[UPDATE 1][ISSUE(S)][11-11-99 03:20 PM ET] FRANK HAUSMANN, CEO (CSCC) AND WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CGWGAMING.COM, PEOPLELINK, TEENLINK, WON.NET...
"...HILLSBORO, OR, September 29, 1999 ðð "The next 3-6 months will be a very dynamic time for our new company," commented Frank G. Hausmann, CenterSpan Communications Corporation President and CEO..." [emphasis added]
Computer Gaming World and ThrustMaster Partner to Bring Talk n' Play? Online Community Services to Computer Gamers
Hillsboro, Oregon, April 16, 1999 -- ThrustMaster, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMSR), today announced that it has entered into an agreement to provide Talk n' Play online community communications services to Computer Gaming World, (CGW), a Ziff-Davis (NYSE: ZD) publication. Computer Gaming World is the leading computer gaming magazine serving gamers in the software entertainment market.
Talk n' Play services consist of three modules: an instant messaging client, a unique community network, and revolutionary voice over the Internet software allowing up to four players to simultaneously talk while playing their favorite online games. The Talk n' Play client software and community network were developed exclusively for ThrustMaster by PeopleLink, the leading outsource provider for community based information and communication services.
On or before July 15, 1999, CGW will commence offering the Talk n' Play instant messaging client software (which includes the first two modules only) as a free download in connection with the launch of cgwgaming.com, a new gaming community network web site that will enable gamers of all levels and interests to instant message, chat online, join special interest groups, and find and communicate with others based on common interests. Gamers will be able to interact with CGW editors during online events, exchange tips and tricks, and play head-to-head with some of the most experienced gamers in the industry. In addition, CGW will co-market the Talk n' Play instant messaging client by including it on CGW's monthly CD-ROM, which is included in its monthly issue. CGW has a monthly subscription base of approximately 300,000.
For under $30, gamers at the cgwgaming.com web site will be able to upgrade to the full version of Talk n' Play, the exciting multi-person voice conferencing solution that allows up to four people to talk over the Internet from up to four separate locations while playing their favorite online computer games. The full version Talk n' Play solution includes Talk n' Play multi-person Internet voice conferencing software, 28 Internet games from WON.net including card, board, casino, golf and flight games, plus a professional headset microphone designed to optimize Internet voice communication.
"cgwgaming.com will bring a whole new level of communication and interactivity to the online gaming community," said Lee Uniacke, publisher of Computer Gaming World. "Through our relationship with ThrustMaster, we are extending our CGW brand and substantially enhancing our media services to the online game community where we see a significant amount of interest and growth."
"Online communities are an exciting and rapidly growing Internet phenomenon being driven by the desire of people to meet, talk, and interact with others who have similar interests. It is well documented that web sites that offer community services attract more online gamers who will find they want to visit more often and stay longer," said ThrustMaster's Vice President of Marketing, Ron Resnick. "We are fortunate to have this opportunity to partner with CGW and bring Talk n' Play to a significantly larger percentage of the online gaming community."
"Our relationship with CGW is significant as it reinforces the validation of the Talk n' Play technology and solution and is indicative of our early success in entering the eCommerce channel with key strategic partners. "The objective of mass proliferation of our WeCanTalk.com solutions will be pursued via the execution of a near-term revenue model, driven by the eCommerce channel and other diffusion strategies," stated Frank G. Hausmann, ThrustMaster's President and CEO. "Our alliance with CGW represents a diffusion strategy in the eCommerce channel where mass proliferation lays the foundation for both high margin upgrade revenue and a broader strategic alliance," added Hausmann.
About Computer Gaming World/Ziff-Davis
For more than 17 years, Computer Gaming World has been the industry's publication of record for news, reviews, and previews on computer gaming and gaming products. In addition to a subscription base of more than 300,000 core computer gamers each month, Computer Gaming World is available at newsstands nationwide and online at www.computergaming.com.
Ziff-Davis is a leading integrated media and marketing company focused on computing and Internet-related technology, with principal platforms in print publishing, tradeshows and conferences, online content, television, market research, and education. The Company provides global technology companies with marketing strategies for reaching key decision-makers.
About PeopleLink
Established in 1996 by idealab!, and funded by AT&T Ventures, PeopleLink provides community information and communications services to web sites, ISPs and online businesses. PeopleLink is headquartered in Santa Monica, California..."
THRUSTMASTER RELEASES TEENLINK? INTERNET VOICE CONFERENCING SOLUTION FEATURING MULTI-POINT AUDIO TECHNOLOGY AND WHITE BOARD SHARING
Hillsboro, Oregon, July 13, 1999 -- ThrustMaster, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMSR), today announced the release of TeenLink?, the third product of the Company's WeCanTalk.com? portfolio of Internet voice conferencing solutions. TeenLink will provide multi-person Internet voice conferencing and collaboration "fun" tools for the teen market in an easy to use, integrated solution. Initially, TeenLink will be offered exclusively in the PC-OEM channel to PC manufacturers and PC-OEM software aggregators as a unique solution for teen software bundles.
The Company believes TeenLink could be extremely attractive to PC manufacturers and PC-OEM software aggregators as it enables Internet voice conferencing from up to four separate local, national or international locations coupled with instant messaging and e-mail applications to schedule, start and join teen voice conferences. TeenLink works with existing Internet connections - there are no additional fees or long distance phone charges. In addition, up to four TeenLink users can simultaneously conduct an Internet voice conference while sharing any Windows? application including a "fun" electronic white board which allows teens to "doodle" while they chat, transfer files and surf the web together.
"TeenLink is an exciting product as it offers a unique way for teens to communicate, share and have more fun together over the Internet. The teen Internet market segment continues to grow and many PC manufacturers and PC-OEM software aggregators have a heightened level of interest in providing new and innovative teen oriented software solutions and bundles," stated Frank G. Hausmann, ThrustMaster's President and CEO. "TeenLink is the third solution of our WeCanTalk.com portfolio of Internet voice conferencing solutions and represents the latest step in the execution of our strategy of introducing products across multiple market segments," added Hausmann..."
WON.net? SUPPORTS THRUSTMASTER? TALK N' PLAY? IN MODERATOR PROGRAM
Hillsboro, Oregon, July 20, 1999 -- ThrustMaster, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMSR), today announced that the WON.net online entertainment site has approved Talk n' Play as the communication product of choice for their moderator and tournament coordinators. WON.net, dedicated to bringing the Internet into gaming, believes that Talk n' Play is the most compelling solution to help their moderators and users stay in contact with each other. The first product in ThrustMaster's WeCanTalk.com family of Internet multi-person communication solutions, Talk n' Play empowers users to find others and communicate via voice and text while using other online applications, such as games.
This is the next step in the evolution of the relationship formed between WON.net and ThrustMaster earlier this year. Talk n' Play includes 28 Internet multi-player games from WON.net, giving purchasers the ability to find others and start playing as soon as the product is installed.
"With features such as the ability to find others with similar interests, see who is online and add others to their buddy lists by e-mail address, Talk n' Play is much easier to use than other products," stated WON.net Acquisitions Manager, Charles Balas. "The ability to have multi-person voice conferences in real time without having to 'push to talk' allows users to focus on what they came to WON.net for-to play games."
The WON.net moderators have enthusiastically supported the product. Many of the moderators, dedicated online gamers themselves, have added Talk n' Play links and buttons on their own hobby and tournament pages. "We are very excited about the moderators' support of Talk n' Play," stated Frank Hausmann, CEO of ThrustMaster. "Word-of-mouth marketing from influential Internet groups, such as the WON.net moderators, is an important component of our strategy to make WeCanTalk.com products the most pervasive real-time, multi-person communication solution on the Internet."
In addition to support in the WON.net Player's Lounge Message Boards under Card & Board Games (http://www.won.net/lounge/), Talk n' Play is featured in WON.net's recent promotion in Yahoo Internet Life, which was mailed to over 750,000 people. WON.net and ThrustMaster continue to explore new ways to extend their relationship.
About WON.net
WON.net (http://www.won.net/) is one of the largest aggregators of Internet enabled games, with over 40 live and playable choices, including 21 free online-only games from seven major developers. WON.net is dedicated to integrating the Internet into gaming through technology, content and community. Some of the site's highlights include YOU DON'T KNOW JACK© the netshow, HOYLE© card and board games, Homeworld, Half-Life?, TRIBES?, Starsiege?, Red Baron© 3D, The Cypher, Acrophobia and Spirit Wars. WON.net also features daily game news from the industry leading site Imagine Games Network (http://www.ign.com/), strategy guides from leading publisher Prima Publishing and WON's proprietary game search engine "GameSearch.net" (http://www.won.net/search) the best, most complete internet search engine focused solely on games. WON.net is an autonomous business unit incorporated within Havas Interactive, the largest publisher of consumer PC software in the world..."
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