E3 Impressions: Best of Show by Dan "Crash" Crenshaw
	Hardware was pretty mundane for the most part. Nothing amazing. THRUSTMASTER wasn't showing their top of the line HOTAS equipment, instead focusing on the wheel and console controller market. I didn't get a chance to see CH PRODUCTS, but other CSIM writers did and they tell me that USB is becoming a reality. (Ed. Watch for reviews in the next few weeks.) I was impressed with the new software package that SAITEK will be releasing with its USB version of the X36 stick and throttle set. This is going to allow 6 axis control as well as full programmability as it has now. Meanwhile SUNCOM has released their first USB stick and is planning a USB throttle which will solve the issue of their split throttle prohibiting the use of rudders. Hot Stuff What did spark my interest and impress me were the video accelerators. And while the current graphics card eater, FALCON 4.0, is limited ultimately by processor power, many other games will benefit greatly from the amazing strides in video accelerator technology. TNT2 Ultra cards look very exciting. Look for shoot outs and comparisons to VooDoo 3, Savage 4 and the Matrox G400 MAX in the near future. (Benchmark supplied by Ziff Davis.) Here was the shock of the show for me, I was walking by the VIDEOSYSTEM booth and noticed a demo of a game called HARRIER 2001. I was with a graphics artist friend of mine, and the graphics and very realistic blast effects of the Harrier taking off from the deck caught us both by surprise. The kicker was that this thing is being done for Nintendo 64! Click to continue		SUNCOM USB. I did not see a flyable demo to try out, but based on the cut sheet, it will sport more features and looks to be as complete as many entry level PC sims. It is aimed at the arcade shooter market, but with realism features never before seen in a console game. Of course you all know it DOES have multiplayer built in, otherwise I wouldn't have taken a second glance. While I expect Harrier 2001 to be on par with the current offering of games I put in the "SIM LITE" category for the PC crowd. But it may get more folks interested in the flight sim arena which can only lead to more market share. The interesting thing is how it begins to gray the line between console and PC games. Perhaps a glimpse of the future? I should get a copy to review before its 4th quarter release. Now if I can only get my 8 year old to let me borrow her N64 for a few nights … watch out Yoshi, there is a Harrier in town! Spec Ops 2. Training. Look for reviews for all of these items on COMBATSIM in the coming few weeks. Ed. Note: We will also announce TWO previously unannounced simulations in development in the next week. The first is a WWII simulation, and the second is a modern jet sim.
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