% The Nintendo of America Conf conference is beginning

(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Welcome everyone
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) On behalf of CompuServe and the Video Game...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Publishers Forums, I would like to welcome our...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) members to the first Nintendo online conference.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) My name is Ron Luks, and I'll be the moderator ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) for tonight's conference.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)      - 
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Tonight, our guests are three of the driving...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) forces behind the leader in the video game...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) industry, Nintendo of America.  They will be...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) identified by the screen title "NINTENDO."
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)     - 
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Before we begin, I'd like to mention a few items of...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) online protocol.  First, when typing your questions,...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) please end each line with "..." to indicate you are...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) still typing, and end your question with "GA"...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) meaning "GO AHEAD" so that the speaker will know to...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) begin his answer.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)     - 
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Second, please ask only ONE question at a time...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) If you have other questions, get back into the...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) queue and wait to be called again.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)     - 
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) To get in line (into the queue) to ask a question,...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) type the command /QUE.  You will be recognized by...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) the moderator when its your turn to speak.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)     - 
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) If you need help with any of the online conference...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) facility commands, type /? or /HELP.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)      -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Now, I'd like to introduce our three guests of honor: 
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Mr. Minoru Arakawa serves as President of Nintendo...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) of America, and along with chariman Howard...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Lincoln, is responsible for the overall management...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) of NOA. (His screen name will be "MR.A")
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)         -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Howard Lincoln joined Nintendo as Sr. Vice Pres...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) in 1983.  He was appointed Chairman of NOA in Feb...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) 1994.  (His screen name will be "HOWARD")
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)          -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Peter Main joined Nintendo of America in 1987 as...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) V.P. of Marketing.  He directs all sales and...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) marketing activities for Nintendo products and...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) services.  (His screen name will be "PETER").
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)         -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Before we open up for questions, I'd like to ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) introduce Howard Lincoln and have him provide a ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) quick introduction to Donkey Kong country and its ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) new technology.  Howard, GA. (GO AHEAD).
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)         -
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Howard) First Ron, on behalf of Minoru Arakawa...
(#16,NINTENDO2) and Peter Main, I'd like to let everyone know how...
(#16,NINTENDO2) excited we are to be here tonight.  Conversing online...
(#16,NINTENDO2) is a new concept and we are looking forward to ...
(#16,NINTENDO2) communicating using this new medium...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Some of you may have seen Donkey Kong Country when...
(#16,NINTENDO2) we previewed it at the Summer Consumer Electronics...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Show in Chicago.  Needless to say, we're very excited...
(#16,NINTENDO2) about this new game, which in our estimation, will...
(#16,NINTENDO2) set the gold standard for 16-bit game play....
(#16,NINTENDO2) We've been able to take the computer graphics...
(#16,NINTENDO2) technology that brought the dinosaurs to life in...
(#16,NINTENDO2) "Jurassic Park" and put it into a 16-bit video...
(#16,NINTENDO2) game.  We call this process Advanced Computer...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Modeling, and the results are outstanding and have...
(#16,NINTENDO2) caused disbelief that the graphics are even 16-bit...
(#16,NINTENDO2) since they are so advanced.
(#16,NINTENDO2) ...
(#16,NINTENDO2) To develop the game, we were very fortunate to work...
(#16,NINTENDO2) with the talented video game designers at U.K.-based...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Rare Ltd.  Using Silicon Graphics computers, they...
(#16,NINTENDO2) were able to bring Donkey Kong to 3-D life...
(#16,NINTENDO2) We're happy to be here tonight and anxious to answer...
(#16,NINTENDO2) your questions about this new game, it's technology...
(#16,NINTENDO2) and Nintendo in general.GA
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Thanks Howard...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) So without any further delay....
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Let me open the floor to the first question....
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) (Remember-- to get in line to ask a question)...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) (Type /QUE)

% Moderator recognizes question #1
  Christian Mueller (5)


(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Go ahead Christian. GA

(#5,Christian Mueller) DKC has superb graphics, but weve seen such a
gameplay...
(#5,Christian Mueller) before. Do you think the consumer will accept...
(#5,Christian Mueller) "old games" even when they have superior graphics?
(#5,Christian Mueller) GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) Thank you for asking us about this...
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Mr. A)  This is a brand new Donkey Kong game...
(#16,NINTENDO2) not only are the graphics superior but the gameplay...
(#16,NINTENDO2) is outstanding in each of 100 levels.  The gameplay...
(#16,NINTENDO2) is outstanding.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #2
  Jer Horwitz/RTU (8)


(#8,Jer Horwitz/RTU) Nintendo: This conference is a wonderful idea. Thanks for 
doing it!...
(#8,Jer Horwitz/RTU) I remember when I first saw DKC at the Summer CES show 
during...
(#8,Jer Horwitz/RTU) Mr. Lincoln's keynote speech. My writers and I were all 
astonished...
(#8,Jer Horwitz/RTU) that it was a SNES game... I'm wondering, what will the 
next game be...
(#8,Jer Horwitz/RTU) to use the ACM technology? 
(#8,Jer Horwitz/RTU) GA

(#16,NINTENDO2) That's a good question...
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Peter) UniRacers, coming on December 12th also...
(#16,NINTENDO2) utilizes ACM technology to generate over 8,000...
(#16,NINTENDO2) frames of animation.  We also have other games...
(#16,NINTENDO2) currently in development which you will hear more...
(#16,NINTENDO2) about shortly.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #3
  Jen Kuiper (12)

(#12,Jen Kuiper) The technology for DKC is definitly outstanding, and will 
extend the...
(#12,Jen Kuiper) SNES's life a great deal. You've mentioned games Nintendo 
will...
(#12,Jen Kuiper) be publising. Will this technology be licensed to third 
parties...
(#12,Jen Kuiper) to produce games using it as well? GA

(#16,NINTENDO2) Thank you for asking us about this...
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Howard)  Yes it will, more details coming at CES...
(#16,NINTENDO2) in January.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #4
  Elliott (21)


(#21,Elliott) When is the expected release date of the home version of the
Ultra
64..
(#21,Elliott) system, and could you give us some ideas of games to appear on
it?
..
(#21,Elliott) (Please say Final Fantasy 4 is being considered)......
(#21,Elliott) And how much might the new carts cost for the U64. GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) We get asked that question a lot...
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Mr. A) As previously announced Ultra 64 will be...
(#16,NINTENDO2) released worldwide in the second half of 1995...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Some games will included Cruis'n USA, Killer Instinct...
(#16,NINTENDO2) and a number of others that will be announced in...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Nintendo Power in the near future...
(#16,NINTENDO2) We expect the cartridges to be priced at levels...
(#16,NINTENDO2) consistent with current 16 bit cartridge prices...
(#16,NINTENDO2) We definately hope that there will be a Final Fantasy...
(#16,NINTENDO2) game in the Nintendo Ultra 64 game library.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #5
  Ken Gagne (40)


(#40,Ken Gagne) Is it true that DKC (it's technology, or usage on SNES) was 
discovered by accident? GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Howard)  It came out of our relationship with SGI...
(#16,NINTENDO2) as part of our ongoing development activity...
(#16,NINTENDO2) with RARE's expertise it became a reality on the SNES.GA
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Note-- SGI = Silicon Graphics Inc.

% Moderator recognizes question #7
  Rekoob (9)


(#9,Rekoob) I've heard that this game (DKC) is actually 300 megs compressed
into
32, is this true and if so, Does this mean. . .
(#9,Rekoob) that this game would be the same if it were 300 megs instead of 32?

GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) Interesting question...
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Mr. A)  It is over 300 megs of data and RARE was able...
(#16,NINTENDO2) to compress it using a variety of techniques...
(#16,NINTENDO2) GA

% Moderator recognizes question #8
  Matt Woodard (36)


(#36,Matt Woodard) I was wondering if the rumors of a cartridge shortage...
(#36,Matt Woodard) do to large orders of DKC and MK2 are true?...
(#36,Matt Woodard) Also, I was wondering how you plan to have such...
(#36,Matt Woodard) low prices for Ultra 64 carts when it has been...
(#36,Matt Woodard) anounced that they will be 100+ megs each. GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Peter) Let us answer the second question first...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Ultra 64 cartridges will use proprietary ROM technology...
(#16,NINTENDO2) which makes this price point possible...
(#16,NINTENDO2) In regards to the shortage it is true that DKC...
(#16,NINTENDO2) that uses two 16 meg chips will in fact consume...
(#16,NINTENDO2) 12 million 16 meg chips within a 30 day period...
(#16,NINTENDO2) GA
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Peter....
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Are we talking 16 MegaBITS or 16 MegaBYTES?
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Peter) MegaBITS.Ga
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) thx.

% Moderator recognizes question #9
  bob (18)


(#18,bob) Why\s/p0[-';,i8\/go SPECIALS

% Moderator recognizes question #10
  Nick Jordan (10)


(#10,Nick Jordan) I have been a long time programmer and I was wondering what 
the Programmers a
(#10,Nick Jordan) nintendo use..... 
(#10,Nick Jordan) Is it something available to the public or a language made 
especially
(#10,Nick Jordan) for Nintende??GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Mr. A)  We use custome develope systems, we utilize...
(#16,NINTENDO2) assembly language and the development systems...
(#16,NINTENDO2) are unfortunately not available to the public.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #9
  bob (18)


(#18,bob) sorry...
(#18,bob) Why, if there is such a big market for it...
(#18,bob) are the games in japan (dragon ball z and final fantasy)...
(#18,bob) never released over here (final fantasy doesn't have all releases 
here)...
(#18,bob) and would it be possile to petition for them to be released here?
(#18,bob) ga
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Peter)  While the RPG category is huge in Japan...
(#16,NINTENDO2) it is still in it's early development here in the US...
(#16,NINTENDO2) The best petition would be for you and your friends...
(#16,NINTENDO2) to buy many more RPG games like the Illusion of Gaia...
(#16,NINTENDO2) for the SNES (Sideways Smile)GA

% Moderator recognizes question #11
  Michael Cook (64)


(#64,Michael Cook) My questions are,
(#64,Michael Cook) Is it true you will have to make bigger carts for DKC &,
(#64,Michael Cook) What happened to the idea of a SNES CD-ROM?
(#64,Michael Cook) ga
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) (Folks, please limit yoursel;f to one question per turn)
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Howard) The size of the DKC cartridge is the same size ...
(#16,NINTENDO2) as all other SNES cartridges...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Nintendo will be ready with CD ROM when the technology...
(#16,NINTENDO2) can make better games feasible.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #12
  Greg Wittel (4)


(#4,Greg Wittel) In answer to question #2 you stated that Uniracers and several

other games...
(#4,Greg Wittel) will use the same technology that DKC uses.  But, will they be

able to reach...
(#4,Greg Wittel) the same level of gameplay as DKC? GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Howard)  Yes...
(#16,NINTENDO2) The DKC experience has opened new horizons...
(#16,NINTENDO2) for graphics and game play.  You ain't seen nothing...
(#16,NINTENDO2) yet (grin)...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Ga

% Moderator recognizes question #14
  Mike (65)


(#65,Mike) pass... just listening!

% Moderator recognizes question #15
  Frank (33)


(#33,Frank) What is "ACM" and how did the designers use it to create the 
characters ...
(#33,Frank) them look so real?ga
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Mr. A)  ACM is Advanced Computer Modeling...
(#16,NINTENDO2) it is the ability to create 3D models, capture their....
(#16,NINTENDO2) motion, add textures, raytrace, and then convert...
(#16,NINTENDO2) the graphics to the SNES format.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #17
  Jeffrey (19)


(#19,Jeffrey) Do you plan on Do you plan on developing any mario tiltes using 
the ACM technology?GA
(#17,NINTENDO3) *zM& zPz
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Peter)  We are expecting to use the ACM technology...
(#16,NINTENDO2) across all game categories including future Mario...
(#16,NINTENDO2) games.  At present we have 12 games under development...
(#16,NINTENDO2) utilizing this technology.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #16
  Richie Simon (60)


(#60,Richie Simon) [DWhat future games will use the technology?
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Peter)  As you know it's a very competitive world...
(#16,NINTENDO2) and we will be announcing those titles in the near...
(#16,NINTENDO2) future.GA
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) sorry Richie...

% Moderator recognizes question #18
  Doug (22)


(#22,Doug) my question is....
(#22,Doug) is this game like super metroid where it shows all movement....
(#22,Doug) or is it like mario and his legs go from here to there..
(#22,Doug) GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Mr. A)  Great question...
(#16,NINTENDO2) DKC is one of the most fluid games ever containing...
(#16,NINTENDO2) 16 frames of animation for every motion...
(#16,NINTENDO2) versus the norm of 2-4.  It's dynamite.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #19
  Bill Hutchens (49)


(#49,Bill Hutchens) Had a chance to actually play DKC while on a recent 
assingment to your HQ in Redmond. Rest assured, forum members, DKC delivers
more
than
(#49,Bill Hutchens) what was ever promised as far as graphics, plot AND 
gameplay! (nice plug, hug?) I'd like to know if this entry into cyberspace is a
(#49,Bill Hutchens) hint of future on-line services by Nintendo. ga
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Howard)  Thanks Bill, we agree about DKC.  We plan to...
(#16,NINTENDO2) certainly get more involved in cyberspace...
(#16,NINTENDO2) Ga

% Moderator recognizes question #20
  Danny Chapman (47)

(#47,Danny Chapman) Danny Chapman Firstly, how long did it take to create DKC 
and secondly, when will it be released? GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Peter)  The game will released on November 21st and...
(#16,NINTENDO2) is a result of over 32 man years of effort...
(#16,NINTENDO2) which actually happened in the last two years.GA

% Moderator recognizes question #21
  rick (56)

(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Rick?
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Last chance...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) okay then...

% Moderator recognizes question #22
  M. Dinsmore (63)

(#63,M. Dinsmore) First, kudos on your brilliant pre-release promotion of DKC.
I
hope you keep making "fun" titles for technology showcases. However,
(#63,M. Dinsmore) upon going to Wal-Mart to "reserve" a copy, no one could help

me with even what the retail price would be. What goes?

(#16,NINTENDO2) (Peter)  Thanks for the tip.  I'll be talking to WalMart...
(#16,NINTENDO2) tomorrow.  But other retailers throughout the nation...
(#16,NINTENDO2) are already reporting record presales on DKC.GA
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Ok folks...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) We're about out of time...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) One more question from the crowd...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) and then a few closing statements.  We have set up...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) a Nintendo Conference Feedback section...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) In Video Game Publishers B Forum....
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) (GO VIDBPUB)....
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) for your comments and suggestions.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Now, the last question of the evening:

% Moderator recognizes question #23
  Chocobo (32)


(#32,Chocobo) Ever since Nintendo stated the revolution
(#32,Chocobo) that changed video games from A hobby to an industry
(#32,Chocobo) I have seriously wanted to work for you people.
(#32,Chocobo) Who do I contact (personally ) for more info?
(#32,Chocobo) Online services? I'm ther dude! PLAY IT LOUD!!
(#32,Chocobo) GA
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Pete(Peter) (All three gentlemen laughing)...
(#16,NINTENDO2) We are always looking for talented people...
(#16,NINTENDO2) so just drop us a line attention:  Bev Mitchell...
(#16,NINTENDO2) and we will be right back to you 1-800-255-3700...
(#16,NINTENDO2) and by the way we like your code name. (Smile)GA
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) A nice note to end the conference...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)         -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Thanks for your questions.  We are about out of ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) time.  I would once again like to thank Minoru...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Arakawa, Howard Lincoln, and Peter Main for joining us ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) tonight.  We enjoyed having you online.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)        -
(#16,NINTENDO2) (Howard)  Thank you Ron.  On behalf of Mr. Arakawa...
(#16,NINTENDO2) and Peter, I'd also like to thank the conference...
(#16,NINTENDO2) participants.  We've enjoyed being online with all of...
(#16,NINTENDO2) you and look forward to doing this again.GA
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)       -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Before we sign off, I'd like to remind everyone of ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) some additional Nintendo activites going on during ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) the next few weeks..
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)       -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Starting on Monday, October 24, video clips ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) (in both Mac and Windows formats) will be ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) available for downloading from our online ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Nintendo promotional area. (GO NINTENDO) ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) This will include never before seen footage.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)        -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Also starting next week, we'll be holding a Donkey ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Kong Trivia Contest.  The grand prize winner will ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) get an all-expense paid trip to Nintendo.  Donkey ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Kong country game packs and other prizes will ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) be awarded.  Consult the contest details in the ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) promotional area.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)        -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Then on November 8th, Nintendo will host another ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) online conference with the video game designers ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) and technicians behind Donkey Kong Country.  ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Here's your chance to get the inside track on the ...
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) development of a video game.
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP)         -
(#1,Ron Luks/SYSOP) Goodnight everybody.  Thanks for attending.

% The conference has ended
  Thank you for attending