Nintendo, Sega and Sony, patron saints of youthful abandon, wove such a hypnotic spell upon the City of Angels that Jay Leno, Regis Philbin, Gary Coleman, Don Bluth, Catherine "Daisy Duke" Bach and Mick "Mankind" Foley were actually upstaged by foul-mouthed squirrels, space babes and rambunctious bandicoots.
Next-generation consoles such as Sony's PlayStation 2, Sega's Dreamcast and a special, behind-closed-doors preview of Microsoft's X-Box took center stage. Under the facade of living room-friendly diversions, manufactuers aim to sneak personal computing and Internet access into the home, banking that Mom and Pop will play with Junior's toys.
And like wolves to sheep, Hollywood can smell there's a killing to be made here. An unprecedented number of products blessed with big- and small-screen affiliations will find their way onto CDs, DVDs and cartridges before the holiday season.
So screw video rentals and outdoor recreation, here's what's really going to be competing for your box-office dollars:
The Blair Witch Project Series: Last year's spectacular low-budge fright fest gets the big-budget treatment in three individual action-adventure games. Coming for PCs later this summer. Dragon's Lair 3-D: Don Bluth's classic animated fantasy adventure, which saved the video game industry in '83, gets a makeover and a more playable slant. Early next year for PCs and Macs. Star Trek: Deep Space 9--Dominion Wars: The Federation and Klingons team up against the Cardassians in an epic game of real-time tactical strategy. Available in October for PCs. Blues Brothers 2000: Scour the Windy City for musical notes with Jake and Elwood in this 3-D Mario-esque platform game. Summer for Nintendo 64. The Mummy: Gamers are cursed with yet another movie inspired action-adventure. Q4 release for PlayStation and Dreamcast. The Simpsons Wrestling: Grapple with Krusty the Clown, Homer, Bart, Apu, Bee Man and other Springfield favorites. Q4 release for PlayStation. Star Trek: Deep Space 9--The Fallen: An action-adventure that pits Captain Sisko, Kiro, and Worf in a race against time to save the galaxy from the coming of Armageddon. Coming for PCs and Macs in September. Planet of the Apes: A cinematic classic becomes an epic adventure. Q4 release on PC, PlayStation and Dreamcast. Daria's Inferno: Solve puzzles and escape from the hell that is Lawndale High in this adventure starring MTV's poster girl for the slacker generation. September release for PCs and Macs. Austin Powers: Mojo Rally: Groovy, baby! Shagmaster supreme Austin competes against Mini-Me, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard and others in comically inclined races. Set to launch in fall for the Dreamcast. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys: Kevin Sorbo gets medieval in a 3-D adventure/RPG hybrid. Arriving Summer 2000 for Nintendo 64. Titan AE:The summer's biggest animated sci-fi feature becomes an action-adventure. Winter for PlayStation. Star Trek: New Worlds: The first 3-D real-time strategy title set in the Star Trek universe. Q4 for PCs. Star Wars Episode I: Super Bomb Racing: Big headed characters from the Star Wars universe mash it up in a lighthearted kart racer. Due Spring 2001 for PCs, Macs, PlayStation 2 and Dreamcast. Star Wars Episode I: Obi Wan: Master swordfighting techniques as you journey with one of the series' most popular characters in a thrilling action adventure hybrid. Coming in Fall for PCs. Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles: An old-schooler brawler goes 3-D when the Jedis declare war on an army of droids. Fall for Dreamcast. Star Wars Episode I: Starfighter: Air to ground and air to space combat take center stage. Arriving in the fall for PlayStation. Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo: Short-range, air-to-ground starfighter combat arcade game. Docking this fall for Nintendo 64. Star Wars: Demolition: Explosive vehicular combat with a rich, sci-fi theme. Fall 2000 for PlayStation. Dinosaur: Kids'll go gaga for the 3-D platform game adaption of Disney's gargantuan summer blockbuster. Fall release for PlayStation. Walt Disney World Quest--Magical Racing Tour: Cruise through real Disney World settings as Mickey, Goofy, Donald or other signature characters. Out now for PlayStation. Coming in summer for Dreamcast and GameBoy Color. Evil Dead: Hail to the King: A cult horror favorite goes digital when the Necromicon summons Ash and some old friends back to the infamous cabin in the woods for one last action adventure showdown. Fall release for the PC, PlayStation and Dreamcast. The Grinch: As the popular anti-hero, you'll attempt to ruin Christmas and stay surly in the process through hours of 3-D platform action based adventuring. Fall for PlayStation. Alien Resurrection: Fend off bloodthirsty aliens and face huggers in first person shooter style. Q3e release for the PlayStation, early next year for the Dreamcast. Dukes of Hazzard: Out-race Rosco and Enos in the General Lee in this spiffy adaptation of the TV show. Out now for PlayStation, coming in summer for N64. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Save Sunnydale from the undead with Sarah Michelle Gellar and crew in a brand new action adventure. Due next year for Dreamcast, PlayStation, and PC. V.I.P.:Pamela Anderson jiggles through an action game with an emphasis on humor over violence. Coming fall for PC, PlayStation, Dreamcast and GameBoy Color. World's Scariest Police Chases: Loosely based on the series, this title is heavy on the racing and shooting aspects. Q4 for PC, PlayStation and Dreamcast.