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From: rjung@netcom.com (Robert A. Jung)
Subject: Atari Jaguar Frequently-Asked Questions
Message-ID: <rjungCKIyJM.M4F@netcom.com>
Organization: Southern California Lynx Enthusiasts
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 1994 02:50:09 GMT
Lines: 636

Unlike the Atari Lynx FAQ, this one didn't go through too many changes, other
than the usual updates and tidbits.

                                                --R.J.
                                                B-)

//////////////////////////////////////|\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
  Send whatevers to rjung@netcom.com  |      If it has pixels, I'm for it.
--------------------------------------+------------------------------Lynx up!
"You weren't chosen because you are the best pilot in the Air Force. You were
    chosen because you are the class clown and frankly, you're expendable."

              _    _  ____  _   _    _ ____
 |||   Atari | |  / |/ ___\| | | |  / |  _ \    Frequently Asked Questions
 |||         | | /  | |  __| | | | /  | |_| |
/ | \     /| | |/ / | | |_ | | | |/ / |  _ <
         | |_| / _  | |__| | |_| / _  | | \\\
          \___/_/ |_|\____/ \___/_/ |_|_|  \\\
                                            \\\
  Created by Robert Jung (rjung@netcom.com), because no one else wanted to.
      Dedicated to ASTEROIDS, for getting me hooked in the first place

Last update: 1/30/1994

==============================================================================

This file is not maintained by, overseen by, endorsed, or otherwise associated
with Atari Corp. or any of its subsidiaries.  It's just a collection of
questions and answers, with a few news tidbits thrown in.

This file is posted on a monthly basis, usually around the first of the month.
It is maintained by Robert Jung at rjung@netcom.com on the Internet.  Send
corrections, news, updates, comments, questions, or other stuff to that
address.  All mail is welcome!

Updates since the last publically posted FAQ have a vertical bar in the first
column.

==============================================================================

Q. What is the Atari Jaguar?

A. The world's first 64-bit home console video game system.  Developed after
   three years of research, manufactured by IBM, the Jaguar offers high-speed
   action, spectacular graphic effects, and CD-quality sound for $250.

==============================================================================

Q. How does IBM fit into this?

A. IBM has a $500 million contract with Atari Corp. to assemble, test,
   package, and distribute Jaguar units.  Manufacturing is done at IBM's
   Charlotte, NC facility, and the Jaguar is IBM's first attempt at producing
   a consumer grade product for an outside vendor.

   IBM has no known participation in the design of the Jaguar.  IBM has no
   plans to create games for the Jaguar.

==============================================================================

Q. Okay, who did designed the Jaguar?

A. Details are murky.  Atari claims that the Jaguar took over three years to
   develop, and was released because work was progressing faster than
   expected.  Seeing an opportunity to leapfrog the new systems from Nintendo
   and Sega, they decided to bring the machine to light.

   The Jaguar chipset is reportedly co-developed by Flare, a British company
   with ties to Atari, according to Jez San of Argonaut Software.  The
   proprietary chips are manufactured by Toshiba and Motorola.

==============================================================================

Q. What are the specifications of the Jaguar?

A. Physical dimensions:

|      Size: 9.5" x 10" x 2.5"
   Controls: Power on/off
    Display: Resolution up to 800 x 576 pixels (1300+ with additional
               hardware)
             24-bit "True Color" display with 16,777,216 colors
               simultaneously
             Multiple-resolution, multiple-color depth objects (monochrome,
               2-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit) can be used
               simultaneously
      Ports: Cartridge slot/expansion port (32 bits)
             RF video output
             Video edge connector (video/audio output)
               (supports NTSC and PAL; provides S-Video, Composite, RGB
               outputs, accessible by optional add-on connector)
             Two controller ports
             Digital Signal Processor port (includes high-speed synchronous
               serial input/output)
Controllers: Eight-directional joypad
             Size 6.25" x 5" x 1.6", cord 7 feet
             Three fire buttons (A, B, C)
             Pause and Option buttons
             12-key keypad (accepts game-specific overlays)

  The Jaguar has five processors, which are contained in three chips.  Two of
  the chips are proprietary designs, nicknamed "Tom" and "Jerry".  The third
  chip is a standard Motorola 68000 used as a coprocessor.  Tom and Jerry are
  built using an 0.5 micron silicon process.

  - "Tom"
    - 750,000 transistors, 208 pins
    - Graphics Processing Unit (processor #1)
      - 32-bit RISC architecture (32/64 processor)
        - 64 registers of 32 bits wide
        - Has access to all 64 bits of the system bus
        - Can read 64 bits of data in one instruction
      - Rated at 26.6 MIPS (million instructions per second)
      - Runs at 26.6 MHz
      - 4K bytes of zero wait-state internal SRAM
      - Performs a wide range of high-speed graphic effects
      - Programmable
    - Object processor (processor #2)
      - 64-bit RISC architecture
      - Programmable processor that can act as a variety of different video
        architectures, such as a sprite engine, a pixel-mapped display, a
        character-mapped system, and others.
    - Blitter (processor #3)
      - 64 bits
      - Performs high-speed logical operations
      - Hardware support for Z-buffering and Goudraud shading
    - DRAM memory controller
      - 64 bits
      - Accesses the DRAM directly

  - "Jerry"
    - 600,000 transistors, 144 pins
    - Digital Signal Processor (processor #4)
      - 32 bits (32-bit registers)
      - Rated at 26.6 MIPS (million instructions per second)
      - Runs at 26.6 MHz
      - Same RISC core as the Graphics Processing Unit
      - 8K bytes of zero wait-state internal SRAM
      - CD-quality sound (16-bit stereo)
        - Number of sound channels limited by software
      - Full stereo capabilities
      - Wavetable synthesis, FM synthesis, FM Sample synthesis, and AM
        synthesis
    - A clock control block, incorporating timers, and a UART
    - Joystick control

  - Motorola 68000 (processor #5)
    - Rated at 13.3MHz
    - General purpose control processor

   Communication is performed with a high speed 64-bit data bus, rated at
   106.4 megabytes/second.  The 68000 is only able to access 16 bits of this
   bus at a time.

   The Jaguar contains two megabytes (16 megabits) of fast page-mode DRAM.
   Game cartridges can support up to six megabytes (48 megabits) of
   uncompressed or compressed information.  The Jaguar uses 24-bit
   addressing, and is reportedly capable of accessing data as follows:
 
           Six megabytes cartridge ROM
           Eight megabytes DRAM
           Two megabytes miscellaneous/expansion
 
   Compressed cartridge data can be uncompressed in real-time, and can store
   the equivalent to almost 50 megabytes (400 megabits).  Compression is
   performed with JagPEG, an enhanced JPEG image decompression mechanism.

   Other Jaguar features:
   - Support for ComLynx I/O for communications with the Atari Lynx hand-held
       game system and networked multiconsole games (on DSP port, accessible
       by optional add-on connector)
   - The two controller ports can be expanded to support "dozens" of
     controllers
     - Digital and analog interfaces
     - Keyboards, mice, and light guns are possible
   - Expansion port allows connection to cable TV and other networks
   - Digital Signal Processor port allows connection to modems and digital
     audio peripherals (such as DAT players)
   - One megabyte per second serial interface
   - 9600 baud, RS-232 serial port (accessible with optional interface)

==============================================================================
 
Q. Is the Jaguar really a 64-bit system?
 
A. The question is hard to resolve, largely because the definition of what
   constitutes an "N-bit" system has not been set.  Of the five processors in
   the Jaguar, only the object processor and the blitter are "true" 64-bit
   components.  Because the blitter and the object processor are in the Tom
   chip, by extension Tom is a 64-bit chip.  The Jaguar also uses a 64-bit
   memory architecture, according to Jez San of Argonaut Software.
 
   Some say the Jaguar should be considered a 32-bit system, as that is the
   maximum register size in the programmable processors (the 68000, the
   graphics processor, and the DMA sound processor.  Others say the Jaguar
   can be considered a 64-bit system, because 64-bit components are used, and
   the GPU can access 64 bits of data if required.  Again, the lack of an
   agreed-upon definition serves to complicate the issue.
 
   For the record, the opinion of most third party developers and observers
   is that the Jaguar is indeed a 64-bit system.
 
==============================================================================

Q. How can a graphics processor be the CPU?

A. The 64-bit custom graphics chip is a good general purpose RISC unit, but it
   has been optimized for graphics work.  As Rob Nicholson of Handmade
   Software says, "There is no primary processor in the Jaguar.  It's up to
   _me_ which I decide to use depending on the task."

==============================================================================

Q. What kind of special effects can the Jaguar do?

A. The Jaguar is capable of doing the following visual effects:

   - High-speed scrolling (Object Processor).
   - Texture mapping on two- and three-dimensional objects (Tom/Blitter).
   - Morphing one object into another object (Tom).
   - Scaling, rotation, distortion, and skewing of sprites and images
       (Object Processor).
   - Lighting and shading from single and multiple light sources (Tom and
       Blitter).
   - Transparency (Object Processor).
   - "Rendering" up to 850 million one-bit pixels/second (35 million 24-bit
       pixels/second, 26 million 32-bit pixels/second), or 50 million Goroud
       shaded pixels/second.  "Rendering" is believed to mean transferring a
       pixel from a frame buffer to the screen.
   - Sprites of "unlimited" size and quantity.  Realistically, sprites can be
       over 1,000 pixels wide/tall, and the number of sprites allowed is
       limited by processor cycles instead of a fixed value in hardware
       (Object processor).
   - Programmable screen resolutions, from 160 to 800 pixels per line.  The
       resolution can be increased even further with additional hardware up to
       a reported 1350 pixels per line.

==============================================================================

Q. How come the Jaguar claims to have "32-bit" graphics, when 16 million
   colors only need 24 bits for rendering?

A. The additional 8-bits is for programmers to implement whatever visual
   effects may be desired.  Examples cited include Z-buffering (for polygon
   graphics) and an alpha channel (for transparency).

==============================================================================

Q. Okay, get to the meat -- which is better, the Jaguar or the 3DO?

A. Ye Gods, the eternal question.  The popular consensus is that the biggest
   strength of the Jaguar is that it deliveres performance comparable to the
   3DO for a lower price ($250 Jaguar vs. $500-$700 3DO units).  The same
   consensus say the biggest strength of the 3DO is the corporate strength
   behind it: over 300 developers, a consortium of multibillion dollar
   companies, more reliable advertising and promotion, etc.  Whether or not
   this makes the games or the machines any better is (hotly) debatable.

   Best bet, as always, is to try the two machines, see what games you like,
   which system offers them, then decide.

==============================================================================

Q. What's the information on the CD-ROM drive?

A. A double-speed CD-ROM drive has been announced for release in mid-1994,
   with an estimated price of $200.  It is reported that the CD-ROM drive is
   capable of transferring data continuously at 350K per second, or run at
|  normal audio rates of 175K per second.  Access time is reportedly 300-350
   milliseconds.  Storage on a disc is expected to be around 700 megabytes
   (5,600 megabits).  The CD-ROM drive plugs into the Jaguar's cartridge slot
   on top of the machine, and offers a cartridge slot to permit playing
   cartridge or CD games; the cartridge port is accessible while using the
   CD-ROM drive.

   The Jaguar CD-ROM drive allows delivery of full-screen, full-motion video.
   The CinePak video decompression system has been licensed from SuperMac
   Technologies, and permits over sixty minutes of video to be stored on a
   single compact disc at 30 frames a second.  Movie quality pictures can then
   be overlaid on the screen with computer generated graphics if the game
   demands it.  Time-Warner has licensed a library of film clips from its
   movies to Atari for use in Jaguar games.

   The Jaguar CD-ROM is also designed to interface with audio CD, Karaoke CD,
   CD+Graphics and optional Kodak Photo CD.  The system will not be 3DO
   compatible or CD-I compatible.  An optional MPEG2 (Motion Picture Experts
|  Group) compression cartridge will also be available, to allow users to play
   full length motion pictures from CD.

   The latest release date for the CD-ROM drive is middle of 1994.  It has
   been rumored, though, that the unit may be delayed until September 1994, to
   allow more CD games to be ready for its release.

==============================================================================

Q. What's this "Panther" I hear about?

A. Quick history lesson: Sometime in the late 1980s, Atari Corp. was doing
   research and development on "next generation" video game consoles.  There
   were two systems, a 32-bit machine called the Panther, and a 64-bit machine
   called the Jaguar.  It is reported that work on the Jaguar was progressing
   better/faster than expected, so Atari abandoned the Panther to focus their
   energies on the Jaguar instead.

   Reports of development work on the Panther have been whispered since 1988;
   some people have erroneously mistaken those rumors to be about the Jaguar.

   The Panther reportedly was considered a "32-bit" machine by Atari, though
   for reasons unknown.  It featured three chips, consisting of a Motorola
   68000 running at 16Mhz, an object processor called the Panther, and an
   Ensoniq sound processor called Otis, featuring 32 sound channels.  The
   Panther could supposedly display 8,384 colors from a palette of 262,144
   colors, and could display 83,840 sprites of any size simultaneously.

==============================================================================

Q. What do I get when I buy a Jaguar?
 
A. The Jaguar package has a suggested retail price of $250, and contains the
   Jaguar itself, one controller, an AC adaptor, and the game CYBERMORPH.
   There are rumors that a lower-priced package will be made available,
   without the free game, but that information has not yet been confirmed.

==============================================================================
|
Q. Hey!  My Jaguar makes a quiet hissing sound!  What's going on?  Is it
|  dangerous?
|
A. Atari has cited several reasons for the hissing noise, but analysis of
|  disassembled Jaguars reveals that the sound is from the RF generator.  The
|  RF shield has holes in it (ostensibly to help air flow and keep the unit
|  cool), and it is believed that the holes produce the noise.  It is not
|  dangerous in any event.
|
==============================================================================
 
Q. I want something better than RF output from my Jaguar.  What do I do?
 
A. Atari has an adaptor available that gives the Jaguar composite audio/video
|  output.  The price is $24.95.  The S-Video cables are currently
   unavailable.

   If you are willing to build your own, the schematics for the expansion port
|  are as follows:
 
                       Top
| 1   3   5   7   9   11  13  15  17  19  21  23
  _____________________________________________
  _____________________________________________
| 2   4   6   8   10  12  14  16  18  20  22  24
                     Bottom

  4 -  Composite Color          16-  Horizontal Sync (RGB)
  6 -  Ground                   17-  Ground
  8 -  Ground                   18-  Red (RGB)
  9 -  Chroma (SVHS)            20-  Ground
  10-  Luminance (SVHS)         21-  Ground
  11-  Green (RGB)              22-  Ground
  12-  Ground                   23-  Audio (Right)
  13-  Vertical Sync (RGB)      24-  Audio (Left)
  15-  Blue (RGB)
  
==============================================================================

Q. How does the ComLynx port on the Jaguar work? Can I connect my Lynx to it?

A. The Jaguar does not have a ComLynx port per se, but has a ComLynx signal
   on the system bus.  In theory, an expansion port add-on would make the port
   accessible.

   In theory, it would be possible to daisy-chain multiple units of Jaguars
   and Lynxes for multiplayer games.  At the current time, however, no such
   plans are in the works.  Instead, it is seen as allowing Lynxes to be used
   as peripherals: software can be developed to allow Lynxes to be part of a
   Jaguar game as "smart" controllers.

==============================================================================
 
Q. Who are the third-party developers for the Jaguar?
 
A. The following companies have been announced as official developers for
   Jaguar software:
 
     Anco Software Ltd.       Maxis Software         Telegames
     Beyond Games Inc.        Microids               Tiertex Ltd.
     Dimension Technologies   Midnite Software Inc.  Titus Eurosoft
     Ocean Software Ltd.      Tradewest              High Voltage Software
     Rebellion Software       Trimark Interactive    Krisalis Software Ltd.
|    Virtual Experience       U.S. Gold Ltd.         Loriciel U.S.A.
     Silmarils                Millenium              Park Place Productions
     Ubi Soft                 Gremlin Software       Microprose/S. Holobyte
     Accolade                 Virgin                 Interplay
     21st Century Software    Activision             Id Software
     Phalanx Software         Brainstorm             3D Games
|    All Systems Go           Argonaut Software      Euro-Soft
|    ICD Incorporated         Photosurrealism        DTMC
|    Epic Megagames           V-Real Productions     Cross Products(?)
|    Sunsoft                  Domark(?)              Lucasarts(?)
|    Elite                    Infogrames(?)          Br0derbund
|    Origin(?)                Midway/Williams(?)
 
   Also, Atari Games/Tengen has licensed the Jaguar architecture for use in
   future arcade games.
 
==============================================================================
 
Q. What are all of the current Jaguar games available in the United States?
 
A. Current Jaguar Games List:
 
   Title              Players  Publisher      Type
   -----------------  -------  ------------   ---------------------------
|  Crescent Galaxy       1     Atari          Shooter
   Cybermorph            1     Atari          Action/Strategy
|  Evolution:Dino Dudes  1     Atari          Puzzle/Strategy
|  Raiden               1-2    Atari          Arcade
 
==============================================================================

Q. What are the upcoming Jaguar games?

A: Note: These lists are hardly definitive.  It's based on many sources, and in
         some cases, it just might be dead wrong.  Games also often change from
         pre-release to production.

   Upcoming Jaguar cartridge games (? = Uncertain entry):

   Title              Players  Publisher      Type
   -----------------  -------  ------------   ---------------------------
|  Aero the Acro-Bat    1-2    Sunsoft        Action/Platform
   Alien vs. Predator    1     Atari          Action
   Al Michaels          1-2    Accolade/Atari Sports
     Announces Hardball
|  Alone in the Dark     1?    Infogrames     Adventure
|  American Football    1-2    Park Place     Sports
|  Another World         1     Interplay      Action/Strategy
|  Arena Football       1-2    V-Real Prod.   Sports
   Batman: The           1?    Atari?         Action?
     Animated Series
   Battlemorph:          1     Atari          Action/Strategy
     Cybermorph 2
   Battlewheels         1-2?   Beyond Games   Action
   Battlezone 2000       1     Atari          Action/Arcade
   Blue Lightning        1     Atari          Action
   Boogers and Snotnose 1-2?   All Systems Go Platform?
   Brett Hull Hockey    1-2?   Accolade/Atari Sports
|  Brutal Sports        1-2    Telegames      Sports
|    Football
   Bubsy in Claws        1     Accolade/Atari Platform
     Encounters of the
     Furred Kind
|  Car Wars             1-2?   Midnite Sw     Action
|  Casino Royale        1-2?   Telegames      Strategy
   Charles Barkley      1-2    Accolade/Atari Sports
     Basketball
   Checkered Flag II     1     Atari          Sports
   Cisco Heat            1     Atari?         Driving/Arcade
   Club Drive            1?    Atari          Action/Strategy
|  Commando              1     Microids       Action/Strategy
   Cyberpunk City        1     Atari          Adventure
|  Double Dragon 4      1-2    Telegames      Arcade/Action/Fighting
   Doom: Evil Unleashed  1     id Software    Action
|  Dungeon               1?    Atari          Adventure
|  Dungeon Depths        1     Midnite Sw     Adventure
   European Soccer      1-2    Telegames      Sports
     Challenge
   Falcon(?)             1     S. Holobyte    Simulator
   Flashback             1     U.S. Gold      Action/Adventure
   Grand Prix            1?    Microprose     Sports
   Gunship 2000          1     Microprose     Action/Strategy
|  Hosenose and Booger  1-2?   All Systems Go Platform
|  Indiana Jags          1     Virtual Exp.   Action?
   Jack Nichlaus' Power 1-2?   Accolade/Atari Sports
     Challenge Golf
   James Pond 3          1     Millenium      Platform
   Jimmy Connors'       1-2    Atari          Sports
     Tennis
|  Kasume Ninja         1-2    Atari          Action/Fighting
   Kick Off 2           1-2    Anco Software  Sports
|  Mortal Kombat        1-2    Atari          Arcade/Fighting
|  Pinball Fantasies    1-2?   21st Century   Action
|  Phong 2000           1-2?   Phalanx          ?
|  Powerslide            1?    Elite          Action?
|  Robinson's Requiem    1?    Silmarils      Strategy
   Soccer Kid            1?    Krisalis Ltd.  Platform?
|  Star Raiders 2000     1?    Atari          Action
|  Steel Talons          1     Atari          Arcade
   Tempest 2000         1-2    Atari          Action/Arcade
   Tiny Toon            1-2?   Atari          Platform
     Adventures
   Ultimate Brain Games 1-2?   Telegames      Puzzle
|  Ultra Vortex         1-2    Beyond Games   Action/Fighting
   World Cup            1-2?   Anco Software  Sports
|  Zozziorx              1?    Virtual Exp.     ?
   Zool 2               1-2?   Gremlin        Platform

   Upcoming Jaguar CD-ROM games:
 
   Title              Players  Publisher      Type
   -----------------  -------  ------------   ---------------------------
   Battlechess          1-2    Interplay      Strategy
|  Evidence              1     Microids       Action/Adventure
|  Dracula the Undead    1     Atari          Adventure
|  Horrorscope           1?    V-Real Prod.   Adventure?
|  Jukebox               1?    All Systems Go   ?
   Return to Zork        1     Activision     Adventure
   Space Pirates         1?    Atari          Action/Adventure
   Star Trek: The Next   1     Microprose     Adventure
     Generation

==============================================================================
 
Q. How can I reach Atari Corp.?
 
A. Customer Service:         (800) GO-ATARI
   Mailing Address:          Atari Corp.
                             1196 Borregas Avenue
                             Sunnyvale, CA  94089-1302

|  Company spokesman Bob Brodie can be reached by electronic mail on GEnie,
|  via the address "BOB-BRODIE".  E-mail can be sent over the Internet with
|  "bob-brodie@genie.geis.com".

   Interested developers should contact Bill Rehbock at (408) 745-2088.
   Include: Company name, mailing address, phone number, fax number, and brief
   company/personal background relating to software development.  Due to the
   high volume of inquires, information kits are prioritized according to
   background (SNES/Genesis/Computer) of previous titles developed.

==============================================================================
|
Q. Where can I get other information about the Jaguar?
|
A. Publications:
|
|  - Die Hard Game Fan               General video-gaming magazine with some
|    18612 Ventura Blvd.             Jaguar coverage.
|    Tarzana, CA 91356
|
|  - Electronic Gaming Monthly       General video-gaming magazine with
|    1920 Highland Avenue            some Jaguar coverage.
|    Suite 222
|    Lombard, IL 60148
|
|  - Gamepro                         General video-gaming magazine with
|    P.O. Box 3329                   some Jaguar coverage.
|    Redwood City, CA 94064
|
|  - Video Games                     General video-gaming magazine with
|    9171 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300  some Jaguar coverage.
|    Beverly Hills, CA 90210
|
|
|  Internet/USENET newsgroups and services:
|
|  - rec.games.video.atari   Contains news of all Atari video-game systems.
|
|  - Jaguar electronic mailing list:
|
|      To subscribe, send e-mail to "listserv@ctrc.idde.saci.org".  In the
|      text of the letter, have a line that reads "subscribe jaguar-l
|      <first-name> <last-name>", where <first-name> and <last-name> are your
|      first name and last name, respectively.  Once you are on the list,
|      send messages to "jaguar-l@ctrc.idde.saci.org"; everyone on the list
|      will receive a copy of your message.
|
|
|  Internet TELNET site:
|
|  - Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
|
|      freenet-in-{a,b,c}.cwru.edu or 129.22.8.51 or nextsun.INS.CWRU.edu
|      Access via modem at (216) 368-3888.
|
|      You can log on as visitor to explore the system and apply for a
|      Free-Net account online.  At the opening menu, enter "2" to log in as a
|      visitor.  At the next menu, enter "2" again to explore the system.  You
|      will then read an opening disclaimer and a login bulletin, then be sent
|      to the main menu.  Once inside, type "go atari".  Follow the menus to
|      read discussions, reviews, news, and information.  In order to post
|      messages and send e-mail, you need a Free-Net account.  Apply for a
|      Free-Net account by entering "1" at the second menu instead of "2".
|
|
|  BBS:
|
|  - Video Game Information Service.
|
|      (201) 509-7324, 300/1200/2400/9600/14400 bps. Multiple lines
|
|      Located in West Orange, New Jersy (USA).  The BBS is completely
|      dedicated to video gaming, and maintains files of cheats and reviews
|      for all game systems.  Carries video-game-related conferences from
|      other computer networks, including Fidonet, Worldnet, and Globalnet.
|
|
|  On-line services:
|
|  - GEnie
|
|      Registered developers can join the Independent Association of Jaguar
|      Developers (IAJD) on the GEnie computer network.  Membership in the
|      IAJD is limited to Jaguar developers registered with Atari Corp.  To
|      apply for membership, send e-mail to ENTRY$ on GEnie.
|
==============================================================================

Q. How is development for the Jaguar done?

A. Jaguar game development environments exists for the Atari TT030 computer or
   an IBM PC/compatable.  Art development can be performed on any machine,
   whether a low-end Apple Macintosh or commercial rendering software such as
   SoftImage.

   Estimated price for a developer's package is $9,000 for the TT030 setup,
   and $7,500 for the PC/compatable platform.  The package includes a Jaguar
|  development unit, documentation, and development/debugging software.
   Software routines packaged with the system include a multi-channel
   polyphonic FM/Wavetable synth; JPEG decompression; video set-up; drawing
   primitives; 3D rendering with gourad shading, texture mapping, and camera
   manipulation.

   The centerpiece of the TT030 deveopment platform is DB, an assembly-
   language level debugging tool.  The Jaguar and the TT030 are connected with
   a parallel cable, and software can be debugged interactively without
   interfering with the Jaguar's screen display.  DB supports the use of
   scripts and aliases, which simplifies the use of complex or common
   functions.

   Atari grants final code approval, but does not see the need to "censor"
   games.  Every game is given one man-month of compatability and quality
   testing before it is approved.  Atari offers technical support via FAX,
   mail, electronic mail and voice.  Atari allows developers to source their
   own cartridges, documentation and shells if desired.

==============================================================================
