Copyright 1998, 1997 Steven L Cox. All right reserved. This document may be copied, in whole or in part, by any means provided the copyright and contributors sections remain intact and no fee is charged for the information. Contributors retain the copyright to their individual contributions in as far as these contributions do not break any pre-existing copyright. The data herein is provided for informational purposes only. No warranty is made with regards to the accuracy of this information.

The game.com FAQ is very much a work in progress. Information is being added as written or submitted, so don't fret if a given topic hasn't been covered by the FAQ yet. For any suggestions, additions, or corrections, please send an email to the FAQ Maintainer.

Table Of Contents:

1. What is a "game.com"?
2. How about a consumer-side review?
3. Who makes the game.com system?
4. What titles are available for the Com?
5. What titles are in the works?
6. Is there a game.com newsgroup?
7. There are two internet carts?
8. What is a "pocket pro"?
9. How about a pocketpro review?
10. How about a Lexicon?
11. Where can I find game.com websites?

What is a "game.com"?

The game.com is the newest handheld gaming system on the market, released in September 1997 by Tiger Electronics. For ease of explanation, presented here is Tiger's own descriptive of the game.com:

game.com ACTIVE! With the touch of a button, you'll enter - and hear! - the next generation of portable gaming. With its innovative touch screen/stylus interface, built-in speech capability, built-in organizer functions and optional internet/email capability, game.com propels cartridge-based, portable gaming years ahead.

The system is cartridge-based, which means a large variety of games designed specifically for it can be purchased and played. Since games are specifically designed to take advantage of game.com's unique features, only cartridges labeled "game.com" will work with the system.

In addition to playing games, game.com has several built-in functions: a phone book, calendar and calculator. Each has been developed for ease-of-use to keep life organized on the go. Also built-in are an automatic high-score save feature, which retains the highest score earned in up to 10 different games, and a special touch screen version of the classic card game Solitaire.

With a special cable (available separately) and an external modem, game.com also becomes a communications device. Once connected to a telephone, it can access text-based Internet and email services.

game.com: actively redefining portable video gaming!

FEATURES:

• Exceptional graphics and animation
• Innovative touch screen / stylus interface
• Incredible speech, music and sound
• Larger screen, better resolution than other 8-bit systems
• Built-in organizer functions (Phone Book, Calculator and Calendar)
• Optional text-based Internet / Email access
• Extensive library of hot games (available separately)
• Specially designed touch screen version of Solitaire
• Automatic high-score save feature
• Two cartridge ports
• Jacks for headphones, and AC adapter

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How about a consumer-side review?

For an inherently less-biased viewpoint, here is a review of the game.com system as written by Ken Gagne:

Platform : game.com
Publisher: Tiger Electronics

For the past several years, the Nintendo Gameboy has not only dominated the handheld games market, it has practically been that market. New competition now arrives from Tiger in the form of the game.com system.

The game.com measures approximately 7x4x1 inches, with a square screen of about 2-1/4 inches. The game screen itself is black-and-white and, being a liquid crystal display (LCD), is not backlit, meaning it does not provide its own source of illumination; like the Gameboy, it cannot be played in the dark. The hardware configuration is more akin to the Sega Game Gear, with a control pad mounted to the left of the screen, and several buttons on the right, including four main action, and the on/off button.

The action screen borrows a feature from today's personal digital assistants (PDA) by being touch-sensitive. Gamers can select menu options and make choices by touching the appropriate areas of the screen. Some games, such as Wheel of Fortune, use this aspect exclusively, eschewing the control pad. A stylus (pen) is included for this purpose and is recommended, though any object will work.

The game.com has several pieces of software built-in. A four-function calculator dispenses quick answers, while a calendar shows dates for January, 1901, through December, 2099. Unfortunately, it does not allow for memos, precluding its use as a schedule book. There is a operable address book, though, and the on-screen keyboard is simple to use with the system's touch-screen capability. As for the solitaire game, it is playable, but completely lacking any gameplay options. High scores from this and any other game are automatically saved directly to the game.com's memory.

Game cartridges are inserted into ports located on the console's right. Up to two carts may be docked simultaneously, for easy switching. Several games are already available, and more are on the way. An impressive lineup includes translations of other system's hits, such as Madden Football, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, and Sonic Jam. A link cable (sold seperately) allows two-player simultaneous play in games such as Fighters Megamix and NBA Hangtime.Although several puzzle-type games are available, there is no hint of a Tetris game, that which helped introduce the Gameboy so successfully.

The game.com has no problem with synthesized speech, using it with many games, either in introductions or as integral parts of the gameplay itself. Other music and sound effects are often minimal. The graphics are small, but adjusting the contrast will usually solve any problems. Moving graphics, such as those found in action games, are not as blurry as most Gameboy titles, but still seem a bit sluggish.

Perhaps the most intriguing feature of the game.com is its capacity to be used as an Internet tool. Using a separate cartridge, the game.com can be linked to any external modem and used to call any online service. This possibly makes the game.com the cheapest method available for sending and receiving electronic mail. Although it could, in theory, be used to call any service, Tiger has only tested it to assure it works perfectly with the Delphi commercial service, which also provides text-based web browsing.

The game.com sells for $69.95 and comes with Lights Out, a simple yet addictive puzzle game. Other games cost between $19.95 and $29.95. It is nigh-impossible to judge a new console on the hardware itself, as it is the software that makes the machine. Tiger stands a tough time of matching the Gameboy's success, but with its interesting innovations, the game.com is certainly full of possibilities.

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This review is copyright (c) 1997 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed in a modified form.

Other reviews, FAQs, etc. by Ken Gagne can be found at: http://www.ziplink.net/~kgagne/vidgames/vidgames.html

Original Publication: Sentinel & Enterprise, 01-Dec-97

Genie: Ken.Gagne (Ken.Gagne@genie.com)
CIS: 75162,3001 (75162.3001@compuserve.com)
Delphi: Ken_Gagne (Ken_Gagne@delphi.com)
Internet: kgagne@ziplink.net

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Who makes the game.com system?

The game.com handheld gaming system is manufactured by Tiger Electronics, perhaps best known for the infamous cheezy $20 LCD licensed handheld games that we've all seen :) As of late, Tiger has produced some rather interesting products, such as GigaPets and (one of my personal favorites) the Lights Out Cube.

You can reach Tiger Electronics at their website, by calling 1 (888) TIGR-SOS, or sending an email to a Tiger Representative (the last method is supposedly for game.com-specific queries).

What titles are available for the Com?

Due to the relative young lifespan of the Com, only a handful of titles are currently available. The very first available title was Lights Out, a bundled cart with the game.com system. Released at the same time, or within a very short period, were Williams Arcade Classics, Batman & Robin, Indy 500, Henry, Quiz Wiz, Wheel of Fortune, JP2: The Lost World, and Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Three additional cartridges began to appear on store shelves as of December - Duke Nukem 3D, the Internet Cart, and Web Link. Wheel of Fortune 2 ranks as the first title of the "1st Quarter '98" grouping to appear on store shelves.

The first "2nd Gen" titles (Sonic Jam, Fighters Megamix, and Jeopardy) started arriving on store shelves as of July 1998. Tiger Casino has been found in stores as of November 1998. Resident Evil 2 first appeared as part of the awards from Tiger's "Get Weblinked" contest, as well as appearing at EBworld's online ordering center as of December 1998.

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What titles are in the works?

• Castlevania, Gigapets Deluxe, Holyfield Boxing, Madden Football '99, MBA Live '99, Name That Tune, and Resident Evil 2 are listed in the game.com pocketpro catalog.



• Mutoids was announced in the Feb 98 issue of Advertising Age (of all places!), reprinted in part Here.



• Resident Evil 2, X-Files, Godzilla, and Small Soldiers were originally announced on 3/6/98 by ToysRLife



• Metal Gear Solid, NASCAR, WCW, and C&C: Red Alert were announced by Gary Webel of Tiger Electronics on 10/30/98.



• Frogger was announced by Thomas Fessler on 11/16/98.



• Centipede, Golf, and Scrabble were announced on 11/20/98, again by Gary Webel.

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Is there a game.com newsgroup?

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There are two internet carts?

Essentially, yes. There are two cartridges currently available for the game.com that provide internet-related functionality, altho they differ in specific application.

The first cartridge, and the one more familiar to most, goes by several names. Most Com enthusiasts call it "the Internet Cart" or "game.com Internet", altho it does appear that the actual name is simply "Internet". This name can make Internet-based discussion of the cartridge rather difficult, so many choose to elaborate on the name to some degree. The Internet Cart, along with an external modem, allows the game.com to act as a "mini-web browser" - send email, surf the 'net, etc. The interface is a textual one, so you'll need access to a text-based ISP before being able to use the Internet Cart (AOL accounts do not work, altho most local ISPs will).

The second cartridge is called Web Link. With little to no pre-release word or advertising on this cartridge, it is the source of most of the confusion about the Com's internet capability. Web Link allows the user to connect the game.com to a personal computer and transfer certain files between the two. If the PC has internet connection, files from the 'net can be transfered to the Com as well. In a sense, this cart could have been dubbed "PC Link", altho most of the files being exchanged will be to and from Tiger's own website. At the moment, Web Link's only function is to upload high scores to the official game.com website, and download cheat codes for games.

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What is a "pocket pro"?

Tiger has announced the existence of a redesigned game.com, entitled the "game.com pocket pro". This new handheld is a modified game.com system, albeit smaller in size, possessing only a single cartridge port, and a backlit screen. The pocket pro is said to be fully compatible with existing game.com cartridges. The new system is scheduled for release in September 1998.

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How About A pocketpro Review?

For the pocketpro review, we take a look at the words of the FAQ Maintainer himself:

In the latter half of 1997, Tiger Electronics released a new handheld gaming system upon the world, called "game.com" or Com for short. The Com quickly gained a group of diehard followers who created one of the strongest Internet fanbases ever for a gaming system. Unfortunately, things grew quiet for the Com in early 1998, and the fans worried that the system might fade into obscurity. Tiger then announced the forthcoming "game.com pocketpro", a revamped Com to be released in the fall of 1998. Fans rejoiced at the news, and the time for the relaunch has arrived. The game.com pocketpro is here!

As promised, the pocketpro offers up a veritable catalog of improvements over the "ClassiCom". The most obvious change is the size - the pocketpro is almost half the length and width of its predecessor. At first glance, these reduced dimensions make it appear that the system is thicker, and upon closer inspection there does appear to be a one-eight to one-quarter inch increase in depth. The compact design is extremely well done, and its obvious that these alterations were well-planned and executed remarkably well.

The smaller size necessitated the shrinking of the buttons and control pad layout, but that does not pose a problem. The pocketpro fits well even in my brutish hands, so I imagine it'll sit in the hands of the younger users securely. The A-D buttons no longer reside in narrow depressions, but are actually raised somewhat, as well as sitting upon an outwardly curved surface. The control pad is likewise raised more so than the ClassiCom design. While smaller and grouped closer together, having these controls raised helps to set them apart by aiding the tactile impressions.

The gripping surface of the pocketpro (the black areas of the black and gray system) isn't smooth to the touch as with the ClassiCom, but instead has the texture of a very fine grade of sandpaper painted upon it. This oh-so-slightly rough surface makes for an excellent grip, along with adding a visual element (the coarseness creates a sparkle on the black surface). The surfaces of the control buttons are smooth in contrast to this gripping surface, which helps distinguish the edges of the controls when playing. The silver-gray surface of the pocketpro is somewhat more light and metallic looking than the ClassiCom, but I'm unsure if this might be due to the older system suffering normal wear-n-tear and having dulled from exposure to sunlight.

One of the most unique features of the ClassiCom was the ability to have two cartridges plugged into the system at once. This feature is the only real loss in the shrinking down to the pocketpro. The solitary cartridge port is now on the (upper) left side of the system. The slot itself is better designed, with a long depression along the edge of the insertion point that helps my stubby fingers remove the cartridge. The Volume and Contrast controls have switched places with the cartridge port, now being located on the upper-right corner of the system. These two controls are a tad smaller and more recessed, which should make accidental adjustments less frequent. The Menu and Pause buttons have been moved upwards, grouped with the On/Off button. The Sound button has been removed, presumably for lack of need - simply turn the Volume control all the way down if you wish to mute the system. The two remaining buttons (and On/Off) are somewhat more raised (and smaller) than the ClassiCom's.

Now for the backlit screen... the most anticipated feature of the pocketpro. I must say that this feature didn't turn out as I'd assumed it would be, but I'm far from disappointed. My notion was that the backlight would be vibrant enough to improve visual quality even in moderately lit rooms, but such is not the case. The backlit feature is best suited for playing in areas of near- to total darkness, and it does that task very well. The backlight feature provides equal, if not superior, visual quality in darkness than compared to playing in ambient light. The feature is toggled on/off by the Light button on the face (middle-bottom) of the system, and indicated by a small light situated just above the system's speaker.

There does appear to be a very small decrease in screen size on the pocketpro, but in my playtesting the difference is negligible. The touchscreen seems to remain unchanged. The stylus, however, has undergone both a revamp and relocation. Instead of being located on the front of the system, the stylus now hides away in a narrow slot on the backside of the pocketpro. The tension that holds the stylus in place is increased, so losing the touchpen should now be a more unlikely event. The stylus itself is now shorter and narrower, almost rectangular in shape, in contrast to the very rounded stylus of the ClassiCom.

All the original software capabilities of the Com are present, with apparently no changes made to the "brain" of the system. The selections of Phonebook, Calendar, Calculator, High Score, and Solitaire function exactly as the ClassiCom. Unfortunately, no improvements to the nigh-worthless Calendar are apparent. The Cartridge selection no longer offers a choice between two titles, obviously - clicking on it fires up the cartridge just like a ClassiCom with only 1 cart inserted.

Of minor concern to the consumer, but of greater import to the retailers, is the improved packaging of the pocketpro. As you may recall, the ClassiCom shipped in a awkward cardboard box that wasn't sealed. According to my sources, retailers didn't care for this packaging since it made displaying the product difficult, as well as causing a higher probability of theft. The pocketpro is shipped in a sealed laminate "pocket" like many other Tiger products, and incorporates a hanger so the package can be displayed on a J-hook. As far as retailers are concerned, the packaging itself is probably one of the most attractive reasons for carrying the item. Indirectly, this should translate into greater exposure for the pocketpro, which is a boon for all Com supporters.

Well, what are you waiting on? The game.com pocketpro improves on the ClassiCom in almost every way imaginable. You're simply not going to find a better value for your entertainment dollar. Go find a pocketpro now - you won't be let down, trust me on that. My friends, after a lengthy wait... The Com is back!

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How About A Lexicon?

gcpp? ClassiCom? If the words used around the game.com newsgroup and websites confuse you, then perhaps you need to check out this handy lexicon of game.com-related terminology.

agvtg-c: abbreviation for alt.games.video.tiger.game-com, the newsgroup of choice for game.com fanatics. Always in lowercase, and don't forget the required dash.

B&R: the initials for Batman & Robin, one of the first game.com titles.

ClassiCom: short for classic game.com, this refers to the original game.com system instead of the current game.com pocketpro model. Also considered a sign of respect for the original system, despite (or perhaps due to) it being larger, heavier, and "less refined" than the pocketpro. Note that the proper spelling is with the two uppercase Cs with the rest in lower case.

Com: shorthand for game.com. Unlike ClassiCom, this usage is system-neutral - it may refer to either the original game.com system or the game.com pocketpro. The C should always be capitalized.

gcpp: short for game.com pocketpro, which can be quite a mouthful (or a pain to type repeatedly). Used with all lower caps is the norm.

MKT: the initials for Mortal Kombat Trilogy which is way too long to use in general conversation.

RE2: the initials for Resident Evil 2, another title way too lengthy for the average typist.

vaporware: an abandoned software title. Long used in the PC and console gaming industry. game.com-related vaporware includes Turok, Godzilla, and Small Soldiers.

WoF: the initials for Wheel of Fortune. Can be altered to WoF2 to signify the 2nd puzzle release.

If you have any commonly-used words or phrases that you think deserve to be in the game.com Lexicon, please send them (along with a description) to the FAQ Maintainer.

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Where can I find game.com websites?

Due to the everchanging nature of the Internet, listing all the known Com-related websites in this forum would be a difficult task, and troublesome to maintain current. Luckily, there already exists a project designed to keep track of Com sites - ComLink, the game.com Webring. If interested in submitting a new Com site to the ring, feel free to visit the ComLink's homepage, which maintains a fairly accurate list of Com sites of its own.

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These people, either knowingly or unknowingly, helped contribute information to this FAQ: