THE FUTURE IS HERE EXPO REVEALS GAME TECHNOLOGY.Byline: Jason Z. 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. Staff Writer Sony's PlayStation 2 might be the homecoming queen at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, but Sound Source Interactive is a scene- stealing debutante. The Calabasas-based publisher of video games See video game console. for young children is changing its focus and hoping to drum up some business among retail buyers at the trade show that runs through Saturday at the Los Angeles Convention Center The Los Angeles Convention Center (abbreviated LACC) is a convention center in downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, and was best known to video games fans as host to E3 until its cessation in 2006. and is expected to draw 55,000 professionals. ``It's kind of a coming-out party for us,'' said Vincent Bitetti, Sound Source's chief executive officer. ``Sound Source has entered the (game) console business. We're really trying to make a statement that Sound Source is growing. We're here and we're here to stay.'' The company has been plagued by slow sales as it exits the 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). category, a market segment crowded by big-name game publishers. Its stock, which has traded as high as 81.25 cents in the past 12 months, closed at 34 cents Thursday. At E3, as the interactive software industry's largest international trade show is known, Sound Source is showing off some of the titles it plans to release for game consoles, its new market niche. They include ``The Land Before Time: Return to The Great Valley,'' an adventure game for the Sony PlayStation Sony Playstation - Playstation based on Sound Source's popular license from Lucas Entertainment. The game is expected to hit stores in September. Another new game from Sound Source is ``Casper: Friends Around the World,'' also for Sony PlayStation. Scheduled for release in October, the game targets an older audience than Sound Source usually goes after, Bitetti said. The company's Calabasas neighbor, THQ THQ Toy Headquarters THQ Territorial Headquarters THQ Tehsil Headquarters (Pakistan) THQ The Holy Quran THQ Theater Headquarters Inc., also is using the show to cover new ground. THQ on Thursday rolled out its 2000 product lineup, which includes ``Summoner,'' a title it is developing for PlayStation 2. THQ spokeswoman Liz Pieri said the company has several other titles in development for the new console, but only Summoner has a release date right now. THQ plans to develop titles under its license with the World Wrestling Federation for PlayStation 2, she said. The company also is expanding into the online gaming arena, albeit slowly, with ``WWF See Windows Workflow Foundation. With Authority,'' an online trading Online Trading Making trades via the Internet. Notes: The use of online trading increased dramatically in the mid to late 1990's with the advent of high-speed computers and Internet connections. Stocks, bonds, options, futures, and currencies can all be traded online. card game designed by THQ's in-house design division, Genetic Anomalies, for dial-up Internet connections. Pieri said THQ has big plans for online gaming, but that the technology isn't quite to the point where it can support the transmission speeds necessary to do justice to its games. ``We want to be there. People are definitely exploring and researching,'' she said. ``Our first step is (through) Genetic Anomalies.'' While others venture into new territory, Disney Interactive is sticking with the familiar and the successful. ``Who Wants to be a Millionaire'' has driven Disney's ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. to the top of the television ratings, so why shouldn't the show be the driving force behind Disney's interactive software division as well? A follow-up to the first version of the game for PCs is now in stores, and it is the highlight of Disney Interactive's booth at the trade show. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) A visitor to the Electronic Entertainment Expo examines video game controllers Thursday at the L.A. Convention Center. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion