Apple Game Sprockets to Enable Cutting-Edge Multimedia and Internet Games
on the Macintosh

CUPERTINO, California--March 29, 1996--Apple Computer, Inc. today announced
the first developer release of Apple Game Sprockets--a new, software
development kit (SDK) to create advanced multimedia and Internet-enabled
games for Mac OS-based computers. Using this SDK, all Mac OS-compatible
games can feature real-time 3D graphics, 3D sound, Internet support,
speech recognition, and input device/monitor control.

Available royalty-free to all developers, Game Sprockets profoundly
simplifies the creation of Apple Macintosh entertainment software. Game
Sprockets includes the final release of QuickDraw 3D RAVE (Rendering
Acceleration Virtual Engine), a multi-platform technology that enables
game developers to incorporate plug-and-play 3D acceleration hardware.

Apple has established a World Wide Web site to provide developers quick
release and updates of these new technologies. The Web site is at
http://www.dev.apple.com/games and will be open beginning March 31, 1996.

Apple Game Sprockets--named to reflect the extensible nature of the SDK--is
a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) designed to work
seamlessly with other Apple multimedia technologies such as QuickTime,
QuickTime VR, QuickTime Conferencing, and QuickDraw 3D. Developers can
"mix-and-match" individual sprockets to best enhance and complement the
existing features of their title.

Using Apple Game Sprockets, a typical "twitch" game could take on new
realism and excitement with the addition of real-time 3D graphics and 3D
stereo sound that reacts to the player's location and movement. A new
interface makes it easy for games to implement advanced joystick features.
If desired, this game might also include speech recognition, multi-player
contests across the Internet, videoconferencing, and animation. Best of
all, these games can be created and enjoyed on any PowerPC-based Macintosh
computer.

"Apple's Game Sprockets SDK provides incredible sound, faster graphics and
smoother video, by using the powerful floating-point circuitry built into
all Motorola PowerPC microprocessors," said Stan Tims, group marketing
manager of Motorola's RISC microprocessor division in Austin, Texas.
"Users of 3D game, Internet, multimedia, education and entertainment
software can expect thrilling new application effects, enhancing and
extending the capabilities of any Power Macintosh system."

The current Apple Game Sprockets SDK includes:

 NetSprocket--Internet connectivity and multi-player gaming API
 SoundSprocket--3D sound and Sound Manager API
 SpeechSprocket--speech recognition API
 InputSprocket--digital joystick control and input device API
 DrawSprocket--multiple buffering/display control API
 QuickDraw 3D RAVE--fast, multi-platform 3D graphics API

"Apple has combined a number of unique technologies in this development
kit, with the corporate backing necessary to make it a success," said
Louise Biggs, director, desktop graphics and multimedia for International
Data Corporation, and one of the authors of the new 3D games market
analysis. "We were impressed with the wide range of unique features being
offered in Game Sprockets, especially the 3D cross platform capabilities
and voice recognition technologies. This SDK should enable developers to
create new titles for the Macintosh that are very competitive in the
marketplace and help drive overall sales of Apple computers."

"Games represent a key market segment where Apple can leverage its
traditional strengths in multimedia technology," said Heidi Roizen, vice
president of developer relations at Apple. "Game Sprockets will enable
developers to easily add exciting new features to their titles that
showcase the Macintosh platform. We firmly believe that our unique
technology--combined with dedicated developer support -- will give
Macintosh customers the best new games on any platform."

A number of leading Macintosh and PC game developers are already evaluating
Apple Game Sprockets for use in their titles, including Bungie Software,
Interplay Productions, LucasArts Entertainment Company, PF. Magic, and
Reality Bytes, Inc.

The development release of Apple Game Sprockets will be available on the
World Wide Web starting March 31, 1996, concurrent with the Computer Game
Developers Conference (March 31-April 2, 1996) in Santa Clara, California.
Apple will be hosting a number of discussion groups at the show on these
technologies, with engineers also available at the booth to answer
developer questions.

"The business of making great games is a classic example of evolution--you
get cooler quick, or you get left behind," said Ben Calica, senior product
manager of game technologies at Apple. "Our job is to provide developers
with unique, game-centric technology that shows off the power of the
Macintosh by helping them create the hottest titles on the market. For
most developers, the Macintosh versions of their games are already the
best on any platform -- now we want to help them widen the gap even
further with Game Sprockets."

Apple Game Sprockets Technical Details

NETSPROCKET

NetSprocket provides standard, customizable user interface dialogs for
configuration, log-in, and hosting a game across the network. A simple set
of calls allows messages to be singlecast, multicast or broadcast to other
machines within the game. A theoretical maximum of 2 billion users can
simultaneously use NetSprocket across a broadband connection.

NetSprocket also provides transparent access to Internet-oriented gameplay
and multi-player gaming. This API uses Open Transport for TCP/IP,
AppleTalk (with support for LocalTalk, EtherTalk or TokenTalk) and modem
communication access. By utilizing a client/server topology, it is
possible for gamers to use multiple protocols in a single session and with
minimal overhead (a total of 28 bytes are used per player for the message
header). NetSprocket also support the creation of groups for broadcast of
data to specific users across the network.

SOUNDSPROCKET

SoundSprocket incorporates a standardized API for accessing both
traditional sound functions as well as new 3D sound technologies developed
by Apple. For 3D sound, the listener and each sound channel are given
specific positions and velocity vectors in a virtual audio space. These
positions are changed during game play, along with the sounds themselves,
to give the impression of spatiality and movement.

The signal processing, taking advantage of the capabilities of the PowerPC
microprocessor, simulates Doppler Effect, distance attenuation,
environmental reverberation and spatial positioning. The 3D effect may be
effectively presented over speakers or headphones--it is also fully
integrated with the camera position used in QuickDraw 3D, which enables
sound to "follow" the player in 3D space.

INPUTSPROCKET

InputSprocket provides a compact API through which games can communicate
with drivers for analog or digital joysticks and other game-oriented input
devices in a plug and play fashion. It also provides user interface
elements that allow player override of the default control options through
specified dialog boxes. Mouse and keyboard support are also enabled, as
are multiple input device support.

DRAWSPROCKET

DrawSprocket allows developers to easily utilize multiple (double or
triple) buffering on the Macintosh for smooth display of graphic images.
Multiple buffering is achieved by DrawSprocket using the best option
available on the user's system--true double buffering in hardware,
page-flipping, efficient memory copies or through the traditional CopyBits
function call. The game does not need to be aware of the hardware
specifics to use this benefit.

DrawSprocket also enables configuration of display resolution or color
depth without leaving the game environment (no need to access the sound
and displays control panel) and screen sizing/blanking. A sprite engine,
available through QuickTime, may also be used in tandem with
DrawSprocket.

SPEECHSPROCKET

Based on Apple's PlainTalk technology, this API allows developers to easily
include high-quality speech recognition in their game titles.

QUICKDRAW 3D RAVE

Recently announced as the first component of Apple Game Sprockets, RAVE
enables developers to transparently access 3D graphics accelerators for
maximum speed and throughput while also providing exceptional 3D rendering
speed in software. RAVE lets game developers leverage their existing
rendering technologies--a key issue for vendors seeking to differentiate
their content. RAVE is shipping now for Power Macintosh and Microsoft
Windows 95, with a Windows NT version due in April 1996.

The initial release of Apple Game Sprockets will be delivered at the
Computer Game Developers Conference on March 31, 1996--a final version is
expected by mid-second quarter. Apple Game Sprockets will be issued via
the internet at http://www.dev.apple.com/games.

Contact Information

Game developers interested in learning more about Apple Game Sprockets
should email Mark Gavini, Macintosh games evangelist, at gavini@apple.com.
Product marketing information may be obtained from Ben Calica, senior
product manager, at calica@apple.com. For more information about home
entertainment solutions, contact Yves Martin, manager for home
entertainment solutions at martin.y@applelink.apple.com.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry
and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on
easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, online
services, and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino,
California, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and
markets products, technologies and services for the business, education,
consumer, entertainment, scientific & engineering and government customer
in over 140 countries.

If you are considering the purchase of an Apple product and would like to
have product information faxed to you, please call 1-800- 462-4396 in the
U.S. or 1-800-263-3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax machine or
would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, please call
1-800-538-9696. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local
Apple representatives for information.

Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/
 
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