Further details surrounding the licensing deal between the Oslo, Norway-based Katz Media A/S and Apple Computer Inc’s Pippin cut-down Macintosh (CI No 2,927) have started to filter through. As the first, but non-exclusive European licensee for the Pippin-derived CD-ROM-based games console, Katz has full responsibility for sales and manufacture of the kit. Parent company Olympia Finans A/S of Oslo has put up the initial sum of $25m, and is looking to raise additional capital via private investors. The company is currently in discussions with three Japanese manufacturers, and vice-president of marketing Tom Virden said he will be visiting Japan within the next few weeks to finalize a deal. Katz hopes to launch in the autumn with about 100 CD-ROM titles, of which only a proportion will be developed in-house. Some titles are currently owned by the company, and Virden said it is actively working with Pippin-Macintosh developers throughout the world to produce a catalogue in time for the launch.
