HarperCollins Interactive Creates Chaos with Their New Multimedia CD-ROM Game; New York University adds creative spin.NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 21, 1996--Lightening, thunder, earthquakes, blizzards -- no it is not mother nature creating chaos -- it's HarperCollins Interactive's latest multimedia CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). . Chaos -- an interactive fantasy adventure is a multimedia game that will take you on an entertaining journey through the wonders of chaos theory chaos theory, in mathematics, physics, and other fields, a set of ideas that attempts to reveal structure in aperiodic, unpredictable dynamic systems such as cloud formation or the fluctuation of biological populations. . Created by HarperCollins Interactive, a division of News Corporation, and the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University New York University, mainly in New York City; coeducational; chartered 1831, opened 1832 as the Univ. of the City of New York, renamed 1896. It comprises 13 schools and colleges, maintaining 4 main centers (including the Medical Center) in the city, as well as the (NYU NYU New York University NYU New York Undercover (TV show) ), Chaos is a cyber exploration CD-ROM game for the Macintosh and PC platforms. Internet users can connect to and get a taste of the strange and disorderly world of Chaos located at http://www.chaoscdrom.com. Chaos is expected to carry a retail price of $49.95. "Chaos is first and foremost a challenging, fun fantasy adventure game, with the added dimension that all the puzzles are inspired by chaos theory -- probably the `trendiest' science around and something that many of us find irresistibly fascinating," said Carol Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. , vice president of the Adult Trade Group at HarperCollins. "This game will appeal to a wide variety of computer users since it relies on one's mental acuity versus how fast the user can pull the trigger." Strange, 3-D Environments Set the Stage for Chaos In Chaos the player assumes the role of the main character. As a debt-ridden individual, the player receives a message from rich Uncle Prospero; unfortunately, Uncle Prospero has taken ill and is in the hospital. Hoping Uncle Prospero will help clear outstanding debt, the player must get to his bedside, then proceed to travel through eight environments, each of which presents puzzles that must be solved. The puzzles all relate to chaos theory and by solving them the player gains further insight into the forces that will help them win the game. The character must successfully navigate out of their home, and travel to a weather station, a radio station (where the character finds stunning musical instruments that really play), a "fractal forest" then on to the infinite coastline to reach Uncle Prospero. The 3-D environments are beautifully rendered and dreamlike, with strange rooms and objects. In each scene, the character manipulates the environment to solve increasingly challenging and inventive puzzles. Chaos Theory: Nature's Not as Orderly as You Think Each environment offers opportunities to explore chaos theory, where small actions can have enormous, and essentially unpredictable, consequences. A popular example is how the beating of a single butterfly's wings in South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. can trigger massive weather events throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In addition to weather, chaos theory also underlies explanations of phenomena as diverse as the flow of water down a hill, ocean waves, magnetism, the stock market and the beating of a heart. Red Burns, chair of NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program and producer for Chaos explained, "Players don't have to understand chaos theory in order to play Chaos -- it's a graphically rich and engaging experience on its own. Players will be blown away by the richness of this gaming experience." Players solve puzzles as they play. For instance, in the first scene, the grandfather clock's hands are spinning erratically. Players then have to work through the scene, revealing clues and interpreting them until they find the solution. Availability/Hardware Requirements Chaos is available for both Macintosh and Windows CD-ROMs at a suggested retail price of $49.95. The product is on a hybrid CD-ROM disk that is usable on both Macintosh and Windows based (1) (Windows-based; upper case "W") Refers to Microsoft Windows. (2) (windows-based; lower case "w") Having resizable windows. Same as "graphics based" or "GUI based." Graphical user interfaces are all windows based. Contrast with text based. computers. The Windows version requires a 486/33 PC or compatible with hard disk drive; Microsoft Windows See Windows. (operating system) Microsoft Windows - Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. 3.1; 8MB RAM; 5MB free hard disk space; 256-color (or higher) graphics cards; 14" SVGA monitor (hardware, graphics) SVGA monitor - A monitor capable of displaying the output of an SVGA card. ; double-speed CD-ROM drive A device that holds and reads CD-ROM discs. CD-ROM drives generally also play audio CD discs by sending analog sound to the sound card via a 4-pin cable. For specifications of 10x, 20x, etc. drives, see CD-ROM drives. See CD-ROM, CD-ROM changer, CD-ROM server and CD-ROM audio cable. ; MPC-compatible sound card and speakers; keyboard, and mouse. The Macintosh version requires a Macintosh with 25 MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. 68030 processor or better; System 7 or higher; 8 MB RAM; 5 MB free hard disk space; 13O 256-color monitor; double-speed CD-ROM drive; keyboard, and mouse. About HarperCollins Interactive HarperCollins Interactive, a unit of HarperCollins Publishers, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of News Corporation, a global media company whose diversified operations include Fox Broadcasting, Twentieth Century Fox, TV Guide, Delphi Internet, more than 128 newspapers, and other media interests worldwide. HarperCollins Interactive was formed in June 1994 to create and market interactive software, multimedia CD-ROM, on-line services, and other advanced media. About New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of University's Interactive Telecommunications Program The Interactive Telecommunications Program is a pioneering graduate center for the study and design of new communication media forms and applications. Founded in 1979, the program is internationally recognized as a unique and vital contributor of new ideas to the emerging professional world of multimedia and telecommunications. The program is situated in the Tish School of the Arts School of the Arts is the name of several schools (usually high schools) that are devoted to the fine arts, including:
CONTACT: Switzer Communications Portia Switzer/Dawn Montoya, 415/945-7072 or 415/945-7073 portia@switz.com / dawn@switz.com |
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