SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS SOFTWARE CREATIONS BBS JUNE 1993 (508) 365-2359 (8,1, N) Welcome to SHAREWARE REVIEWS, a new, innovative, electronic newsletter that will review the best of the latest uploaded shareware in all areas. Our objective is to help you select the software that will best fulfill your needs from among the many hundreds which are published each month. We are truly in the midst of a creative explosion by many fine shareware authors but the quantity is overwhelming. How can you select the very best from among a bewildering variety of publications? Let SHAREWARE REVIEWS help you by selecting from among the finest new releases and then provide you with brief, yet information packed, reviews to help you decide what is worth your downloading dollars and valuable time. We have vast experience to bring to bear upon this endeavor having had years of professional experience in academia, advanced scientific and humanities research, technical and journal publication, public school education, and entrepreneurial private business. Furthermore, we are consultants in applied statistics and shareware authors ourselves. What is shareware? Shareware is computer software created by small companies, often a single person operation, that is marketed on a 'try before you buy' basis. An informed decison by any consumer should be based upon maximum knowledge. As a sales approach, which is remarkable for its generosity to potential customers, shareware authors create and distribute their work in a format which has at least partial, and often complete functionality. Distribution is via mail order companies which specialize in selling shareware on disk and Bulletin Board Systems, such as SOFTWARE CREATIONS, whose sysops are committed to the promotion of shareware. By not investing in expensive brochures or the usual sort of advertising, shareware authors are determined to hold down costs, and thereby the retail prices, of their products. Successful shareware benefits everyone because the retail price is as low as possible which places the least stress on a user's wallet. Hopefully, a large selling volume will increase the income for the author/publisher. Shareware authors are unusually generous and trusting. If their product is fully functional in the shareware version, which is often the case, users must feel honor bound to purchase it after the fact. Purchase is termed registration and is by mail order via forms provided within the shareware package. We urge you to register any and all shareware you try out, like and decide to use. If the shareware does not fulfill your needs, pass it on to someone who might be interested, thereby giving the it more exposure. Unlike browsing in a book store where there is no possibility of keeping the book without payment (short of theft), all of us could 'steal' our favorite shareware if so inclined. If we are not honorable, this generous marketing approach is in danger of disappearing. Furthermore, many shareware authors are highly creative and innovative while exploring areas still untouched by major corporations. Often their products are as full featured and 'deep' as any offered in the mainstream, highly advertised, marketplace and may, in fact, incorporate an approach that cannot be found anywhere else. SHAREWARE REVIEWS (versions 2 & 3) will be available only through SOFTWARE CREATIONS which is an extraordinary Bulletin Board System. The founder and sysop is Dan Linton who is perhaps the most aggressive promoter of shareware in the country. He is also a very successful software author and publisher in his own right. SOFTWARE CREATIONS is huge, yet user friendly, as I'm certain you've already discovered if you downloaded SHAREWARE REVIEWS. Personally, I have never seen a board whose menus and screens are this attractive! As of this date, Dan has over 8GB of files in well organized directories, 95 phone lines and provides many other interesting and valuable services. Everything reviewed in SHAREWARE REVIEWS may be found at SOFTWARE CREATIONS which you can consider your one stop shareware warehouse. I urge you to subscribe; Dan's system is well worth the $45/year which is perhaps the lowest subscription fee for any board of this size in the U.S.: SOFTWARE CREATIONS, 26 Harris St., Clinton MA 01510. Phone lines are BBS (2400) 508 365-2359, BBS (9600) 508 368-7036 and voice 508 368-8654. SHAREWARE REVIEWS is published monthly by SOFTWARE CREATIONS and is provided in three versions. In each, the reviews will be in 'plain vanilla' ASCII format so that any DOS based, generic file viewer can be used to view and print them. An electronic newsletter of brief one paragraph reviews, of which you now have a copy, will be distributed around the first of each month. At SOFTWARE CREATIONS, it is available to all callers, even new users, as freeware. A second version which contains in-depth longer reviews of each program with many more specifics and installation hints will be distributed by first class USPS on disk and will be available only by subscription at $30/year (12 issues). For $96/year, you can receive the long format reviews along with each shareware program in an archived (usually ZIP) format. That comes to 12 monthly issues with a yearly total of approximately 180 programs at cost of only $0.53 or less per program. Unless you live within SOFTWARE CREATIONS area code, your phone bill to download this many programs would exceed the subscription price. Single back issues of each month's shareware files are available at $12/monthly set of disks. These prices includes all costs: disks, shipping and handling. We hope to set an industry standard for shareware reviews. Glitzy no; valuable reviews, yes. If you find only one program each year that dramatically increases either your business productivity, education, or enjoyment of life, the subscription cost will be well worth it. Each newsletter will contain 15 reviews in both the short and long versions. You can SUBSCRIBE ON LINE AT SOFTWARE CREATIONS with your credit card. At the Main Menu, type 'DOOR' and the Door Menu will give you access to an on-line subscription script (item 5) with the various options described above. If you wish, you may subscribe by mail using the form provided below. We welcome feedback, comments and suggestions for new shareware to review. You may write to me, Ben Blumenberg, the author of SHAREWARE REVIEWS at REALITY SOFTWARE, PO Box 105, Waldoboro, ME 04572 or leave e-mail at SOFTWARE CREATIONS. My other e-mail addresses are: America On Line benb12; Compuserve 71044,1645; and on the Internet at benb12@aol.com or 71044.1645@compuserve.com (notice comma must be replaced by a period). Reality Software is also a creator and publisher of shareware and our products can be found at SOFTWARE CREATIONS. We specialize in historical timelines and history of religion and mythology. Our studies are scholarly and for serious, thinking adults. They are not high school level programs nor are they filled with New Age nonsense. We will mail a catalog on disk of our software for a $1.50 fee to cover costs and shipping. Please note that requests for this catalog must go directly to Reality Software, PO Box 105, Waldoboro, ME 04572, NOT Software Creations. We hope you enjoy SHAREWARE REVIEWS and find it a valuable tool for selecting the very best of the newest shareware available. Ben and Leslie Blumenberg SOFTWARE CREATIONS is a division of Linton Enterprises, Inc. .__________________________________________________________________________ MAIL IN SUBSCRIPTION FORM for SHAREWARE REVIEWS DATE ______ NAME _____________________________ COMPANY ______________________________ ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________ TOWN OR CITY ______________________________ STATE __________ ZIP ________ Subscriptions to SR Long Reviews only ($30/yr) _____ Total _______________ Subscriptions to SR Long Reviews plus shareware ($96/yr)_____ Total_______ BACK ISSUES of monthly collections of shareware at $12/each: (All disks will be high density 5 1/4".) Indicate month/yr ________________________________ No. ______ Total ______ Method of Payment (circle): Check Money Order Credit Card (Visa, Master Card) Credit Card # __________________________________ Exp. Date ________________ Signature on Card ___________________________________________________ If we distribute our mailing list to other vendors, would you prefer your name be deleted? Y ___ N ___ MAIL TO: SHAREWARE REVIEWS SOFTWARE CREATIONS 26 Harris St. Clinton, MA 01510 Be certain to notify SOFTWARE CREATIONS if you move and your mailing address changes. SHAREWARE REVIEWS: SOFTWARE CREATIONS #1BASH.ZIP 944K JUNE 1993 MONSTER BASH (DOS) Vol.1, No.5 DIR1: APOGEE Latest file 4/10/93 bash1.txt Brave young Johnny Dash is sent on a mission to the Underworld to rescue kidnapped cats and dogs who will be turned into an army of monsters designed to invade the Day World. Armed with a powerful slingshot, he must kill monsters, collect hearts and chocolate kisses to acquire points or refuel, and achieve ultimate success by freeing all pets. Keyboard or joystick will give you fine control over Johnny's movements as he maneuvers through the erie cemetery landscape of episode 1 of MONSTER BASH. There are three levels of play; best to read the instructions and start with Easy. The design of MONSTER BASH is terrific and is filled with quality animation, a very attractive setting, old fashioned good humor, neat sounds and all round integrity of purpose and mood. Registration brings two additional scenarios for Johnny to explore. MONSTER BASH is $35 from Apogee Software, PO Box 496389, Garland, TX 75049. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS CATABS13.ZIP 837K JUNE 1993 CATACOMB ABYSS (DOS) Vol.1, No.5 DIR 5: GAMER'S EDGE Latest file 11/20/92 catabs1.txt CATACOMB ABYSS is a marvelous and exciting fantasy adventure in which you take the role of a wizard who must battle the forces of the Underworld led by Nemesis. CATACOMB ABYSS is a piece of virtual reality in that you move through the landscape at ground level with the keyboard or mouse. There is terrific variety in the scenarios where much more is at stake than defending against monster attacks to defeat Nemesis. Sacred power objects must be collected both for their informational value and as energy reserves which are essential to effect recovery from wounds inflicted in battle. This shareware version has one scenario (Towne Cemetery) partially enabled but with enough capability to intrigue and captivate you, I'm sure. There is a brief help text/manual; read it before starting play. Register CATACOMB ABYSS for $14.95 or add two additional episodes of the the CATACOMB's series (Armegedon, Apocalypse) for $29.95. Orders may be placed with Gamer's Edge, Softdisk Publishing, PO Box 30008, Shrevesport, LA 71130, 800 831-2694. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS ATLAS93E.ZIP 169K JUNE 1993 EDUCATLAS (DOS) Vol.1, No.5 Latest file 12/28/92 edatlas1.txt EDUCATLAS is an educational program whose implications for enlarging global awareness are important. EDUCATLAS introduces ecological, political and cultural geography at the high school level. Maps can be displayed for important statistics which address population growth and the quality of life, nutrition, GNP, language, religion and politics. Customized maps may be easily produced, a powerful feature of EDUCATLAS which is certain to promote serious, interactive learning and a creative exploration of cartography. There is a brief manual and while you might question some of the descriptive phrasing by its French author, EDUCATLAS will stimulate valuable discussion at home or in the classroom. Registration is $20 from Francois Jarraud, 3 Place Kennedy, 92130 Issy-Les-M., France and adds Africa to complete the world map. Remittance must be via American Express Traveler's Check or International Money Order. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS FC108.ZIP 54K JUNE 1993 FINCALC (DOS) Vol.1, No.5 Latest file 10/12/92 fincalc1.txt FINCALC is a memory resident (TSR) financial calculator with three modules that are run from the keyboard. There is a simple Arithmetic Calculator, a Present Value/Future Value Calculator and a Loan Calculator. Unknowns are chosen from a list on the main screen which calls up a window within which you can input values for each variable necessary to the computation; just press F2. Appropriate choices are presented for calendar parameters. FINCALC is loaded into memory and then activated with Alt-F. This extremely useful business utility is a shareware bargain for only $6 from Insight Software Solutions, PO Box 354, Bountiful, Utah 84011. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS FNTPRN.ZIP 42K JUNE 1993 FNTPRN (WINDOWS) Vol.1, No.5 Latest file 4/13/93 fntprn1.txt FNTPRN is a marvelous, easy-to-use Windows word processing utility that will create a catalog of all Windows fonts installed on your system. The main screen presents a series of options with which to organize your catalog. The default settings for FNTPRN are: an alphabetical Sort Order, two spacing types, printer fonts as opposed to screen fonts, all styles and families of fonts, bold-italic synthesis and display any make of font. However, you may customize the catalog display as long as one item in each catagory of font characteristics is chosen. There are four choices of printout with which to display your fonts. FNTPRN will automatically launch Windows Write so that you can view and print the catalog (which is .wri format): what an invaluable aid for document design. FNTPRN is freeware from John Deurbrouck for whom no address is available. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS GEOCLK50.ZIP 328K JUNE 1993 GEOCLOCK (DOS) Vol.1, No.5 Latest file 3/25/93 geoclk1.txt GEOCLOCK is a very attractive and informative program that displays a world map with the current position of the sun and indicates those parts of the planet which are in sunlight and darkness (16 color EGA/VGA/SVGA). Local time, sunrise and sunset are also displayed. The maps show land masses in green against bright blue oceans with important cities indicated. A distance measure function is particularly useful. Extensive customization of GEOCLOCK is possible through editing of its global .dat file; a mini ASCII text editor is provided. The help file is noteworthy for its thoroughness. Registration expands the map set from 4 to 35 and also brings additional commands and a script capability. GEOCLOCK is only $35 from Joe Ahlgren, GeoClock, 2218 N. Tuckahoe St., Arlington, VA 22205. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS HEXX12.ZIP 593K JUNE 1993 HEXXAGON (D0S) Vol.1, No.5 DIR 3: SOFTWARE CREATIONS Latest file 4/23/93 hex1.txt HEXXAGON is a strategy board game with a marvelous sense of excitement. Conquer the board by occupying the most territory (individual hexagons) on the playing field. Your opponent is another human or Craniac, the brilliant, malevolent droid of HEXXAGON. When the game begins, your playing pieces are red jewels, those of your enemy, chrome drops. Click on your piece and adjacent hexagons are outlined to indicate all possible moves. Adjacent moves increase your pieces by replication, jumps do not. A move which brings a piece next to that of the opponent results in a marvelously animated battle in which the adjacent pieces are zapped and transformed into those of the attacker. There are three levels of play and an opportunity to customize the playing board. HEXXAGON has few rules but considerable subtlety which will provide many hours of great fun. Registration for HEXXAGON is $20 from Software Creations, 26 Harris St., Clinton, MA 01510 and brings an all new HEXXAGON II. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS JETPK11.ZIP 306K JUNE 1993 JETPACK (DOS) Vol.1, No.5 DIR: 3: SOFTWARE CREATIONS Latest file 4/3/93 jetpk1.txt JETPACK transports you into the role of an adventurer who explores a complex labyrinth for treasure, all the while pursued by various robotic monsters, some of which seem demonically intelligent. Challenges also include moving walls, platforms and ladders. With enough energy in your JETPACK, tunneling through brick and flying are quite possible. Stunners, Shields and fuel will appear unexpectedly to provide additional opportunities. JETPACK comes with a marvelous editor which enables you to create your own Levels (labyrinths) for adventure. Registration brings 100 predesigned levels and the ability to save and reload endless games. JETPACK is playyed from either the keyboard or with a joystick and is $20 from Software Creations, 26 Harris St., Clinton MA 01510 . SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS MM706.ZIP 206K JUNE 1993 MEALMASTER (DOS) Vol.1, No.5 Latest file 3/20/93 mm1.txt MEAL MASTER is a widely acclaimed program for storing recipe data within a data base whose search and utility functions will greatly assist in the selection of meals and planning food shopping trips as well. The well designed on screen command help gives MEAL MASTER almost no learning curve. Recipes may be searched on several criteria, either alone or in combination, and the results printed, exported or marked to generate alphabetized shopping lists. MEAL MASTER is a nation-wide success and files of recipes may be found on many BBS's; this shareware version comes with 36 interesting recipes. Registration, which brings a comprehensive manual and additional utilities, is $35 from Episoft Systems, Suite #143, 10121 Evergreen Way, Everett WA 98204. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS CALCUL.ZIP 36K JUNE 1993 MOOSIE CALCULATOR (WINWORD) Vol.1, No.5 Latest file 3/12/93 moosie1.txt Word for Windows does not come with a basic calculator which would be a valuable asset. MOOSIE CALCULATOR fills this need admirably. It does arithmetic, percentages, square roots, exponents and can work in dollars and cents. Results can be pasted directly into your document at the cursor position. Open calcul1.dot in WinWord and follow the instructions to install MOOSIE CALCULATOR as an easily run macro. There is a thorough help file. MOOSIE CALCULATOR is freeware from John De Palma who can be reached at Compuserve 76076,571. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS ORPH141A.ZIP 157K JUNE 1993 ORPH141B.ZIP 168K Vol.1, No.5 ORPH141C.ZIP 123K ORPHEUS (DOS) Latest file 2/3/93 orph1.txt ORPHEUS is a comprehensive system for creating hypertext documents: text files within which you may click on key words which activate linkages to other pages of the document. In this way, a user may explore a chosen subject in depth by collecting all blocks of content scattered throughout a long document or navigate the adventure presented by an experimental novel in which alternative scenarios may be freely explored. The manual provided with ORPHEUS is very long, superbly written and very thorough. In a conversational style that incorporates complete technical mastery, it covers all levels of experience from first encounters by novices, who should do the tutorial, to power users who may wish to explore the command language. ORPHEUS documents may contain PCX graphics and the editor will import ASCII text for use on cards, each of which may contain 50 lines of text. An ORPHEUS document may contain up to 32,000 linked cards! ORPHEUS is $49 plus $3 shipping from Hyperion Softword, 535 Duvernay, Sherbrooke QC, Canada J1L 1Y8. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS PT201A.ZIP 315K JUNE 1993 PT201B.ZIP 182K Vol.1, No.5 PERIODIC TABLE (WINDOWS) Latest file 3/1/93 pt1.txt PERIODIC TABLE is a very deep, college level approach to chemistry that make good use of the Windows interface. The three information windows for basic Data, Isotopes, and What/Where/When (historical background) together summarize virtually every basic datum about an element or its isotopes that might be of interest. A tree (flow chart) for the decay of an isotope is easily generated. The depth of information makes PERIODIC TABLE an invaluable resource for teachers ranging from middle school to senior college level. The periodic table itself may be redesigned to emphasize various data and all information windows can be easily printed. There is a quiz module through which you can test your knowledge or get assistance in preparing exams. The exceptional help windows and manual both contain clear, well written discussions of basic chemistry. Basic registration (no disk) is only $15 from SMI Corp., PO Box 582221, Tulsa, OK 74158. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS QNZIP21.ZIP 124K JUNE 1993 QUINZIP (WINDOWS) Vol.1, No.5 Latest file 2/5/93 quinzip1.txt QUINZIP is a gem of a Windows archiving utility, compact in design and quick in performance. QUINZIP works with ZIP archives and supports the latest version 2.04g of PKZIP/PKUNZIP. QUINZIP also supports drag and drop; be certain to establish the file association by running quinzip.reg in either the File Manager or the Registration Editor. Commands are executed from a single main screen which is superbly designed; availalble operations change depending upon whether the process called is ZIP or UNZIP. If you are not at ease with archiving, read the thorough and valuable help file screens. QUINZIP is $35 from Quintessence Corporation, 47A River Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02181. For a short time, registration also brings a new full featured Windows communication program. SHAREWARE REVIEWS: SOFTWARE CREATIONS $SOLAR.ZIP 567K JUNE 1993 SOLAR WINDS (DOS) Vol.1, No.5 DIR 62: EPIC MEGAGAMES Latest file 3/1/93 solar1.txt SOLAR WINDS is an exciting, mentally challenging, space adventure which combines role playing, strategy and arcade gaming. Although a background story is provided, the plot remains to be unravelled as bounty hunter, Jake Stone, journeys through the galaxy meeting aliens and previously unknown humans who wish to hire him. Enemy attack comes without warning and battles are ferocious, but much of the adventure allows for plenty of time to think, play and maneuver. Communication and gathering information are as important as space war. The graphics are gorgeous, the animation very well done and captivating. The complexity in SOLAR WINDS is very deep and will keep you enthralled for many, many hours. Registration brings the complete scenarios for two episodes, hints and bonus games. SOLAR WINDS is $30 from Epic Megagames, 10406 Holbrook Drive, Potomac MD 20934, 800 972-7434. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS #1MAJR14.ZIP 572K JUNE 1993 MAJOR STRYKER (DOS) Vol.1, No.5 DIR 1: APOGEE Latest file 2/20/93 stryker1.txt Earth has survived a terrible WWIII only to be attacked by alien Kretons who have emerged from a nearby wormhole. MAJOR STRYKER is once again called upon to save humanity, and in his special attack ship, he journeys through the worm hole to face the enemy onslaught. MAJOR STRYKER is filled with exciting animation and terrific design! The arcade challenge is awesome, even at the Easy level of play, and will hold your attention (need I say obsession?) for many eons. Read the story and instructions, then buckle up for one wicked, exciting adventure. Bonus options along the way will help but above all, be aggressive; the Kreton onslaught is ferocious! Registration for MAJOR STRYKER brings two additional scenarios and is $30 from Apogee Software, PO Box 496389, Garland, TX 75049 or by phone at 1 800 426-3123. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS TRIVIA SHELL (DOS): JUNE 1993 A GAME FROM SOFTWARE CREATIONS Vol.1, No.5 SEE DIRECTORY 3 ts1.txt TRIVIA SHELLs are fascinating, engaging, interactive games which will challenge your knowledge and intellectual skills in your favorite subject. TRIVIA SHELL is by no means just a game for children, in fact some of the games are designed at a very high level for adults. Interactive learning becomes a lifelong process with TRIVIA SHELL. A number of State TRIVIA SHELLs have been published and before the year is out, a TRIVIA SHELL for each of the 50 states will be available. A number of titles are now available in history and humanities (eg. Civil War, Presidents, Bible, Women of the World), science (eg. Novel Netware, Wildlife) and miscellaneous fun (ex. Kids, (Sports, Television, Music) with more than a dozen under development. TRIVIA SHELLs have three levels of play: Beginner (true-false), default Intermediate (multiple choice) and Advanced (fill-in blank). You can choose the level of play and also toggle such features as Humor (you will get teased!), Sound, Randomize Questions, Allow Hints, Display Answer, Repeat Wrong Answer and Timed Play (default is 30 seconds). The Browse menu accesses a feature unique to TRIVIA SHELL. You can choose groups of questions to examine by keyword and review their answers. You may select any, or all, of the 15 categories within each game as the source from which questions are drawn. You can gamble on your own brain power (Select Points) and utilize Hints with, or without, a penalty for such cowardice. TRIVIA SHELLs are available in four versions: 1) shareware (150 questions); 2) Classic (300 questions - $11.95); 3) Deluxe (600 questions - $16.95); and 4) Gold (1,000 questions - $22.95). TRIVIA SHELLs are both great fun and solid learning tools. Authors are being sought to develop new TRIVIA SHELLs, a process that is very straightforward and requires no programming. Read Bulletin 18 at Software Creations BBS. TRIVIA SHELLs are published by Software Creations (Linton Enterprises) and may be found in Directory 3 of the Software Creations BBS: 508 365-2359 (2400) or 508 368-7036 (9600).