 |
| CNN WEB SITES: |
|
| TIME INC. SITES: |
| MORE SERVICES: |
| video on demand |
| video archive |
| audio on demand |
| news email services |
| free email accounts |
| desktop headlines |
| pointcast |
| pagenet |
| DISCUSSION: |
| message boards |
| chat |
| feedback |
| SITE GUIDES: |
| help |
| contents |
| search |
| FASTER ACCESS: |
| europe |
| japan |
| WEB SERVICES: |
Not much gaming in Vegas
Last week's Comdex extravaganza had little for PC game fans.
November 25, 1998
Web posted at: 9:00 AM EST
by Scott Magoon and Mary Jo Wagner
LAS VEGAS (IDG) -- In a town built on games, Comdex/Fall '98 had little in the way of gaming news.
3Dfx Interactive announced that its new Voodoo3 chip set will be available in the second quarter of 1999 and will be a combination of single chips that expand on the Voodoo2 and Voodoo Banshee architecture. The retail add-in board will be the Voodoo3 3000, which will be optimized for Microsoft's DirectX 6, Glide, and Open GL.
Diamond Multimedia said new boards that incorporate Voodoo3 technology will likely cost $200 after a $50 rebate.
 |
IDG.net home page |
| IDG.net's continuous Comdex news | |
| PC World's Comdex page | |
| Networking news at Network World Fusion Free registration required to view this site. | |
| Comdex news for IT managers at Computerworld | |
| Start your free IDG.net e-mail account | |
| The latest Microsoft antitrust news at IDG.net | |
|
Search IDG.net in 12 languages |
|
Looking to gain from Voodoo3's momentum, Elsa said that its new graphics boards will include the forthcoming Voodoo Banshee 3D processor. The company also announced Elsa Synergy II, an Advanced Graphics Port 2D/3D graphics accelerator with OpenGL technology, designed to render detailed graphics.
The Elsa Synergy II will be available in the first quarter of 1999 with an expected retail price of $299.
Immersion is trying to improve the physical aspect of gaming with its announcement of SlingBall, a "virtual sporting environment" that simulates the real-world game of jai-alai. Using force-feedback joysticks, players are armed with elastic "slings" to hurl a puck at the opponent's goal. The joysticks give players the sensation of the puck's weight, the sling's elasticity, the walls' hardness, and the smoothness of the playing surface, said Immersion.
SlingBall can be played against live competitors or against the PC. According to Immersion, SlingBall is compatible with all force-feedback joysticks that support Microsoft's DirectX 5 standard. A free demo version is available.
Also weighing in with a "touch and feel" device was game-controller manufacturer American Anko, with the introduction of its AVB Force Feedback Racing Wheel. Incorporating the latest universal serial bus technology, the Force Feedback Racing Wheel is designed to allow users to "feel" a real racing experience, complete with off-road conditions and the jolt of hitting a wall, said the company. The device costs $139.98 online at American Anko's Web site.