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PsL Monthly 1994 July
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PSL Monthly Shareware CD-ROM (Public Software Library) (July 1994).iso
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1994-06-14
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PsL News & CD-ROM Access
July 1994
PsL News Contents:
=====New CD-ROM Access Software Debuts!
=====Section of the Month: Games
=====Letters: Doesn't Like Demos
=======================================
=====New CD-ROM Access Software Debuts!
We were contemplating converting our text-file based access software to a
database format, but a 50% surge in new/updated programs this month (over
1200) was too much for our old software to handle and forced us to make the
change immediately.
The result is PSL_SHRD for DOS and PSL_SHRW for Windows.
Because of the power and flexibility of Windows and Visual Basic, we were able
to create a more powerful and flexible access program in limited time in
Windows than we could in DOS.
On the other hand, some people may prefer the DOS program specifically because
of its simplicity.
Both programs let you view descriptions of the Section of the Month (Games, in
July) in addition to the new and updated programs for the month. The old
program did not provide access to the Section of the Month.
Time did not permit us to enter the data for the programs on other CDs, but in
the future, the entire library will be accessible in one database, doing away
with the need for our old text-based Reviews files.
-----Categories Overhauled
Our software category structure has been greatly expanded. A lot of new
categories have been added and a subcategory structure added.
The category structure is now made up of four levels: Operating System
(presently DOS, WIN, OS/2), Section (e.g.: Business, Home, Games),
Category (e.g.: Arcade Games, Strategy Games, Card Games), and Subcategory
(e.g.: Poker, Gin, Solitaire).
Instead of browsing through a file of "DOS - SYSTEM UTILITIES - VIDEO" looking
for screen blankers, you can add SCREEN BLANKERS to the search criteria as a
subcategory and view only the screen blanker programs. This makes finding the
programs you want faster and easier.
The new database approach is much more flexible than the old text-file
approach. We can easily add new categories and change or delete old ones.
Author information, such as ASP membership status, will be more accurate
because instead of entering such information for each program, there is just
one author entry and each of the author's programs is referenced to the same
author entry.
-----PsL Shareware Database Program For Windows
The Windows program has an extensive set of features:
1. Author Database -
An author database is integrated into the Windows program. The database lets
you search for authors by individual's name, company name, or zip code.
The author database also will show the full address, voice phone, FAX,
Compuserve and email (eg: Internet) numbers/address, ASP membership, and
whether the author is still actively supporting his/her programs.
In addition to viewing author records one at a time, you can bring up a list
of authors sorted by name, by company name, or by zip. Double-clicking on a
name in the list brings up the author's complete entry.
You can view all the programs for a particular author. When you are browsing
through programs, you can optionally have the author information displayed at
the same time.
Because of time restraints, the July CD only has the authors for the programs
on this CD and the GAMES authors mostly show the authors' names only. We do
not have the phone and email numbers for anyone yet. Over time, as much data
as we have will be added to the database. We expect to have over 10,000 names
in the database in the near future.
We think that when the database is brought more fully up to date, it will be a
tool of significant importance. Aside from the obvious value of being able to
instantly search for programs and authors, there will be many other uses for
it. For example, a shareware author can check the database to see if a name he
wants to give his company or his software is already being used.
2. Program Database -
The program database can be searched by program name, file name, author, PsL
CD-ROM date, category-subcategory, and PsL disk number. Information stored for
each program also includes ZIP file size, number of files in the set, version
number, registration fee, a description of up to 1000 characters, the PATH on
the CD for the file, and for the benefit of sysops and vendors, whether
permission from the author is required for redistribution and whether ASP BBS
and vendors are given advance permission.
If you copy the PSL_SHRW.EXE program and the data files to your hard disk, not
only will the program run faster, you can add and delete entries and create
your own database!
-----PsL Shareware Database Program for DOS
PSL_SHRD is a DOS-based program which is much simpler than the Windows-based
version. On one screen, you select the operating system, section, category,
and subcategory.
Then the second screen pops up which shows the program information and the
name of the author. The author address and phone number information is not
displayed
=====Section of the Month: Games
This month's CD-ROM features the Games sections of DOS and Windows, in
addition to over 1,200 new or updated programs received in the last month.
We last featured Games on the January CD, so lets look at some of the best
new games that have come along in the last six months. Virtually all of
these games require VGA and a 386+ and are more entertaining if you have a
sound card.
-----Games for DOS
DOOM, by id Software, was probably the most eagerly anticipated and most
popular game of the year. It has the most incredible 3-D arcade action of
any game on the market. The program is so big that it takes two 1.44MB
MegaDisk Sets to hold all the compressed files. It requires 4MB of RAM.
Bio Menace, from Apogee Software, is an arcade adventure game in which you
must enter buildings in Metro City, where mutant insects have taken over,
search for survivors, and destroy monsters while you collect power crystals
along the way.
Blake Stone, also from Apogee, is an action packed arcade adventure game,
as is Apogee's Duke Nukem II (#20408), the exciting sequel to the popular
original Duke Nukem.
Zone66, from Epic MegaGames, is a 32-bit arcade game which lets you pilot a
fighter jet in the future, wiping out enemy bases and engaging in
dogfights. It has impressive scrolling graphics and sounds.
Epic Pinball, by Tim Sweeney, is an arcade style pinball game with
outstanding 256-color graphics, realistic pinball action, music, and
life-like sound effects. Silverball (#20504), by MicroLeague Interactive
Software, is a similar, and equally high-quality VGA pinball game.
MVP Bridge, from MVP Software, is easily the best bridge game for the PC
available in shareware.
3 Point Basketball is another fun program from MVP Software in which you
participate in a three-point shooting contest just like the pro's.
Arcy shows that MVP Software can do top-notch adventure arcade games too.
In Arcy, you must elude spiders, snakes and other creatures and collect all
the keys to unlock doors which take you to higher levels.
Xargon 1: Beyond Reality, from Epic MegaGames, is an arcade adventure game
that takes place in the jungles of futuristic Madagascar.
Floatris, by Loyd Towe, proves that it is still possible to come up with
new and interesting variations of the Tetris-type game that keeps people
glued to their computer screens long past bedtime. Squarez Delux (#12911),
by Software Creations, takes another entertaining approach to the same type
of game, mixing bombs, missiles, hazardous chemicals, and other surprises
in with the falling blocks.
Stellar Defense, by Bill Dickson, is a modern (colorful, great animation,
digitized sounds) version of the old classic arcade game, Asteroids.
Aquanoid, by Stefan Heineke, is another modern and very enjoyable version
of the old Breakout type game, one of the earliest video arcade games made.
Argo Checkers, by Software Creations, plays a mean game of checkers
embellished with animated graphics and digital sound effects.
Machine Nation, by Digibyte, is a challenging arcade game in which you must
guide your space craft past fireballs, electronic fields and other hazards
while fighting off enemy ships. The graphics are outstanding.
Pinochle Bunch, by Sean Smith, is a Pinochle players dream come true. The
variations in this set include single- and double-deck partnership, 3-hand,
and 2-hand. There are 12 different computer players to choose from and
user-selectable rules.
-----Games For Windows
Because of relatively slow video in Windows, few arcade games have been
done for Win31. One good effort is MicroMan: Crazy Computers, an adventure
arcade game in which you run and jump to explore a dangerous world inside a
computer, destroying strange creatures and solving puzzles.
K-Chess For Windows plays an excellent game of chess and has some very nice
features. A version for DOS is also on the CD.
Scat is an interesting and addictive card game. The objective is to obtain
a final hand that is all of the same suit and whose value is not the lowest
among the four players.
Canasta, by Mark-Jan Harte, brings to the computer a card game that
flourished a generation or two back, but is still just as entertaining.
Jigsaw 2 For Windows (#20449), by Walter A. Kuhn, is one of the best
on-screen jigsaw puzzles we've seen. The shape of the pieces and the
approach to putting the puzzle together is about as close as you can get to
a real jigsaw puzzle.
-----That's Not All...
Many other high quality, entertaining games have come out in the last six
months which we did not have room to mention above, to say nothing of the
nearly 2000 games from past years which are still just as much fun as they
have ever been.
=====Letters
---Doesn't Like Demos
Robert Regan, Palo Alto, CA:
I have been a satisfied customer for several years and have been especially
pleased by your new CD-ROM. Because of the enormous volume, I have become
distressed by the number of demos on the CD. If a program is described as a
demo in PsL News, I will not even bother looking at it. However, there are
a lot of demo programs for Windows that are not listed as such and cleaning
their files off my hard disk is a pain, even with an uninstall program. You
are usually very good about indicating which programs are demos, crippled,
or severe nags and I do appreciate it.
PsL:
Prior to the CD-ROM, our policy was not to distribute demos or severely
crippled programs. With room to burn on the CD, we figured no harm was done
as long as we identified the programs as such. If someone is looking for a
particular type of program and all that is available is a demo, they will
appreciate having it available. We apologize if some demo programs have not
been properly identified and will redouble our efforts to make sure that
they do not go unmentioned.