3DO now available for Creative Labs customers

October 26, 1994

Creative Technology Ltd. the leading provider of multimedia products for the PC, today introduced the first desktop PC implementation of 3DO’s advanced interactive entertainment technology taking direct aim at the desktop interactive game marketplace.

With the introduction of 3DO(TM) Blaster, Creative is targeting their extensive installed base of CD-ROM users. 3DO Blaster provides PC owners with the ultimate game platform — exciting 3DO games recognized for unprecedented interactive realism, full-motion video, CD-quality audio and three-dimensional sound effects.

“Today’s announcement reflects the efforts of two of the most advanced technology suppliers, Creative Technology and 3DO. The 3DO Blaster provides the advantage of Creative’s and 3DO’s innovation to the installed base of PC’s already using Creative multimedia products,” said Sim Wong Hoo, CEO and chairman of Creative Technology Ltd.

“Creative’s and 3DO’s technologies create an advanced entertainment platform which will enhance the capabilities of PCs, and expand the imagination of users by providing them access to exciting, interactive products that fully exploit the potential of multimedia entertainment.”

Trip Hawkins, president and CEO of The 3DO Company, said today’s announcement enables his company to expand quickly and aggressively into the vast PC market. “Creative is the leading supplier of multimedia products for PCs, providing us with the opportunity to deliver 3DO’s advanced interactive technology to an even broader audience,” said Hawkins.

The Technology

The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (TM) system incorporates twin custom graphics processors, a digital signal processor (DSP) for CD quality soundtracks and three-dimensional sound effects, a 32-bit RISC processor and a video system capable of displaying photorealistic images.

Under an exclusive licensing agreement, Creative has taken this technology and developed a single expansion card that provides similar functionality for a personal computer.

The 3DO Blaster Package

The 3DO Blaster will include two 3DO titles – Electronic Arts’ ShockWave (TM), Tetragon’s Gridders(TM), and the 3DO Interactive Sampler CD2. In addition to the 3DO software titles, included is Aldus PhotoStyler (TM) SE to provide the user with Kodak Photo CD(TM) compatibility. The 3DO Blaster will be available in late October at a suggested retail price of $399.95.

The 3DO Blaster will provide users access to over 125 titles available for 3DO Interactive Multiplayer systems, which include action games, interactive movies, educational titles, simulation games and many others.

System Requirements

3DO Blaster is compatible with a 386 25 MHz (or above) standard PC, and functions as a standard Windows application running on Microsoft(R) Windows (TM) 3.1 or higher. This allows for resizing the gaming window to view games at full screen. Additional requirements include a Creative CR-563 CD-ROM drive, 4 MB RAM, VGA display adapter with feature connector, Sound Blaster™ series audio card with CD-Audio connector and Speakers

Creative Technology Ltd. develops, manufacturers and markets a family of sound and video multimedia products for IBM-compatible PCs. The company’s Sound Blaster sound platform enables IBM-compatible PCs to produce high-quality audio for entertainment, educational, music and productivity applications, and has been accepted as the industry standard sound platform for PC-based software.