- / \ / \ / \ / \ ___________/ \__________ \ / \ April 15, 1994 Vol.I No.2 / \ / ________________________________________________|______________ /_________________ CAIN ________-_____________/ /___|_|_|__________ Monthly Newsletter _______| |___________/ /____|_|_|__________ ______| |_________/ /____/__|__\_________ Central Atari ______| |________/ /____/___|___\________ Information Network ____| | | |_____/ /______________________________________________________________/ / / \ \ / / \ \ / / \ \ The Official Online Newsletter of the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG _________________________________________________________________________ The Cleveland Free-Net Community Computer System is accessible worldwide! _________________________________________________________________________ telnet freenet-in-{a,b,c}.cwru.edu (129.22.8.32 or 129.22.8.51) _________________________________________________________________________ 216/368-3888 | 300/1200/2400+ baud | type 'go atari' at any menu _________________________________________________________________________ Covering: XE/XL/800/400,FALCON030/ST/TT/ST(e),PORTFOLIO,LYNX,JAGUAR CAIN Online Newsletter Published and Copyright (c) 1994 by Cain Publishing Publisher/Editor Voting/Conferences.........Mark Leair aa338@cleveland.freenet.edu Assistant Editor SIG Manager/Jaguar Area....Len Stys aa399@cleveland.freenet.edu 8-Bit Support Area..........Michael Current aa700@cleveland.freenet.edu 8-Bit Technical Forum.......Craig Lisowski aa853@cleveland.freenet.edu 16/32-Bit Support Area......Bruce D. Nelson aa789@cleveland.freenet.edu Portfolio Support Area......Fred Horvat ap748@cleveland.freenet.edu Lynx Support Area...........Barry W. Cantin aa852@cleveland.freenet.edu Contributor.................Eric Kaljumagi Contributor.................Rob Cupples cupples@iastate.edu _________________________________________________________________________ Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG Internet E-Mail: xx004@cleveland.freenet.edu _________________________________________________________________________ Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, P.O. Box 364, Mentor, OH U.S.A. 44061-0364 _________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents >From the Editor .........................................The CAIN Newsletter -Mark Leair >From the SIG Manager .....................The Cleveland Free-Net & Atari SIG -Len Stys Free-Net News ..............................................New CAIN FTP Site Accessing Free-Net from Delphi Lynx & Jaguar Support Areas Accessible from Video Game SIG -Atari SIG Atari News..........................................Tempest 2000 Press Release Lynx Offer from Atari -Atari Corp 8-Bit Computers Support Area ..........8-Bit Support Area News, Product News, Bulletin Board Messages of Interest, 8-bit Tutorial, Commentary -Michael Current 16/32-Bit Computers Support Area ......16/32 bit Computers Support Area News, 16/32 bit SigOps Needed, ST Roundtable Report, 16/32 bit Bulletin Board Messages of Interest -Bruce D. Nelson Portfolio Support Area ........................Using Nickel Cadmium Batteries -Fred Horvat Lynx Support Area ....................................Lynx Support Area News, Lynx Bulletin Board Messages of Interest, Lynx Commentary -Barry W. Cantin Jaguar Support Area ................................Jaguar Support Area News, Jaguar Reviews, Jaguar Bulletin Board Messages of Interest, Jaguar Commentary, -Len Stys Articles of Interest/Reviews..............................Tempest 2000 Review -Rob Cupples Upcoming Atari Shows......................................Atari Show Calendar SAC '94: A Review -Mark Leair Voting Issues and Results............Reader and User Opinion Poll Information Last Month's Poll Results This Month's Poll -Mark Leair Online Atari Conferences.....................Conferencing with the Atari SIG, Conference with Atari United!, An Upcoming Conference with Jeff Minter -Mark Leair General Information of Need........................How to Contribute to CAIN Article Requests -Mark Leair CAIN Newsletter Supplement....................Distribution Problems Continue -Len Stys >From the Editor -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= We are proud to report that circulation of the first issue of CAIN has been a success! One can obtain CAIN on Delphi, American Online, Genie, Compuserve, and other popular services. Furthermore, the first issue was the second most downloaded file on Delphi's Atari section as of April 6, 1994. We appreciate the downloads as well as the encouraging e-mail. Keep those letters coming! Finally, besides obtaining these issues via e-mail or the Atari SIG, one can now obtain these issues by Anonymous FTP! I'd like to personally thank Andrew Heller for providing us with this FTP site. See the Free-Net news section for further details. Welcome to another information-packed issue! In 8 bit news an Atari 8 bit emulator for the IBM PC will soon be available from Branch Always Software. For an overview and an interview with the author, Darek Mihocka, see the Atari 8 bit Support Area. Still haven't bought those rechargeable batteries for your Portfolio? Portfolio editor, Fred Horvat, may change your mind with his article in the Portfolio Area. In 16/32 bit news, Bruce Nelson explains what "online magazine" support is out there for the avid 16/32 bit user. Who says its too late for Easter Eggs? The Lynx Area features a new Easter Egg as well as information on a portable game newsletter that will soon be available on the Atari SIG. The Jaguar section contains a list of most wanted games for the Jaguar to be voted on! It also includes the latest Jag Info and a review of Tempest 2000! Finally, check out the Atari SIG conference sections for details on two upcoming conferences! If you still haven't received your Free-Net id, these two conferences will definitely convince you to register for yours today! -Mark Leair >From the SIG Manager -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- There is a lot of information available to Atari users thanks to the active members of the Atari Community. I do not believe that users of any other system (computer or video game) has as much information available to them as we do. There are FAQ lists, software lists, user group lists, developer lists, magazine lists, BBS lists, and even record high score lists. Each list is a FANTASTIC source of information and I would hate to see where we would be without them. Every time I read one of these information listings, I think to myself how great the person is that is maintaining it. I am sure everyone feels the same way. One of the things that we have been trying to do with the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is to make it a great information source. As I said before, information is the future. Those who have it are in great shape, those that do not are lost. We have managed to collect a number of these information listings for everyone to use. The members of the Atari Community worked hard on these information listings and it is only right to make them as accessible as possible. The following are some of the information listings that are available on the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG. If we are missing any that you have, please send them to the Atari SIG. 8-Bit Magazines (World) ***Atari SIG--Michael Current*** 8-Bit Vendors and Developers (World) **Atari SIG--Michael Current*** 8-Bit Magazines, Vendors and Developers (North America) **Atari Classics** 8-Bit User Groups (North America) **Atari Classics** 8-Bit Bulletin Board Systems (North America) ***Atari Classics*** 8-Bit Frequently Asked Questions ***Atari SIG--Michael Current*** 16/32-Bit Magazines ***Atari SIG*** 16/32-Bit IAAD Member Listing ***IAAD*** 16/32-Bit Vendors & Developers ***GEnie ST RTK*** 16/32-Bit Applications Software List ***Heiko Hartmann*** 16/32-Bit Games Software List ***Heiko Hartmann*** 16/32-Bit Frequently Asked Questions ***David Paschall-Zimbel*** 16/32-Bit User Group List ***Atari United*** Lynx Frequently Asked Questions ***Robert Jung*** Lynx Game Cheat List ***Peter Hvezdak*** Lynx High Score List ***Jim Leonard*** Lynx Robert Jung Game Reviews ***Peter Hvezdak*** Lynx ComLynx List ***B.Tribble*** Lynx R.J. Lynx Awards ***Robert Jung*** Jaguar Frequently Asked Questions ***Robert Jung*** Jaguar Game Cheat List Jaguar Record High Scores Reported ***Atari SIG*** Jaguar Developer List ***Atari Explorer Online*** Who's Who in the Atari Community ***Atari SIG*** Other Free-Net Atari SIGs ***Atari SIG*** The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG thrives on information and if you have any, contribute it! Also feel free to just send the Atari SIG any updates that you may have of the information listings you maintain. If you haven't already applied for a Free-Net account, what are you waiting for? The Atari SIG has many exciting things planned, but you can't be a part of them if you do not have a Free-Net account! And it is very easy to get one! Just log on the system as a visitor and apply for an account! Finally, I wrote a rather long commentary article that is included in the CAIN Newsletter supplement. It is about problems that still seem to exist with Atari's distribution. I received the impression from Atari representatives in the last couple of weeks that there is no problem with the distribution of the Jaguar. I wrote this article to point out that there are problems and they should be considered. By the way... If you aren't from Cleveland, the city has a new Baseball stadium called Jacobs Field. The baseball park is unbelievable. I would even dare to say that it is the best in the world. The Indians don't look bad either this year! If you are visiting Cleveland and have some time, go to a game! You'll enjoy yourself! Thank you and I hope to see you on Free-Net soon! Len Stys, SIG Manager Free-Net News -=-=-=-=-=-=- New CAIN FTP Site ----------------- The CAIN newsletter is now available for Anonymous FTP at "akh104.rh.psu.edu". The newsletters are presently kept in the /pub directory. The newsletters will use the following naming convention: cainMMYY.txt.z MM = The 2-digit numeric month. For example the month of April is 04 and the month of September is 10. YY = The 2-digit Year. Example: 94 = 1994. Presently the newsletters are compressed with gzip. FTP the file in Binary Mode. After receiving the file, enter ' gzip -d cainMMYY.txt.z ' at a Unix shell prompt to uncompress the file. CAIN would like to thank Andrew Heller for providing us with this FTP site. Accessing Free-Net from Delphi ------------------------------ To access the Cleveland Free-Net from Delphi, do a GO INTERNET at just about any prompt. In the Internet area, select Telnet. It'll ask you for the address which is, of course, freenet-in-a.cwru.edu. (If that's busy, try nextsun.ins.cwru.edu). Then log into freenet in the normal manner and GO ATARI. The Delphi user must have registered for internet access ($3.00/month extra). In the Internet area, a user can sign up for the access, use it, then un-signup. It'll cost $3.00 for just the current month. Lynx & Jaguar Support Areas Accessible from Video Game SIG ---------------------------------------------------------- The Cleveland Free-Net Video Game SIG has just released a new version of its SIG and has begun sharing the Lynx and Jaguar Support Areas with the Atari SIG: <**** Cleveland Freenet Video Game SIG ****> <*********** (go vgame) ***********> 1 About The Video Game SIG 2 General SIG News 3 General Talk, Suggestions, Etc. 4 General USENET Video Game Newsgroups 5 Nintendo 6 Sega 7 Atari 8 Multi-Media Systems 9 Classic Game Systems 10 Other Game Systems 11 Computer Games 12 Arcade Games 13 Pinball Machines 14 Video Game SIG Directory Services ------------------------------------------------ h=Help, x=Exit Free-Net, "go help"=extended help Your Choice ==> 7 The Video Game SIG //--------------------\\ ATARI \\--------------------// 1 Lynx Support Area 2 Jaguar Support Area 3 USENET: alt.games.lynx 4 USENET: rec.games.video.atari NOTE: Lynx & Jaguar Support Areas are maintained by the Atari SIG. (Type GO ATARI for more) ------------------------------------------------ h=Help, x=Exit Free-Net, "go help"=extended help Your Choice ==> Atari News -=-=-=-=-= FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lynn Thompson, (408) 764-0740 Karen Magill, (617) 494-8202 Cunningham Communications, Inc. Bill Rehbock, (408) 745-2000 Atari Corporation Atari Ships Tempest 2000 for New Jaguar Game Garners Industry Awards; Flies Off Retail Shelves SUNNYVALE, CALIF. - April 13, 1994--Wednesday Atari Corp. (ASE:ATC) announced it is shipping Tempest 2000 for Jaguar, its award-winning 64-bit game system. Tempest 2000 was recently awarded "CES Game of Show" (Electronic Games Magazine), "Game of the Month/March" (DieHard GameFan) and "Game of the Month/March" and "Editor's Choice Gold Award" (Electronic Gaming Monthly). The original Tempest is one of the most popular video games in arcade history. With Tempest 2000, players get four games on one game cartridge: the original Tempest, Tempest Plus, Tempest 2000 and Tempest Duel. "Tempest 2000 is the hottest selling title on Jaguar today," said Peter Roithmayr, senior buyer at Electronics Boutique. "We sold over 60 percent of our Tempest 2000 stock within four days; most sold in the first two days of shelf life. Tempest 2000 is in very high demand because the popularity of the Jaguar has far exceeded the gaming industry's expectations." "Tempest, by itself, is worth the price of the Jag -- Tempest 2000 for Jaguar is further proof that the next level of gaming has arrived," said Dave Halverson, DieHard GameFan. Tempest 2000 players venture through 100 unchartered galaxies filled with "Demon Heads," a very aggressive and deadly enemy and "Warp Bonus Tokens," which count toward bonus levels and a free instant "SuperZapper," a player's defense which can destroy everything on the screen. "We are pleased to offer Jaguar players Tempest 2000, which has already captured the attention and praise of the industry's leading game publications, " said Sam Tramiel, president of Atari Corp. "Tempest 2000 has hit the ground running -- Jaguar's 64-bit technology has allowed us to make one of the industry's most exciting, challenging games even more outstanding." Tempest 2000 features two-player cooperative play and more than 30 minutes of pure CD-quality techno-rave soundtrack. In addition: -- Powerful 3D polygons provide realistic parallax star fields -- Particle displays deliver realistic explosions -- Melt-O-Vision graphics provide stunning graphic effects -- Cycle shading gives players accurate depth perception Atari Tempest 2000 is immediately available through all Atari-authorized retailers for $59.99.Atari Jaguar is the world's first 64-bit interactive multimedia home entertainment system and is the only video game system manufactured in the United States. Jaguar was recently named the industry's "Best New Game System" (VideoGames Magazine), "Best New Hardware System" (Game Informer) and "1993 Technical Achievement of the Year" (DieHard GameFan). Atari Corp., based in Sunnyvale, manufactures and markets 64-bit interactive multimedia entertainment systems, video games and personal computers for the home, office and educational marketplaces. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. LYNX OFFER FROM ATARI NOTICE: PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS OFFER TO FRIENDS! Atari Corporation is looking for ways to reward onliners for their dedicated support of our products. We have come to appreciate the volume of great ideas, suggestions, criticisms and compliments. We know you are buying our products already, but we think you deserve a little more. The followng offer is available to members of all popular online services including the Internet and public access BBS's. It is also available to readers of popular online magazines who choose to support their readers by reprinting this offer. Look for other online offers soon. SPAN: Good from 3/1/94 to 6/1/94 OFFER: Buy a Lynx, get 2 carts free. BONUS: Free Scorpions CD Single to first 100 orders! DESCRIPTION: Buy a Lynx game system for only $99.99 and receive your choice of TWO game carts free. ($80 value. That's like getting the Lynx for just $20!) CHOOSE FROM: Any of Atari Corp's existing stock of Lynx titles. (List follows.) WHAT IS A LYNX? Atari(r) Lynx(tm) is the ultimate portable video game machine. It delivers over 4,000 colors, up-to 8-player connectivity potential, 16-bit graphics engine, 3.5" diag. playing screen, hardware scaling, headphone jack, right/left handed controls and lots and lots of cartridges to choose from. ...Arcade video game fun everywhere you go. Note: If you already own a Lynx, use this one to ComLynx with family members or put it aside as a gift ... (keep the free carts for YOU!) ... or form an alliance with a friend and split the costs! Terms subject to change without notice. Offer valid only to North American locations. HOW TO ORDER ATARI CORPORATION OFFERS: (It's easy) 1) Fill out the order template below. 2) a. Fax order to 408/745-2088. (BEST METHOD) b. EMail (PRIVATELY) this order to: Don Thomas <75300.1267@compuserve.com> or (75300,1267 on CompuServe) Bob Brodie or (BOB-BRODIE on GEnie) c. Call your order to 408/745-2098 (9-5 PST) Note: Phones are often jammed with excited Jaguar callers. Please be patient! FULL NAME TO SHIP: ADDRESS TO SHIP: APARTMENT, SUITE, LOT: CITY, STATE, PROVINCE: POSTAL CODE: DAY PHONE NUMBER: ( ) NIGHT PHONE NUMBER: ( ) ONLINE SERVICE USED: ONLINE USER I.D./ADRSS: (NOT PASSWORD) ----- Complete if first order in 12 months ------- NAME ON CREDIT CARD: MASTERCARD/VISA NUMBER: EXPIRATION DATE: -------------------------------------------------- EDIT ORDER BELOW: DESCRIPTION QTY EACH EXTENDED ================================================== 1 Lynx complete 1 $ 99.99 $ 99.99 2 ??????? cartridge 1 $$.$$ FREE 3 ??????? cartridge 1 $$.$$ FREE 4 ================================================== SUB TOTAL ............................ $ 99.99 CALIFORNIA TAX (8.25% if applicable).. $ x.xx SHIPPING & HANDLING* ................. $ 4.95 ================================================== TOTAL (U.S. funds) ................... $ xxx.xx List of Atari Corp. Lynx Titles """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" $49.99 ====== BATMAN RETURNS NINJA GAIDEN III PITFIGHTER $39.99 ====== A. P. B. STEEL TALONS AWESOME GOLF S.T.U.N. RUNNER BASKETBRAWL SUPERSKWEEK BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE TOKI BLUE LIGHTNING TOURNAMENT CYBERBALL CALIFORNIA GAMES TURBO SUB CHECKERED FLAG VIKING CHILD CRYSTAL MINES II WARBIRDS SWITCHBLADE II XYBOTS HARD DRIVIN' DRACULA THE UNDEAD HOCKEY POWER FACTOR HYDRA DINOLYMPICS KUNG FOOD DIRTY LARRY, RENEGADE COP LYNX CASINO WORLD CLASS SOCCER NINJA GAIDEN JOUST ROADBLASTERS GORDO 106 SCRAPYARD DOG JIMMY CONNORS TENNIS SHADOW OF THE BEAST LEMMINGS N. F. L. FOOTBALL MALIBU BIKINI VOLLEYBALL PINBALL JAM $34.95 ====== BASEBALL HEROES RAMPART RAMPAGE RYGAR $29.95 ====== CHIP'S CHALLENGE BLOCKOUT ISHIDO ELECTROCOP MS. PAC-MAN GATES OF ZENDOCON PACLAND GAUNTLET THE THIRD ENCOUNTER PAPERBOY KLAX SHANGHAI ROBO-SQUASH TODD'S ADVENTURE IN SLIME WORLD ROBOTRON 2084 XENOPHOBE ZARLOR MERCENARY -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | CLEVELAND FREE-NET WILL PRESENT __FREE__ COMPLIMENTARY USAGE TIME | | to the readers of: | | | | CAIN Newsletter | | | | New Users Sign Today! Connect by modem: 216/368-3888 or | | Telnet to: freenet-in-a.cwru.edu, 129.22.8.32 | | | | You can log on as a visitor to explore the system. At the opening | | menu ("Please enter 1 or 2:"), enter "2" to log in as a visitor. At | | the next menu, enter "2" again to explore the system. You will then | | read an opening disclaimer and a login bulletin, then be sent to the | | main Free-Net menu. Once inside, type "go atari". Follow the menus | | to read Atari-related discussions, reviews, news, and information. | | In order to post messages, send e-mail, vote, chat online, and sign | | a user directory, you need a Free-Net account. Apply for a Free-Net | | account by entering "1" at the second menu instead of "2". | | | | All new registered users receive "free" accounts which will not | | require payment for the usage of the system. | | | | The Cleveland Free-Net has an Atari SIG comparable to other systems. | | The Atari SIG carries _ALL_ Z*Magazine issues. Z*Net & ST Report | | from 1989. All Atari Explorer Online issues. The latest and | | greatest Atari news. "Support Areas" for all Atari users. Multi- | | User Chat, Voting Booth, Wanted & For Sale, User Directories, and | | even direct access to Atari related Usenet newsgroups. | | | | No charge for registration or usage of this system! Register today! | | | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--= 8-Bit Computers Support Area -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 8-Bit Support Area News ----------------------- Michael Current The Info-Atari8 Digest has returned! Thanks to Mike Todd and Mike Jewison for taking the initiative to get it running again, and good luck at bringing it back to full functionality. (More on that in a bit.) If you're not familiar with it, the Info-Atari8 Digest is the Internet mailing-list dedicated to our favorite 8-bit computers. It contains the same message base as found on the Usenet newsgroup comp.sys.atari.8bit, but because it is distributed by e-mail it can reach many people who do not have Usenet access. You'll often see me refer to the two groups as one, the comp.sys.atari.8bit/Info-Atari8 Digest discussion group. Option 11 in our 8-Bit Computers Support Area always contains at least 6 months of the Digest, forming a useful archive of comp.sys.atari.8bit postings. The Info-Atari8 Digest has a long and storied history, only a portion of which I am familiar with. It presently is mailed from info-atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu, a machine at Northern Arizona University, but that wasn't always the case. When I came across the Internet in 1989 it came from a machine at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Sorry, I don't remember that address exactly, but it was the same machine that was the original huge FTP site, simtel. Before that, the original address for the Info-Atari8 Digest was info-atari8@score.stanford.edu. Who remembers those days? When the Digest was at its two previous sites, it worked like this. Every posting made to comp.sys.atari.8bit on Usenet appeared in the Info-Atari8 Digest, and every mailing sent to the digest address was posting to comp.sys.atari.8bit. Unfortunately, when the Digest was moved to its present site in early 1990 this mechanism did not survive the transition. Ever since then the Usenet->Internet direction has worked, but the Internet-> Usenet direction has not. People would post questions on Usenet, and Digest subscribers would mail their responses and see their responses in the Digest, then wonder why the original questioner didn't see it. Mass confusion, and my original motivation for creating the 8-bit Atari FAQ List. Digest subscribers now overcome this by sending their mailings instead to comp-sys-atari-8bit@cs.utexas.edu, a site that will take any mail and post it to any newsgroup for you. This technique works, but it's only a stop-gap solution. Adding to the confusion was the INFO-A8 Listserv on BITNET. This was a secondary distribution of the Info-Atari8 Digest for persons on BITNET but not the Internet (and two steps removed from Usenet). Probably due to the fact that most BITNET sites have since connected to the Internet, I don't believe INFO-A8 exists anymore. With new maintainers Mike Todd and Mike Jewison on the job, I have full confidence that the Info-Atari8 Digest situation will soon be finally resolved. Good luck to you both! 8-Bit Product News ------------------ From: darekm@microsoft.com (Darek Mihocka) I've seen various posts recently talking about an 8-bit emulator for the PC and where to get it. The one I'm working on, PC Xformer (an MS-DOS port of ST Xformer) is not in beta testing or yet available anywhere, so claims about it sightings should be taken with a grain of salt. It read one post about an emulator that requires SuperVGA 640x480x256 mode. That is not PC Xformer. So let's lay some rumors to rest. I did show an early version of PC Xformer about 2 years ago at the Chicago Atarifest and I will be showing a more complete version of it next month at the Sacramento Atarifest and passing out some information about it. Since most people would never be caught dead in Sacramento, MAIL me (not email) your name and mailing address and I'll send you that info: Darek Mihocka 14150 N.E. 20th St. #302 Bellevue, WA 98007 Here is a quick summary of what PC Xformer does and major changes from ST Xformer: - runs on any 286/386/486/Pentium or non-Intel processor that emulates at least a 286. - full speed emulation on roughly a 386/20. 286s will run slower. A 486/66 emulates 8 times faster than normal. Fast enough? An option allows you to slow down to roughly normal speed. - requires a VGA card only, not a SuperVGA, since it uses 320x200x256 mode. Overscanned programs don't go beyond 320x200. - GTIA, DLIs, and PM/G are supported. (unlike ST Xformer which didn't support any of those graphics features due to the slow speed of emulation and crippled graphics of an ST) - at the moment, no support for using the Xformer Cable. Transfer your 8-bit files to the ST using the Xformer Cable and then use those files on the PC, or use SIO2PC. Other info (such as a compatibility list, beta testing info, etc) will be mailed out later on, so send in your mailing addresses. I don't read this newsgroup on a regular basis so please send questions by mail. - Darek -- /--------------------------------------\ | Darek Mihocka. net: darekm@microsoft | | Views expressed are always my own. | \--------------------------------------/ -- EDITOR'S NOTE: PC Xformer is a DOS application that will run under Windows, OS/2 2.1, and Windows NT. It only requires 640K RAM. PC Xformer will ship in June 1994 at a retail price of $39.95 U.S. However, BraSoft will soon offer a special introductory price around $29.95 if purchased by the end of June. Furthermore, a demo version will be available within the next few weeks. Finally, for more information on this emulator, consult the "8-bit Tutorial" below. -ML From: RG9@VAX.YORK.AC.UK SUPPORT FOR YOUR ATARI 8-BIT FROM RICHARD GORE. ---------------------------------------------- YORKY 256K Memory upgrade: ------------------------- Yes, its still available but in dwindling quantities. The Yorky 256k memory upgrade simply plugs into the PBI port of your 800XL or a 64k internally upgraded 600XL and gives you 256k of XE type compatible bank switched memory. You don't have to open your machine or do any soldering, its supplied ready to be plugged in and used. An A4 manual and a double sided disk of support software are included in the price. Price: #50 plus #2 p&p (UK), #3.50 (EC), #5 (worldwide). (also for US customers $90 fully inclusive). I also hope to have ready very soon, a new version of the Yorky with a PBI feedthrough to allow the connection of another PBI device like the Black Box. More details will be supplied when everything is finally sorted out. SOFTWARE: -------- JAWBREAKER - The classic Pac-man style game originally sold by Sierra-On-Line. This version includes two mazes which were originally sold as separate games as well as a new pause function and improved joystick control. MOUSEKATTACK - Another classic game from Sierra-On-Line. This game has you trying to plumb the levels of Rat Alley. A very addictive game featuring a one or two player (simultaneously on screen) mode, new pause feature and improved joystick control. Both games are available on disk, tape or Rambit Turbo tape (state which) and are supplied with a printed manual. Prices: #4.50 each or #6.95 for BOTH (UK p&p included) (overseas please add #2 for airmail shipping) (US dollar prices $10 each or $18 for both fully inclusive) For further details or to order contact: RICHARD GORE, 79 SPROTBROUGH ROAD, SPROTBROUGH, DONCASTER, DN5 8BW, ENGLAND Telephone: (0302) 784642 weekends only please. E-mail: RG9@UK.AC.YORK.TOWER or RG9@UK.AC.YORK.VAX (Non-JANET users invert UK.AC.YORK.xxx to xxx.YORK.AC.UK) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SOFTWARE Authors, have you written any games or utilities for the Atari 8-bits, new or old? If you have and you have the rights contact me now and we can hopefully arrange to get them (re-)marketed! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: RG9@VAX.YORK.AC.UK Date: 14 Mar 1994 07:11:23 -0600 This posting is being done as a service by Richard Gore on behalf of RAMBIT. All replies should be sent to the address given at the end of the posting. We are pleased to send you details of our PARALLEL PRINTER PORT for the Atari XL/XE computers, connecting to the parallel bus interface (XL) or enhanced cartridge port (XE). The P.P.P. is designed to enable you to connect EPSON compatible printers such as Panasonic KX-P1081, OKI-82, MP-165 etc. and print at their designed speeds, ie not slowed to serial speed. The P.P.P consists of a compact unit which plugs directly into your computer port and outputs through a standard female 36way centronics socket connected to the printer using the lead supplied with the printer (possibly!). The software necessary to drive the unit is best incorporated into your OS on EPROM so accessed by normal legal IO calls. Your system is so adapted as to allow use of your utilities (provided they only make standard use of the OS, 99% do) whether cartridge, disk or tape without any alteration of them. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS. Power for the unit can be taken from the printer on pin 18 of the connector, or from the computer as desired. Should your printer be non-standard parallel, quite possibly we can advise on tailoring to its specification! Alteration of your cable, ie change of plug or reposition of individual wires, will only be necessary if it has no male 36way centronics plug on its computer end and/or full 36 wires present. SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS. PRINTER:- does it output +5volt on pin 18 to the cable? If not check pin 47 of your XL pbi, wiring of this may be necessary. :-printer signals as follows, SELECT and BUSY both active high, ACKNOWLEDGE and STROBE active low; differences will require tailoring at no extra cost! CABLE:-fitted with male standard 36way parallel (centronics) plug at computer end. COMPUTER:- for supply of EPROM driver details of your existing OS will be required and may involve fitting of a DIL socket to hold it. Kit also lends itself to being fitted inside your computer or having printer lead soldered too it. Prices all inclusive, Overseas +10%. Sterling only, cheques or postal orders made payable to Rambit. KIT WITH EPROM for XL or XE ....#20 prices for ready assembled by negotiation. We aim to satisfy and consequently will do our best to give technical support, answer genuine queries and will be pleased to accept your comments. We will also update/re-record on receipt of out original disk/tape with return postage. Address: RAMBIT, 16 THE GREEN, THURLBY, BOURNE, LINCS., PE10 OHB, ENGLAND telephone (in UK): 0778 424450 Additional comments by Richard GORE: Dave Richardson the man behind Rambit is very technical and I'm sure he won't mind me saying has difficulty in writing using non-technical jargon. The above posting sounds pretty complex but what he is saying is he has available a printer interface that plugs into a PBI on the XL or XE and can be tailored for non-standard printers. I also know he has experimented with using these kits to get two computers interconnected and I think has created an RS 232 interface. If you are at all interested in such projects I suggest you write to him at the address given above to find out more. 8-Bit Bulletin Board Messages of Interest ----------------------------------------- Article #1081 (1100 is last): From: cr198@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (James E. King) >Newsgroups: freenet.sci.comp.atari.spec.8bit Subject: The Korner BBS Date: Tue Mar 8 11:39:31 1994 Effective yesterday, Mar 7, 1994 - the Korner BBS will no longer be online 24hours/day, 7days/week - instead, I've changed the number (will post it tomorrow) and will be putting the BBS online WEEKENDS only. If you would like to access over 350meg of 8bit Atari files, then this BBS is for you.. The Korner BBS is easily the largest 8bit BBS in existence! -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= - James King aka Kamaro Kid - - Atari 8bit SysOp of Delphi & AC Exchange Editor - - Inet Mail: jking@email.state.ut.us _OR_ - Article #1090 (1100 is last): From: bo511@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (James P. Norris) >Newsgroups: freenet.sci.comp.atari.spec.8bit Subject: Improved Sig Date: Tue Mar 15 09:42:42 1994 I have just finished perusing the new and improved 8-bit portion of this Sig and I must say I am very very impressed! This is without a doubt one of the most complete 8-bit services possible to be made today. I know I will be using it often and let just say thanks to our Sig-ops for making this possible. I am especially impressed by the use-net interface and the archive support. Although it possible to access Umich's archive via email before this, such access was difficult and cumbersome. I have yet to retrieve an intact large file successfully. I am sure I will be able to do it with this new interface. Again, my thanks. -- Jim Norris bo511@hela.cwru.edu 1909 Lakeview Ave Rocky River, OH 44116-2413 (216)-356-0967 (voice) 8-Bit Tutorial -------------- Mark Leair A Closer Look: PC Xformer I had the opportunity to ask Darek Mihocka at Branch Always Software (BraSoft) some questions on their upcoming release of PC Xformer. Below is an excerpt from our dialogue. ML: What basically is PC Xformer? DM: Basically PC Xformer is a DOS application, so it will run on DOS, Windows, OS/2 2.1, and Windows NT (already tested it). It just required the usual 640K of RAM, a standard VGA card (no SuperVGA or VESA VGA required but of course you can use it), and a PC with at least a 286 (386 or 486 is recommended). ML: What machines does PC Xformer emulate? DM: PC Xformer emulates the bank switching of a 130XE allowing you to run software written for the Atari 400/800, the XL, and the XE. ML: How does PC Xformer handle the 8 bit's Disk Drives? DM: Disk drives are handled by using disk images produced by either the SIO2PC cable (.ATR files) or those produced with the ST Xformer Cable (.XFD files). So existing users of SIO2PC and ST Xformer have already transferred their 8-bit software to the correct IBM format and are ready to go! ML: Will PC Xformer support such external devices as R: (the Serial/Modem port)? DM: This question on devices suggests that you don't really understand what an emulator does (most people don't, so don't worry about it). For example, most people think that Gemulator emulates GEM. It doesn't. It emulates a 68000 chip and the Atari ST hardware. So it doesn't matter what you run for an operating system (TOS 1.0, TOS 1.4, TOS 2.06, etc) or what kind of program you run, even programs that peek and poke directly to hardware, because that's what the emulator is emulating. Similarly, PC Xformer does not emulate the 8-bit operating system or BASIC. It is a 6502 emulator that emulates the ANTIC, POKEY, GTIA, PIA, and related chips. Software that peeks and pokes directly to hardware (which almost 100% of 8-bit software does) runs just fine. The devices like E: K: and other operating system's devices are not emulated by PC Xformer, that's the operating system's business. BASIC is not emulated by PC Xformer. If BASIC is the machine language code you happen to be executing, then that's what you get. So as with Gemulator, PC Xformer emulates the whole computer, not just the operating system. ML: By emulating the whole computer, will PC Xformer be a 100% compatible emulator? DM: ... that's what I'm claiming in the ads. Of course beta testers will probably find something that won't run on PC Xformer, but it'll be pretty ... close just like Gemulator. I won't really know the answers to specific compatibility questions until the beta testers have their go with it. * * * For additional information on any of BraSoft's products contact: Branch Always Software 14150 N.E. 20th St., Suite 302 Bellevue, WA 98007 ATTN: Darek Mihocka 8-Bit Commentary ---------------- Michael Current _Atari Classics_ is no longer taking subscriptions, and April 1994 will be the final issue. Managing Editor Ben Poehland writes in the just- released February issue, "It's time to end the anxiety that has characterized this publication since it was launched." While subscription numbers peaked at about 530 for the October '93 issue, there were only about 375 subscribers by the time the February '94 issue was released. The magazine was created from the beginning to be self-sufficient as long as there were 500 subscribers, but this number proved too difficult to maintain. 'Tis a shame, as the February issue is another quality, exciting one (despite my own ramblings on pp. 4-7 :). There are brand-new advertisements from Fine-Tooned Engineering, Computer Software Services, Aerion Software, Dean Garraghty Software, and Video 61. For me, seeing new ads is at least as exciting as reading new articles. The point is this. Despite the failure of the _Atari Classics_ Experiment, our market has yet to die. Witness the numerous 8-bit vendors and developers we have to choose from, and the continued coverage in that other North American Atari publication, _Current Notes_. There is more. A Consortium from the San Leandro Club of California, headed by familiar names Bob Woolley and Jim Hood, plans to start an all 8-bit Atari publication of their own in place of the void created by the departure of AC. Their venture deserves our watchful eye, as the 8-bit Atari community tries to prevent total and final collapse. The advent of plenty of 8-bit advertising in AC and CN, and the well-known 8-bit dedication of Bob, Jim, and the SLCC, offers hope of good things for the Future. Quoting Ben Poehland once more, "It's getting to be a very strange world for Atari 8-bitters in 1994. Michael Current, Cleveland Free-Net 8-bit Atari SIGOp / Iowa City, IA, USA Internet: mcurrent@carleton.edu / Cleveland Free-Net: aa700 16/32-Bit Computers Support Area -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 16/32-Bit Computers Support Area News ------------------------------------- There are two new areas added to the 16/32-BIT REFERENCE DESK. These areas are: Applications Software List and Games Software List. Each list includes Falcon030 compatible software: <<< 16/32-BIT REFERENCE DESK >>> 1 Magazines 2 IAAD Member Listing 3 Vendors & Developers 4 Applications Software List 5 Games Software List 6 Frequently Asked Questions... ------------------------------------------------ h=Help, x=Exit Free-Net, "go help"=extended help Your Choice ==> 16/32-Bit SIGOps Needed ----------------------- The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG's 16/32-Bit Computers Support Area is presently looking for additional SIGOps. There are two areas that need to be managed the most. These areas include the MIDI Forum and the Programming/Developing Forum. These are volunteer positions. If you are interested in either position, please contact the Atari SIG by this address: xx004@cleveland.freenet.edu ST Roundtable Report by Bruce Nelson, aa789@cleveland.freenet.edu -------------------------------------------- There has been a distinct decline in the number of hardcopy magazines devoted to the Atari platform over the past year or two. But the online magazines have stepped in to fill the void. Here on the Cleveland Freenet, we carry the text portions of ST Report, Z*Net, and Atari Explorer Online. They're in the Atari Libary section under Online Magazines. While most of the current news regarding products coming from Atari Corp. are in regards to the Jaguar, there are still a few tidbits being published in the onlines regarding the computing platforms. In particular, Atari Explorer Online has been doing a splendid job in keeping up with the computer side of Atari's products. Back in AEO #302, the transcript of the Bob Brodie conference reveals that the TT is back in production, and that many new products were shown at NAMM to enhance the ST/TT's usefulness to the music industry. And Bob` mentioned a hi-rez video digitizer due out for the Falcon in the near future. In that same issue, Andreas Barbiero talked about the Falcon's popularity in Germany and the price drop for the STfm in Great Britain`n$ which has prompted a whole new bunch of add-on's for those platforms which we will hopefully see distributed on the other side of the Big Pond in the near future. And Ed Krimen talks about what products can be added to the older machines to bring them more "up to date". Meanwhile, in every issue of AEO, Michael Burkley reviews most of the uploads found on the pay services. I sure wish I knew where he finds the time to unpack and try every one of them, but he provides a great service to the Atari community. In AEO #305, Patty Barbiero released the most current list available of local User Groups. I know there's lot's of corrections which will need to be made to that list, but it's a start. By releasing this version, the groups involved will get a chance to update the list. And the best part about all this information is .... it's free! You can get it right here on the Freenet. 16/32-Bit Bulletin Board Messages of Interest --------------------------------------------- From: pdirect@news.delphi.com (PDIRECT@DELPHI.COM) >Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: New Atari Magazine -- Contents! Date: Tue Apr 12 19:00:11 1994 Proce ssor Direct Magazine: Further information For general information please refer to the earlier posted general release. The text below was used for internal purposes, however due to a very surprising demand, I looked over it and decided to post it. The "Includes" sections don't necessarily mean those are the only illustrations on the page. Don't be fooled by the page numbers. This is quite literally a large magazine (the page size is 11.5"x13.5") and as such the number of pages articles take up is much less. The fact we used slightly smaller text than other publications (it's a 10 point serif font, larger than newspaper but smaller than what would normally be used in a "small" publication) also compressed the size of the issue somewhat. Ask anyone who has seen it, this issue is PACKED. March/April 1994 Issue Contents: Page Article name, author : column title "description" ------ ----------------------------------------------------------------- COVER Getting Connected, by Scott Garrigus : MIDI, Music, and the Atari "Musicians and on-line networks" Includes rate comparison chart for major networks. COVER Video Master Falcon, by James Kracht : Pixel Engineering "Review of video digitizer" Includes picture digitized using VMF. INSIDE Editorial, Special Thanks COVER "Issue opener" 2 Table of Contents 4 Getting Along with the Falcon, by Richard Bush : Making the System Transition "Aspects of compatibility, large compatibility list" Includes massive compatibility list. 5 TWP Newswire "Variety of recent news items" Includes screen shots from Calamus SL modules. 6 Recent Developments "News on new product releases, shareware/commercial" 8 Inexpensive High Resolution, by Sean Dougherty "In-depth review of ScreenBlaster" Includes screen size comparison screen shots, and CPX shot. 10 They Call it CoNnect, by Robert Anisko "Review of CoNnect, terminal program -- shareware" Includes screen shots 14 Falcon030 Demos, by James Kracht : Pixel Engineering "A look at several demos for the Falcon030" Includes a rating system and availability sections 16 TruePaint Reviewed, by James Kracht : Pixel Engineering "A review of TruePaint from many viewpoints" Includes two screen shots, one on cover. 17 GIF Viewers, by James Kracht : Pixel Engineering "Mini-Reviews of popular GIF viewers" Includes two screen shots. 18 Survey 19 Those Darned Cookies, by Mike Allen "Technical Column on accessing Cookies and DMA audio" 22 DataLite 2, by Dennis Sellers "A review of DataLite 2, hard disk compression program" Includes screen shot. 24 wind_close(), by Robert Fernandez "Closing Comments" 24 Writer Biographies 24 Advertiser Index -END---- Hopefully my signature works by now. Delphi was having a problem interpreting my first one and it didn't work very well. Portfolio Support Area -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Portfolio Support Area News --------------------------- The Portfolio column is looking for additional writers! If you are interested, please contact the CFN Atari SIG at the e-mail address: xx004@cleveland.freenet.edu Article of Interest ------------------- Using Nickel Cadmium Batteries This installment I will discuss the general topic of Nickel Cadmium batteries but one that also directly effects Atari Portfolio users. How many batteries do you use a year? How many just for your portable computer alone? This article is not to tell you about how "green" rechargeable batteries are, but to help new Nickel Cadmium users or frustrated current users understand these little demons better. Nickel Cadmium, or Ni-Cads, are rechargeable batteries that can be recharged up to over a hundred times with proper care and usage. Cost of recharging them is only a couple of pennies per battery. These batteries also come in almost all popular sizes. With the obvious cost savings over buying new (expensive) batteries every time they wear down, how come people don't use them more often? Well a common response is that they cost more up front and don't last as long as Carbon Zinc or Alkaline Batteries. This is both true and untrue. Depending on the usage and care, Ni-Cads an cost far less over their life time and give good charge times. The next couple of paragraphs will give more insite and will allow you decide whether or not Ni-Cads are for you. First off, I'd like to explain some differences between a Ni-Cad battery and a regular Alkaline or Carbon Zinc battery. First and foremost Ni-Cads can be recharged over a hundred times safely. Regular batteries can also be recharged but not as reliably or safely. By safely I mean that the batteries will not rupture and leak acid. Ni-Cads power drop off curve is not linear, but drop off almost immediately. When using Alkaline's in the Portfolio you can get the "Low Battery" message and still use the computer for more than a few minutes before it automatically shuts itself off. With Ni-Cads when you get the "Low Battery" message you have a few seconds to turn the computer off and sometimes the machine never gives you the message at all and you are left with a blank screen! Ni-Cads go full steam and die quick, regular batteries go full steam and then slowly taper off. In the Portfolio's case the AA batteries that are recommended are Alkalines. The specs on these are 1.5 volts each. The specs on a Ni-Cad are 1.2 to 1.25 volts each. So with the 3 batteries you start off around .75 volts short right off the bat. Ni-Cads have what is called a memory. This memory is what frustrates most people and they end up getting poor life out of Ni-Cads because of this. What is memory in a Ni-Cad? Very simply a Ni-Cad remembers how much it was charged and discharged and behaves off of this. What? Well follow this scenario. In my Portfolio I am using Ni-Cads and I get the "Low Battery" message. I would replace my batteries and be on my merry way. The batteries I removed still have a charge left in them they are not completely dead or discharged. If I were to recharge them at this point, I would only charge the percentage that was drained, not the entire battery. When done charging the, battery is not 100% but less than that. If I were to reuse them they would not last as long because of not getting a full charge. After repeating this cycle a few times the batteries would give very short use times and always be needing recharge. To avoid this cycle completely discharge the batteries before each recharging. Some battery (expensive) rechargers have this capability but most don't. For my AA Portfolio batteries I put them in a pen light and turn it on and whenever the light is out, I take the batteries out and they are ready to be recharged. The benefit of draining the batteries every time is that they get a full charge every single time and offer the best service. Well, after all this, is it wise or worth it to use Ni-Cads in the Portfolio? You bet it is! You just need to follow a slightly different battery replacement schedule and stick to it for best and safest results. Under moderate to heavy daily use, Alkalines with the Portfolio can be expected to last four to six weeks. With Ni-Cads an average of two weeks to play it safe. Obviously your own use will govern when to change them. For me every two Saturdays I replace them whether they need it or not, this way I don't have a dead Portfolio on my hands (pun intended). I also discharge the batteries completely before recharging them. I have had great service from my Ni-Cads this way, and a happy user and Portfolio to boot for over three years! I also have three sets of batteries, one in use, one always ready, and one in the state of being recharged. This is really only an extra set if you are used to using Alkalines. Over the life of a Ni-Cad in use, there definitely is a cost `savings besides a "Greener" environment. I hope this installment shed enough light on Ni-Cads, besides just for the Portfolio so that you can benefit from their use in other areas as well. Fred Horvat Your Part Time Atari Portfolio Sigop Lynx Support Area -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Lynx Support Area News ---------------------- The Lynx can expect a couple new releases soon: Fat Bobby and BattleZone 2000! According to Ted Taiquechi of Atari Corp., both these games have been released to production and we can expect to see them on shelves in a couple months. Near completion is a card with two *classics* -- "Super Asteroids/ Missile Command". The games have been revamped and the card is currently "in testing". No word on a release date. Third Party games - Telegames is working on a Lynx version of the popular "Super Off-Road", and Beyond Games ("BattleWheels") is nearing completion on their second Lynx title, "Ultra Vortex". No word on release dates for these titles. New Easter Egg -------------- In the game Lynx Hockey, a weird Easter Egg turned up recently. Enter the password BATSXPEB, and you will get a bat cartoon... Then when you go to the team selection screen, there is an additional team in Group D called "The Bats" - all with perfect stats! APE Newsletters Online ---------------------- There will soon be issues of Clinton Smith's excellent newsletter online at the Cleveland Freenet. The APE Newsletter has been covering the Lynx for four years, giving us Lynx owners inside scoops to new games/releases, cheats, hints, tips, as well as news from Atari, third-party developers, and electronics shows where the Lynx made an appearance. Clint has done a wonderful job with this newsletter, and has given the Cleveland Freenet permission to post these newsletters (except the most recent) for online viewing. Issues 9 and 10 are available and are located in the Lynx area, and the rest are soon to come. Later issues of the APE Newsletter - renamed "Atari Power Entertainment" (from "Atari Portable Entertainment") include this same high-quality coverage of the new Jaguar 64-bit interactive mutimedia system. These will also be posted soon. Most Wanted Games for the Lynx ------------------------------ If you would like to see a game made for the Lynx (one that already exists) then send the CFN Atari SIG e-mail. Your game suggestion will be included in the list of most wanted games to be voted on in the next issue of CAIN Newsletter. Lynx Bulletin Board Messages of Interest -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From: rxw31@po.CWRU.Edu (Rory Wohl) >Newsgroups: freenet.sci.comp.atari.spec.video Subject: Got Mine . . . Reply-To: rxw31@po.CWRU.Edu (Rory Wohl) Date: Thu Mar 24 12:40:54 1994 Well, I couldn't resist and ordered my Lynx w/2 carts on 3/14. (An early birthday present to myself.) It came on 3/22 and I've barely put it down. Blue Lightning is just as much fun as I remembered and Lemmings is _very_ addicting. At first, I wasn't too crazy about it, but it grew on me fast. The best part was getting the order form for more games in the box with the Lynx. What to choose, what to choose? So, I guess I'm back in the Lynx community after a 3.5 year absence. Sure makes me wish I hadn't given away the games that weren't stolen with my first Lynx. -- Rory M. Wohl rxw31@po.cwru.edu rory26@aol.com "If you have a plan, no one can stop you, because no one is planning to stop you" From: aa852@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Barry W. Cantin) >Newsgroups: freenet.sci.comp.atari.spec.video Subject: Re: Got Mine . . . Date: Thu Mar 24 15:10:53 1994 Welcome back, Rory - and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Yep - Blue Lightning is great. Lemmings was programmed by the original Amiga programmer. When you finish it, you get a very long scrolling message that's well worth reading (or, you could just check it out in the cheats area here on CFN...). What to choose... what to choose... Advice from me: get ALL of them ;-) Start with BattleWheels and Checkered Flag, Warbirds, Chip's Chlg (cheap now), there are so many. Barry -- <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Barry Cantin, aa852@cleveland.freenet.edu Atari Lynx SIGop, Cleveland Freenet <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lynx Commentary -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Well, right now it's a bit slow as far as new releases for the Lynx. Atari is devoting the vast majority of its resources to the Jaguar, and rightfully so -- it is very important to the company that the Jag hit the market hard and fast, and make a huge name for itself. So, Atari's main focus right now is on the Jaguar. So where does that leave Lynx owners? Well, we haven't been forgotten. Atari is still going to release Lynx titles. There is a healthy list "in the pipeline", and the arrival of "Eye of the Beholder" will add the first RPG for the Lynx - complete with battery backup! Third party developers are also working on Lynx titles as well. So, bear with it for now -- the games will be here soon. And in the meantime, there's a library of nearly 70 games available. Lots to keep us busy... Let's all wish the Jaguar *success*! The future of the Lynx may well depend on it. Barry Cantin Lynx Support Area SIGOp Jaguar Support Area -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Jaguar Support Area News ------------------------ The Jaguar Support Area has done really well since it was first released just over a month ago. If you have not already visited the Jaguar Support Area, you are encouraged to do so! There is great conversation and a lot of useful information in this area. We are attempting to put together a list of the games most wanted for the Jaguar. If you would like to help us out in this area, we would certainly appreciate it! I have some information that I obtained from Ted Taiquechi of Atari Corp. Ted is in charge of developing certain games for the Jaguar and Lynx. He informed me that I was "pushing all the right buttons" but he could not tell me a lot of stuff that I tried to get out of him. Some of this information might have changed since two weeks ago (when I spoke with him) and other information might already be old news: Atari is still in negotiations with Acclaim. I asked him if letters would help in getting companies to write games for the Jaguar and he said that it couldn't hurt. So if you would like to see one of your favorite games on the Jaguar, write the company that has the rights to the game! An audio CD of Tempest 2000 music is indeed being released. 70 minutes worth. 30 minutes was used in the game. Kasumi Ninja will be the most violent game that has ever been released on a home system. You'll be able to do all kinds of stuff with brains bursting out of character's head. Also, the Indian character is a real movie actor and he will have a chop that slices part of another character's brain out. I asked him about the rating system and he said that even if they do come out with the rating system that most people will still buy it. They had a number of kids come in and they found out from them that this is what they wanted in fighting games. Kasumi Ninja will work well with the three fire buttons. There will be a number of moves that you won't see in Mortal Kombat. I kept after him about a possibility of a six button joypad controller and he told me that they are considering it. I told him about the six button controller pad I suggested in the last CAIN Newsletter issue and he had me send him some pics that I made of it. An arcade joystick is being developed. I also included a pic of an arcade joystick controller with buttons on both sides of the joystick. This design was a result of a video game survey taken last year on the Internet. The result of the survey was that 50% of the video game players that responded liked the arcade buttons on the left side. The other 50% liked the arcade buttons on the right side. Alien Vs. Predator is a single player game "so far" he says... I asked about the possibility of a multi-player Alien Vs. Predator CD-ROM disc in the future and he said "maybe." Will the first Alien Vs. Predator be multi-playable? I hope so. But if not, I got the feeling that we would see a multi-player version in the future. An arcade coin-op in the future? He wouldn't say. But I am willing to wager Atari Corp. is looking into this industry. How about Japanese game companies? I said which major Japanese game company is developing for the Jaguar. "Which one" he says. I said the one with four developer kits. He said, "I can't say anything about that either." How about multi-player Jaguar to Jaguar, Lynx to Jaguar, Jaguar modem Jaguar, Lynx smart controller, etc? I stressed to him that this is exactly what everyone wants to see in all new Jaguar games. He said that Atari will definitely be doing a lot of networking games in the future. Jaguar Reviews -------------- There are a number of Jaguar game reviews online the CFN Atari SIG for your benefit: Crescent Galaxy -- By: hennessy@acsu.buffalo.edu Raiden -- By: Ethan Larson (ALMO@UWYO.EDU) Raiden -- By: Tim Wilson (AEO) (wilsont@rahul.net) Tempest 2000 -- By: Dave Glowacki (dglow@depauw.edu) Tempest 2000 -- By: Rob Cupples (cupples@iastate.edu) Tempest 2000 -- By: Jay T. Millar (AEO) Tempest 2000 -- By: Dave Glowacki (AEO) Tempest 2000 -- By: Jer Horwitz (v08913s3@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu) Most Wanted Games for the Jaguar! --------------------------------- Here's your chance to determine the most wanted games for the Jaguar! If you own a Jaguar or think you will own a Jaguar in the next year or so, you are allowed to vote on the most wanted games for the Jaguar! INSTRUCTIONS: You may use 20 points to vote on any of the games on the following list that you would like to see on the Jaguar. The list was compiled from lists of games that game players throughout the world contributed since the last CAIN Newsletter. You may allocate as many points as you want in vote of a game, but you may NOT use more than a total of 20 points. If you use more than 20 total points, none of your votes will count. If there is a game that you would really like to see made for the Jaguar but it is not on the list, you may add that game to your votes. But you are required to give that game at least 10 of your votes. EXAMPLE: Mortal Kombat II...........................Acclaim/Midway...........[ 06 ] Sinistar...................................Williams/Midway..........[ 03 ] Archon II..................................Electronic Arts..........[ 01 ] Dimensions Through Space (made up).........Dimensions'R'Us..........[ 10 ] NOTICE: The game that isn't on the list is Dimensions Through Space. This game does not exist but the game that you would like to see should exist. 10 points were given to that game since it was not on the list. This system is to assure that games not on the list will still have a chance to be a most wanted game (especially if others suggest it too). Also, if you add a game, you need to include the company that has the rights to make it. As you look through the list, you may find errors. If you find an error, please include information on the error along with your votes. We are unaware (and most others) of who has the rights to certain Atari games--Atari Games Corporation or Atari Corporation. If you are aware of who has the rights to the game, please send the information to the address along with your vote. I have been assured by a representative of Atari Corporation that the list of most wanted games will be given to the appropriate person at Atari Corp. after all votes are counted. Finally, it should go without saying that all of the older games listed would be enhanced versions of the original for the Jaguar. SEND VOTES TO: xx004@cleveland.freenet.edu Here's the list: Aces Over Europe..........................Dynamix..................[ ] Adventure.................................Atari....................[ ] Airborne Ranger...........................Microprose...............[ ] Alone in the Dark I.......................Infogrames...............[ ] Alone in the Dark II......................Infogrames...............[ ] Alternate Reality (complete series).......Philip Price.............[ ] Archon II.................................Electronic Arts..........[ ] Assault...................................Atari....................[ ] Asteroids (all forms in one)..............Atari....................[ ] B-17 Flying Fortress......................Microprose...............[ ] BallBlazer................................LucasArts................[ ] Baseball Stars............................SNK......................[ ] Battle Zone...............................Atari....................[ ] Bio Menace................................Apogee...................[ ] Blasteroids...............................Atari....................[ ] Blazing Lazers............................HudsonSoft...............[ ] Carrier Command...........................Rainbird.................[ ] Centipede.................................Atari....................[ ] Comanche Maximum Overkill.................NovaLogic................[ ] Commander Keen............................Apogee...................[ ] Congo Bongo...............................Sega.....................[ ] Cosmo's Adventure.........................Apogee...................[ ] Crazy Climber.............................Namco....................[ ] Cyber Sled................................Namco....................[ ] Darksun: Shattered Lands..................Strategic Sim.(SS.....I).[ ] Defender..................................Williams/Midway..........[ ] Desert Strike.............................Electronic Arts..........[ ] Dig Dug...................................Namco....................[ ] Discs of TRON.............................Disney...................[ ] Dune II...................................Virgin...................[ ] Dungeon Master............................FTL......................[ ] Elite II/Frontier.........................GameTek..................[ ] F-15 III..................................Microprose...............[ ] Fatal Fury II.............................SNK......................[ ] Flashback.................................Delphine Software........[ ] Food Fight................................Atari Games..............[ ] Gauntlet IV...............................Atari Games..............[ ] I, Robot..................................Atari Games..............[ ] Knights of the Round......................Capcom...................[ ] Lady Bug..................................Universal................[ ] LLamatron.................................LlamaSoft................[ ] M.U.L.E...................................Electronic Arts..........[ ] Major Havoc...............................Atari Games..............[ ] Martial Champions.........................Konami...................[ ] Mechwarrior II............................Activision...............[ ] MegaMan...................................Capcom...................[ ] Monster Bash..............................Apogee...................[ ] Mortal Kombat.............................Acclaim/Midway...........[ ] Mortal Kombat II..........................Acclaim/Midway...........[ ] N.A.R.C...................................Acclaim/Midway...........[ ] NBA Jam...................................Acclaim..................[ ] Pac-Man (complete series).................Midway...................[ ] Pinball Jam...............................Atari Corp...............[ ] Pinball Fantasies.........................Digital Illusions........[ ] Pole Position.............................Atari....................[ ] Raiden II.................................Fabtek...................[ ] Rampart...................................Atari Games..............[ ] Rebel Assualt.............................LucasArts................[ ] Road Riot.................................Atari Games..............[ ] Road Blasters.............................Atari....................[ ] Robotron 2084.............................Williams.................[ ] Rolling Thunder...........................Atari....................[ ] Samurai Shodown...........................SNK......................[ ] SimCity 2000..............................Maxis/Bullfrog...........[ ] Sinistar..................................Williams/Midway..........[ ] Smash TV..................................Williams/Midway..........[ ] Space Lords...............................Atari Games..............[ ] Star Wars Trilogy (S.W.,E.S.Back,R.Jedi)..Atari Games..............[ ] Starblade.................................Namco....................[ ] Starglider................................Rainbird.................[ ] Steel Talons..............................Atari Games..............[ ] STUN Runner...............................Atari Games..............[ ] Stunt Track Racer.........................Microprose...............[ ] Super Street Fighter II...................Capcom...................[ ] Syndicate.................................Bullfrog.................[ ] Tecmo Bowl................................Tecmo Inc................[ ] Thunderhawk...............................Core.....................[ ] Total Carnage.............................Williams/Midway..........[ ] Tournament Cyberball......................Atari Games..............[ ] Ultima....................................Origin...................[ ] Virtua Fighting...........................Sega.....................[ ] Virtua Racing.............................Sega.....................[ ] Wayne Gretzky Hockey......................Bethesda.................[ ] Wheel of Fortune..........................Gametek Inc..............[ ] Wing Commander I..........................Activision...............[ ] Wing Commander II.........................Activision...............[ ] Wing Commander III........................Origin...................[ ] Wizardry..................................Sir Tech.................[ ] World Heroes II...........................SNK......................[ ] WWF Royal Rumble..........................Ljn......................[ ] X-Wing....................................LucasArts................[ ] Xybots....................................Atari Games..............[ ] Zeppelin..................................Synapse..................[ ] Jaguar Bulletin Board Messages of Interest -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From: kpz@po.CWRU.Edu (Kenton P. Zinn) >Newsgroups: freenet.sci.comp.atari.spec.jaguar Subject: 3do a threat, I think not Reply-To: kpz@po.CWRU.Edu (Kenton P. Zinn) Date: Thu Mar 3 06:37:43 1994 I really believe that 3do is far from a threat...first they are too expensive even at the 499 price, the technology they use is now considered pretty outdated (when compared to other systems that are coming out, and of course the little black cat we have all come to love)...I checked out Total Eclipse for the 3do at Waldensoftware, while being good it was pixelated and choppy altough it has potential, not as much as the Jaguar... Jaguar will be the king of vid!! ------------------------------- From: aa852@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Barry W. Cantin) >Newsgroups: freenet.sci.comp.atari.spec.jaguar Subject: Re: 3do a threat, I think not Date: Mon Mar 7 16:26:45 1994 Yeah, in the New Orleans area the 3DO doesn't seem to be selling too well, whereas these same stores can't keep the Jags in stock! GOOD! now all i need to do is convince the wife that my 2-year-old needs it... Barry -- Jaguar Commentary -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- All Jaguar Commentary is included in the CAIN Newsletter Supplement that is included in another file with this newsletter. Len Stys, aa399@cleveland.freenet.edu Jaguar Support Area Article of Interest/Reviews -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- TEMPEST 2000 REVIEW By: Rob Cupples (cupples@iastate.edu) I won the privilege to have my preorder copy of Tempest 2000 sent to me early. I'm sorry I haven't been here earlier, but that's life trying to get everything done as a grad student. :) Here is a sort of review of the game. It is now spring break here and I will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Controller: Left moves clockwise and right moves counterclockwise. The movement is much better than you would expect. If you remember from the arcade game, the blaster "fidgets" before flipping over into the neighboring lane. This allows you to tap the control pad in order to move only one or two lanes over without the blaster being oversensitive to the controls. On the other hand if you hold down on the button a hair longer, the blaster quickly zips around the rim. The problem with this is that you might get into some awkward area and can't remember if you should press left or right to get out of the way. The 'A' button activates the jump, the 'B' button fires and the 'C' button is the super zapper. There is a menu that allows you to change this setup. The jump is a new feature only found in the Tempest 2000 version. Press it and the blaster jumps off of the rim and the web shrinks back a little bit giving you a brief moment to shoot enemies on top of the rim before coming back down. Overlay: There isn't any overlay, or at least there wasn't one in my box or mentioned in the manual. You really don't need it. There are only 5 things you can do with the control pad. The first two are the obvious ones: 0 toggles the music, # and * resets the game. The other options control the view of the web. Pressing a button in the first column gives the default view in which the web is slightly larger than the screen and the game tries to keep the view such that the blaster is towards the center of the screen. If the blaster moves quickly from one side of the web to the other, the web drifts over to the new view rather than jumping suddenly. This view can be bothersome at times in that often there are blind spots. A button in the second column activates the fixed web view in which the web seems a too small for the screen, and a button pressed in the third column is a closer view of the first view. Traditional Tempest: The levels are there and the characters all seem to move the same. It's been too long ago for me to tell if all of the web designs and enemy movements are exactly the same, but they seem to be. The annoying thing is that all of the sound effects are wrong. For example, the pulsars are supposed to make a nice humming vibration noise while they are trying to electrocute you. Instead, they hiss like a damn cat. All of the old tricks work too. You can shoot a flipper on the rim as it flips on top of you, you can slide underneath a flipper when he is in the middle of a flip, and you can slide past a fuseball when it is at a junction in the wire frame. Other than the levels and the mechanics, the game is by no means an exact translation of the original game. The little details of the original are all gone: I miss the limitations of the vector monitor. The scores are filled polygons rather than drawn by straight line segments, the superzapper recharge between levels appears as a word in a similar filled polygon font which rocks back and forth and is announced by a female voice, there are crazy starfield patterns and the webs twirl in 3-D as you approach them rather than just coming straight at you. Don't get me wrong, all of these things are a plus in the other games, but don't seem right when used in a game called 'Traditional Tempest'. I guess that is why they didn't call it 'Classic Tempest' instead. Tempest Plus: In the one-player mode, this is pretty much the same as Traditional Tempest but with added visual and sound effects. When the enemy is hit he explodes into star dust and is accompanied by the sound of an exploding mortar. One version allows you to play with an artificial intelligence android who is invincible and is really pretty good. A third version allows two players to play cooperatively on the same web. Oddly none of the games have a two player each taking his own turn version. Tempest Duel: I don't want to comment much on this one since I don't have a second controller and playing partner to give it a good run down. Two players face each other at opposite ends of the same web and try to kill each other. The problem is each player has a mirror in front of him which is only down when he is firing. In the meantime, enemies are moving toward both players. Tempest 2000: The most pronounced feature about Tempest 2000 are the powerups. About after every second or third enemy is shot, several dots forming circles dance up the lane followed by a sort of box. If you catch the box, some announcement bursts filling the screen. These announcements along with the accompany bursts of dying enemies can be distracting leaving you blind for a couple of moments, but makes the whole game exciting along with the dance club soundtrack that plays in all of the versions. The powerups include a particle laser which mows down the enemy, 'Zappo 2000': 2000 points, the AI Droid who helps you finish the level, 'Jump Enabled' allowing you to jump off of the web, 'Warp Bonus Tokens' which I'll explain in a moment, and 'Out of here!' which is 5000 points plus the end of the round. When you collect three warp tokens you get to go to one of three warp zones of which only two I've played. The first one puts you flying through space beneath a psychodelic plane trying to place a pair of crosshairs so that you fly through a series of hoops trying to collect bonuses. Once you screw up a hoop its over. Supposedly, there is a fixed number of hoops, but I've never made it yet. The first time I was at this warp zone, I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing. I flew around a bit aimlessly. I noticed that the only noise was a heavy breathing sound like the time Hal locked Dave out of the spaceship in 2001. I was waiting to hear, 'What do you think you are doing, Dave?'. The second warp zone I ran into involves something similar to the half-pipe in Sonic II. You try to following this shifting green spray paint stripe down the tube. I've only been there once and I bombed it completely. As part of the challenge of the warp zones, the controls are sensitive to taps on the direction pad. Tempest 2000 also include a few new enemies. They include mutant flippers, mirrors, demon heads, and UFO's. The mutant flippers are much faster and look a little different than regular flippers. The demon head can be a b*tch! It looks the head of a steer. When you shoot it, parts of the face are destroyed but the horns continue to fly up the web. If you don't have enough room to move they will clip you and kill you. Even though I've made it to level 31, I haven't seen a single mirror or UFO yet so I can't comment on them. Tempest 2000 is the only version which allows you the enter high scores and allows you to collect keys. Keys are simply markers of the highest odd numbered level that you have ever cleared. They are saved when the power is turned off and allow you to start on any of the odd numbered levels up to and including the level of the key. Credits: I thought I would list some of these from the manual since some of you are fond of them. Of course Jeff Minter has been mentioned several times in this newsgroup before, but I have never seen any of his previous work. Programming: Jeff Minter Art: Joby Wood Music and SFX: Ted and Carrie Tahquechi Producer: John Skruch Should you buy it?: The sound track and special effects make the game exciting, but beneath it all its Tempest. If you turn off the sound track and select the fixed view on Traditional Tempest, then a lot of the excitement will go away and you will realize this is just Tempest. If you didn't like it when it was in the arcade because you got too frustrated at your limited progress like a lot of people I knew back then, then you probably won't like it now. Where am I coming from? I played the arcade Tempest for several months. I could make it all the way up to the yellow figure eight which took a LOT OF PRACTICE with small increments in improvement to reach and an incredible amount of practice to make it up to the next level (the white circle). After that the game disappeared completely from my hometown about two years after it was introduced. Being the second best at it in town, I was ticked. I wanted to see the end of the game with the rumored random-ordered green webs. I was willing to spend the time and the money, but the arcade owner said it had to go because it didn't make enough money anymore. Despite all the excitement of the game, the Jaguar doesn't seem to even pant heavily. It took me a while to realize why. Of course, there are no dozens of textured mapped walls and such to worry about! Are there any questions? I'll try to answer them. Of course I probably forgot something since I did type all of this in only one sitting. Rob Cupples cupples@iastate Upcoming Atari Shows -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= << Computer Shows >> Updated: 04/06/94 To include shows (preferably shows that include Atari products), for the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG's Show list and the CAIN newsletter, send the show's name, date, location, and any additional information to xx004@po.cwru.edu. Please address the e-mail with the subject "Computer Show". The following information is correct to the best of our knowledge. However, we cannot guarentee its accuracy. Corrections and cancellations are therefore requested. +-----------------+ |Shows at a Glance| +-----------------+--------------+--------------------------+----------+ | Name | Location | Date | |--------------------------------+--------------------------+----------| |1. ProTOS |Ulm, Germany |04/20/94 | |2. Benelux Computer Show |Utrecht, The Netherlands |04/22/94 | |3. 1994 Michigan Atari Fair |Waterford, MI |04/23/94 | |4. CSA |Gelsenkirchen, Germany |04/29/94 | |5. FEZ-a-BIT |Berlin, Germany |05/07/94 | |6. Texas Atari Festival |St. Mary's University |06/04/94 | |7. Connecticut Atarifest '94 |Windsor Locks, CT |08/27/94 | | | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ Since many of the show information files are several pages long, we are unable to include these due to space limitation. However, these files can be obtained from the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG. SAC '94: A Review ----------------- Eric Kaljumagi President, Yolo Atari Club (YAC) The Sac Expo has come and gone, and I must admit that I had a great time. The event was a bit smaller than last year, and rather more spread out, but the combinations of those two factors made it easier to have a conversation at least. I spent a fair amount of time at our YAC booth, both working and playing. We signed up half a dozen members, sold nearly a score of disks, and demoed the Falcon rather extensively. In addition, I lost badly at MidiMaze, toyed with Tempest 2000 and Castle Wolfenstein 3D on the Jaguar, and played comlynxed Lynxes for the very first time. I must admit, as much as I enjoy my Lynx, it is even more fun when the "enemy" is another human! Thanks are in order (as they usually are) to all the YAC members who helped out, particularly to Jeff and Eric Hays for their artistic column building. Next to us was S.T.A.R. and across the way were the Codeheads selling Calligrapher 3 at a very reasonable price. The Codeheads have put most of their recent efforts into MidiSpy, an incredible program if you are a composer. I can't play the piano well enough to be able to use it, but the Codeheads could, so we were treated to live music both days, as was STeve Kipker and crew, who apparently did pretty well. On the other side of the demonstration area were most of the developers and a newcomer to the show, Computer Rock. At list, his prices were way too high, but at "80% off" they were bargains. I bought "Cruise for a Corpse," a well-reviewed game, for ten dollars, and a copy of "DiamondBack 2" for eight. I was very impressed with the developers who came -- Gribnif, A&D/ST Informer, Oregon Research, Compo, and Darek Mihocka (with his GEMulator). I was able to speak at length to all of them, and they cheerfully answered every one of my questions. As for the rest of the show, BRE software was there with many inexpensive used Lynx cartridges, Atari had a presence (and loaned us the Lynxes) and besides YAC and S.T.A.R. there were six other user groups. I found out from Gribnif that North American sales of Neodesk 3 were over 10,000, I have number 1066 of Geneva, and the GEMulator sales were in the "high 900's." Not record breaking, but it means the developers can keep eating. Personally I was satisfied with the show -- the serious users looked like they were having a good time, the gamers looked liked they were having a good time, and I certainly was! Sac Expo is as much a social occasion as it is a convention, and I would like to thanks all of those who helped make my weekend very enjoyable. Enjoy your Atari! Vote Issues and Results -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- << Voting Booth >> One exciting feature of the Atari SIG is its voting booth. Here, users can create their own opinion polls. The voting booth is accessible from the main menu of the Atari SIG on the Cleveland Free-net (CFN). Select option '11' from this main menu to enter the voting booth. Last month's poll was submitted by Len Stys. Below are the results: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you feel the Atari Jaguar will be a success this year with sales over 750,000? A total of 68 votes have been cast as follows: 40 (58.8%) Yes 28 (41.2%) No -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This month's poll was submitted by Mark Leair: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please vote on when you would like to have a Real-Time Atari Conference in Freenet's local IRC chat system. Please NOTE: the results will be taken into consideration, but our staff and guest's availability will make the final decision. Please feel free to write in any specific time that is not already listed using option 'a'. Vote Options: 1. I am available just about anytime 2. Saturday Afternoons 3. Saturday Evenings 4. Saturday Mornings 5. Sunday Afternoons 6. Sunday Evenings 7. Sunday Mornings --------------------------------------------------------------------------- You may vote on these issues through the Atari SIG on CFN. If you do not have an account on CFN yet, you may send your ballot by internet e-mail to "aa338@cleveland.freenet.edu". Please address your letter with the subject "Jaguar Vote". We will post the results to this poll in the next issue of CAIN. Online Atari Conferences -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Cleveland Free-Net (CFN) has the facilities to provide Real-Time Online Conferencing. It is hoped that the Atari SIG can sponsor Atari conferences in the future. The conferences would be held on CFN's chat system called the "IRC". IRC stands for "Internet Relay Chat." This is a special program that allows real-time conferencing through the internet network. However, CFN's IRC is local, or accessible only by CFN users. If you are interested in these conferences, or would like to be a guest-speaker on one of these conferences, please send internet e-mail to "aa338@freenet.cleveland.edu". Finally, stay tuned to this newsletter for transcripts from these conferences. Conference with Atari United! The Atari SIG will be sponsoring an Online Conference with Patti Barbiero of Atari United!, a national Atari user group. The conference will be held Sunday, April 17, 1994 at 8:00pm EDT on Free-net's local I.R.C. channel #Atari. Upcoming Conference with Jeff Minter The Atari SIG will be sponsoring an Online Conference with Jeff Minter, programmer of the Jaguar's Tempest 2000. Tempest 2000 is the Jaguar that has received "game of the month" by two different game publications and "game of the show" at CES by several other organizations. The date and time for this conference has not yet been set. * * * Don't miss these two upcoming conferences. Get your Cleveland Free-Net IDs today! To get to the I.R.C. chat system type "go IRC" from any system prompt. General Information of Need -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG's Who's Who in the Atari Community E-Mail Directory ------------------------------------------------- The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG maintains a list of members of the Atari Community that do things that helps Atari users and the Atari Community in some way on a continuous basis. They are Atari BBS sysops, dealers, developers, publishers, user group presidents, writers, FAQ maintainers, etc. They are even Atari employees. If you contribute some way to help others in the Atari Community on a continuous basis and would like to be made more available through e-mail incase someone wishes to contact you, please send e-mail to the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG at: xx004@cleveland.Freenet.edu Do not send in names and addresses--only your own! Each person on the list must give permission to be on the list by submitting their own information! Please include your name, e-mail addresses, and a small summary of things that you do in the Atari Community. Thank you! How to Contribute to CAIN ------------------------- For full details on contributing to CAIN, please check out the "CAIN Online Newsroom," option 13 from the Atari SIG's main menu. In summary, we can use articles, tutorials, and reviews on Atari products. The format is simple --ASCII format with 80 characters per line. The text should be sent via internet electronic mail to "xx004@freenet.cleveland.edu". All submissions to CAIN become the property of CAIN, unless otherwise agreed upon. Article Requests ---------------- Below are some suggestions of articles we would like to see in future issues of CAIN. For a complete list of newsletter needs, please consult the discussion board under the CAIN Online Newsroon (option 13 from the Atari SIG's main menu). Newsletter Needs ---------------- << Updated 03-Apr-1994 >> Communications: Any articles that fits into the area of communications (ie: reviews, summaries, articles, tutorials on BBS systems, term or BBS software, services, etc for any Atari computer) may be submitted to this section. When submitting to this section, please address this article with the subject "Communications." File Archives: Any type of summary, review, or list of new files that are on any Atari ftp archive will benefit our readers. Please address this article with the subject "ftp archives." Tutorials: CAIN is actively seeking any project, "how-to," and tutorial articles for future issues of CAIN. These articles can be for any type of Atari product. Please address this article with the subject "Tutorial Submission." Atari Shows: Not only can we use information on upcoming Atari Shows, but we also can use reviews and summaries of recent Atari shows. Please address this article with the subject "Atari Show Information." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- THOUGHT OF THE MONTH: The Cleveland Free-Net costs absolutely nothing to use! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [C]entral [A]tari [I]nformation [N]etwork Newsletter April 15, 1994 Copyright (c) 1994 All Rights Reserved No.002. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Central Atari Information Network (CAIN) Newsletter is produced by Cain Publishing and is no way affiliated with Atari Corporation. CAIN Newsletter editors/staff produce this publication on a volunteer basis strictly to benefit users of Atari products. Views, and opinions expressed herein are those of the article's author(s) and not necessarily those of the editors/ staff of CAIN Newsletter, the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, or its affilitates. Permission to reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Reprints must include: Name of article, author's name, name of publication, date, and issue number. CAIN Newsletter may not be edited in any way without prior written permission. CAIN Newsletter is believed to be reasonably accurate. If any inaccurate information is found within, please contact the editor of CAIN Newsletter and a correction will be made in the next issue. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Atari, ST, Mega ST, STE, Mega STE, TT030, Atari Falcon030, TOS, MultiTOS, NewDesk, BLiTTER, Atari Lynx, ComLynx, Atari Jaguar, Atari Portfolio, Atari 400, 800, XL series, XE series, and the Atari Fuji Symbol are all trademarks or registered trademarks of Atari Corporation. The "Free-Net" name is a Servicemark (SM) of the National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN). The Free-Net "freePort" software is copyrighted by Case Western Reserve University. All other trademarks and identifying marks mentioned in this issue belong to their respective owners. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-