Just a quick note: The site will be a bit sluggish today. The server has a lot of sites with E3 news being posted so they're all battling for bandwidth.

Well I've just gotten back from my first day at the E3 Expo and the Tron booth just flat out ROCKED. If you want to see the trailer please download it here (Windows Media Format). I'll post versions in other media formats, and I'll have a full report as well as more pictures up as soon as I can.

It was great to meet everyone else that attended. Hope to chat with all of you soon.

P.S. We'll be having a special give-a-way from Syd Mead's appearance at the booth today... stay tuned. :)

May 20, 2002-- Disney Interactive today announced the PC game inspired by the groundbreaking 1982 cult science fiction film "TRON®." In development by critically-acclaimed Monolith Productions, TRON 2.0 is a story-driven, first-person PC action game that combines the best of the genre with a truly innovative look and immersive game play. Disney Interactive is showcasing the title at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at booth number 846 in the South Hall.

TRON 2.0 for PC unveils state-of-the-art, next-generation 3D graphics and stunning special effects created with the new LithTech(TM) Triton System. The title also features new light cycles, re-designed by Syd Mead, world famous concept designer of the "TRON" film.

"For two decades, Walt Disney's `TRON' has captivated and inspired many in the gaming and CGI community," said Jan Smith, president, Disney Interactive. "TRON 2.0 for PC continues the legacy of the film with a truly unique and engaging story line filled with groundbreaking environments and game play that have never been explored before in games."

"The original `TRON' film was an inspiring expression of a cyberspace universe that was almost limitless in terms of content possibilities," said Jason Hall, CEO, Monolith Productions. "We are not only major fans of the film but are also true game players, and we intend to breathe new and up-to-date life into the world of TRON with powerful technology, visually stimulating environments, and story-driven content."

Inspired by the story and style of the film, TRON 2.0 for PC takes place in the present day, approximately 20 years later. Players assume the role of Jet Bradley, a talented, young computer programmer in search of his missing father, Alan Bradley, creator of the TRON program.

Delving deep into a strange and chaotic digital world, Jet must confront evil forces that are planning to take over the world's computer systems by using his father's human digitization technology.

The quest leads players through danger-filled action in unbelievable locales, such as the Lab Server, Game Grid, Personal Computer, Power Router, Ancient Mainframe, Internet City Hub, Infected Server, PDA, Database and Firewall. Gamers, armed with an assortment of digital weapons, shields and gadget subroutines, can compete on the legendary Game Grid, contend with deadly programs and circumvent devious obstacles as they travel through settings never-before-seen in PC gaming.

TRON 2.0 for PC will be available in the early part of 2003 for Windows® 98/ME/XP.

Dave Gregory has released the next phase of testing for his new lightcycle game. Many new improvements already! Check it out by going here.

Keep it up Dave!

BBC News has an article about the testing of a solar sailer in space. Notice the picture... look familar? It should.

From Disney Interactive:

------------------------------------------------

Fellow TRON fans. My name is Dave Arnspiger and I work for Disney
Interactive in the Quality Assurance and Testing department. I am also a
member of the Yahoo TRON group under my AOL ID, BlindSpotCIF.

I am writing to you today to find out if any of you are interested in
participating in an event at E3 this year for the TRON 2.0 game we are doing in conjunction with Monolith. We are planning an event featuring Syd Mead at the show and we want some true TRON fans in the audience. If you are interested, please contact me via email at david.arnspiger@disney.com and I will help you to obtain passes to E3 for the event.

The details are:

DI TRON 2.0 E3 Event
Wednesday, May 22nd
Los Angeles Convention Center

We can only provide you with passes to get into the show and we ask that you be at our booth during the event. Otherwise you can roam the show and check out the new games coming out in 2002 and 2003. If you are a gamer you will love it. I can tell you that as a true TRON fan, you will love our booth too!

I will provide more details to those who write to me and can confirm their
attendance. Get back to me soon. Thanks!

David Arnspiger
Senior Manager, Quality Assurance
Disney Interactive

Email: david.arnspiger@disney.com

------------------------------------------------

More information as we know it. If you live in LA or nearby, email me as I will be attending the event.

LITHTECH INTRODUCES THE LITHTECH TRITON SYSTEM, THE POWER BEHIND TRON 2.0

"Walt Disney's TRON was one of the first movies to truly explore the link between the digital and real world," said Francois Robillard, vice president of production at Disney Interactive. "We are looking forward to seeing that vision taken to the next level through the LithTech Triton System. The effects generated by this system should make the strange, alternate world of a computer visually rich and immersive."

Read the entire press release here.

"Monolith and Disney will be giving us all a chance to digitize and jump into an upgraded version of the magical world we glimpsed 20 years ago."

Head over to IGN.com and check out the article and some images!

The June 2002 issue of PC Gamer has hit the shelves! "The next Big Thing in first-person shooters may just be TRON 2.0. Find out the story with the new light cycles, what happened to the MCP, who this Jet kid is, and all the info you can download."

See PCGamer.com for more info.

For those of you that may not be aware. Suncoast Motion Picture Company has the 20th Anniversary Tron toys that NECA has put out. I was able to find all the figures and cycles, so if you're lookng for them, that's the place to go. Cost me a lot less than eBay, that's for sure.

A Tron skin has been released by Jeff Adams "Lehm" for LucasArts Jedi Knight II. It's his first pass at it and is a great start. You can find the file for download over at jediknightii.net.

An article has been posted to the Production section that has some background information on Triple-I, the company that generated the CGI images of Sark's Carrier, the Solar Sailer and the MCP, and information on the Foonly F-1 computer that they used to render the images. Most of the information in the article is from two men who worked with the F-1. Click here to go directly to the article.

The June, 2002 issue of PC Gamer will have a feature article on the new TRON game. From the makers of No One Lives Forever, TRON 2.0, The disc, the light cycles - the new sci-fi shooter!. Thanks to "The Antiwesley" for the image!

Check PCGamer.com for updates.

Take a look about half way down the page at the carpet sample : Neon Carpets

Or, here is a direct link to a larger image of the pattern : Tron Sample

I just want to remind everyone that the I/O Forums are operational. Stop in and send a new transmission or reply to others!