★ PEOPLES ★ AMSTRAD VIES WITH ATARI AT CHICAGO (POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY) ★ |
| Amstrad vies with Atari at Chicago (Popular Computing Weekly) |
THE computer exhibition at the summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago from June 2-5, was the smallest for five years. Of the major hardware manufacturers in the home market, Commodore, Atari and also Amstrad took stands. Amstrad was the only British hardware manufacturer there - Sinclair, despite the impending American launch of the QL, did not take a stand. Amstrad was sharing its CPC 664 with built-in 3 inch disc drive and colour monitor for the first time in the US. The CPC 664 priced at $799 (around £620) for the American market, which means it will clash directly with Atari's 520ST. Atari itself only agreed to exhibit at CES at the last minute. "Originally we were not going to be at Chicago.” said Atari's UK marketing manager Rob Harding. "We felt the summer show was not as important as the winter show in Las Vegas. However, the organisers requested we take a stand.” Commodore showed a variety of software for the C128 machine, mainly 'home management' utility packages. It also had a mouse-controlled word processor on display, using Apple Macintosh-like menus, icons and windows. The Amiga machine was not on show, but industry sources at CES suggested the Amiga may be launched next month in the US, and may now cost as much as $2000 (around £1500). Relatively few software houses exhibited in the main hall - many giving private showings in hotels instead. Of those that did exhibit, Epyx launched Summer Games 2 and previewed Winter Carnes, which is due out in the states in October. Access showed Beachhead 2, and Activision had a range of titles on display for the first time. Hacker is a simulation/adventure centred around hacking. The player is presented with the scenario of having broken into an unknown computer system and must discover who system it is. and what it does. Activision also previewed Boxer, a boxing simulation, and Slot Car Construction Kit, where the player designs a race course on screen, and then must take part on it. It seems likely, though not certain, that these titles will be exported to this country. Popular Computing Weekly (06-86)
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