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Altera Enables ZAPiT Games’ Breakthrough in Interactive, Console-Based Family Gaming
Programmable Logic Drives Innovation in Game Console Market
San Jose, Calif. and Mississauga, Ontario, May 23, 2006—Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR), ZAPiT Games and its research and development partner, Nytric, today announced the choice of Altera’s MAX® II CPLDs to create a first-of-its-kind, highly affordable, interactive entertainment product for family-oriented gaming, the Game Wave game console.
Nytric’s designers used the Altera® device as a bridge between the Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI) disk controller and the media processor in their development of the ZAPiT Game Wave console. This approach allowed a highly cost-competitive consumer product using a standard DVD-player chipset while providing the interactivity essential for simultaneous multi-person game play.
“The design freedom allowed by Altera’s programmable devices let us use standard components to minimize costs, while achieving high-end functionality normally found only in more costly devices,” said Christopher Locke, executive producer at ZAPiT Games. “There were really zero design trade-offs in using the Altera part.”
The ZAPiT Game Wave is a DVD-based game console that hosts up to six players or teams. Unlike other game consoles, Game Wave’s emphasis is on player interaction similar to traditional board games. The system uses up to six wireless remote controls for fast, wait-free interactive play of family-oriented content including trivia, word, casino and “parlor” games. The console also acts as a DVD player.
“Game Wave demonstrates how industry innovators can leverage Altera CPLD solutions to achieve clear product differentiation while reducing their overall bill-of-materials,” said Todd Scott, senior director of Altera’s consumer/broadcast business unit. “Design innovations like this deliver a clear advantage in the price-sensitive consumer marketplace.”
About Altera
Altera’s programmable solutions enable system and semiconductor companies to rapidly and cost-effectively innovate, differentiate and win in their markets. Find out more at www.altera.com.
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Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, the stylized Altera logo, specific device designations and all other words that are identified as trademarks and/or service marks are, unless noted otherwise, the trademarks and service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other product or service names are the property of their respective holder.
Editor Contacts:
Ford Kanzler
Altera Corporation
(408) 544-6846
Email Contact
Christopher Locke
ZAPiT Games
(905) 795-1021
Email Contact
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