Welcome to the May/June 1993 Issue of GEnie's... __ / ) _ _ _ _ / / (_) ( \ / ) (_) / / _ _ _ ____\ \ /\ / / _ ___ ____ / / / )( \_/ ) / __ )\ \/ \/ / / ) / __)/ __ ) / (__ / / \ / / ___/ \ / / / / / / ___/ (______)(_/ \_/ (____) \_/\_/ (_/ (_/ (____) _____ _ _ _ / _ ) / ) (_) / ) / / ) / _____ / / _ _____ ____ / / / / / / / _ ) / / / ) / _ ) / __ ) (_/ / (_/ / / / ) / / / / / / / ) / / ___/ _ (_____/ (_/ (_/ (_/ (_/ (_/ (_/ (____) (_) \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// Editor .............................................. Peggy Herrington Associate Editor ......................................... Donn King Online Editor ........................................ John Peters Contributing Editor ............................ Holly Jahangiri Contributing Editor .......................... Kevin J. McCann Publisher ...................................... Neil Harris ///////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ >>> GEnie INFORMATION NETWORK'S LiveWire ONLINE! <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ May/June 1993 ~ FROM THE EDITOR ............ [FRM] THE GEnie GAMER ............ [GAM] Summer Games o Designing Gamers o Football & Trivia at Their Best [o]SFRT3's Midsummer Tournament o Stellar Operator o The Multi-Player Games RoundTable BUSINESS FRONT ............. [BUS] RoundTable NEWS ............ [ROU] o Read All About It: No Extra o Beer Drinking, 1993-Style o Profile Artist Updated o Bitstream: Just Our Type o The "Spaceport" RoundTable GEnie SPECIAL EVENTS ....... [SPC] COMPUTER FRIENDS ........... [COM] It's Happening On GEnie! [#]Genealogy & History RoundTable THE GEnie GARDEN ........... [GAR] LiveWire Odds & Ends ....... [ODD] [o]A Virtual Arboretum [o]Photo Contests Listed Online in the GEnie Garden [o]RSCARDS Backgammon Tournament FOCUS ON ................... [WIN] FOCUS ON .................. [IBM] Windows RoundTable IBM PC RoundTable FOCUS ON ................... [MAC] FOCUS ON .................. [*S*] Macintosh RoundTable. *StarShip* RoundTable FOCUS ON ................... [APP] FOCUS ON .................. [AST] Apple II RoundTable Atari ST RoundTable FOCUS ON ................... [FLA] LOG OFF ................... [LOG] [o]Commodore FlagShip RoundTable About GEnie & LiveWire [o] = A LiveWire Online Exclusive! [IDX] """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" READING LiveWire! LiveWire has incorporated a unique indexing system """"""""""""""""" to help make reading the magazine easier. To utilize this system, load LiveWire into any ASCII word processor or text editor. In the index you will find the following example: HINTS & TIPS ............... [HIN] Moving Smartly On GEnie. To read this article, set your find or search command to [HIN]. If you want to scan all of the articles, search for [EOA]. [EOF] will take you to the last page, whereas [IDX] will bring you back to the index. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" [EOA] [FRM]////////////////////////////// FROM THE EDITOR / ///////////////////////////////// Summer Games """""""""""" By Peggy Herrington ______ (__ __) / / / / (_/he next time someone looks at you stangely when you talk about going online, drop their chins by mentioning that you get President Clinton's speeches and, in fact, all the White House announcements on GEnie in the Public Forum * NonProfit Connection. Then, after you've explained what a modem is, feel free to validate this shameless name-dropping by typing PF or NPC at any numbered GEnie page prompt. It's a great way to stay "up" on current events. Speaking of games, what's summer without some fun, and what better use for your personal computer than as means of having fun with other people? Anymore, computing is a solo sport only if you want it to be. GEnie's multi-player games provide adventure and relaxation (not to mention fun) for GEnie gamers from coast to coast, and then some. And GEnie has more variety and better quality games than any other service! Playing is easy with the great point-and-click Front End programs pictured on pages 3 through 9, so join the crowd tonight. From space trading to cyberspace, THIS summer's fun is on GEnie. Seeya online! Peggy Herrington Editor ///////////////////////////////////// LiveWire Hint //// / Now you can use the command *UPLOAD to enter long file / / descriptions in all of GEnie's Software Libraries! / / Just remember that the 10-line limit still applies. / ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// [EOA] [GAM]////////////////////////////// THE GEnie GAMER / ///////////////////////////////// o Designing Gamers o Football and Trivia at Their Best o SFRT3's Midsummer Tournament o Stellar Operato o The Multi-Player Games RoundTable >>> DESIGNING GAMERS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Kevin J. McCann ~ ______ / __ ) / / ) / / /__/ / (______/esigning a successful multi-player game is no small undertaking. Unlike PC games where you're done when it ships, good multi-player games continue to evolve after people start playing them. Maintenance, bug fixes and design improvements often entail more work than the original programming effort. No one knows more about multi-player games than their designers, obviously. With that in mind, we spoke at length with some of GEnie's finest to see how they're handling all this. Simutronics David Whatley has been designing games, multi-player and """"""""""" otherwise, as long as he can remember. In 1987, he and Tom Zelinski formed Simutronics. Their mission, then as now, was to create multi-player virtual realities. GemStone II, Simutronic's first multi-player roleplaying game, debuted about a year later. During its day, GemStone II was wildly successful, setting new standards for online fantasy roleplaying endeavors. But its success was moderate compared to that of its successor, Gemstone III, Simutronics' constantly expanding quintessential online fantasy roleplaying game. "We have a large staff of developers dedicated to an online virtual reality," says Whatley. "They literally work day and night to keep the world of Kulthea fresh and exciting." Orb Wars was Simutronics' second offering, and it has proven of great interest to strategists and tacticians. Set in a fantasy environment, players engage in real-time combat with each other by controlling a variety of wizards. Although Orb Wars probably has one of GEnie's steeper learning curves, once mastered it can be an extremely intense experience. CyberStrike, Simutronics' new multi-player offering, boasts the easiest learning curve of virtually all multi-player games to date. It's a result of researching multi-player environments to determine their relative strengths and weaknesses, incorporating those findings in game design. Of CyberStrike, Whatley says, "It's a fast-paced, graphical experience utilizing modern programming techniques that shortened its development cycle dramatically." You haven't lived until you've commanded a CyperPod. Kesmai Kelton Flinn began designing games in college, which was when he """""" conceptualized what would later became Stellar Warrior and Stellar Emperor on GEnie. In 1982, he and John Taylor formed the Kesmai Corporation. The impressive list of multi-player games Kelton has designed for GEnie include the original Stellar games, mighty Air Warrior, and Multi-Player BattleTech. While he feels that his games primarily appeal to simulation fans, Multi-Player BattleTech, an adaptation of Activision's MechWarrior PC game, incorporates strong elements of roleplaying with combative action. "The multi-player elements of BattleTech," says Kelton, "were inspired by Mike Stackpole's novels of the BattleTech universe." Air Warrior grew out of Kelton's interest in flight simulation during college, and presented a formidable challenge to get it functioning smoothly in a network environment. "Almost every aspect of Air Warrior was unprecedented and ground-breaking for the kind of equipment on which it was implemented," he recalls. If you've ever been tail gunner on a bomber manned by a crew spread out from Virginia to Hawaii, you'll appreciate how he managed that challenge. Declining to reveal his favorite multi-player game for fear of being mugged on the Multi-player Games RoundTable by one group or another, Kelton says, "Ultimately, Kesmai designs games we ourselves enjoy playing." AUSI Mark Jacobs of AUSI was in law school when he discovered that his """" true calling came from another side of the bar: designing multi-player games, of course. He began programming while writing briefs and, upon graduation, set up his own electronic multi-user gaming system. Shortly thereafter Mark contracted to bring his multi-player concepts to GEnie. His first venture was Galaxy I, a futuristic multi-player game, while his latest is the popular Dragon's Gate, an extensive fantasy roleplaying game that continues to evolve on a daily basis. "Instrumental to the success of Dragon's Gate has been Darrin Hyrup, my talented collaborator, backed by great support and ideas from by Dave Dickinson, the game's inimitable 'Gamester,'" says Mark, who claims that his own ideas come from the backs of cereal boxes. Always responsive to player input, Dragon's Gate management continues to develop the world of Dragon's Gate -- where you can become a low-flying dragon or a vampire-like creature and work off your frustrations at your leisure. Federation II Leave it to the Brits to make a game of commerce. Serving """"""""""""" as Administration Manager for a British telecomm network in 1986, Alan Lenton realized he had grown weary of the predominantly "hank 'n slash" role-playing scene and decided to develop a different type of game. The result was Federation II, a multi-player space trading game. Fed II's premise has always been to release the creativity in people, but the details have come from suggestions by players. With that in mind, Lenton designed a game that allows high-level players to create planets once they reach the rank of Explorer. These planets are extensions to the game which all players -- provided they can get there -- may enter at will. Lenton says his biggest challenge in bringing Federation II to GEnie was "the different cultural expectations of the American audience. Things that were perfectly acceptable in the United Kingdom were considered horribly gauche to American players." Lenton, like most multi-player game designers, sees a move towards more graphical interfaces, with sound effects rapidly gaining importance. RSCARDS John Weaver of RSCARDS started his programming career by doing """"""" disk-based games and utilities for commerical distribution. His GEnie involvement began as an assistant sysop on a product support RoundTable. This brought his games to the attention of GEnie management, in particular CARDS, a point-and-click graphic solitaire package John had written for the Sanyo MBC-555 and Atari ST. Someone got the idea of melding his graphics with GEnie interconnectivity to create a Blackjack game you could play side-by-side with other GEnie members online at the same time, and John Weaver suddenly became a multi-player games designer. RSCARDS Blackjack was introduced in 1987, and was followed by a serious series of card and board games that include backgammon, checkers, poker, reversi, and chess. Of all the multi-player games on GEnie, RSCARDS sports the greatest number of graphical front end programs; they're available for IBM-compatibles, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari ST, Apple IIgs and the Commodore 128. And, prolific guy that he is, John has even written additional graphical front ends for other multi-player games on GEnie as well! RSCARDS appeals to a broad range of people. Blackjack attracts a fair number of gamblers wanting to brush up on their "system" before tackling Vegas or Atlantic City. Backgammon and chess tend to attract more serious players (including some of the best in the country at tournament time) while poker and checkers appeal to just about everybody. John has a more classic games planned for RSCARDS, as well as enhancing his existing offerings with such features as sound effects. What is Success? As to what makes a multi-player game successful, David """""""""""""""" Whatley of Simutronics feels one thing is for certain. "Successful multi-player games of the future will be those designs that best exploit the human interactivity that this medium -- meaning GEnie -- provides." Games of player conflict will still have a major place in these scenarios, but cooperation is a more rewarding way to interact with other people, and games which emphasize this aspect will find better acceptance. As techniques evolve and the virtual reality market grows, multi-player games are sure to prove to be among the best forms of entertainment around. Multi-player Games Keyword Page Graphical Front-End Programs """""""""""""""""" """"""" """" """""""""""""""""""""""""""" A-Maze-ing A-MAZE-ING 816 * Mac Air Warrior AIR 870 * SVGA, IBM, Mac, Amiga, ST CyberStrike CYBERSTRIKE 1380 * IBM (VGA) Hundred Years War HYW 945 Dragon's Gate DGATE 915 Federation II FED 220 IBM Galaxy I GALAXY 925 GemStone III GEMSTONEIII 930 IBM MultiPlayer BattleTech BATTLETECH 1135 * IBM Nightside Trivia NIGHTSIDE 1032 IBM, Amiga NTN Trivia TRIVIA 1031 IBM, Amiga, ST, Mac Orb Wars ORBWARS 895 IBM, Mac, Amiga, ST, IIGS QB1 QB1 1030 IBM, Amiga, ST RSCARDS RSCARDS 875 * IBM, Mac, Amiga, ST, IIGS, C128 Stellar Emperor EMPEROR 1085 Windows Stellar Warrior WARRIOR 860 IBM, Amiga, ST * Graphical front-end program is mandatory to access the game Classic Single-Player Games GEnie*Basic on Page 803, Keyword CLASSIC """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Adventure 550 Original Adventure Black Dragon Castle Quest Dor Sageth Showbiz Quiz Game RoundTables Keyword Page """""""""""""""" """"""" """" Multi-Player Games MPGRT 1045 Scorpia's Games SCORPIA 805 Computer Game Design JCGD 935 Sports Pool Games POOL 419 TSR TSR 125 SoftWare Club SOFTCLUB 1115 >>> FOOTBALL AND TRIVIA AT THEIR BEST <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Kevin J. McCann ~ ______ (__ __) / / / / (_/he idea for an interactive football game was conceived in the late sixties by Dan Downs, then ticket manager for the Houston Oilers, and Don Klosterman, Oilers' General Manager. They thought it would be fun to wire every seat in the stadium so the spectators could call the plays during the game. At the time, the idea was cost prohibitive, and the technology wasn't there. But with the advent of personal computers and satellites, the idea for QB1 began to take shape in the early 1980s, and the first QB1 game was played during the 1983 Super Bowl. QB1 on GEnie lets you predict what the quarterback will do during live football games, whether he'll pass or run. More complex calls concerning direction and distance can be made, resulting in points if the call was correct. NTN has an exclusive license with the NFL, and both professional and college games are offered. NTN treats GEnie as one of its network locations, and GEnie player compete with all the other players on the hospitality networks, which include taverns, hotels and restaurants across the USA and Canada -- approximately 1,000 locations. NTN has incorporated GEnie's live chat feature, which allows GEnie players to talk during the games, adding a needed social aspect. QB1 graphic front-end programs are available for IBM-compatibles, Atari ST and Amiga computers. A Macintosh front-end is nearing release. Type QB1 at any numbered GEnie page prompt for details. NTN Trivia NTN Trivia players on GEnie seem a bit different from the """""""""" average gamer. Unlike most multi-player games, nobody gets killed. Players also can stop by and play a full game in only 20 minutes. Those who do well in the rankings earn prize points that accumulate each time they play, and can be cashed in for free time and prizes including apparel, televisions, VCRs, cameras, and computer equipment. In the future, NTN hopes to offer additional games and is interested in introducing Trivia Leagues that will allow trivia teams to compete on a regular basis. Type TRIVIA on GEnie to join the fun! >>> SFRT3'S MIDSUMMER TOURNAMENT <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Jenny and Bill Kubeck ~ ____ / ___) / (_ / ___) / (_ (____)ver wished you were a knight in shining armor, defending your honor against all foes? Or a lady in a sumptious Elizabethan gown, dancing with your lord in a candlelit ballroom? Come live those dreams with us in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Roundtable 3's Midsummer Tournament, June 14th through 20th, on GEnie page 472! House of the Brass Lantern Running the tournament will be members of the """""""""""""""""""""""""" House of the Brass Lantern, a group of members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) who have found a virtual home in categories 4-11 of that RoundTable. If it seems a bit odd that the SFRT is hosting a Medieval Tournament, perhaps it will make sense if you know that the SCA was founded some 27 years ago by science fiction and fantasy fans and writers in southern California. Among the better known founders are such noted SF and Fantasy authors as Poul Anderson, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and Diana Paxson. Members of the SCA in the offline world study and recreate the Arts and Sciences that were known to people of the Middle Ages, from hand-to-hand combat and archery to gentler arts such as illumination, dancing, and cooking. SCAdians, as they are called in some areas, get together for "events," "tournaments" and even "wars" to practice these skills together and share what they have learned. Here on GEnie, online SCAdians have made a comfortable home for themselves in SFRT3. Ranging from CATegory 4 through CATegory 11, the subjects discussed are as varied as the SCAdians themselves. Some typical topics you might find in the SCA categories are: Welcome to the SCA, Newcomer's Corner - Getting Active, Period Fencing, Archery - Target and Combat, Costuming Information, Stained Glass, Juggling, The Scribe's Guild, Flirting in the SCA, Introduction to SCA Online Fighting, Creating the Virtual Field Battle, You Know You're in the SCA When..., Japanese Miscellanea, Wales - Land of Bards, Vikings!, Medieval Glasnost, and Knights of the Middle Ages. The SCA also hosts Real-Time Conferences on a regular basis. Thursday nights at 10PM Eastern time, you'll find Online Medieval Fight Practice in Conference Room 2. And on Sunday nights (also at 10PM), a weekly discussion panel is held. Regular topics include: second Sunday of the month, SCA Policies and Issues; third Sunday, Heraldic Consultation with the SFRT3's Staff Herald; and on the fourth Sunday every month, discussions of Historical Research methods and resources. The remaining Sundays are reserved for special topics, general discussion, or special guests. The Tournament SFRT3's Midsummer Tournament will recreate, in the """""""""""""" Real-Time Conference areas and on the Bulletin Board, a number of the activities that would typically happen at an offline SCA Tournament. Scheduled events are expected to include poetry and heraldic design competitions on the Bulletin Board; a potluck Medieval feast in the Conference, with recipes posted to a Bulletin Board topic; a Medieval wedding in the Conference; and, of course, a grand Virtual Tournament to choose a Champion for the House of the Brass Lantern. And don't miss the Closing Ceremonies, where the winners and noteworthy participants will be announced and celebrated with all the grand Medieval pomp and circumstance they will deserve! The House of the Brass Lantern is not an official branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. It is a place for SCAdians and non-SCAdians alike to share their experiences, opinions, and resources about subjects of common interest. Come visit the Household by typing SFRT3 at any numbered GEnie page prompt, and reading CATegories 4 through 11. >>> STELLAR OPERATOR <<< """""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Kevin J. McCann ~ _ _ / \/ \ / \ / /\ /\ \ (_/ \/ \_)ichael Bispeck, Kesmai's Manager of InterStellar Operations, has been playing Kesmai's games for years, and has long been a fan of their products. He stayed in touch with Kelton Flinn and John Taylor after meeting them at a live conference. When Air Warrior was brand new, Michael began creating cockpit artwork and his association with Kesmai grew into a professional relationship. At the time he was head of the M.I.S. department for a large Chicago company and was glad to have a chance to work on real games rather than the accounting and sales games he had been programming. He became Manager of InterStellar Operations, specializing in outer space games. To Rule the Universe Michael designed the second versions of Stellar """""""""""""""""""" Warrior and Stellar Emperor, and created Windows front-end software for Stellar Emperor called "Admiral." His redesign of these games came from experience as a player, as well as insights from the programming team at Kesmai. Suggestions and concerns from players were also taken into account. His was challenged when creating the Admiral front-end for Stellar Emperor, as he soon discovered that Windows was not created with game design in mind. The result, however, provides a sophisticated look for a sophisticated game that was hidden behind a simple interface. "Although the game remains complex," he says, "complexity is part of its attraction." Favorite Things Michael says his favorite game in the world is SVGA Air """"""""""""""" Warrior, not because of the small part he played in creating it, but for the sheer excitement of air-to-air combat. SVGA Air Warrior is important in other ways, too, as it redefined possibilities and gives an indication of things to come. Air Warrior not only offers the excitement Michael mentions, it redefines possibilities and gives an indiction of things to come. But if strategy or politics are in your sights, type EMPEROR or WARRIOR on GEnie. You'll have a stellar time. >>> THE MULTI-PLAYER GAMES ROUNDTABLE <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Holly Jahangiri ~ ______ (__ __) / / / / (_/ired of playing games with your computer? GEnie's multi-player games let you share adventures with GEnie members around the world. The Multi-Player Games RoundTable (MPGRT) by Scorpia, provides supporting Bulletin Board categories for each of GEnie's exciting multi-player games, from Air Warrior to RSCARDS, all on GEnie*Basic services. Killer Files Each multi-player game has its own Library, too, where """""""""""" you'll find manuals, maps, archives, player-written stories, artwork, and hints like DGPRUNES.REF (#2491), a comprehensive list of the runes available to each class of players in Dragon's Gate. Other reference files include PCARTSND.HLP (1582), hints on creating art and sound files for the IBM Air Warrior front-end program; COMMAND4.REF (2310), which contains about 250 commands used in Federation II; and BTCOM.ZIP (2397), a list of BattleTech commands that's a must for new players. And BTNOVELS.REF (2192) lists several BattleTech Novels complete with title, author, publisher and ISBN number. PLANPERF.ZIP (2440) is a Lotus 2.01-style .WK1 spreadsheet you can use to calculate airplane performance for Air Warrior. Plug in data for your favorite plane to see how well it would do in Air Warrior! Live Gaming Help GEnie Gamers gather in regular MPGRT Real-Time """""""""""""""" Conferences to discuss the finer points of gameplay, get help from seasoned players and game officials, and enjoy spontaneous role-playing fun. As valuable as the Multi-Player Games RoundTable is to the experienced gamer, it is an essential resource if you have yet to play and want to know more. GEnie gamers are always helpful and eager to provide information about their favorite games. Each month the MPGRT honors a GEnie Member who has contributed to the fun with apt postings, Library uploads and Conference visits. Winners are awarded a free month's access to the RoundTable, which includes the Bulletin Board, Libraries and Conference area. A Dragon's Gate Conference is held each Monday night at 10:30 PM Eastern time, featuring a question-and-answer session with the Elder Gamester Oerlord once a month. Air Warriors exchange tall tales and strategic tips every Thursday at 9:30 PM Eastern. Adventurers from GemStone III gather on Thursdays at 10:00 PM Eastern, and Friday nights at 9:30 PM Eastern belong to BattleTech players. Wednesdays are Open House in the Multi-Player Games RoundTable, where you're sure to find lively conversation, no matter what your gaming interest. [EOA] [BUS]////////////////////////////// BUSINESS FRONT / ///////////////////////////////// o Read All About It: No Extra o Profile Artist Updated >>> READ ALL ABOUT IT: NO EXTRA <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Donn King ~ ___ ___ (_ )( _) / /_/ / / __ / _/ / / / (___)(__)eard the latest news? You can get the latest news on GEnie! GEnie recently changed the information provider for its newswires. With internationally known Reuters Information Services providing the news updated 24 hours a day, now you can keep easily track of the news of the world at the same speed as news professionals. New News At press time GEnie was still fine-tuning the service. The """""""" menus may change as more newswires are added, but the service will provide up-to-the-minute information in at least two areas. The Reuters World Service combines English language general information newswires from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, South America and North America. The Reuters Business Report compiles the top national and international business news of the day including breaking news stories, features and domestic and international market analysis. World at Your Fingertips Stories from all Reuters newswires are """""""""""""""""""""""" available online for a minimum of three days after receipt. You can access headlines and stories in reverse chronological order or search each newswire by keyword for stories of particular interest to you. If you choose to look at all stories, you can review their headlines in reverse order of receipt (Last in/First out). The date and time of receipt are displayed with the headline list. If you're looking for information about a specific story, choose the keyword search option to look through all available stories from that newswire. GEnie converts the headline and first paragraph of each story into keywords to help you find stories of particular interest. (Words like "the," "and" and "of" are filtered out to streamline your searching.) Again, the system displays headlines in reverse order with the date and time of receipt noted with each. 24-Hour Value Access to news from the Reuters Newswires service is """"""""""""" provided as part of GEnie Value services. In other words, you pay only regular connect-time rates; there is no additional charge for accessing news items. With GEnie and Reuters, you don't have to wait until the newspaper arrives or the television broadcast begins. You can get the news you want, when you want it. Simply type the keyword REUTERS or M344 from any numbered GEnie page prompt. >>> PROFILE ARTIST UPDATED <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Donn King ~ ______ (__ __) / / / / (_/he ARTIST system continues to evolve to meet the information needs of GEnie members. GEnie recently announced an upgrade to the D&B Company Profiles database, which is of particular interest to business people and professionals. More Choices "Many members sent feedback asking how to get only """""""""""" companies with sales data or the top location of big corporations like GE," says Dan Meyer, who oversees the ARTIST services. "Now you can still search the full file of 8 million company locations or get just those companies which include sales data. You can also get just the top locations of the big corporations." These new options center around a new menu placed between your first entry into D&B Company Profiles (page 1256, keyword D&BPROFILES) and your search. Choose 5.[$]Search D&B U.S. Company Profiles, and then select 1 Begin your search at the next menu. So far, no changes. But your next menu looks like this: D&B U.S. Company Profiles """"""""""""""""""""""""" 1 All Company Locations (more than 8,000,000 companies) 2 Only Locations with Sales Data (more than 6,000,000 companies) 3 Only Headquarter Locations (more than 630,000 companies) 4 Only Top (Parent) Locations (more than 270,000 companies) Your D&B U.S. Company Profiles charges: $0.00 Enter #,

revious, elp or xit D&B U.S. Company Profiles? This new menu will help you get better results. If you want all locations of a company or the local branch office, use Option 1. If you're primarily after sales data, Option 2 eliminates the branch offices and subsidiaries which don't include sales information. This option also eliminates private companies that provide no sales data. Option 3 lets you get headquarter locations of large divisions like GE Information Services, while Option 4 gives you only the top location of big corporations. This should help you quickly focus searches to get the exact information you need. Find Key Accounts Use D&B Company Profiles to check out new clients, """"""""""""""""" suppliers, and business prospects. Use the power of Company Profiles to find key new accounts for your products and services. To get acquainted with the menus, take advantage of the Training Area for D&B Company Profiles. It comprises only about 18,000 of the records from the fall 1985 version of D&B Dun's Market Identifiers(R) so you probably won't find what you're after, but you only pay connect-time charges plus reduced search rates. D&B Company Profiles is a GEnie$Professional service, so check the opening menu for current rates. [EOA] [ROU]////////////////////////////// RoundTable NEWS / ///////////////////////////////// o Beer Drinking, 1993-Style o Bitstream: Just Our Type o The "Spaceport" RoundTable >>> BEER DRINKING, 1993-STYLE <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ____ ~ By Gail Beatrous ~ (_ _) / / _/ / (____)t had to happen. Stopping off after work for a few brews with friends has taken a 90's twist on GEnie's Food & Wine RoundTable! Happy Hour! It all started when beer lovers began meeting in Real-Time """"""""""" Conference to sip a few and discuss their merits. Structure was called into being, and the first formal Online Beer-Tasting came into existence! In the current incarnation of these Beer-Tastings, a particular style of beer is chosen as the theme for the evening, and members taste and discuss examples of it. This gathering of BeerLovers has come to be a regular Saturday night event. A logical expansion of these BeerTastings is our Homebrew Tasting, where the GEnie HomeBrewers use the same beer recipe and meet online to discuss the results. These Conferences are fun, but HomeBrewers are a curious lot. They decided that it would be even more fun to taste one another's brews. Thus, our Beer Swaps were born! GEnie Beer Swaps Hosted by Tim Tillman, GEnie Beer Swaps are a popular """""""""""""""" event with HomeBrewers. Brewers are randomly assigned a couple of partners with whom they swap their best homebrews. They then meet in conference to sample them! Our next Beer Swap Conference is set for June 12 at 10:00 PM Eastern time. The latest stage in the evolution of the GEnie HomeBrewers is the creation of a GEnie Beer. The recipe was a group effort, with many voices adding their experience to the formula. The Brewers are brewing the recipe and will be meeting to sample it on June 5, at 10:00 PM Eastern. Bottoms Up! Why not join us? The Food & Wine Bulletin Board is part of """"""""""" GEnie*Basic services and can be accessed by typing *FOOD. You'll find Beer Category 8 is ably led by GOODTIME Bob. Our weekly Beer-Tasting Conferences start at 10:00 PM Eastern each Saturday night, and are hosted by GARLIC.QUEEN and GOODTIME Bob. Join us and hoist a few with the GEnie HomeBrewers. You'll have a blast! >>> BITSTREAM: JUST OUR TYPE <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Donn King ~ _ _ / \/ \ / \ / /\ /\ \ (_/ \/ \_)ore and more computer owners are using laser printers as prices continue to drop. And now GEnie members can tap into one of the leading products for getting the most from these printers. Bitstream recently opened a new support RoundTable on GEnie page 1375, keyword BITSTREAM. Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Bitstream Inc. is an industry leader in typographic quality and innovative printing technology. They license type and related software to more than 500 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide. The company's line of end user products for Macintosh and IBM-compatibles is distributed in the United States and 18 nations around the world. According to company literature, "Bitstream is committed to providing powerful and comprehensive solutions to the PC and Macintosh platforms." A Type of Face Lift Bitstream provides a variety of products for use """"""""""""""""""" directly with laser and dot matrix printers, or through specific software packages such as WordPerfect. If you're considering adding a laser printer to your setup, or you want to upgrade yours for better output, you can get answers to your questions through their RoundTable. The Bulletin Board offers a variety of Categories and Topics for your support. It includes a category for welcoming members, purposely designed as a catch-all for topics not related to specific Bitstream products; product-related categories, including TrueType Fonts (IBM and Mac), PostScript Type 1 Fonts (IBM and Mac), Type Collections on CD-ROM (Mac), FaceLift (IBM), Fontware (IBM), MakeUp (IBM), MOSAIC (a print management system for Novell NetWare); a category dedicated to discussions regarding Bitstream-related font technologies and any other non-product-specific topics; a category dedicated to Bitstream New Product Announcements; and the Bitstream After-Hours Lounge which is "not dedicated to anything in particular. Especially nothing very serious." Since this is a computer-related RoundTable, it is a GEnie Value Service, meaning the Bulletin Board is charged at regular connect-time rates. Library Saves Faces Dick Flanagan, one of the sysops (who is joined by """"""""""""""""""" Sheila Harris for technical support, and Melissa Flanagan), says plans include an extensive Software Library, making available text files of product announcements, product documentation, utility programs, program fixes, fonts, typeface collections, and private libraries available to OEM clients and Bitstream's beta testers. Live Real-Time Conferences are held each Wednesday evening at 10:00 PM Eastern time. Check out the Bitstream RoundTable to give your documents a typeface lift. >>> THE "SPACEPORT" RoundTable <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Holly Jahangiri ~ _____ / ____) / /___ / /( ) / (__) / (______/Enie's Space & Science Information Center on page 461 provides a central point of access to scientific and technical reference products including Daily Weather Maps, the Planetary Report KnowledgeBase, Grolier's Academic American Encyclopedia, The GEnie Reference Center, and The GEnie Bookshelf. Updated each evening, Daily Weather Maps include U.S. forecast, temperature and weather front maps, satellite pictures, U.S. and World weather highlights, and Atlantic and Pacific hurricane tracking maps. (Type GIF for a list of maps you can download at the Knowledgebase Search database Query prompt.) The Planetary Report KnowledgeBase is an essential research tool, with articles and information on a broad range of astronomical and geophysical subjects. GEnie's Spaceport The "Spaceport" Space & Science RoundTable on page 460 """"""""""""""""" (keyword SPACERT), the heart of this endeavor, was conceived in 1985 by National Space Society member Bill Dale as a place where people interested in space exploration and activism could meet electronically. He was joined in 1986 by Dave Zimmerman, member of the National Space Society, Planetary Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Science, and together they built the Spaceport RoundTable into a useful forum for space and astronomy hobbyists. In 1991, Dave, who is now in charge of the Spaceport, expanded its role to other science-related topics. The Bulletin Board, available on GEnie*Basic services, contains lively discussions on a wide range of topics including aerospace, astronomy, science and technology, environmental issues, unexplained phenomena, climate and weather. Spaceport Libraries hold loads of fun and educational programs, informative texts, and breath-taking images like those shown on these pages. Interested in the weather? See if you can outguess the pros! With WEATHERPRO.ZIP (#2758), Version 2.3A of Weather Pro, and data provided by a weather data source (such as The Science Information Center at page 461, DUAT, AccuData, or Weathermation) you can track weather systems across the country in high-resolution color graphics! Or use STORM6.ZIP (#2814) to predict the position of hurricanes in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans. Astronomy enthusiasts will enjoy the demo version of Dance of the Planets Version 2.5 (#2217 DANCE25.ZIP), a dynamic, interactive solar system program featuring orbital simulations, eclipses, comets, asteroids, and planetary rotation. Designed for hobby and educational use, "Mineral Mastery" (#1814 ROCKS1.ZIP, 1815 ROCKS2.ZIP, and 1816 ROCKS3.ZIP) lets you browse an extensive mineral data base and identify over 200 minerals by entering their physical attributes. WORLD192.ZIP (#2813) contains the 1992 edition of the CIA World Fact book, a collection of detailed reports on nearly every country and territory in the world. Download STP21.ZIP (#1821) for an educational approach to explaining Global Warming and Ozone Depletion, complete with graphics, text and maps. It includes voting records and a handy word processor for writing quick letters to Congressional Representatives. You'll also find tips on energy saving, recycling, green investing, and other goodies. Fascinating Conferences Do solar flares contribute to earthquakes? Find """"""""""""""""""""""" out during the Spaceport's Real-Time Conference on May 30, when their guest will be Lowell Whiteside of the Solid Earth Division of the National Geophysical Data Center. On June 6, Geoff Chester, production manager of the National Air and Space Museum's Albert Einstein Planetarium, shares tips on transforming your computer into a receiving station for satellite images. Do low-frequency electromagnetic fields cause cancer or other health problems? On June 27, talk with John Moulder, physicist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, about what the latest studies really mean. Unless otherwise noted, Conferences begin at 9:00 PM Eastern time. Transcripts of previous Conferences are available in the Space & Science RoundTable Library. The Space & Science RoundTable Libraries also have unique, colorful images, some of them straight from NASA! Photos definitely worth a look include TOUTATIS.GIF (#2741), a too-close-for comfort view of the asteroid that recently came within a quarter of a million kilometers of Earth, GASPRA2C.GIF (#2233), a vivid close-up of the asteroid Gaspra, and WRT001.GIF (#2800), a crisp image of the Horsehead Nebula in Orion. Space shuttle fans will love IMAX.GIF (#2007), a wide-angle view of the shuttle's payload bay. RAMSES.GIF (#2004) shows detail from a magnificent example of ancient Egyptian art. For a "24-carat picture," grab GOLD.GIF (#2002). Be sure to add some of these stunning photos to your collection. [EOA] [SPC]////////////////////////////// GEnie SPECIAL EVENTS / ///////////////////////////////// It's Happening On GEnie! """""""""""""""""""""""" o May/June 1993 Calendar of Event >>> MAY THROUGH JUNE <<< """""""""""""""""""""""" Eastern Time Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday -------------------------------------------------------------------- 8:00PM SFRT1 MacHelp MacHelp MacHelp MacHelp MacHelp AMIGA BORLAND Chat Ch3 Chat Ch3 Chat Ch3 Chat Ch3 Chat Ch3 5-Minute SCORPIA 8-10PM 8-10PM 8-10PM 8-10PM 8-10PM News Sierra PK:Poker AMIGA 3PM-3AM Hints Night 5-Min News 8:30PM GEOWORKS ENABLE 9:00PM RADIO SHOWBIZ AMIGA MILITARY PCALADDIN AMIGA ASTROLOGY Listening Live Chat HelpDesk General Automate HelpDesk GENIEUS PF:Current GENEALOGY FAMILY FAMILY INVEST SFRT GEnieJAM! Events Beginners Mothers Teens Q&As Queen's AMIGA SPACE ROMANCE AMIGA WRITERS Own HelpDesk MAC:Fights Research help HelpDesk ROMANCE SFRT AMIGA AMIGA DBMS Workshops Force HelpDesk HelpDesk ROMANCE AMIGA MACHelp FAMILY GERMANY Aspiring HelpDesk 9-11PM ST ROMANCE Writers HelpDesk TRAVELRT 9:30PM IBMPC A2 IBMPC IBMPC SCORPIA A2\ AMIGA General New Users Comms OpSystems Open House Telecom News A2 AUTO A2:Guest A2:Hypermedia A2:TBC Forum AMIGA 3PM-3AM II Speak CarTC SFRT1 AMIALADDIN GemStone III News A2 SFRT3 WINDOWS Writers SCORPIA WP:WordPerfect 6PM- Biz FW-Pern Help ERT:Parents Ask Sysops STALADDIN 3AM RADIO WRITERS MAC &HomeSchool ERT:Education MPGRT MPGRT All Types Educat'n DTP MPGRT Air Warrior BattleTech AMIGA:News LAPTOPS Ask Sysops WINDOWS WINDOWS 3PM-3AM WINDOWS WRITERS General SFRT3 GERMANY Non-Fiction SFRT1 Queen's WINDOWS Alt.History Own 10:00PM AMIGA FLORIDA AMIGA HOME AMIGA ASTROLOGY AMIGA Graphics Orlando Music Moose Manor Video Beginners Party FORTH AMIGA WRITERS AMIGA GERMANY SFRT1 MOTOr- SFRT3:SCA DTP Poetry AmiGames AVIATION General cycles FOOD ST: Atari CBM ST: Atari MPGRT GENEALOGY CBM CooksChat DTP HOME Open House Gemstone HOME FOOD MOTOr- SFRT2 Open House GERMANY CANADA Q-Hut Beer cycles Star Trek MOTOr- CBM SFRT2 CBM\ Tasting ST MPGRT cycles PRO/AM(iga) Quantum PCALADDIN HOME Atari DTP DragGate MAC GEOWORKS Leap Help10-12 Parlor- HOSB CBM Hypercard SFRT2 FOOD Games HOME UNIX PCALADDIN On Screen FAMILY:Singles LEFTCOAST Purpleberry NeXT Help10-12PMSFRT3 CBM PCALADDIN CBM PCALADDIN Star Wars UNIX Help10-12 MAC Help:10-12PM GENEALOGY Internet Help Help:10-12PM History (Chat Ch. 4) PCALADDIN PCALADDIN PCALADDIN Help:10-12PM Help:10-12PM Help:10-12PM 10:30PM SFRT1 Mac JAPAN Mac Horror Powerbooks Mac Typography Mac Games MacPro 11:00PM CBM MacHelp SCORPIA CBM PHOTO MUSIC CBM 11PM-1AM Star Fleet MacHelp General Night-Owls MacHelp 11PM-1AM MacHelp MacHelp 11PM-1AM 11PM-1AM 11PM-1AM Midnight LEFTCOAST ASTROLOGY Midnight Mystic Pacific Time Enter the keyword (shown in capital letters, for example, PCALADDIN) at any numbered GEnie page prompt to reach the RoundTable hosting these Special Events. Topics are subject to change without notice. Chat Lines hosts a delightful variety of Multiplayer Games and fascinating Theme Chats on weekends, weekday evenings and during the wee hours, plus Breakfast Chats at 6AM Eastern time. Complete schedule on GEnie Page 400. >>>>> Do Solar Flares Contribute to Earthquakes? """"" Find out from the National Geophysical Data Center in the Space & Science RoundTable's Real-Time Conference at 9PM Eastern Time on May 30th. On June 6th, learn how you can transform your computer into a receiving station for satellite images. See page 18 for details. Conferences at 9PM Eastern Time, type SPACERT. >>>>> GEnie Beer Tasting on the Food & Wine RoundTable """"" Food & Wine RoundTable members will sip their special homebrew of GEnie beer in a Real-Time Conference on June 5 at 10PM Eastern time. Join the fun by typing FOOD at any numbered GEnie page prompt. [EOA] [COM]////////////////////////////// COMPUTER FRIENDS / ///////////////////////////////// Genealogy & History RoundTable """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Rhonda McClure ____ / ___) / / / (__ (_____)omputers are often viewed as impersonal machines that we use for number crunching. But those of us who use computer services know how our computers can bring us new and treasured friends. For most, the day that Hurricane Andrew hit land in Florida was just an average day. The news was filled with the destruction left behind, but it was still removed and impersonal. For those on the Genealogy & History RoundTable (GHRT), it became much more for many months. A special friend to many on the GHRT lives in Homestead and we were all anxious to know how she was doing after the hurricane had finished its destructive mission. Despite the horrid conditions, it was possible to make some contact with her via mobile phone (though the connection often didn't last long). As soon as I first heard from her, I went onto the Bulletin Board of the GHRT and started a topic so that others could post messages of hope and comfort for Glee. I was then going to mail them to her as they accumulated. Everyone was thrilled to know that she was alive still and that part of her house was still standing - as it meant she had something to rebuild with. Throughout the ensuing months a variety of programs to send things to Glee were organized. As Glee later said, her mailperson was astounded at all the packages she received and from the variety of states they were coming from. The "Friends of Glee" sent everything from paper to stamps. Many of the things we consider trivial were viewed with much delight there. A collection of money was even taken to help her with any bills that she couldn't meet until things improved down there. And one kind "anonymous" soul sent her a used computer - hers had been totally destroyed. I sat amazed as these great people continued to show their support through notes on the Bulletin Board for me to send, and for the letters and care packages they sent her. Bit by bit we watched as things for her began the long road back to normalcy. Everyone was so excited when she finally had phone service restored and could once again log on and talk with us. She shared with us what had happened to her, and we did our best to listen; hoping it helped her to deal with all that she went through in some small way. It was then learned that her son's school was trying to rebuild and was holding a walk-a-thon to raise the monies needed. Once again the great folks of the GHRT pulled together. It became a contest to see how many different states her son Tommy would have representing him. Glee made him a special T-shirt that had "Tommy's Team" on the front and on the back a map of the US with the states represented colored in. And we all watched and waited to find out how Tommy did when the day of the walk-a-thon arrived. And how everyone cheered when they heard Tommy had managed to do 21 laps! Although Glee and Tommy are now going back to the world of everyday living, and the world in general sometimes gets too overwhelming, I know of some people on the GHRT that have a special memory of the good in people and the friends a computer can bring. [EOA] [GAR]////////////////////////////// THE GEnie GARDEN / ///////////////////////////////// A Virtual Arboretum in the GEnie Garden """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Lynn Hoyt _ / \ / - \ / ___ \ (_/ \_)s a lover of flowers, I can't think of a more enjoyable pleasure after a long busy day than to take a leisurely stroll with friends through an idyllic garden. And logging on to the GEnie Gardening are of the Hobby RoundTable is like touring a world-class arboretum. There are trees in flower and fruit, blossoms of every imaginable color and kind, and vegetable beds galore. Everything is always in season here, because the discussion is continuous. And for gardeners, what better setting for learning and sharing our knowledge and gardening visions? Our tour group is made up of all gardening levels, many interests, and lots of enthusiasm. So lets enter through that arbor of flowering vines, and see what's in store for us. As we round the path, we all ooh and aah over the spectacular rose garden! Some of our experts point out the fine points of 'Touch of Class' and 'Gruss an Aachen.' This rose garden has room for both the old roses and hybrid teas, as well as miniatures and others of different form and habit. Further along, we meet new friends in the vegetable garden. There we check out all the varieties, and debate which tomato has the best flavor. Naturally, in a friendly garden such as this there's a lot of taste testing going on! There is also much discussion of composting and organic methods; very useful in our stewardship to the earth. As we move on through the orchards, our fruit growers give us some pruning pointers, and tell us the yummiest varieties of apples to choose. We can't help but stop for a juicy slice of 'Moon and Stars' Watermelon, an old variety that actually has a round moon and hundreds of golden stars on a dark green melon. Delicious! By now, some of us are jogging over to the annual flower trials where all the unique and new bedding plants await our approval. There sure is more variety here than most of us realize! The new white Marigolds called 'French Vanilla Hybrid' are dazzling on display. And we all admire the golden stars of Zinnia angustifolia, a plant that is covered with bloom all summer and has no problem with insects or mildew! Past the annuals, there's a little grassy path, and on either side, there are many small, separate specialty gardens -- a water garden, perennials, bonsai, shade, and butterfly gardens. There's something for everyone here, and we all weave in and out, drinking in the flavor of each area. Several of us have gathered around a perennial bed, marveling over the blue and gold combination of Salvia 'Indigo Spires' and Solidago Rugosa 'Fireworks.' Stunning! Who would think a goldenrod could be so beautiful? At the end of the path is an ornate garden gate. And as our tired but smiling group of gardeners wanders through, we are each greeted by the sight of our own computer screens, and the realization that it's all just been an evening on GEnie with gardening friends! What a great place to meet, in our GEnie Arboretum; won't you come join us in the garden? Just type HOBBY on GEnie to get there! [EOA] [ODD]////////////////////////////// LiveWire Odds & Ends / ///////////////////////////////// o Photo Contests Listed Online o RSCARDS Backgammon Tournament >>> PHOTO CONTESTS LISTED ONLINE <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ By Bill Hopkins ~ (PhotoSource International Representative) ____ / _ ) / ___/ / / (_/hotoSource International (PSI; visit us on GEnie Page 355) receives information from many sources about photo contests almost daily. So, with assistance from the Photo & Video RoundTable, we've decided to post those contests on GEnie as a service to GEnie subscribers. We also welcome submissions of contest announcements. The contests are segregated by prizes offered (cash vs. trophies) and by geography (US, Canada, International). Please note that contests listed in this Category are for your convenience and curiosity. Nobody takes any responsibility, nor is any implied, concerning the viability of posted contests. In other words, "Caveat Emptor." (Let the Buyer Beware!) >>> RSCARDS BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ______ / __ ) / / ) / / /__/ / (______/efending champion Blake Sorem defeated David Lanphear by a score of 10-5 to retain his title in the RSCARDS Winter 1993 Backgammon Tournament. Third place was shared by Dave Thomas and past champion Jim Wilson; fourth place belonged to Durf Freund, Bill Norris, Bryan Norris, and 1992 Player Of The Year Bob Paris. A purse of $541 in cash and connect time prizes was shared by the top four finishers. Our congratulations to all! The single-elimination, 100%-return RSCARDS Backgammon Tournament is held quarterly, with registration beginning on the first day of each new quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1). For official rules and information, type "BG", "BACKGAMMON", or "M877" from any GEnie menu prompt, and select the "BG Tournament Information" menu item. RSCARDS graphic front ends are now available for IBM-compatibles, the Apple Macintosh and 2gs, the Commodore Amiga and C-128, and the Atari ST computers. To join the fun of RSCARDS multi-player games (Blackjack, Backgammon, Checkers, Poker, Reversi, and Chess), type RSCARDS from any GEnie menu prompt. [EOA] [WIN]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// The Windows RoundTable """""""""""""""""""""" By Holly Jahangiri _ _ ( \ /\ / ) \ \/ \/ / \ / \_/\_/indows watchers have their eyes on Windows NT this month. "Windows NT caps the Windows software family as a fully 32-bit operating system," says Richard Dill, Group Manager of Windows NT Network Test Group. "As a member of the Windows family, Windows NT fully supports existing Windows and MS-DOS applications, and adds support for 32-bit Windows applications. It also supports OS/2 16-bit character-based applications, POSIX 1003.1 compliant applications and all the peer-to-peer networking facilities included in Windows for Workgroups." Learn more about this hot new product in our Conference with Richard Dill on June 13 at 9:30 PM Eastern time. Games and Utilities If you thought Chomp was good, Ms. Chomp (597 """"""""""""""""""" MSCHOMP.ZIP) will knock your socks off! Features include sound support for Windows 3.1, adjustable speed, and seven levels with increasingly smarter ghosts. Castle of the Winds (822 $CASTLE.ZIP) provides hours of role-playing fun from an easy to use graphical interface. If regular Chess doesn't offer enough challenge, try your hand at Photon Chess (565 PHOTON.ZIP). Traditional Chess pieces are replaced by laser guns, beam splitters, mirrors and randomizers, and the sound effects are a blast! WinZip 4.0 (778 WINZIP40.ZIP) delivers convenient access to ARC, ZIP and LZH archivers from Windows. Its intuitive point & click interface lets you view, run, extract, add, delete, test, and scan files for viruses. File Dialog Extensions (789 WDLGEX.ZIP) adds DIR, rename, delete, and info buttons to dialogs using COMMDLG.DLL. The Windows Office Power Pack (829 WOPRA.EXE and 830 WOPRB.EXE) is a MUST if you use Word for Windows, featuring an enhanced envelope printer, toolbar editor, word counter, and improved search and replace. Windows Help is proving to be a powerful hypertext and graphics tool for electronic publishers. Creative examples include "Whole Notes: Writings by Young People" (771 WHOL2_1.ZIP) and Electrified Visual Basic Magazine (search WELSH). The Windows RoundTable publishes a Help format newsletter (search WIN93) with news, hints from the Help Desk, shareware reviews, graphics, photos, and more. [EOA] [IBM]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// The IBM PC RoundTable """"""""""""""""""""" By Kevin J. McCann _ _ ( \ /\ / ) \ \/ \/ / \ / \_/\_/hether it's getting to the store, the cost, or the gamble you take on a new game, the IBM PC RoundTable eliminates the risk of being stuck with one you don't like. Hundreds of commercial quality games are in IBM PC Library 7, ready and waiting for you to download. They're predominantly shareware, so you can test drive them before shelling out your hard-earned cash. Shooters to Logic One of the most popular shareware titles is Apogee's """"""""""""""""" Wolfenstein 3-D (file 31001 #1WOLF14.ZIP). With 3-D VGA scrolling graphics, great sounds and playability, Wolfenstein 3-D is better than many commercial games. You're a prisoner trying to escape a German dungeon in WWII, and along the way you pick up better weapons -- right up to the showdown with the big, bad leader. Wolfenstein has inspired other shareware titles including Catacombs Abyss (31173 CATABS13.ZIP) and Ken's Lab (31470 LAB3D.ZIP). Catacombs Abyss pits you as a wizard against hordes of creatures as you try to defeat the meanest (but not the leanest) demon of them all. In Ken's Lab, you're in a maze fighting aliens to test the human race; if you escape, Earth is saved, if you don't, it's history. Nothing like a little incentive. Apogee also offers educational games like Math Rescue (30766 #1MATH.ZIP) -- which, if you're leery of this genre, could change your mind. If you enjoy shooters check out Galactix (31031 GALAC13A.ZIP) a VGA space-invader type game, Starfire (30943 STARFIRE.ZIP), Stellar Defense (31846 SD11.ZIP), or Major Stryker (31933 #1MAJR13.ZIP). You'll also find great logic games like Robix (30969 ROBIX.ZIP), Alpha Man (30508 ALPHA.ZIP), and Mice Men (31168 MICEMEN.ZIP), as well as traditional fun like hearts (30748 HEARTS65.ZIP) and Yahtzee (31154 YAHTZEE.ZIP). Shareware is honor-based; if you like a game, pay its designer. If you don't, delete and forget it. By being honest, you encourage future shareware titles, which cost less than if they were commercial. Best of all, you don't need to leave home to shop. [EOA] [IBM]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// The Macintosh RoundTable """""""""""""""""""""""" By Stephen Kahn _____ / ____) / /___ / /( ) / (__) / (______/ames and computers have always been synonymous," says Bart Farkas, Mac RoundTable Games Category Leader. "Of course, games aren't the reason we have computers, but just about everyone who has used a computer has seen a cool game that made him or her exclaim, 'Wow!'" Between his work as an Intensive Care Unit nurse in Calgary, Alberta, and his hobbies of playing and recording music in his home studio, writing, and following Canadian football, Bart's a busy fellow, but he still finds time to keep up with the latest and greatest in Macintosh games. You'll find him sharing information in the Mac Games Bulletin Board Category and Games Conferences every Wednesday night. Bart's Conferences feature many "name" guests. "We have had many guests from all areas of gaming from shareware to CD-ROM companies. I average one guest about every two or three conferences. People can come and talk with the guys that actually wrote Spaceship Warlock, or Patton Strikes Back, or Maelstrom. They can ask all the questions they want and tell the authors personally that the game is great or it stinks." Beat the Gamer's Blues It's probably illegal to have as much fun as Mac """""""""""""""""""""" owners do when they get down to serious game playing, but even so, sooner or later you'll be struck by the Mac Gamer's Blues -- your favorite game crashing constantly, getting stuck in an adventure game, or spending your hard-earned money on a lemon. Head off the Mac Gamer's Blues with regular visits to the Mac RoundTable. The wealth of experience and generosity of sharing among members provides an profusion of solutions to problems, tips for improving your gaming skills, and reviews of new games to help you separate duds from hits. When the budget's low but your craving for a new game is high, don't forget to scan through the abundance of freeware and shareware games in Mac Software Games Library 2. You're sure to find just the thing. [EOA] [*S*]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// The *StarShip* Amiga RoundTable """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Jim Meyer ____ / ___) / / / (__ (_____)omputers are wonderful tools, powerful number-crunchers that let us whiz through spreadsheets, compose complex documents and... Oh, who am I kidding? Computers are perfect for games! But which game? You say you need to maintain an intellectual air, something that justifies your expensive equipment? Say no more! Check out #18484 UCHESS217.LHA. UChess is an Amiga version of GnuChess 4, a powerful Unix chess program that has been optimized for accelerated machines. It requires AmigaDOS 2.04+, runs only on 68020-based machines or higher, and supports the new AGA chipset. This is no mere chess game. UChess has a US Chess Federation ranking of around 2200, so it's more than capable of standing up to what it calls a "puny human." If you prefer watching, use the Autoplay option to make the computer play itself; you can even watch it think. Gameplay takes place on a marble chess board, using hand-crafted pieces. One warning: You need 8.5 megs of free memory for the 68040 version, while the 68030 version requires 4 megs. 68000 Action If UChess makes you think your computer is alive, you'll be """""""""""" convinced when you see #18313 LABOFLIFE.LHA. Laboratory of Life, from Accursed Toys, is a fiendishly updated version of the game of Life. Jennifer Reitz and Stephen Lepisto, both *StarShip* favorites, have brought their talents to bear on this computer classic. Stephen's programming talents give it blinding speed, while Jennifer's amusingly twisted graphics provide everything from smiley creatures to demented tomatoes. Stop by Category 30 (Accursed Toys Online) to chat with the authors. For diversion, try #18457 OXYD.LZH. This fast-paced action/puzzle/ arcade game, first written up in our 5-Minute Weekend News, is Dongleware. You'll have no trouble with the first 10 levels, but the "secret magic formulas" for the next 190 levels are only available in the Oxyd Book, which you can order from the publisher. More games -- from freeware to commercial demos -- are uploaded to the *StarShip* each week. Tune into our Games Conference on Wednesdays at 9PM Eastern time for the latest picks. [EOA] [APP]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// The Apple II RoundTable """"""""""""""""""""""" By Lunatic E'Sex ____ / ___) / (_ / ___) / (_ (____)arlier this year, A2 celebrated its 20,000th upload, giving away thousands of dollars worth of prizes to dozens of lucky RoundTable members! A2 is well on its way now to the next 20,000 uploads. And, of course, among all those files, we've got some great games. A recent notable arrival to our Libraries is DuelTris, #20298, DUELTRIS.BXY, by DreamWorld Software. This commercial quality game is for one or two players, and features incredible graphics, music, and sound. Lost Classics The Lost Classics Project, headed by Tim Tobin, started """"""""""""" off with a bang by getting one of the big names from the Apple II past, Paul Lutus, to release all of his former commercial software as FreeWare. Now, Lost Classics has another -- Bill Budge! By the time you read this, we'll have all the following formerly commercial Bill Budge games in the A2 Libraries: Raster Blaster, Space Album, Tranquility Base, Trilogy of Games, and Bill Bugde's 3-D Game Tools. To find them search the Library on keyword LOST CLASSICS. While you're at it, check out the other Lost Classic programs including Apple Writer, Electric Duet, and GraFORTH by Paul Lutus. Here's some of the best of our most recent game uploads: 20298 DUELTRIS.BXY V1.0S 2 player game w/ great gfx and snd +20284 STFC.UPDATE.BXY Bug fix for Star Trek: First Contact 20123 ANT.WARS.BXY Red vs. black ants! You control the red 19968 CASTLE.ARMS.BXY V2.0 Improved Castle Artillery Duel Game 19761 SOLARIANGS.BXY V1.0.1 Galaxian Style Arcade Game. A Must-Have 19544 SHOVEIT.BXY A colorful brain-tickling GS game! 19444 MINEFIELD.BXY Addicting Mine Sweeper GS game 19318 LETTERSLIDE.BXY Addicting Word/Strategy Puzzle Game 19269 BLUE.HELMET.BXY The FTA's Blue Helmet auto race 19264 PNPDEMO.BXY Pick'n'Pile fast-paced arcade game 19205 BOGGLED.GS.BXY Boggle-Like word game for IIgs +19183 STARTREK.FC.BXY Star Trek: First Contact. Updated 19086 PLOTTING.GS.BXY Simple IIgs game from France +19085 ROBOTS.2.4.BXY Neat game for all Apple IIs 19076 SPACEARROW.BXY V2.1 Latest version of a great game 18948 BOUNCNFERNO.BXY Incredible Bouncin' Ferno game by the FTA +18906 BATTLE.ZONE.BXY Arcade style "shoot 'em up" game Note: Games marked + work on 8-bit Apple IIs [EOA] [AST]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// The Atari ST RoundTable """"""""""""""""""""""" By D. A. Brumleve ____ / ___) / (_ / ___) / (_ (____)ven the most serious of computer owners enjoy an occasional game, and the ST RoundTable has plenty of choices to fill that need. Game programs, hints, maps, scenarios, and related files can be downloaded from Library 8. Demos of commercial games (and other applications) can be found in Library 10. On the Bulletin Board, you'll find general discussion and support topics for ST games in Category 9. Explicit hints are available in a private Category; if a game has you stumped, send feedback to the sysops for access. Games for the Atari Lynx are also supported in ST Bulletin Board Category 36. Darlah's Treats Some great games have been featured as recent Darlah's """"""""""""""" Treats for free downloading. Even if you missed them as Treats, you'll enjoy CYBRDEMO.LZH (#27409), OXYDMONO.LZH (#26743), OXYDCOLR.LZH (#26740), and MIDIBATL.LZH (#26549), now available in the Libraries. Dave Munsie has uploaded a series of arcade games created with the GP_Graphics Engine. Joystick addicts will enjoy MEGAPEDE.LZH (#27013), EVADER.LZH (#27012), and KID_GP.LZH (#27011, for children). The old standby PacMan has been updated, expanded, and enhanced in MRSMUNCH.LZH (#26338). Rod Martin offers a shareware demo of his Tetris-like arcade in LUNACY31.LZH (#21148). More cerebral challenge is offered by a variety of Mah Jongh clones. My personal favorite is Drachen, a shareware program from Germany; the latest available English-language versions are the color ECLRDRAC.LZH (#25042, translation completed by member Steve Johnson) and the monochrome DRACHEN2.ARC (#11230). Josh Snyder of Cali Co. was inspired by Drachen to create a multi-featured commercial version of Mah Jongh. A playable demo can be found in MJ30DEMO.LZH (#26614). Special Events! Look for special contests this spring. The RoundTable is """"""""""""""" sponsoring both an upload contest and a "most helpful member" contest; prizes will include free time online! The Dateline: Atari! Real-Time Conference, typically held on the first Friday of each month at 10:00PM Eastern, provides an opportunity to get news on the latest developments at Atari from "the horse's mouth." Join us this month -- and bring your questions! [EOA] [FOC]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// The Commodore FlagShip RoundTable """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By John W. Brown ____ / ___) ( (__ \__ \ ___) ) (____/pace Pope written by Dov Sherman has to be the hottest public domain game for the C-64 this year. What is Space Pope? To quote from the game "In the distant future Space Station Vatican 1 falls under attack from planet HECK and the Catholics of the Christian Galaxy turn to their hero, Space Pope and his trusty side kick Robonun" to save the day. The game can be played by either one or two people at the same time. The object is to wipe the space station clean of all the monsters, ghosts, and ghouls by destroying them with your trusty red bible, which you fling at the evil ghouls with incredible speed. During the game you can earn lifes and extra points by picking up crosses and scrolls scattered throughout the space station. From the ghouls and ectoplasts waiting for you under the space station floor, to the crazy tanks and dive bombing aliens, you have a lot of bible throwing to do. This file can be found in Library #12, file # 10944 SPACEPOPE.SDA, uploaded by R.KNOP1. What's REBOCARDO? In February 1993, the Commodore Flagship had another """"""""""""""""" new menu item added, a data base from Parsec, Inc. called REBOCARDO. What is REBOCARDO? It stands for REsource for BOoks CAtalogs & REsearch Data Online. It currently is being stocked with past Commodore magazine articles, with the publisher's permission of course, and will be stocked month after month with more interesting and unusual articles for Commodore owners. A couple of new menu items were added at the end of 1992 and the beginning of 1993. Sysop Picks and [*] File of the Week, both which are updated every Friday night with new and exciting files. Friday Hangman Last but not least, the hottest C-128 software still is """""""""""""" RTCMaster 128 by Ed Bell. Drop by Friday nights for an amusing and interesting game of Hangman, Mastermind, Trivia, or Jumble run on the C-128. Anyone with a computer can play and enjoy the fast paced conversation. Commodore Flagship, GEnie Page 625. [EOA] [LOG]////////////////////////////// LOG OFF / ///////////////////////////////// About GEnie & LiveWire """""""""""""""""""""" GEnie's Computing RoundTables Type Keyword or M### at any numbered GEnie page prompt RoundTable Sysop Mail Keyword Page# """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Windows WIN$ WINDOWS 1335 IBM PC IBM$ IBMPC 615 Macintosh DRACO MAC 605 *StarShip* Amiga STARSHIP$ AMIGA 555 Apple II A2.HELP A2 645 Atari ST INFO$ ST 475 Atari 8-Bit AT$ ATARI8 665 Commodore Flagship FLAGSHIP$ CBM 625 [*][*][*] GEnie Client Services 1-800-638-9636 GEnie LiveWire is published six times annually for subscribers to GEnie online services by GE Information Services, 401 N. Washington St., Rockville, MD 20850. Contents may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Inquiries should be sent to GEnie LiveWire, P.O. Box 6413, Rockville, MD 20850, or GE Mail Address LIVEWIRE. LiveWire is produced by Jainschigg Communications, 29-05 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106, 718/545-2900, fax 718/545-8200. Advertising Sales: Greg Rapport, 108 Morningside Drive, Trenton NJ, 609/393-1586, Fax 718/545-8200. LiveWire reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertising at any time, and shall not be subject to any liability for its rejection or cancellation. LiveWire reserves the right to require any advertising material to be labeled "advertisement" if deemed necessary. JOINING GEnie IS EASY """"""""""""""""""""" 1. Set your communication software to half duplex (local echo) at 300/1200/2400 baud. 2. Dial toll-free 1-800-638-8369 (in Canada dial 1-800-387-8330). Upon CONNECTion, enter HHH. 3. At the U#= prompt type SIGNUP and press RETURN. 4. Have a major credit card account number ready. In the U.S. you may also user your checking account. (c) 1993 General Electric Company. [EOF]