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Atari Online News, Etc. Volume 02 Issue 28
Volume 2, Issue 28 Atari Online News, Etc. July 14, 2000
Published and Copyright (c) 2000
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:
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=~=~=~=
A-ONE #0228 07/14/00
~ Internet Explorer 5.5! ~ People Are Talking! ~ Hacker Insurance?!
~ eBay To Ban Foul-mouth ~ Mitnick Allowed Online ~ Napster Testifies!
~ 'Smash' Virus Strikes? ~ Violence = Pornography ~ Joystick Junkie!
~ Games More Realistic! ~ eBay Reducing Auctions ~ Software For Rent?!
-* Connectix Suit: On, Off, On! *-
-* Business Cards Out, WEBcards Are In *-
-* British Columbia To Set Violence Precedent *-
=~=~=~=
->From the Editor's Keyboard "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
As he'll attest in his column later in this issue, the weather here in New
England this past week has been almost perfect! Sun, warmth, cool breezes,
and little humidity. And of course I wasn't on vacation to really enjoy it!
But, I'll take it. And vacation is coming up in another week, so I can wait
for my turn to really enjoy the weather!
Industry news picked up quite a bit after the holiday and through this week,
finally. While the flavor continues to pertain to the ups and downs of the
various "dot-coms" out there, other news more "interesting" found its way to
us.
I don't have much to say in this area this week, but I do have some comments
for the gaming part of my editorial this week - a section that I've been
neglecting editorially for quite some time. I'll just drop a hint as to it
contents here; and that is a recent decision made in Canada's British
Columbia pertaining to "violent" video games. Here we go again, folks!
So, I'm hoping that you're all enjoying the wonderful summer so far. Sit
back and relax and take it all in - we don't have enough of them, it seems
these days.
Until next time...
=~=~=~=
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
compiled by Joe Mirando
jmirando@portone.com
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me.
The weather here has been much cooler and drier than southern
New England should be at this time of year... But I'll take it!
Since I rent, I don't have to worry about lawn care like SOME PEOPLE
do, but I still enjoy a well cared for lawn. Luckily, my landlord takes
great pride in the lawn and plants around our house. And the best part
of all is that I don't have to deal with it! It all works out in the
end though... snow removal is MY responsibility.
I guess it's really true that everything is a trade-off. Most of you
know that I've had a spiffy new PC laptop for the past year or so. I
use it quite a bit because... well, let's face it; it's faster, it
shows something like four billion colors, there's tons of software
available for it, and it gives me access to relatively inexpensive
upgrades and add-ons.
But damn it, it just doesn't have a personality. It's just a machine.
Every Atari computer I've ever had, from my first 1040 to my Portfolio,
Stacy, and TT has had a definite personality. Using any of them was
more like chatting with a friend than using a machine.
I've used several of the available ST emulators, and they all did what
they were supposed to do. But they were all burdened with running under
Windows. Microsoft must include some sort of "personality killer" code
or something! <grin>
I've pretty much dumped Windows altogether and I run Linux on the PC
now. It's a really neat system, but it's quite a bit different from
both Windows and TOS. Lately, I've been seeing the dim, subtle glimmer
of a personality. It'll never be TOS, I can assure you of that, but
it's still a great system.
I STILL haven't gotten around to seriously installing either Linux or
NetBSD (another Unix-like OS) on my TT... much to the consternation of
my friend Rob Mahlert of Atari Users Net... but I really do fully intend
to... one of these days.
This is my first week back to work after a week of vacation and, as
expected, I'm exhausted. Just one more sign that I'm getting older, I
guess.
Well, let's get on with the UseNet STuff...
From the comp.sys.atari.st NewsGroup
====================================
D Bruce Moore asks about saving data from ST disks:
"My Atari was stolen a few years ago. I still have diskettes
full of MIDI files, though, and would like to get them on to a
PC.
Problem is, these diskettes were never formatted in the way that
allows PCs to read them...and I don't have the Atari ST to be
able to transfer them to a diskette that CAN be read on a PC..."
Jim DeClercq provides and interesting option:
"One solution is a book on DOS, which may help with Windoze 9X, which
runs on an emulation of DOS. If you know the format, you can set up a
virtual drive in DOS which reads the format you have.
If you cannot find one, you might post to the group or e-mail me.
Right now, I am home, which is 432 US miles from where I work, and
that book is at work."
Bruce tells Jim:
"The above URL to the free App worked like a charm! I had a
composition notated on the Atari disk that I thought was lost
forever, and I saw it for the first time in 6 years yesterday!!!!"
'Phantomm' asks for help with the new STinG:
"Greetings Atari Folks....
Could use some info on updating to the latest version of STinG.
I see that there has been a new release, Version 1.26!
According to the STinG DIALER.APP I have the following versions...
Dialer Version = 01.16
STinG Version = 01.20
First, I would like to update to the latest version before the release
of 1.26. Then I would like to upgrade to the new 1.26 version if it is
bug free.
Now when updating, do I have to install the complete latest version or
can I just copy the updated files over into my current working STing setup?
If I just need to replace a few files, which ones do I need to install to
have the latest version before the release of 1.26?
And are there any known bugs or problems with the version of STinG before
the release of the new 1.26 version?
The version I am running now on my CT2B Falcon works fine, but if there
are improvements with the latest updates then I'd like to try them out."
AtariGalen tells Phantomm:
"To the best of my knowledge, 1.26 is the version that supercedes
1.20. I do not think 1.21-1.25 were ever publicly available.
As for the rest of your questions, STing 1.26 has been available
for only one day, so no one knows the answers to them yet.
Download the package, read the instructions, try it out
yourself, and then answer your own questions here. Others (such
as myself) would be very interested in knowing them too."
Frank Lawrence tells Phantomm and Galen:
"The following URL to get the new STING & Dialer and how I updated.
http://www.ettnet.se/~dlanor/sting/html/sting.htm
I made copies of the old STING (Auto folder), TCP.STX, UDP.STX,
DIALER.APP, SERIAL.CPX, STING(Internals).CPX, STINGPORT.CPX,
STINGROT.CPX. Then replace these files with the new ones and in
a folder put the rest of the rest of the Modules with A STY ext.
and not needed unless you are networking with other computers an
if you need them change the the ext to STX. BTW copy down the
settings of your SERIAL.CPX and STING internals and reconfigure.
Hope this helps, BTY Dialer can once again be used as an .ACC."
Lyndon Amsdon adds:
"I was wondering where it was available from apart from the ftp site
chaplie. Hopefully this version will work on my ST. I tried so hard
to get 1.22 working. I'll download it today.
I can't wait to get on to the chaplie ftp!...
A few months back I was having trouble with sting 1.22. Guess what...
I'm having trouble with 1.26!.
I tried reinstalling 1.22 twenty odd times. From floppy using a
minimal system (HSMODEM7 STinG Xcontrol) tried TOS 2.06 and 1.62.
Tried using cops and Zcontrol.
Everytime I loaded a programme it would lock up either from Hard disk
or floppy.
Sting 1.26 does exactly the same on my STe!
So I tried it on another computer. The other computer was an STe with
external blitter chip like just like mine.
It worked fine!
The only thing it could be is:
1) 4mb of RAM (yeah right this is causing a problem)
2) TUS developments tos switcher (tried it in 1.62 and 2.06, so it
can't be that)
3) TUS IDE interface. I think this is the problem. I've never had
any trouble before, but it can't be anything else.
Anyone had any problems with it?"
Trevor Spencer tells Lyndon:
"Yes, it doesn't load, just "bombs" with 2 bombs.
Now experimentation is called for to see if I can find out why."
Galen now comes back and asks a question about printers:
"I'm wondering what currently available printers work with NVDI
5. Note that I'm not asking what printers work with NVDI --
that's on their webpage. Unfortunately, most of the printers
there are no longer made. To get the discussion rolling:
The Epson 740, 850, and 900 use ESC/P2 language, which NVDI
supports. Unfortunately, the 740 is the only one of these still
available, and it is being discontinued this year. The Epson
740i, 760, and 860 use ESC/Raster, which is not the same thing
as ESC/P2. On Epson's web site, they mention how to drive the
740, 850, and 900 with DOS, but do not consider the newer
printers to be DOS capable, leading me to wonder if the new
Epsons can be used with NDVI.
Pretty much any HP Deskjet made speaks HPL3, so 600 dpi black
can be obtained easily enough. Most HP printers understand
earlier versions of their languages (bless HP for this), so I
suspect (but do not know for sure) that 300 dpi color is
obtainable from some models. What currently available HP
printer can do 600 dpi color using NVDI, if any?
Both the Brother laser and the HP lasers speak some superset of
HPL3, so again, 600 dpi black should be easy enough.
I fear that the soon to be discontinued Epson 740 is the only
printer now in stores that can provide good color printing with
NVDI. I would love to be proved wrong on this."
Greg Goodwin tells Galen:
"I have a curious question that gets weirder than your question. I would
like to know what printers are available for the NVDI that works with
MagicMac."
Galen replies:
"It SHOULD be the same list! As far as I know (haven't
personally tested it) NVDI 5 was the first version to have
MagicPC and MagicMac support built in. Previously, there were
separate versions for each hardware set."
Edward Baiz asks Galen:
"Have you tried the Epson Photo printers? I use the Epson Photo 700 printer
with NVDI 5 and it does an excellent job."
Galen bounces back and tells Edward:
"I'm glad to hear it. Have you compared it to the 740? I'd be
interested in hearing how it compares quality-wise.
I have not personally tried the Epson Photo 700, but it and its
cousin, the Photo 750, are both ESC/P2 printers, and hence will
work with NVDI. Unfortunately, the 700 is already discontinued
and the 750 is likely to soon follow. The other Photo printers
are ESC/P Raster.
If anyone has tried a ESC/P Raster printer on an Atari w/NVDI
I'd love to hear of it.
In other news, I'm becoming reasonably confident that any HP
Deskjet (except the Windows specific ones [710,720,820,1000
series]) will print 300 dpi color, since they will all respond
to the 550C driver without error. I do not know if they will go
higher. Of course, since all HP deskjets (except the ones
noted) are PCL3 printers, they will also print 600dpi black
using the Laserjet driver."
Simon George asks about networking:
"I have a 2080STe and a PC. I am interested in networking the two machines
so as I can use the PC as a file server as I don't have a hard drive for my
STe.
Has anyone got any suggestions as to how I can go about this relatively
inexpensively. I can lay my hands on a LAN card for my PC, what would I
need on the other end."
Edward Baiz tells Simon:
"Well if you can get a ST emulator for the PC that could access the MIDI
ports of the PC (am not sure if Pacifist does) there is a program I have
that will do this. I tried it out with my Hades hooked up to my STe
through the MIDI ports. I was able to bring up the files that were on my
STe on the Hades. I could then click on the programs that were on my STe's
hard drive and they would come up on my Hades. Kind of neat."
Jerry O'Rourke adds:
"You can use the PC's serial port if you set it up as an NFS server.
I did this & it worked, but you need to run MiNT on the STE, & 2 MB is
probably not enough for all of the networking stuff.
The speed was 19,200, really kind of slow.
The other posters idea about Pacifist is quite good, but if Pacifist does
not support the Midi port (this on the soundcard, right?), there might be
other emulators (TOSbox, WinSTon, etc) that might.
If none of then do, then you might consider buying a cheap ISA PC serial
card & changing the crystal frequency to convert the 38,400 baud output to
31,250 Midi frequency, then set this card us as the main serial port."
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 - NFL Gameday 2001! X-Men!!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Sony/Connectix Suit On Again!
Joystick Junkie! Violence = Porn??
And much much more!
->From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
I've been neglecting this editorial section of the magazine simply because
there really hasn't been a lot to say. Games are plentiful and most systems
seem to be doing pretty well. Plus, with the summer months, news seems to
be slower.
However, both of those factors changed this past week when I saw a few
articles on the newswire pertaining to a recent decision in Canada's British
Columbia. It seems that a recent game, "Soldier of Fortune", has been
determined to be too violent. In order to restrict its sales, B.C.'s
Attorney General decided to re-classify the game as "adult material". akin
to pornography, and is limiting sales to consumers 18 years old and up!
Here we go again, folks!! Let's watch government get involved in
determining what is too much violence. Another case of the government
protecting consumers from themselves. Another case of government assuming
the role of the world's parents. It's a GAME for cryin' out loud! It's not
real! And just so people can say government has had its way, it has a
"mature" rating with other appropriate "warnings". From the article:
Soldier of Fortune's carries an industry rating of ``M" for mature
content, and warns on the box it contains ``Animated Blood and Gore."
players are also told the game includes a "low-violence installation
option."
What's the problem? I am so tired of hearing stories of attempts by the
government - any government - getting involved in censorship and the
apparent over-protection being meted out for the consumer public. Leave
parental responsibilities to parents!
And what British Columbia's Attorney General doesn't realize is that he
probably just provided enough publicity for this game that sales will
skyrocket! You know, I'm tempted to check the game out myself!
Until next time...
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE's Game Console Industry News - The Latest Gaming News!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Sony On Connectix Patent Case: We'll Go To Trial
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc and Connectix Corp. both made
headlines in the past couple of weeks with news that Sony had dropped a
patent suit against the emulation software maker and then refiled. The
off-again, on-again lawsuit has had some who are watching the proceedings
scratch their head.
Recently ZDNet's Daniel Drew Turner spoke with a representative of a law
firm which represents Sony, Townsend & Townsend & Crew to find out more.
James Gilliland, a partner at the firm, told ZDNet that Sony's case will go
to trial this fall.
Sony and Connectix have had a combative relationship in the year and a half
since Connectix first revealed its Virtual Game Station software. Virtual
Game Station enables Mac users to play many games designed to work with
Sony's popular PlayStation console. Sony claims that Virtual Game Station
offers a lower-quality experience than a real PlayStation and suggests that
the software does not offer the same level of copy protection that a real
PlayStation does, as well.
Since then, Sony has sued Connectix in federal court, alleging copyright
infringement. Sony saw the majority of its charges against Connectix
dismissed earlier this year -- a decision that Gilliland says Sony hopes
will be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Sony then filed its current patent infringement suit against Connectix, but
withdrew its suit a days before it was to be reviewed by federal judge
Charles Legge. A suit was then refiled hours later with six of the original
suit's eleven charges.
Activision Brings the Most Popular Comic of All Time
To Life With The Release of X-MEN: Mutant Academy
For the first time ever, Marvel's successful comic book property X-MEN is
brought to life in full 3D with the release of X-MEN Mutant Academy from
Activision, Inc. Timed to coincide with the highly anticipated summer
release of Twentieth Century Fox's ``X-MEN," the action packed game places
players in the role of their favorite mutants and challenges them to
harness their rage and utilize their special powers as they train with
Professor X to become full-fledged members of the X-MEN. X-MEN Mutant
Academy will be available for the PlayStation game console and Game Boy
Color beginning July 14, 2000 and have been rated ``T" (Animated Violence
-- ``Teen" -- content suitable for person ages 13 and older) and ``E"
(Mild Animated Violence -- ``Everyone" -- content suitable for persons
ages six and older) respectively by the ESRB.
``The X-MEN characters are wonderfully suited to the creation of a video
game and X-MEN Mutant Academy's stunning graphics and dynamic game play
have really allowed us to bring to life some of most popular Super Heroes
of all time," said Steve Crane, senior vice president, Activision Studios.
``The game not only draws on the X-Men's 36 year history but also
incorporates elements of the "X-MEN`` movie striking a balance that is
sure to appeal to a wide audience."
X-MEN Mutant Academy treats players to the ultimate X-MEN experience and
features 10 playable characters -- including Wolverine, Cyclops, Gambit,
Beast, Storm, Phoenix, Sabertooth, Mystique, Toad and Magento -- that
appear in both their classic comic and movie costumes. Players have four
ways to rumble with Academy Training, Arcade Mode, Survival Mode and Versus
Mode (classic two-player fighting). In Academy Training, Professor X
teaches player how to hone their mutant powers in preparation for the
challenges of Arcade and Versus modes. Additionally, Cerebro mode provides
fans with loads of X-Men bonus material including ``X-MEN" movie clips,
behind the scenes movie photos, classic comic book covers and more!
Paradox Development developed X-MEN Mutant Academy for Activision.
NFL GameDay 2001 for the PlayStation Game
Console Hits the Line at Full Speed This August
Continuing to deliver breakthrough football action through revolutionary
gameplay and impressive graphics, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
announced today that NFL GameDay 2001 from 989 Sports will be available
this August for the PlayStation game console. Complete with running back
Marshall Faulk of the World Champion St. Louis Rams providing strategic
input and appearing on the title's box cover, NFL GameDay 2001 features all
31 NFL teams and players, amazingly realistic 3D player and stadium models
and tons of new motion-captured moves from 13 NFL players. Announcers Dick
Enberg and Phil Simms return to call all the NFL excitement.
``With great graphics and incredible gameplay, the NFL GameDay series,
which is the original pro football franchise of the PlayStation game
console, captures NFL realism so much that many NFL players are big fans,"
said Kelly Ryan, director of product development, Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc. ``We're very pleased to team up with Marshall
Faulk, a gamer himself and the winner of our 'Game Before the Game'
competition at this year's Super Bowl, to bring his world championship
expertise to the game as the NFL GameDay 2001 cover athlete and as one of
our NFL player consultants."
The GameDay series' award winning gameplay has been enhanced with the new
``Play As Any Skill Player" feature that lets gamers become the
quarterback, running back, wide receiver or tight end with the press of a
button. With ``on-the-fly" flexibility, gamers can throw cut blocks as a
tight end for a running back, or as a receiver, signal the quarterback to
throw the ball. Relentlessly savvy Artificial Intelligence (AI) has
computer-controlled opponents learning player's tendencies on offense and
defense to shut down the attack. New Total Control Passing allows players
to lead or under throw receivers in any direction by simply pressing the
directional pad.
NFL GameDay 2001 sports the most realistic graphics to date with each NFL
player depicted in amazing detail as they are scaled to their actual size,
weight and body style. Stadium interiors are richly detailed and enhanced
by animated backgrounds and historic landmarks and players will actually
experience wear and tear on the playing field as the game progresses.
For the first time, animations including drag downs, shoves, gang tackles,
low and high-wrap tackles, upending tackles, across-the-body ``shoestring"
catches and sideline ``tip-toe" catches capture the intensity of real NFL
action. Players can break ankle tackles and drag would-be tacklers on
second and third efforts.
NFL GameDay 2001 reflects the latest NFL trends through actual NFL player
input -- from motion-capture animations to plays designed with the help of
real NFL players. Players motion captured for the NFL GameDay 2001 series
are among the game's top names, including Buccaneers FB Mike Alstott,
Steelers RB Jerome Bettis, Bengals QB Akili Smith, Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith
and LB Hardy Nickerson, Vikings DT John Randle, Raiders WR Tim Brown and CB
Charles Woodson, Giants CB Jason Sehorn. Joining Faulk among the 55 NFL
stars creating the authentic playbooks for NFL GameDay 2001, were
Buccaneers DL Warren Sapp, Vikings QB Dante Culpepper, Bengals RB Corey
Dillon and Dolphins LB Zach Thomas.
An improved ``GM Mode" lets the videogamer play in multiple seasons as a
coach, player or general manager. A new ``Draft War Room" feature provides
the gamer with a report of team weaknesses allowing players to determine
needs on draft day. Gamers can control the everyday activities of a team
over several seasons while drafting, trading and signing free agent
players. State-of-the-art ``Training Camp Mode" lets the gamer sharpen
skills and increase knowledge of various offensive and defensive playbooks.
The revolutionary ``Play Editor" lets the gamer design custom plays and
save them to a playbook.
Players can also direct how and where each player will move by assigning
individual routes, blocking schemes and defensive alignments and
assignments. NFL GameDay 2001 has also refined the ``Create Player"
feature, allowing gamers to customize a player's physical appearance,
salary and mental makeup. Graduating seniors from NCAA GameBreaker 2001
can even be imported to the draft.
NFL GameDay 2001 Key Features:
-- Award-winning gameplay including a new feature that allows gamers to
play as a quarterback, running back, wide receiver or tight end with
the "Play As Any Skill Player" option
-- Hundreds of new plays designed with the help of 55 NFL players
containing the latest trends, formations and plays
-- All-new 3D player and stadium models and tons of new motion capture
animations from 13 different NFL players, including Charles Woodson,
Akili Smith, Jimmy Smith and Mike Alstott
-- All 31 NFL teams and players scaled to actual height, weight and body
style
-- Actual NFL stadiums feature historic landmarks and grass that
experiences wear and tear as the game progresses
-- Play-by-play legend Dick Enberg and color commentator Phil Simms return
with broader and more conversational commentary and insight
-- In-game Telestrator provides TV-style instant replays with insight and
analysis from Phil Simms
-- In-depth NFL player ratings and updated 2000 team rosters, including
rookies, free agent signings and trades
-- Gamers have the ability to import senior college players from 989
Sports' college football videogame NCAA GameBreaker 2001 to play with
the pros in NFL GameDay 2001
-- An upgraded "Training Camp Mode" lets the gamer sharpen his skills and
increase his knowledge of various offensive and defensive playbooks.
Players actually wear practice jerseys and shorts
-- "GM Mode" lets the gamer be the coach, player or general manager over
multiple seasons, operating with a salary cap. The new "Draft War Room"
feature alerts player to team weaknesses. Create, draft, sign, trade
and release players and free agents -- just like a real GM
-- In-game help menus assist new users who are unfamiliar with the in-game
controls
-- Team match-ups that detail offensive and defensive strengths and
weaknesses
-- Design plays and save them to a custom playbook with the revolutionary
"Play Editor" allowing gamers to direct how and where players move by
assigning pass routes, blocking schemes and defensive maneuvers
-- Create a player with the updated "Create Player" feature -- customize a
player's physical appearance, salary and mental makeup
-- Players perform as in real life as Marshall Faulk jukes to elude
flailing arms, Eddie George punishes would-be tacklers, Randy Moss
elevates over shorter defenders to grab the deep ball and Brett Favre
sports a rifle for an arm
-- 150 personalized touchdown dances including Green Bay's traditional
"Lambeau Leap," Ken Norton's end zone "Punching Bag," Cris Carter's
"Point to the Sky" and more
-- Multiple weather conditions including wind, snow and rain as well as
player injuries affect gameplay
-- "Throwback" uniforms let gamers relive the past with a favorite team
-- Comprehensive season statistical tracking in 163 categories - for
either a team or a player
-- Gameplay modes include preseason, 2000-2001 NFL season play, playoffs,
Super Bowl and Pro Bowl
-- Pro Bowl selections are based upon the current season with weekly
voting updates
-- Includes every past Super Bowl team such as the '75 Steelers, '85 Bears
and '94 49ers
-- Genuine NFL stadium, game and crowd sounds
-- Four playing perspectives and a free-floating 3D TV-style presentation
-- Four levels of difficulty -- Rookie, Veteran, All-Pro and Hall of Fame
-- Complete substitution capability
-- Up to 8 players with Multi Tap
-- Officially licensed by the NFL and PLAYERS INC
989 Sports' NCAA GameBreaker 2001 and
NCAA All-Time Rushing Leader Ron Dayne
Plow Onto PlayStation in August
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced Wednesday that NCAA
GameBreaker 2001 from 989 Sports returns to the PlayStation this August
with Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne providing strategic input and
appearing on the game's package cover. Delivering a balanced attack of
unrivaled graphics, great gameplay and a multitude of features, NCAA
GameBreaker 2001 includes all 115 Division I-A programs, plus 64 historical
teams, 21 bowl games, new player models and more than 250 motion-captured
animations. The game features 1,800 plays designed by legendary
All-Americans and coaches, five gameplay modes and the call by all-time
great announcer Keith Jackson.
NCAA GameBreaker 2001 re-creates the spirit and pageantry of college
football Saturdays with all 115 Division I-A football stadiums from
Michigan's ``Big House" to the Rose Bowl, all rendered in amazing detail,
as well as the race for the Heisman Trophy, and conference championships.
Adding to the game's realism are more than 30 authentic fight songs and
hundreds of motion-captured animations including new tackles, special moves
and jukes. Players can utilize special weapon ``GameBreakers" who can
change a game's complexion whenever they touch the ball.
Former University of Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne, this year's
GameBreaker cover boy and a recent New York Giants first round draft pick,
has been brought into the studio adding to the game's realism through play
calling strategies and play design. Dayne finished his Badger career as
college football's all-time rushing leader becoming the first runner to
amass more than 7,000 yards on the ground.
``NCAA GameBreaker 2001 captures the look and feel of college football and
with our collaboration with Ron Dayne, the NCAA's most prolific running
back, GameBreaker lives up to 989 Sports' mantra 'Made by the Pros, Played
by the Pros'," said Kelly Ryan, director of product development, Sony
Computer Entertainment America Inc. ``With Dayne, Keith Jackson's
play-by-play, incredibly realistic stadiums and team-specific playbooks,
GameBreaker is college football."
NCAA GameBreaker 2001 features superior gameplay to accompany its amazing
graphics and college football realism. With Total Control Passing, players
adjust to changing defenses by leading or under-throwing receivers so the
ball is placed just where the receiver can catch it. Special moves allow
``GameBreakers" to juke overmatched defenders, while a well-timed leap can
tip the ball away from the outstretched hands of the intended receiver. A
``Career Mode" allows a player to assume the duties of a head coach,
coordinator or assistant in leading a run at the National Championship.
Players can then progress up the coaching ladder, landing jobs at higher
profile schools depending on the success of their squad.
Only NCAA GameBreaker 2001 allows gamers to take their best players to the
next level. Gamers are able to save senior players from NCAA GameBreaker
2001 and draft them into the NFL by downloading them into NFL GameDay(TM)
2001, 989 Sports' best-selling pro football game for the PlayStation game
console.
NCAA GameBreaker 2001 Key Features:
-- All 115 NCAA Division I-A teams and stadiums, plus 64 classic teams
from the past
-- Authentic college play formations and playbooks featuring more than
1,800 plays designed by college coaches, such as UCLA Bruins coach
Bob Toledo and by GameBreaker cover athlete Ron Dayne, the 1999
Heisman Trophy winner
-- Five gameplay modes: Scrimmage, Fantasy, Tournament, Bowl Season
and Career
-- "Career Mode" enables the user to assume the duties of a head coach,
coordinator or assistant in leading a run at the National
Championship
-- TV-style presentation with extended analysis from legendary college
football announcer Keith Jackson
-- NFL GameDay 2001 compatible - users will be able to save senior
players from an NCAA GameBreaker 2001 season and import them into
NFL GameDay 2001
-- All-new gameplay animations include new tackles, special moves and
jukes
-- All 3D polygonal players scaled to actual height and weight
-- Authentic college fight songs and drums provide the most realistic
college football environment, while real audio enhances every juke,
grunt and bone-crunching hit
-- "Blue Chip Recruiting" feature allows gamers to sign recruits and
build powerhouse teams
-- Play in 21 different bowl games, including the Rose Bowl, and
individual players can compete for the Heisman Trophy, Sears
National Championship Trophy, All American Team and Freshman of the
Year Award
-- Utilizes more than 250 motion capture animations of former college
standouts and current NFL Pros, including Akili Smith, Charles
Woodson, Tim Brown, Chad Brown, Mike Alstott, Jason Sehorn, Hardy
Nickerson, Christian Fauria, Jimmy Smith and Lamont Warren
-- "Max Pro" feature allows player to order running backs to block or
go out for a pass
-- Gamers can control celebration and show-off animations, but must
watch out for excessive celebration penalties
-- True-to-life "GameBreakers" can change the outcome of a game with
each touch of the ball
-- Practice field "Play Editor" feature enables users to create and
customize their own playbook
-- Supports the DUALSHOCK analog controller for the ultra-realistic
experience
-- Total Control Passing allows players to lead or under-throw
receivers so the ball is placed out of the reach of greedy defenders
-- Wind, snow and rain all affect gameplay, while uniforms show mud and
grass stains depending on field conditions
-- Tracking of game and full season statistics in every major category
-- Up to 8 players with Multi Tap
The Fluff has Hit the Fan!
Fur Fighters Arrives in Stores
Acclaim Entertainment announced that Fur Fighters for Sega Dreamcast
started shipping to retail stores nationwide as of July 13.
Developed by Bizarre Creations, Fur Fighters is a genre-busting adventure
game in which gamers are tasked to play the role of all six heavily-armed
animal liberators on a mission to rescue their children from the Evil
General Viggo.
``Fur Fighters combines all of the action from first person shooters with
the puzzle solving elements of a traditional platform game, all with an
incredible sense of humor," said Evan Stein, Brand Director for Acclaim
Entertainment. ``The result is an ingenious, premier adventure for Sega
Dreamcast featuring characters and a storyline unlike anything we've seen
on the market."
Fur Fighters begins as the Evil General Viggo kidnaps the adorable infants
of each Fur Fighter and hides them throughout the game universe. The Fur
Fighters must unite to conquer the Evil General and reclaim their babies.
To successfully complete the game, players must utilize the unique, special
abilities given to each Fur Fighter. For example, Juliette the cat can
easily climb walls, Rufus the dog is notorious for his ability to dig
holes, and Rico the penguin can swim and dive in deep water. Gamers must
solve a huge variety of puzzles - from simple switches to complex
multi-phase challenges requiring thought, exploration and action. Each
puzzle is linked to the storyline, and allows the player to progress
through the game and rescue the captured Fur Fighter babies.
Fur Fighters marketing focuses on the dichotomy of the characters and game
play. With headlines like ``Deady Bear," ``Fuzzy Wuzzy was a Bear...now
he's Dead," and ``Make a Killing in the Fur Trade," the in-game humor is
accurately reflected. Fur Fighters is heavily supported with an award
winning print campaign, in store POS, a state-of-the-art website at
www.acclaim.com and the Sega Dreamcast's first ever lenticular packaging.
Sega Serves Up Arcade Hit Virtua Tennis for Dreamcast
First Head-to-Head Tennis Game Comes to Sega Dreamcast
Sega serves up an ace today with the release of ``Virtua Tennis," its
first-ever tennis title for the 128-bit, Internet-ready Sega Dreamcast
videogame console. ``Virtua Tennis" features fast-paced gameplay, authentic
environments and an array of court surfaces that make this game
ultra-realistic and fun to play. ``Virtua Tennis" delivers rich 3D graphics
and crisp animations so the pros in the game move like the pros in real
life. Using simple, intuitive controls, gamers feel like they are actually
delivering that drop shot or overhead smash.
``Virtua Tennis" allows gamers to play solo or match up against each other
four at a time, for hard-hitting multi-player fun. Gamers can choose to
play eight internationally ranked tennis pros including Jim Courier, Cedric
Pioline, Tim Henman, Tommy Haas, Mark Phillippoussis, Carlos Moya, Thomas
Johansson and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. The pros in the game not only bear each
athlete's physical likeness, but also each electronic player has the pros'
real life skill attributes. Hear the pros' grunts and groans as they volley
for victory with cross-court shots. Watch them go head-to-head on a variety
of surfaces -- hard, clay, grass, or carpet -- and see how each surface
responds differently.
``Virtua Tennis breaks new ground in the tennis genre in terms of graphics
and gameplay," said Gwendolyn Marker, consumer communications manager,
Sega of America. ``The game is easy to pick up and play, and provides for
hours of replay value with multiple playing modes, new lifelike courts and
all-new virtual shopping."
``Virtua Tennis" players can choose ``World Circuit Mode" and tour the
globe as they battle to win all the big tournaments. With each win, players
collect ``cash" awards and ``shop" in the game. Gamers can go into
virtual stores and buy new strings for their rackets, cool tennis apparel
or energy drinks. If they're feeling like big spenders, they can buy their
way into locked stadiums or take on a new identity and buy locked
characters. Once players have completed the entire World Circuit, they can
access a secret character that can only be seen by circuit champions.
Sega's got a surprise for those who prefer arcade gameplay. In arcade mode,
gamers can progress to different locations with each match won. They too
will unlock a secret character after winning all of the arcade mode levels.
To add to the realism, ``Virtua Tennis" has included crowds that chime in
with ``oohs" and ``aahhs" with every good or bad play. To add to the fun,
Sega has included a replay feature, which allows gamers to watch incredible
plays over again, right after they're made.
``Virtua Tennis" is available at retailers nationwide or at www.sega.com.
The game is rated ``E" for everyone.
Gamers Find Awesome Deals on New and Used Video
Games at Hecklers Entertainment's 'JoystickJunkie.com'
Hecklers Entertainment Inc., a leading developer of interactive
entertainment on America Online and the World Wide Web, and GTR Group Inc.,
a leading supplier of value-priced video games and video game accessories
to the interactive entertainment industry, announce the launch of
``Joystick Junkie" (joystickjunkie.com ), the new and used video games
superstore.
A video gamer's paradise, Joystick Junkie offers the largest selection of
discounted strategy guides, gaming accessories, and the industry's hottest
games -- both new and previously played -- for all major platforms
including Nintendo 64, Sony PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast, and Game Boy
Color. Gamers will soon also be able to trade in their games for online
credit toward other games and products.
Hecklers Entertainment partnered with GTR Group Inc.'s e-commerce division,
ZapYou.com, to provide e-commerce services. ZapYou offered a comprehensive
package of services including: merchandising, promotion, program design,
Web site design, payment, fulfillment of orders, inventory management,
supplier relations, customer support, reporting and planning.
``Joystick Junkie provides our millions of network visitors with a
comprehensive selection of the hottest video game products at a huge
discount," said Scott Davis, co-founder of Hecklers Entertainment Inc.
``We're very excited about partnering with one of the industry's leaders in
entertainment accessories and video games. ZapYou.com allows us to expand
and strengthen our numerous online communities."
``We're thrilled to partner with Hecklers Entertainment Inc., one of the
Internet's premier fun and games networks," said Peter Kozicz, GTR Group's
President and CEO. ``As a result of this partnership, members of the
Hecklers communities will be able to choose from the broadest selection of
video game titles and accessories available anywhere on the Internet."
``Hecklers' content-rich Web sites and loyal following, coupled with
ZapYou.com's innovative e-commerce formula, creates a compelling product
and service offering to video game enthusiasts through Joystick Junkie,"
said Steve Reed, president of GTR Group's Internet Division.
Computer Games More Realistic
Making a computer game may once have been the exclusive domain of
techno-geeks. But today's games, especially ones based on television shows
or films, take as much work as any Hollywood epic.
The upcoming ``Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force," for instance, required
a casting director, voice-over director and most of the cast of the
Paramount TV series, from Captain Janeway to Officer Tuvok. The script
alone ran more than 700 pages - five times the length of a typical feature
film script.
As technology has made computer games more lifelike, players are demanding
a more rewarding experience, including the participation of original cast
members for games drawn from other media. It can take up to two years to
produce a computer game at a cost of millions. Most of that money goes to
the three-dimensional graphics and shoot-em-up special effects.
About 10 percent of the budget for new Star Trek: Voyager game, developed
by Madison, Wisc.-based Raven Software and being published later this
summer by Santa Monica-based Activision Inc., went to paying actors Kate
Mulgrew, Robert Picardo and the other actors who appear on Paramount's
syndicated show.
``The dedicated fans do have a desire to hear the characters as they
appear on the show and in the movies," said Laird Malamed, executive
producer at Activision. ``All of the fans of gaming in general appreciate
well-recorded, well-performed material and the best way to get that is to
get the characters who have done this over and over again."
The attention to detail extends to foreign language versions of the game
as well. For the German and French versions of the game, Activision
employs the same actors who dub the television show.
The wrinkle in producing a game is that, unlike a film or television show,
the plot is not linear. There are dozens and perhaps hundreds of twists in
a plot, which is controlled by the player. Actors may record lines which
never get heard. Or a character may appear only if a complex series of
conditions are first met.
For instance, in the Voyager game, a player, who assumes the role of an
ensign, may be faced with the choice of saving a character's life. If the
player fails, the character disappears and hours of recorded dialogue are
never heard.
For one pivotal scene, three actors were required to record the same
lines. Choices made earlier in the game by the player determine which
character appears in the scene.
Unlike voice-over sessions of animated programs such as ``The Simpsons,"
cast members recording for a game do not read scenes together. Instead,
actors must deliver lines in isolation, without the verbal and visual cues
normally provided by fellow cast members.
``I'm able to remember what the actor before did so when it's cut it
sounds like conversation," said Kris Zimmerman, a free-lance director who
worked on the Voyager game.
Another challenge is that a game, unlike a television episode, often
includes non sequiturs - bits and pieces of dialogue that may or may not
be heard depending on the action. For instance, several actors were asked
to scream dozens of times to match a variety of possible scenarios.
The actors also bring their own institutional memories to the role,
changing dialogue or suggesting alternative actions to make the game truer
to the series.
``I had watched the show, but not regularly," said Zimmerman. ``When I
was directing Kate Mulgrew, there's a situation where she had to ask for
lifelines and I asked her to read it again with more concern, and she
said, 'My character has been saying it this way for six years.' "
Robert Duncan McNeil, who plays Ensign Tom Paris on the show, had a
similar experience.
``We rewrote some lines," he said. ``There was dialogue I could just tell
as we spoke it that it wasn't something we would do."
McNeil said recording lines for the game was a bit disorienting, but
rewarding in the end.
``I was impressed at how close it felt to what we actually do," he said.
``I was impressed with the lifelike quality of the game and how it
involves the person playing. The set looks like our sets."
British Columbia Moves to Limit Violent Video Games
Stores in British Columbia have begun pulling the ``Soldier of Fortune"
computer game away from the eyes of children after a precedent-setting
ruling that equates its violent content with pornography.
B.C. Attorney General Andrew Petter this week ordered the game classified
as adult material and also warned game creators to reduce the amount of
violence in their products.
``It's one parents should be worried about and one I believe the government
needs to act upon," Petter told reporters.
The ruling is believed to be the first of its kind in North America and
followed a complaint about the content, such as having a player fire a
flame thrower at an opponent and watch it burn in graphic agony.
Critics of the ruling argued on Thursday it was an unwanted government
intrusion and could potentially devastate computer game sales in the
province because so many are based on violence, including allowing players
to kill opponents.
``It is very graphic, but like in all games it is something you get over in
the first minute and after that it is just part of the game," said Steve
Oliver, manager of the Interaction Computer Entertainment store in North
Vancouver.
Soldier of Fortune's carries an industry rating of ``M" for mature
content, and warns on the box it contains ``Animated Blood and Gore."
players are also told the game includes a "low-violence installation
option."
The British Columbia Film Classification Office, which recommended the
restriction after reviewing the game just as it would a movie, said ``the
inconvenience is necessary to protect the interests of the public."
Soldier of Fortune's Canadian distributor referred questions about the
ruling to the Canadian Interactive Digital Software Association, which was
not immediately available for comment.
According to a survey released in May by the U.S.-based Interactive Digital
Software Association, 28 percent of frequent players of computer games are
under 18, while 30 percent are between 18 and 35.
The group said the study also showed most people play with friends and it
hoped the results would dispel ``the myth that games are not a social
activity." The IDSA is fighting efforts to have a government-imposed
rating system in the U.S.
Oliver has stopped selling the Soldier of Fortune because his store does
not carry pornographic games, but thinks the ruling's publicity will
backfire. ``People are going to be in and asking about it like you wouldn't
believe now," he said.
Another critic of the ruling said it will not work because children can
already download versions of Soldier of Fortune from the Internet.
``When you consider that you're the only one in the world doing it, you're
either really cutting edge or you're really off the wall," said Ron
Haidenger, vice president of the Digital U cybercafe in Vancouver.
=~=~=~=
A-ONE's Headline News
The Latest in Computer Technology News
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Lloyd's Offers Hacker Insurance
Lloyd's of London will offer up to $100 million in insurance coverage to
clients of computer security management firm Counterpane Security Inc.
against hacker losses to their business or their customers.
Counterpane in its announcement Monday claimed to be the first Internet
security service provider to provide a guarantee of direct financial
reimbursement in the event a hacker breaks through its defenses and uses
customer data. The guarantee is underwritten by insurance brokers Frank
Crystal & Co. and SafeOnline, with additional coverage available for
purchase from Lloyd's, the world's leading insurance market.
``This is not for your home user, this is for Yahoo!, this is for
CDUniverse, which lost all those credit card numbers (to a hacker) in
January," said Bruce Schneier, chief technology officer at Counterpane.
``It's threat-avoidance. This, along with monitoring, is just another
arrow in your quiver."
Standard computer security includes firewalls, antivirus software that is
updated weekly and systems that can prevent the entry of hackers. But
experts say much of that software contains weaknesses that can be
exploited by enterprising hackers.
An FBI-funded reported in March, based on responses from 643 mainly large
companies and government agencies, suggested an epidemic of computer crime
is under way across the United States. Since March 1999, nine out of 10
organizations reported computer security breaches, according to the annual
Internet crime survey by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San
Francisco-based Computer Security Institute.
The most common forms of unauthorized computer intrusions are still
viruses, stolen laptop computers and employees abusing their Internet
privileges. But businesses increasingly are reporting more serious
incidents, including system penetration from the outside, financial fraud,
data network sabotage, or denial-of-service attacks - a deluge of
repetitive requests sent to clog a Web site's computers until they seize
up.
Various organizations have estimated that hacker attacks this year have
cost businesses tens of billions of dollars, mostly in lost time. A study
released last week by Jericho, N.Y.-based Reality Research estimated
businesses worldwide will lose more than $1.5 trillion this year due to
computer viruses spread through the Internet.
The ``ILOVEYOU" virus earlier this year, spread via e-mail, affected
about 45 million computer files at a cost to companies of $2.61 billion
alone, according to Computer Economics Inc.
Counterpane's Schneier said a $20,000 annual premium will provide coverage
for $1 million in hacker losses; the cost rises to $75,000 for $10 million
in losses. The price any additional coverage, up to $100 million, must be
negotiated with Lloyds.
Some regular insurance policies pay hacker losses under loss-of-business
or act-of-vandalism clauses, but there are few policies written to
specifically cover hacker attacks. And those that do often carry premiums
that start at $100,000 and run up to $3 million.
Analysts say the hacker insurance market is expected to grow to billions
of dollars in annual premiums by the end of the decade, reflecting the
growing popularity of electronic commerce. But insurers have been
reluctant to be the ground-breakers because there currently are no
effective tools for measuring the risk.
INSUREtrust.com also assesses security risks, but provides protection only
for what it calls ``residual risks."
IBM and Sedgwick Group PLC, the world's third-largest insurance broker
provide products ranging from security reviews to compensation for
lawsuits brought by victims of online credit card fraud. And International
Computer Security Association, an Internet security company, announced in
1998 it will pay corporations up to $250,000 if hackers successfully crack
its computer system.
U.S. Lets Hacker Back Online
A notorious computer hacker who led the FBI on a three-year manhunt while
allegedly causing millions of dollars in damage to technology companies now
has federal permission to pursue work as a computer consultant or online
writer.
It's a "180 degree change" in the restrictions previously enforced by
Kevin Mitnick's probation officer, Mitnick attorney Donald Randolph said
Wednesday.
Under terms of his 1995 plea agreement, Mitnick had been barred from any
contact with computers, cellular phones or any other technology capable of
online access.
After his release from prison in January, his probation officer also barred
him from speaking publicly or writing about technology-related issues and
from taking any job that might give him access to a computer.
Mitnick, 36, challenged the limitations, and a federal judge last month
ruled such blanket decisions were unacceptable without consideration of the
specific offers.
His federal probation officer informed him this week that he could pursue
some computer-related work, Randolph said. Among the jobs approved: writing
for Steven Brill's online magazine Contentville, speaking in Los Angeles on
computer security, consulting on computer security and consulting for a
computer-related television show.
Randolph said he believes Mitnick is considering taking advantage of all
opportunities, though he remains barred from leaving Southern California.
``We are pleased with the decision because we think it lends itself to the
rehabilitation of Kevin," said attorney Sherman Ellison, who also
represents Mitnick. ``It's also constructive for the community to use this
man's brain for the benefit of the community."
Calls to Southern California U.S. Probation Offices for comment late
Wednesday rang unanswered.
Mitnick spent five years in prison after FBI investigators traced his
electronic footprints to a Raleigh, N.C., apartment in 1995. He is said to
have cost companies millions of dollars by stealing their software and
altering computer information. The victims included Motorola, Novell, Nokia
and Sun Microsystems, and the University of Southern California.
Mr. Napster Goes to Washington
Napster and MP3.com executives testify before Congress over worries that
digital music technology is robbing recording artists.
The dispute between recording artists and digital music-swapping
technology such as Napster blared into Washington D.C. Tuesday, as
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich squared off against Napster CEO Hank Barry
in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"Metallica is not anti-technology .. but how can we embrace a new format
when somebody with a few lines of code-simply gives it away?" Asked
Ulrich, criticizing Napster for allowing users to exchange music files
without compensation for artists.
"If music is free for download, the music industry is not viable," said
Ulrich.
But Barry countered that Napster's 20 million users demonstrate that
consumers want a new way to share music -- and that music-sharing programs
lead to more record sales, not fewer.
"More access to music leads to more sales of music," said Barry. He said
that users who download 20 or more files from Napster end up deleting 90
percent of those files.
The Committee was holding a fact-finding session on the issue of digital
downloading, which is currently the subject of a number of lawsuits
between services such as Napster and MP3.com and the Recording Industry
Association of America.
Ulrich said the issue wasn't Napster, specifically -- "Metallica is not
anti-technology," he said - but rather that the new technology is being
used to distribute music for which artists aren't getting paid
"How does this square with the level playing field of a free market
system?" he asked.
He said Napster-like technology particularly hits hard on artists not as
well known as Metallica, and the large number of workers in others parts
of the music and recording businesses.
But executives from Napster and MP3.com said that new technology is the
issue - that copyright holders have always fought innovations that
threatened to interrupt their fat cash flow.
MP3.com CEO Michael Robertson said he agreed to pay "enormous amounts' to
license music from major record labels weeks ago, but that those companies
have yet to deliver full music catalogs to MP3's users.
"We're still not able to offer that music to consumers," said Robertson.
"We're willing to pay, but that's not the issue in my opinion. The issue
of barriers to competition."
MP3.com last month reached a settlement with two record labels, allowing
it to include the labels' songs in its My.MP3.com service, which allows
users to store music digitally and then access it via any computer.
Under the settlement, each label would receive between $15 million and $25
million, sources said. Additionally, MP3.com would pay an undisclosed fee
each time that label's CD is registered by a user and another fee each
time a user accesses one of its songs.
The hearing highlights the digital collision between users who want to be
able to easily download music files and play them in a range of devices,
with the need or artists to get paid for their work.
"If you write a song ... you ought to be rewarded for that. At the same
time let's no strangle the baby in the crib," said Sen. Charles Leahy,
(D-Vt.) Committee Chairman Sen. Orrin Hatch called for compromise between
music artists and the music-swapping services.
"Some creative cooperation might be to everyone's benefit," Hatch said.
Others testifying at the hearing included Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn.
eBay Asks Court to Ban User for Bad Language
Internet ``trading community" eBay Inc. said on Wednesday that it had
asked a federal judge to bar a Chicago man from its Web site for using foul
language and flouting its own attempts to ban him.
A spokesman for the popular company, which 12 million people use to offer
and bid on items ranging from fine art to concert tickets, said many users
had complained about insulting language used by Braxton Anderson under his
various electronic aliases.
An attorney for Anderson, 33, won a delay until Monday for the judge's
consideration of eBay's petition to have him barred from the site for life,
according to Kevin Pursglove, a spokesman for the company, which is based
in San Jose, California.
``He's disrupting the normal course of conduct (of eBay transactions). ...
We've had numerous complaints from other users that he uses profane,
abusive language," Pursglove said.
Although the company has ``terminated 40 to 45 of his accounts in the last
three months alone," Anderson has circumvented the company's moves by
re-registering under other identities, Pursglove said.
eBay has terminated customers before, but this was the first time that it
had resorted to court intervention, he said.
Anderson could not be reached for comment. He told the Chicago Sun-Times
that he was being singled out by a group of eBay customers and that he had
already said he would not return to the Web site.
'Smash' Virus Could Hit Friday
A virus that launches on the 14th day of the month could hit computers
tomorrow, July 14, security experts warn.
At the same time, experts are hesitant to overplay the threat of the
Windows 95 "Smash" virus (Win95.Smash.10262), as it has not yet been found
in the wild.
"We wanted to put something out there because some of our clients were
reading about it in the media," said Simon Perry, virus expert at Computer
Associates International Inc. in Islandia, N.Y. "The bottom line is, if you
get it, it's very damaging, but right now it's not likely you'll get it."
The Smash virus is technically sophisticated and what might be called
socially clever.
Technically, the virus uses low-level system calls that are made directly
to BIOS memory to launch. It uses a tech-nique called 'tunneling' (not
related to VPN tunneling) to set up a "trap flag" to corrupt the Interrupt
13 BIOS store. The end game of a complex chain of BIOS events is to
reformat the hard drive, destroying all information previously stored
there.
Socially, the as-yet unidentified authors use the so-called "blue screen
of death" (the screen that displays when the Windows operating system
crashes), preying on common user reactions to such screens to launch the
virus' payload.
When activated, the virus displays a blue screen in Windows that reads:
Virus Warning!
Virus name is 'SMASH', project D version 0x0A.
Created and compiled by Domitor.
Seems like your bad dream comes true ...
According to a warning issued by Computer Associates, "The next time the
computer is rebooted, the malicious code will take effect, rendering the
machine unusable. Since the machine
hangs after the [blue screen] message
is displayed, it is likely that the user of the machine would either press
any key or try to reboot the machine at this point, therefore unwittingly
causing the payload to execute."
Perry said most anti-virus vendors have added detection for the virus over
the past couple of weeks.
EBay Reducing Live Auctions
Online auctioneer eBay is cutting back its live auction businesses in an
effort to sell more high-end art and antiques on the Internet.
The move this month will result in the layoffs of 13 of 21 employees in the
Chicago office of subsidiary Butterfield & Butterfield, eBay spokesman
Kevin Pursglove said Thursday.
A review of the Chicago office's activities found much of the merchandise
first inventoried there actually is being sold in Butterfield &
Butterfield's San Francisco office, Pursglove said, reducing the need for a
physical Midwest presence.
The remaining Chicago staffers will inventory and appraise merchandise for
sale on eBay's Great Collections Web site.
EBay purchased Butterfield & Butterfield early last year for $260 million.
Microsoft Releases Latest IE Web Browser
Microsoft today released the latest version of its Internet Explorer Web
browser, chairman Bill Gates announced at a company event.
In his keynote address at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference
2000 in Orlando, Fla., Gates highlighted IE 5.5 improvements for Web site
developers, including enhancements that result in faster page loading and
more support for industry standards, according to Microsoft.
Microsoft released international versions of the 5.5 browser last week.
At the conference, Gates also proselytized the company's new .Net
initiative, which moves Microsoft toward more Web-based software offerings.
According to Gates, IE 5.5 is the best choice for software and for Web site
developers who develop products based on the .Net technology.
The new browser version features improved support for Web standards,
including Cascading Style Sheets 1 (CSS) and Synchronized Multimedia
Integration Language (SMIL) as well as a Microsoft presentation technology
known as dynamic HTML (DHTML).
With IE 5.5, Microsoft will add a print preview capability and improvements
in the speed and reliability of printing.
The next version of Microsoft's consumer operating system, Windows Me,
includes IE 5.5. That product is expected to ship this fall.
At the conference, Microsoft also announced that its 64-bit version of
Windows is nearly ready to ship to developers. Yesterday, the company
confirmed it would no longer include its Java-based tool in its Visual
Studio.Net product, a decision that is likely to make it more difficult for
independent developers to write Java applications for Windows.
Company Says Forget Business Cards, Use WEBcards
If Munir Moon has his way, traditional business cards with a person's name
and address may soon become a niche product like the typewriter.
Moon is president and CEO of Moon Global Network, an Internet and
technological services company. Today the company announced the launch of
Business-CD.com, an Internet site and business that specializes in the
creation and reproduction of digital business cards called WEBcards. These
business card sized CD-ROMs can be designed to contain volumes of
information about a company in a full multi-media format, including product
catalogues, Moon says in a press release announcing the product. A WEBcard
holds 32MB of data (i.e. multimedia programs, standard installation
programs, HTML, video, audio, application data etc.)
"Why just hand out a business card when you could be handing out your
company's Web site, brochure, product catalog, video clips, PowerPoint
presentations, reports and thousands of pages of documents all built into
one convenient CD-ROM disk that fits in the palm of your hand?" he says.
"That's what our Business-CD digital business cards can do for you. Our
digital business cards can offer companies a variety of features and
services that will streamline and enhance their marketing efforts."
Business-CD.com's digital business cards work with both Mac and Windows
systems. Moon says they can be designed to automatically start an
interactive program that can explain and show your product line, play
presentations, load software, offer instructional videos, provide technical
support and relay about any kind of marketing information desired. In
addition, the CD's, which are about the same dimensions as an ordinary
business card, are imprinted with company information, logos and contact
data so they offer the basic information yet so much more, he says.
Moon Global Network says that the advantages of WEBcards are:
* You can add your Web site onto a single digital business card, and
link to online Web sites and e-Commerce catalogs from your digital
business card
* They're more cost effective than traditional catalogs, not to mention
easier to transport and mail
* You can include company video presentations or training sessions
* Customer support calls can be reduced by adding FAQs (frequently asked
questions) and interactive customer support to your Business-CD card
"This little card can do more for your products and services than
traditional printed material. The possibilities are endless," Moon says,
noting that because the mini-CDs can store thousands of pages of
information, they're particularly well suited for companies that offer
product catalogues.
He adds that the company has a team of multimedia, Web development and
graphic arts professionals ready to develop your WEBcard and an interactive
front-end program to launch once your WEBcard is inserted. A front-end
program is a multimedia program that contains buttons that call external or
internal files located on the disk. Examples of such files are a disk-based
Web site, Adobe PDF files, company programs, video or external links to an
online Web site or e-Commerce catalog.
Microsoft Gives Details of Software-for-rent Strategy
Microsoft today popped the cork on its plans to sell software through
subscriptions rather than through licenses, as it now does.
Microsoft said its new plan will help the company sell its software
through application service providers, companies that host software
programs that are usable over the Web. The software giant, which said this
would be the first in a series of Windows-related initiatives expected to
be introduced over the next two years, made the announcement during its
annual partner show in Atlanta.
Under the new plan, businesses will not buy copies of Windows or Microsoft
Office software with a PC. Instead, they will effectively rent software
from ASPs and pay a per-user monthly fee to use the software. The more
applications each individual uses, the larger the monthly fee.
Whether this new strategy will help customers save money remains to be
seen. One analyst pointed out, however, that after reviewing prices under
a pilot program it seems that the subscription method could cost more than
buying software outright after two years of use.
"The prices look high when you compare them to the regular shrink-wrap
prices of software," Gartner analyst Neil MacDonald said. "Basically,
Microsoft has taken their shrink-wrap software price and divided it by 24
months."
Because most Microsoft customers keep their software more than 24 months,
"most people are going to find these prices expensive," MacDonald said. "I
expect (Microsoft) will go through restructuring at least twice before
they settle in on a pricing model."
Though known primarily for its software, Microsoft is also legendary
within the computer industry for how it structures its sales programs.
Microsoft Office became the most popular application suite partly through
the company's bundling strategy. Training subsidies, equity investments
and other incentives helped convert several Novell specialists to Windows
NT in the past decade.
"Pricing is a big deal, but it's not the only deal," said Hurwitz Group
analyst Bill Martorelli. "The obsession with pricing masks a more
fundamental issue"--the fact that most ASPs are grappling with ways to
educate customers on the new model and giving customers more reasons why
they should even invest in the service, he said.
Under the ASP Service Delivery Initiative, Microsoft will offer ASPs a
series of how-to marketing guides, extended support services from
Microsoft, and system integration services from, among others, Andersen
Consulting, Compaq Computer and EDS.
Microsoft also created an ASP certification program, which will help
customers identify those ASPs that have met Microsoft's guidelines to
successfully implement and deliver a hosted product.
In addition, Microsoft will not require ASPs to pay the company for
software until the ASP customer pays. This strategy is a serious departure
for the software giant; currently, Microsoft middlemen, including PC
manufacturers, pay the company first, then sell the software to their
customers.
Although the ASP market is still in its infancy, market research firm
International Data Corp. expects it to reach $2 billion by 2003.
Like a number of major technology firms, Microsoft has made an aggressive
effort to tackle the lucrative application hosting market. During the past
year, the company has forged links with ASPs that will host, install,
manage and support Microsoft products such as the Windows 2000 operating
system, Office 2000 productivity software, Exchange messaging tools,
Windows 2000 Server and SQL Server.
Microsoft already has partnerships with several ASPs and Web hosting
firms, including Corio, Digex, FutureLink and Cable & Wireless.
Under the pilot pricing plan, Microsoft would charge $3.25 per user, per
month for a Windows 2000 or Exchange license. For Windows 2000 Server, the
cost would be $35 per month. The charge for hosting Exchange Server and
the SQL Server would cost ASPs around $65 and $185 per month,
respectively.
Dwight Krossa, Microsoft's director of marketing for the Windows 2000
solutions group, said the pricing is from a commercial pricing pilot
initiated about eight months ago, "and it is not the licensing we will
reveal under nondisclosure to Microsoft-certified solution providers."
"The prices we have now that will be available to our solution providers
on Aug. 1 are not even in that form, and they don't even work the same way
as the pilot," he said. "They're not even accurate."
Among other pilot prices, Microsoft posted a price of $365 per month to
license its Site Server Commerce server and the SQL application Internet
connector. The Windows 2000 Advanced Server, which is a multi-seat version
of the OS designed for use on servers, would cost partners $145 per month.
Because the ASP market is still in its infancy, many companies are
experimenting with pricing, including Microsoft.
"What they've done here is bent over backwards to make sure they don't
lose revenue," MacDonald said. "Microsoft is paranoid about their revenue
numbers--especially since they didn't meet their expectations last
quarter--and losing money because they initially came out too low."
Microsoft also has departed from standard desktop licensing and volume
discounts common among PC makers. Larger software buyers, such as Compaq
and Dell Computer, get bigger discounts than smaller competitors.
With ASPs, Microsoft initially plans no volume discounts. Krossa said the
software licensing model used for PCs didn't make sense for the service
provider market.
But MacDonald believes Microsoft's antitrust case may have much to do with
the pricing shift. One of the government's longstanding allegations is
that Microsoft uses volume discounts to discriminate against companies
that fail to embrace the entire Microsoft package.
"It's very likely that the current scrutiny they're under from (the)
Justice Department had a lot to do with the pricing model," MacDonald
said.
Corio, which received a $10 million investment from Microsoft in January
for joint research and development efforts, is a participant of
Microsoft's pilot program and was involved in helping the software giant
establish some of its fees.
Larry Yu, a spokesman for Corio, said Microsoft's fees are reasonable. "It
still allows us to enjoy the good margins...and enables customers to see
greater cost advantages," he said.
=~=~=~=
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