HARDWARE DESCRIPTION OF "VIRTUALITY" PRODUCT


From: [email protected] (Mike Wiik)
Organization: Gotham Communications Research

"The core of the system is the EXPALITY(TM) (Experience Provider for
Virtual Reality) computer, which uses a specially modified Amiga 3000
motherboard (sporting a 25MHz 68030 processor plus 68882 math copro-
cessor) to drive two parallel-pipeline TI 34020 graphics processors
turbocharged with two 40Mflop TI 34082 RISC math coprocessors, which
create up to 30,000 independently shaded polygons a second at 30 frames
per second on your visor's dual liquid-crystal color screens. Translation:
realistic and real fast.

"Polhemus 3D sensors (one in your helmet and another in your 3D joystick
or glove [??? -mike]) indicate which direction you're looking and firing
in and direct the quadraphonic digital sound tracking system. A 550MB
CD-ROM and 100MB Hard disk store the game's visuals, music, voice, sound
effects, and virtual-world database. Up to 12 [Twelve! Ay-yah!!!! -mike]
of these $65,000 Virtuality stations can be connected together, linked
by and Ethernet network. A 100-degree wide-angle visor is also in the 
works.

"The first game available is a shoot-em-up called Dactyl Nightmare (hint:
for a great ride, let the pterodactyl pick you up). Scheduled for March
installation is Dactly II, a "Capture The Flag" game in which combatants
get to maul each other with crossbows, shields, and axes and conspire
with teammates via a realtime digital voice synthesis system that changes
your voice to simulate the character you've selected...Also coming in
March: CYBERQUEST, a [D&D]-type role-playing game in a medieval setting
with a nice sci-fi touch: you buy private pluh-in keys that keep track
of where you are in the game, the character you've chosen...and how many
playing credits you have left.

"Other games available (but not yet planned for installations) are HERO
(hang gliding) and four sitdown games: BATTLESPHERE (3D space battle),
EXOREX (exoskeltal armored combat vehicle), VTOL (mission in Harrier
vertical takeoff jet plane), and TOTAL DESTRUCTION (stock car race).
Future games will include texture mapping (for realistic landscapes, etc)
and later, a combination of video and animation.

...

"You can experience ... Virtuality.. at:

	The Quarters, Kirkland, WA;
	Timeout, Springfield, VA;
	Forest Fair Mall, Cincinnati, OH;
	Adventure, Crestwood, MO;
	SmithHaven Mall, Long Island, NY; and
	U.C. Berkeley, Berkeley, CA.
	(Call 1-800-ILLUSION for updates)."

Above quoted w/out permission. So I'll just add it's a neat game which
we should feed our money to so they'll multiply and get neato new s/ware.

	-Mike