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BULLETIN mentthe thesecurity securitylocks lockstotoprotect protectour ourdevelopers." developers."Nine Ninededement velopment firms , including five "household names," have velopment firms, including five "household names," have signed on to the project, Deith added. The coin machine industry's three major trade associaThe coin machine industry's three major trade associa- signed on to the project, Deith added. tions-AMOA,AAMA, AAMA, and andIAFEC-adopted IAFEC-adopted an an educational educational tions-AMOA, OPEN ARCADE ARCADE FORUM FORUM PRODUCES PRODUCES program last month designed to help implement a parental OPEN program last month designed to help implement a parental SHOWCASES BUILDING BLOCKS advisory system for video game content. AAMA executive SHOWCASES BUILDING BLOCKS advisory system for video game content. AAMA executive The Dec. Dec. 22 meeting meeting of ofthe the Intel-sponsored Intel-sponsored Open OpenArcade Arcade director Bob Bob Fay Fay said said one one ofofthe the main main thrusts thrusts of ofthe the initiative initiative The director Architecture Forum showcased several building blocks dewill be a poster explaining the system; the poster will be free, will be a poster explaining the system; the poster will be free, Architecture Forum showcased several building blocks designed to aid the implementation of a PC-based video game while suppbes last, to all locations. signed to aid the implementation of a PC-based video game while supplies last, to all locations. platformincluding includingthe the formation formation of ofaanew newworking workinggroup group Samples of the poster, which will be available through the platform Samples of the poster, which will be available through the that will examine and expand current input device technolorespective associations, will be sent to all members of respective associations, will be sent to all members of that will examine and expand current input device technology. Jointly chaired by Microsoft and Intel, the group will look AMOA,AAMA, AAMA,and and IAFEC. IAFEC. The The posters posters will will also also be be adveradver- gy. AMOA, Jointly chaired by Microsoft and Intel, the group will look at the special needs of arcade input devices such as coin tised in major industry trade publications. "This is a serious tised in major industry trade publications. "This is a serious at the special needs of arcade input devices such as coin mechsand andbill bill acceptors acceptorsas aswell well as asthe the challenge challengeof ofdevelopdevelopissue and it doesn't cost operators anything," said Fay. "If we mechs issue and it doesn't cost operators anything," said Fay. "If we ing game software that will universally recognize joysticks, don't do something, we risk Congressional action." ing game software that will universally recognize joysticks, don't do something, we risk Congressional action." guns, or steering wheels. Microsoft is expected to use the inOther components of the educational plan include: guns, or steering wheels. Microsoft is expected to use the inOther components of the educational plan include: formation for for addressing addressingthe the arcade arcademarket marketin inits its 1999 1999ververparental warnings in the artwork of all new games or control formation parental warnings in the artwork of all new games or control sion of Directlnput API, the game developer's tool kit for panel for machines with 50-inch monitors, an information sion of DirectInput API, the game developer's tool kit for panel for machines with 50-inch monitors, an information writingsoftware. software. packdescribing describingthe theadvisory advisorysystem systemmailed mailedto to operators, operators,and and writing pack New members of ofthe the forum forum include includeAcclaim Acclaim EntertainEntertaina pilot program that will study the effects of isolating games New members a pilot program that will study the effects of isolating games ment, Compaq, Electronic Arts, and Microsoft. Intel's arcade that feature violent content. that feature violent content. ment, Compaq, Electronic Arts, and Microsoft. Intel's arcade point man Albert Teng said there are seven companies curThe test will be conducted by AMOA officers Don Hesch, The test will be conducted by AMOA officers Don Hesch, point man Albert Teng said there are seven companies currently shipping or testing PC-based arcade systems. They inJim Stansfield, and Frank Seninsky, as well as two Namco AlJim Stansfield, and Frank Seninsky, as well as two Namco Al- rently shipping or testing PC-based arcade systems. They in- ASSOCIATIONS ADOPT ADOPTVIDEO VIDEO ASSOCIATIONS CONTENT EDUCATION EDUCATION PROGRAM PROGRAM CONTENT addin's Castle Castlelocations locations and and two two IAFEC IAFEC member memberlocations. locations. addin's Results will be submitted to Congress in September. meetResults will be submitted to Congress in September. AAmeeting has been scheduled for March to help put this pilot proing has been scheduled for March to help put this pilot program into place. The test is expected to run through April and gram into place. The test is expected to run through April and May and will monitor player response to the isolated games. May and will monitor player response to the isolated games. clude: Evans Evans&&Sutherland, Sutherland,HanaHo HanaHoArcadePC, ArcadePC, Interactive Interactive clude: Light, LBE Systems, LBE Technologies, Mango Grits, and the the Light, LBE Systems, LBE Technologies, Mango Grits, and Vivid Group. The OAAF is scheduled to meet three times Vivid Group. The OAAF is scheduled to meet three times thisyear: year:March March(ASI), (ASI),May May(Computer (ComputerGame GameDeveloper's Developer's this Conference), and September (AMOA). Conference), and September (AMOA). IMMERSIA PRESENTS PRESENTSTOOL TOOL KIT KIT IMMERSIA TO MAXIMIZE EARNINGS BASEDVIDEO VIDEO GAME GAME SYSTEM SYSTEM TO MAXIMIZE EARNINGS BASED Immersia,Interactive InteractiveLight's Light'ssoftware softwaredevelopment developmentsubsubAcclaim Coin-Op will show the first four games for its new Immersia, Acclaim Coin-Op will show the first four games for its new ACCLAIM TO TO INTRODUCE INTRODUCE PCPCACCLAIM sicliary,presented presentedaanew newsoftware softwaretool toolkit kitatatlast lastmonth's month'smeetmeetPC-based game gameplatform platform atatthis this month's month'sATEI ATEIshow showininLonLon- sidiary, PC-based Open Arcade Architecture Forum designed to optiing of the don ; the games will also be exhibited in March at the ASI don; the games will also be exhibited in March at the ASI ing of the Open Arcade Architecture Forum designed to optimize game earnings for locations. According to Immersia's show in Las Vegas. They include two driving games, a shootshow in Las Vegas. They include two driving games, a shoot- mize game earnings for locations. According to Immersia's willmonitor monitorgame gameplay, play, for for ininJoseph Deutsch, Deutsch,the the software softwarewill inggame, game, and and aamilitary militarystrategy strategygame. game. Joseph ing stance scoring, and then re-adjust based on the information While the game platform will be based on Intel's Open ArWhile the game platform will be based on Intel's Open Ar- stance scoring, and then re-adjust based on the information gathered. Using the example of scoring, Deutsch said that a cade Architecture Architecture specification specification and and utilize utilize Quantum3D's Quantum3D's gathered. cade Using the example of scoring, Deutsch said that a game which allowed allowed players players to to quickly quickly or or easily easily reach reach the the graphics technology, Acclaim's Leon Deith said special securigraphics technology, Acclaim's Leon Deith said special securi- game which highest possible score would then increase in difficulty. "This ty locks built into the system will limit the software the system ty locks built into the system will limit the software the system highest possible score would then increase in difficulty. "This verysimple simpleexample exampleofofwhat whatour ourtool tool kit kitcan can do doin interms terms willsupport. support.Only Onlygames gamesput putout outby byAcclaim Acclaimwill willrun runon onthe the isis aavery will of game earnings," he explained. "We have more than 20 clifThe idea, according to Deith, is that operators are platform. platform. The idea, according to Deith, is that operators are of game earnings," he explained. "We have more than 20 differenttools toolsfor formany manyother othercoin-op coin-oprelated relatedissues." issues." gua..ra.nteedquality quality content contentfrom from Acclaim Acclaimbecause becauseititalready already ferent guaranteed has firmly established relationships with both the coin-op inhas firmly established relationships with both the coin-op inKONAMITO RELEASE BEAT BEATMANIA MANIA dustry as asaavideo videogame gamemanufacturer manufacturerand andthe thesoftware s'Oftwaredeveldevel- KONAMI TO RELEASE dustry opment community as a major consumer game publisher. WITH NEW NAME WITH NEW NAME opment community as a major consumer game publisher. "It's aa Neo Neo Geo Geo system system for forthe thenext nextgeneration," generation,"Deith Deithtold told Konarni'sunique unique music musicgame game Beat BeatMania Maniawill willbe bere-titled re-titled "It's Konami's Play Meter. "We will be the only publisher. We will impleHip Hop Mania when it is released in the United States marPlay Meter. "We will be the only publisher. We will imple- Hip Hop Mania when it is released in the United States marP,L:AY,METER PLAY METER 33 · JANUARY 1998