Internet's First Fast-Action Multiplayer Gaming Service Will Feature Games from Eleven Leading Developers; Mpath Announces Charter Developers for Mplayer Service.CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 1996--Eleven of the world's most innovative game developers today announced that they will exploit the popularity of the Internet's World Wide Web by providing games for Mplayer(TM), the first fast-action, multiplayer gaming Two or more people playing a game and competing with each other via computer. Although traditional card games such as bridge and poker are played online, games with a large number of people (massively multiplayer) mix real players with simulated environments that turn the computer into a service on the Web. The Mplayer service was created by Mpath Interactive, a company dedicated to developing technologies to enhance social interaction on the Web. Among the gaming service's charter developers are Accolade, Inc., Blizzard(R) Entertainment, Byron Preiss Byron Preiss (born 1953, Brooklyn, New York City; died July 9, 2005, East Hampton, New York) was an American writer, editor and publisher. He founded and served as president of Byron Preiss Visual Publications, and later of iBooks. Multimedia Company, Eidos Interactive Eidos Interactive is a publisher of video and computer games with its parent company based in England. It is now part of the Eidos Group of Companies and is a subsidiary of SCi Entertainment Group PLC that is publicly-traded on the London Stock Exchange. (Domark/U.S. Gold), Intracorp Entertainment, Inc., Looking Glass Looking Glass - A desktop manager for Unix from Visix. Technologies, Inc., Maxis Inc., New World Computing New World Computing, Inc. was an American computer game developer and publisher founded in 1984 by Jon Van Caneghem and Mark Caldwell. It was best known for its work on the Might and Magic RPG series and its spin-offs, especially Heroes of Might and Magic. , Inc., Reality Bytes, Inc., Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI (1) See server-side include and single-system image. (2) (Small-Scale Integration) Less than 100 transistors on a chip. See MSI, LSI, VLSI and ULSI. 1. (electronics) SSI - small scale integration. 2. ), and Terminal Reality. Mplayer will feature fast-action (low-latency) games, real-time two-way voice conversations, chat areas and other opportunities for social interaction on the Web. Since February, beta testers on both the East and West coasts have been using the Mplayer service to play a variety of leading action and strategy games against other players on the Web. Players also tested Mplayer's text-based interactive chat, and interactive speech (voice) features. The Internet generally has been considered too slow to deliver the fast-action gaming experience many enthusiasts favor. But Mpath's distributed architecture, software platform, and network engineering were able to overcome these challenges to deliver an engaging multiplayer gaming experience. "Mpath's ability to support fast-action games on the Web was key to our decision to deploy on Mplayer," said David Grenewetzki, executive vice president of product development at Accolade. "And since players will be able to speak to each other as they play, our games will become a truly social experience." Jon Chait, president of Reality Bytes, also stressed the importance of Mplayer as a place where gamers can come together. "Mplayer's low latency infrastructure combined with our client/server game architecture enables us to host the largest 3D multiplayer contests available on the Internet." For John Kavanaugh, vice president of software development at Eidos Interactive (Domark/US Gold), taking advantage of the Internet just made good business sense. "The World Wide Web represents the next important electronic game platform. We are excited to be partnering with Mpath to bring multiplayer games to the Net." About Mplayer Charter Developers Game enthusiasts thirsty for worthy opponents will be able to surf the Web to Mplayer, where they will find scores of potential opponents, all eager to play some of the best computer games around. These games will be provided by some of the gaming industry's most innovative developers, including the following companies: -- Accolade is headquartered in San Jose, California San Jose (IPA: /ˌsænhoʊˈzeɪ/) is the third-largest city in California, and the tenth-largest in the United States. It is the county seat of Santa Clara County. and publishes action and sports games for PC 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). compatibles, Macintosh computers and next generation gaming systems, such as the Sony PlayStation game console and Sega Saturn. Leading titles from Accolade include Bubsy(R), HardBall(R), Jack Nicklaus(TM) and Star Control(TM). Accolade games are available from major software specialty stores, computer superstores or direct from Accolade by calling 800-245-7744. (Press contact: Bill Linn linn n. Scots 1. A waterfall. 2. A steep ravine. [Scottish Gaelic linne, pool, waterfall.] - 408/985-1700 ext 528 or BLinn@accolade.com) -- Blizzard(R) Entertainment is a premier publisher of next-generation entertainment software. The company's blockbuster hits Warcraft(R) and Warcraft(R) II have earned top industry honors including Game of the Year and Best Multiplayer Game, as well as high ratings and rave reviews from numerous gaming magazines. Soon to be released titles include Diablo(TM), a role-playing game, Starcraft(TM), a real-time space strategy, and Pax Imperia Imperia (ēmpĕ`rēä), city (1991 pop. 40,708), capital of Imperia prov., Liguria, NW Italy, on the Ligurian Sea. Located on the Italian Riviera, it is a port and winter resort. The cathedral (1780–1832) dominates the modern city. (TM) 2, a galactic empire simulator. Blizzard is a division of Davidson & Associates, Inc., a leading multimedia studio for educational and entertainment software. (Press contact: Susan Wooley - 310/793-0600 ext 1245) -- Byron Preiss Multimedia Company is headquartered in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. and develops and publishes high-quality multimedia software and online services for the consumer, education and small business markets. Byron Preiss Multimedia Company's titles are published under six distinct imprints, and include Robot City and Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles Adventure Game. (Press contact: Meryl Moss - 203-226-0199) -- Eidos Interactive (Domark/US Gold), established in 1996, develops and publishes interactive entertainment software for the PC, Macintosh, Internet, Sega Saturn, and Sony PlayStation. Eidos Interactive products include franchises such as the best selling Championship Manager series and the eagerly awaited Fighting Fantasy line, Olympic games, and the forthcoming WWII WWII abbr. World War II WWII World War Two combat simulation Confirmed Kill. (Press contact: Gary Keith - 415/513-8929, ext. 138) -- Intracorp Entertainment, Inc. is the Miami, FL-based developer, publisher and distributor of CD-ROM and disk-based entertainment software for IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) and Macintosh computers. Under is Capstone label, recent releases include the spell-binding 3D action/role playing game WITCHAVEN II: BLOOD VENGEANCE, the acclaimed CHRONOMASTER by best-selling author Roger Zelazny, and William Shatner's TEKWAR. Under its THREE-SIXTY label, the company has made a major commitment to the popular War Simulation category with its HARPOON harpoon (härp  n`), weapon used for spearing whales and large fish. The early type was a flat triangular piece of metal with barbed edges and a socket for attaching a wooden handle, to the II GAMES. (Press contact: Jeff Sass: 305-373-7700) -- Looking Glass Technologies is a prominent developer of entertainment and simulation software primarily distinguished by its expertise in 3D technologies. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA., the talent at Looking Glass has created some of the best-known, best-selling titles in the interactive entertainment industry, including John Madden Football '93, F-22 Interceptor, the Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer is a 1987 computer aircraft simulation game produced by Electronic Arts. Chuck Yeager served as technical consultant for the game, where his likeness and voice are prominently used. series, the Ultima Underworld, System Shock, Flight Unlimited, and the recently released Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri. (Press Contact: Susan Betourney - 617-441-6333 ext. 280) -- Maxis was founded in 1987 by Jeff Braun and Will Wright and brings sophisticated technologies to personal computer users in a new generation of entertainment and learning software. Maxis' products include SimCity 2000, SimTower, SimTown and Widget Workshop. Maxis headquarters are in Walnut Creek, CA. (Press contact: Patrick Buechner - 510-927-3782) -- New World Computing is a worldwide designer, developer and publisher of entertainment software. New World's latest release, Chaos Overlords(TM), is Internet-enabled and will debut on Mplayer at launch. Founded in 1984, New World Computing is renowned for its technologically advanced products, maintaining the highest level of graphics and audio presentation without sacrificing gameplay. New World Computing has created many hit titles, such as the award-winning Might and Magic series which has sold over 2.5 million units worldwide. (Press contact: Ted Chapman - 818-889-5600 ext 243) -- Reality Bytes, Inc. (RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in ) is based in Cambridge, MA and is a progressive software developer and publisher focused on pushing the leading edge of interactive computer entertainment popularly called "virtual reality." RBI has developed proprietary 3D graphics and networking technologies as well as cross-platform development tools. RBI's popular titles include Sensory Overload(TM), one of the first games to take advantage of RISC RISC in full Reduced Instruction Set Computing Computer architecture that uses a limited number of instructions. RISC became popular in microprocessors in the 1980s. processing performance gains, and HAVOC(TM), the first game to ship with DirectX APIs, performance enhancements native to the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95 operating system. HAVOC is a futuristic battle game in 3D graphics with 360-degree outdoor action. (Press contact: Greg Ireland - 617-621-2500 ext 64) -- Strategic Simulations, Inc., a Mindscape mind·scape n. A mental or psychological scene or area of the imagination. (R) Company, is one of the industry's leading electronic entertainment game publishers. Founded in 1979 and based in Sunnyvale, CA, SSI is recognized worldwide for its critically acclaimed 5 Star Series(TM) which includes such mega-hits as Panzer General(TM), Allied General(TM), and Fantasy General(TM). In addition, SSI is acknowledged as a premiere fantasy role-playing publisher for its World of Aden(TM) and Advanced Dungeons Dungeons may refer to:
-- Terminal Reality, Inc (TRI TRI Toxics Release Inventory (US EPA) TRI Touch Research Institute TRI Taux de Rentabilité Interne (French: internal rate of return) TRI Taux de Rentabilité Interne TRI Tile Roofing Institute ), based in Lewisville, TX, is a leader in both 3D action and simulation games. TRI's leading titles include the hit arcade action flight simulators Terminal Velocity and Microsoft Fury 3. TRI crashes into the simulation arena with its new off-road racing game published by Microsoft. (Press contact: Gordon Connally, N-Sight Studios - 214-436-4333) About Mpath Mpath is committed to developing technologies to enhance social interaction on the Internet's World Wide Web. This June, Mpath will launch Mplayer, a service where players will be able to check out the latest multiplayer games and test their skills against millions of potential opponents with a variety of games including flight simulators, adventure games, role playing games, and board and traditional games. Mpath's platform for the Mplayer gaming service is based on a multi-client application protocol (MCAP MCAP Market Capitalization (public company valuation method) MCAP Monterey County AIDS Project (Monterey, CA) MCAP Manned/Unmanned Common Architecture Program (US Army AH-64 helicopter) ) and a fully distributed Fully distributed A new stock issue that has been completely resold to the investing public and is no longer held by dealers. fully distributed Of or relating to a new issue of securities that has been sold out. network of game servers deployed at multiple locations on the PSINet backbone. Mpath is working closely with leading game developers to help them bring their top multiplayer games to enthusiasts on the World Wide Web. The company's developer tools and technical support make it easy for game developers to launch existing games on the Web or create new on-line multiplayer games. In addition, developers will reap profits from Mplayer through game usage revenue and increased retail sales. Founded in early 1995, Mpath Interactive has combined technical and management talent from a variety of industry disciplines, including UNIX system software design, multimedia, personal computer I/O (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input to another. See PC input/output. I/O - Input/Output , networking, on-line services and game development. Mpath is located in Cupertino, California; its major investors include Institutional Venture Partners, Accel Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures, and SegaSoft, Inc. For further information, journalists may contact Paula Fujimoto or Marivi Lerdo at 415/968-4033. Mpath is located on the Internet at http://www.mpath.com. CONTACT: Edelman Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most (for Mpath) Marivi Lerdo/Paula Fujimoto, 415-968-4033 marivi@sv.edelman.com pfujimot@sv.edelman.com |
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