Press Releases
TEN Surpasses 10,000 Paying Subscribers
Early consumer acceptance validates Internet entertainment business model
SAN FRANCISCO Nov. 26, 1996 With many wondering how the Internet will become a commercial medium for entertainment services, Total Entertainment Network (TEN) (http://www.ten.net) today announced that in less than two months more than 10,000 paying subscribers have registered for its service. Launched in September, TEN is the first commercial Internet entertainment network that allows for nationwide high-speed multiplayer gaming. The company attributes its initial success to superior technology, exclusive hit PC content and a community specifically designed to bring game enthusiasts together.
"Hit PC games delivered over a reliable low-latency network is a new killer application for the Internet," said Jack Heistand, president and CEO of TEN. "We have received a tremendous response from consumers since our commercial launch. TENs early success validates the business model for Internet based multiplayer gaming services and provides a foundation to build a viable subscriber-driven community."
Technology Optimized for Online Gaming
As the performance leader in Internet entertainment networks, TENs national game play delivery system provides the fastest gaming experience from coast-to-coast. Utilizing a star network topology specifically configured to optimize game play, TEN delivers to its subscribers the best nationwide multiplayer gaming on the Internet. The companys network technology prioritizes TENs real-time game traffic to avoid delays from network congestion.
TEN also offers flexibility by allowing members to access TEN from their current Internet Service Provider (ISP). For those without an existing ISP, TEN provides an integrated Internet access solution via Concentric Network.
TEN is also working with Concentric Network to deploy a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to deliver enhanced performance through five regional zones throughout the United States. TENs VPN will leverage Concentrics new architecture and allow subscribers to choose between an unlimited selection of competitors in nationwide game play or higher-performance regional play. TENs VPN will begin its role-out in January 1997.
Unmatched Selection of Hit Games are Available on TEN
With a line-up of eight popular PC titles, TENs roster contains the largest selection of PC games on any Internet entertainment network. Its exclusive games include Duke Nukem 3D (3D Realms Entertainment); AD & D Dark Sun: Crimson Sands (SSI); Panzer General (SSI). Also available are Command & Conquer (Westwood Studios); Necrodome (Mindscape); Warcraft (Blizzard); QUAKE (id Software) and Deadlock (Accolade).
To ensure that TENs collection of content is unrivaled, the company will expand its offering in December with the addition of seven more games: Command & Conquer: Red Alert (Westwood Studios); Big Red Racing (Eidos formally Domark); Master of Orion 2 (Microprose); Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games (SirTech); Duke Nukem 3D Plutonium Pak (3D Realms) (11 new missions); Duke Nukem 3D Atomic Edition (3D Realms) (the original Duke plus 11 new missions) and Diablo (Blizzard). Early next year, TEN will continue to enhance its selection of exclusive games with Blood (3D Realms); Confirmed Kill (Eidos formerly known as Domark); Falcon IV (Microprose); Ground Zero (Freds Friends); Shadow Warrior (3D Realms) and Top Gun (Microprose). TEN will also add the popular title SimCity 2000 (Maxis).
Building a Community on the Internet
TEN offers its thriving community of both novice and expert gamers a place to interact with people with similar interests, play competitors nationwide, form clubs and forums or simply hang out. TEN also allows its members the ability to create individual gaming personalities with a feature called "Member Profiles." To continue to build strong bonds between its community of members, the company recently introduced real-time player rankings. Its exclusive ranking system lets players compete against each other to improve on a personal best or become a national champion. Games supporting rankings include: Command & Conquer and Duke Nukem 3D. Command & Conquer: Red Alert and QUAKE will soon have this option available.
TEN also sponsors exciting, action-packed tournaments and weekly events to bring together gamers with similar interests. Ongoing events include: "QUAKEWars," a weekly Wednesday tournament where the best QUAKE player emerges victorious; "Panzer General Club Nights," a weekly gathering of war game fans every Thursday; and a "Top TEN List," where the best weekly performances are recognized.
TENs Editorial Content and Voice
Further enhancing its members gaming experience, TEN brings together an elite group of editorial gaming minds from publications such as Computer Gaming World and PC Games. Responsible for TENs unique style and tone, these gaming experts with their in-depth understanding of gamers produce editorial offerings to enhance a members overall game-play experience. For example, each game has its own DataSphere, a dedicated area that brings together all the key elements of the gaming experience from strategies, reviews, hints and tips to add-on products to links to other sites, bulletin boards and community news.
To sign up for the TEN service, people can go to http://www.ten.net and download the software or request a free CD-ROM. The CD-ROM can also be requested by calling
415/778-3733. Technical support is available 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week by calling 1/800-8040-TEN. Customer support is available daily 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PST).
TEN recommends a Pentium 90 with Windows 95, 16 MB RAM, 28.8k bps modem and 2X speed CD ROM. The minimum requirements for using the TEN network are 486/66DX2, Windows 95, 8 MB RAM and a 14.4k bps modem.
Total Entertainment Network is the premier entertainment network for game playing consumers on the Internet. TEN has online rights to more than 25 games half of which are TEN exclusives by leading software publishers including 3D Realms Entertainment, Apogee, Blizzard, Eidos Interactive (formerly Domark), id Software, Maxis, MicroProse, SirTech, SSI and Westwood Studios. Based in San Francisco, TEN was formed in 1995 from the merger of Planet Optigon, Inc. and Outland, Inc. TEN received its initial funding from Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, with subsequent investors including: Ameritech; Goldman Sachs; Robertson, Stephens & Co. and Vertex Management.
For More Info, Call
TEN Press Contact:
Garth Chouteau
Tel: (415) 778-3774
Fax: (415) 778-3520
Internet:
garth@tenetwork.com
Copyright 1996
T E Network, Inc.
Total Entertainment Network and TEN are trademarks
of T E Network, Inc.
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