is very hard,
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especially in Canada, to be sending products down to Atari (or even
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Pacific Software) any time we have warranty work, and needless to say
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time consuming. 3) What is Atari planning for Canada with regard to
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dealers (getting more online), and with regard to both the Jaguar and
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Falcon? 4) Lastly, while I realize the Jaguar is Atari's central
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product right now, I hope the Falcon hasn't been forgotten. Atari needs
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to reduce pricing on the current Falcon and introduces faster machines
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just to stay current. As we all know in the computer industry, if you
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are not moving forward you are falling behind.
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<BOB-BRODIE> Graham, in fairness to everyone here I can only take one
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question tonight. Sorry. We have restored voice mail at Atari, and I
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had not received any messages from you in the last few weeks. Please
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call and leave your number for either Shirley or I and we'll call you
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back to discuss your concerns. Atari was closed between Christmas and
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New Years, but I was in the office during that time, and checked my
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voice mail daily. I don't recall any messages from you, although I am
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about 3 weeks behind in my GEnie mail at this point.
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<MIKE-ALLEN> Hi Bob. Glad to see you here. Many Atari computer users,
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while glad that Atari is doing so well with the Jag, are feeling a
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little nervous. The "real" dealer network seems to be dwindling and
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there are fewer and fewer 3rd party offerings. I guess the question is:
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is there a future for Atari computers other than just as a Music
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machine? Are we Atari computer enthusiasts going to be more orphaned
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than we are now?
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<BOB-BRODIE> We are still very much interested in the computer market,
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Mike. However, the reality is that at this point it time if we are to
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be profitable we must pursue the Jaguar. The fundamentals of the
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computer side of our business have changed, the most compelly products
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for the Falcon are largely music related products. It is our believe
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that the capabilities of the Jaguar are well suited for computers as
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well, and we are considering how to go about doing that in the best
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possible fashion. In any event, we will continue to service the needs
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of our computing customers to the best of our ability.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Bob, can you shed any light on the production of TT's
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that was mentioned a few months ago? And what is 'compelly'? <grin>
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<BOB-BRODIE> <Grin> a typo from lack of sleep, sorry.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> compelly=compelling?
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<BOB-BRODIE> The production of TTs _has_ resumed. What I have not been
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clear on
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** <BOB-BRODIE> disconnected.
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> OH OH... Deja vu ... hang on folks. There are lots of
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people in the queue so I am closing it for now. If we move really
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quickly, I will take more /RAI later. No more /RAI for now. Thanks.
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Bob is back
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> I just got a note that the cheat works. Sam is moving
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right along :-)
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Matt Rivman will be next, them M.MURPHY and Ringo
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Montfort
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<BOB-BRODIE> Sorry, gang. That's a new record, twice in one night. :)
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Did he (Sam) think I would lie??? :) :)
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<[HoST] ST.LOU> Matt, how about asking your question now?
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<[Matt] M.RIVMAN1> Howdy Bob, and welcome. A while back, someone posted
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in the Jag topic that their local dealer sold 4 units to some
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Electronic Arts folks. Have they expressed any interest in writing for
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the cat to Atari, directly?
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<BOB-BRODIE> On an informal basis. Remember that Electronic Arts really
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doesn't write that much software themselves. They are largely a
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publisher of other people's products, like John Madden Football for
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instance.
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<[Kid Metal] M.MURPHY31> Happy New Year, Bob, and congratulations on
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what sounds to be a successful CES. When can we expect to see Jag TV
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ads go nationwide? Can you give us any details of specific ads we'll be
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seeing? Thanks.
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|
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<BOB-BRODIE> We will be going in the top 15 teen shows in in the top
|
||
ten markets in Feb, and March with the TV spots. There will be cable TV
|
||
ads runnning at the same time, and then.... from April through June
|
||
we'll be doing the same thing in the top 20 markets with TV. We will be
|
||
doing national advertising in the video games mags clear thru June, a
|
||
series of mall events, screenvision (in movie theatres), wild postings,
|
||
and sponsoring the Scorpions 14 city national tour of the US as part of
|
||
the AvP promotions. How's that sound? :)
|
||
|
||
<[Ringo] R.MONFORT> Hi, Bob. are developers getting new info regarding
|
||
computers or new computers? I love the Jaguar. Thanks!
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> I'd LOVE to love a Jaguar <grin>
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Hi Ringo. You should really take that up with Bill
|
||
Rehbock, Mike Fulton, or J. Patton. They're the developer support
|
||
people. I don't track the current status of their updates to
|
||
developers, I'm afraid. I can tell you that part of the efforts on the
|
||
Jaguar are resulting in developer sessions here in Las Vegas during
|
||
CES.
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Bob, everyone is playing their Jags while waiting. They
|
||
love your cheats :-) Next we have A.STUDER.
|
||
|
||
<A.STUDER1> I'm happy to see Atari moving forward, especially into the
|
||
future. The Jaguar is a pleasant sight. Do you know when the first
|
||
Jaguar title with QSound will be released and what we can expect from
|
||
it? Will it use a special adapter or come out the SVHS/composite
|
||
cables? Has the Jaguar's IBM development unit been completed? Keep up
|
||
the good work! Happy New Year! <I forgot to play Atari today> <tried
|
||
CG's 1193, didn't work!>
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Hi Andy, I'll have to check on the Q Sound info. My good
|
||
friend Bernie Stolar is there, and he's been in our booth quite a bit
|
||
throughout the show. QSound relies on just two speakers for it's
|
||
effects, so you should not need any adapter at all. The PC development
|
||
environment is done to the best of my knowledge.
|
||
|
||
<[SWiTCHB0ARD] M.BALDEON> Congrats on your ad campaign, I live by San
|
||
Francisco and to all those people who want to know what they look like
|
||
there better then the Sega commercials (that's a compliment). Also
|
||
thanks, the CG code worked and I only have one controller... had to
|
||
switch it around. Anyway one last question... is Microsoft trying to
|
||
get their hands into the Jag market (just a rumor).
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Not to the best of my knowledge. Today we were told that
|
||
the rumor is that Nintendo is trying to buy us...only the umpteenth
|
||
time I've heard that one. :)
|
||
|
||
<[Dave] D.SHORR> What is the STatus of AtariWorks? Will a
|
||
telecommunications module be added?
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> We're working on a beta version of 2.0, which at this
|
||
point doesn't have a telecomm module, but has lots of other
|
||
improvements.
|
||
** <BOB-BRODIE> disconnected.
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> This might be a sign, folks :-) Hahaha... the Nintendo
|
||
spies! I love it, King! Lots of funny /sends.
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Bob is back
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Sorry gang....one of those nights I guess! Is it GEnie,
|
||
the hotel, or the node here in Vegas????
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Did we finish the AtariWorks question?
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> The answer was that there is a beta version of Works 2.0,
|
||
but it doesn't have a telcom module at this point in time.
|
||
|
||
<[Parrot Head] C.CASSADAY> Being the president of an Atari User Group
|
||
who would really like to have Atari's presence at our second Fiesta
|
||
Atari this June, discretion would lead me not to do this. However, I
|
||
feel myself and others would like to hear the rest of the answer to the
|
||
TT030 production question.
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> I'm not sure exactly where I fell offline...as I recall,
|
||
the question was "Are TT's being built again?". They are, but I am
|
||
unclear about what the plans are for them to be distributed, i.e. how
|
||
many come to the US, how many will go to Germany, etc.
|
||
|
||
<[Tony] WETMORE> You mentioned before that AvsP has been delayed until
|
||
April. Will you be able to post a list of "upcoming" Jaguar titles
|
||
sometime soon? As I recall, AvsP was one of the next expected titles.
|
||
No new games until April would be very bad. [:-(
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Tempest 2000, Checkered Flag will be out in the next
|
||
couple of months. The 3rd party stuff will begin coming out in March
|
||
and April as well.
|
||
|
||
<[James] J.VOGH> When will Eye of the Beholder be out for the Lynx and
|
||
how many players will it allow?
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> We're showing it here at the show, I need to double check
|
||
on its availability. It requires a different board than the other Lynx
|
||
games as it permits you to save your score in the game. The board might
|
||
delay availability...but the software is done.
|
||
|
||
<[Ed & Mac] ERIDDLE> What Role-Playing Games are in developement for
|
||
the Jag? A BIG oversight on the SEGA frontier is the LACK of RPGs.
|
||
With a a few good showings you could capture that overlooked part of
|
||
the market...
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> I have a list of about 15 titles that are in the works,
|
||
guys. I'll get that up online ASAP. There are some RPGs in there, to
|
||
be sure.
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> That would be greatly appreciated, Bob. I know you have
|
||
been really, really, really busy lately but there has been LOTS of
|
||
action in the Jaguar topics in the Bulletin Board.
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, really busy. :)
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> When you have a free week, you'll enjoy what is being
|
||
posted.
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> And I'm sorry that I haven't been online at all.
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Shall I send you some archives ? :-)
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> I will try to get online after I get back home, and
|
||
yes...please send the highlights to me!
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Next we have Travis then Graham to close our evening.
|
||
|
||
<[Nat'l Champs] AEO.MAG> Really Busy Bob, there's a story making its
|
||
way around that Atari is trying to "force" Jaguar development to be
|
||
done on Falcon030s in a lame attempt to prop up the Falcon. (I'll leave
|
||
it to you to figure out where this story is coming from.) What say
|
||
you??? (BTW, thanks for the Jaguar cap and Tee-shirt!)
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> At least being in Vegas instead of NY I feel like I'm
|
||
getting closer to home!!
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Let me guess who spreads the most rumours per week...
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Hi Travis...(oops, that last part was for Lou!)
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Bob, turn right for Sunnyvale when you leave Vegas :-)
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> That story is 100% false, we are also supporting the PC
|
||
environment with the Jaguar. We are trying to force anything on anyone.
|
||
Whoever said that simply doesn't know the facts, isn't connected to
|
||
anyone that does, and proably isn't living right. :)
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> "We are NOT trying to force...." correct?
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Please stop all the /sends guys...
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Graham Norton, you have the evening's last question.
|
||
|
||
<[Graham] G.NORTON> Can you tell me why Atari decided that Jags and
|
||
games can't be rented. A lot of people like to rent machines and games
|
||
before they buy them just to make sure they aren't wasting their money.
|
||
Also we have had a number of video game rental stores ask us about
|
||
getting Jags.
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Graham, before I answer your question, I want to be very
|
||
clear about my last answer.
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Please do :-)
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> I appear to have some hardware problems tonight. Along
|
||
with a lot of /sends.
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> We are NOT, I repeat _NOT_ forcing anyone to use the
|
||
Falcon or any other TOS based computer for Jaguar development. That is
|
||
simply untrue. We are supporting the PC environment fully. Whoever said
|
||
that we were attempting to force people to use the Falcon is mistaken,
|
||
and if it is whom I think it is that is spreading this rumor, then it
|
||
is NO SURPRISE that they don't know what they are talking about.
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> On to your question, (and please respond to my follow up
|
||
"What makes you think we are not supporting rental?") One of the
|
||
companies that we are working with is Blockbuster Video!
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Graham, please ask your question again...
|
||
|
||
<[Graham] G.NORTON> Well mainly the notice on the side of the box that
|
||
says no rentals allowed...
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> That's just standard legal mumbo jumbo. I don't have a box
|
||
in the room. But
|
||
|
||
<[Graham] G.NORTON> Quoting directly " You may not rent or lease the
|
||
Products or parts thereof;
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> I suspect that if I did, there would be a spot that says
|
||
something along the line of "unless otherwise specificed", or something
|
||
to that effect. I believe that license applies to end users, not
|
||
retailers, Graham.
|
||
|
||
<[Graham] G.NORTON> Ok just wanted to check we want to sell some to
|
||
various rental stores.
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Again, we're working with Blockbuster Video. They are
|
||
doing rentals.
|
||
|
||
<[HoST] ST.LOU> Bob, short goodbyes and thanks tonight. I know how
|
||
exhausted you are. Take care. Spend a restful weekend at home. We'll
|
||
see you online.
|
||
|
||
<BOB-BRODIE> Lou, my apologies for all of the problems tonight on this
|
||
end. Maybe this Stacy finally needs a tuneup. It has been a trying
|
||
evening tonight with all of the line drops. But as always, I have
|
||
enjoyed being here. I'm grateful for the support of our users online on
|
||
GEnie, our official online service, and thanks to all for attending.
|
||
Good night.
|
||
|
||
|
||
/|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\
|
||
|
||
Our next session of Dateline Atari will be held on Friday, February 4th
|
||
at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Real Time Conferences in the Atari ST
|
||
RoundTable are held every Monday (Desktop Publishing and Graphics) and
|
||
Wednesday (Open House) night at 10:00 p.m. and a HelpDesk is available
|
||
evry Sunday at 9:00 p.m. On the first and third Thursday there is a
|
||
Programmer's RTC at 9:00 p.m.
|
||
|
||
If you miss a conference, transcripts are made for all formal RTC's
|
||
(where there is a special guest) and the programming RTC. You will find
|
||
these transcripts in Library 13 - Atari Archives.
|
||
|
||
Please send your questions, suggestions and comments to RTC$ via
|
||
GEmail. Thank you.
|
||
|
||
|
||
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