Page 50 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #4

allow its users easy ac- they would acquire Time- choose the industry standard, Associ-
cess to the web through “...no one Warner as well and be- ated Press, CNN, or New York 1 News.
their service. While come one of the largest How about catching up with the latest
CompuServe would could've imagined media companies. adventures of Bat-Man & Robin, Bat-
support the web as well, that by early 2000, If merged with Time- Man Beyond, Superman, or another
they would mistakenly AOL would Warner, AOL would gain DC hero or villain? The latest issue
charge the web as a announce they direct ownership of all the could be available for download on
premium service, thus would acquire creative and intellectual AOL! What about sports? Do you fol-
making users pay by the properties of a company low Major League Baseball, WCW
hour for something that Time-Warner as with over 78 years of his- Wrestling, or the Na-
AOL would cover as well and become tory. Imagine what tional Hockey
part of their basic ser- one of the largest AOL could do with League? All the
vice plan. With their media properties such latest scores,
basic service plan and as Time-Warner interviews,
their support of the web, companies.” Books & matches,
AOL would go on to Magazines, and results
slowly wrestle control of Time-Warner from all
the Internet away from CompuServe. Interactive, Warner Bros your favor-
With the web craze in full swing by Television & Movies, ite news
the mid 90s, AOL would go on to post Time-Warner Records, sources
record profits with its subscriber base and Turner Entertain- like Sports
soaring past 6 million (Note: In May ment. Illustrated,
2000, the SEC - Securities and Ex- The results could be CNN/SI, and
change Commission - slapped America astonishing, with web users Time-Warner
Online with a $3.5 million fine for finan- benefiting most from this un- Sports may all
cial reporting violations in the fiscal ion. Off hand, the days of logging be available on
years of 1995 and 1996—AOL reported in to various web sites could AOL.
profits for six of eight quarters instead be over. Would you like to An All Too Familiar Looking CD What about
of their actual losses— while competi- read the latest issue of your Internet users
tors like Delphi and GEnie lost money favorite online magazine like who don't sub-
and almost completely faded away.) Fortune, Life, Money, or People? Want scribe to AOL? That may not be a
took everyone by surprise because al- to watch a streaming video of a Warner problem either. Just log on through
most every industry insider expected Bros. movie, television show, or origi- AOL's web page at "www.aol.com" and
Internet companies to continue to lose nal webisodes from Time-Warner you may have access to some of the
money for some time to come. Online? Maybe an interview with your same features that AOL users may
In late ‘96, AOL would revolutionize favorite celebrity about his or her new soon enjoy. You're sure to find some-
the Internet world by offering unlimited movie? How about listening to the lat- thing of interest to you without having
access to the Internet and thus begin est samples of your favorite Warner to surf endlessly. A great deal of infor-
putting the final nails on CompuServe Bros. recording artist? Well, just click mation will be available to you on one
and Prodigy's coffins. By allowing and you're set. There may not be any site even if you subscribe to another
companies to advertise need to remember a Internet Provider.
banners on their service “Someday soon, no dozen screen names and Let's not forget that AOL users will
as a means to offset the passwords to access still have access to all of AOL's regular
loss of hourly charges, matter where you these sites. No more features like Instant Messaging, Digital
AOL would turn the pri- hassles of having to join City, AOL MovieFone, forums and
vate medium into an are on the an e-mail newsletter or message boards. It's almost a “can't
open door medium taking a survey before lose” when you factor in everything this
where any company Information you listen to a new re- merger brings.
could get their message lease. All you have to be What about AOL’s other dealings?
across to millions of Superhighway, all is a member of AOL. AOL agreed recently to work with
Internet subscribers by Would you like to pre- Sprint and other Wireless Services.
simply advertising with roads will lead to view the latest Time- Could you be receiving your AOL e-
AOL. In many ways, it's AOL.” Warner Interactive ar- mail and Instant Messages from any-
just like a radio or televi- cade or home video- where on your cell phone any day
sion station taking ad- game? Through AOL, now? How about accessing AOL in
vertising except the user you could possibly be the your kitchen? AOL and Gateway have
can choose whether or first to test, play, chat, teamed up to bring small Internet appli-
not to bother with it. find hints, and post messages and info ances for your home as early as this
By late 97, AOL would officially be- on any number of new titles coming out coming holiday season. The world is
come the world's largest Internet pro- without the hassle of visiting numerous about to get more AOL from anywhere.
vider when it acquired CompuServe gaming websites. How about possibly One thing is for certain; the merger
from H&R Block (H&R Block would sell playing the game against another between America Online and Time-
CompuServe to AOL and World- member? With over 22 million sub- Warner will create an information and
Comm). No one could've imagined scribers, someone has to be up for a marketing juggernaut! Someday soon,
that CompuServe's parent company challenge at all times of the day or no matter where you are on
would grow tired of its aging Informa- night! the Information Superhigh-
tion Service and sell out to AOL. Then Want the latest news? How about way, all roads will lead to
again, no one could've imagined that being able to select from a few sources AOL.
by early 2000, AOL would announce all from one service? You could

Classic Gamer Magazine Summer 2000 50