Intel Corp formally announced the hardware specification for coin-operated video games based on its brand new Pentium II processor at the Computer Games Developers Conference yesterday in Santa Clara (CI No 3,148). The specification means developers can program arcade games based on the PC architecture, and then more easily converting them for running on a home computer. Intel wants to push the arcade industry into adopting Intel chips and the PC architecture, with the hope of fragmenting current proprietary systems, which require custom software development efforts for each individual system The specification does not target the home PC, but has the added effect of bringing new games software into the home, a spokesperson from Intel commented. With arcade games being compatible with the home PC, they will find their way to the home faster and more games with better effects will be available for the home, it said. The specification, for which Intel wheeled out supporters such as hardware manufacturers Quantum3D, Happ Controls and Hanaho, games software houses Greystone, Interactive Light and Mango Grits, and coin-operated games distributors and operators such as H Betti Industries and the Amusement and Music Operators Association,mobilizes the Pentium II processor, MMX technology, the Accelerated Graphics Port and advanced 3D graphics controllers. The hardware specification calls for a Pentium II processor with 512Kb cache, a high-performance 3D graphics accelerator and arcade-quality controllers. The standard operating system will be Windows 95 in 1997 and Windows NT in 1998. It is available at www.intel.com/ drg.
