***Home Entertainment
Midway Home Entertainment Holds Position as Leading
Nintendo 64 Third Party Publisher for 1997.
(February 12)
Midway Home Entertainment confirmed that the company
sold more Nintendo 64 games than any other third
party publisher did in 1997 based on NPD’s TRSTS 1997
video game data. Widely recognized as the leading
third party publisher for the Nintendo 64 since the
game system's retail debut in 1996, Midway released a
total of five N64 titles this past holiday season;
the popular racers San Francisco Rush, Extreme Racing
and Top Gear, Rally, The NHL & NHLPA present Wayne
Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98, the fighter, Mace: The Dark
Age, and Mortal Kombat, Mythologies: Sub-Zero,. All
totaled Midway has released ten titles for the
Nintendo 64 with plans for many more.
The company also revealed that it is offering new,
low, value prices on five of its titles for the
Nintendo 64 Gamer's Select Value Price program.
Mortal Kombat Trilogy, DOOM 64, War Gods, NBA
HangTime, and Mace: The Dark Age. Under the terms of
the program, these games will carry a $39.95 MAP.
www.midway.com
Playstation Worldwide Shipments reach 30 Million
Units
(February 9)
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced that as of
Feb. 5, 1998, cumulative worldwide shipments of its
PlayStation game console had reached 30 million
units. The following is the breakdown: Worldwide
PlayStation game console shipments by region, as of
Feb. 5, 1998.
North America (Sony Computer Entertainment America
Inc.):
10.75 million units
Japan (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.):
10.65 million units
Europe: (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.)
8.60 million units.
In addition to hardware shipments, PlayStation
software also experienced growth. As a result, the
following is a breakdown for PlayStation software
shipments on a worldwide basis: Worldwide PlayStation
software shipments by region, as of Feb. 5, 1998.
North America: (Sony Computer Entertainment America
Inc.)
59 million units
Japan: (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)
90 million units
Europe: (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.)
50 million units.
www.playstation.com
Mattel and Intel to Collaborate on `PC-Enhanced Toys'
(February 5)
Mattel, Inc. announced that it has signed a letter of
intent with Intel Corporation to develop "PC-Enhanced
Toys" -- new generations of high tech playthings.
These toys will be created with current and future
technologies from the computer industry. Under the
terms of the proposed collaboration, Mattel designers
would work together with Intel engineers to combine
toy design know-how with innovative technologies to
deliver fresh and unique play experiences. Mattel
plans to contribute its experience in the design,
manufacture, marketing and distribution of children's
toys. Intel plans to contribute its expertise in
using the processing power of high end PCs to create
richer play experiences, and to help establish open
standards for toy-to-PC connections.
Mattel is a founding sponsor of the "Toys of
Tomorrow" research consortium at the MIT Media Lab,
located at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology's Cambridge campus. Through its
collaboration with Intel, Mattel hopes to translate
"Toys of Tomorrow" concepts into real world products.
www.intel.com
Quake II Now Available on TEN
(February 6)
Total Entertainment Network (TEN) announced the
immediate availability on TEN of Quake II. TEN also
revealed that Quake II will be featured in Season 2
of the AMD Professional Gamers’ League (PGL), the
first pro sports league for computer game
enthusiasts. Initially, TEN will support as many as
16 players in a single Quake II match, with 32-player
matches supported shortly
TEN will soon support rankings for Quake II, using
its industry-leading rankings system the same
system used in the PGL. Players will be able to see
the results of their latest match reflected in their
rankings instantly, and can access a wealth of
information on their or their opponents’, preferred
weapons, weaknesses, and other in-game tendencies.
TEN also expects to support even more mods
(customized extensions and independently created
maps) for Quake II than for the original Quake.
www.ten.net
www.pgl.com
AMD Professional Gamers' League Announces Season 2
Featured Games PGL To Offer Quake II and Total
Annihilation Original Quake to be Supported in Newly-
Added Teamplay Category
The AMD Professional Gamers' League (PGL) announced
that PGL Season 2 will begin in early March and will
feature Quake II and Total Annihilation. In addition,
the second three-month season will showcase Quake
clans with the addition of a third game category,
Action - Team Play.
The first pro sports league for computer game
enthusiasts, the PGL met with critical and player
acclaim during its inaugural season, which culminated
in a live championship event and Webcast via
www.allgames.com last weekend at GameWorks in
Seattle. The inclusion of the latest action and
strategy mega-hits in Season 2, as well as the
addition of team play, is expected to generate more
enthusiasm and even greater turnout from among the
gaming masses.
Exact dates for Season 2 qualification and opening
round schedules have not been announced, but league
officials project the usual 1-month open
qualification period, which will kick off the second
PGL season, to begin in early March. Season 2 will
culminate in a live championship event at E3 in
Atlanta in May 1998. Additional rules specific to the
newly-offered titles and Action Teamplay category,
and a new prize award structure for that category,
will be posted on the official PGL web site prior to
opening day of Season 2.
OpenGL Game List Posted
Jason Freund has informed the WAVE Report that he is
keeping a list of OpenGL games. Check it out at:
www.cis.uab.edu/info/alumni/jlf/openglgames.ht
ml
Wave Issue 9738 3/17/98 Article 8-01