rtb@ihlpf.UUCP (Todd) (06/04/86)
Just got back from Summer CES in Chicago and thought I'd share what I saw and heard there. Atari Atari was there in force with a really big exhibit. As you walked into the Atari area there was a Video digitizer on the left and an audio digitizer on the right (both hooked up to 520 STs). The Video digitizer was made by Hippo. It plugs into the ROM slot and uses a standard video camera (b&w). The pictures are taken every 8 seconds and can be stored in a NEOCHROME format. You can later use NEOCHROME to modify the captured imaged. It retailed for around $150 and can be used with either the mono or color 520ST. I forget the name of the company that was demonstrating the audio digitizer. A lot of third party developers were there showing off their latest and greatest programs. Faster Than Light (makers of SUNDOG) were showing a beta version of DUNGEONMASTER. A D&D type game where you actually see the inside of the cave as you walk along (imagine WIZARDRY made with really fantastic graphics). EPYX was showing ROGUE, the ST version has some really nice features. Firebird (makers of PAWN) were showing STARGLIDER, my favorite in the show, kind of like the arcade version of STAR WARS. Blue Moon software was demonstrating a SIDEKICK-like GEM utility. HIPPO had a 520ST hooked up to a HP laser printer demonstrating HIPPOWORD. I asked several vendors about support for the new 24 pin printers, and most of the new packages will support the LQ800 and others. A lot of the displays were so crowded I couldn't see all the software being shown. There were also demos of Battlezone and Joust, but no Star Raiders. (I have heard that Star Raiders is being sold in Europe, any comments out there???) Batteries Included was advertizing PAPERCLIP ELITE but was not actually showing it. ABUCAS had their own booth and was showing the Circuit Board Design program and a 3D graphics program. They are coming out with 6 new programs this year but I can't remember what they are. Atari was not showing of any new hardware, so I didn't get to see the new MS-DOS box. Commadore Commadore had a really small booth in a really obscure corner. They were not even showing the AMIGA but were pushing a new C-64. This gives fuel to the rumor that they are dropping the Amiga. I asked about the Amiga and was told that the Amiga was shown at the last show so they were showing the 64 and 128 only at the CES so all Commadore machines would get equal exposure.(???????????) Oh well, I better not go on or I will be accused of being a doomsayer. R.T. Bradstrum