###################################################
          #                                                 #
          #             AtariNews: On The Prowl             #
          #                  May/June 2004                  #
          #                                                 #
          ###################################################

AtariNews: On The Prowl is back!  It's been three years since the last
issue.  With the return of sites like Jaguar Interactive and even my
own site, The Atarian Atmosphere, I thought it was time to bring back
the newsletter too!  I have decided to go with a bimonthly format,
watch for the next issue on July 1st.  If you have any comments or
suggestions about the return of AtariNews, don't hesitate to email
me, or visit the new Atari News Forum.

http://atarinews.atariansun.com/

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Homestar Runner RPG for 2600 release date pushed back

The release date of Homestar Runner RPG for the Atari 2600 has been
pushed back from May to June of 2004. This is due to the fact that
Paul Slocum has been keeping busy with his band, and will need a
little more time to finish the game.  This is the first official
Homestar Runner video game for a game console. You will be able to
play as Homestar, Homsar, or Strongsad in a large RPG world. If you
would like to find out more, or try the demo, visit the address
below:

-http://www.qotile.net/rpg.html

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Starcat Developments releases Ocean Depths for Jaguar CD

Starcat Developments has released Ocean Depths for the Jaguar CD.
This is the first Atari Jaguar game to have mouse support, and is
fully encrypted to run on all Jaguar CD units. No Bypass cart needed.
Ocean Depths consists of three parts: Ocean Depths, a relaxing
slideshow with music; Eerievale Demo, Playable demo of Eerievale;
JagMIND, a Jaguar clone of Mastermind.  Ocean Depths will be
available through Songbird in May. Stay tuned!

http://songbird-productions.com

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Jaguar Interactive II Lives Again

Jaguar Interactive II, the most well known forum dedicated to the
Atari Jaguar, has returned. JustClaws has managed to solve the server
problems at atarihq.com, and return JI2 to it's former glory. Come on
over, it's time for JI2 to once again become active.

http://www.atarihq.com/interactive/index.shtml

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Back issues of two Atari Times books now available

The Atari Times has just announced that back issues of the 2001 Year
End Issue and the 2004 Compendium are now once again available through
Cafe Press.  They can be purchased for $14 each, with plans to offer
the 2002 Year End Issue, and reprints of the original paper based
newsletters in the near future

http://www.ataritimes.com/

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Midwest Gaming Classic, coming to Milwaukee this May

Midwest Gaming Classic, the biggest electronic gaming convention in
the midwest, is coming to the Brookfield Sheraton in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, on May 22nd and 23rd.  Some of the highlings of the show
include tons of arcade classics, a classic gaming and computer museum,
Multiplayer Lynx gaming, and of course, Tournaments!  Tickets can be
purchased, for $8 to $12, at the Midwest Gaming Classic website.

http://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

NorthWest Classic Games Enthusiasts Expo 2004 next weekend

The Northwest Classic Gaming Enthusiasts will be having their annual
event, NWCGE 2K4, on May 8th and 9th in Seattle, Washington, at the
Holiday Inn at the Seattle-Seatac International Airport.  This show
will be featuring games from Pong to XBOX.  You can play, compete for
prizes, swap games, and meet other gaming fanatics!  Joe Decuir, the
Atari 2600 Hardware Design Engineer, is the honorable guest, and will
be speaking at this years show.

http://www.nwcge.org/

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Handy, the Lynx emulator, is now open source

Handy, the Atari Lynx emulator, is now open source. The program
hasn't been updated since 2002, but has now moved to sourceforge.
With it being open source, other people can customize, improve or
port to other platforms.

http://handy.sourceforge.net/

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

VideoGame Wiz releases Atari 5200 MaxiCart

The A52 USB MaxiCard is a special cartridge that allows loading games
into it using a PC.  This is a great tool for developing and testing,
or even playing, games on the Atari 5200.  You can download the game
from your PC, then plug the MaxiCart into any 5200, and start playing
the game.  You can buy it from Video Game Wiz for $85:

http://www.vgwiz.com/index.shtml

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Stelladaptor 2600 to USB Interface released

Ever wanted to use your Atari 2600 controllers to play emulated games
on your PC?  Now you can!  AtariAge and Pixels Past have teamed up to
release the Stelladaptor.  This small box will connect any Atari 2600
controllers to a USB port on Windows, Macintosh and Linux computers.
They have also worked with the author of z26, the Atari 2600 emulator.
When plugged in, z26 will automatically recognize it.  You can buy it
at the AtariAge store for $29.95:

http://www.atariage.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=267

                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Send any comments or submissions for "AtariNews:  On The Prowl" to:
Brian Gudzevich (Editor) at:  atarinews@...

THE ATARI TIMES ANNOUNCES: BACK COPIES NOW AVAILABLE
April 26, 2004

For immediate release:

WINTER HAVEN, FL - The editor of The Atari Times (www.ataritimes.com)
has announced the availability of the 2001 Year End Issue and the 2004
Compendium at CafePress.com.

Both books include 100 or more pages full of news, features, reviews,
and previews for all Atari home systems that have appeared on the
website. These include articles for the Jaguar, Lynx, 7800, 5200,
2600, home computers, and even the arcade systems. Each book is in
black and white with a wire-o binding and an excellent color cover.

Gregory D. George, editor and writer for The Atari Times commented,
"The moment I ran out of the original run of these books, people were
asking for reprints. Well, your demand has finally been answered!"

Continued Mr. George, "These books have been updated and are better
than ever. I'm greatly pleased with the quality job CafePress.com
offers. The covers are beautiful, the print quality is absolutely
perfect, and the binding is even better than I could have hoped for."

Two more Atari Times books are soon to be released. "The 2002 Year End
Issue will be offered soon and I also have plans to reprint the
original 10 paper-based newsletters into a single book. This will
allow those who missed out on the original runs to finally have the
opportunity to catch up."

The pricing of the 2001 Year End Issue and 2004 Compendium is $14.00.
Both books can be purchased at http://www.cafepress.com/ataritimes
More information about The Atari Times books can be found at
http://www.ataritimes.com/store/books.html

The Atari Times is a web-based newsletter devoted to all Atari game
systems. Updates to the site are on a weekly basis. Visit
http://www.ataritimes.com/ for Atari related news, previews, reviews,
and feature articles.

END PRESS RELEASE

Starcat Developments has announced the immediate availability of a new
Jaguar release called Ocean Depths. Ocean Depths consists of three
separate parts: The first is Ocean Depths, a relaxing slideshow
similar to "Ambient Monsters" on the NUON. The second part is a
playable demo of Starcat's upcoming Jaguar adventure game Eerievale.
And finally, a game called JagMIND is included, based on the original
board game Mastermind. Ocean Depths is a CD release (fully encrypted
so it will play on any Jaguar CD units) in a plastic DVD case. For
more information and to order a copy, please visit Starcat
Developments.

http://www.starcat-dev.de

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
NWCGE Staff
NWCGE_Staff@...

Seattle-Based Classic Video Gaming Show Announces Event Dates and
Location

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - February 16, 2004 - Northwest Classic Gaming
Enthusiasts (NWCGE) is pleased to announce their annual show, NWCGE 2K4,
will be held Saturday, May 8, 2004 in Seattle, Washington.  Come see the
beginnings of the video game industry and how it has evolved from the
early days of Pong and Atari to today's offerings from Nintendo, Sony,
and Microsoft.  In its seventh year, the Northwest Classic Gaming
Enthusiasts Expo is a show dedicated to bringing together video game
fans of all ages to play classic and modern games, meet historical
leaders of the video game industry, and see the latest offerings from
various exhibitors and vendors.  Organized by gamers for gamers, NWCGE
2K4 should be on every video game fan's calendar.

The highlight of past NWCGE expos has been the Annual Northwest Atari
Championships, and this year will be no different.  More than a simple
high-score contest, the Northwest Atari 2600 Championship has become an
annual tradition among local gaming enthusiasts, covering varied skills
from joysticks to paddles, high-score contests to direct head-to-head
combat, all through several rounds of play.  Prizes are given away
throughout the competition and the winner will be declared the Atari
World Champion. As if that wasn't enough, additional contests and prizes
are slated to be conducted throughout the event on various classic
systems. Everyone has a chance to win.

The Seattle area is home to many leaders of the video game industry,
both past and present.  Several of these celebrities have already agreed
to appear at the show and share their views regarding their
contributions to the video game industry.  The show is a wonderful
opportunity to rub shoulders with the very people that have shaped how
we view and play video games today.

The show is also an excellent opportunity to purchase hard-to-find games
from reputable dealers and trade and sell games with fellow gaming
enthusiasts.  In addition, several new games for classic systems will be
released at the show.  Rarities and never-before-seen games have
surfaced at the show in the past.

The show has traditionally been held in small venues with limited
sponsorship.  This year the organizers have decided to host a much
larger event backed by well-known leaders of classic gaming including
AtariAge, Digital Press, Packrat Video Games, the Atari History Museum,
and many more.  This year's event will be held at the Seatac
International Airport Holiday Inn, a modern hotel with many amenities
for attendees and those that wish to stay overnight.

There's no other show like NWCGE 2K4 in the Northwest, and it's sure to
be a must-attend event for gamers of all ages.  For more information,
please visit the NWCGE website at:

http://nwcge.org



About NWCGE
NWCGE and the Annual NorthWest Atari Championship is a non-profit
organization that has been around since 1996. It is the oldest event of
its kind nationwide. It remains the NorthWest gaming industry's only
annual event dedicated to celebrating and preserving the history of
video game entertainment, open to industry pioneers, gaming enthusiasts,
the media and anyone else interested in providing a unique gaming
experience. The NWCGE Expo provides an opportunity to learn, network and
play videogames.

For more information, please visit the NorthWest Classic Gaming
Enthusiasts website http://NWCGE.org

END PRESS RELEASE

# # #

Attend NWCGE2K4 & The Atari 2600 World Championships
May 8 & 9,2004
NorthWest Classic Games Enthusiasts
http://NWCGE.org

Quick Songbird update: the greatly anticipated Alpine Games for the Atari Lynx
is now in stock! Visit http://songbird-productions.com today to place an order
for your copy.

Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird-productions.com


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New games now available or coming soon at Songbird:

ALPINE GAMES for the Atari Lynx - This incredible collection of winter sporting
events, featuring incredible graphics, rich color, and addictive gameplay, will
be in stock early next week. Pre-orders are available now, but not required.

Protector SE + Native Demo CD + JAG-ADS CD - A collection of great products at
a discounted price!

Other new titles now in stock include:

Jaguar Highlander CD
Jaguar Hover Strike: Unconquered Lands CD
Jaguar S-video cables
Jungle Guide #1
Lynx Casino
Lynx Roadblasters
Lynx Robotron
Lynx Rygar
Lynx Super Asteroids / Missile Command
Lynx Super Off Road
Lynx Ultimate Chess Challenge

Visit http://songbird-productions.com to see all the updates to the online
catalog.

Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird-productions.com

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There will be a retro game and computer party on June 19, 2004, at the Trefpunt,
Kerkweg 21, Maarssen, Holland. We have already invited the computermuseum,
classicgaming.nl, retrogames.nl, SNES web, De CVML, The Bonami computer museum,
de Spellenmarkt, HCC Games, HCC MSX, HCC Sinclair, HCC Basic, HCC P2000, HCC
6500 etc. We will try to get all fans and active groups together. Look at this
website for more details: http://commodore-gg.hobby.nl/juni19.htm .

---

We willen op zaterdag 19 Juni 2004 van 10:00 tot 16:00 uur een Retro Game en
computer party organiseren in het Trefpunt, Kerkweg 21 te Maarssen. We hebben
twee zalen gehuurd en alle retro computer groepen, verzamelaars en liefhebbers
zijn dan welkom!

Er zijn uitnodigingen gedaan aan het computermuseum, classicgaming.nl,
retrogames.nl, SNES web, De CVML, het Bonami computer museum, de Spellenmarkt,
HCC Games, HCC MSX, HCC Sinclair, HCC Basic, HCC P2000, HCC 6500 en nog veel
meer. We willen de gehele Nederlandse en eventueel buitenlandse "beweging" bij
elkaar zien te krijgen om er zo een overgetelijk evenement van te maken. Wat
betreft een demonstratie, als het mogelijk is willen we (top) retro computers
tentoonstellen en ook natuurlijk retro games laten zien/spelen. We laten
natuurlijk aan iedereen zelf over of men bereid is spullen mee te nemen en/of
een demonstratie ergens van te geven. Als je zelf ideeën hebt; graag! Ook zullen
we proberen de nodige pers proberen aanwezig te krijgen om een reportage te
maken over deze dag. Er moet natuurlijk nog een hoop gebeuren maar daarom zijn
we er al zo vroeg bij. Kijk voor meer info maar eens op:
http://commodore-gg.hobby.nl/juni19.htm .

THE ATARI TIMES ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF THE 2004 COMPENDIUM

February 3, 2004

For immediate release:

WINTER HAVEN, FL - The editor of The Atari Times (www.ataritimes.com)
has announced the completion of the annual paper-based book titled the
2004 Compendium. A limited-run of copies have been printed to
accommodate the demand.

The book includes 102 page issue of news, features, reviews, and
previews for all Atari home systems that have appeared on the website
over the past year. These include articles for the Jaguar, Lynx, 7800,
5200, 2600, home computers, and even the arcade systems. In addition,
the 2004 Compendium includes nearly 20 pages of previously unreleased
material as well as a color cover.

Gregory D. George, editor and writer for The Atari Times commented,
"As always, it was an exhausting month coordinating the creation of
the book. But I always enjoy working on it!" He continued, "I was very
pleased at the final outcome of the book and the articles included are
some of the best ever."

The pricing of the 2004 Compendium is $14.00 plus $4 for continental
U.S. shipping (outside the continental U.S. air mail shipping is $8.)

More information about The Atari Times 2004 Compendium can be found at
http://www.ataritimes.com/store/compendium.html

The Atari Times is a web-based newsletter devoted to all Atari game
systems. Updates to the site are on a weekly basis. Visit
http://www.ataritimes.com/ for Atari related news, previews, reviews,
and feature articles.

END PRESS RELEASE

THE ATARI TIMES ANNOUNCES THE 2004 COMPENDIUM

January 1, 2004

For immediate release:

WINTER HAVEN, FL - The editor of The Atari Times (www.ataritimes.com)
has announced the upcoming January 31, 2004 release of the annual
paper-based book titled the 2004 Compendium. A limited-run of copies
will be printed to accommodate the demand.

The book will include at least 100 page issue of news, features,
reviews, and previews for all Atari home systems that have appeared on
the website over the past year. These include articles for the Jaguar,
Lynx, 7800, 5200, 2600, home computers, and even the arcade systems.
In addition, the 2004 Compendium will include a minimum of 15 pages of
previously unreleased material as well as a color cover.

Gregory D. George, editor and writer for The Atari Times commented,
"The 2001 and 2002 Year End Issues were wildly successful, and I was
very pleased at the response I received from the readers." On the name
change, George said, "I decided to change the title to more accurately
describe the book and the time when it was released. It seemed funny
to be selling a 2002 Issue all through 2003! Also, this slightly
reduces the workload of postal workers who are already burdened by the
extra load of Christmas deliveries."

The pre-order pricing of the 2004 Compendium is $11.00 plus $4 for
continental U.S. shipping (outside the continental U.S. shipping is
$8.) After January 31, 2004, the price will be $14.00 plus $4
continental U.S. shipping (outside the continental U.S. shipping is $8.)

Continued Mr. George, "As with last year's book, the 2004 Compendium
is seeking sponsors and advertisers to help reduce overall costs. Full
page ads are $30 (includes a free copy), half page ads are $15 (buy a
copy for $10) and quarter page ads are $10. The only requirement is
that the ad be something Atari related. To buy an ad, please contact
me at http://www.ataritimes.com/email"

More information about The Atari Times 2004 Compendium can be found at
http://www.ataritimes.com/store/compendium.html

The Atari Times is a web-based newsletter devoted to all Atari game
systems. Updates to the site are on a weekly basis. Visit
http://www.ataritimes.com/ for Atari related news, previews, reviews,
and feature articles.

END PRESS RELEASE

The incredibly late issue #75 of the 2600 Connection is finally
shipping.  The editor apologies greatly for the delays, and has
boosted the date by a year as a deceitful way of catching up.  :-)

#75 (Nov/Dec 2003) CGE2K3: My Perspective by Lee Krueger, Mental Kombat Review
by Russ Perry Jr, Activision Anthology Review by Mark Androvich, Activision
Anthology: Another Review by Lee Krueger, Jakks Pacific Atari TV Games Review by
Mark Androvich, News & Notes, Letters, Classifieds.
--
//*================================================================++
||  Russ Perry Jr   2175 S Tonne Dr #114   Arlington Hts IL 60005  ||
||  847-952-9729   slapdash@... [NEW!]   VIDEOGAME COLLECTOR!  ||
++================================================================*//

VGS Merchandise now available

For Immediate Release:

November 14, 2003

The Atari Video Club/Jaguar Community United has opened up a store at
Cafepress.com
(http://www.cafepress.com/vgs) to help support the 2004 Video Game Summit.

Products in the VGS Shop are the following:
• VGS T-Shirt (white and ash grey),
• VGS Baseball Jersey
• VGS Baseball cap
• VGS Black Cap
• and a VGS Trucker Hat

(More items might be added before show date so be sure to check it out each
month)
The VGS white T-Shirt and Black Cap will also be available at the show for sale
(limited quantity.)

  Join the Video Game Summit mailing list for updates on the event
(VideoGameSummit-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com)
Visit the VGS website: http://avc.atari-users.net/Events/FestVGS.html
For more information about Video Game Summit contact Daniel Iacovelli at
AtariVideoClub@...

END PRESS RELEASE


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The 2004 Video Game Summit officially announced

For Immediate Release:

October 20th, 2003

The Atari Video Club/Jaguar Community United has announced plans for
the 2004 Video Game Summit.
The date is date: July 17th, 2004 from 9am to 6pm at the same
location we had had last year (Quality inn and Suites
(Heron point building), 645 West North Ave, Lombard, IL 60148)
Our plans for this show will be geared toward to game players because
we will have a game room for players who wish to just bring there own
systems for single and/or network game play.
Also our admission cost will be free to general public, and table
cost will be $15.00 each.

I have set-up a simple form for registration at the VGS website to
fill out (this will entitle you to receive an E-vite depending on the
type of admission (General admission: will ask you the
following: will you attend, #of people attending including you,
type of tourneys you like to see and what supplies you like to bring
(Extra items are welcome incase we are short)
Exhibitor/Vendor (Tables): will ask you the same thing but it include
the information on how to pay either by mail or online ( a pay pal
link is included in the e-vite))

For those who don't want to use the form: Checks or Money Orders
can be sent to:
Video Game Summit C/O Dan Iacovelli 1431 Mandel Ave.
Westchester, IL 60154-3434
Attn: Table payments (make Checks or Money orders payable to Dan
Iacovelli)
Send your Pay pal payments to AtariVideoClub@....
(Your account must be funded by a bank account or have funds in it
already (sorry, no credit cards)) Deadline for table payments is June
26th,2004.

Interested in sponsoring the show, E-mail me at the e-mail address
below use "Sponsorship"for subject and I'll send you the full details.

  Join the Video Game Summit mailing list for updates on the event
(VideoGameSummit-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com)
Visit the VGS website: http://avc.atari-users.net/Events/FestVGS.html
For more information about Video Game Summit contact Daniel Iacovelli
at AtariVideoClub@...

END PRESS RELEASE

Beat the Christmas rush and get your Atari products purchased now! From now
until the end of Thursday, October 23rd, Songbird is offering a Fall
Spectacular Sale on Lynx and Jaguar merchandise. Newer releases such as
Protector SE and CyberVirus are on sale, as well as some timeless classics like
Tempest 2000, Atari Karts, Battlezone 2000, and more.

Check out the below link for a complete list of merchandise.

http://songbird-productions.com/fall2003special.shtml

Note that sale merchandise may be combined with other regular price
merchandise. Offer good while supplies last, and may be terminated without
prior notice.

Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird-productions.com

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NEW Jaguar and Lynx items now available from Songbird:

1. JAG-ADS CD - Nearly 60 minutes of Jaguar commercials archived on a
Jaguar-compatible CD. *

2. Jaguar Painter CD - Incredible new puzzle game, a mix between the arcade
classics Pac-Man and Qix. Limited JagFest Edition available while supplies
last, regular edition also now available. *

3. Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure - The hit sequel to CM2 now available in
cartridge form for the Atari Lynx! Includes 181 Classic CM2 levels as well as
125 brand new Buried Treasure levels.

4. Jungle Guide #1 - 14 professionally-printed, glossy B&W pages of all-new
material covering Breakout 2000, Protector, Protector SE, Lynx Othello, and
Championship Rally. Includes many never-before-seen cheats, strategy guides,
and interviews with the original developers.

5. Many games are back in stock (Lynx Raiden, Jaguar Iron Soldier 2 CD, Jaguar
Zero 5, Phase Zero demo, etc.).

Check out the Songbird catalog and place your order today!

Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird-productions.com

* - A JagFree CD compatible cartridge (such as Protector SE) is required to
play this CD on the Atari Jaguar CD unit.

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VGS Program/Newsletter now available
For Immediate Release:
August 9, 2003

Atari Video Club/Jaguar Community United is pleased to announce that the
Program/Newsletter from the Video Game Summit is now on sale.

The price of the program/newsletter is $2.00(included with the program is the
VGS name tag that was handed out to attendees of the show (limited supply))

The program has most of the articles you see from the past Atari zone issues
(including the Jagfest issues) plus it also has articles that describe the
vendors and exhibitors (like GoatStore.com and SCAT (Suburban Chicago Atarias
users group). Plus the format of the program also give you feel of the layout
of the room of the event.

Also you’ll see ads from the shows sponsors : Atari Age Digital Press, Good
Deal Games, Trade-n-Games, Video Game Connection and Pack Rat Video Games (As
well as an ad from our local sponsor Safari Land in Villa Park, IL).

To order your copy of the VGS Program: mail a check or money order
(payable to Dan Iacovelli) to:
Atari Video Club
C/O Dan Iacovelli
1431 Mandel Ave.
Westchester, IL 60154-3434
Attn: VGS Program

(Or by Paypal(Dan-AVC@...) only if it’s funded by a bank account or if you
have funds in your account already(no credit cards please) for subject use: VGS
program and include your mailing address in the body )

Join the Video Game Summit mailing list for updates on the event
(VideoGameSummit-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com)

For information on the Video Game Summit:
http://avc.atari-users.net/Events/FestVGS.html

End Press Release

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CLASSIC GAMING EXPO - AUGUST 9-10, 2003 - LAS VEGAS, NV

Just wanted to let everyone know everything is lining up to make JagFest @ CGE
one of the COOLEST events ever! We've got most of the equipment and personnel
lined up for the tournaments and demos, new games are ready for release, etc.
Lots of unreleased games and hardware will be on hand, some for the first time
ever.

The first edition of the (Atari Jaguar/Lynx) Jungle Guide is finished,
including all-new interviews, strategy guides, cheats, and more for Breakout
2000, Protector, Protector SE, Championship Rally, and Othello. Fourteen pages
of professionally printed material on high-quality glossy paper!

Prizes will be given away throughout the show, including a brand new Atari
Jaguar unit, Iron Soldier 2 CD, Jungle Guide #1, and other Lynx and Jaguar
games.

Be sure to wear a Jaguar (or Lynx, or Atari, or Songbird...) T-shirt on
Saturday for the big JagFest picture!

And don't forget to mention JagFest @ CGE when you buy your tickets -- you'll
receive a $5 coupon good at the Songbird table, and get your name entered for
the above door prizes.

See ya there!

Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird-productions.com

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JagFest @ Classic Gaming Expo is less than two weeks away! Atari fans from all
over will converge in Las Vegas at the Plaza Hotel on August 9th and 10th for
what will be the biggest and best CGE ever!

JagFest @ CGE will include demos of the top Jaguar games, tournaments where you
compete head-to-head to claim your prize, and new releases exclusive to the
event for both the Atari Jaguar and Lynx.

Be sure to mention "JagFest @ CGE" when pre-registering or registering at the
door, and you'll receive a $5 coupon good at the Songbird Productios booth,
where tons of Jaguar and Lynx merchandise are available for purchase. Plus,
JagFest attendees will get their names put in a drawing for multiple prizes.

Jaguar fans, bring your Jaguar shirts out in force on Saturday, August 9th, so
we can take a massive group picture for JagFest attendees. Details on
tournaments, picture time, and more available at the show.

This is one Classic Gaming Expo no Atari fan should miss!

Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird-productions.com


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For Immediate Release

July 25th, 2003 -- Sinister Developments is pleased to announce that Jaguar
Painter will be released on CD at this years Jagfest @ Classic Gaming Expo
on August 9-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jaguar Painter is a fast paced retro style arcade puzzle game with 100 brand
new addictive levels to enjoy.

Each level of Painter is a grid which must be fully traversed within a
pre-defined time limit (differs per level) while avoiding the grid monsters
that patrol the grid looking for intruders. Bonus points are awarded for
completing individual boxes and for remaining time left on completion of a
level.

Game Features:
                 Eight Channel Sound System (Four channels of rocking music
and four channels of sound effects)
                 100 brand new challenging levels
                 3D Vectorball menu screens
                 100% assembler coding (68000, GPU and DSP)
                 Runs at full framerate with no slowdowns (50 or 60 frames
per second depending on local video format)

Special Edition Features:
                 Special JagFest Intro screen
                 20 Additional JagFest only levels
                 JagFest Special Edition Box

Jaguar Painter (JagFest Special Edition) will be available at the Songbird
Productions booth for $25.

Gordon Gibson of Sinister Developments will be on-hand to demo the game
during the show.

For more information about Sinister Developments:
Visit www.kewlplace.com/sinister

For more information on the Classic Gaming Expo:
Visit: www.cgexpo.com

SIXTH ANNUAL CLASSIC GAMING EXPO SCHEDULED FOR
AUGUST 9 AND 10, 2003

The Worlds’ Premier Gathering Of Pioneers Of The Video Game Industry
And Fans Of Classic Video Gaming Will Take Place In Las Vegas

VALLEY STREAM, NEW YORK – February 7, 2003 – On Saturday, August 9 and Sunday,
August 10, 2003 classic video game enthusiasts and many of the most famous
pioneers of the video game industry will gather in Las Vegas for the sixth
annual Classic Gaming Expo. At what has become the largest show dedicated to the
preservation of video game history, attendees will get the chance to experience
the rich heritage of video games through exhibits, presentations by the people
who built the industry, and hands-on play of classic games.  Show co-promoters
John Hardie, Sean Kelly and Joe Santulli expect even more industry luminaries
and attendees at this year’s event.

“We’re very proud to be organizing the sixth edition of the Classic Gaming
Expo,” said John Hardie, co-founder of CGE Services Corporation.  “Each year the
show has grown in attendance and support from the industry.  We look forward to
our biggest show ever this year and continued growth in the future”

The site for this year’s Classic Gaming Expo will be Jackie Gaughan’s Plaza
Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Highlights of the show will include: presentations
by many of the video game pioneers who built the companies and programmed the
games on which the modern video game industry was established; an incredible
museum exhibit containing rare and influential video game hardware, software and
memorabilia; vendors of classic gaming hardware and software; and the chance to
actually play arcade and home video game systems from the classic era.

Additional information on Classic Gaming Expo is available at CGE Services
Corporation’s Web site: http://www.cgexpo.com .  The site will be updated with
additional information as special events are finalized and guest speaker
attendance is confirmed.

About CGE Services Corporation

Classic Gaming Expo is a production of CGE Services Corporation.  Currently in
its sixth year, Classic Gaming Expo remains the industry's only annual event
dedicated to celebrating and preserving the history of electronic entertainment,
bringing together industry pioneers, gaming enthusiasts and the media for the
ultimate experience in learning, game-playing and networking.

#   #   #

Jayson Hill
Director of Media Relations
Classic Gaming Expo 2003
(978) 922-1059
media@...

JagFest @ CGE Press Release

Get $5 off Songbird table plus a chance to win door prizes!
(Details below)

July 11, 2003

For immediate release:

ROCHESTER, MN -- The latest JagFest On Tour stop, dubbed JagFest @ CGE, will be
held during the Classic Gaming Expo on August 9-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
JagFest organizer Carl Forhan had this to say about the event: "We're pulling
out all the stops this year in an effort to create an exciting, memorable
event. Jaguar and Lynx fans will absolutely have a blast at JagFest @ CGE."

Highlighting the event will be several brand new releases for the Jaguar and
Lynx systems. Glenn Bruner, founder of Minuteman Productions, plans to release
his "JAG-ADS" CD for the Jaguar CD at the show. This incredible,
professionally-produced CD showcases nearly 60 minutes of Jaguar-related
footage and commercials, all preserved in the best quality possible.

Songbird Productions announced plans to publish for the first time Crystal
Mines II: Buried Treasure in a cartridge format for the Lynx. This cartridge
contains over 100 new levels for Crystal Mines II as well as all 181 of the
original "classic" levels, and also includes enhanced support for downloading
custom levels into Lynx RAM. "We've taken the work from the CM2:BT CD that was
created a few years ago, and integrated these levels plus dozens more into a
single Lynx cartridge, which makes the game more accessible for the average fan
than having to download levels one at a time to the Lynx," said Songbird owner
Carl Forhan. "Having original CM2 level designer/tester C. Scott Davis on board
really helped this project reach the highest quality standards. The CM2 engine
is so great because you can do so many new things with it that were never
attempted in the original level set."

Other Jaguar developers such as Sinister Developments and Force Design also
revealed plans to either demo or publish several upcoming games at JagFest @
CGE, including an all-new version of Painter, the surprise release Mad Bodies,
and the highly-anticipated Gorf Pluz. Gordon Gibson and Scott Walters will be
on hand to demo and discuss their latest developments. Familiar to Jaguar fans,
but newcomer to the Lynx scene, is German developer Duranik, who plans to have
their Fall 2003 release Alpine Games available for demo on the Lynx. A slew of
other unreleased Jaguar and Lynx games such as Soul Star, Total Carnage, Eye of
the Beholder, and more are planned to be demoed as well.

Not content to let the new releases dominate the show, Carl Forhan has arranged
for some former Jaguar developers to be present for JagFest @ CGE, including
Eric Nofsinger of High Voltage Software, who has worked on every Jaguar project
at HVS including high profile games such as NBA Jam and unreleased games like
Thea Realm Fighters and Dactyl Joust. Eric fondly described HVS as being
"raised by Jaguars" back in those days, and will be presenting a keynote speech
on the Jaguar era of HVS. Vince Valenti of JV Games, who developed Towers II
for the Jaguar, will be in attendance as well.

JagFest @ CGE will mark the release of the first installment of the "Jungle
Guide". The Jungle Guide is a series of articles featuring interviews, cheats,
screens, and strategy guides, with a special emphasis on post-Atari games for
the Lynx and Jaguar, all printed professionally on high quality glossy paper.
Each installment will showcase multiple games for both systems; the first
installment will include games such as Breakout 2000 and Championship Rally.
Long-time Atari fan Kevin Manne has been intensely involved with this project
and brought his trademark professional style to making the Jungle Guide a
success. Carl Forhan, who has seen the articles and helped provide some
content, commented "What's neat about these articles is they're not a simple
rehash of existing material. The vast majority of content is brand new,
including screens of hard-to-reach areas, strategy guides which have been
almost nonexistant for these games, interviews with the developers, and so on.
The Jungle Guide will be a must-read for diehard Jaguar and Lynx fans."

In addition, JagFest @ CGE will feature multiple Jaguar and Lynx tournaments. A
Protector SE high score tournament will be validated and recorded by Twin
Galaxies, the official electronic games scoreboard. A two-on-two NBA Jam
tournament is also scheduled, and so is a free-for-all Championship Rally
competition [note to fans: please bring your Lynx and games!]. Tournaments and
prizes may vary based on personnel, equipment, and schedule.

Prizes will be awarded to tournament winners, and door prizes will be awarded
to participating fans throughout the show. To participate in the door prize
drawing and tournaments, and to receive a $5 coupon valid for merchandise at
the Songbird Productions booth, simply mention "JagFest @ CGE" with your online
advance ticket purchase, or at the door when you register for CGE. For more
information on CGE, please visit http://www.cgexpo.com .

Help make the jungle cats ROAR by participating in JagFest @ CGE this year!

Songbird Productions is a premier developer and publisher for the Atari Lynx
and Jaguar. To keep up to date with the latest news at Songbird Productions, be
sure to visit the company web site at http://songbird-productions.com .


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JAGFEST BRAZIL

http://www.macbrasil.com.br/gamesrj/jagfest/

More info: edsongodoysouza@...
marcelo@...

May 18, 2003 - Arena Jogos ­ Rio de Janeiro-BRAZIL


To Atari fans from all over the world, we invite you for the first Jagfest
promoted in South America: The JAGFEST BRAZIL. This event will happen on May
18th (Sunday), featuring the following systems:
ATARI JAGUAR
ATARI LYNX
NUON

Some of the features are:
- All official Jaguar game releases until now, available for playing,
including the most antecipated ones like Battlesphere, Protector SE,
Skyhammer, Barkley Shut Up And Jam and a lot more.
- The first Jaguar Network made in Brazil, with 3 Jag´s connected with
Battlesphere.
- 3 Jaguar Tournaments: NBA Jam T.E. using the Team Tap; World Tour Racing
CD; Battlesphere, using the Network with 3 Jag´s. The winners will receive
prizes gently donated by our sponsors: Songbird Productions, The Goat Store
and The Atari Jaguar Directory;
- A Lynx network, with two consoles.
- 40+ games available for playing on the Atari Lynx, including some rare
titles like Double Dragon, Checkered Flag, Blue Lightining and Battlewheels;
- Demonstration of almost all Nuon games ever made, including Iron Soldier 3
and all the homebrews
- Distribution of promotional material and gifts gently donated from our
sponsors and contributors: Songbird Productions, The Goat Store, The Atari
Jaguar Directory, B & C Computervisions and Go Atari;
- Huge lot of Atari items for sale.

And this is not all: The First Jagfest Brazil will happen inside another big
game event: the third edition of GAMESRJ. This event will feature:

- A 46 computer network for LAN games, with high speed internet link;
- A 140 inch video display running an Xbox;
- TV Gamenews, a television program, will make all journalistic cover;
- Arcade Machines;
- Rare videogame consoles;
- Counter Strike, Fifa 2003, Battlefield 1942 and Warcraft 3 LAN
championship.
- Surprise prizes and gifts.

And a lot more!!!

For the foreigners:

- If you´re interested to come visit our show, please, contact us with some
urgency, by the following emails: edsongodoysouza@... and
marcelo@...
- All foreigners enters the event for free.
- A hosting program will shelter the foreigners.

Best regards

Edson Godoy
ICQ 94396100

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus

The Songbird web site has had some significant downtime over the past two
months, but we're happy to report everything is up and running smoothly once
again!

To celebrate, Songbird is offering some great deals on select games for the
Atari Jaguar and Lynx game systems for just two days only. Visit:

http://songbird-productions.com/limitedspecial.shtml

to see the list of items on sale. Some games, such as fan-favorites Skyhammer
and CyberVirus, have never been offered at a better price!

Offer valid until 11:59pm May 1st; orders must be emailed or postmarked by that
time. Offer valid only for stock on hand. Songbird reserves the right to
terminate this special early on some or all items if necessary.

Happy Gaming!

Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird-productions.com

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Midwest Classic tickets on sale now!
-- 4/16/03 --

Midwest Classic tickets are now on sale! Snag yourself a ticket to the
premier midwest classic computing, pinball and video game event early to
save yourself time and the hassle of waiting in line for one on June 7th,
when the event comes back to Milwaukee bigger and better than ever!

The location for this years event has been moved from the PieperPower
center to Nicolet High School so that the event has room for lots of
expansion!  Many new and exciting improvements are coming to the Midwest
Classic this year, including at least five pinball machines on free play
throughout the day, $2000.00 worth of prizes, and the chance to win your
very own full-sized arcade machine!

There will be lots to see and do for Atari fans at this years Midwest
Classic!  The Midwest Classic has become a stop for the new Jagfest: On
Tour event, and with it comes new Jaguar developments that will be shown
for the first time ever! Stop by and check out the greatest Jaguar games
ever, and don't forget to try out the Lynx while you are there!  Besides
the Jaguar developments, make sure to try brand new homebrew 2600, 5200,
7800 and Lynx titles!  The Midwest Classic is becoming a showcase for new
games for old systems!

Also, Milwaukee should see the return of linked MidiMaze!  If you thought
that DOOM was the first multiplayer first-person game, you will be in for a
treat when you see a group of Atari STs running the classic
MidiMaze!  MidiMaze tournaments were a cult hit at the Milwaukee
role-playing event GenCon for years, and the game will be making its
triumphant return to Milwaukee at the Midwest Classic!  The final details
of this exciting feature are being put together now!

Of course, you will still be able to do everything that made the event a
real classic last year!  Compete in gaming tournaments, trade games, play
new and old games, hear insightful presentations on the hobby and
more!  There are still tons of surprises that have yet to be announced!

The address for the event this year will be:

Nicolet High School
6701 North Jean Nicolet Road
Glendale, Wisconsin 53217

The Midwest Classic will run from 10am until 8pm.

If you want to reserve a free display table, trading space or homebrew demo
table, you need to purchase your ticket now! After ordering one, simply
email heil@... with your information, and we will set you up!
Please see the official details on the Midwest Classic Web site to see how
to qualify for a free table!

Make sure to visit the Midwest Classic's official Web site at
http://www.midwestclassic.net/ and view the news articles, sign up for the
Midwest Classic mailing list, check out more information on the event, chat
with other Midwest Classic fans and order your tickets!


The Midwest Classic Team
http://www.midwestclassic.net/

I want to welcome all the new Atari fans who have signed up to this list in the
past few days, and take this opportunity to explain the function of this list.

This is a moderated mailing list for Atari fans. Only Atari-related news items
are allowed to be posted to the list, such as announcements on game
conventions, newsletters, new games for old systems (often called "homebrews"),
what former Atari celebrities are doing now, where you can find the
Atari/Infogrames brand nowadays, and so on.

Posts asking where to find/trade/sell games, general chatter, or unrelated
posts will be denied. This helps keep the traffic on the list very low, usually
no more than 3-5 posts per month. All list members are encouraged to submit
Atari news items to the list, however.

In addition, Songbird Productions (producer of games for the classic Atari Lynx
and Jaguar) will occasionally post news and catalog updates to this list. My
web site has been down for almost two weeks, but should be up again in a few
days.

Welcome aboard!

Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird-productions.com

__________________________________________________
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Better late than never!

The insanely late Sep/Oct 2002 issue of 2600 Connection is finally
shipping.

#74 (Sep/Oct 2002) CGE Post-Show Thoughts by Lee Krueger, 5200 Haunted House II
3D Review by Jesse Hardasty, Skeleton Review by Lee Krueger, Atari 2600 Joystick
Costume by Paul Slocum, News & Notes, Letters, Classifieds.

--------------------------------------------------
Ordering information
--------------------------------------------------

Subscription prices for one year (six bi-monthly issues): United States: $9;
Canada/Mexico: $10.50; International (oustide North America): $12 (payment in
U.S. funds please).  I can also accept subscriptions for any number of issues at
the rate of $1.50 (US), $1.75 (CN/MX) or $2.00 (world) per issue.

I will accept cash, but prefer check or money order, payable to: Russ Perry Jr. 
Payments via PayPal are accepted if not from a credit card, and I will also
accept 4 $0.37 stamps per issue for US subs, but like cash, these methods are
not preferred.

The 2600 Connection
c/o Russ Perry Jr
2175 S Tonne Dr #114
Arlington Hts IL 60005

--
//*================================================================++
||  Russ Perry Jr   2175 S Tonne Dr #114   Arlington Hts IL 60005  ||
||  847-952-9729   slapdash@... [NEW!]   VIDEOGAME COLLECTOR!  ||
++================================================================*//

PhillyClassic 4 -- the East Coast Classic Gamer's Event -- is set to take place
this weekend, March 28-30, at the Valley Forge Convention Center.  Be sure to
especially check out the AtariAge booth, which will be featuring a slew of
Atari products including Songbird merchandise for the Atari Jaguar and Lynx.

Prizes, games, fans, and arcade units on free play. What are you waiting for?
Visit http://www.phillyclassic.com today, and make your plans to attend PC4
this weekend!



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* Looking for info on Jaguar emulators, new 2600 homebrews, Atari discussion
boards, and more? Check out the excellent AtariAge site at
http://www.AtariAge.com for all the latest Atari news.

* The JagLink 2 is now in stock at Songbird! This great new device developed by
long-time Jaguar fan Derek Else allows you to link 3 or more Jaguars in a
network for applicable games. Check out http://songbird-productions.com for the
latest catalog. Ordering online has never been easier, simply use the PayPal
shopping cart and your order can be shipped worldwide.

* Watch this space for some new Lynx and Jaguar merchandise coming this summer!

* Due to personal reasons, Songbird will be closed for most of March. I will
attempt to fill orders received this week ASAP, but after that orders will be
held until I'm available again near the end of March.

Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird-productions.com

__________________________________________________
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Atari Video Club to host two
			 US stops of the Jagfest 2003 Tour
For Immediate Release:
February 16, 2003

  Atari Video Club/Jaguar Community United (AVC/JCU) is honored to be hosting
the first two US stops on the Jagfest 2003 tour (AKA Jagfest 2003 "Thriving in
the Jungle ").  First we return to the site of Jagfest 2001, Milwaukee, WI to
be part of Goat Store's second annual Midwest Classic gaming event on June 7th,
2003, then we return to the site of Jagfest 1997, Chicago, IL (actually
Lombard, IL) as we present The Video Game Summit video game trade show on July
12th, 2003. We will have a special Jagfest section at this show as well.

AVC/JCU chairperson, Daniel Iacovelli has stated: "That he is exited that
AVC/JCU is hosting the first two US stops of the tour", He also added: "AVC/JCU
has been involved with Jagfest since 1997 in one way or another, either by
attending the event it self as we did in 1997,1999,2001 and 2002, or by
producing the yearly Jagfest issue of the Atari Zone Fanzine" (AVC was actually
one of the organiziners  in 1997,2001 and 2002)

Jagfest 2003 "Thriving in the Jungle" will demonstrate the Jaguar is still
alive and kicking with numerous hobby game efforts underway nearly a decade
after the Jaguar's first release. Each event will feature demos of lost and
upcoming games, as well as one or more tournaments with prizes for some of the
best Jaguar games out there.

AVC/JCU is need of your help to make these first two US tour stops to be
successful.If you would like to help out with Jagfest @ MWC or VGS (or both)
Please e-mail us at AtariVideoClub@... Use the subject: Jagfest Help and
in your e-mail please state which location (or both) you are interested in
helping, or you can join the Jagfest mailing list which can be done at the
Jagfest website (or either at the Jagfest at MWC site or VGS site).

For information on Midwest Classic visit:
  http://midwestclassic.net
For information on Jagfest at MWC visit:
http://avc.atari-users.net/Events/FestMWC.html
For information on Video Game Summit visit:
http://avc.atari-users.net/Events/FestVGS.html
Visit the official Jagfest website at
http://jagfest.atari.org

End Press Release


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