NC> The first lots of the G3 Macs definitely are powered by 
 NC> a wimpy ATI chipset, bit of a waste really as the CPU 
 NC> is an absolute beast and the ATI is real slow causing a 
 NC> bit of a bottleneck in the system. :-/
  It might be the Rage II chipset on those rigs.  I don't think there are any 
Mac video cards with the Rage Pro chipset - yet.
 NC> Ah. But will Hasbro/Project X get a conversion. I 
 NC> wonder. :) 
  Maybe... based on what the Project X machine is supposed to do, Quake II 
would be an excellent showcase.  If it's everything they claim, it'll handle 
640x480 and 24-bit colour without a hitch.
 NC> So what does bump mapping actually mean exactly? :)
  In essence, it adds "depth" to textures by adding shading to specific 
points on the texture.  I think those points either A) depend on the colour 
and brightness values and are handled dynamically, or B) are pre-coded in the 
textures.  If you've got Web access, try looking for Trinity (and/or Quake 3) 
related sites; one of them has a logo which uses bump-mapping when you move 
your mouse over it.  Also, if you ever get a Voodoo 2 board, 3Dfx has a 
bump-mapping demo available.
  This reminds me... something I've actually been impressed with on the PSX 
is Gran Turismo.  Ever seen video of it?  Not only does it have nice physics 
and loads of gameplay options, but the car bodies actually reflect the light 
from the sun, tunnel lights, and so on as they pass by!  I hope they do a PC 
conversion.  :-)
 NC> I'd love to! Ain't it all big mountains, green lush 
 NC> forests and lots of snow in the winter? 
  In some places.  BC and Alberta are chock-full of the mountains and 
forests; Ontario and Quebec have loads of their own forests.  The Maritimes 
(the eastern provinces) are generally quite rocky though, and Saskatchewan is 
largely flat prairie.  But we don't always get all that much snow!  BC is 
almost always snowless (except for the mountains, of course) and has 
spring-like temperatures all year.  Around Ottawa (in Ontario) where I live, 
the level of snow varies a lot.  Some years we hardly get any; some years we 
get too much.  But on the whole, it's actually not that bad.
 NC> Thats a bonus. :) Don't you use NTSC tv over there? 
 NC> (Makes the games run 17% faster than on the PAL (uk) 
 NC> tv's) 
  Of course, we use NTSC - otherwise we'd never get American programming 
(which is obviously a plus) or use most American electronic gaming equipment!
 NC> Web browsing, Toca touring car and the occassional 
 NC> flying lesson in MS Flight Simulator. Stuart (the 
 NC> owners son) has a steering wheel and footpedal set for 
 NC> playing the driving games. And he's a real racing 
 NC> driver too, driving a Budweiser car sometime soon, 
 NC> previously been racing Formula Vauxhall cars.
  Well, the computer's having SOME of its power used.  I've played the TOCA 
demo... I kind of liked it, actually!  The graphics are certainly detailed, 
and the physics are real enough.  But the track I played in the demo had 
awfully narrow roads, and the turns were nasty.  That steering wheel would 
certainly help!
  This also reminds me of something... there aren't many good rally games on 
the consoles!  When it comes to racing on them, it tends to be either A) a 
good traditional racer, or B) a bad rally game.  I think it's mainly that the 
PC's more convienient storage method (much less CD use) and more abundant RAM 
are conducive to rally racing.
 
--- Maximus 3.01
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