F R E E P L A Y ! Multiplayer Internet Gaming Newsletter Issue # 8 - Oct 21, 1996 Home Page - http://freeplay.home.ml.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Murphy's Law of Lag: You will always freeze as soon as you need to avoid something. Murphy's Second Law of Lag: No matter how lagged you are, you can always be lagged more. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor - Mark Shnayer(freeplay@snet.net) Associate Editor - Scott Grattan(scotti@wic.net) Sections ----------- Editorial - The computer magazines discover Online Gaming Rambling on - By Scott Grattan Gaming News - None this issue :( Hotlinks - Bookmark these now! Updates - Game patches, updated beta tests,etc... Previews - The Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Review Utilities - To make multiplayer gaming a heck of lot easier PBEM Games - Play By Email Games Online Games - Multiplayer Internet Games you can play NOW Humor - Something to make you laugh while you are gaming Details - How to subscribe, back issues, legal junk ****************************************************************************************************** Editorial ----------- Yup, the newsletter IS getting a heck of a lot longer :) Rather than just put together a bunch of links and ship them out, I hope you like the new format. And we will still have lots of game links every issue. I said in the last issue Quake wasn't going to be a regular feature of this newsletter. Well... I lied! I can't help myself. Here we go :) Total Entertainment Network and Mplayer are fragging each other over offering Quake on their online services. These two companies haven't gone at each others throats like in the Netscape Vs. Microsoft browser wars. But, mark my words, give it time. As I said in the last issue, there are always alternatives to 'Pay for Play' for just about any game that can be play on the internet. What is screwy about these two online game services fighting over Quake is that it is probably EASIER to just use Qspy, Quake Explorer or other software to find servers to play Quake, or just hop over to Stomped at http://www.stomped.com. What do 'PC Gamer', 'Computing Gaming World', 'Computer Life', and 'PC World' all have in common? 1) They are all computer magazines. 2) They all have WWW sites on the internet 3) In their current issue they all report on Multiplayer internet gaming The magazines have discovered that you can actually PLAY Multiplayer games over the internet! Welcome aboard guys! So what do they cover? They all report on Total Entertainment Network, MPG-Net, Engage, America Online(because of their foray into Multiplayer gaming by buying Imagination Network), Mplayer(won't be free forever,remember, its in beta test right now), Dwango, VR-1. Sure, there are advantages to using the online game services. They are'hand-holders'. On Mplayer for example: You download the software and when you install it, all the detail work is done for you. The shareware versions of Terminal Velocity and Warcraft I are included and setup, the necessary components to play Command & Conquer and MechWarrior 2 are also setup. Once you have located willing partners, it's a matter of clicking an icon to load a game and start playing. The game services are hoping you are willing to PAY for this hand-holding. I am not sure I would be willing to take that bet. I will discuss my reasons for that view in another issue. Of the four magazines, which one reported on FREE ways to play games over the internet? Interestingly enough, it was PC World, a magazine that is NOT a gaming specific magazine. And, I quote from http://www.pcmag.com/features/games/1518/_open.htm "Representatives of the online gaming services downplay the threat of free Internet gaming, arguing that few users will accept the slower, less reliable game performance over "generic" TCP/IP links. They may be right. But they may also underestimate the power of the word free." - Michael E. Ryan, PC World I couldn't agree more. And to end this editorial, that is what the FreePlay newsletter is all about. Every other week we will point you to various ways to play multiplayer games over the Internet for free. ************************************************************************ Rambling On - By Scott Grattan ----------------- Well, it's Friday night, and after the introduction I got in the last newsletter, I guess I'd better get to writing something, huh? Suffice it to say that I've been spending a lot of time trying to come up with a topic, but after consulting with the editor, we agreed that maybe a "rambling" approach might be a good start for me, since I've never actually written anything that was intended to be distributed and viewed by so many, and hopefully liked! OK, enough banter, here's what this week's wanderings turned up. SubSpace (http://www.vie.com/subspace) is improving with every upgrade. Current version is v1.16, but there's rumored to be another version coming real soon. For those of you who haven't tried it, it's worth the effort. It's an excellent primer for gaming with other people on the 'net, and it's completely free (so far). In SubSpace, you choose from four different ships, each with their own characteristics. As you enter the game, you (should) find several people on your frequency, whom you can talk to exclusively by sending a team only message. Veterans start forming their own frequencies, and start recruiting other players in an attempt to dominate the arena. Most of the games have a type of "capture-the-flag" theme, but there is a zone where it's just a free-for-all. Kill or be killed. Magic: The Gathering is still trying to make it's way into our computers. I can remember trying to play M:tG over IRC, but it was amazing how many people managed to play Black Lotuses one their first play. Hopefully the online version will have a way to moderate the acquisition of cards so that there's a little bit of fair play involved, or else it will quickly flop. This title has been long promised and eagerly awaited, and I really don't know what to expect from it when it finally arrives. I've long since sold most my cards, since the "magic" was gone out of the game for me, and most people in my area, quite a while ago. There's a little bit of a write-up (and excuses why they've delayed it so much) at http://www.holobyte.com/magic/game.html For the game player who loves sports games, EA Sports is someone you'll want to keep watching. Check out their home page at http://www.easports.com index.html. Be sure to check out the Multiplayer Matchup Registration to get $10.00 off any of their titles that have modem/network support. More on this in next weeks edition. Here's just the place for all you trivia buffs to test all that useless knowledge you've been storing all these years. The difference being NOW it could actually pay off. If you're tired of waiting for your approval as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, then check out http://www.riddler.com. I used to have this site bookmarked several months ago, but had forgotten it was there. It has developed substantially, and claims to have awarded over $75,000 in prizes to the participants. After filling out a lengthy registration form, which they state will not be made available for anyone's use but their own, you'll be allowed to enter the games. Riddler features: KING OF THE HILL - Java Multi-Player Trivia CHECKERED FLAG - Java Multi-Player Crossword GRIDLOCK - Java Single-Player Crossword MENTAL FLOSS - Single-Player Trivia THE DAILY RIDDLE - A New Riddle Every Day BLOODHOUND - Sniff Out Your CAPS and !AHA! - an ActiveX game that requires Internet Explorer, so I couldn't check that one out. Upon registering, you are "sponsored" by one of the many sponsors of this site, and given riddlets, the virtual currency you'll need to enter the games and buy clues to the answers. Once you have accumulated the required number of a sponsor's CAPS, you can redeem them for the specified prize, provided there are still prizes of that type available. I was given R5000 when I registered. I'm not sure why, but I'll let you know how my winning streak goes. If you make it there, watch for my name! I'm scottig there, but you'll have to look near the bottom of the lists to find me, for now. Well, that's all I've got time for this week. It's near my deadline, so I hope I get this to my editor in time. I got Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries this week, and had every intention of writing a great review of it and how great MercNet is for internet play, but couldn't get it to work. From what I understand, only three people HAVE got it to work, and two of them work at Activision. You'll hear more about this in the near future too. Good Gaming! ****************************************************************************************************** Hot Links - Bookmark these now! ------------ Internet PC Games Chart: Download Top 40 http://www.tiac.net/users/top100/dlg.html ------------------------------------------------------ This week the votes from 2165 people have been used to compile this chart. This list contains the best download PC games in the world. The list includes demo versions, shareware versions and freeware games. Vote for a game in this chart if you think other people should download it too. Battle.Net http://www.battle.net --------------------------- Setup by Blizzard Entertainment for supporting Diablo (currently in online beta test), and StarCraft. This site has areas for technical support, user forums (a sort of WWW based message group) , FAQS, Strategy tips, and a suggestion area. By the way, some nasty nogoodnik is sending out forged email to beta testers that Blizzard Entertainment canceled the beta test of battle.net and Diablo. Of course, it is not true. Starbelly's Java Gameroom http://www.starbelly.com/gameroom/multiplayer.htm --------------------------------- Welcome to the future of internet gaming. Everything you need in a gaming site is waiting for you at STARBELLY. All of the latest internet games--only the fastest java games, that is--are located in the arcade. We hate to be bored by slow and dull games, so our multi and single player games have been rated, reviewed, and tested. These Featured Games have been selected for your gaming pleasure. Starbelly is the place to find the highest quality Java in this rapidly growing forum! Laszlo's Diablo Page http://home.netinc.ca/~amolnar/Diablo/diablo.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------- Features hack utilities, downloads, strategies, full stats of the weapons and characters of the game Diablo. Great resource for the Diablo addicted among us :) Check out this new hack made by Aries. It lets you go beyond level 1 of the dungeon and lets you use the sorcerer. ****************************************************************************************************** Updates ----------- Iron Wolves http://www.on-line.co.uk/iw.html ----------------------------------------- We now have player Destroyers implemented and a whole list of refinement, so if you haven't been by for a few weeks you should grab a copy of 1.07 either off the web page www.on-line.co.uk/iw or from ftp.on-line.co.uk . Destroyers really kick, but you need to sink one to get one! We will be shortly introducing a new product called 'Talking Heads' a graphic chat for Online users. 'Talking heads' is a room based graphic chat with a sense of humor and customizable personas. We hope you will keep an eye out for it and try it out in its early stages. Happily Iron Wolves is still Free and will continue to be so for a while yet. We are finalizing plans for Light and Heavy Cruisers then Battleships and finally Aircraft Carriers. By popular demand we will be adding heavy subs, with aft firing Torps and we are looking to you to help us get the balance right between playability and realism. Mplayer - http://www.mplayer.com --------------------------------------------- 10/21/96: Mplayer Gears Up for Prime Time It has to happen...we're officially launching Mplayer and will start billing NEW accounts next week...but not yours! To thank you and all of our Beta testers for your invaluable feedback, Mplayer will remain FREE FOR YOU through December 31, 1996. Here's what'll happen on October 28, 1996: We'll ask you to update your contact information and input a valid credit card number. We will not bill you at that time. When you first log on in 1997, we'll ask you to select a monthly billing plan. In the meantime, keep having a blast on Mplayer for FREE! 10/7/96: QUAKE ROCKS ON MPLAYER NOW! A few clicks below rage deathmatches so fast...so bloody...so grisly, you'll jump away from your monitor. The blood-splattered frenzy of Quake rages on Mplayer now. Sprint through the 'Dimension of the Doomed' with two to six twisted souls. Grab the Supernailgun, the rocket launcher, and all your favorite levitating toys...introduce 'em to your friends. Play Quake on Mplayer now. Then try finding deathmatches that rage like these. We dare you. Mplayer's the only way to play Quake. (FreePlay: Yea, right, see above, duh...) What're you waiting for? Scared of a little blood ****************************************************************************************************** Previews - The Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time-Review ------------ GameWorld! Live Role-Playing and Strategy Games http://www.gameworld.com/index.htm -------------------------------------------------- GameWorld is a club where friends gather to enjoy the finest multiplayer role-playing and strategic games in the world. GameWorld offers immediate play without downloading or installing software. Quest for Glory http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/qg5/ ------------------------------------------------------ (Coming Summer '97) Quest for Glory is a real-time role playing adventure game with plenty of action-packed situations and combat. You'll battle mythological monsters like Gargoyles and Hydras. You can compete directly against other players who also seek to wear the Laurel Crown of rulership. Whether you swing your sword or cast your magical spell, you can defeat your foes and compete with your friends, to prove to all what it means to be a hero. Exciting New Gaming Features: * A three dimensional world with scrolling scenes and changing perspectives. * Three dimensional characters rendered in 'real-time' like nothing you've ever seen before! * Self-tuning difficulty and hint levels make Quest For Glory a challenge to whoever plays! * Multiplayer game support You asked for it... and we're delivering. * Multiple character playability... play the hero as either a muscle bound dude or a totally hot babe! * Light-hearted humor and intense game play makes this game worth checking out again and again! Outlaws http://www.lucasarts.com/static/outlaws/outlawsframeset.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outlaws is one of the first LucasArts games to feature multiplayer support, a feature for which gamers clamored following the release of Dark Forces. The multiplayer mode allows each player to choose from any of the 12 outlaws in the game, each with his or her own unique fighting characteristics. In all, Outlaws has three complete game variations to give players rich replay value -- a cinematic adventure game, a bounty-hunter action game and a thrilling, multiplayer game -- all from a first person perspective Combines first-person Gun Slinging Action and Wild West Adventure in one game Single or multiplayer gameplay over modem or network Lots of replayability with locations and outlaws randomly chosen and placed Highly stylized characters with distinct personalities and weapons Face-off against 20 different outlaws and their gangs Original soundtrack and custom-designed sound effects ****************************************************************************************************** Play By Email Games ---------------------------- Singularity http://www.pbm.com/singularity/ ------------------------------------------ Singularity is a computer-moderated, Play-By-Electronic-Mail (PBEM) game of galactic conflict. Players compete to be the first culture to achieve the "Singularity" -- a state of technological nirvana and transcendent power over the physical universe. Singularity is currently free and open to all players. To get started quickly, read the rules and then send mail to the Singularity Server. CBZACH's Middle-Earth Play-By-Mail Info Page http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3615/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Middle-Earth Play-By-Mail Info Site.These pages are for the players of Middle-Earth Play-By-Mail. To find out what is Middle-Earth Play-By-Mail and how to join in, go to G.S.I.'s web sight. Most of the information on these pages is from the E-zine >From The Mouth of Sauron located at ftp://ftp.chara.gsu.edu/mouth/ Strategy Construction Set http://www.nads.com/shareware/scs/ ----------------------------------------------- Strategy Construction Set was originally designed as a computer Human vs. Human Axis and Allies program. It was later changed to allow various settings to be changed so that different Axis and Allies modules could be created and so that completely different games could be created. The software comes with a complete Axis and Allies module, and a sample space strategy module (Final Frontier). SCS is totally FREE and supports PBEM multi-player games (Play By E-Mail). Watch for future releases of SCS v2.0! The complete and total Strategy Construction Set. Requirements: Windows 95, Pentium Recommended The Zone: VGA Planets http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~cvenour/planets/ ------------------------------------------------------- VGA Planets is a graphical multi-player play by mail strategy game, which simulates conflict in space between galactic empires. The game emphasizes mining, colonization and the construction of starships. The players compete against each other on a galactic scale. The game can be played on one computer alone, but it was really designed to be a BBS or net game. The game can be played on any BBS that supports file transfers, with or without the sysop's help. Many people are playing VGA Planets over the Net using Email and UUENCODE. The game can be compared to an 11 player chess game in which all players move all their pieces simultaneously, one turn at a time VGA Planets FAQ - http://www.netlink.co.nz/~dgedye/vga-planets.html ****************************************************************************************************** Utilities ---------- StarGate Networks Home http://www.teleport.com/~nbright/home.html ---------------------------------------------------------- As of 10/6/96, the latest beta of Kahn includes: DOS Chat!, Updated Win95 Chat. Several Performance enhancements. Kahn for Microsoft DOS* and Microsoft Windows 95* turns your TCP/IP connection to the internet into a virtual IPX protocol network. Games that are built to allow network play will function across the Internet as well! Kahn Features: Fastest Shareware Internet Connection. Kahn gives you the fastest shareware gaming experience on the Internet today An Unrestricted DOS Shareware License! Try it as long as you like before you register. Compatible with IPX based network games. See our compatibility database for a list of tested software!. Designed with frame optimization that reduces network bandwidth by up to 40%! More efficient network traffic means smoother network game play. The Official Qspy Home Page http://www.panix.com/~sheaslip/qspy/ ------------------------------------------------- You want to play some Quake on the 'net. But by the time you're done checking the server listings, manually pinging IP addresses, and playing lag roulette, your monitor is covered with little yellow stickies scrawled with IP addresses. There's got to be a better way. Of course there is... there's Quake Spy: The easy way to find Quake Games on the Internet! Quake Spy... Is a Windows 95 program that can get a list of active Quake servers from any list (Stomped, etc.), plus Quake Spy is able to parse any finger or web page for IP addresses. Just fill in the address and roll your own list!(FreePlay: I dumped Quake Explorer after I tried this one!, Qspy works great!) ****************************************************************************************************** Online Games ------------------- Classic Card Games(beta test) http://www.ariesgames.com/openbeta/classiccard/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ Challenge your family and friends to lively games of Hearts, Spades, Whist or Contract Bridge. In Classic Card Games from Masque Publishing, you can enjoy the social and entertaining aspects of playing your favorite classic games with family and friends from all over the world. Real-time, online multiplayer versions of classic card games Includes the most popular card games: Bridge, Spades, Hearts and Whist Online chat available at the table and in the Classic Card Games lobby Automatic record-keeping for game wins and losses Requirements: Windows 3.1 or higher, 10 MB available hard drive space, Minimum 4 MB RAM, 386/33 MHz, 14,400 baud modem Deep Space Muse http://dsmuse.binghamton.edu/ ---------------------------------------- What is Deep Space MUSE? DSMUSE is a roleplaying environment based on the Star Trek universe, particularly The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. Players can choose which empire they want to be a part of, with the following options: The United Federation of Planets, The Ferengi Alliance, The Romulan Empire, The Klingon Empire (tlhIngan wo'), The Dominion To get to DSMUSE, you must telnet to port 1701 of dsmuse.binghamton.edu We encourage users to use a MUD client such as TinyFugue (UNIX) or ZMud (Windows) instead of the telnet link, however. Those two clients provide much better functionality. To get a character, simply logon to DSMUSE as an Alien and read "help @register". The @register command on DSMUSE allows you to choose a character name, then emails you the password. Primula Mud Telnet://primula.dfwmm.net 2000 ------------------------------------------ Primula Mud is a project in bringing both the realism of a roleplaying atmosphere and the hack n' slash environment of a MUD together to form an exciting journey into the medieval/fantasy world of Primula. Primula was inspired by both conventional role playing games like AD&D, Rifts, and various MUDs of alternating styles Solar Vengeance (JAVA) http://www2.tcc.net/solven.htm ---------------------------------------- Solar Vengeance is better than ever ... because its now a realtime strategy game! Your StarSystems continually produce Resources, your fleets move and attack, all in realtime! A first of its kind Java RealTime game engine makes it all possible. Computer Opponents are now available. See the Game Options page. You can use Computer Opponents in solo or multi-player games. The Home Lobotomy Kit http://www.lobotomy.com ---------------------------------- Animal, vegetable, or mineral? Well, none of the above, really. www.lobotomy.com is the home of The Home Lobotomy Kit, a multi-player, real-time quiz show, with neat characters and a story line which is updated daily. It's fast, sharp, current and, while it might insult the players, it won't insult their intelligence. It's only the first of many multi-player Internet games we have in mind. (FreePlay: You must have the Shockwave Plugin for Netscape to play) Z-Net http://www.bitmap-brothers.co.uk/zanni.html#znet ----------------------------------------------------------------- Z-NET is an add-on disk for existing owners of Z. This CD will enable players to take part in a multi-player game with just one copy of the original game. It works for Network, Direct and Modem games. How does it work? The original game is installed on each computer wishing to participate in a multi-player game. Each computer needs an original CD or a NET-CD in the CD-ROM drive whilst playing the game. Z is started in the normal way on each computer. You select the MultiPlayer option from the main menu and then follow the instructions in the manual supplied with the game. You cannot play any of the single player levels with the NET-CD alone, you must use the original disk. One copy of Z-NET CD is available free of charge to all owners of Z. You should contact the Customer Services Department of the publisher of the game in your country enclosing your warranty card. Zombie Games - Locus http://www.zombie.com/dome/games/locus/zombie_locus.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Virtual Reality Sports Game: Experience true VR gaming with Locus. Stunning 3D graphics immerse you in a play-fast/play-hard game of elimination. Network up to nine players (three teams of three) for fast and furious game play. You should know this game was engineered for play inside of a Head Mounted Display. Play Locus and you are playing in VR. Locus is about speed. It's about action, and the DOS demo is available now! locusdem.zip (3.1 Megs) is a dos demo of our action/sport title Locus. The Mac version is here too! The demos are binhexed, self-extracting archives. There are two versions, a single file and a four part (floppy sized) file. REQUIREMENTS: (For Mac and PC) Power Macintosh with System 7.5 or higher, 8MB of RAM or more. 12 MB available hard disk space, Double speed CD-ROM drive or faster. Supports mouse and joystick. 13" color monitor. QuickTime(R) 2.1 and Sound Manager(TM) 3.1 (included). Windows 95/DOS, Double speed CD-ROM drive or faster. 486DX2/66 minimum required. 12 MB of available hard disk space. 8 MB of RAM or more. Supports mouse and joystick. Supports Sound Blaster(TM) and 100% compatible sound cards. VESA-compliant graphics card with 512 K video memory. Tracer http://www.7thlevel.com/games/TRACER/tracer.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------- Now available for Windows '95, Tracer is the captivating cyberspace strategy game on CD-ROM published by 7th Level. Developed by Future Endeavors, this real-time 3D game features more than 50 levels of intensifying gameplay. Experience single player action and up to eight-player network mayhem. Requirements: Windows 95, Pentium 75+, 256-color SVGA, 8MB RAM (16MB recommended), 2MB Hard Drive Space (30MB recommended), DirectX 2.0(download demo size is 7.72 meg) G-Nome http://www.7thlevel.com/gnome/index.htm ------------------------------------------------------ The G-Nome adventure takes place on the planet Ruhelen of the Omicron Reticuli star system in the year 2225 A.D. Retired Union Sergeant Joshua Gant must assemble a team of experts and penetrate the heavily defended Scorp Republic to destroy a secret bioweapon laboratory suspected of creating the ultimate genetic soldier: the G-Nome. Death Match for up to Eight Players. Requirements: Windows 95, DirectX 2.0, Pentium 90MHz or greater, 16 MB RAM,(G-Nome is a mech type game). M.A.X. http://www.interplay.com/games/max.html ftp://ftp.ogr.com/pub/ogr/demos/maxdemo1.zip (10.4 meg download) ------------------------------------------------------- M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & Exploration is the only concurrent turn-based strategy wargame that combines fully-customizable vehicles with "top-down" SVGA graphics, diverse campaigns and multi-player action. In M.A.X. the fast play of a real-time game is blended with the depth and variety of a turn-based game through the use of a customizable "turn timer" and "concurrent play" to provide a truly addictive and engrossing experience. Requirements: PC with 486-66 CPU or faster, 8mb of RAM (Pentium 90 recommended) double-speed CD-ROM drive, 16-bit Sound Blaster compatible sound card, SVGA video card required, mouse required FX Fighter Turbo http://www.im.gte.com/FXF/fxhturb.html ---------------------------------------------------- Get ready as Rygil returns for more action in the new and enhanced FX Fighter Turbo! If you thought you were the best fighter in the universe . . . think again. Things just got tougher! With modem-to-modem and network play modes, players are coming from all over the universe to compete for the championship title. (downloadable 10.2 meg demo) REQUIREMENTS: Windows '95, Pentium 60, 8MB RAM, Hard Drive, 10MB free, Sound Blaster or 100% compatible sound card, Local Bus VESA compliant SVGA (256 colors) Links LS http://www.accesssoftware.com/golf/engines/linksls.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- After winning nearly every award for a sports simulation possible with LINKS 386, ACCESS Software had to dig deep and stretch the limits of technology to bring you the next generation of LINKS--LINKS LS. So what is new about LINKS LS? Every stroke, every blade of grass, every contour, every chirp...Everything is NEW! With Network Play you can have up to eight players in a single game (two workstations, four players per station). There is no restriction for network protocols. As long as both workstations are mapped to one concurrent drive, you're dancing . You can play head to head with a real human opponent even if they are across the ocean. With modem play you can dial a remote computer anywhere the phone lines will reach and play a game of golf--rain or shine. Madden '97 Football http://www.easports.com/madden/index.html ---------------------------------------------------------- The newest version of the Madden Football series. Great game play and graphics, and it features: Modem and Network Play, Over 500 Madden designed offensive and defensive plays , Over 100 teams -- featuring 68 All-Time and Super Bowl teams, and 30 Current teams, Trade and create players -- Custom teams and leagues, Statistics tracked in over 50 categories ****************************************************************************************************** Humor --------- Quote of the month: Gerard R Thomas (grt@wow.net): "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. The Web and your hard disk are one. The OS and Browser are one. You will love the cute animations. You will use MSIE. ****************************************************************** Details,details,details... --------------------------- All product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Mention of a product in this publication does not necessarily imply endorsement of the product. How to write to FreePlay: Send your suggestions, comments, contributions to freeplay@hotmail.com How to get back issues: Back issues can be found at http://freeplay.home.ml.org or http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/4874 If possible get them there to preserve the sanity of the editor. You may request them thru email to freeplay@hotmail.com only if you do not have www access of any kind. One issue per email request please. This document is copyright 1996 by Mark Shnayer. Re-distribution of it by any means is both permitted and encouraged provided that such action is for strictly non-commercial purposes, the content remains whole, unedited and otherwise unmodified and this statement remains intact. Though not strictly required, you are asked to inform the author of any such distribution. Please send requests for permission to publish this commercially to freeplay@hotmail.com How to subscribe: Send email to Majordomo@marit.cypronet.com with SUBSCRIBE freeplay in the BODY. To remove yourself from the FreePlay mailing list, send a Send email to Majordomo@marit.cypronet.com with UNSUBSCRIBE freeplay in the BODY.