"It's set to be a massive, leading-edge game. David Bowie's involvement endorses the quality of the game and the fact that world-wide entertainment stars realize the value of the computer games market as an essential ingredient of the entertainment mix." - Computer game company, Eidos' CEO, Charles Corn- wall, announcing that Bowie is to star in a new game Omikron: The Nomad Soul.
"Since Littleton, this industry has been scrutinized like never before. . . resulting in a portrayal that has not been accurate at all times. . . The concern among politicians is greater than before. This frankly has set us back." - Downbeat assessment of the gaming industry offered by Douglas Lowenstein, president of the Interactive Digital Software Association, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show last week.
"Everyone feels bad about what happened. I don't believe Doom or video games had anything to do with it." - Todd Hollenshead, chief executive of Id Software, the privately held company which developed Doom, speaking at the same trade show. "The video game industry, which is already larger than Hollywood, is poised for even much greater growth as it expands into areas such as education. This is the first generation of people that work, play, think and learn differently than their parents. They are the first generation to not be afraid of technology. It's like the air to them." - Author Don Tapscott also speaking at the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
Monitor compiled by Conor Pope. Page layout by Sarah Marriott. Text-only email to computimes@irish-times.ie preferred (rather than fax, post, phone). No attachments, please. Private correspondence should be marked "Not for publication".