AU8934401A - Simulated game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: SIMULATED GAME APPARATUS

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Applicant: FANTASTIC INTERACTIVE PTY. LTD.

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C C o* The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 SIMULATED GAME APPARATUS The present invention relates to a game of skill which involves swinging a bat, club or the like to "hit" a virtual ball. The present invention will hereinafter be particularly described with reference to a simulated game of golf although it is not thereby limited to such applications. Thus the apparatus of the present invention may be readily modified to simulate related games of skill which involve a swinging bat or club to hit a ball such as badminton, cricket etc.

As will be readily appreciated by persons familiar with the game of golf a successful game is dependent upon a critical orientation of the head of a golf club with the ball at the moment of impact as well as a correct follow through with the club head after impact.

The present invention may provide a means for practicing golf swings in a confined room without the risk of damaging the room or its contentsand without S:i a requirement for open spaces. The present invention may also provide an opportunity for practicing golf swings with different types of golf club.

20 US Patent Specification 4,858,934 ,to Ladick et al discloses a golf practice apparatus including a club member to be swung by a user in simulation of the swinging of a golf club. The club member has a beam of radiation which is intended to be detected by an array of sensors when the club member is swung. The sensors are placed in the vicinity of an "impact" with a simulated 25 golf ball.

However, a disadvantage of the Ladick et al apparatus is that it requires relatively complex hardware including a large array of sensors and associated dedicated electronics to detect and process the beam of radiation and display a result. This makes the apparatus relatively expensive to manufacture and bring to market and is therefore more suited to a specialized or niche market.

Notwithstanding the relative complexity and expense of the Ladick apparatus, it is not readily able to simulate different types of golf clubs or to adjust for users of different sizes eg. children to adults.

W:\marie\GABNODEL\Fantastic.doc An object of the present invention is to alleviate the disadvantages of the prior or at least provide consumers with a choice.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a first member adapted to simulate a golf club or the like. The first member may include an elongate staff or the like and may resemble at least in part the appearance and feel of a real golf club. However, the first member may be truncated in length when compared to a real golf club and in some embodiments may reproduce substantially only the handle portion of a real golf club. In use the first member may be gripped and swung by a user not unlike a golf club.

The first member may include means for producing a beam of radiation. The beam of radiation preferably is arranged to extend substantially parallel to the elongate staff of the first member. The means for producing the beam of radiation may include a source of visible light such as an incandescent or other **light emitting source. The beam of radiation when projected onto a flat surface •may include an image of at least an outline of a head of a golf club. The image may be produced by means of a mask intercepting the beam of radiation. The 20 mask may include a cut out portion which resembles the desired image or outline of a club head. The image or outline preferably includes a straight portion and a curved portion. In one form the image may be semi-circular and may produce a semi-cylindrical beam of light. The straight portion may lead and the curved portion may trail when the first member is swung. The mask S" 25 may be fixed or it may be interchangeable with other masks. The other masks may include images or outlines of the heads of different golf clubs such as a *putter or an iron of a specific size.

The apparatus includes a second member adapted to simulate or represent a golf ball. The second member may include an array of sensor elements for detecting the beam of radiation. The array of sensor elements preferably includes a plurality of trigger elements and a plurality of detector elements.

Each trigger and each detector element may include a light detecting device such as a photodiode. The trigger elements may be arranged in a first linear W:\nrie\GABNODEL\Fantasticdoc 4 array. The detector elements may be arranged in a second linear array. The second linear array may be arranged substantially parallel to and spaced from the first linear array. In use each linear array may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the intended direction in which the first member is swung.

The second member may include a flat base or receptacle such as a mat or the like. Conveniently the sensor elements may be embedded in the flat base or receptacle. In use the flat base or receptacle may be placed on a surface such as a floor with the sensor elements facing up. The second member may be positioned approximately in the same location relative to a user as one would position a real golf ball. A mock up of a golf ball or at least a part thereof may be included on the flat base or receptacle of the second member to enhance subjective experience of the game. The mock up may be positioned between the trigger and detector elements.

To maintain a low cost of the hardware it is preferable to minimize the number of sensor elements. It has been found that an array of as few as 6 sensor elements can be effective to discriminate the shape of the image which is projected onto the array by the beam of radiation when the first member is swung over the second member.

However in order to achieve a low number of sensor elements in a workable apparatus it is necessary to provide a relatively high degree of intelligence to interpret or process data received from the sensor elements. Fortunately such ooooo 25 intelligence can be provided relatively inexpensively via an inexpensive to manufacture software product. The software product may be made compatible ,,•with popular data processing platforms such as personal or desktop computers or the like.

Placement of the interpreting intelligence entirely or substantially entirely in the software product may simplify hardware associated with the sensor elements.

To this end the software product may be adapted to receive raw (ie. essentially unprocessed) data from the array of sensor elements and associated hardware elements.

W:\rnrie\GABNODEL\Fntastlc.dc The hardware associated with the array of sensor elements may be included with the second member. In one form the hardware may include 8 photodiodes and 8 associated operational amplifiers (op amps). The photodiodes may be mounted on the second member in two parallel rows with four photodiodes in each row. One row of four photodiodes may constitute the plurality trigger elements. The other row of four photodiodes may constitute the plurality of detector elements.

The op amps may be provided in an integrated circuit package such as an LM339 which contains 4 op amps in each package. The hardware may be further simplified by dispensing with the power supply for the op amps. This can be done because an op amp package such as an LM339 draws a relatively small amount of current (60 IA) and power for the op amps may be provided via a pin of the parallel port associated with a personal or desktop computer.

Outputs of the op amps may be connected to respective pins of the parallel port to provide channels of raw data to the personal or desktop computer.

The software product may be adapted to continuously poll data from the op S. 20 amps connected to the parallel port. If a change of signal status is detected on any port the software may initiate a scan by sampling the data on all ports. A large number of samples may be taken in a single scan.

The data may be checked for validity. Validity may be checked in several ways.

S 25 For example, when the beam is swung over the sensors a change in signal status should occur in at least one channel associated with a trigger sensor and at least one channel associated with a detector sensor. To minimize reading errors due to stray light or the like it is desirable to modulate the light source associated with the beam of radiation provided with the first member. The beam of radiation may be modulated at a rate between 10 to 20KHz or up to In one form the beam of radiation may be modulated or switched at approximately 36.8 KHz. This will produce a train of pules of approximately 13.6 tS duration each. The software product may expect pulses of W:\marie\GABNODEL\Fantastic.doC 6 approximately 13.6ptS duration and may reject as invalid signals which do not conform substantially to this pulse rate.

It has been found that a relatively accurate reading may be obtained if at least 3 channels associated with trigger sensors and at least 3 channels associated with detector sensors show valid pulse data.

The number and pattern of pulses on the trigger and detector channels is determined by the orientation and path of the radiation image which is swung over the trigger and detector sensors. Because the shape of this image is known (for example the image produced by a semi-cylindrical beam of light inclined normally to the plane of the sensor elements is semi-circular), the software product may determine the orientation (rotation) of the beam or image by fitting a straight line to the leading pulses associated with the trigger or detector channels. The software product may then fit curves to the trailing pulses associated with the trigger or detector channels. Where the radiation image is semi-circular the curves may be conic sections or parts of conic sections (eg. semi ellipses). Where the radiation image is inclined normally to the plane of the sensor elements the curve of best fit may be expected to be a semi-circle. For other inclinations the curve of best fit may be another conic section such as a semi-ellipse. The actual curve selected for a best fit may provide information about the inclination of the beam relative to the plane of the sensor elements.

°oooo 25 The curve of best fit may also provide positional information (translation) of the club image as it passes over the trigger and detector sensors. This may enable the leading ends of the club face to be calculated more accurately. The software product may use the orientation and positional information to calculate the impact offset of the club to the ball.

In a general case the radiation image need not be semi-circular or even a conic section. However it is preferable that the leading edge of the image be substantially straight. The trailing curve of the image may be of any desired contour or shape but preferably intercepts the leading edge at least twice. The W:\marie\GABNODEL\FataSiC.dOC 7 points at which the trailing curve intercepts the leading edge are preferably near the extremities of the image. The interception points are preferably spaced symmetrically relative to a line which passes through a centre position about which the image rotates during a follow through. A simple and symmetrical shape is preferred for the radiation image because it lends itself more easily to curve fitting and may not require a large number of trigger and sensor channels to reliably decode the shape and/or orientation of the image.

The speed of the club head image may be calculated from: the leading edges of trigger and detector channel pulse trains; (ii) the lengths of pulse trains; (iii) the trailing edges of trigger and detector channel pulse trains.

Depending on the quality of the scan, one and preferably all three of the above may be calculated to improve accuracy.

.:i Clubface angle may be calculated from the leading edges of pulse trains. This may be done by fitting a straight line to the leading edges. Follow through angle may be calculated from the vector translation (angle) of the centre position of •20 the club image as it moves between the trigger and detector channels. Note that the centre position is preferably used because the follow through angle is due to rotation of the club image about the centre position.

Backspin of the ball may be calculated from the velocity of the club-head image and the type of club selected in the software. Sidespin of the ball may be calculated from the velocity of the club head image and the clubface angle *o*determined by the curve fitting procedure described above.

Some or all of the above data may be used in conjunction with the known physics to calculate an expected trajectory for the ball. The data and trajectory may be displayed on a monitor associated with the personal or desktop computer.

W:\marie\GABNODEL\Fantastic.doc 8 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for simulating a game of skill that involves swinging a bat or club to hit a virtual ball, said apparatus including: a first member for simulating said bat or club; a second member for simulating said virtual ball; said first member including means for producing radiation which when projected onto a surface provides an image of at least an outline of a head of said bat or club; said second member including an array of sensor elements for detecting said radiation and for generating data indicative of said hit; and means for interpreting said data from said second member including means for determining at least orientation and velocity of said image relative to said array of sensor elements and means utilizing said orientation and velocity for calculating an expected trajectory for said virtual ball.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a :i software product for a simulated game of skill that involves swinging a bat or club to hit a virtual ball, said bat or club being represented by a beam of radiation and said ball being represented by an array of sensor elements, said o9* 20 product being adapted to interpret data from said array of sensor elements produced when said beam is swung such that an image produced by said beam intercepts at least some of said sensor elements, such product including: means for sampling said data from said sensor elements; means for determining at least orientation and velocity of said bat or club 25 as represented by said image relative to said array of sensor elements; and means utilizing said orientation and velocity for calculating an expected o. trajectory for said virtual ball.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1A shows basic elements of a game apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 1B shows a mask associated with a club member; W:\marieGABNODEL\FantastiC.doc 9 Fig. 2 shows a circuit diagram of apparatus incorporated in a base member; Fig. 3 shows a technical scan showing raw data, curve fitting and calculated data for a typical swing of a club member; Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of a software product suitable for use with the apparatus; and Fig. 5 shows a typical screen shot associated with the data in Fig. 3.

Fig. 1A shows the basic elements of a game apparatus including a first (club) member 10, a second (base) member 11 and a personal computer 12.

Computer 12 includes a software product for receiving and interpreting data from the second member. First member 10 includes a handle portion 13 adapted to be gripped by a user not unlike a golf club. First member includes a source 14 of electromagnetic radiation such as an incandescent lamp. A beam of radiation 15 produced by source 14 is focussed onto second member 11 via lens assembly 16. A beam shaping mask 17 is interposed between the source of radiation 14 and lens 16. As a result of the beam shaping, beam 15 casts an image 19 onto second member 11 which resembles the shape of cut out 20 in mask 17 (refer Fig. 1B). To minimize interference from other sources of light, source 14 is modulated electronically at a frequency of 36.8KHz. Second member 11 includes a flat base unit 21 such as a mat or the like and a plurality of radiation sensors 22 embedded therein. Sensors 22 are arranged in two spaced parallel linear arrays as shown.

Fig. 2 shows the electronics embedded in base unit 21 including an array of 25 photodiodes D1 to D8. Diodes D1 to D4 are arranged in a first linear array in *oo which the diodes are uniformly spaced from each other. Diodes D5 to D8 are arranged in a second linear array in which the diodes are uniformly spaced from each other. In one embodiment the distance between the diodes in the first or the second array is approximately 3cm. The first array containing diodes D1 to D4 is spaced from the second array containing diodes D5 to D8 by approximately Diode D1 is connected to the inverting input of op amp U1A via a high pass network comprising capacitor C1 and resistor R4. The output of op amp C1 W:\tnarie\GABNOEL\Fanastic.doc constitutes one data channel. Diodes D2 to D8 are connected to the inverting inputs of op amps U1B to U1D and U2A and U2D respectively, the outputs of which constitute 7 additional data channels.

The outputs of op. amps U1A to U1D and U2A to U2D are connected to the parallel input port of computer 12. Power to op amps U1A to U1D and U2A to U2D is provided via earth and +5V pins respectively associated with the computer parallel input port.

Computer 12 incorporates a computer program product to process the data provided by the outputs of the op amps and to display the result on monitor 23 associated with computer 12. Diodes D1 to D4 are adapted by the software to function as trigger sensors whilst diodes D5 to D8 are adapted to function as detector sensors.

The outputs of op amps U1A to U1D and U2A to U2D (channels) are polled continuously by the software. If a change in the state of any of the channels is detected by the software a scan is initiated of all channels. Because the S"radiation source is modulated at 36.8KHz, it has been found that 150K samples "0 20 is sufficient for a single scan of each channel. The scanned data is checked for validity by ensuring, inter alia, that pulses of the expected modulation rate are received or that a change in state of an output in a trigger channel is followed by e or is associated with a change in a state of an output in a detector channel.

Validity checks can also be made by comparing the results of "speed readings" :i 25 calculated by different available methods and rejecting a scan if the speed S"readings differ by more than an allowable tolerance or error.

Fig. 3 shows data associated with a typical swing of first member 10 across second member 11. In Fig. 3 data samples 30 to 33 correspond to trigger channels associated with op amps U1A to U1D respectively and data samples 34 to 37 correspond to detector channels associated with op amps U2A to U2D respectively. Data samples 31 to 33 and 35 to 37 show pulse trains indicating that diodes D2 to D4 and D6 to D8 were activated during the current swing.

W:\marie\GABNODEL\FantastiC.doc 11 Data samples 30 and 34 show no signal indicating that diodes D1 and D5 were not activated.

The number of pulses in each train represents the duration or total time that a corresponding diode is active. The position of the leading pulse in each train represents the instant of time that the corresponding diode becomes active.

The position of the trailing pulse in each train represents the instant of time that the corresponding diode becomes inactive. Because the positions of the diodes is fixed in space the positions of the leading and trailing pulses provide an indication of the shape of the image 19 which activated the diodes. The positions of the leading pulses of the detector channels are represented in Fig.

3 by the points marked 5, 6, 7 and the positions of the leading pulses of the trigger channels are represented in Fig. 3 by the points marked 1, 2, 3.

By fitting straight lines to the points 1, 2, 3 and 5, 6, 7 as shown in Fig. 3 the orientation (rotation) of the image 19 may be estimated relative to the trigger and detector diodes. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the orientation of the image is 4.32 degrees relative to the trigger diodes and 3.50 degrees relative *00*0 to the detector diodes showing that a small degree of rotation has taken place 20 during follow through.

The positions of the trailing pulses of the detector channels are represented in Fig. 3 by the points marked 5A, 6A, 7A and the positions of the trailing pulses of the trigger channels are represented in Fig. 3 by the points marked 1A, 2A, 3A.

S• 25 Neither the points marked 1A-3A nor the points marked 5A-7A are collinear confirming that the trailing edge of image 19 is not straight.

By fitting curves to the points 1A-3A and 5A 7A as shown in figure 3, the extremities (intersection of fitted straight line and curve) of image 19 may be estimated relative to the trigger and detector diodes. This gives positional information of the club image as it passes across the trigger and detector channels and the impact offset of the club to the ball can then be accurately calculated.

W:\ae\GABNODEL\Fantastic.dOc 12 The positions of the extremities of the image can be used to estimate the centre or pivot point of the image. Translation of the centre or pivot point may be used to estimate the follow through angle as image 19 moves from the trigger to the detector channels. The follow through angle is represented in Fig. 3 by the orientation of pointed arrow'38.

Mask 17 produces a beam 15 which is substantially semi-cylindrical. However, the shape of image 19 is semi-circular only when beam 15 strikes member 11 normally. When beam 15 strikes member 11 at an inclined angle, the shape of image 19 is not circular but is a part of a conic section eg. semi-elliptical.

Because the shape of the "normal" image is known, it may be mathematically distorted to produce a library of curves each of which corresponds to a different angle of inclination ie. when beam 15 is other than normal to member 11. The library of curves may be fitted successively to points 1A-3A and 5A-7A to estimate the angle of inclination which corresponds to the curve of best fit.

The speed of the clubhead image can be calculated from: 1. the leading edges of the trigger and detector channel pulses, 2. the pulse lengths, 3. the trailing edges of the trigger and detector channel pulses.

One or more of these methods may be used to increase accuracy depending on

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the scan. Clubface angle may be calculated from the leading edges of the data pulses. Follow through angle may be calculated from the center positions of the 25 club at the trigger channels and then at the detector channels. Backspin may be calculated from the velocity of the clubhead and the club actually selected from the software product. Ball side spin may be calculated from the velocity of the clubhead and clubface angle.

The software product may include a look up table incorporating data defining a library of different golf clubs eg. putter, iron and size. A club size and type may be selected from the library in any suitable manner and by any suitable means.

The need for additional switches for the purpose of selecting a golf club may be avoided by arranging the software to recognize a stream of steady pulses at W:\marie\GABNODEL\Fantastic.doc 13 one or more of the channels (this may be achieved by holding the clubhead steady over one or more sensors) as an instruction to increment a current club type to the next club in the library.

The software product may further be arranged to include games other than golf, which involve swinging a bat or club to hit a ball. The games may be selected from a library of such games by a means similar to the means described above for selecting club types.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

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Claims (16)

1. Apparatus for simulating a game of skill that involves swinging a bat or club to hit a virtual ball, said apparatus including: a first member for simulating said bat or club; a second member for simulating said virtual ball; said first member including means for producing radiation which when projected onto a surface provides an image of at least an outline of a head of said bat or club; said second member including an array of sensor elements for detecting said radiation and for generating data indicative of said hit; and means for interpreting said data from said second member including means for determining at least orientation and velocity of said image relative to said array of sensor elements and means utilizing said orientation and velocity for calculating an expected trajectory for said virtual ball.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said game is golf and said first S:i member includes an elongate staff that resembles at least in part the o•° o appearance and feel of a real golf club. S

3. Apparatus according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said radiation producing means includes a source of visible light and a mask intercepting said light, said mask including a cut out portion that resembles said outline of said head.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said array of sensor elements includes a plurality of trigger elements and a plurality of detector S°elements. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said trigger elements are arranged in a first linear array and said detector elements are arranged in a second linear array that is substantially parallel to and spaced from said first linear array. W.\mnarie\GABNODEL\Fantastic.doc

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said second member includes a flat base or receptacle such as a mat or the like.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said second member includes at least six sensor elements.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7 including four trigger elements and four detector elements, each trigger element and each detector element including a light detecting device such as a photodiode.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said second member includes not more than six sensor elements. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 further including an operational amplifier associated with each light detecting device.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means for interpreting includes a computer software product. 20 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said software product is compatible with a popular data processing platform such as a personal or desktop computer or the like.

13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said 25 means for determining orientation includes fitting a straight line to data S• associated with a leading edge of said image. *09

14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means for determining orientation includes fitting a curve to data associated with a trailing edge of said image. Apparatus according to claim 14 where said curve is selected from a library of curves defined by conic sections or parts of conic sections. W:\marie\GABNODEL\Fantastic.doc 16

16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said radiation is modulated or switched at a predetermined frequency.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said frequency is approximately

36.8 KHz. 18. Apparatus according to claims 16 or 17 wherein said array of sensor elements illuminated by said modulated or switched radiation produces data in the form of one or more pulse trains. 19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein speed of said bat or club as represented by said image is calculated from at least one of: leading edges of said pulse trains; lengths of said pulse trains; and trailing edges of said pulse trains. 20. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein clubface angle is calculated ,o: o from leading edges of said pulse trains. -e°0* 20 21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said clubface angle is calculated by fitting a straight line to said leading edges. S* 22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 21 wherein follow through angle is calculated from a vector translation of the centre position of said image 25 as it moves between said trigger and said detector elements. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein backspin of said ball is calculated from velocity of said image and type of club. 24. Apparatus according any one of the preceding claims wherein sidespin of said ball is calculated from velocity of said image and clubface angle. A software product for a simulated game of skill that involves swinging a bat or club to hit a virtual ball, said bat or club being represented by a beam of W:\marie\GABNODEL\FaMastic.doc 17 radiation and said ball being represented by an array of sensor elements, said product being adapted to interpret data from said array of sensor elements produced when said beam is swung such that an image produced by said beam intercepts at least some of said sensor elements, such product including: means for sampling said data from said sensor elements; means for determining at least orientation and velocity of said bat or club as represented by said image relative to said array of sensor elements; and means utilizing said orientation and velocity for calculating an expected trajectory for said virtual ball. 26. A software product according to claim 25 including means for checking said data for validity. 27. A software product according to claim 25 or 26 wherein said means for determining orientation includes fitting a straight line to data associated with a leading edge of said image. 28. A software product according to claims 25, 26 or 27 wherein said means for determining orientation includes fitting a curve to data associated with a 000. 20 trailing edge of said image. S 29. A software product according to claim 28 wherein said curve is selected 0 o* from a library of curves defined by conic sections or parts of conic sections. 25 30. A software product according to any one of claims 25 to 29 wherein said *SCCCC S° beam of radiation is modulated or switched at a predetermined frequency such that said data from said array is in the form of one or more pulse trains. 0060 C 31. A software product according to claim 30 wherein speed of said bat or club as represented by said image is calculated from at least one of: leading edges of said pulse trains lengths of said pulse trains; and trailing edges of said pulse trains. W:\lnarie\GABNODEL\Fantastic.doc 18 32. Apparatus according to claim 30 or 31 wherein clubface angle is calculated from leading edges of said pulse trains. 33. Apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said clubface angle is calculated by fitting a straight line to said leading edges. 34. Apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 33 wherein said array of sensor elements includes a plurality of trigger elements and a plurality of detector elements and wherein follow through angle is calculated from a vector translation of the centre position of said image as it moves between said trigger and said detector elements. Apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 34 wherein backspin of said ball is calculated from velocity of said image and type of club. 36. Apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 35 wherein sidespin of said ball is calculated from velocity of said image and clubface angle. i.

37. Apparatus for simulating a game of skill substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. A software product for a simulated game of skill substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. *25 DATED: 8 November 2001 S PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: FANTASTIC INTERACTIVE PTY LTD Q<y96 i p~ e W:\marie\GABNODELFantastic.doc