Scoping Out the ATEI Arcade Show

The ATE International show is coming up next, and there's already talk of what will be there. Here's what we know so far.

MidwayThe company is told to be unveiling Hyperdrive, a top-secret 3DFx futuristic racing game a la the Wipeout series. California Speed and Surf World (see tomorrow's GameSpot News for additional news and art on these two titles) should also be on hand.

NamcoThe ATEI show is rumored to host the debut of Time Crisis 2 on Namco's new System 23 hardware. Rapid River (basically Toobin' 98) and Motocross Go! will appear on the System 22.5 ("not quite System 23" is all they'll say about 22.5 right now).

SegaSega will have a huge showing. Sega's Model 3 Step 2 arcade board is set to appear at the show. Here's a comparison of it with the regular Model 3 board:

Model 3 to Model 3 Step 2 specsCPU: PowerPC 603 vs. PowerPC 603ev Speed: 100 MHz vs. 166 MHzPolygons: 1 million per second vs. 2 million per second

The differences in the CPU will make for a larger cache with lower power consumption, while the polygon output will provide better-looking models, cleaner images, and better collision detection.

The first game to come out on the Model 3 Step 2 was the recently-released Harley Davidson and the L.A.Riders, a motorcycle racing game. Following that will be Sega Rally 2, which is currently close to 70 percent completed. SR2 has four cars ( plus two hidden cars) and four tracks, as well as the possibility of new a handbrake.

Both games will be at ATEI, possibly joined by Virtual On 2, which will run on two Model 3 boards working in unison.

OtherKonami's Fighting Bujitsu and the debut of Racing Jam; SNK's newly revamped Samurai 64 and Road's Edge; and Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom, though probably not Rival Schools United by Fate, though that remains a possibility as well.