Can a testy maker of video games set a standard? Trip Hawkins is staking his reputation on a mysterious new 'interactive' venture

Article Abstract:

William 'Trip' Hawkins, founder of Electronic Arts Inc, believes that video game hardware should be standardized. To that end, Hawkins has formed a new company, SMSG Inc, San Mateo, CA, which will develop technologies and applications for 'interactive multimedia'. Hawkins himself refuses to talk about the new company, but industry observers speculate that Hawkins is designing or building an interactive product to compete with the other such products under development or already on the market. Hawkins's well-known opinions about standardization mean that his reputation will depend on SMSG's success or failure. No one knows whether Hawkins's product will work. According to at least one analyst, Robert F. Kleiber of Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood Inc; Hawkins is involved in a risky enterprise.

Prepackaged software, Coin-operated amusement devices, Computer programming services, Management, Officials and employees, Standard, Standardization, Multimedia technology, Multimedia systems, Electronic Arts Inc., ERTS, Interactive computer systems, Interactive media, New Company, Interactive Systems, Video Game Systems, Hawkins, William, SMSG Inc.

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Nintendo goal: bigger-game hunters

Article Abstract:

Nintendo of America, intent on overcoming a rival, will introduce a new and improved video-game machine at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, on Saturday, Jun 1, 1991. The new game machine, with high-quality sound and sharper graphics, will compete with a system that Sega Enterprises has been selling since 1989. At issue is domination of a market that already is estimated to be worth $4.7 billion, and is expected to grow rapidly. Sony Corp has announced that it, too, plans to enter the video-game business with new products that use CD (compact disc) technology. Nintendo hopes for sales of more than $4 billion in 1991: $2.25 billion from its original Nintendo games; $1.1 billion from its hand-held Game Boy; and $700,000 from its new Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

Product information, Sega Enterprises Ltd., Consumer Electronics Show, Strategic Planning, Product Development, company profile, 1991 AD, Summer Consumer Electronics Show

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Sony, Nintendo's partner, will be a rival, too

Article Abstract:

Sony Corp will enter the video-game business with a game machine similar to Nintendo's latest game player. Sony's machine will play Nintendo's game cartridges and will play games on CD (compact discs) as well. Sony's machine, which was developed in cooperation with Nintendo, will appear on the Japanese market before the end of 1991, and will be introduced in the US sometime in 1992. Sony's machine is expected to cost about $400, which is twice as much as a Nintendo machine. Even though Sony and Nintendo collaborated to develop Sony's product, Sony will be a competitor of Nintendo. The video game market that is at issue is currently estimated to be worth $4.7 billion.

Consumer electronics, Sony Corp., CD-ROM, CD-ROM disks, Market Penetration

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