Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Atari Online News, Etc. Volume 01 Issue 13
Volume 1, Issue 13 Atari Online News, Etc. May 28, 1999
Published and Copyright (c) 1999
All Rights Reserved
Atari Online News, Etc.
A-ONE Online Magazine
Dana P. Jacobson, Publisher/Managing Editor
Joseph Mirando, Managing Editor
Atari Online News, Etc. Staff
Dana P. Jacobson -- Editor
Joe Mirando -- "People Are Talking"
Michael Burkley -- "Unabashed Atariophile"
Albert Dayes -- CC: Classic Chips
With Contributions by:
Mille Babic
Brian Gudzevich
To subscribe to A-ONE, send a message to: dpj@delphi.com
and your address will be added to the distribution list.
To unsubscribe from A-ONE, send the following: Unsubscribe A-ONE
Please make sure that you include the same address that you used to
subscribed from.
To download A-ONE, set your browser bookmarks to one of the
following sites (more to be added soon):
http://people.delphi.com/dpj/a-one.htm
http://www.icwhen.com
http://a1mag.atari.org
http://homestead.dejanews.com/ssag
Visit the Atari Advantage Forum on Delphi!
http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=atari
=~=~=~=
A-ONE #0113 05/28/99
~ People Are Talking! ~ The Nordic Atari Show! ~ 'Mario' Gets Swiped
~ CIH Virus Goes Pffft! ~ MS Case to Reconvene! ~ Jaguar News!
~ Windows 2000 On Target ~ Bloody Roar 2 Out! ~ NFL QB Club 2000
~ MS Pounces On Caldera! ~ Judge Rules For Sun ~ Acclaim's TrickStyle
-* 'SpyHunter' To Be Redesigned *-
-* AOL's Case Counters MS' Defense *-
-* Sega In Talks With Rivals To Sell Software *-
=~=~=~=
->From the Editor's Keyboard "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
This is one of my favorite weekends!! The unofficial start of summer! We
have a nice long holiday weekend upon us. The weather is supposed to be
wonderful; the barbecues are planned; and the last-minute errands will be
finished tomorrow. What a life!
Memorial Day weekend is taking the edge off of what has been a horrendous
week. Other than placing second in a golf tournament in the middle of the
week, it's been one disaster after another. That includes getting a "new"
PC up and running. It worked, it didn't work. Start fresh, and the same
cycle occurs. This is another reminder of why I despise PCs and the Windows
operating system. If only Atari could have had better success in their
computer business! PCs are, simply put, frustrating necessary evils; and I
don't really place too much importance on the word necessary! I'd go into
details, but I still want to finish this issue and enjoy my long holiday
weekend - stress free!
A reminder, especially to all of you who are planning to travel during this
holiday weekend: PLEASE, do not drink and drive! Someone sober can get you
there safer. Be responsible - the life you save could be mine!
Until next time...
The Nordic Atari Show
From: Mille Babic <atari@ebox.tninet.se>
The Swedish Atari Users' Association (SAK) proudly present: 990525
---------------------------------------------------------------------
T H E N O R D I C A T A R I S H O W ' 9 9
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Where: IOGT-NTO, GOTHENBURG
The address is Fvrsta Lenggatan 20.
When: 11th -- 13th of June 1998.
Opens 11 pm on Friday, closes 18 pm on Sunday.
What: Exhibition and seminars,
Two Networks with 15 computers connected.
Cost: 100 SEK for three days, 60 SEK for single days.
Info: More updated info at http://www.sak.nu/nas
E-mail: nas@goteborg.utfors.se (Nordic Atari Show)
info@sak.nu (Swedish Atari Users Association)
mille@atari.org (Mille Babic)
mille@atari-computer.de (German language)
BBS: STraight BBS +46 (0)31 336 39 73
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Index: 1. WHEN AND WHERE?
2. WHAT WILL IT COST?
3. EXHIBITION
4. SEMINARS
5. OTHER ACTIVITIES
6. GENERAL RULES AT THE SHOW
7. WHY SHOULD I ATTEND NAS?
8. HOW YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Atari friends,
It's once again time for the Nordic Atari Show, the annual get together
which has rapidly become a fixture for all Atari users.
We arrange the show for the fifth straight year we hope to fulfill
everyone's expectations and that this will result in the best possible
atmosphere.
1 - WHEN AND WHERE?
This year the show will begin on Friday, June 11 and end on Sunday,
June 13. This is the weekend following the beginning of the summer school
holidays as well as the weekend prior to the Swedish Midsummer
celebrations. We'll open at 10 p.m. on Friday and close at 6 p.m. on
Sunday.
NAS99 will be hosted at the IOGT-NTO (International Organization of
Good Templars) quarters located in Gothenburg and between two places
called Jdrntorget and Masthuggstorget, just where the Stena Line ferries
goes towards Denmark.
A map for the route description at http://www.sak.nu/nas/find.html
2 - WHAT WILL IT COST?
If you intend to attend all three days, you cheapest solution is the
Three Day Pass otherwise a Single Entry ticket will do:
* Three Day Pass ... SEK 100:-
* Single Entry ..... SEK 60:-
These prices include full access to all the activities being held during
NAS99.
3 - EXHIBITION
The exhibition hall is open:
Friday 11-20, Saturday 11-20 and Sunday 11-18.
At the exhibition you can see:
16/32 systems (England)
Nic Harlow has always been at NAS, so why any different this year?
He's sells CD:s for Atari, games and more.
SAK and SAK/Skane
The Swedish Atari Users' Association and the local department in Skane are
here too, to show different programs and computer systems in action.
4 - SEMINARS
Last years seminars were very much appreciated, something of which we
naturally have taken notice.
The SEMINARS will be held from 12 p.m. on Saturday
- Erik Hdll the author of MyMAIL describes the ethernet network part on
NAS, how the computers are connected and the system software running,
such as the Apache server installed on a Hades.
- Jonas Mvller Nielsen about MiNT/MiNTnet
- Kenneth Medin describes how his sub-net with Atari TT030 and Mega STe are
serial connected to the main network.
Martin-Eric Racine will cooperate and show how he connected his TT030, iMac
and Stacy to the network as well.
- Mille Babic present how to create a webpage with the brand new
Homepage Penguin Pro 3 by M.u.C.S
5 - MORE ACTIVITIES
* A very large network called Erika will be set up with several Hades
machines, SUN workstations and Linux platforms. A apache server is
installed in one of the Hades machines with a Internet gate.
Two sub-nets called Pia and Soumi with a TT030s, Mega Ste, iMac and Stacy
also connected.
* Minor competitions such as "A-Z on the Keyboard" (a much appreciated
contest last years), hard disk throwing (this year it WILL happen!),
network games, juggling, etc. Everything depends on our finding
volunteers to act as game leaders and referees. There will be prizes
for the winners.
* A refreshment stand will sell non-alcoholic drinks, sweets, chips,
etc.
6 - GENERAL RULES AT THE SHOW
* No smoking inside the building or by windows and doors.
* No alcohol, beer or anything like drugs will be tolerated inside
the show. Please have fun with that outside in the city, but not
at NAS99. All such things found will be confiscated, we are at
IOGT-NTO as well.
* Keep a good attitude against other people and show your tickets
to the staff if asked for it.
Anyone breaking these rules or acting violently will be thrown
out of the show.
7 - WHY SHOULD I ATTEND NAS?
The Atari market now contains better apps and system software then ever
before. We have seen that the TOS-compatible machines Hades and Milan
actually was successful. Last year we could demonstrate a Milan computer
days before it was released and this year we are up to show a Milan with
MagiC Milan 6.1 installed.
We think that you care about the TOS platform and that you will visit us
not only to walk around but share your experience with us. If you are
from the Scandinavian regions then consider that NAS is the only Atari
show this year in Northern Europe.
NAS is for all of us a opportunity to gather, together for a few days
and let us know each other in person then electronically.
8 - HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
Information will be distributed regularly in the same way as this text
file. In addition, we have a number of other sources of information
where you can find out more about the show depending on your own resources.
* Our home page on the World Wide Web. This has been in existence since
last two years and we'll try to update it as often as the information
comes. The home page will contain more detailed information
concerning times, schedule of events, directions on how to get there,
competitions and housing.
The addresses are http://www.sak.nu/nas and http://www.sak.nu
* STraight BBS. This is the Swedish Atari Club's home BBS. Information
concerning NAS will be included in the SAK menu. You can also use this
BBS to ask any questions you may have. The telephone number is:
+46 (0)31-336 39 73.
* The first issue this year of our club magazine "Atarimagasinet", will be
released at the show.
* Our show coordinator is this year as well as last year, Mille Babic.
He's supposed to know everything there is to know about NAS99.
If you have questions to which you've been
unable to get answers anywhere else you can send us a message at
nas@goteborg.utfors.se or to Mille at mille@atari.org
All members 1997- will also receive welcome info about NAS and the
status of the club.
KEEP THE TOS PLATFORM ALIVE.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOU AT THE NORDIC ATARI SHOW 1999!
Best Regards
Mille Babic
The Nordic Atari Show 1999
From: Mille Babic <atari@ebox.tninet.se>
Hi all!
Now there is just a few weeks to our Atari show here in Gothenburg. If you
think you have something that will have a Atari interest, then do not
think twice, just show up here. A GEM app, a game, a networking solution,
a new version of a program, hardware enhancements, anything...
This is as I always says, the only Atari Show here in Scandinavia and I
think the market or shareware authors should have a interest in this.
The theme is Atari & Network, we are going to build up a ethernet network,
mostly with Hades machines and two subdomains for Atari originals. If you
have any interest in networking with STinG, MiNT etc then this would be
your lucky days and ours, if you show up. We have also plans that this
network will have a Internet connection, thus one of the machines have
apache server installed and all of you that can not show up could connect
to us and use services such as http, telnet and ftp.
There is lots of accommodation possibilities here in Gothenburg and if
someone of you just have to visit us as cheap as possible, then we might
find a place for you.
Best Regards
Mille Babic
E-mail: mille@atari.org
Homepage: http://mille.atari.org
=~=~=~=
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
compiled by Joe Mirando
jmirando@portone.com
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. I don't know what the weather has been
like in your area, but here in southern New England it's really quite
nice. I had almost given up on the warm weather ever getting here. It
seems that for the past several years we've gone straight from early
spring right into the dog days of summer. No transitions, no gradually
warmer days building toward the Fourth of July, just a jump from chilly,
frosty mornings to hot, hazy, humid afternoons. I don't think there's
anything as depressing or disillusioning as that. Well, maybe one or two
things, but you get my drift.
Heck, I've even had to rearrange my computing habits due to the nice
weather. Luckily I've got a STacy, so I can move my computing out to the
porch or even out into the yard (providing, of course, that I can find a
loooong extension cord). I don't think that I'm turning into one of
those people for whom computers are nothing more than a means to an end,
but neither am I a nerd or a geek who takes joy only in the act of using
a computer (Truth be told, I'm a bit closer to one end of the scale than
the other, but you'll have to guess which end). For me, computers have
usually signified an easier, more efficient way of doing things and a
new way to do things that weren't possible at all before. And above all,
computers signify a learning experience. Whether I'm learning about
computers themselves or about something else is irrelevant. It's the
learning itself that is important. Once we stop learning bad things
start to happen.
Let's keep bad things from happening and learn about what's going 'round
on the UseNet. <grin>
From the comp.sys.atari.st NewsGroup
====================================
Frank Lawrence asks for help with STinG:
"Very often, while online using CAB/STING, I experience a loss of my
carrier detect after bout 2 mins of in-activity.
[Could this be]
1) CAB.OVL problem?
2) STING/DIALER problem?
3) Configuration problem?
4) Me problem?
I'm using a TT/4megst/16megTT RAM, Geneva, NVIDI 3.02, Crazy Dots II
board."
Joe Villarreal tells Frank:
"It could be your ISP. My old ISP would disconnect me whenever I had
problems trying to resolve a host using CAB. My new ISP doesn't
disconnect me whatsoever."
Jo Even Skarstein asks about a hard drive for a Falcon:
"Has anybody tested any of cheap, huge IDE-disks? I was thinking about
getting a 13-20GB disk in my Falcon. My local store has these in stock:
Fujitsu 13.7GB 3130AT (UDMA)
Seagate Medalist 10.2GB
IBM Deskstar 13.5GB
Maxtor DiamondMax 4320 13GB
All of these are cheap and more than fast enough for my Falcon, but I've
heard that not all new IDE-disks will work. Is this correct? If so, which
disk is safe to buy?"
Nicholas Bales peruses the drives mentioned and tells Jo Even:
"Wow! and I have trouble filling up my 170Mb IBM drive..."
Jo Even tells Nick that...
"The plan is to get a CD-R sometime this year, you'll *need* 10G'B
then... Also, I suspect that my current disk (a 1.2GB Quantum) is dying,
it's starting to make some ugly noises from time to time."
Chris Crosskey tells Jo Even:
"Make sure you've got the latest HD-Driver....it is the only thing I'd
trust with disks that size and IDE.....I use it on my 4.3Gb, but I don't
run partitions over 500Mb yet.....I'd say avoid the Seagate, they have
caused problems in the past (basically cos they try to help PC owners out
a bit./...)...I use IBM drives`, both IDE and SCSI and I like them a
lot...fast, quiet and reliable...."
Ron Slaminko asks for...
"Help!
My 520ST is going kaput. Turns on with either a screen full of unstable
garbage, some bombs (some of which are distorted and torn), or,
occasionally and getting rarer, a normal bootup. I've pretty much
eliminated all external components (power supply, mouse, disk drive &
monitor) as trouble sources. Any suggestions?"
Roger Cain tells Ron:
"Sounds like the old 'unseated chips' problem again - they can work
loose over time.
You will need to get inside and push home all socketed chips. Clear
out the dust and garbage while you are there."
David Leaver posts:
"I have a problem which is vaguely related to the one that Jo Even
Skarstein has written about, but it afflicts MAGIC, not TOS.
I am using a TT with internal Quantum Fireball, so I boot HD Driver from
a Seagate 46mb drive that was once in my MSTe. The rest of the boot is
from the C partition of the Quantum.
I have Magic 6.01 and HD Driver 7.00, 7.61 and 7.71.
Booting to TOS 3.06 with any version of HD Driver is completely reliable.
Booting to Magic with v 7.00 is completely reliable.
Booting to Magic with v 7.61 or v 7.71 is not. Frequently, but by no
means always, the booting process hangs somewhere. The place where it
hangs is not consistent. It may stop with NVDI trying to find its fonts.
It may stop with HS Modem loading.
The most peculiar situation brings in the relationship to Jo's problem.
Sometimes it boots successfully, but to the standard video port rather
than my Matrix card. When this happens, but only when, I discover that
MAGX.INF has disappeared. The partition has been corrupted by something
to the extent that where that file was, is now a missing sector.
There is one other oddity. On the ASCI/DMA port of the TT I have a
SupraDrive FD-10. This is a venerable device that uses 10mb 5.25"
floppies in an Hitachi SCSI drive via a built-in Supra adaptor. With TOS
and any version of HD Driver, I do not need to insert a floppy at
booting, nor do I need to with Magic and v 7.00, but if I boot to Magic
with v 7.61 or v 7.71 I have to insert a disk before booting if I wish to
use the FD-10. If I do not Magic will report "illegal drive" when I try
to open a disk."
Neil Roughley tells David:
"Using HDDriver 7.12 and MagiC 5.11 on a TT, I have to make sure there's
a Zip disk in the drive when booting, or else I can't access it after one
is inserted ("illegal drive").
It sounds like this isn't normal behavior -- indeed, a major
inconvenience -- although it's something I've put up with under the
assumption it was normal behavior for HDDriver. From your reports with
an FD-10, a Zip drive should be able to do the same (not require the
media present during bootup)."
The author of HD Driver, Dr. Uwe Seimet, tells Neil and David:
"No, this is not normal. I never have encountered this problem with ZIP
drives or other removable media drives."
Alois Huber asks:
"How can I tell my Mega ST (TOS 1.04 and HusHi 6.06 hd-driver) to wait at
boot time until the megafile has spun up?"
Brian Roland tells Alois:
"There may be a better way...but...
You can put a copy of coldboot.prg in the auto folder of a virus free
floppy disk and keep that loaded in the machine during booting.
COLDBOOT.PRG does just that, it forces the machine to do a cold boot,
similar to cutting the Mega off at the power switch, then back on. The
Mega should in theory, keep rebooting till the hard disk has spun up, at
which point the system should boot from the hard disk.
Many hard disk utilities come with some form of coldboot, and if not most
atari FTP sites have it up for grabs."
"John" asks for telnet info:
"I run an Atari ST BBS and want to get some info on Telnet. I think its
only possible to Telnet to a BBS that supports Telnet, is this correct?
Does the BBS have to be permanently connected to the internet like a web
server? or is there some sort of dialup system?
Is there such a thing as an ST BBS program that can be accessed via
Telnet? If not, are there any programmers out there who fancy having a go
at writing a Telnetable ST BBS? It would be like when ST Format gave away
Michtron BBS on their cover disk, ST BBS's sprouting up everywhere!"
Ronald Hall tells John:
"Well, this has been a very difficult subject for me. For about a year
now, I've been trying to get my BBS on the Internet, available by Telnet
as well. In my area, no ISP's offer accounts that have permanent IP
addresses (static) only dynamic. I don't know of any BBS software for the
ST's that offer Telnet capability out of the box. BTW, what software are
you using? I'm using BBS Express! ST v1.98a. I'm still trying to get
DarkForce! Telnet-able, but its gonna cost me quite a bit, both for start
up and monthly fees. Lemme give you a rough idea:
$200 initial startup for a dedicated line/IP address
$65 monthly fee for 12 hours a day ($140 for 24 hours a day)
2 more phone lines (I currently have 1 dedicated to the BBS)
to let users dial in by Telnet and direct-dial...
This of course, doesn't even include the cost of the computers, modems,
etc,... So you can see, its not something to take very lightly in my
area... Oh, did I mention that its LD to call this ISP as well?
I know of one 8-Bit BBS that is available by Telnet, but they are running
it via emulation (I think) on an PC machine... Oh well...
Let me know if you find an easier/cheaper/better way to make an Atari BBS
available by Telnet!"
Straight from Atari-Users.net, Rob Malhert tells Ronald and John:
"On the subject of someone writing the software for a telnetable BBS..
how about expanding an existing one. I know the source to TLink (?) is
available. It is written in GFA basic.
On a permanent IP address, try www.ez-ip.com . Its a free service that
will give you a static name to your dynamic IP address. I have the name
atari.dyn.ez-ip.net. You will need to "log on" manually by going to the
ez-ip web site. They have clients that will do it automatically, but not
an Atari one... yet (anyone?).
I've been using it to test the web server Weblight and the Atari IRC
server IRCD, both by Olivier Booklage(sp?). So one night for the heck of
it.. try http://atari.dyn.ez-ip.net to see if the server is up.."
James Haslam asks about STinG's DNS cache:
"I've recently upgraded to v1.20 of STiNG, and its all been working
fine, until today, when I noticed "DNS cache load failure" coming up in
the auto sequence. This has not been happening before now.
I've recently added Extendos to my Auto folder, as I now have a CD-Rom
drive, but I made sure that STiNG is still at the end of the sequence.
What is the DNS cache? What does it do? I still seem to be able to use
the Net; email, web and FTP seems unaffected.
Should I reinstall STiNG (or just the DNS part)?"
Gordy asks James:
"Have you been using MICQ? I found that this corrupts the DNS cache
file...."
James tells Gordy:
"Yes I have. Anything we can do about it?"
David Leaver, who started an earlier discussion on this subject, emits a
loud...
"AHA" - thank you - one mystery solved."
Well folks, that's it for this week. Tune in again next week, same time,
same station, and be ready to listen to what they are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
=~=~=~=
->In This Week's Gaming Section - 'Bloody Roar II'! Mario Stolen!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Sega Takes A Cut In Pride?
'SpyHunter' To Be Redesigned!
And much more!
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE's Game Console Industry News - The Latest Gaming News!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"Mario" Stolen From Nintendo
It's game over for Mario.
The long-time Nintendo mascot has been stolen from his post at the
company's headquarters in Redmond. The sculpture of the popular videogame
and cartoon character was boosted from right next to the company's front
door.
The good news is the security cameras caught the thieves in action,
cutting chains to loosen the character. The bad news is police say they
can't make any identification of the man from the tape. The three foot tall
Mario sculpture is valued at about 400 dollars.
PlayStation Sequel Bloody Roar II Brings the Dawning of a New Breed
Bloody Roar II, the fiercely-awaited sequel to 1998's beastly 3D anime hit
Bloody Roar, is now available at retailers nationwide, Sony Computer
Entertainment America announced. Available exclusively for the PlayStation
game console, Bloody Roar II sets itself apart from traditional fighting
games by allowing players to morph from human warriors into lethal
predators.
``In the videogame industry, where the fighting game genre makes up about
20 percent of overall software sales, Bloody Roar II distinguishes itself
by featuring unbelievably realistic animation quality that will please even
the most avid fighting game enthusiasts," said Ami Blaire, director,
product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America.
Improvements from the first Bloody Roar include a new Custom Mode in which
players can create their own combo moves, a higher resolution for improved
graphic clarity, seven new fighters and four returning favorite characters
that have been modified to be older and more engaging. Two of the 11
characters in the game are hidden. If played with the DUAL SHOCK analog
controller, gameplayers will feel every pulverizing punch and return
bone-cracking combinations with lightening control and response.
Bloody Roar II's fighting action evolves around a dark and intriguing plot
unveiled in the game's Story Mode, during which each combatant's life and
inner quest are revealed in more than 100 graphically devastating scenes.
The story begins as the millennium dawns and a new breed of assassins
arises as the Beast Freedom Front. Players choose one of these characters,
then fight their way through the story. As the human-beasts engage,
background information about each character is revealed.
The warriors in Bloody Roar II are driven by private motivations of rage,
vengeance, love or power. Each character conceals the ferocity of a wild
beast, so when these motivations are triggered, and build up during combat,
the fighters morph into lethal predators, such as ravenous wolves,
monstrous insects, and never-before-seen bestial forms, each with its own
unique fighting style. In the Custom Mode gamers can tailor gameplay
elements, altering the look of the fighter by increasing the size of the
character's head and arms. Fighters can also side-step to counter oncoming
attacks.
Electronic Arts Ships Castrol Honda Superbike Racing for the PlayStation
Electronic Arts announced it is shipping Castrol Honda Superbike Racing for
the PlayStation.
A highly realistic and heart-pounding motorcycle racing simulation, the
game puts the player in position to race as a member of the Castrol Honda
World Superbike Team. Set in real-time 3-D environments, Castrol Honda
Superbike Racing features gripping, white-knuckle superbike racing action
on 14 circuit styled tracks in locales such as Indonesia, England, the U.S.
and Japan.
``We feel Castrol Honda Superbike Racing offers the most realistic
motorcycle simulation available for the PlayStation," says producer Randy
Eckhardt. ``We have tuned the game so all players, regardless of skill
levels, can race in a game that is incredibly challenging, yet is very easy
to learn and extremely fun to play."
Players race on the sleek and powerful Honda RC45, built and tuned to
Castrol Honda's specifications. With an acceleration of 0-60 M.P.H. in 3.1
seconds, it is among the fastest motorcycles ever made. The bike's gearbox
and brakes can be tuned using real data supplied by Castrol Honda race
engineers. A good racer will learn to set up every detail on their bike to
suit the unique demands of each track and maximize their chances for
winning. For example, a bike tuned for more torque will race more
successfully on a hilly course than one tuned for flat-out speed.
Castrol Honda Superbike Racing offers six different modes of difficulty,
giving a competitive mode for racers of every skill level and ability.
Players can choose to go for pure arcade speed, where control of the bike
is assisted and damage to the bike negligible, or for more realistic racing
at the higher levels. The game features real physics and the bike's
handling reflects its real-life counterpart. As part of the training,
racers can select a feature that will show them the ``perfect line" -- the
fastest route through each track, by following team rider Colin Edwards.
The game supports up to two players on split screen racing action. Castrol
Honda Superbike Racing also supports Dual Shock(TM) analog controllers.
Castrol Honda Superbike Racing was developed by Interactive Entertainment
and is being published by Electronic Arts in North America. The game
carries an ``E" (Everyone) ESRB rating and has a MSRP of $39.95.
More information on Castrol Honda Superbike Racing for the PlayStation can
be found on the EA product web site: http://www.chracing.com.
Midway Partners With Paradigm Entertainment to Redesign Spy Hunter
Midway Home Entertainment announced a partnership with Paradigm
Entertainment, Inc. to bring the 80's classic, Spy Hunter, into the new
millennium for the next generation systems.
Once again, gamers will be able to use their multi-weaponed spy mobile to
travel on air, land, or sea in an on-going quest to rid the world of evil
agents. Utilizing new technology, features from the original will be
enhanced to move this game from its classic status to a fully 3-D
experience and current must have for action/racing fans.
``Paradigm has proven itself within the industry as a leading developer
within the racing genre, working on titles such as Beetle Adventure
Racing, Pilotwings 64, and F-1 World Grand Prix," stated Byron Cook,
President of Midway Home Entertainment. ``Therefore, it was a logical
choice to partner with them to bring Midway's classic arcade hit Spy Hunter
into the 21st century."
``Paradigm is very pleased to team up with Midway on this project," said
Dave Gatchel, President/CEO of Paradigm Entertainment, Inc. ``We have a
great partner in Midway and an exciting concept in the Spy Hunter
franchise. With the incredible technical capabilities available to us, it
should add up to an awesome game experience."
Acclaim's TrickStyle Soars To Stores This Fall High
Acclaim Entertainment announced TrickStyle, a new hover-board racing game
for Sega Dreamcast and PC. TrickStyle is scheduled to be on store shelves
in time for the hardware system's launch. The graphically astounding game
takes the genre to a new level by making tricks an integral part of the
racing experience.
``TrickStyle is a perfect showcase for the advanced capabilities of the
Sega Dreamcast gaming system," said Greg Fischbach, co-chairman, CEO and
president of Acclaim Entertainment. ``Embracing new technologies and
leading the transition to new gaming platforms with high-quality brands is
part of Acclaim's overall corporate strategy."
Unlike traditional racing games, TrickStyle's gameplay is based on the use
of dozens of stunts in order to win the game - in both single-player and
multi-player modes. Performing stunts allows gamers to speed up, access
shortcuts and slow opponents down while racing on futuristic hover boards.
In addition to a huge velodrome - a skate park designed just for air
surfers - gamers can race through gorgeous futuristic renditions of cities
like Tokyo, New York City and London. Each city is recognizable by its
famous landmarks, and boasts unique challenges, such as avoiding traffic
and pedestrians in bustling Manhattan. In addition, TrickStyle uses a
node-based racing system, which allows gamers to create their own paths
through the cities.
TrickStyle is being developed by UK-based Criterion Studios, known for its
arcade-quality PC racing game RedLine Racer and its underwater
strategy/adventure game, SubCulture. ``We're very excited to be working
with Acclaim on a top-quality Sega Dreamcast title," said Mike King,
marketing director at Criterion Studios. ``We're confident that TrickStyle
will be a key title for the Sega Dreamcast system because of its stunning
graphics and innovative gameplay."
TrickStyle utilizes technologies like texture compression and real time
physics calculations, taking full advantage of Sega Dreamcast's advanced
system features. These elements work to enhance TrickStyle's realism and
intense gameplay. The game also uses Sega Dreamcast's Visual Memory Unit
(VMU), allowing gamers to play mini-games themed around the hover boards
available in the game. By completing different VMU challenges, such as
stunts on a half-pipe, gamers can upgrade their hover boards to those
better suited for certain courses. The newly-rewarded hover boards can be
uploaded from the VMU mini-games to Sega Dreamcast.
TrickStyle will be supported with a comprehensive marketing campaign and a
dedicated web site at Acclaim.Net. TrickStyle will be released for the PC
with the Dreamcast version this Fall. The PC version will support
multi-player gameplay for at least eight players via a local area network
and the Internet. Additional information on TrickStyle is available at
www.acclaim.net/games/TrickStyle.
Acclaim Sports Hits the Gridiron with NFL
Quarterback Club 2000 for Sega Dreamcast
Acclaim Sports announced the development of NFL Quarterback Club 2000 for
the Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo 64. The game, Acclaim's first formally
announced title for Sega's new hardware platform, will take advantage of
the powerful technological capabilities of the system to bring football
fans the most incredible NFL gaming experience ever. NFL Quarterback Club
2000 will arrive this fall, when Sega Dreamcast makes its official US
debut.
NFL Quarterback Club 2000 for Sega Dreamcast will be supporting Microsoft's
Windows CE. Acclaim will be working closely with Microsoft on the
development of this Sega Dreamcast title. The collaboration will take
advantage of the powerful technological capabilities of the Windows CE
development toolkit for the Sega Dreamcast.
``Acclaim Sports has established itself as one of the premiere developers
of next generation sports video games," said Gregory Fischbach,
Co-Chairman and CEO of Acclaim. ``Given the amazing capabilities of the
Sega Dreamcast, I expect our developers will create incredible sports
gaming experiences that are unmatched in graphics and realism."
NFL Quarterback Club 2000 is being developed by Acclaim Studios' Austin,
creators of hit sports titles such as All-Star Baseball and WWF War Zone.
NFL Quarterback Club '99 for the Nintendo 64 was critically praised for its
outstanding graphics and authentic gameplay. The game received awards for
``Best Animation and Best Graphics Technology" by IGN64, the leading N64
dedicated internet site. Working with the Sega Dreamcast architecture,
Iguana will focus on taking the already breathtaking graphics and animation
of NFL Quarterback Club to the next level while recreating with pinpoint
accuracy the true NFL football gameplay experience. To that end, Charlie
Weis, Offensive Coordinator for the AFC Eastern division champion N.Y.
Jets, will return again to mastermind the artificial intelligence and
play-calling for the game.
Game Features for QBC 2000 for Sega Dreamcast will include:
- 3rd generation Ultra Hi-Rez(TM) graphics for unprecedented NFL
realism
- Developed by Iguana Entertainment, makers of NFL QBC '99,
All-Star Baseball 2000, Turok 2, and South Park
- Player models featuring real-life faces, eye black, breathe
strips, elbow pads, finger tape, and the highest polygonal counts of
any QBC title to date
- Sophisticated Artificial Intelligence and game strategy written
by Charlie Weis, Offensive Coordinator of the AFC East Champion New
York Jets
- Over 1200 motion-captured animations including punishing wrap
tackles and player celebrations like the Falcons' ``Dirty Bird"
- Pin-Point Passing(TM)for unprecedented control
- Motion captured by actual players of the New York Jets
- Play by play from ESPN's Mike Patrick and color calls from CBS'
Randy Cross including pre-game commentary
- Choose from 31 team specific playbooks or create your own
- Replay the key moments of all 33 Super Bowls with authentic game
stats
- Total Team Management includes: trading, drafting, signing and
releasing players, and managing the salary cap
- Player attributes adjust during the season according to their
performance
- Create your own player and teams with QBC's Custom Creation
utility
- Real time field deterioration affects player footing and movement
- Stat categories including the all-new Acclaim Sports Power
Rankings
- Player injuries, penalties, and weather conditions affect game
and season play
- 5 modes of play: Season, Exhibition, Tournament, Playoffs, and
Pro Bowl
- Instant replay and multiple camera angles
- All 31 NFL teams including the expansion Cleveland Browns
- All thirty 3-D rendered stadiums and over 1500 players with
official NFL photos
``We are thrilled to welcome NFL Quarterback Club 2000 to the roster of
planned titles for Sega Dreamcast," said Bernard Stolar, president and COO
of Sega of America. ``Dreamcast's advanced technology allows developers to
design games that will exceed consumers' expectations in every way --
graphics, audio and game play -- and, based on what we've seen from Acclaim
in the past, we're sure that NFL Quarterback Club 2000 for Sega Dreamcast
will do just that."
NFL Quarterback Club 2000 will also be available in August for Nintendo 64.
Both versions of the game will be supported by a multi-million dollar
television, radio, online and in-store marketing campaign. The NFL QBC
franchise is a key title in the popular Acclaim Sports brand including
All-Star Baseball, NBA Jam, NHL Breakaway and Jeremy McGrath SuperCross.
Sega In Talks to Sell Game Software to Rivals
Japan's Sega Enterprises Ltd, faced with unexpectedly slow sales of its
cutting-edge Dreamcast home video game player, said on Thursday it was
considering selling software for hand-held game players to rival firms.
A Sega spokesman said the company was in talks with Nintendo Co and Bandai
Co to supply game software for Nintendo's Game Boy and for Bandai's Wonder
Swan.
It would be the first time for Sega to offer software to competitors. The
move was based on Sega's decision not to re-enter the hand-held game
machine market for the time being, he said.
Sega's Game Gear model, released in 1990, was unable to compete
successfully against Nintendo's Game Boy.
Sega said it was considering selling its ``Sakura Taisen" game software,
which was originally made for its 32-bit Sega Saturn home video console.
Sega would modify the software, which has enjoyed cumulative sales of 1.2
million units, for hand-held game players.
Sega launched its 128-bit Dreamcast game console last November, but sales
fell short of the one-million unit target set for the end of March.
In April, Sega estimated it posted a parent net loss of 32.80 billion yen
($269 million) in the year to March 1999, against an actual loss of 43.3
billion yen in 1997/98. The loss came from write-offs on overseas amusement
facilities and Saturn inventories.
Sega is due to unveil 1998/99 earnings results on Friday.
Sega shares were up 3.68 percent at 1,945 yen at the Tokyo midday.
($1=122 yen)
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE Gaming Online - Online Users Growl & Purr!
"""""""""""""""""""
AtariNews: On The Prowl
05/26/99
LATEST HEADLINES:
THE JAGUAR, OPEN AND READY
It has been officially announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo '99,
the Jaguar is now an open platform. What does that mean for us? A lot!
Game developers no longer need Hasbro's permission to encrypt Jaguar
games. We will be seeing BattleSphere, Protector, The Assassin, and many
more games from the dedicated developers out there. This marks a new
point in history for the Atari Jaguar.
http://www.hasbrointeractive.com
ATARI, NOW A DIVISION OF HASBRO INTERACTIVE
Hasbro has made Atari a separate division. Work has already begun on a
new series of Atari updates. Upcoming titles include Star Raiders, Pong,
Missile Command, and more. With this new change comes the new
www.atari.com, opening soon. The new site will include information about
the new Atari games and possibly information about classic Atari systems.
http://www.atari.com
THE JAGFEST '99 SCHEDULE IS AVAILABLE
Songbird Productions has released the 1999 JagFest Schedule. The fest
will be starting at 10am and ending at 10pm on Friday, June 18, 1999. The
events include 2600 and Jaguar tournaments starting at 11am, A
BattleSphere demo at 3pm, a Songbird Productions announcment at 5pm, and
prizes at 9pm. Also at 1pm, there will be a Protector tournament in
which the top three scorers will have their initials built into final ROM
image for Protector.
http://jagfest.atari.org
BATTLESPHERE AND JUGS: COMBINED PRODUCT?
AtariNews has reason to believe that when BattleSphere is finally shipped
for the Atari Jaguar, it could include a special hidden utility called
Jaguar Unmodified Game Server (JUGS) that will allow Jaguar fans and
developers alike the ability to download RAM-based games into their Atari
Jaguar. This feature could make development and testing of new Jaguar
games more cost-effective and widespread.
http://www.best.com/~sebab/dvidgames/dsphere/sphere.shtml
CENTIPEDE TO BE RELEASED ON GAME.COM?
AtariNews has learned that Centipede may find its way to the relatively
obscure portable system game.com. Hopefully this version will capture the
frenzied gameplay that made the original game a hit.
http://www.handheldgames.com
BACK IN TIME WEBCASTS
Be sure to check out the Back In Time interview webcasts, hosted by Mike
Stulir. Featured guests in past shows include Dana Henry from Hasbro
Interactive, Don Thomas, Curt Vendel, and more. Upcoming guests include
Carl Forhan of Songbird Productions and other individuals formerly
associated with Atari Corporation.
http://www.emuclassics.com/backintime
FREE ATARI EMAIL AND CHAT AREA AT ATARI.NET
Atari.net is offering a free POP3 email address. You can get an address
such as yourname@atari.net. They also feature an Atari chat room.
Future plans include free web space to Atari sites, up-to-date info, and
a large number of links.
http://www.atari.net
Send any comments or submissions for "AtariNews: On The Prowl" to:
Brian Gudzevich (Editor) at: Atarian@netzero.net
Sponsoring web sites:
-The Atarian Atmosphere: http://atmosphere.atari.org
-The Jaguar's Domain: http://jagdomain.atari.org
=~=~=~=
A-ONE's Headline News
The Latest in Computer Technology News
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
AOL President Counters Microsoft Defense
America Online Inc. President Steve Case, countering a central defense by
Microsoft in its antitrust trial, testified Friday his company purchased
Netscape without much interest in its Web browser.
In a deposition during a three-month recess, Case also testified that he
did not tell the government in advance about his plans to acquire Netscape.
He also said a newspaper article was accurate in reporting that he believed
it would be foolish to try to compete with Microsoft.
Microsoft Corp. has argued repeatedly that AOL's purchase of Netscape
Communications Corp. last November for $10.1 billion made the antitrust
trial irrelevant.
The government and 19 states allege that Microsoft competed unfairly
against Netscape in the market for Web browsers by abusing monopoly power
in the Windows operating system.
Microsoft gave its Internet Explorer browser away for free, forcing
Netscape to follow suit. Later, Microsoft integrated its Web browser into
Windows so anyone who purchased a personal computer would automatically get
the browser with it.
Case said his company saw the browser market as fading and that the real
attraction of Netscape had been its ``portal" -- the first Web screen
surfers see when they get on the Internet -- and AOL's partnership with Sun
Microsystems Inc. to develop Internet electronic commerce.
``We knew the browser market share was likely to decline," Case testified.
``To the extent the decline occurred on our watch it might bother us. We
wanted the focus on the portal and e-commerce."
Case also confirmed the accuracy of quotes in a Washington Post interview
that sparked the interest of Federal Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, who is
presiding over the trial.
During his testimony at the deposition, Case said again and again under
questioning that the article accurately reflected his view that it would be
foolish to compete against Microsoft.
``I think that's a fair characterization of my views," Case said.
Later, a Microsoft lawyer said the company has documents it will show at
trial to demonstrate that AOL actually wanted the browser. However, the
lawyer said he was unable to share the documents because they were sealed
by order of the court.
Microsoft lawyer John Warden at one point asked Case several highly
technical questions about the future of the Internet, centering on the
growth of bandwidth availability.
Case tried to answer a couple of the questions, then drew laughter when he
responded to one particularly complex query by quipping: ``Am I in the
right room?"
Case was also asked repeatedly about Microsoft's contention that his
company gave the government an advance warning of its intention to buy
Netscape.
Case testified that one of his lawyers told government lawyer David Boies
that AOL was in ``sensitive conversations" with Netscape.
Boies, who in fact examined Case for the government, later told reporters:
``Mr. Case testified accurately that there was never any indication to
anybody that there was a merger discussion going on."
The trial adjourned in February because the judge had to preside over a
drug and murder trial, and the lawyers had other matters on their schedules
as well. The antitrust trial resumes June 1. Next week depositions will be
taken Wednesday in Washington, Thursday in Raleigh, N.C., and Friday in San
Jose, Calif.
Microsoft Questions Gov't. Expert
A computer expert who will be one of the final witnesses in the Microsoft
trial revealed how he has improved his method of disabling the Internet
browser in Windows, touching on a central claim in the government's
antitrust case.
Edward Felten, a computer science professor at Princeton University, said
some changes to his controversial technique were prompted by comments from
Microsoft witnesses.
Felten previously testified as one of the Justice Department's dozen
witnesses. Microsoft questioned him again under oath Wednesday in a
deposition at the federal courthouse here.
The government wants Felten to take the stand again next month - during the
trial's rebuttal phase - to rebut earlier testimony from Microsoft
executive James Allchin.
The trial resumes Tuesday after a 13-week break.
Felten's testimony is important because Microsoft contends that Windows and
its browser are so closely integrated to make it impossible to remove the
Web software without crippling Windows.
The government alleges that Microsoft illegally ``tied" Windows and its
browser to undermine Netscape Communications Corp., whose Web software is
Microsoft's biggest competitor.
Microsoft feared that Netscape's browser threatened in some ways to mature
into a rival software platform that could minimize the importance of
Windows, Microsoft's most lucrative franchise.
In his trial testimony, Felten showed the judge how he was able to modify
some files to prevent Microsoft's Internet software from starting in all
but a few instances. Since Felten last testified, he's been improving his
technique.
Allchin, for example, complained that Felten's tinkering disabled a popular
feature in Windows 98 that allows consumers to install off the Internet
incremental updates and improvements to Windows.
Felten disclosed Wednesday that he has created his own version of this
``Windows Update" feature. He also changed some error messages that
Microsoft complained might be confusing when encountered on a computer that
the company derisively said had been ``Feltenized."
Felten played down what Microsoft described as the problems with his
efforts.
``If there's a bug, there's a bug," Felten said. ``I'm sure it can be
fixed."
Felten called his work a ``proof of concept," arguing that any
imperfection pointed out by Microsoft ``doesn't invalidate the concept."
Felten's deposition was the first of three scheduled this week. The others
will take place in North Carolina and California. Reporters are allowed to
attend under an obscure 1913 law covering antitrust depositions, which are
normally conducted in private.
IBM Employee Describes Microsoft Retaliation
Microsoft quintupled royalties for IBM to $220 million after the company
surprised Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates by refusing to drop a rival
operating system, an IBM witness testified Thursday.
International Business Machines Corp.'s Garry Norris, who will be a key
rebuttal witness for the government when Microsoft Corp.'s antitrust trial
resumes next week, answered questions from Microsoft lawyers for three
hours under oath at a deposition in Raleigh.
The questioning elicited bits of a tangled story about a bitter falling out
among the two giants of the computer industry in 1994 and 1995, offering
details of charges, threats and retaliation as Microsoft fought for the
dominance of its Windows operating system over IBM's 0S/2 system.
Norris, who worked for the IBM personal computer company, said that when
the two companies tried to repair their relationship in a July 24
conference call with Gates, he heard Gates explain the problem.
``Gates was irate because of a lack of respect IBM had for Microsoft," he
said.
The questioning by a Microsoft lawyer also revealed that IBM at one point
underpaid royalties to Microsoft, and ultimately settled the dispute by
paying the Redmond, Wash. firm $30 million.
Norris also testified that when he tried to sell IBM's OS/2 to personal
computer makers, they feared purchasing it because of threats from
Microsoft -- even though they had customers who wanted it.
Norris said the relationship became so contentious that IBM and Microsoft
did not reach a licensing agreement for Windows 95 until 15 minutes before
that operating system was launched on Aug. 24, 1995.
Years ago, IBM gave Microsoft its big opportunity by choosing the young
firm to provide software for the IBM personal computer. A few years later
the two jointly developed the OS/2 operating system, until Microsoft
changed course. IBM continued to go it alone on OS/2, as Microsoft switched
its focus to Windows.
According to Norris' testimony, an important turning point in the
relationship occurred during a meeting at the Comdex computer show in Las
Vegas during the summer of 1994.
At the top-level meeting, Gates and his executive in charge of relations
with computer makers, Joachim Kempin, proposed an agreement for IBM to cut
back on shipments of OS/2 and replace it with Microsoft Windows.
IBM said no. Norris was not at the meeting, but was briefed on it when he
was transferred within IBM to its PC company.
``I was told that Gates was surprised," Norris testified, adding that
``Kempin was expecting an agreement."
``Kempin was embarrassed," testified Norris. After that, he said, ``they
took retaliatory action."
Norris said he was told by Microsoft, ``As long as you're shipping
competitive products...you will suffer," in pricing terms, conditions and
support programs.
For example, IBM paid $40 million in royalties in 1995, but when it came
time to renegotiate the company wound up paying Microsoft $220 million in
1996, he said.
In addition, Microsoft set a host of other costly conditions, such as
requiring IBM to redesign its screen and make hardware changes.
And simple tests that IBM needed from Microsoft took 60 to 90 days instead
of a week or two, he said.
IBM, which had originally paid nothing for the Microsoft operating system
because of joint development, still had the best deal in the industry for
Windows 3.1, with a cost of $9 per copy, Norris said. But that changed.
Norris at one point testified that Microsoft jumped that price to $45.90 --
a five-fold increase. At another point, however, he testified that the
price was $60 a copy, including discounts. A person close to the case said
the situation was "complicated," and that only parts of it were being
revealed in the testimony so far.
Microsoft lawyer Rick Pepperman asked Norris if he knew that during the
1994-1995 period Microsoft had done a 10-month audit which turned up $50
million in royalty underpayments by IBM. Eventually, IBM agreed to pay
Microsoft $30 million to settle the underpayment, Pepperman said.
Norris said he had heard of the audit but did not know the details.
Microsoft Begins Courtroom Attack On Caldera Suit
Microsoft Corp. attorneys hammered away Tuesday at a lawsuit filed by a
tiny rival software maker claiming the software giant illegally tried to
squash its competition.
The hearing in a federal courtroom here was the first of six scheduled
sessions over the next month that could narrow the focus of the private
antitrust suit brought by Caldera Inc. over the market for computer
operating systems in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Caldera, based in suburban Salt Lake City, is seeking $1.6 billion in
damages based on alleged lost sales of the DR-DOS operating system, which
it bought from Novell Inc. in 1996 the day it filed the lawsuit.
In Tuesday's session Caldera lawyers pressed their claim that Microsoft
competed unfairly by announcing products and then not delivering them
specifically to undermine DR-DOS, a rival to Microsoft's then-dominant
MS-DOS system.
``There was no other competition," Caldera attorney Steve Susman said.
``Destroying DR-DOS meant the competition was destroyed."
``There were other competitors," countered Microsoft attorney Jim Jardine,
advancing the company's argument that Microsoft's success was far from
certain in that uncertain era when Windows was just getting off the ground.
Caldera lawyers also complained about Microsoft's alleged efforts to
actively sow uncertainty in the market regarding DR-DOS.
But an internal Microsoft memo presented as evidence was never circulated
outside the company, Microsoft showed, raising a pointed comment from U.S.
District Judge Dee Benson.
``I think this is crucial," he said. ``If Caldera doesn't have evidence it
was communicated outside of Microsoft, I wonder why it's with the statement
of facts. It doesn't confirm any allegation."
Nevertheless both sides said they were satisfied with the opening session.
Benson said he would take the matter under advisement and is not expected
to rule until after the final hearing in late June.
The case is scheduled to go to trial in January.
Judge Issues Tentative Rulings On Microsoft Vs Sun
A federal judge has issued a set of tentative rulings that would allow
Microsoft Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. to each claim partial victory in
their bitter litigation over the Java software platform.
U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte issued the non-binding, tentative rulings
late Monday ahead of oral arguments that will be heard in the case June 24,
after which final rulings will be issued, officials of both sides said.
Because the rulings are tentative, representatives of the two companies
declined to comment further.
Whyte tentatively ruled that Microsoft's implementation of Java code in
products including Internet Explorer 4.0 and Windows 98 infringed Sun's
copyrights by failing to comply with a licensing agreement between the two
companies.
But Whyte also ruled tentatively that Microsoft can independently develop
related technology that does not rely on Sun's intellectual property.
The judge also issued a tentative ruling interpreting a disputed section of
the contract related to Microsoft's obligations to support updated versions
of Java.
The tentative rulings on the three issues included a series of questions
Whyte wants answered before his final ruling.
Sun filed suit in 1997, contending Microsoft had violated terms of its 1996
license to use Sun's Java technology and was attempting to undermine the
platform, once seen as a potential rival to Microsoft's Windows.
Last November, Whyte issued a preliminary injunction against Microsoft,
ruling that Sun was likely to prevail on its claims of copyright
infringement and unfair competition. Microsoft has appealed that ruling to
the U.S. Court of Appeals, which has scheduled arguments for June 16.
Microsoft Says No Worry On Release Of Windows 2000
Microsoft Corp. is getting good feedback from people testing its new
Windows 2000 computer operating system and sees no reason to worry about
being able to release the software on schedule with its current timetable,
a company executive said Monday.
Paul Maritz, group vice president in the software giant's developer
division, told reporters there was nothing to worry the company in the
initial response to the final beta testing version of Windows 2000,
released on April 29.
``We're getting a lot of good feedback from the customers, and there's no
new data that would make us nervous about it (the release)," Maritz said
at a Microsoft conference in Dallas for Internet software developers.
Microsoft executives have said most recently that they expect to release
the product, an update to the Windows NT system for desktop and server
computers, sometime this year, and Maritz declined to be more specific.
``We're not announcing a ship date either way. But there's no new data that
would cause us to want to panic or jump for joy, or either of the two," he
said.
Another Microsoft executive said last month that the release date of the
much-delayed project would depend on responses to the beta test version.
``We're in the standard process of working through the thousands of details
that you have to do to get a major product out," Maritz said.
Analysts have estimated Microsoft could release the main components of
Windows 2000 about six months after shipment of the final beta test
version, although there was an eight-month gap after the previous major
beta version shipped in August.
A separate version of Windows 2000 for large data centers will follow 90 to
180 days after the main versions.
Poof! CIH Does Disappearing Act
Nada. Zilch. Zero.
That sums up the amount of damage done by the CIH virus on May 26.
"We've seen nothing out of the ordinary," said Bill Pollak, spokesman for
the Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center at Carnegie Mellon
University in Pittsburgh, Penn. System and anti-virus software firm
Networks Associates Inc. similarly saw no activity on Wednesday.
After a variant of the virus that strikes yearly on April 26 caused
widespread havoc a month ago, another variant that strikes on the 26th of
every months seems to have disappeared.
Last month, CIH caused the equivalent of a computer stroke in companies
worldwide.
"We were going nuts," said Stuart Hanley, product line manager for the
Minneapolis, Minn.-based Ontrack Data International Inc. "Calls kept coming
in for three days."
In total, Ontrack heard from 3,000 to 4,000 customers in the U.S., most
with multiple PCs. Each one had been hit by the most destructive computer
virus ever: CIH.
Because it had remained hidden for so long, the version of CIH that
activated on April 26 affected an enormous number of people.
South Korea estimated that between 240,000 and 600,000 PCs were affected
there; Turkey believed 300,000 of its computers had been zapped; and China,
India and the U.S. may have had almost 100,000 computers affected.
Worldwide, the virus is estimated to have affected over 1 million PCs.
In the United States, mainly home users and students ran afoul of the
computer virus, said Bill Pollak, spokesman for the Computer Emergency
Response Team Coordination Center based at Carnegie Mellon University in
Pittsburgh, Penn. "Most businesses [in the U.S.] had anti-virus software in
place," he said.
In addition, a month before the CIH meltdown, the Melissa virus had run
rampant through corporate America, reminding lax administrators that system
security needed to be up to snuff, said Dan Schrader, director of
anti-virus firm Trend Micro Inc.'s security portal division. Because of
Melissa, "the U.S. was surprisingly well off," he said.
Named for its Taiwanese creator Chen Ing-hau -- a student when he wrote
the virus, now in the military -- the CIH virus moves by attaching itself
to application files and spreads when other applications are opened on an
infected PC.
When an infected application is run on a specific date, the virus will
delete the first 1MB of any hard disk -- essentially reformatting the disk
-- and then attempt to erase the basic operating instructions -- called the
basic input/output system, or BIOS -- for the PC's motherboard.
Three variants exist: Version 1.2, which triggers on April 26 and is
sometimes called "Chernobyl" as a nod to the Soviet nuclear accident that
occurred on the same day; Version 1.3, which activates on June 26; and,
Version 1.4 which triggers on the 26th of every month.
CERT's Pollak warned that Version 1.3 is the one to watch. "June
twenty-sixth is the day to watch," he said.
By now, though, computer users should have gotten the message.
"The
point about it is that this is a known virus," said CERT's Pollak.
"It's been known since June of last year. Most people have gotten the
message."
Still other malicious code is waiting in the wings. Already, a new virus
similar to CIH has emerged, according to Dan Takata, senior software
engineer with Data Fellows Inc. Called Emperor, the new cousin to CIH
erases the same file information and attempts to delete the BIOS -- the MO
that made CIH so destructive.
The virus has not started spreading over the Internet, said Takata. Yet he
warned that this is just the beginning; other viruses will soon come about.
"There is a whole new territory of virus technology that we are now
entering," he said. "It will only get worse."
=~=~=~=
Atari Online News, Etc.is a weekly publication covering the entire
Atari community. Reprint permission is granted, unless otherwise noted
at the beginning of any article, to Atari user groups and not for
profit publications only under the following terms: articles must
remain unedited and include the issue number and author at the top of
each article reprinted. Other reprints granted upon approval of
request. Send requests to: dpj@delphi.com
No issue of Atari Online News, Etc. may be included on any commercial
media, nor uploaded or transmitted to any commercial online service or
internet site, in whole or in part, by any agent or means, without
the expressed consent or permission from the Publisher or Editor of
Atari Online News, Etc.
Opinions presented herein are those of the individual authors and do
not necessarily reflect those of the staff, or of the publishers. All
material herein is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing.
