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Game Developer Conference 2001
by Mark "Specter" StarrettArticle Type: Trade Show Report
Article Date: March 26th, 2001
San Jose, CA - 3/23/01:
The Game Developer Conference is in high gear, providing game designers with the information and tools they they needed to create bigger and better games. Upcoming changes to operating systems and hardware will effect you and the way you play games.
Operating Systems
Windows XP:
Windows XP is the next operating system from Microsoft, and will be the only operating system available this fall. Formerly codenamed Whistler, XP will ship this fall in a Home, and Professional version (beta testers should be getting Beta 2 in the mail this week). As previously mentioned, XP is based on the NT kernel, so it will have far better stability than previous versions. XP will replace 95,98, SE, ME NT and 2000.
How will it affect your gaming? XP is designed for an always-on, always connected world. It uses resources more efficiently, so rebooting to gain back resources should be a thing of the past.
It's also designed to be friendly to multiple users. Like previous verions, it is designed to be customizable for many users in the same household. This time, however, it works well and adds a new wrinkle, Fast User Switching. Instead of closing down all your aplications, games, etc., another user selects "switch user" from the start button and starts a new Session. They get a clean desktop, with their preferences, favorites, outlook, e-mail, programs, etc. Your session goes dormant, using no resources. This has obvious advantages for even a single user. You can set up different sessions for games and work, and they won't interfere with each other.
Trouble for Games? This session method can be a problem for older games and programs that don't follow the new rules for permissions and suspension of activities. Microsoft has anticipated this, and is working with all kinds of applications for updates. They are also including a Compatibility Wizard to help XP discover and work with older programs by emulating older operating systems!
Whats new in Controllers?
Gravis:
Gravis was displaying some new products at the Expo which featured force feedback of different flavors.
Destroyer Aftershock Joystick
The Destroyer Aftershock joystick features vibration feedback. This is not true force feedback, but it gives impressive vibration feedback effects in games, so you feel gunfire, engine vibration and hits. Price was not set, but should be announced at E3 in May.
Eliminator Force Feedback Game Pad
The Eliminator Force Feedback Game Pad is a true Force Feedback pad, generating movement through the D-Pad and vibration Feedback through the Body of the pad. It worked pretty well. As above, price has not been finalized.
Mad Catz:
Madcatz showed a few variations of theirPanther XL. This is a Joystick for the right hand, combined with a track Ball for the left hand. PC, PS2, Dreamcast and XBox versions are planned.
Thrustmaster:
Thrustmaster's HOTAS - Getting closer to completion. The HOTAS in development was not at the show. It is still in developement, with tooling being done. Thrustmaster represenatives said that the new HOTAS should be announced officially at E3 in May. Price was estimated at $250
Force Feedback Wheel - This new wheel powered by a very large (3 lb.)motor.
The wheel was Wheel was comfortable, based on the current Ferrari design of their other wheels, with a double injected wheel rim. It is mated to a large housing that contains the force feedback mechanisms. If you’ve seen the Microsoft Force Feedback wheel, you can imagine a housing that is 30 to 50% larger. The wheel has a two-way shifter, F1 style Shift paddles that also can double as analog accelerator/Brake, 4 buttons, 8-way D-pad and two pedals, for gas and brake. The pedals were similar to traditional Thrustmaster pedals.
Logitech:
Logitech’s only new item was the wireless optical mouse. Optical mice are very popular, since they don’t require constant cleaning or mouse pads, and are precise. The challenge of a wireless mouse has been feeding the power-hungry optical and transmitting components, and getting decent battery life. Logitech is claiming 3 months of normal use between changes of the two AAA batteries. Logitech representatives noted that heavy use would yield much shorter battery life. They also noted that this wasn’t the best choice for first-person gaming. The mouse only polls at 40, as compared with 100-125 for wired USB mice, and 200 for some PS2 mice. The lower speed is due to the need to transmit the data to the mouse receiver.
The mouse is similar to the regular optical mouse. However, the left side was carved away, to give a position for the thumb, with a small button at the bottom for 4-button scroll wheel function.
Video, Graphics, VR Headsets, Projection:
Nvidia:
Nvidia had nothing new to show, but demonstrations of the GeForce 3 are truly amazing. The capacity, speed and tools available in these new graphics processors will allow the game designers to provide much denser environments. Imagine jungle warfare, walking through brush, trees and other vegetation, rendered in believable detail, or a low level helicopter simulation with believable tree lines, jungle canopies and enemy ground troops moving below them. It finally looks possible with existing PC technology!
There are finally good video choices for the laptop user. Nvidia showed their GeForce 2 for notebook in a Dell unit that worked very well indeed. Colin McCrea Rally ran as smooth as it does on a desktop. LCD displays still need brightness help, but the attached monitor looked just great.
ATI:
ATI shouldn’t be counted out of the serious video category. They were demonstrating the Radeon video cards, and they are very good. ATI has been the main source for most companies that build retail computers, as well as laptops. ATI has always been the best choice when you also require good video playback.
3Q:
Clone Yourself into the Game
3Q (www.3Q.com) is a company that first started in the healthcare field with t3D imaging. They have ported their technology over to provide individual gamers with models of themselves, to insert into their games.
Using a booth, similar to a photo booth, 3Q scans you, and creates a skin AND wire-frame model. The model and skin are output to a CD-R, ready to insert in Quake III, and other games that accept models. All for just $15.
3Q has been going to CPL League meets and LAN meets, and the CPL Finals featured models of the actual finalists!
Interactive Imaging Systems:
Interactive Imaging Systems (iisvr.com) is still working toward an affordable 3D Virtual reality head set with the resolution gamers want.
The units I tried are getting there, but resolution is still too low to read gauges. As display prices drop, and display density improves, IIS expects a good solution at around $500 within the year.
eLumens:
A newcomer to the show was elumens (www.elumens.com). They are now partnered with softImage to create Visionstation spherical projection systems. Visionstation projects a 180 degree view onto a hemispherical screen, wrapping the world around your complete peripheral view. eLumens has screens that range from 1.5 to 15 meters in diameter!
Government flight and combat simulators have been doing this for years, but the technology has now reached a cost that will allow destination gaming sites like Fightertown, and others to offer you and I the total immersive experience.
The demo I tested was quite impressive. The software corrects for the fisheye effect, making it seem as though you are “In” the simulation. Yet another fantasy for those home cockpit makers!
Sound
Dolby:
Dolby was at GDC in force, encouraging the inclusion of Dolby 5.1 into games. Dolby 5.1 is the standard for home theater, providing a rich 3D sound environment. Other technologies, like EAX and A3d have been a great addition to gaming, and 5.1 takes the effects to the next level. Most top-end sound cards now support optical out to Dolby-enabled sound systems from Creative Labs and Hercules as an example.
Creative & Hercules:
Creative and Hercules were both showing impressive PC sound systems.
Cambridge Creative’s DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT3500 Digital
Creative’s DeskTop Theater 5.1 DTT3500 Digital was quite impressive. $299.95
Hercules Game Theater XP
Hercules takes top honors on sound with the Game Theater XP. It supports EAX, A3D, Dolby Digital, and other formats. It has connectivity for headphones, Mic, Game port, and 2 USB ports on the front. The rear offers Main Stereo line out, Surround Stereo out, 6 RCA out for left right Surround and subwoofer, 2 more USB ports, coaxial and optical outputs and midi in/midi out. If sound is your thing, this is the rig. $149.95
What about the Games!
GDC is a Game Developer conference, so there aren’t many new games to see. However, the independent game festival showed a few promising titles.
Tribes II was running on a few stands. It is much like Tribes, with vastly improved maps and models, and it ran very smoothly.
Of particular note was Shattered Galaxy. If you are a fan of real time strategy games like Red Alert, you should give this massive multiplayer game a look. It has impressive game play, and is available for download and free on-line play during the beta period. No date has been set for release, or has a price been set for purchase/play.
What’s so hot about the Game Developer Conference?
This conference was established to bring game designers, programmers and artists together to learn from each other and about the tools they can use to make better games. If you have aspirations to get into game design, this is the place to be.
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