Gaming Startups, Acquisitions, and Pioneers [Tech Roundup]

Spawn Labs debuted its Spawn HD Pro box on Monday, a device that allows gamers to play Xbox, PlayStation, and Wii games from an Internet-connected PC. The concept is similar to the Slingbox, which enables people to watch their televisions remotely from their PCs. Company president David Wilson showed off the appliance at the TechCrunch50 conference, explaining that in addition to playing console games from your computer, you can also play against others who also install the Spawn Player application on their computer. Spawn Labs closed a $1 million financing round earlier this month.

The Austin Game Developers Conference opens today, and the Austin chapter of the International Game Developers Association is throwing a party to welcome everyone. The 128-Bit Party Bash is set for 7 pm Thursday at City Hall. There will be food, drinks, and live music, as well as the chance to mingle with game geeks from around the world.

NetQoS, an Austin-based maker of software programs that companies use to identify and repair problems on their computer networks, was bought by CA (Computer Associates) this week for $200 million. The move boosts CA's lineup of software that companies use to manage their networks.

Still think Al Gore invented the Internet? Wrong. As a computer scientist, UT alumnus Bob Taylor initiated the ARPAnet project -- the forerunner of today's Internet -- and has the National Medal of Technology to prove it. Taylor sits down with New York Times reporter John Markoff at 5 pm Thursday to discuss the 40th anniversary of the invention of the Internet as part of the 1910 Society Lecture Series at UT. The event is sold out, but the interview will be available via live streaming on the Web.