
                     *---== ST REPORT ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
                            """""""""""""""""""""""""


                       "The Original Online ST Magazine"
                        -------------------------------
  June 09, 1989                                              Vol III No.91

  ========================================================================

                            ST Report Online Magazine
                          -----------------------------
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                             Jacksonville,   Florida
                                   32236 ~ 6672

                                   R.F. Mariano
                                Publisher - Editor
                    _________________________________________
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  ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Issue: #91 STReport      The Online Magazine of Choice!
  -------------------
   - The Editors' Podium                 - CPU REPORT
   - CES Eyewitness Report!              - CES * Analysis *
   - EMPIRE & SHADOW! - Review           - SILICON COMPILER?
   - STOS COMPILER - A Review            - TECH-SPECIALTIES - SPOTLIGHT
   - DYNA-CADD 1.5 - ISD                 - HDX 3.0 & MEGAFILE 60
   - Masterlink Intersect CO             - ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL

  ========================================================================
     AVAILABLE ON:    COMP-U-SERVE ~ DELPHI ~ GENIE ~ THE SOURCE ~ BIX
  ========================================================================

                               -> Notice <-
                               ============

      STReport is now written to work with the NEW QWIK VEIW V. 1.45....
 taking advantage of the new "TABle of contents feature"!  Quick ST 1.45.
 The ST's fastest file viewer gets even better.  Now supports  Atari 8-bit
 text files, and automatically generates a table of contents when reading
 STReport Magazine.  Runs in color and monochrome (25 and 50 row display),
 and can be installed as an application from any desktop or shell.


       "In keeping with the Tradition of Caring about our Readers"

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------



> The Editor's Podium

     C.E.S. (Summer) has come and gone and although we would have rather
seen the "revelations" from Atari been more along the line of computers,
we certainly realize that the revenue from the fancy new game machines
will most likely aid the research and development programs of the company
in general. The rather disturbing part of the whole affair is the
skywriting that says; Atari is still fighting to be the number one "game
machine" in the USA.  This is really not such a bad premise, but surely,
it  would be nicer if we all saw, "Atari becoming the most sought after
combination business and home computer".

     Perhaps one day it will become easier to hear; "oh yeah, Atari makes
some pretty hot little game machines but you should only see the business
system we have at the office that they make".  The day we hear that is the
day we will no longer cringe every time we see ads on the kiddie cartoon
shows for the "game machine" thingies.  Sure, we all are getting tired of
hearing that the Atari is a toy computer and we all do our utmost to show
people that this is not the case and that the Atari ST computers are
indeed first class computers.

     There is no doubt that the new game machines are going to be the toast
of the town and we are sure the stock value will climb and stay up.  This
is the main benefit of the excitement generated by the release of a new
game system.  As a side note, how sweet it was to see where all the Atari
reps were carrying the new "PORTFOLIO" hand held computers that were
alleged to be in a state of utter delay ...latest word is they (Portfolio)
will be in distribution within two weeks.



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> CPU REPORT
  ==========
  Issue # 24


 by Michael Arthur


 Remember When....

      In 1976, Xerox developed the Ethernet standard at its Xerox PARC
(Palo Alto Research Center) Labs, so be able to link together several of
its single-user minicomputers in one of the first LANs, or Local Area
Networks?


CPU INSIGHTS
=============


         Paul Heckel, HyperRacks, and the Truth about Zoomracks III
         ----------------------------------------------------------


      Much attention has recently been placed in the ST world towards
Zoomracks II and III.  Once a universally praised product, Zoomracks has
recently become controversial, not because of any faults of its own, but
because Quickview Systems announced that it was making an update to
Zoomracks II, called Zoomracks III, in the Summer of 1988, and asked for
upgrade fees from its customers.  However, like some other programs
recently, like DBase IV, Lotus 1-2-3, and PageStream, the release date
of Zoomracks III kept being pushed back many times, to the extent that
no one really knew when it was coming out.

      When Zoomracks III began to gain vaporware status, many ST Users
began asking Quickview Systems to either come out with Zoomracks III, or
give a refund to the people who had paid the upgrade fee for the
Zoomracks update.  However, there was no clear response from Quickview
Systems, and the refunds were not forthcoming....

      Meanwhile, Quickview Systems had come out with an IBM version of
Zoomracks II, selling it through PC-SIG as Shareware.  Paul Heckel had
also formed a second company, which was getting attention in the
Macintosh market for HyperRacks, a HyperCard add-on that it was
developing.  Given that many other ST Developers had decided to port
their programs to the IBM and Macintosh, the ST owners who had
previously supported Zoomracks so avidly now began a Zoomracks-bashing
campaign.  They assumed that Paul Heckel had abandoned the ST Market,
and used their money to do it....

      However, it seems that no one ever made a concerted effort to ask
Mr. Heckel why Zoomracks III was delayed, or to even ask why a company
which before had been so conscientious in its support of the Atari ST,
now acted in such an irrational manner....


                  A Tale of the Woes of the ST Developer


      When Zoomracks was introduced in 1986, it was truly an unique
product.  Bringing many innovations to the database concept, including
that of zooming to "cards" located in a stack to obtain information in
a hypertext fashion, which were later used in Apple's HyperCard, it
looked to be the product to make the Atari ST a standard in the computer
industry.  Many ST Users began to praise Paul Heckel for his work, and
Quickview Systems, Zoomracks' parent company, prospered from Zoomracks'
popularity.

      However, Quickview Systems was a very small company, who didn't
have the resources to market Zoomracks as well as possible.  Also, even
though Zoomracks became an instant success in the ST World, the size of
the US ST Userbase meant that Zoomracks' sales weren't as spectacular
as any Macintosh or IBM database program.  Also, given the interest in
ST database programs at the time, Quickview Systems did not experience
the sales of a Data Pacific or Michtron.

      Seeing Zoomracks' potential to sell Atari ST's, and observing
Quickview Systems' predicament in marketing it, Sig Hartmann decided to
contact Paul Heckel in the Spring of 1987, discussing the possibility of
Atari's handle the distribution and marketing of Zoomracks.  Then, under
the direction of Sam Tramiel, Atari began a series of negotiations with
Quickview Systems, over this issue.  Since, as a large corporation,
Atari could handle this a lot faster than Quickview Systems could hope
to, Paul Heckel chose to trust in Atari's promise to help market
Zoomracks, and redirected his company's efforts into Zoomracks II instead
of increasing distribution and marketing for Zoomracks I.  This decision
would soon prove to be disastrous....

      Six months later, Zoomracks II was introduced, to even more
fanfare in the ST world.  However, Quickview Systems had still not
reached an agreement with Atari, and since Paul Heckel, being led to
believe that Atari would soon handle Zoomracks' marketing, had no reason
to start independent marketing of Zoomracks, Quickview Systems' sales
were not as great as they could have been.

      In the Summer of 1988, Atari abruptly ended their negotiations
with Quickview Systems, telling Paul Heckel that they had no intention
of helping to distribute or market Zoomracks I or II.  While Quickview
Systems had amassed crippling legal fees from the negotiations with
Atari, Paul Heckel chose to start work on Zoomracks III.  Even though
Zoomracks II was a superlative program, it still lacked a measure of
functionality, and didn't use GEM as its user interface.  At this time,
Quickview Systems announced it was developing Zoomracks III, and
expected it to be finished before Winter Comdex.  At this news, ST Users
eagerly sent in their upgrade fees for the product.

      However, Quickview Systems soon realized that the programmer
working on Zoomracks III had done a substandard job on it, and that
Zoomracks III still required major work to be completed.  By this time,
sales of the Atari ST in the US had fallen drastically, and the combined
factors of Atari's Developer Support, the scarcity of Atari ST Dealers,
and the rapidly declining sales of Zoomracks began to further cripple
Quickview Systems, resulting in that it didn't have enough income to
fund Zoomracks III's development....

      Then, in the Fall of 1988, Atari again approached Quickview
Systems, this time with an offer to give financial support, so as to
help develop a GEM version of Zoomracks III, having a user interface
similar to HyperCard.  Since it was becoming apparent that Quickview
Systems couldn't complete such an endeavor itself, Paul Heckel decided
to enter into another round of legal negotiations with Atari, which
proved unsuccessful.

      By Early 1989, ST sales of Zoomracks II had dropped to a minimal
level.  Having no other source of income, Quickview Systems decided to
port Zoomracks II to the IBM PC, so as to generate enough revenue to
continue development of Zoomracks III.  This port only took six weeks,
and soon afterwards, PC-SIG agreed to handle Zoomracks II's distribution
and marketing as a shareware product.  At the present time, Zoomracks II
is receiving accolades in the IBM market, but its sales have just started
to help Quickview Systems.

      Meanwhile, Paul Heckel also planned to make HyperRacks, a
HyperCard add-on for the Macintosh which would bring many capabilities
now missing in HyperCard, as well as Zoomracks compatibility, to the
burgeoning HyperCard market.  However, since no investor would invest in
Quickview Systems, given its shaky financial situation, Paul Heckel had
to start a completely new company, also called HyperRacks, to encourage
investment in his new product.  Paul Heckel has recently tried to get
Apple to recognize two patents that were established for Zoomracks'
innovations, which have great implications in giving Zoomracks
precedence in the database field over HyperCard.  This, as well as the
fact that a Developer Edition of HyperRacks will soon be shipping to Mac
Software Companies, has helped to bring much interest in HyperRacks, and
to brighten both its, and Zoomracks' prospects....


                          To Be, or Not to Be....


      However, while the reasons for Zoomracks III's delay, the IBM
version of Zoomracks II, and HyperRacks may be interesting, many ST
Users may only be concerned with whether Zoomracks III will be
introduced very shortly, or whether they will be refunded for the
upgrade fees.  Paul Heckel has stated that Quickview Systems does not
have enough money at this time to either complete Zoomracks III OR to
give refunds to the ST Users who wanted Zoomracks III, and that if it
did have enough money to give out refunds, Quickview Systems would
rather put it towards the development of Zoomracks....

      He also expressed the hopes that, depending on the success of the
IBM version of Zoomracks II, Quickview Systems could complete an
intermediate revision of Zoomracks II, which would both fix some of its
inadequacies, and add necessary features, for both the Atari ST and
IBM.  This is so as to provide support to both the long-suffering Atari
ST Zoomracks owners and the new IBM Zoomracks users, and to set the
stage for developing an IBM version of Zoomracks III, which would truly
benefit from the use of the GEM interface.  Since it takes little time
to port IBM GEM programs over to the ST, this would mean Zoomracks III
for the Atari ST as well.  However, Zoomracks 2.5 is not likely to
appear until the Fall of 1989, and Zoomracks III will probably not be
completed until early 1990....

      If you want more information on either Zoomracks II, HyperRacks,
or on the delay of Zoomracks III, Paul Heckel can be reached at
1-415-965-0327.  The address is:  Quickview Systems, 146 Main Street,
Los Altos, CA  94002.



But ponder, if you will, these questions:

1)  Is the dilemma over Zoomracks III an isolated incident, or a rather
tragic, though correspondent analogy of the Atari ST market as a whole?

2)  What exactly are "Workstation Capabilities", and how much does it
really cost?




CPU REPORT CONFIDENTIAL
=======================


Cupertino, CA     Chuck Berger has resigned as the Vice President of
-------------     Apple's System Integration Unit, choosing to become the
                  Vice President of Product Marketing for Sun 
                  Microsystems' Entry Systems Group, which is responsible
                  for Sun's new line of low-end Unix workstations.

                  This may seem like an isolated, inconsequential event,
                  but given that several top-level Apple executives,
                  including Charles Boesenberg, Apple USA's senior Vice
                  President of sales, have also left the company
                  recently, and some of those ex-Apple employees now work
                  for Sun....

Irvine, CA        Rainbow Technologies, one of the major manufacturers of
----------        of "hardware keys" (or copy-protection dongles) in the
                  industry, is now supplying Ashton-Tate with its
                  Sentinel Pro dongle, which will be included in versions
                  of dBASE and Framework that are sold in foreign markets
                  which are particularly plagued by software piracy.

Chicago, IL       Several monitor makers, including Zenith, NEC, Sharp,
-----------       and Toshiba, have shown color LCD displays for portable
                  computers at trade shows (including Spring Comdex)
                  recently, ranging from 6 to 14-inch screens.

                  Based on active matrix technology, the Zenith and
                  Toshiba displays support VGA style graphics, and cost
                  from 1000 - 1500 dollars.  But while these displays
                  may not appear in laptops until early 1990, some other
                  companies, including NEC and Sharp, have shown color
                  LCD displays which, while having a less powerful
                  display, could be in laptop PC's by Winter Comdex at
                  a price of 500 to 1000 dollars....

Berkeley, CA      Bravo Technologies has recently introduced SPAM
------------      (Speed-up for Apple Mathematics), a new product which
                  doubles the speed of floating point math operations
                  performed on a Macintosh that doesn't have the 68881 or
                  68882 floating point math chips.  Cost:  $79.95....

                  Installed as a two-part INIT/CDEV utility, SPAM works
                  with all Macintoshes, including the Mac Plus and SE,
                  and (presumably) with Spectre 128 or AMax.  In case
                  you may want to get more information on this product,
                  Bravo Technologies can be contacted at 1-415-841-8552.


Errata:  In CPU Report Issues 21 to 22 it was mentioned that John Russell
=======  Russell Innovations' new JS-4096 board for the ST could display
         64 colors out of a 4096 color palette in Low Resolution.  The
         JS-4096 board can actually display only 16 colors out of a 4096
         color palette in Low Resolution....





 -------------------------------------------------------------------------



> CES (I) STR EYEWITNESS REPORT   -> All the Main Highlights (Atari)
  =============================



   Here is an interesting announcement concerning the Summer CES (Consumer
         Electronics Show) that is currently in progress in Chicago:

              ******** Summer CES  Chicago June 3, 1989 ********

 Atari introduced a new portable COLOR game system today.  This unit is
about the size of of VCR tape, yet only weighs one pound, and includes a
built-in 3 1/2 inch color screen.  One the left side of the unit is a
built in 8 direction joypad, and on the right side is a set of four
buttons for game control/firing.

 An additional option is the ability to flip the image on the screen so
that the unit can be held with the joypad in either hand, allowing for
comfortable use by left handed people.

      The following is a list of features:
      -----------------------------------

        * 16MHZ (not a typo) 65c02 microprocessor
        * 16 simultaneous colors from a pallet of 4096
        * Game cards as large as 2 megabytes (current cards at 128k bytes)
           on the size of a credit card.
        * ComLink: communications port allowing up to 8 machines to be
           linked together for simultaneous play.
        * Headphone jack for private listening
        * Runs on 6 AA batteries (about 6-8 hours) or AC adapter
        * 6 games announced for this new machine by Eypx

                Suggested price: $149.00     Available by September?





 -------------------------------------------------------------------------



> CES (II) STR EYEWITNESS REPORT   -> Comprehensive Overview and Critique.
  ==============================


                                     CES ...A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT
                                     ============================


 Courtesy: CompuServe Information Services
 =========================================


          The following  file contains  excerpts from  Ivory Tower's Summer
          CES Report, 1989.  Provided for the enjoyment  of the Atari ST
          community.
          ____________________________________________________________

             Regular Ivory  Tower readers  will recall  the Comdex report
        issued a few months ago. They will also recall how sick and tired
        this reporter  got of  seeing so  called "new"  IBM clones.  Well
        friends, this  time  it  was  Nintendo,  Nintendo,  Nintendo.   I
        thought I  would throw  up if  I say  another "licensed" product.
        The Nintendo Village was 50,000 square feet of  nothing but back-
        slapping Nintendo  fun.   Lots of  machines to play with, lots of
        the same tired video games. Just how many karate-theme games will
        people buy?!   Anyway...the secret of Nintendo's large display is
        that they, taking a  page from  the Atari  Corp notebook, invited
        all  their  various  liscencees  to camp out in the village..thus
        putting them all together in one  massive show  of force.   Ivory
        Tower wishes  them well,  but the first kid we see with a pair of
        Nintendo tennis shoes gets slapped.

             Atari Corp  was  there,  or  at  least  their "entertainment
        division" was.   Showing  their whole array of game machines (the
        2600, 7800, and XEGS) scattered  around  what  was  essentially a
        rebuilt version  of their  Comdex booth.   There were a number of
        pillars, each containing machines running new software.   Some of
        the game  cartridges were  so new that the lacked a case..just an
        exposed pc board stuck into the slot.  The least  they could have
        done  is  put  them  in  a  unlabeled  case.  I got to play Tower
        Toppler on the 7800, Crossbow on  a  2600  (with  the  XEGS light
        gun), and  a couple  of other  games that I quickly lost interest
        in.  Rampage, from Activision, did look pretty darn good.  That's
        one  I  can  recommend  to anyone tired of the cute-monster-that-
        eats-dots games.

             I didn't like the  design of  the Atari  booth.   It's black
        with large white fuji and Atari logo (gone was the "computer" tag
        line underneath the logo)  was  eyecatching..and  their placement
        was good...(right on the way to the Sega and Nintendo booths) but
        it didn't do the company justice.  By taking up much of the floor
        space  with  pillars  of  machines  they  made  it  hard  to take
        everything in at once.  I felt  like  a  mouse  in  a  maze  as I
        wandered around, in and out, trying to make sure I saw everything
        that was being shown.  Even at that  I almost  missed the outside
        corner display  of the  Atari computers.  (more on this later)  A
        large portion of the booth was  taken  up  by  Hartech's  line of
        "Atari" calculators.  While I wouldn't mind having a little solar
        unit with a fuji on it...I'm  not so  sure that  blister packaged
        calculators do  much for  the high tech image that Atari seems to
        want.  You don't  see anyone  else selling  their name  to such a
        line do you?

             Atari  only  had  on  1040ST  on  display.  Stuck way off in
        corner, actually  outside  of  the  booth,  was  a  lonely system
        running some midi software with a couple of keyboards.  It wasn't
        even playing any music when I was there.  In this same  area were
        two of  the infamous MS-DOS clones.  At Comdex they were known as
        'PC-4' machines  they  now  are  referred  to  as  "ABC" systems.
        That's  'Atari  Business  Computer'...which  led  to me to ask an
        Atari rep if the ST/Mega line *weren't* "business" computers.  He
        gave me  a bemused  look and  said "good  question".   I know the
        answer..as do ST/Mega owners..but it appears that Atari  wants to
        send contradictory  messages.  C'mon..."ST MEANS BUSINESS" is the
        new motto...yet if you want the  Atari Business  Computer you had
        better buy the MS-DOS clone.  Does this make good sense to anyone
        outside of Sunnyvale?

             It's too  bad  that  Atari  chose  to  emphasize  their game
        systems.   A few  months ago Sam Tramiel, CEO at Atari, said that
        his company was targeting the personal  computer market.   I, and
        most others,  took this  to mean  the home  user.  CES would have
        been the perfect place for a show of  force.   Unfortunately none
        of the  exciting new products were there...not the Portfolio, not
        the Stacy, not even  a single  Mega. (By  the way,  the Portfolio
        must be about the enter the pipeline..many of the Atari employees
        had one on-hand for their personal use.) Oh..I had better mention
        the one  new hardware  piece they  did have.   The Atari Portable
        Color Video Game.

             This unit, which doesn't have an official name yet, features
        a 3.5"  color screen and a ROM card system of video games.  Atari
        didn't make a big  deal about  showing it...no  press releases or
        hoopla.   I only  knew about  it because  at one end of the Atari
        booth there was a stage and a big cardboard clock indicating when
        the next  "show" would  be.   I hung  around just to see what was
        going to happen.  Near the stage there were large pictures of the
        color handheld  game..but no  indication of  what it was.  I went
        and checked out the Sega 16-bit  video game  to kill  time before
        the next Atari "show".

             The "show" itself was disappointing, but the new unit looked
        great!  While the pretty lady  showing  it  didn't  have  much to
        say...and didn't know the answers to very many questions..(not to
        mention the audio feedback  from the  microphone..somebody should
        teach her  not to  stand in  front of the speakers like that) the
        unit did attract some attention.  Weighing less than a pound, and
        coming  with  an  AC  adapter,  it  looks  like it will really be
        something. The spokes model  wouldn't  commit  to  a  price while
        onstage..but  I  later  heard  that  it  will be somewhere around
        $149.00.  Epyx has already completed nine games for it.  Probably
        the  neatest  feature  is  the  "invert"  key.  Since the unit is
        shaped  somewhat  like  a  butterfly  (or  a  figure   eight)  by
        "inverting"  the  screen  (flipping  it  180 degrees) left-handed
        players can use the game just as easily as right handed ones.  An
        additional bonus is that righties can invert and try to re-master
        the game when they've beaten it.

             In other Atari related commentary:   I was  disturbed by the
        small number  of ST's  to be  found at other booths. Last year it
        seemed that every software manufacturer had at least  one, if not
        several, showing  the latest  products.   This year the ST was as
        rare as  the Apple  IIgs and  Macintosh lines.   *Every* software
        booth had  at least  one Amiga,  and every  booth had several IBM
        clones.  I never did see  a Mega  system..anywhere.   You'd never
        know the  model existed.   I  did see  a few  Amiga A2000's. This
        isn't  as  disturbing  as   it   sounds,   since   most   of  the
        manufacturers,    if    asked,    were   coming   out   with   ST
        conversions...they just weren't showing  them  as  prominently as
        the Amiga  ones.   As an  ST owner  I would like to see the ST be
        more visible. I feel more could be sold if people were aware that
        it existed.   Most  have never  heard of ST/Mega line and that is
        sad.  But, on the flip side, if  I owned  an Amiga  I'd be  a bit
        annoyed  to  see  it  showcased, consistently, as a games machine
        (the dreaded curse of any serious computer). Being placed side by
        side with the C64 didn't grant the Amy any respect, believe me.
        Sorry  Atari   8-bit  owners,  the  XEGS  machines  were  largely
        invisible at booths other then Atari's.
        ___________
        Innovations '89:  Every year the  CES  folks  pick  out  the most
        innovative products  and showcase them in a separate area. It's a
        good way for the press and industry to get a  quick peek  at what
        the hottest trends are.

        (stuff deleted)

             In the Software Showcase featured many titles of interest to
         ST users.  Here's the titles that won, _and_ were  being shown on
         Atari equipment:

                   Tower Toppler from Atari. 7800 game system
                   Dark Chambers from Atari. 7800 game system
                   Airball from Atari.       7800 game system
                   Double Dunk from Atari.   7800 game system
                   Crossbow  from Atari.     7800 game system
                   Capt. Blood from Mindscape. Atari 520ST
                   Outrun from Mindscape.      Atari 520ST

            The Amiga had so many software titles to showcase that there
        were two  Amigas  on  display.    Many  of  the  titles  are also
        available on the ST so they're listed here:

        Star Wars,   Distant Armies:  A Playing  History of Chess, Trump
        Castle, Battlehawks: 1942, Hostage,  A-Talk  III,  Express Paint,
        Stellar Conflict II, Microfiche Filer Plus, Quadralien, Heroes of
        the Lance, and Titan.

             One other  product, X-Specs  3D from  Haitex Resources, Inc,
        was getting a lot of "oohs and ahhs" from the crowds. Too bad the
        ST wasn't there with the StereoTek glasses.   The Amiga molecular
        modeling program,  in 3D,  was pretty  lame compared  to the ST's
        Genesis package from Antic.
        __________________

        (stuff deleted)

             Silliest CES product of  the  year  has  to  go  to "Serious
        Listeners"  from  a  company  in  Burlingame,  California.   This
        product consists entirely of  two lightweight  leather flaps that
        slip over  the back of your ear.  They reminded me of fake vulcan
        ears found in novelty shops.  The purpose of these  silly things?
        Well  a  "listening  enchantment  tool"  of  course!  Yes, that's
        right, its just like cupping your  hand behind  your ear  to hear
        something.    The  company  expects  to see college students wear
        these in the class  room  in  order  to  hear  lectures,  and for
        audiophiles to buy 'em for their CD collection.  Don't bet on it.
        But if you've gotta have 'em they cost $25.00 a  pair.   I'm sure
        the company  will sell  to you direct.  Serious Listeners, PO Box
        565, Burlingame, CA 94011

             The "why didn't I think of  that first"  award goes  to Safe
        Care products  for their  "HOMEWORK FIRST" Nintendo (there's that
        *$&%^ name again!) game lock.   Yup, slip  this little  sucker in
        the  cartridge   port..twirl  the   numbers  on  the  combination
        lock...and junior will play Mario Brothers only when you let him.
        Nice idea,  but they  don't appear  to have  the Nintendo seal of
        approval.  Probably because the last  thing Nintendo  wants to do
        is provide a means for controlling the addiction they thrive on.

             The "IBM  plays catch-up"  award goes  to Access Software of
        Bountiful, Utah.  They've pioneered a technology that lets MS-DOS
        machines play  digitized sounds  w/out additional  hardware.  Two
        games, World Class Leaderboard and Echelon,  are coming  out with
        the  patented  "Real  Sound"  effects..and  they sound (and play)
        great.  Access, however, gets a  raspberry for  leaving the Atari
        ST out  of their  press release  where they  were comparing other
        computers that can "do"  digitized  sound.    C'mon Access...your
        10th Frame  program on  the ST  is full of such noises.  You know
        better.  Anyway ...the system sounds  great...and while digitized
        sounds are  old hat to ST and Amiga users...the MS-DOS crowd will
        be wowed by "Real Sound". Come to think of it..just  how did they
        do all this w/out a sound chip!?

        _____________

             Ivory  Tower  doesn't  normally  concentrate  on listing new
        software products.  However  here's a  few (no  way is  this list
        meant to  be inclusive)  that caught  my attention  and should be
        considered for purchase when they arrive:

             Capcom  (USA)  is  introducing  several  new  ST products...
        "Black  Tiger",  "Forgotten  Worlds",  "Ghouls and Ghosts", "Last
        Duel", "LED Storm", "Side Arms", and "Strider".

             Capstone Entertainment  Software,  a  division  of Intracorp
        Inc, will be releasing "Superman: Man of Steel" shortly.  This UK
        developed ST program looks like a load of  fun.   Also, watch for
        "Miami  Vice".    When  I  first  heard  of this I groaned at the
        thought of a game based on such an inane show...but when I got to
        try it  out I  changed my  mind.   You control  both Crockett and
        Tubbs in several types of scenarios.  Everything  from car chases
        to climbing games to airplane chases.  The best part is that this
        game was developed entirely  in the  United States...be  sure and
        reward Capstone  for their  investment in  the ST  market.  (They
        will  release  several  other   programs  as   well...which  will
        supplement their  other wares  like "Trump  Castle" and "Business
        Card Maker".


        END OF EXCERPT
        ___________

        The previous text has been taken  from Ivory  Tower's CES report.
        It is copyrighted 1989 by DNS Communications.
        For more info contact:
                                      GRMEYER on Genie.
                                   72307,1502 on CompuServe.





 -------------------------------------------------------------------------



> MASTERLINK CONFERENCE STR Feature   -> Randy Mears Lets Us Know!
  ---------------------------------



  =========================================================================
  (C) 1989 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables.  May be
  reprinted only with this notice intact.  The Atari Roundtables on GEnie 
  are *official* information services of Atari Corporation.  To sign up for
  GEnie service, call (with modem) 800-638-8369.  Upon connection type HHH
  (RETURN after that).  Wait for the U#= prompt.  Type XJM11877,GEnie and 
  hit RETURN.  The system will prompt you for your information.
  ==========================================================================


<JEFF.W> Welcome to the InterSect RTC (that's Real Time Conference for
anyone who's easily bored by abbreviations).  Thank you for being here with
us this evening.  Before I introduce our guests, I'd like to make a few
announcements.  In two weeks (June 21) our RTC guests will be CodeHead
Software's Charles F. Johnson and John Eidsvoog.  Working together, Charles
and John have produced G+PLUS, MultiDesk, Top Down, and HotWire under the
CodeHead banner.  Their public domain and shareware creations include the
popular ArcShell, Desk Manager, HeadStart, and much more.  Up and coming
commercial products include CodeHead Utilities and FatBack.

Mark June 21 (10:00pm EDT) on your calendar and join us for the CodeHead
RTC.

In preparing for this, my first formal conference since becoming an ST RT
sysop, I came across an ironic piece of RTC trivia.  Back during the summer
of '88, InterSect was featured in a formal RTC, just like this one.  It just
so happens that the InterSect RTC last year was the first formal conference
hosted by my predecessor, Holly Stowe.  Seeing how marvelous a job that Holly
has done with these RTC's, I'll take it as a good omen of things to come.

By the way, I'd like to thank Holly for the many helpful hints and
suggestions she's given me to help prepare me for these RTC responsibilities.
Thanks, Holly.  And best of luck with your new assignment in the Gadgets By
Small Round Table!Now, here are the rules.  During these formal type
conferences, you can only talk when I let you talk, so to get my attention
all you have to do is raise your hand.  Do that by typing in  /RAI  and then
hitting your RETURN key.

I'll let all of your ask your questions in turn.  This being my first
formal RTC as the ringleader I suppose I just might miss a raised hand, so if
you think I may have missed you please /RAIse your hand once again.  Please
end your questions or comments with a "ga" (Go Ahead) to indicate you're done
"speaking".  If you have to leave before the conference is over, your can
type /EXIt to return to the RT or /BYE to log off of GEnie, but please stay
if you can.  I need your questions!  :-)

Now, the introductions.  I am very happy to have InterSect Software here to
tell us all about the eagerly-awaited terminal program, MasterLink.

InterSect Software, you may be aware, is responsible for InterLink,
Revolver, and Music Construction Set as well as a number of public domain
programs (like RamBaby).  So, get your questions ready about MasterLink or
anything else that you've just been dying to ask InterSect about.  Get your
hands /RAIsed now.

Without further delay, I'd like to introduce Randy Mears, president of
InterSect Software.  Welcome, Randy, any opening remarks?  I might add that
we have Rich Plom from Intersect with us as well.

<INTERSECT> Thanks Jeff, I guess most of the interest tonight will be
Masterlink.  Masterlink is currently entering the BETA test stage and is
expected to be released as Upgrades to INTERLINK in mid July.  We are also
currently working on a game called "War of the Warriors" and expect it out by
Christmas.  INTERLINK will continue to be supported as well as REVOLVER. We
expect to release upgrades to both INTERLINK and REVOLVER this summer.At this
point we are open to questions.

<JEFF.W> Okay, we'll take questions.  Just /RAI to get recognized.  Holly?

<[Holly] HS> Hi guys!  (May I praise Interlink for the use of the RTC?
*grin*)  Well, you kind of answered mine in a way...You're releasing a
game... kind of different from what you folks are used to releasing...  Is
this going to be a trend for Intersect or will you guys continue to carry on
the banner of utility type programs?  What's down the way for Intersect?

<INTERSECT> We write computer software, all kinds... we like the variety.
Down the road, in the short term we will have a booth at the Detroit World of
Atari Show (maybe we'll see you there).  Will you be selling Masterlink
advance there?  We will be taking orders but will not be ready to sell it at
the show.

<R.LOWREY> I'm interested in the conditional capabilities of Masterlink.In
particular, what kinds of constructs do you have available?  Like, if then
else, do while, etc... and can you wait on multiple strings?

<INTERSECT> Conditionals include if, wait, waitl (multiple strings), ask
(selector dialogue).  Also supported is single dimensional arrays.

<JEFF.W> Single dimensional arrays?

<INTERSECT> All variables are self defining (including arrays) with up to 1
level of subscripting.

<R.LOWREY> Sounds good to me!  Can you assign scripts to macro keys?

<INTERSECT> Yes, scripts can be executed by drop down, by a script, the
command line and macro keys.<R.LOWREY> Well, like, wow!

<JEFF.W> Thanks, R. ...  Rich or Randy...Can you give us an outline of some
of Masterlinks features over Interlink (besides scripting)?j

<INTERSECT> OK, that is probably what everyone is looking for.  Let me
start by saying that Masterlink operates primarily in the background.  That
is,all dialing, file transfers, scripts and the mini-bbs run as background
tasks.  Masterlink does not have the recorder feature but has a learn mode so
that you can build skeleton scripts similar to the way you make a recording
in INTERLINK.  The main difference is that scripts can do conditionals and
you can modify them right in one of Masterlink's buffers (it has 3 buffers). 
You may exit Masterlink and run other programs while these background tasks
are running.  Even in the background, Masterlink directly accesses your disk
drives without interfering with the program that you are running.  It allows
me to call Genie, on a daily basis, via a script that I execute while running
Laser C.  You can change screen resolutions while the background is busy and
continue.  I have Joust and Shiny Bubbles while Masterlink busily down
loaded files.  When you exit Masterlink while
connected you will find your communication buffer intact when you re-run
Masterlink.

<[1st STOP] B.HANSFORD> When do you expect to release Masterlink to the
general distribution channels?

<INTERSECT> Masterlink will not reach the general distribution channels
until INTERLINK upgrades have been sent out and the Shelf packaging is
completed.  Figure two to three weeks after it is shipped as upgrades.

<[1st STOP] B.HANSFORD> Thanks,...

<[Fred Beckman] FB> Ok. Mark. What kind of emulations will it handle?I am
looking for a GREAT VT100 that can talk to a DEC?

<JEFF.W> We have Randy and Rich with us.

<JEFF.W> :-)

<[Fred Beckman] FB> Sorry Rich!  Do I have to keep InterLink and all the
emulations for it instead?

<INTERSECT> The VT100 will be upgraded and will work with both INTERLINK
and MASTERLINK.  I currently have a new version that I am testing and it is
looking good.  INTERLINK emulators work with MASTERLINK!

<[Fred Beckman] FB> Thats good. Now to run a different transfer program
from MasterLink can you run it and another program at the same time?

<INTERSECT> Fred, could you clarify that?

<[Fred Beckman] FB> To run say Zmodem from MasterLink and then quit
MasterLink to run something else in the foreground

<INTERSECT> Only Masterlink protocols multitask, you can go back to the
desktop while a Masterlink transfer is running and run another program from
there, yes.

<[Fred Beckman] FB> So to get Zmodem you have to let MasterLink stay in the
foreground.

<[Fred Beckman] FB> disconnected.

<JEFF.W> Oops, bye Fred!<INTERSECT> Whoops, we lost Fred.

<JEFF.W> Rick?

<[Rick] GRIBNIF> About the background file access.  Is it GEMDOS file
access or direct access?  Dare I ask which timer/interrupt is used?

<INTERSECT> Rick, I always use GEMDOS and I avoid timers like the plague.
GA<[Rick] GRIBNIF> Background GEMDOS access without timers? Ok. ga<JEFF.W>
Thanks, Rick.

<JEFF.W> P.ST.AMAND?

<P.ST.AMAND> Will the new VT100 Emulator support the advanced video and
true keypad emulation...

<INTERSECT> It is something that is in the queue, once Masterlink is out
those other things will start happening.

<JEFF.W> Thanks, P.

<R.LOWREY> Since you talked about a game, I have seen "Modem Wars" for the
 PC and have (and play) "Populous" over modems.  Any chance your new game
will use modems?  This seems to be a hot area for the gaming world.  GA

<INTERSECT> No plans for modem use.  It is primarily an action packed
combat game.  GA

<JEFF.W> Thanks, R.  John?

<[John STanley] JLS> Thanks.  I was wondering if Masterlink has an integral
editor, the characteristics of same, and what the script lang looks
like.Could we see a small sample?  (2-5 lines) Also, can the script lang
control the editor?

<INTERSECT> The buffers are used to edit the script.  The script is then
compiled and executed from disk.  The script language will allow you to
directly access the contents of the buffer but does not allow you to control
the GEM windows.

<INTERSECT> I can send my GENIE script across the line if you would like to
see it.  :-)  GA

<[John STanley] JLS> What I meant was, can a script edit a file?<INTERSECT>
A script can load the file into the buffer, modify the data in the buffer
then write all or part of it out to disk.

<INTERSECT> Here comes the GENIE Script
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label start
<INTERSECT>      gosub call
<INTERSECT>      gosub main
<INTERSECT>      send "bye" CR
<INTERSECT>      wait "OFF AT" 10
<INTERSECT>      hang
<INTERSECT>      end
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label call
<INTERSECT>      dial "GENIE 2" ret
<INTERSECT>      if ret = 1 goback
<INTERSECT>      set x = x + 1
<INTERSECT>      if x != 10 goto call
<INTERSECT>      set x = 0
<INTERSECT>      ask ans "Dial failure, Try 10 more" "Quit Trying and exit"
                 ""
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 0 goto call
<INTERSECT>      hang
<INTERSECT>      end
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label main
<INTERSECT>      wtcl
<INTERSECT>      wtadd "LETTER" gosub mail
<INTERSECT>      wtadd "elp?"   gosub stdpro
<INTERSECT>      wtadd "<RETURN>" gosub sndret
<INTERSECT>      wtadd "OFF AT" goto  endit
<INTERSECT>      wtadd "20 ?"     gosub msgsel
<INTERSECT> label rewait
<INTERSECT>      waitl
<INTERSECT>      goto rewait
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label endit
<INTERSECT>      hang
<INTERSECT>      end
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label mail
<INTERSECT>      ask  aska "Read mail now" "Don't read now" "" ""
<INTERSECT>      if aska = 0 goon
<INTERSECT>      say 10 "Don't forget to" "Read Your Mail" ""
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label goon
<INTERSECT>      wait "elp?" 30
<INTERSECT>      send "mail" CR
<INTERSECT>      wait "elp?" 30
<INTERSECT>      send "2" CR
<INTERSECT>      wtdel "elp?"
<INTERSECT>      wtadd "elp?" gosub ansmail
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label ansmail
<INTERSECT>      wtdel "elp?"
<INTERSECT>      wtadd "elp?" gosub stdpro
<INTERSECT>      ask  aska "Respond to mail" "Don't Respond" "" ""
<INTERSECT>      if aska != 0 goto topit
<INTERSECT>      send "6" CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label topit
<INTERSECT>      send "top" CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label sndret
<INTERSECT>      send CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label stdpro
<INTERSECT>      ask ans "Go to ST Section" "Exit Script" "Log Off" "Manual
                 Entry"
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 0 gosub gost
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 1 gosub goex
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 2 gosub gooff
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 3 gosub goman
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label gost
<INTERSECT>      send "ST" CR
<INTERSECT>      wtdel "elp?"
<INTERSECT>      wtadd "elp?" gosub inst
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label goex
<INTERSECT>      end<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label gooff
<INTERSECT>      send "bye" CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label inst
<INTERSECT>      ask ans "Read Messages" "Manual Entry" "Top Menu""LogOff"
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 0 gosub gomess
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 1 gosub goman
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 2 gosub gotop
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 3 gosub gooff
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label gotop
<INTERSECT>      send "top" CR
<INTERSECT>      wtdel "elp?"
<INTERSECT>      wtadd "elp?" gosub stdpro
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label goman
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label gomess
<INTERSECT>      send "1" CR
<INTERSECT>      wait " ?"
<INTERSECT>      send "set 20" CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label msgsel
<INTERSECT>      ask ans "Exit Messages" "New Counts" "New Messages" "Manual
                 Entry"
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 0 gosub sndexit
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 1 gosub sndcnt
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 2 gosub sndnew
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 3 gosub goman
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label sndexit
<INTERSECT>      send "exi" CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label sndcnt
<INTERSECT>      send "2" CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label sndnew
<INTERSECT>      ask ans "View INTERLINK" "View REVOLVER" "View MASTERLINK"
                 "Manual Entry"
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 0 gosub sndil
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 1 gosub sndrev
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 2 gosub sndmst
<INTERSECT>      if ans = 3 gosub goman
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>
<INTERSECT> label sndil
<INTERSECT>      send "rea 2 new" CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT> label sndrev
<INTERSECT>      send "rea 3 new" CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT> label sndmst
<INTERSECT>      send "rea 5 new" CR
<INTERSECT>      goback
<INTERSECT>

<JEFF.W> All done?  I think I'll wait for the movie.   :-)

<INTERSECT> Well, that's my GENIE script so far.  It is complete for what
it does but I always keep adding to it.  Sorry that took so long, I forgot
how big it has gotten.

<JEFF.W> That looks very good and very powerful but also a little
intimidating for a non-programming end-user like myself will the Learn mode
help to build simpler scripts?

<INTERSECT> Yea, the learn mode should help building scripts, they don't
have to be that complicated, this one allows me to check Genie every day with
out having to touch the keyboard or exit Laser C.

<JEFF.W> Great.  Thanks.  Holly, you're up.

<[Holly] HS> Just a quickie... will YMOBAT be a direct selection now or
will we still have to load it in under ????? ?  What about VT100 emulation?

<INTERSECT> Batch YMODEM is built in.  VT100 is loadable and will stay
that
way because of its size and potential for enhancement.

<[Ralph] ST.REPORT> Allow me to thank you for continuing your support of
the ST Line.  When can we expect to see the other protocols appear for
Masterlink.... and...for Jeff....For a moderator to have just about
everything occur on the first CO, A JOB WELL DONE!

<JEFF.W> *blush*

<INTERSECT> Ralph, we expect to get ZMODEM out shortly after Masterlink is
on the shelves.  Also look for a new MULTIXY for INTERLINK that will include
ZMODEM at about the same time.

<[Ralph] ST.REPORT> outstanding.....thank you!  ga

<JEFF.W> Thanks, Ralph.

<JEFF.W> I see in your newsletter a "NOISE FILTER" in the Style/Features
window.  Does this actually compensate for line noise?   By the way, I'm
afraid we don't have time for any more questions.

<INTERSECT> It doesn't correct anything but it does stop the display of
some spurious noise.

<JEFF.W> One more question.

<JEFF.W> Go ahead, P.

<P.ST.AMAND> can user write their own emulators/protocols if so what is
required?

<INTERSECT> There is currently a dev kit available for the development of
Emulators and Transfer Protocols.  It is for MEGAMAX C and is available in
the download library here on Genie.

<JEFF.W> File #10414  (ILTXFEMU.ARC)

<INTERSECT> For Masterlink the Emulators can be written with the INTERLINK
dev kit but I will release a dev kit for MASTERLINK Transfer protocols in the
fall.  The dev kit is free and I would be happy to help out anyone that
wishes to develop using it.

<JEFF.W> I'd like to thank Randy Mears and Rich Plom for taking the time to
talk to us about Masterlink.  I know I'm looking forward to seeing it. 
Thanks, guys!

<JEFF.W> Any last words, Randy or Rich?

<INTERSECT> Look for us at the Detroit show, Masterlink will be on display
there.

<INTERSECT> BYE All.

<INTERSECT> has left.

<JEFF.W> Ooohh!  I know where I'll be when I'm not at the GEnie
booth!Before I open this up let me remind you once again that on June 21 we
will have CodeHeads Charles F. Johnson and John Eidsvoog here.  Be back next
week for our regular informal Atari ST gabfest!





 --------------------------------------------------------------------------



> CORPORATE COMPASS STR FOCUS   -> Sailing the "Ship of Atari".....
  ============================


                                                SMOOTH SAILING AHEAD?
                                                =====================


 by R.F. Mariano


      It would appear that Atari is headed in the right direction, at least
that's what most folks are saying.  The past 90 days have sort of left
many of us wondering just which direction it is that Atari is headed.  It
becomes quite obvious when we find Atari's "Old Friend, Mr. Murphy"
jumping up to say hello once again.  The $64,000 dollar question is...

       WHAT ..IS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR (cause) OF THE DELAYS AT ATARI?

      When the circumstance or situation is finally uncovered, Atari will
then embark on the road to true recovery.  Everyone in the userbase wants
nothing more than to see Atari in a highly respected position in the
computing community, if for no other reason than the fact the
respectability reflects upon all of us and keeps the value of our
equipment at a comfortable level.

      One picture is worth a thousand words, or so they say, actually, that
is a true fact.  Why is it that we are not seeing the national push
advertising wise yet?  Sure, there have been a few ads in newspapers in
localized areas but nothing to speak of at the national level.  Most
folks we have asked never saw the ads that ran on the Cable Sales Network
or whatever it's called. (not exactly Prime Time).. Prime Time is exactly
where Atari should be placing the main thrust of it's US Ad Campaign,
"making it's name fully accepted as a source of fine quality computing
equipment in mainstream America".  Placing ads in electronics mags and
computing mags is almost as foolish as preaching the faith to the
minister.

      How nice to see that there are other folks out there who agree with
our recommendation that Atari setup a factory based mail order operation.
This would become an extremely valuable tool to be used in Atari's efforts
to properly service the home computer marketplace.  The exchange program
Atari has in place is, with out a doubt, one of the best in the industry and
should be energetically brought to the attention of the buying public.
There is no finer program in place in the consumer computer market at this
time that has an equal value to the customer.

      Actually, Atari has everything it needs to do a bang-up job in the
mail order area, a warehouse full of product, a desire to sell it's product
into a fast growing marketplace and a very receptive consumer base awaiting
such a move.  Coupled with the "security blanket exchange program", Atari
would be offering a "caring" combination that is hard to beat!  "Is anybody
listening?"





 --------------------------------------------------------------------------



> STOS Compiler STR Review   -> An in depth review of the latest goodies.
  ========================


                                                        STOS Compiler
                                                        =============

         From Mandarin and Antic Software
         -------------------------------


 by William Y. Baugh


          A great  new addition to the fantastic BASIC game creator STOS is
          (as the title says)  the STOS  Compiler.   The compiler  lets you
          take your STOS source and compile it into either a .CMP form that
          may only be executed  from inside  the STOS  environment or  as a
          .PRG GEM  program.  Before the compiler, STOS owners had to run a
          protect program and include half of  the STOS  library to  make a
          stand-alone disk  to run one program!  Now with the compiler, you
          just compile and it's done.  Very painless and very fast.

          The compiler functions as an accessory within the  STOS language.
          The  benefit  of  this  is  the  "interaction";  in  that you may
          compile, run and test your program  then  edit  it,  go  back and
          compile, etc.  In the manual, the author states that the compiled
          programs will be "up to three times as  fast" as  the interpreted
          programs.   From messing  around with  the examples in the manual
          and compiling other programs (such as Orbit), I've  found that in
          a  way  that  statement  is  true.   If the program does a lot of
          computation in memory with little screen and graphic  access, the
          increase in  speed is  tremendous, but with programs which access
          the  screen  and  sprite  banks,  there  is  no  noticeable speed
          increase.   This is  NOT to say that the programs are slow by any
          means.  For anyone who doesn't own STOS; the interpreted programs
          run extremely fast!  This is incredible considering the number of
          sprites, collisions and other factors being calculated and moved.

          The  compiler  consists  mainly  of  one screen, with six buttons
          allowing  you  to  choose  whether  you   want  the   source  and
          destination to  be disk  or memory,  have the  program compile to
          either BASIC  or  GEM,  change  the  options,  compile  and quit.
          That's about all there is to the program; it is extremely easy to
          use.  I suggest setting the source to disk if you are  wanting to
          "play" around  with the  compiler and  compile existing programs.
          This  saves  you  from  having  to  load  them  into  memory then
          accessing the  compiler.   Also depending upon the memory of your
          ST will dictate whether or not you compile to disk or memory.  It
          is faster  to memory,  but if you own a hard drive, it is not too
          bad to  disk.   As stated  before, you  have to  options when you
          compile;  you  may  compile  a  program that can only be run from
          within STOS or you  may compile  a GEM  program.   The benefit to
          this is  that the  GEM compiled program will be around 40K larger
          than the BASIC compiled program.  Like any  compiler though, both
          programs will be MUCH larger than the source; but looking back at
          the stand-alone  disks...I think  it's a  fair trade.   Under the
          options button,  you have two pages of selectable options ranging
          from turning the function keys off to setting the compiler tests.
          This list  may be saved and will be loaded everytime the compiler
          is executed (This saves  time  and  headaches  if  you  forgot to
          switch something when you compiled).

          The compiler is not very rigid on its syntax structure.  Here are
          a few of the guidelines that you must  follow for  the program to
          compile correctly:   Arrays  must be  dimensioned before they are
          used, you must use constants rather  than variables  in ON...GOTO
          and ON...GOSUB's  and finally  you may  not use a FOR...NEXT loop
          that reserves a memory bank.  If you change the  default color in
          the options menu in the compiler and it differs from the one used
          in the program, the program will not compile.  Also  included are
          compiler  extension  commands  that  allow  you (from inside your
          program) set to what degree the  compiler will  test your source.
          You may  select from  on, off  or always.   The on selection only
          tests before jump instructions, off is just that,  off.   It will
          speed up  your program  by 10%  but will  not allow  you to break
          during that portion of  the program.   Always  tests before every
          command.  This makes for very nice and smooth sprite movement.

          Now for  some extra  special news.  Included with the compiler is
          an upgrade to the current STOS package.   It upgrades  to version
          2.04.   In this  new upgrade  some changes have been made.  There
          are new music, window, sprite and run .BIN files.  Also, there is
          a  new  FLOAT.BIN  which  actually  decreases the accuracy of the
          floating point numbers from 16 significant  figures to  7.  (This
          dropped the  available numbers  from -1.797692 E+308 to +1.797693
          E+307 down to 1E-14 to 1E+15.  In the manual it states  that this
          drop  in  numbers  has  increased  the  speed  of  the routine to
          "approximately three  times faster,  with trigonometric functions
          like  SIN  and  COS  being  preformed at more that 30 times their
          earlier speed!"  Since most games don't use incredible numbers as
          were originally in place, the speed increase is much appreciated.
          As  another  extra  bonus,  a  format  accessory  and  a RAM disk
          accessory are also included.    The  format  accessory  is fairly
          basic  (it  doesn't  twist),  but  is  functional.   The RAM disk
          accessory allows you to set the size up to the  available memory.
          Both these  accessories are  very useful in the STOS environment.
          (I  wouldn't  bother  compiling  and  taking  them  out  of  STOS
          though...)

          Between  the  fantastic  interpreter  and  the compiler, the STOS
          language should become even more accepted in the ST userbase.   I
          hope to  see more  programs appear on the service that users have
          written, but didn't want to bother with the  stand-alone feature.
          If you own STOS already, you'll definitely want this package.  If
          you  don't  own  STOS  and  want  to  write  games  in   a  great
          environment...then STOS is for you.





  -------------------------------------------------------------------------



> Atari Stock ~ STReport   -> Baubles, Bangles, Brite Shiny GOLD....
  ======================


                                                  THE TICKERTAPE
                                                  ==============


 by Glenn Gorman



   Atari Stock dropped 1/8 of a point on Tuesday, up 1/4 on Wednesday.
Finishing up the week at 6 1/4 points. Up 1/8 of a point from last
Friday.

   The American Stock Exchange was closed on Monday, May 29, 1989, for
Memorial Day.


                                                           Glenn Gorman

                          +---------------------+
                          |  ATARI STOCK WATCH  |
                          | Week 05-29 to 06-02 |
 +=======+==========+===========+=============+============+=============+
 |       |  Monday  |  Tuesday  |  Wednesday  |  Thursday  |  Friday     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Sales |          |      148  |       1154  |       739  |     586     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Last  |          |    6 ---  |      6 1/4  |     6 1/4  |   6 1/4     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Chg.  |          |     -1/8  |       +1/4  |      ----  |    ----     |
 +=======+==========+===========+=============+============+=============+
 | From > THE CAVE ST BBS <> 609-882-9195 <> 300//9600 HST <> F-NET #351 |
 +=======================================================================+



Editor's Note: ...With the release of "market shaking news"  (CES)..smart
               money on Wall street is quietly gathering Atari Stock....





  -------------------------------------------------------------------------



> TECH-SPECIALTIES _ STR ON YOUR SIDE   -> Customers are VERY UNHAPPY!
  ===================================



                                                  PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE
                                                  =====================


by R.F. Mariano


      When does  a magazine  really shine?  Could be a difficult question to
 answer in the best of times.  We feel the  answer is  quite simple,  when a
 user finds  they have a real need of the assistance of that magazine.  Such
 a time has arisen and we at STReport will take up the cause and  attempt to
 mediate in a situation that warrants the attention of the entire userbase.

      A reader  recently sent  to the  offices of  STR Publishing the entire
 documentation flow of a  situation we  feel needs  to be  placed before the
 entire userbase.

      Terry A.  Pike sent STReport the complete dossier on the sad situation
 he has with TECH-SPECIALTIES in Texas.  We have, in  the past  attempted to
 call the  people at  Tech Specialties  and found  that they, (he), is quite
 unresponsive  in  any  manner  that  would  require  any  type  of "special
 attention" be  given to  any customer.   Especially if it involves a refund
 or the delivery of merchandise.  We at STReport can  understand even  a 2-4
 month delay  and possibly  even up  to six  months as long as open lines of
 communication are kept flowing so that the customer  is never  left feeling
 like he is "out in the cold".

      At this  time, we  present to  you excerpts  from Mr. Pike's letter (6
 pages &  11  enclosures)  and  a  list  of  various  actions  taken  by him
 independently of  others who may be in the same situation.  Which brings us
 to our objective, we have been following the  flow of  messages on  all the
 services  pertaining  to  this  issue,  and find that there are indeed many
 more users in the same predicament.  The  time has  come to  ASK that  all
 users who  have a problem with Tech-Specialties let us know so that we may
 compile the information and provide the proper individuals  with this data.
 Thus allowing them the opportunity to examine the enormity of this problem.

      For Example....
      ---------------

  From Mr. Pike:

  "I saw  an advertisement  in ST-Log and decided to call this company Tech-
 Specialties  to  obtain  more  information.    This  was  about  two before
 Christmas  1988.    After  talking  I  placed an order, by mail, for a hard
 drive, CPU  case  with  power  supply,  keyboard  case  and  all associated
 cables,  mounting  hardware  and  incidental  items needed to complete this
 kit."

 "I received on the third of  January an  invoice showing  the items ordered
 and that  they would  be shipped  in the  third week  of January.   Also, I
 contacted my bank and found that my check had cleared the bank  on 12-29-88
 and  was  paid  by  my  bank  on 01-03-89 ($957.00).  Not hearing from them
 (Tech-Specialties) by the fourth week, I decided to give them a call.   The
 person with  whom I  spoke was  Kay (pronounced  Kie) Vaumond, the owner of
 Tech-Specialties.  He explained that the hard drive I ordered would cost an
 additional $100.00  because of  some problem  he was  experiencing with his
 distributor."

 "After another week had passed, I called them again and  spoke to  Kay, who
 told me  the mechanisms  were in  but that  the cases  had to be primed and
 painted.  He said the order (mine) would ship the following week..."

      Folks this was back  in January,  it is  now June  and.. As  we stated
 earlier had  the folks  at Tech-Specialties  at least communicated with the
 people who were on his "to be delivered" list, we  are sure  there would be
 no problems  at this  time.  However, when one calls there, as we have, and
 is abruptly told ..."who cares, print anything you wish" and hangs up.   We
 are left with no choice but to follow up on this incident.

      We  have  copies  of  the  documents to show that complaints have been
 filed with the Postal Inspector,  Attorney  General's  Office  N. Carolina,
 Texas Attorney General's Office and the Houston Better Business Bureau.

      What is  needed now  is a comprehensive list of other folks who either
 ordered merchandise, paid for it and not received it within the normal time
 frames or  have received  merchandise either damaged, or not complete, thus
 being unusable.

         Please  forward  any  information,  including  Photocopies  of  any
 documents, cancelled  checks, receipts  or correspondence  relative to this
 matter asap.  In  unified numbers,  perhaps we  can help  effect a positive
 response from Tech-Specialties.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------



> ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL   -> "Saying it LIKE IT IS!"
  ======================



 - Chicago, IL.                       ****  ATARI'S SURPRISE AT CES  ****
 --------------

      Atari was alive and well at the CES show in Chicago.  And although
 the Atari booth was excellent and had good participation one could not
 help but notice the Gilman Louie letters had their negative effect.  Seems
 he said just what Atari's competition had "wanted to hear"!  The only
 bright spot was the revelation about Atari's NEW PORTABLE GAME MACHINE
 ..Runs at 16mhz and uses an LCD screen. The CPU IS A 650C2 ..IMPRESSIVE!
 Atari has shown once again it is capable of efficiently nullifying it's
 competition's efforts in the highly ambitious game machine market..  Now,
 for the Home Computer Market....


 - Jacksonville, FL.                   ***** STReport is now on BIX! *****
 ------------------

     Jim Kershner, Sysop of the Jefferson Software Conference, Announced
 this week that ...all issues of STReport from Issue #1 to the very latest
 have been made available on BIX.  Additionally, they have been crosslinked
 to the Atari ST Conference, thus making STReport widely available on the
 BIX system.



 - Chicago, IL.                         ****** AT&T - NINTENDO LINK ******
 --------------

     Nintendo, the giant Japanese maker of such video games as Donkey Kong
 and the Super Mario Brothers, has formed a partnership with American
 Telephone & Telegraph Co. to develop a home shopping and information
 service.

         Peter Main, marketing vice president at Nintendo, said the
 service would link the nearly 19 million Nintendo game systems now in
 American households to two of the nation's other most-used home
 appliances: the telephone and the television.



 - San Diego, CA.                  **** SUN UNVEILS SILICON COMPILER!****
 ----------------

     You should have a gander at some of the stuff available on Sun's new
 workstations.  How about a 'silicion compiler' that will take your chip
 design and lay it out for you into masks suitable for sending to a
 manufacturing facility?  With the low-end Sun's giving better price &
 performance than high-end '386 boxes, things should get interesting...



 - San Diego, CA.                 ***** MICROPROSE F19 IN LIMELIGHT *****
 ----------------

     F-19 Stealth Fighter by Microprose, a highly-acclaimed combat flight
 simulator, was named the Best Simulation at the Software Publishers
 Association (SPA) Awards Ceremony held in San Diego on May 23. F-19
 became the first MicroProse title to earn an SPA award.

 President and cofounder of MicroProse Bill Stealey said, "We are extremely
 honored," adding, "it's an excellent reward for all the hard work,
 dedication and craftsmanship that went into the game."

 In a coincidence, the game began shipping on the same day that the Pentagon
 officially acknowledged that the Stealth fighter existed, after years of
 speculation that it was in fact developing a radar-elusive jet.

 The game based on the plane received critical acclaim for its solid filled
 3-D graphics and smooth animation. F-19 Stealth Fighter, which has sold
 over 100,000 units, retails for $69.95.



 - Sunnyvale, CA                ***** HDX 3.0 -> First Class Stuff! *****
   -------------

                           Atari Advanced Hard Disk Utilities - HDX 3.00

        This version of HDX and AHDI offer the following NEW features:

                 - unlimited number of partitions.
                 - partition size up to 32760 LOGICAL sectors.
                 - cluster size of 2 LOGICAL sectors.
                 - LOGICAL sector sizes of 512 bytes, 1024 bytes, etc.
                   (i.e. 1, 2, etc. PHYSICAL 512 byte sectors).
                 - support for MEGAFILE 44 & 60.
                 - allows multiple Operating System  usage

 The above mentioned enhancements are compatible with all versions of TOS,
 providing the new AHDI is installed.  Once again, we are clearly shown by
 performance that Atari is on the move and providing software capable of
 keeping up with the advancing technology.

 This new set of utilities is shipping with the new Megafile 60s....



 - Ontario, Canada          *****  ISD MARKETING WINS OKLAMCAK!!  *****
 -----------------

      From a surprise announcement in the last 24 hours Julius Oklamcak,
staunch Atarian and mainstay of Atari Canada, has announce he has accepted
a position with ISD Marketing Inc.  ISD, famous for Calamus, DynaCad and a
host of other first rate software products certainly has reason to
celebrate!  Good Luck Julius!, Congratulations ISD!!





  --------------------------------------------------------------------------



> STReport InfoFile   -> GENIE'S SUPER SUMMER SPLASH!
  =================


                  Update to the Summer Splash June Contest


The St Roundtable will be having a summer splash contest to kick the summer
off.  A new contest EACH month will be introduced with great prizes.  We
hope this makes your summer on GEnie much more enjoyable.

June brings us three very different contests.  The first will be on your
writing skills.  Be aware that this is on content and style.  We need an
article on "How you get the most out of the GEnie ST Roundtable."  The best
article will be selected and printed in GEnie Livewire and in the ST
Roundtable.

    -Permission to reprint is granted by submitting an article.
    -Only paying users are qualified.  No others will be reviewed.
    -Paying users are those that do not have *any* type of free flag
     or free account on GEnie.

By eliminating the free accounts, we feel that this will make the cost of
such the same for all users that enter.  This will give a more equal
chance for all those that submit.  The LiveWire Staff will decide the
winners from the top 20 finalists.  The three finalists will pick their
prizes from the list below.  First place winner will choose first. Then
the second place winner will choose and finally the third. Submissions
are to be sent to DARLAH

Please mark ALL submissions clearly as a contest entry.  Winners will be
notified the 1st week of July.

--------

The second contest will be on uploads to the library.  As you know,
uploading on GEnie is free but you can reap some extra benefits by sharing
those quality files. First prize will go to the person that uploads the most
files in the categories below.  There will be a second and third prize for
this division.


This is a list of the libraries that will be counted for this contest.

               Utilities
               Language/Programming
               Graphic Animation
               Games
               DeskTop Publishing  (Fonts Only - Working completed ones)
              Hardware Projects

Be aware that only paying accounts can enter this contest.  Duplications
will NOT be counted.  Files that do not function will not be counted. Demos
will not be counted. The ST staff will judge this contest.  Decisions are
final.  The winners will be notified the 1st week of July.  Please upload
your submissions to the ST libraries.  Please mark these files with the
keyword CONTEST

Non-GEnie users can send their entries to the PO box stated in the 3rd
contest description. Please clearly mark what contest you are entering.
Your submissions WILL be posted on GEnie.


For the 3rd contest, there will be three winners.  As the second contest
is, this contest will be on uploads to the same libraries mentioned in
contest two.  The difference is this contest will be on original work. It
must be YOUR work.  It must be CLEARLY marked in the description that it is
your work.  This contest is open to non GEnie users as well.. We ask if
you have someone else upload your work, that you include a read me file
stating your name, address and telephone number where you can be reached.
Entries will be accepted via US Mail if you do not have access to GEnie.
The address to send it to is:

                            Darlah Pine
                           GEnie ST Roundtable
                           PO Box 811
                           Brookfield, Ct 06804

Submissions that are mailed will be posted on GEnie.  Your name as author
will be stated clearly in the description.  Winners will be notified the
1st week of July.

Prizes will be selected by the winners from the prizes stated in this text
file.  First place winners will choose their selections first in the order
of the contests.  Second place winners will choose next and third place
winners last.  Prizes will be shipped by the companies offering these
prizes.

Our deepest thanks go to the fine companies involved for making this
contest a reality.


          The prizes are for all three contests held in June:

            5 hours of GEnie Online connect time
            GFA 3.0             <---    From Antic
            Cyberpaint          <---    From Antic
            HotWire             <---    From CodeHead Software
            MultiDesk           <---    From CodeHead Software
            G-Plus              <---    From CodeHead Software
            FleetStreet         <---    From Michtron
            Hi Soft Basic Pro   <---    From Michtron
            Calamus Font Editor <---    From ISD Marketing
            Calamus             <---    From ISD Marketing
            Revolver            <---    From Intersect
            Interlink           <---    From Intersect
            Space Quest III     <---    From Sierra Online
            Mouse Master        <---    From Practical Solutions
            Tweety Board        <---    From Practical Solutions

Thank you to all the companies involved.  The support and information on
all the products offered in the contests can be found right here on
GEnie.  They are the people that make this contest possible.  The St Staff
wants to applaud these companies for the EXCELLENT online support they
offer to us all.  We are proud to have them online on GEnie.

--

More prizes will be offered by our developers for the summer splash
contest on GEnie in the upcoming summer months.





 -------------------------------------------------------------------------





> Empire - Shadow STR Review   -> Modem Warfare at it's BEST!
  ==========================


                                       Empire- Wargame of the Century
                                       ==============================

by Ron Brunk


   Empire has always been one of my favorite strategy games for the ST
and, in light of the upcoming release of Empire 3.0 and Empire II, this may
be a good time to take another look at this classic for the benefit of
those who have never given it a try.  The new versions are rumoured to
have modem capabilities, hopefully improving the jury rigged method that,
used with Shadow, is the only way to play Empire via modem at this time.

   The premise of Empire is that you are the commander of an
interplanetary invasion force dropped blind onto a planet with orders to
take it over.  Your opponent is either one or two computer and/or human
opponents.  When the game starts, you control one city in the midst of a
blank world map, and must conquer all of the other cities with your armies.
The map of the the is slowly revealed as your empire expands to encompass
other cities, which then build units (armies or aircraft or ships) to
support your campaign.

   A battle occurs when one unit attempts to occupy the square of an
opponent, and continues until one or the other is eliminated.  Cities are
captured when it is occupied by an army, at which time the conqueror
chooses which type of unit the city is to produce.  A player is victorious
when all opponents have resigned or, if you choose, been crushed.

   The weapons of war at your disposal are various, and each has its own
strengths and weaknesses.  They are:

  Armies: Move one space at a time over land and are the only piece that
can capture a city.  Can also attack other armies and fighters over land,
and any surface ships in adjoining squares.  5 rounds to produce.

  Fighter: Moves 5 spaces/turn up to 20 spaces before it must land on a
city or aircraft carrier for refueling.  Can attack anything (except
cities) anywhere.  10 rounds to produce.

  Destroyer: As the only ship that can move 3 spaces/turn, it is ideal
for hunting down enemy transports, conducting long range reconnaissance,
and escorting transports.  Can sustain 3 pts damage.  20 rounds to produce.

  Submarine: Invisible to all others except cities, destroyers, cruisers,
and other submarines.  Good for sinking transports and softening up large
targets.  Can only sustain 2 pts damage, but can causes 3 pts/hit, enough
to sink a destroyer or transport with one hit.  Also 20 rounds to produce.

  Cruiser: Sustains 8 pts damage and causes 2 pts/hit.  Can bombard
troops on shore.  35 rounds to produce.

  Battleship: The juggernaut of the seas, sustains 12 pts damage and
causes 3 pts/hit.  Can also bombard troops.  A whopping 50 rounds to
produce.

  Aircraft carrier:  Carries up to 8 fighters on deck.  Each point of
damage below the max of 8 reduces it's fighter capacity by one.  40 rounds
to produce.

   Units are moved in many different ways:

  1) Manually with the keyboard.

  2) Directed to a point with the mouse, in which case the computer moves
it automatically each turn until it arrives and asks for further orders.

  3) Put on "sentry" to maintain watch in one place, but will not ask for
further orders unless an enemy is sighted.

  4) Set to patrol between two points.

  5) Ordered to escort another ship and remain directly behind it.

  6) Told to move at random in a particular direction.

Many of these methods are valuable in reducing play time, especially late
in the game when you have literally hundreds of unit to direct.

   For strategic planning there is a world map that displays the entire
world. The tactical plot, from which order are given, shows the latest
information on troop placements on a 19x36 portion of the 58x98 world map.
It can also be modified to a production map which display only cities,
represented by the type of unit that it produces.  Unexplored areas remain
black on all maps.

   There are many features to the game that combine to make it more
realistic:

  Initial production of units is 20% greater than normal to simulate the
time for factories to be "tooled" for that particular type of unit.
Subsequent units are produced at a normal rate until production is
changed.

  Ships with more than 50% damage are restricted to one space/turn
movement until repaired in a friendly city.

  All units in a city that is captured are destroyed.

  Aircraft flybys reveal what an enemy city is producing so that you can
prioritize your targets and hopefully get that battleship before it comes
out of the yards.

  If one of your units moves away from an enemy, that enemies image will
remain in the square it was seen in until another of your units confirms
that it has moved away.

  There are many maps to choose from included on the game disk. There are
also many available on bbs's which were drawn by other players with the
powerful, but simple to use, mapmaker that is included.


Empire hints:
-------------

   The following hints are based on key strategy points that I have
noticed, how I eventually decided to approach them. While they may not fit
your individual style, I am presenting them as illustrations of some of the
strategies involved.

  1. In the beginning of the game expand as quickly as possible to
establish a production base by using a blitzkrieg strategy.  Start out
producing lots of armies and use them to conquer more cities.  Move quickly
towards the center of the map to establish as large a territory for
yourself as possible, then consolidate the territory you have marked.  Do
not waste valuable troops as fortification until you know where the enemy
is coming from.

  2. On your first turn, begin by producing one fighter and then
immediately switch to armies.  Use this fighter to locate cities so that
your armies do not waste turns wandering around looking for cities.

  3. As each city is conquered, start it out producing armies.  As the
game progresses, convert cities behind the front lines to producing other
types of units.  This accomplishes 2 purposes: 1) By producing armies at
the front line, you are not as dependant on transports, and 2) Larger
units, which take a long time to produce, are produced in safer territory,
sparing you the frustration of losing a city that is just a couple of
rounds from producing a battleship, wasting up to 60 rounds of production.

  4. Don't delay a transport by waiting for a full load of six armies
before getting underway.  Take what is there ready to go and get them into
the action.  In fact, there is an advantage to taking less than a full boat
in case you are attacked and survive with some damage, you will not lose
as many troops.

                                 / - - - /
                                /       /
                               /       /
                              / - - - /

  5. Use fighters to patrol around important and frontline cities.  Set
patrol pattern in an offset mode (see above) instead of a straight line in
order to cover a wider area around the city to be protected.  Set the
patrol to go out 7 or 9 spaces instead of the maximum 10.  This will leave
you some range to attack should an enemy slip through and attack your city
from the other direction.

  6. Unless about to load a transport, scatter your armies around the
shorelines of your territories as sentries.  In this position they can
warn of any attempts by enemy troops to land, and spot enemy ships to
avoid surprise attacks.

  7. Use the strategic map to determine chokepoints and secure your
territory by closing them off via posted sentries (troops) and/or
ship/aircraft  patrol patterns.  A chokepoint is a narrow straight of water
or land that ships/armies must pass through to gain access to seas/land on
the other side.  Whenever possible, escort transports unless in this
territory that is secure.

  8. Cruisers and battleships can be stationed in a city and bombard
attacking armies, up to one per move remaining.  Remember that if a ship is
damaged >50%, it is only allowed to move one space and therefore bombard
only one army.  In addition, although one hit point is regenerated per
round but if a city is taken, the ship is lost.


Modem games with Shadow
-----------------------

   When Shadow first came out, my first thought was that it would be a
great way to play Empire via modem. (Shadow is a background terminal
program that allows you to transfer files via modem without quitting your
current program, even to the extent of warmbooting.) Unfortunately, I was
just starting to get familiar with my ST after returning from a deployment,
and was unable to interest anyone in pursuing the idea.  Months went by,
and I soon forgot about the idea (although I still played Empire).  Not
long ago I found the patch program to update Shadow to 1.1 on DoubleClick
Software's board in Houston (713-944-0108).  I was surprised to find that
DoubleClick had written the software, since I'd originally purchased it
through Antic.  Once again I attempted to play Empire via modem and found
it to work beautifully with less than 1 minute required between the end of
one players turn to the beginning of the next players turn (using Y-Batch
at 2400 baud).

   To do this, both players should:

  1. Boot up with Shadow and the optional accessory installed.

  2. Run the program Empire and pull down the Shadow accessory.

  3. Set up both terminals to previously agreed upon settings (baud rate
and transfer protocol).  I recommend Y-batch to eliminate the requirement
to enter the saved filename each time.  Load phone numbers in the dialers
iaw program docs.  To monitor progress of the file transfer, click on buffer
size  (#K on the main screen), then on "counter location" and place the
counter on the screen wherever you want with a LC (left mouse click),
followed by a RC (right mouse click) to leave it there.  The counter shows
bytes transferred/retries/file#.

  4. Ensure one modem is set to answer.  This can be done on Hayes
compatible modems by typing  AT S0=2  while in the terminal mode.  You
should receive an "OK". The modem will now answer on the second ring (or
whatever number you put in place of the 2).  With both terminals in the
terminal mode, the calling player should LC to bring up the dialer, select
the other players number with the up and down arrows, and click on
"begin".

  5.  Once connected, it may be necessary to modify the terminal settings
by pushing F1 to go to half duplex and F2 to send CR/LF (carriage
return/linefeeds).  It may also be necessary for the person who dialed to
call up the dialer with a LC and "abort" so that the status line appears at
the bottom.  While connected in the terminal mode players can communicate
by typing messages.

  6.  One player will start the game with RC to go to the main Shadow
screen and RC again to clear it.  Select "new game" from the Empire menu
and select at least two human opponents (the third computer opponent can
also be used) and the PBM (play by mail) option and confirm at the prompt.
Production and combat ratios can also be changed from the default 50% to
give one player an advantage.  Both players names and the first players
password will be entered here at this time.

  7.  Upon completion of the first players turn, Empire will
automatically save the game and return to the Empire main screen (blank
green/grey).  Pull down the Shadow accessory and select "terminal".

  8.  The first player will inform the second that he is a bourgeois
capitalist pig, and that he is are ready to transfer the game save file.
There may be a delay at this time until he notices the message, since there
is no bell to notify him, just the screen.

  9.  The second player will notify the first that he is a warmongering
imperialist dog, and state that he is ready to receive the file.

 10.  Both players will RC to return to the main screen and choose
"receive/send" as appropriate.  The sending player will be prompted to
click on the filename to transfer. If using Y-batch, click on "exit" when
prompted for the second time.  Answer "send" to the next prompt to begin
file transfer.

 11.  Upon completion of file transfer (bell will ring and counter will
disappear) player one (who sent the file) will return to the terminal to
await the opponent.  The player who received the file will be prompted for
a file name (if in Y-batch it will already be in the item selector) and
confirm the overwrite, then load it and play his turn.  Go to #7 above.


   If you haven't played Empire in awhile, root around and find that
disk and give it another go.  If you've never played it, and enjoy strategy
games, give this classic a shot.  If you've been playing it for awhile,
get Shadow (if you don't already have it) and give the modem/pbm option a
try.  Be warned, though, this is an extremely addicting game.  And although
I've heard of it being done, I've never played a full game in one setting.
A typical game will go 250+ turns.  Enjoy!





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> ISD's DYNA-CADD 1.5 STReport InfoFile   -> Features and Benefits
  =====================================



                                                         DynaCADD 1.5

                         A Partial List of Features

     Fully interactive 2D & TRUE 3D capabilities.
     All calculations accurate to 20 decimal places.
     Math Co-Processor support.
     Logical Icon based Interface.
     Extremely User friendly using Pull down menus, mouse, keyboard, function
                            keys and user definable Macro Keys.
     Command Line Interpreter allows one to four character abbreviations of
                            equivalent Icon Commands.
     A built-in scientific  calculator for all numeric input.

3D View Capabilities
====================
     Multiple 3D views can be opened and modified at any time.
     Geometric Coordinate Planes (GCP) can be changed instantly.
     Translation of 3D Coordinate Planes.
     Dynamic Rotation along GCP axis of any View.
     Work can be done in any combination of views with all views updating
        constantly.
     Automatic generation of ANY orthographic view including user defined
        auxiliary views.
     Entities can be selectively hidden in any view allowing easy generation
        of true orthographically sound views.
     Other View Operations include Scaling, Changing GCP, Scrolling, Zooming
        IN/OUT, Zoom to Entity Extents..

Dimensioning
=============
     Auto Dimensioning features :
          Mechanical and Architectural formats.
          Full 2D and 3D dimensioning.
          Absolute Control over Dimensioning Extents and Text.
          Optional Modification of Dimension Text on the fly.
          True Horizontal and Vertical Baseline and Chaining.
          Circular Radius, Diameter and Center line.
          Automatic linear and angular tolerancing in any of three different
                   styles.
          Text orientation using any one of the three different systems
                   (uni-directional, angled or aligned).
          Dimension Text Precision can be set from 0 to 9 decimal places.

Resident View Control
=====================
Sophisticated command nesting allows the following list of commands to be
accessed at any time:

           Zoom IN/OUT.                        Zoom a Window.
           Scroll or "Pan" the page.           Center the page on a point.
           Re-size Drawing Area Instantly.     Drawing Command History.

Text/Fonts
==========
     Professional COMPUGRAPHIC Fonts are included.
     Fonts are loaded and stay resident.
     Text can be changed from one font to another.
     True character Kerning ,Proportional or Constant (mono) character
                            spacing.
     Left, Right or Center Text justification.
     Character Width, Height, Slant, Rotation, Pen Styles, Weights, Color
                            and Layer can be set.

Entity Types
============
Base Entity Types include:
 POINTS, LINES, CIRCLES, ARCS, FILLETS, ELLIPSES, ELLIPTICAL ARCS, TEXT,
 SOLID, BSPLINES and BEZIER CURVES.

Multiple Entities in:
 BOXES, POLYGONS, POLYFIGURES ,SUBFIGURES, SECTIONING and HATCHING.

Entities can be either 2 or 3 Dimensional.
 3D Entities can be converted to 2D.

Entity Insertion
================
Entity insertion is facilitated using 15 2D Dynamic Rubber Band Modes &
Function Keys.
Up to 256 Hatch Patterns can be easily defined using the Font Editor.
14 Predefined Hatch Patterns have been included.

Location and Entity Snap
========================
Location Modifiers include:
      Absolute  X, Y, Z Coordinates.
      Incremental X, Y, Z Coordinates.
      Relative Polar Radius and Angle.
Entity Snap  of selected entities by :
      END  End point of a selected Entity.
      ON   Directly on a selected Entity.
      ORG  Center of a selected Entity.
      INT  Intersection of two selected Entities.

Entity Selection
================
Selecting Entities :
      One Entity, All Entities.
      Entities within or outside a window.
      Entities within a Poly Window.
      Last entity Inserted/Transformed.
      Entities on a given layer.
      Entities of a given Color/Pen Number.
      Entities of a given Style or Weight.
      Chaining several entities.
      Filter any single or group of entities.

Entity and Drawing Information
==============================
DynaCADD gives you the ability to:
      Measure distances (2D & 3D)
      Measure Angles
      Measure Perimeters
      Measure Areas
      Verify Location, Style, Slant, Rotation and Absolute Positioning.
      List Database Extents and Drawing Parameters...

Entity Transformations
======================
Transformations between 2D or 3D positions:
 Move, Copy, Delete, Mirror, Stretch, Scale, Rotate, Mask or Unmask Existing
       Entities.
 Trim/Divide Lines and Arcs.
 Revolve/Sweep along a Vector.
 Create Array of Entities.
 Construct an Entity Offset.
 Generate points on Entities.
 Modify Entity Attributes.
 3D Entity Transformation of any view into 2D Entities.

Plotter Support
===============
Both HPGL and DMPL compatible plotters are supported.
Plotter Drivers can be created for DynaCADD using MAKEPLOT.PRG
Plots can be generated at a constant 1:1 ratio or a drawing can be
       automatically scaled to any degree
Plotting extents can be defined using Drawing page, Current Window or
       Database extents.
Plotter and Printer output can be directed through the serial port, parallel
       port or to a disk file.
Background plotting and printing allows output while DynaCADD is in session.

Printer Support
===============
Epson compatible printers ,both 9 and 24 pin.
Laser Printers - HP Laserwriter Plus
Postscript compatible and encapsulated Postscript.
All drivers allow;
Draft & Final drafts utilizing the printers highest graphics mode, Multi-
sheet prints and Scaled and constant ratio prints.

File Formats
============
DynaCADD reads and writes DXF Files thus, insuring high file compatibility
with all major CADD packages.  DynaCADD also reads ASC files .


Line Weights/Styles
===================
3 line weights for use with all entities and are visually  represented both
on the screen and on the output.  Up to 64 user definable line styles can be
selected.

Grid and Axis
=============
GRID/AXIS Major and Minor Increments can be defined by the user.
AXIS represents a working sheet of graph paper.  Grid is used to snap to
specified locations.

Pen/Color Selection
===================
The program will now display a dialog box providing a selection of as many
as 16 colors. The colors will be displayed on a hi-res color monitor.

Vector Font Editor
==================
A designer's tool to create and edit high-resolution vector fonts using a
graphic editor.

                Editing aids include:
           Bezier curves
           B-splines
           Unlimited number of vector cut-and-paste buffers
           Rotate, stretch, mirroring horizontally or vertically,
                move, copy, distort any character or vector
           Movable baseline, ascent line, descent line
           Automatic calculation of kerning tables
           Optional manual placement of kerning positions
           Definable zoom levels using movable zoom window
           Automatically smooth vectors
           Definable grid and snap
           Up to 64,000 by 64,000 point resolution per character
           Each font can contain from 1 to 255 characters

System requirements:
===================
Atari ST minimum 1 MByte of memory, 1 MByte disk drive and a Monochrome
Monitor.

                   Atari and Mega ST are trademarks of Atari Corp.
            DynaCADD is a registered trademark of Ditek International.
     Other computer and software names are trade names and/or trade marks of
                        their respective manufacturers.
             All specifications are subject to change without notice.

     For more information please contact:
    -----------------------------------
                        ISD Marketing, Inc.,
          2651 John Street, Unit #3, Markham, Ontario, L3R 2W5,
            Canada   Tel: (416) 479-1880 Fax: (416) 479-1882





 -------------------------------------------------------------------------



> BBS Lists STReport InfoFile   -> Send in that information.
  ===========================

                                                      HELP!
                                                      ----

     I am compiling a list of Pc Pursuit accessible Atari ST BBSs, and
     would greatly appreciate any listings you can add to it. I would like
     the information to be in the following form, or at least to contain
     the same information:

     PCP NODE  PH#         BBS  NAME              BAUD  SOFTWARE  Note
     --------  ---         ---------              ----  --------  ----
     PAPHI    335-4805    STAR STATION            2400  MICH 3.0   !
     CAOAK    526-6471    ST SYNCHRONICITY        2400  BB/ST      !


     Notes might include "$" for a pay BBS, or "Priv" for a private BBS or
     one no longer accepting new callers.  The note "!" in the above
     examples indicates that you may leave me E-Mail at either of these
     BBSs.

     The SysOp of ST Synchronicity has set up a special user ID,
     pre-validated, for calls on this subject. Logon as "BBSLIST" and enter
     password "more" and you will have instant, but limited, access to the
     BBS that will allow you to leave me E-Mail or upload a list to the
     file area.

     You may also leave me mail on CIS, My PPN:  72337,146
     Or at the ST Report BBS, ph#  904-786-4176 (Not Pc Pursuit accessible.)

     Please, I want only ATARI ST BBS's.  Even though your favorite BBS may
     have the best ST section in the world, we are only looking for ST BBS's
     at this time.  Perhaps in the future I will work on other BBS's.

     The final list that is compiled will be published in ST Report and will
     be available for uploading/downloading from many BBS's.  I will keep
     everyone advised as to the status of the project via updates in ST
      Report.

     One last  point that I cannot stress enough. PLEASE LEAVE ONLY
     LISTINGS THAT YOU HAVE PERSONALLY CHECKED, and KNOW are GOOD!!!!!!

                             Thanks in advance for your input!

                                             Neil Bradley




  -----------------------------------------------------------------------



> A "QUOTABLE QUOTE"   -> Precious Jewels of Thought...
  ==================



           "THE COURT JESTER AND MR. BOJANGLES HAVE BUT ONE ASPIRATION..

           ...TO FASCINATE THE COURT AND BE IMPULSIVELY FORGOTTEN!"


                                                      - M. Foobar Esq.



                                  ATARI IS BACK!

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ST-REPORT Issue #91     "Your Independent News Source"     June 09, 1989
                       ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  copyright 1989
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Views, Opinions and Articles Presented  herein are not necessarily those
 of ST Report or CPU Report.  Reprint permission is granted, unless noted
 otherwise.   All reprints must include  ST Report or CPU Report  and the
 author's name.  All information presented herein is believed correct, ST
 Report or  CPU Report, it's editors  and staff are  not  responsible for
 any  use  or  misuse  of  information  contained  in  this  publication.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
