Motley Fool> "...might herald the future of electronic gaming..."
ThrustMaster Inc. (Nasdaq:TMSR - news) , which makes computer game joysticks, rocketed ahead $6 7/16, or 133.8%, to $11 1/4 on news that might herald the future of electronic gaming. Today, the company unveiled its new "Talk 'n' Play" software that allows up to four people to talk on the Internet while playing computer games. Some game designers believe multi-player action piped through the Internet is the wave of the future, which is why id Software -- makers of the wildly popular corridor-shooter Quake games -- plans to focus Quake Arena, third in its mega-selling series, on that type of group experience. Arena, to be distributed by Activision (Nasdaq:ATVI - news) , is expected sometime next year. While ThrustMaster's new software is downloadable now, a retail version that will come with a hands-free headset and 14 games will be available for about $30 in January. "Talk 'n' Play" uses technology from Intel Corp. (Nasdaq:INTC - news) , which improved $2 5/8 to $118 15/16 today.
source: © Dec 07, 1998 (6:43 PM ET) - The Motley Fool Evening News fnews.yahoo.com
TMSR (1 yr.50/200 day ma) quote.yahoo.com
TMSRs Frag Master [Re: Quake Servers] frag-master.com
NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT just reported TMSR as NASDAQs biggest mover today pursuant to its Intel® co-developed Talk n' Play...[wherein Intel has appx. a 80,000+ share warrant position in TMSR...source: ThrustMaster 6/8/98]--
"...Hillsboro, Oregon, June 8, 1998 — ThrustMaster, Inc. (NASDAQ:TMSR), a leading manufacturer of game controllers, today announced it has signed an agreement with Intel Corporation which will bring multi-user voice technology to the Internet gaming entertainment world.
ThrustMaster's Talk n' Play software and game controllers will incorporate technology developed by Intel Architecture Labs which enables up to four gamers to meet and talk to one another through Internet telephony while playing on-line computer games.
"One of the most exciting elements of Internet gaming is the interaction between participants. Ideally, this would include talking to each other directly and Talk n' Play makes that happen," stated Ron Resnick, vice president of marketing for ThrustMaster. "Talk n' Play will bring a new competitive edge to computer gaming," said Resnick.
"The technology uses the performance of a Pentium II processor to simultaneously run a voice conference and a multi-player game," said Craig Kinnie, vice president and director for Intel Architecture Labs, Intel Corporation. "ThrustMaster's delivery of this technology to market will mean computer users can enjoy a more realistic Internet gaming experience."
Through the use of a central Internet "Meeting Place" web site hosted by ThrustMaster, Talk n' Play users will be able to locate other players and join in on-line gaming matches. The Meeting Place will also facilitate the user's ability to log into on-line gaming sites, purchase innovative software and hardware products and keep tabs on the latest news in the world of gaming entertainment. Talk n' Play software utilizes Intel's multi-point voice communication technology which enables multiple users to talk together over the Internet. The software captures the sound from each participant's microphone, sends the sound over the Internet using a standard protocol, and returns the resulting multi-point audio mix back to each participant.
Using Talk n' Play will be as easy as installing the software, logging onto the Internet and launching the Talk n' Play icon. Users will instantly find themselves a the Meeting Place web site, where they will join other game enthusiasts, select online computer games and play in a matter of seconds.
Talk n' Play software will be bundled with ThrustMaster products as well as software titles from select entertainment software publishers. ThrustMaster expects to ship Talk n' Play products to retail accounts in the forth quarter of 1998.
Intel has received a warrant for 88,988 shares of stock in ThrustMaster in return for providing its multi-point voice communication technology to the company on a limited-exclusive basis.
ThrustMaster, whose diversified product line leads the industry in realistic game simulation, provides users with an immersive racing simulation experience. ThrustMaster is known for producing realistic and high quality game controllers. ThrustMaster's comprehensive product line includes action, adventure, sports and arcade peripherals for the PC and soon the console platform. Today, ThrustMaster continues to be a leader in the development for innovative peripherals, and looks forward to bringing outstanding PC-based entertainment to consumers..." |
