Don Thomas mailt wieder :)
Robert Schaffner
To: "Immediate Release" <sub...@icwhen.com>
Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 01:18:30 -0700
*** This document can be retrieved on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.icwhen.com/articles/woa98_1.html ***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mr. Keita Iida, ke...@mindspring.com or
Mr. Rich Tsukiji, wo...@jps.net
916-422-7424 (voice), 916-422-7424 (fax)
CLASSIC VIDEO GAME & COMPUTER EXPO DRAWS BIG NAMES
- Promoters Reveal Confirmations for August Show-
by Donald A. Thomas, Jr. (cur...@icwhen.com)
It may have started over a year ago as no more than just a great idea, but
it is fast becoming a reality for Mr. John Hardie and Mr. Keita Iida. On
Saturday, August 22, the two will stand in a major Las Vegas locale and
welcome hundreds of people to the first annual Classic Video Gaming and
Computer Show. The show, originally planned to be held in modest
facilities
on the west coast, was moved to the Holiday Inn Boardwalk Hotel and Casino
on the Vegas strip when promoters sought expanded facilities to
accommodate
people from all over the country.
John and Keita are webmasters of the Atari HQ web site
(http://www.atarihq.com). As long time aficionados of vintage gaming and
computing, the two have grown up using a great number of home video game
and
computer products. They individually own extensive collections of classic
game consoles, software, coin-operated machines and related paraphernalia.
Urged by friends and colleagues to put their most rare possessions on
display, John and Keita have worked hard to find the perfect opportunity
to
share their interests with their fans.
Mr. Rich Tsukiji, has produced a number of extravagant video game and
computer shows over the years including those held in venues such as
Disneyland Hotel Convention Center in Anaheim, California. When Rich
learned
of Mr. Hardie's and Mr. Iida's aspirations to produce a Classic Video Game
and Computer Show, the wheels were set in motion. The very first Classic
Video Game and Computer Show was dubbed "World of Atari '98" to celebrate
Atari's role within the industry and Hasbro's acquisition of Atari's
technology and patent assets from JTS Corporation in early 1998.
From the beginning, John and Keita secured the active participation from
industry personalities and organizations to help plan and evangelize the
event. The activities currently scheduled include keynote discussions,
live
auctions, classic coin-operated games on display and for sale, vintage
video
game systems and peripherals, an exhibit of rare video game and home
computer products, tournaments, interviews, contests and more.
"We are focused on classic video gaming," explains Mr. Iida during a rare
moment of calm amidst hectic event planning. "It doesn't matter if its
great
games on older machines or re-releases on contemporary systems. It is very
appealing to see Namco publish 'Namco Museum, Williams publish 'Arcade
Classics' or Hasbro release 'Frogger' and 'Centipede' for the
state-of-the-art PlayStation game console. That is as much fun as it is to
play the original games on the original systems. They are all an integral
part of the history of video games and home computers."
Following up on last week's announcement of honored guests (see
http://www.atarihq.com/atari98), show promoters today announced some of
the
confirmed sponsors and events.
Nyko Technologies, an innovative Los Angeles-based video game peripheral
company, is sponsoring the program guide to be distributed to all
attendees
of the event. Nyko makes a number of reliable gamepads, memory cards,
joysticks and accessories for popular game systems including the
"TransPad"
and "ArcadeMax" controllers licensed by Sony Computer Entertainment
America
for use with the PlayStation game console. The program guide will offer
complete show schedules, special guest biographies, an opening letter from
Mr. Donald A. Thomas, Jr. (once labeled the "Voice of Atari"), background
information and plenty of space for autographs and notes.
Namco has been named the official sponsor of the World of Atari '98
Exhibit.
Namco is a name very familiar to classic gamers and anyone familiar with
the
animated pizza-like character called Pac-Man. In recent years, Namco has
supported a growing interest in classic games by releasing five
PlayStation
software titles in a series called "Namco Museum". Each disc includes
five,
six or seven blockbuster coin-operated arcade games from yesteryear;
complete with the same programmable options that were available on the
original machines. Titles include "Pac-Man", "Galaga", "Rally-X",
"Xevious",
"Galaxian", "Ms. Pac-Man", "Pole Position II", "Dig Dug", "Assault", and
"Metro-Cross"… a total of 29 games in all.
The Namco-sponsored Exhibit at World of Atari '98 will include working
products that were once in millions of homes worldwide such as
Intellivision, Odyssey, Atari, Colecovision and Vectrex. Not so common
products will also be seen in this exclusive exhibit. One such example is
the last coin-operated pinball prototype Atari ever made called "Neutron
Star" which is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world. Also
on
display will be the Atari 2700, an unreleased remote control prototypical
version of the 2600. Visitors will see Cosmos, a 3D holographic system
developed by Atari before they sold proprietary hologram technology to
American Banknote. Visitors may enjoy seeing the Starpath Supercharger, a
prototype of the Atari 5200 junior called the 5100, an original Computer
Space and an original coin-operated Pong in showroom condition.
An ingenious group of programmers calling themselves 4Play, will host the
first-ever "BattleSphere" Tournament using the long-awaited final version
of
the game on a network of four integrated Atari Jaguar 64-bit gaming
systems.
Attendees may also sign up to compete in a "Warlords" tournament on fully
functional Atari 2600 video computer systems.
Ziff-Davis TV, producer of the weekly television show "Gamespot TV" will
be
among a growing number of television and media crews covering this event.
"Gamepsot TV" filming is planned to take place on location at the show on
Saturday and Sunday.
Due, in large part to the mounting enthusiasm and added activities of the
show, Mr. Rich Tsukiji has secured larger facilities for a Friday night
reception. The reception will welcome and acknowledge special guests,
volunteers and show coordinators prior to opening day. Showgoers who
pre-purchase tickets by Friday, August 14 are entitled to a personalized
name badge, a free program guide ($5 value), substantial discounts and
non-transferable admittance to the exclusive reception. Inquiries can be
directed to wo...@jps.net or by calling (916) 422-7424.
For up-to-date information on news, sponsors, guests, keynotes and other
show information visit http://www.atarihq.com/atari98 on the World Wide
Web.
For extensive information on the history of video games and home
computers,
visit I.C.When at http://www.icwhen.com.
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