REDMOND, Wash., July 17, 1997 — If Rodgers and Hammerstein were alive today, they’d be changing their tune and heading to http://www.microsoft.com/sitebuilder/ .
For millions of Web surfers, “State Fair” will no longer be just the name of a popular musical, but a cyberspace event that offers 3-D fireworks, livestock pavilions, freak shows, food booths, prizes and arcades – everything but the smells of the real thing.
Opening to the public today and running through Aug. 8, Microsoft Corp.’s State Fair marks the software company’s celebration of the first anniversary and phenomenal growth of the Microsoft® Site Builder Network. More than 600,000 independent Web professionals have become Site Builder Network members in its first year. Approximately 40,000 of them visit the site each day to take advantage of Microsoft’s free downloads of new Web technologies (connect-time charges may apply), an online magazine, member newsgroups, and discounts on training, books and related products.
Visitors to the Site Builder Network State Fair can play highly interactive arcade games, raise their own farm animals and interact with a broad range of other state fair-type attractions. The impressive graphics on the main page provide links to more than 20 sites. During the next three weeks, Microsoft expects millions of visitors to attend the unprecedented Site Builder Network State Fair, which can be accessed through the Site Builder Network home page at http://www.microsoft.com/sitebuilder/ .
More than 20 of the Web’s top independent designers have teamed up to produce the Site Builder Network State Fair, using new technologies in Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 to unleash their most creative work. The most innovative sites will be highlighted in a Main Attractions tent at the center of the page. Participating developers include Blue Marble, Digital Evolution Inc., fine.com Interactive Corp., Ikonic, Tvisions and many other top Web development firms.
“Ever since we became one of the first Level 3 Site Builder members, the program has helped enhance our business in almost every way, from providing us with tools and visibility to training that helps us build Web sites our clients love to show off,” said Dan Fine of fine.com. “We are delighted to use the tools and training to put together a site that shows off the best-of-breed Microsoft technology in the fine.com SideShow. And we are delighted to be selected to demonstrate our creative prowess in such a visible environment as the Site Builder Network State Fair.”
“We were astonished at some of the sites that are possible on the Web today using the cool new technologies in Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0,” said Tod Nielsen, group manager, developer relations at Microsoft. “Expect to see the highest standards of Web site creativity – and also expect to just have a lot of fun.”
There’s probably a law somewhere that a state fair can’t be a state fair without livestock; the Site Builder Network State Fair has farm animals, too. All visitors are invited to submit their creations at the Site Builder Network Livestock Pavilion. Prizes will be awarded to the best entries.
Some of the more bizarre fair entries will be found in the State Fair’s Freak Show, which echoes the oddities of old-time carnivals. Freak Show attractions include the Oddities of Nature exhibit as well as Digital Evolution’s House of Genetic Horrors.
“We at Digital Evolution are excited to be a part of this gala as a celebration of the one-year anniversary of Site Builder Network,” said Eric Pulier at Digital Evolution, which created The House of Genetic Horrors, an online, animated version of a carnival freak show. “We have leveraged the power of ActiveX
™
in using our Media Conveyor technology, which energizes Web sites with audio-synchronized animations allowing Web users with standard modems to enjoy unending content streamed at up to 32 frames per second. Very cool stuff.”
State fairs have always been the place to prove one’s strength with a sledgehammer, or test one’s aim in the shooting gallery. The Site Builder Network State Fair brings the fun of real-time interactivity to Internet gaming at the Arcade. Visitors have the opportunity to participate in a Dunking Tank, Fishing Game, Fortune Teller and Shooting Gallery.
In addition to the Arcade area, the Amusement Pavilion is filled with fun and interesting sideshows typical of a state fair, including a Caricature Booth, a Sound and Light Show, an online Clown, and a Dog and Pony Show.
Capping off the festivities will be fireworks displays throughout the state fair’s run. State Fair visitors will be treated to screen-filling, eye-popping animated fireworks, rendered in full
3-D. And visitors to the site can order glasses and T-shirts by visiting the Site Builder Network State Fair Store.
The Site Builder Network is available on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/sitebuilder/ .
For more information on Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and its new technologies, visit http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ie40/ .
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
