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Plaintext
Newsgroups: rec.games.video.atari
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Path:
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wabbit.cc.uow.edu.au!metro!news.cs.su.oz.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!yeshua.marcam.c
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om!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!netcomsv!netcom.com!rjung
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From: rjung@netcom.com (Robert A. Jung)
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Subject: Atari Jaguar Frequently-Asked Questions
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Message-ID: <rjungCKIyJM.M4F@netcom.com>
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Organization: Southern California Lynx Enthusiasts
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Date: Tue, 1 Feb 1994 02:50:09 GMT
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Lines: 636
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Unlike the Atari Lynx FAQ, this one didn't go through too many changes, other
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than the usual updates and tidbits.
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--R.J.
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B-)
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//////////////////////////////////////|\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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Send whatevers to rjung@netcom.com | If it has pixels, I'm for it.
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--------------------------------------+------------------------------Lynx up!
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"You weren't chosen because you are the best pilot in the Air Force. You were
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chosen because you are the class clown and frankly, you're expendable."
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_ _ ____ _ _ _ ____
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||| Atari | | / |/ ___\| | | | / | _ \ Frequently Asked Questions
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||| | | / | | __| | | | / | |_| |
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/ | \ /| | |/ / | | |_ | | | |/ / | _ <
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| |_| / _ | |__| | |_| / _ | | \\\
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\___/_/ |_|\____/ \___/_/ |_|_| \\\
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\\\
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Created by Robert Jung (rjung@netcom.com), because no one else wanted to.
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Dedicated to ASTEROIDS, for getting me hooked in the first place
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Last update: 1/30/1994
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==============================================================================
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This file is not maintained by, overseen by, endorsed, or otherwise associated
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with Atari Corp. or any of its subsidiaries. It's just a collection of
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questions and answers, with a few news tidbits thrown in.
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This file is posted on a monthly basis, usually around the first of the month.
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It is maintained by Robert Jung at rjung@netcom.com on the Internet. Send
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corrections, news, updates, comments, questions, or other stuff to that
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address. All mail is welcome!
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Updates since the last publically posted FAQ have a vertical bar in the first
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column.
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==============================================================================
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Q. What is the Atari Jaguar?
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A. The world's first 64-bit home console video game system. Developed after
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three years of research, manufactured by IBM, the Jaguar offers high-speed
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action, spectacular graphic effects, and CD-quality sound for $250.
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==============================================================================
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Q. How does IBM fit into this?
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A. IBM has a $500 million contract with Atari Corp. to assemble, test,
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package, and distribute Jaguar units. Manufacturing is done at IBM's
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Charlotte, NC facility, and the Jaguar is IBM's first attempt at producing
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a consumer grade product for an outside vendor.
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IBM has no known participation in the design of the Jaguar. IBM has no
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plans to create games for the Jaguar.
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==============================================================================
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Q. Okay, who did designed the Jaguar?
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A. Details are murky. Atari claims that the Jaguar took over three years to
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develop, and was released because work was progressing faster than
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expected. Seeing an opportunity to leapfrog the new systems from Nintendo
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and Sega, they decided to bring the machine to light.
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The Jaguar chipset is reportedly co-developed by Flare, a British company
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with ties to Atari, according to Jez San of Argonaut Software. The
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proprietary chips are manufactured by Toshiba and Motorola.
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==============================================================================
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Q. What are the specifications of the Jaguar?
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A. Physical dimensions:
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| Size: 9.5" x 10" x 2.5"
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Controls: Power on/off
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Display: Resolution up to 800 x 576 pixels (1300+ with additional
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hardware)
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24-bit "True Color" display with 16,777,216 colors
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simultaneously
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Multiple-resolution, multiple-color depth objects (monochrome,
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2-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit) can be used
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simultaneously
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Ports: Cartridge slot/expansion port (32 bits)
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RF video output
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Video edge connector (video/audio output)
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(supports NTSC and PAL; provides S-Video, Composite, RGB
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outputs, accessible by optional add-on connector)
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Two controller ports
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Digital Signal Processor port (includes high-speed synchronous
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serial input/output)
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Controllers: Eight-directional joypad
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Size 6.25" x 5" x 1.6", cord 7 feet
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Three fire buttons (A, B, C)
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Pause and Option buttons
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12-key keypad (accepts game-specific overlays)
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The Jaguar has five processors, which are contained in three chips. Two of
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the chips are proprietary designs, nicknamed "Tom" and "Jerry". The third
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chip is a standard Motorola 68000 used as a coprocessor. Tom and Jerry are
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built using an 0.5 micron silicon process.
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- "Tom"
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- 750,000 transistors, 208 pins
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- Graphics Processing Unit (processor #1)
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- 32-bit RISC architecture (32/64 processor)
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- 64 registers of 32 bits wide
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- Has access to all 64 bits of the system bus
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- Can read 64 bits of data in one instruction
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- Rated at 26.6 MIPS (million instructions per second)
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- Runs at 26.6 MHz
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- 4K bytes of zero wait-state internal SRAM
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- Performs a wide range of high-speed graphic effects
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- Programmable
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- Object processor (processor #2)
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- 64-bit RISC architecture
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- Programmable processor that can act as a variety of different video
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architectures, such as a sprite engine, a pixel-mapped display, a
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character-mapped system, and others.
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- Blitter (processor #3)
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- 64 bits
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- Performs high-speed logical operations
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- Hardware support for Z-buffering and Goudraud shading
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- DRAM memory controller
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- 64 bits
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- Accesses the DRAM directly
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- "Jerry"
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- 600,000 transistors, 144 pins
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- Digital Signal Processor (processor #4)
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- 32 bits (32-bit registers)
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- Rated at 26.6 MIPS (million instructions per second)
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- Runs at 26.6 MHz
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- Same RISC core as the Graphics Processing Unit
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- 8K bytes of zero wait-state internal SRAM
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- CD-quality sound (16-bit stereo)
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- Number of sound channels limited by software
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- Full stereo capabilities
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- Wavetable synthesis, FM synthesis, FM Sample synthesis, and AM
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synthesis
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- A clock control block, incorporating timers, and a UART
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- Joystick control
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- Motorola 68000 (processor #5)
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- Rated at 13.3MHz
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- General purpose control processor
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Communication is performed with a high speed 64-bit data bus, rated at
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106.4 megabytes/second. The 68000 is only able to access 16 bits of this
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bus at a time.
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The Jaguar contains two megabytes (16 megabits) of fast page-mode DRAM.
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Game cartridges can support up to six megabytes (48 megabits) of
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uncompressed or compressed information. The Jaguar uses 24-bit
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addressing, and is reportedly capable of accessing data as follows:
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Six megabytes cartridge ROM
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Eight megabytes DRAM
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Two megabytes miscellaneous/expansion
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Compressed cartridge data can be uncompressed in real-time, and can store
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the equivalent to almost 50 megabytes (400 megabits). Compression is
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performed with JagPEG, an enhanced JPEG image decompression mechanism.
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Other Jaguar features:
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- Support for ComLynx I/O for communications with the Atari Lynx hand-held
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game system and networked multiconsole games (on DSP port, accessible
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by optional add-on connector)
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- The two controller ports can be expanded to support "dozens" of
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controllers
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- Digital and analog interfaces
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- Keyboards, mice, and light guns are possible
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- Expansion port allows connection to cable TV and other networks
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- Digital Signal Processor port allows connection to modems and digital
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audio peripherals (such as DAT players)
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- One megabyte per second serial interface
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- 9600 baud, RS-232 serial port (accessible with optional interface)
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==============================================================================
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Q. Is the Jaguar really a 64-bit system?
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A. The question is hard to resolve, largely because the definition of what
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constitutes an "N-bit" system has not been set. Of the five processors in
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the Jaguar, only the object processor and the blitter are "true" 64-bit
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components. Because the blitter and the object processor are in the Tom
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chip, by extension Tom is a 64-bit chip. The Jaguar also uses a 64-bit
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memory architecture, according to Jez San of Argonaut Software.
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Some say the Jaguar should be considered a 32-bit system, as that is the
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maximum register size in the programmable processors (the 68000, the
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graphics processor, and the DMA sound processor. Others say the Jaguar
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can be considered a 64-bit system, because 64-bit components are used, and
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the GPU can access 64 bits of data if required. Again, the lack of an
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agreed-upon definition serves to complicate the issue.
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For the record, the opinion of most third party developers and observers
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is that the Jaguar is indeed a 64-bit system.
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==============================================================================
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Q. How can a graphics processor be the CPU?
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A. The 64-bit custom graphics chip is a good general purpose RISC unit, but it
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has been optimized for graphics work. As Rob Nicholson of Handmade
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Software says, "There is no primary processor in the Jaguar. It's up to
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_me_ which I decide to use depending on the task."
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==============================================================================
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Q. What kind of special effects can the Jaguar do?
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A. The Jaguar is capable of doing the following visual effects:
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- High-speed scrolling (Object Processor).
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- Texture mapping on two- and three-dimensional objects (Tom/Blitter).
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- Morphing one object into another object (Tom).
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- Scaling, rotation, distortion, and skewing of sprites and images
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(Object Processor).
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- Lighting and shading from single and multiple light sources (Tom and
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Blitter).
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- Transparency (Object Processor).
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- "Rendering" up to 850 million one-bit pixels/second (35 million 24-bit
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pixels/second, 26 million 32-bit pixels/second), or 50 million Goroud
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shaded pixels/second. "Rendering" is believed to mean transferring a
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pixel from a frame buffer to the screen.
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- Sprites of "unlimited" size and quantity. Realistically, sprites can be
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over 1,000 pixels wide/tall, and the number of sprites allowed is
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limited by processor cycles instead of a fixed value in hardware
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(Object processor).
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- Programmable screen resolutions, from 160 to 800 pixels per line. The
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resolution can be increased even further with additional hardware up to
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a reported 1350 pixels per line.
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==============================================================================
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Q. How come the Jaguar claims to have "32-bit" graphics, when 16 million
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colors only need 24 bits for rendering?
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A. The additional 8-bits is for programmers to implement whatever visual
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effects may be desired. Examples cited include Z-buffering (for polygon
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graphics) and an alpha channel (for transparency).
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==============================================================================
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Q. Okay, get to the meat -- which is better, the Jaguar or the 3DO?
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A. Ye Gods, the eternal question. The popular consensus is that the biggest
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strength of the Jaguar is that it deliveres performance comparable to the
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3DO for a lower price ($250 Jaguar vs. $500-$700 3DO units). The same
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consensus say the biggest strength of the 3DO is the corporate strength
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behind it: over 300 developers, a consortium of multibillion dollar
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companies, more reliable advertising and promotion, etc. Whether or not
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this makes the games or the machines any better is (hotly) debatable.
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Best bet, as always, is to try the two machines, see what games you like,
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which system offers them, then decide.
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==============================================================================
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Q. What's the information on the CD-ROM drive?
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A. A double-speed CD-ROM drive has been announced for release in mid-1994,
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with an estimated price of $200. It is reported that the CD-ROM drive is
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capable of transferring data continuously at 350K per second, or run at
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| normal audio rates of 175K per second. Access time is reportedly 300-350
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milliseconds. Storage on a disc is expected to be around 700 megabytes
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(5,600 megabits). The CD-ROM drive plugs into the Jaguar's cartridge slot
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on top of the machine, and offers a cartridge slot to permit playing
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cartridge or CD games; the cartridge port is accessible while using the
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CD-ROM drive.
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The Jaguar CD-ROM drive allows delivery of full-screen, full-motion video.
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The CinePak video decompression system has been licensed from SuperMac
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Technologies, and permits over sixty minutes of video to be stored on a
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single compact disc at 30 frames a second. Movie quality pictures can then
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be overlaid on the screen with computer generated graphics if the game
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demands it. Time-Warner has licensed a library of film clips from its
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movies to Atari for use in Jaguar games.
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The Jaguar CD-ROM is also designed to interface with audio CD, Karaoke CD,
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CD+Graphics and optional Kodak Photo CD. The system will not be 3DO
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compatible or CD-I compatible. An optional MPEG2 (Motion Picture Experts
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| Group) compression cartridge will also be available, to allow users to play
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full length motion pictures from CD.
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The latest release date for the CD-ROM drive is middle of 1994. It has
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been rumored, though, that the unit may be delayed until September 1994, to
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allow more CD games to be ready for its release.
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==============================================================================
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Q. What's this "Panther" I hear about?
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A. Quick history lesson: Sometime in the late 1980s, Atari Corp. was doing
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research and development on "next generation" video game consoles. There
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were two systems, a 32-bit machine called the Panther, and a 64-bit machine
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called the Jaguar. It is reported that work on the Jaguar was progressing
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better/faster than expected, so Atari abandoned the Panther to focus their
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energies on the Jaguar instead.
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Reports of development work on the Panther have been whispered since 1988;
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some people have erroneously mistaken those rumors to be about the Jaguar.
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The Panther reportedly was considered a "32-bit" machine by Atari, though
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for reasons unknown. It featured three chips, consisting of a Motorola
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68000 running at 16Mhz, an object processor called the Panther, and an
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Ensoniq sound processor called Otis, featuring 32 sound channels. The
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Panther could supposedly display 8,384 colors from a palette of 262,144
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colors, and could display 83,840 sprites of any size simultaneously.
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==============================================================================
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Q. What do I get when I buy a Jaguar?
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A. The Jaguar package has a suggested retail price of $250, and contains the
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Jaguar itself, one controller, an AC adaptor, and the game CYBERMORPH.
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There are rumors that a lower-priced package will be made available,
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without the free game, but that information has not yet been confirmed.
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==============================================================================
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Q. Hey! My Jaguar makes a quiet hissing sound! What's going on? Is it
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| dangerous?
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A. Atari has cited several reasons for the hissing noise, but analysis of
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| disassembled Jaguars reveals that the sound is from the RF generator. The
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| RF shield has holes in it (ostensibly to help air flow and keep the unit
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| cool), and it is believed that the holes produce the noise. It is not
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| dangerous in any event.
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==============================================================================
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Q. I want something better than RF output from my Jaguar. What do I do?
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A. Atari has an adaptor available that gives the Jaguar composite audio/video
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| output. The price is $24.95. The S-Video cables are currently
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unavailable.
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If you are willing to build your own, the schematics for the expansion port
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| are as follows:
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Top
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| 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
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_____________________________________________
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_____________________________________________
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| 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
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Bottom
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4 - Composite Color 16- Horizontal Sync (RGB)
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6 - Ground 17- Ground
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8 - Ground 18- Red (RGB)
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9 - Chroma (SVHS) 20- Ground
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10- Luminance (SVHS) 21- Ground
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11- Green (RGB) 22- Ground
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12- Ground 23- Audio (Right)
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13- Vertical Sync (RGB) 24- Audio (Left)
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15- Blue (RGB)
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==============================================================================
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Q. How does the ComLynx port on the Jaguar work? Can I connect my Lynx to it?
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A. The Jaguar does not have a ComLynx port per se, but has a ComLynx signal
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on the system bus. In theory, an expansion port add-on would make the port
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accessible.
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In theory, it would be possible to daisy-chain multiple units of Jaguars
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and Lynxes for multiplayer games. At the current time, however, no such
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plans are in the works. Instead, it is seen as allowing Lynxes to be used
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as peripherals: software can be developed to allow Lynxes to be part of a
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Jaguar game as "smart" controllers.
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==============================================================================
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Q. Who are the third-party developers for the Jaguar?
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A. The following companies have been announced as official developers for
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Jaguar software:
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Anco Software Ltd. Maxis Software Telegames
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Beyond Games Inc. Microids Tiertex Ltd.
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Dimension Technologies Midnite Software Inc. Titus Eurosoft
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Ocean Software Ltd. Tradewest High Voltage Software
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Rebellion Software Trimark Interactive Krisalis Software Ltd.
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| Virtual Experience U.S. Gold Ltd. Loriciel U.S.A.
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Silmarils Millenium Park Place Productions
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Ubi Soft Gremlin Software Microprose/S. Holobyte
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Accolade Virgin Interplay
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21st Century Software Activision Id Software
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Phalanx Software Brainstorm 3D Games
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| All Systems Go Argonaut Software Euro-Soft
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| ICD Incorporated Photosurrealism DTMC
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| Epic Megagames V-Real Productions Cross Products(?)
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| Sunsoft Domark(?) Lucasarts(?)
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| Elite Infogrames(?) Br0derbund
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| Origin(?) Midway/Williams(?)
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Also, Atari Games/Tengen has licensed the Jaguar architecture for use in
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future arcade games.
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==============================================================================
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Q. What are all of the current Jaguar games available in the United States?
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A. Current Jaguar Games List:
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Title Players Publisher Type
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----------------- ------- ------------ ---------------------------
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| Crescent Galaxy 1 Atari Shooter
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Cybermorph 1 Atari Action/Strategy
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| Evolution:Dino Dudes 1 Atari Puzzle/Strategy
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| Raiden 1-2 Atari Arcade
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==============================================================================
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Q. What are the upcoming Jaguar games?
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A: Note: These lists are hardly definitive. It's based on many sources, and in
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some cases, it just might be dead wrong. Games also often change from
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pre-release to production.
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Upcoming Jaguar cartridge games (? = Uncertain entry):
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Title Players Publisher Type
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----------------- ------- ------------ ---------------------------
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| Aero the Acro-Bat 1-2 Sunsoft Action/Platform
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Alien vs. Predator 1 Atari Action
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Al Michaels 1-2 Accolade/Atari Sports
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Announces Hardball
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| Alone in the Dark 1? Infogrames Adventure
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| American Football 1-2 Park Place Sports
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| Another World 1 Interplay Action/Strategy
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| Arena Football 1-2 V-Real Prod. Sports
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Batman: The 1? Atari? Action?
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Animated Series
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Battlemorph: 1 Atari Action/Strategy
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Cybermorph 2
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Battlewheels 1-2? Beyond Games Action
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Battlezone 2000 1 Atari Action/Arcade
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Blue Lightning 1 Atari Action
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Boogers and Snotnose 1-2? All Systems Go Platform?
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Brett Hull Hockey 1-2? Accolade/Atari Sports
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| Brutal Sports 1-2 Telegames Sports
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| Football
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Bubsy in Claws 1 Accolade/Atari Platform
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Encounters of the
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Furred Kind
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| Car Wars 1-2? Midnite Sw Action
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| Casino Royale 1-2? Telegames Strategy
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Charles Barkley 1-2 Accolade/Atari Sports
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Basketball
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Checkered Flag II 1 Atari Sports
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Cisco Heat 1 Atari? Driving/Arcade
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Club Drive 1? Atari Action/Strategy
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| Commando 1 Microids Action/Strategy
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Cyberpunk City 1 Atari Adventure
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| Double Dragon 4 1-2 Telegames Arcade/Action/Fighting
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Doom: Evil Unleashed 1 id Software Action
|
|
| Dungeon 1? Atari Adventure
|
|
| Dungeon Depths 1 Midnite Sw Adventure
|
|
European Soccer 1-2 Telegames Sports
|
|
Challenge
|
|
Falcon(?) 1 S. Holobyte Simulator
|
|
Flashback 1 U.S. Gold Action/Adventure
|
|
Grand Prix 1? Microprose Sports
|
|
Gunship 2000 1 Microprose Action/Strategy
|
|
| Hosenose and Booger 1-2? All Systems Go Platform
|
|
| Indiana Jags 1 Virtual Exp. Action?
|
|
Jack Nichlaus' Power 1-2? Accolade/Atari Sports
|
|
Challenge Golf
|
|
James Pond 3 1 Millenium Platform
|
|
Jimmy Connors' 1-2 Atari Sports
|
|
Tennis
|
|
| Kasume Ninja 1-2 Atari Action/Fighting
|
|
Kick Off 2 1-2 Anco Software Sports
|
|
| Mortal Kombat 1-2 Atari Arcade/Fighting
|
|
| Pinball Fantasies 1-2? 21st Century Action
|
|
| Phong 2000 1-2? Phalanx ?
|
|
| Powerslide 1? Elite Action?
|
|
| Robinson's Requiem 1? Silmarils Strategy
|
|
Soccer Kid 1? Krisalis Ltd. Platform?
|
|
| Star Raiders 2000 1? Atari Action
|
|
| Steel Talons 1 Atari Arcade
|
|
Tempest 2000 1-2 Atari Action/Arcade
|
|
Tiny Toon 1-2? Atari Platform
|
|
Adventures
|
|
Ultimate Brain Games 1-2? Telegames Puzzle
|
|
| Ultra Vortex 1-2 Beyond Games Action/Fighting
|
|
World Cup 1-2? Anco Software Sports
|
|
| Zozziorx 1? Virtual Exp. ?
|
|
Zool 2 1-2? Gremlin Platform
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Jaguar CD-ROM games:
|
|
|
|
Title Players Publisher Type
|
|
----------------- ------- ------------ ---------------------------
|
|
Battlechess 1-2 Interplay Strategy
|
|
| Evidence 1 Microids Action/Adventure
|
|
| Dracula the Undead 1 Atari Adventure
|
|
| Horrorscope 1? V-Real Prod. Adventure?
|
|
| Jukebox 1? All Systems Go ?
|
|
Return to Zork 1 Activision Adventure
|
|
Space Pirates 1? Atari Action/Adventure
|
|
Star Trek: The Next 1 Microprose Adventure
|
|
Generation
|
|
|
|
==============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Q. How can I reach Atari Corp.?
|
|
|
|
A. Customer Service: (800) GO-ATARI
|
|
Mailing Address: Atari Corp.
|
|
1196 Borregas Avenue
|
|
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1302
|
|
|
|
| Company spokesman Bob Brodie can be reached by electronic mail on GEnie,
|
|
| via the address "BOB-BRODIE". E-mail can be sent over the Internet with
|
|
| "bob-brodie@genie.geis.com".
|
|
|
|
Interested developers should contact Bill Rehbock at (408) 745-2088.
|
|
Include: Company name, mailing address, phone number, fax number, and brief
|
|
company/personal background relating to software development. Due to the
|
|
high volume of inquires, information kits are prioritized according to
|
|
background (SNES/Genesis/Computer) of previous titles developed.
|
|
|
|
==============================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
Q. Where can I get other information about the Jaguar?
|
|
|
|
|
A. Publications:
|
|
|
|
|
| - Die Hard Game Fan General video-gaming magazine with some
|
|
| 18612 Ventura Blvd. Jaguar coverage.
|
|
| Tarzana, CA 91356
|
|
|
|
|
| - Electronic Gaming Monthly General video-gaming magazine with
|
|
| 1920 Highland Avenue some Jaguar coverage.
|
|
| Suite 222
|
|
| Lombard, IL 60148
|
|
|
|
|
| - Gamepro General video-gaming magazine with
|
|
| P.O. Box 3329 some Jaguar coverage.
|
|
| Redwood City, CA 94064
|
|
|
|
|
| - Video Games General video-gaming magazine with
|
|
| 9171 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300 some Jaguar coverage.
|
|
| Beverly Hills, CA 90210
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Internet/USENET newsgroups and services:
|
|
|
|
|
| - rec.games.video.atari Contains news of all Atari video-game systems.
|
|
|
|
|
| - Jaguar electronic mailing list:
|
|
|
|
|
| To subscribe, send e-mail to "listserv@ctrc.idde.saci.org". In the
|
|
| text of the letter, have a line that reads "subscribe jaguar-l
|
|
| <first-name> <last-name>", where <first-name> and <last-name> are your
|
|
| first name and last name, respectively. Once you are on the list,
|
|
| send messages to "jaguar-l@ctrc.idde.saci.org"; everyone on the list
|
|
| will receive a copy of your message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Internet TELNET site:
|
|
|
|
|
| - Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
|
|
|
|
|
| freenet-in-{a,b,c}.cwru.edu or 129.22.8.51 or nextsun.INS.CWRU.edu
|
|
| Access via modem at (216) 368-3888.
|
|
|
|
|
| You can log on as visitor to explore the system and apply for a
|
|
| Free-Net account online. At the opening menu, enter "2" to log in as a
|
|
| visitor. At the next menu, enter "2" again to explore the system. You
|
|
| will then read an opening disclaimer and a login bulletin, then be sent
|
|
| to the main menu. Once inside, type "go atari". Follow the menus to
|
|
| read discussions, reviews, news, and information. In order to post
|
|
| messages and send e-mail, you need a Free-Net account. Apply for a
|
|
| Free-Net account by entering "1" at the second menu instead of "2".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BBS:
|
|
|
|
|
| - Video Game Information Service.
|
|
|
|
|
| (201) 509-7324, 300/1200/2400/9600/14400 bps. Multiple lines
|
|
|
|
|
| Located in West Orange, New Jersy (USA). The BBS is completely
|
|
| dedicated to video gaming, and maintains files of cheats and reviews
|
|
| for all game systems. Carries video-game-related conferences from
|
|
| other computer networks, including Fidonet, Worldnet, and Globalnet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| On-line services:
|
|
|
|
|
| - GEnie
|
|
|
|
|
| Registered developers can join the Independent Association of Jaguar
|
|
| Developers (IAJD) on the GEnie computer network. Membership in the
|
|
| IAJD is limited to Jaguar developers registered with Atari Corp. To
|
|
| apply for membership, send e-mail to ENTRY$ on GEnie.
|
|
|
|
|
==============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Q. How is development for the Jaguar done?
|
|
|
|
A. Jaguar game development environments exists for the Atari TT030 computer or
|
|
an IBM PC/compatable. Art development can be performed on any machine,
|
|
whether a low-end Apple Macintosh or commercial rendering software such as
|
|
SoftImage.
|
|
|
|
Estimated price for a developer's package is $9,000 for the TT030 setup,
|
|
and $7,500 for the PC/compatable platform. The package includes a Jaguar
|
|
| development unit, documentation, and development/debugging software.
|
|
Software routines packaged with the system include a multi-channel
|
|
polyphonic FM/Wavetable synth; JPEG decompression; video set-up; drawing
|
|
primitives; 3D rendering with gourad shading, texture mapping, and camera
|
|
manipulation.
|
|
|
|
The centerpiece of the TT030 deveopment platform is DB, an assembly-
|
|
language level debugging tool. The Jaguar and the TT030 are connected with
|
|
a parallel cable, and software can be debugged interactively without
|
|
interfering with the Jaguar's screen display. DB supports the use of
|
|
scripts and aliases, which simplifies the use of complex or common
|
|
functions.
|
|
|
|
Atari grants final code approval, but does not see the need to "censor"
|
|
games. Every game is given one man-month of compatability and quality
|
|
testing before it is approved. Atari offers technical support via FAX,
|
|
mail, electronic mail and voice. Atari allows developers to source their
|
|
own cartridges, documentation and shells if desired.
|
|
|
|
==============================================================================
|