11/20/98

TigerChat V

Thanks to Phil a'Becket, presented below is the segment of the most recent chat thta featured the presense of "2nd Party" designer Thomas Fessler. The log of the chat prior to Mr Fessler's arrival was deleted due to the presence of unruly elements in the chatroom, and that presence was likewise edited from the below transcripts.

[TheGman] Any news on NasCar, WCW, and the other games? Like Screenshots?

[tfessler] Well - those aren't the games I can comment on right now... I guess the 1st thing would like to talk about is the hardware of the game.com - anyone interested??

[TheGman] How much memory can a cart hold?

[Harrover] I am

[tfessler] One of the things that been somewhat mysterious about the game.com is what's inside.. Well although I can't say who makes the CPU... I can tell you it's fast.

[Harrover] How fast is it :)

[tfessler] Fast enough that we could say that it's 8x as fast as the gameboy

[TheGman] 8x as fast???

[Harrover] wow

[tfessler] Or we could say that it's 4x faster than the new gameboy color.

[TheGman] sweet!

[TheGman] what about the carts? How much mem?

[tfessler] Tiger has been very quite on this but I received the go ahead to get that info out there because I know it's important for kids to know what they have.

[TheGman] yea,yea, carts. Memory capacity. Hoow many K's or Megs of storage and RAM?

[tfessler] Carts are currently up to 16megabit in size. (2mb) The gameboy color for example has a max rom size of 12megabit (1.5 mb)

[Harrover] Is the GC cart memory smaller then the GB carts?

[TheGman] sweet..i have some calcs to do...

[tfessler] Overall from a developers stand point... the game.com is a VERY powerful machine... But with all new systems, it takes time for developers to learn how to use it to its fullest potential

[tfessler] That's why the latest round of games were a biy more lighter and not as impressive as titles currently coming out.

[TheGman] okok, now, the good stuff. Software.

[TheGman] what program do you use to program the games?

[tfessler] I have RE2 here and have played it. It's by far one of the best Game.com games out there. A very good game.

[Harrover] And can we have it :)

[tfessler] The controls are EXACTLY the same as the Playstation Version. So if you haven't played the playstation version, read the manual 1st.

[TheGman] sweet!

[TheGman] Is it free-movement, or are you stuff in a line and you can only move on that line?

[tfessler] Send an email off to those who may be online - then again there is always ICQ.

[TheGman] stuff = stuck

[tfessler] No - RE2 gives you a full in the screen depth of movement. Meaning it's no side scroller.

[Harrover] how about level size and number?

[Harrover] of levels that is

[TheGman] no, not side scroller, but are you stuck on a line of movement, like kNights for Saturn?

[tfessler] Honestly - I have not played the game to the greatest detail right now... From when I last visited the developers on RE2 - I know it is the biggest game yet.

[tfessler] Can't comment on X-files. I can comment on other titles though... Let me type in the ones I can talk more about.

[TheGman] ok, how about games being able to be played over the Web-Link (like an RPG or a fighting game)?

[Harrover] Whats the scoop on C&C red alert?

[tfessler] Frogger, Centipede, Monopoly, Gigapets, NBA Live, Madden, Castlevania... And RE2 is shipping.

[tfessler] Whoops - not all those are shipping

[tfessler] Just RE2....

[TheGman] oh, what about the web-link ability for games?

[Harrover] Centipede?

[tfessler] NBA Live will be the closest handheld conversion done to date and will blow the gameboy version out of the water.

[TheGman] all your games blow GB outta the water

[tfessler] It will be a full 5 on 5 full court basketball with AI and Graphics straight from the Genesis version.

[JonCox3D] hi

[Harrover] This gives me all new hope for the GC :)

[TheGman] OK, now, onto the web-link ability!

[tfessler] Frogger is coming along and will be leap for leap as close as you will be able to get to the arcade version.

[JonCox3D] yah

[tfessler] The screen shots I put up are from the in development version.

[TheGman] Thomas, what about the web-link ability? We all heard that some games might be played over the net, using the web-link. Any news on that?

[tfessler] It features the original game levels and updated graphics with new obstacles and the same great play.

[tfessler] I have not heard that about the web-link ability of playing games yet. Although it is an interesting idea.

[tfessler] Centipede promises to have the same great game play that Frogger will offer.

[TheGman] will frogger and centipede be bundled in the same cart?

[Harrover] Will there be any Star Wars titles?

[tfessler] I cannot comment on speculated licenses... That's something that Tiger will have to answer.

[tfessler] Frogger and centipede will be packaged as separate carts.

[TheGman] do you carry any weight when it comes to promotion?

[JonCox3D] You guys needed a article about the game.com pp in GamePro, you got one last year

[tfessler] What do you need to know about promotion?

[TheGman] You need to do commercials, game mag ad's and cross-promotion

[tfessler] It's by far the best pixel pushing application available today.

[tfessler] Plinko Anyone?? ;-)

[TheGman] whoa, PRICE IS RIGHT!!!!!

[tfessler] Pocket fisherman???

[TheGman] where you can win 25,000 dollars!

[TheGman] Pocket fisherman! AWESOME!

[Harrover] cool!

[JonCox3D] Did you say Tiger Casino and Re2 where at Target?

[tfessler] Yes.... people need to know game.com is out there.... especially kids....

[Harrover] Cross promotion with furby!

[tfessler] Casino should be out there. RE2 is shipping at this point so it's just a short matter of time before it appears. You can order carts at EB. I suggest everyone makes their purchases there.

[TheGman] ok, here's what you do....get the Celebrity Deathmatch people to make a Deathmatch commercial involving the game.com and a gameboy lookalike

[TheGman] Harrover stole MY idea

[tfessler] Has anyone played sonic?

[JonCox3D] When will the Online Store be Online?

[JonCox3D] I have played Sonic

[Harrover] yes it's a great idea!

[tfessler] The online store is coming soon... As I am not Tiger, but I am a developer for them, I really don't know.

[Harrover] sorry

[tfessler] I would like to know - what people liked and disliked about sonic. Comparing it to Genesis and Gamegear versions. Or even to GB mario

[TheGman] you dont work FOR tiger? So you are third party?

[TheGman] the screen was too small in relation to Sonic himself

[Harrover] It was too short and the levels where too similar.

[tfessler] Is this because the nature of Sonic is a fast scroller?

[TheGman] yea, you can't really see the bad guys in time

[Harrover] but the graphics where GREAT!

[tfessler] How long did it take you to play the game from end to end.

[TheGman] I played it at my friend's house, I don't have it.

[Harrover] about 2 hours

[TheGman] you need to put CRASH on game.com

>> JonCox3D has left channel #XC.1319234

[TheGman] Thomas, are you third party?

[tfessler] Yeah - but.... we are talking about a b/w handheld here... Not a portable playstation.

[TheGman] CRASH was on 99x

[tfessler] I guess you could say I am 1st od 2nd party. 3rd party implies that I work for another publisher outside of tiger.

>> JonCox3D has joined channel #XC.1319234

[TheGman] WB

[JonCox3D] sorry I left

[tfessler] I was wondering what happened...

[JonCox3D] xoom got me messed up

[TheGman] where exactly are YOU located?

[TheGman] Price is Right, pocket Fisherman

[TheGman] How goes Holyfield Boxing?

[Harrover] What will the rumble pack be like? Will it be a separate unit or built in to the cart?

>> bmurphre has joined channel #XC.1319234

[JonCox3D] hey there

[bmurphre] hi room

[TheGman] hey

[tfessler] For those of you who want some more info on my company... My development server is up right now on a dynamic IP address. It's http://153.35.254.163

[TheGman] cool, i'll go there later

[JonCox3D] k

[tfessler] Holyfield is going to be a great game....

[JonCox3D] what about Nascar?

[TheGman] what about the Reel-feel pack?

[bmurphre] Anyone in here won the scratch contest yet?

[TheGman] yea

[bmurphre] cool

[bmurphre] I won the 99X

[JonCox3D] I got a 99x

[JonCox3D] it is neat

[TheGman] Thomas, what is the rumble pack like?

[tfessler] How many times did you have to play before you won?

[Harrover] I can't get it to work in netscape

[bmurphre] I had to play it for about 4 days to win

[TheGman] I won in Netscpae

[tfessler] I haven't seen a production unit out there, but it shares similar concepts used with other game devices like it.

[Harrover] It now will only work in AOL

[bmurphre] Can some answer my question, why can't the old GC play RE2?

[tfessler] Did anyone out there play it more than 1x a day?

[Harrover] Still haven't won

[JonCox3D] I did

[TheGman] you can't play more then 1x a day

[bmurphre] It can!?

[TheGman] yea, I posted that like 4 hours ago

[Harrover] I did :(

[TheGman] Thomas, is it GOLF or GORF?

[Harrover] Did that screw me.

[tfessler] Has anyone tried RE2 on an original Game.com?

[TheGman] you can't play (and still win) more then once a day

[TheGman] haven't gotten it

[bmurphre] Anybody in here have TC?

[Harrover] TC?

[tfessler] I will have to try it and see hot it works. I don't have my GC and GCPP here right now.. I am in the middle of miving.

[bmurphre] Tiger Casino

[tfessler] Moving....

[Harrover] Oh

[bmurphre] TC=Tiger Casino

[tfessler] Hey thGman - what are you referring to?

[Harrover] Got it :)

[TheGman] whadda mean?

[tfessler] But... all the animations in Holyfield were created with 3-D Studio Max 2.5 and they look very good.

[Harrover] Any word on Monopoly?

[tfessler] It should be out there real soon. It's a great version of the game.

[Harrover] That is one of my favorite board games.

[TheGman] What program do you use to program the games? VB, C++, BASIC(yea, right)?

[tfessler] As with all portable game systems, gameboy, gamegear, atari Lynx etc... we use assembly language.

[Harrover] 7:59 here

[tfessler] 7:03 here :-)

[JonCox3D] Where are you? California?

[TheGman] Ok, cool

[TheGman] it's taken me a YEAR to find that out

[Harrover] Colorado

[tfessler] I used to live there when I worked for Disney - Now I live in Everett Washington.

[JonCox3D] Cool, I live in Vancouver, WA

[TheGman] Annapolis, MD

[tfessler] Jon - where is Vancouver WA? I know of Vancouver BC

[JonCox3D] It is near Portland Oregon

[tfessler] MKT Game.com?

[Harrover] Yeah, it's good. It could use some music though. :)

[Harrover] Yeah

[tfessler] Music has been a point I am trying to explore more with game.com

[TheGman] yea, alot of games are missing music...Duke, Arcade Classics, Lights out...

[tfessler] Are there 10 fighters?

[Harrover] 13, 11 plus two secret.

[tfessler] Thanks.... I was guessing there....

[TheGman] who is this gcspec01 here???

[tfessler] I have a full library of game.com games in a box around here somewhere...

[TheGman] is it slight?

[TheGman] a full library?

[tfessler] What is gcspec01?

[TheGman] do you have an extra 14.4 external modem too?

[Harrover] How many is that?

[tfessler] No... I killed my 14.4 model years ago ... it was internal.

[TheGman] I guess it's a shadow

[TheGman] darnnit

[tfessler] I have an internal network of systems all sharing one dialup connection...

[TheGman] I need a 14.4 for the internet cart.... it'd be fun to have

[Harrover] I have one, got it at computer city a few years ago.

[TheGman] do the deathmatch thing

[tfessler] Do they sell them at toys r us?

[TheGman] sell what?

[TheGman] OK, I understand!

[tfessler] have you checked http://www.pricewatch.com ?

[Harrover] I haven'tt used it on the 'net yet. AOL :(

[tfessler] If not there are many used computer stores around where I'm sure they have them in abundance.

[TheGman] not here. No used comp stores

>> JonCox3D has left channel #XC.1319234

[tfessler] are there any more questions out there I can answer?

[TheGman] hold on.... I've got one

[TheGman] can I get a job with you?

[Harrover] What is battery consumption like on the GCPP?

[tfessler] I haven't seen the QT movie. And anyone can send me email resumes. My email address is on the newsgroup.

[Harrover] Music? I didn't catch that.

[TheGman] do you take 15 year olds?

[tfessler] Estimates say 6 hours with lights on.. That's what I've heard...

[Harrover] Sounds good.

[TheGman] Thomas, do you accept 15 year olds?

[tfessler] Honestly - every one I work with has about a minimum of 10 years of industry experience. This is because I need to get my work done fast and good.

[TheGman] darn. I'll be an intern :)

[tfessler] However, If I run into a good artist or programmer... Age is arbitrary.

[TheGman] Can you suggest a game for me?

[TheGman] actually, a few

[TheGman] Monkey Island and Star Control 2

[tfessler] If people are interested in an application available on the net that I use for creating game.com art. Check out promotion.

[TheGman] ok

[TheGman] and that's at your dynamic IP?

[TheGman] http://153.35.254.163 right?

[tfessler] http://cosmigo.com/promotion/

[TheGman] oh,ok

[tfessler] Yeah - that's my dyanmic IP for now

[TheGman] Anyways, how soon until Screenshots are availible for WCW, C&C, Nascar, and others?

[tfessler] Just keep watching the news group. As I get clearance to drop new screen shots, I will put them up there ASAP. Look soon for shots on Centipede.

[TheGman] sweet

[Harrover] Yay!

[TheGman] ok, well, if that's it, I make a motion to adjourn this chat

[tfessler] Can't say - but what do you mean by COmmish 3-D?

[tfessler] Like holyfield?

[tfessler] Could be... :-)

[TheGman] speaking of holyfield, is it tomb raider view, 1st person, or what?

[tfessler] Did you see the screen shots I put up on the newsgroup?

[TheGman] yeah, but that's different then what we originally saw

[tfessler] It's like a lowered 3/4 overhead view. Not 1st person.

[TheGman] ok, cool

[TheGman] NIN is advertising the game, not WVW

[TheGman] WCW

[tfessler] You have to remember - WCW is not advertising revenge.... THQ is advertising revenge. I'm sure the game.com title will stand on it's own.

[Harrover] Is the rumble pack internal or external to the cart?

[TheGman] they are paid by THQ

[tfessler] Sure - the more they sell - the more they make... It's called royalties.

[tfessler] Not sure

[TheGman] Ok, well, is that all?

[tfessler] Isn't everything??

[TheGman] Anything else?

[tfessler] Anyways... I have things that I must attend to...

[TheGman] so do I...Bed

[tfessler] How often do these things happen?

[TheGman] Oh, remember, Monkey Island, Star Control 2, and Bomberman

[TheGman] about once a month

[Harrover] every month

[tfessler] And If I'm a bit late - don't kick everyone out.

[TheGman] yea , sleepy time

[Harrover] dinner :)

[TheGman] I gotta plane to catch tomorrow

[tfessler] Later guys... don't let the bed bugs bite...

[TheGman] Thanks Thomas!!!!

[TheGman] yea

[tfessler] Thanks for inviting me... I'll probably be back here next month.

[Harrover] Goodnight.

[tfessler] L8R

>> tfessler has left channel #XC.1319234

So, what did we learn? That's right - its time for the ever-popular TigerChat, Cliff Notes version :) Interesting tidbits gleamed from the chat:

• The game.com CPU is 8x as fast as the standard gameboy, and 4x as fast as gameboy color.



• Com carts are currently running at 16megabit (2meg), while the maximum size for gb color is 12megabit (1.5meg)



• Mr Fessler hints at Price is Right and Pocket Fisherman titles for the Com, but for the life of me I've yet to determine whether this is intended as a joke or not :)

And while unable to attend the chat directly, Gary Webel dropped an email my way, asking to share this info with the chat attendees.

Resident Evil 2 and game.com.pocket pro are now available at retail stores; your best bets at the moment would be Target and Electronics Boutique. All game.com products (including the new carrying cases) can be ordered directly from our parent company, Hasbro, by calling 888-377-3335.

Tiger's scratch-off contest is underway, and will continue through November 30. To participate, log on to the Tiger site (www.tigertoys.com) or Nickleodeon's site (www.nick.com). Scratch off the banner with your mouse pointer for a chance to win great prizes, including a pocket pro package consisting of a game.com pocket pro, RE2 and Web Link.

The RE2 best-score contest will start Dec. 1 and end Jan. 15, 1999. To participate, play RE2 and upload to the game.com web site your best score (shortest time to complete the game) using the Web Link. The best score at the end of this period will net the winner a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond. Similar best-score contests will run during the same time period for WCW Giga Fighters and 99x Crash Bandicoot; check Tiger's site for more details.

We are currently working on the following game titles, which will be available next year:

Monopoly
Gigapets Deluxe
NBA Live
Madden Football
Holyfield Boxing (I've seen the preliminary animations, very cool)
Centipede
Frogger
Golf
Scrabble
C&C Red Alert
Metal Gear
NASCAR
WCW

Looks like the list of new confirmed titles is made up of Centipede, Golf, Scrabble, Price is Right, and Pocket Fisherman. I'll leave it to the readers to decide which (if any) of these are jokes :)