Well it╒s almost been another year... next month Softdisk G-S will begin its fourth year of publication! We╒re going to revisit Legend of the Star Axe with Jay╒s latest program╤Son of Star Axe. It promises to be an incredible shoot-╒em-up game. Look for that and some other anniversary topics next month in Diskovery.
A Printing Quandary
We╒re having a printing problem of sorts this month. As you have probably noticed, we started using the curly quotes a couple of issues ago. They look much better than the straight ones on the screen and print out nicely when using Standard or Best mode in the Print Dialog.
Straight Quotes... " or " or ' and '
Curly Quotes... ╥ and ╙ or ╘ and ╒
The Professor even tackled a question/comment concerning the printing of our instructions in his monthly column. So, here╒s my quandary...
What mode do you use most often when printing╤is it Text Only, Fast, Standard or Best? Let us know by filling in the Report Card this month. It can be found under the article entitled ╥What╒s This?╙ With this information, we hope to better serve your printing needs and wishes. Of course, anyone can do a Find/Replace with WordWorks Pro from issue #27, but we╒d rather please the majority by providing the text in an appropriate format. Also, note that instead of ╥apple-╙ we are now using the apple symbol ╥╙ wherever necessary.
HyperStudio Educational Stacks
While we were at KansasFest, I had the pleasure of viewing some really impressive HyperStudio stacks. One, in particular, grabbed my attention for at least an hour...
Roger Wagner had been cornered in his room by Sheldon Davids, a teacher from Knoxville Middle School. (If any of you know Roger, it╒s not really all that hard to corner him if it involves anything about HyperStudio.) Anyway, Sheldon had brought a set of Special Education HyperStudio stacks that he uses in his school. These stacks were created for special education students that have difficulty following directions or have a limited attention span. I sat and watched Roger ╥play╙ through an adventure where a small boy has to make decisions in a variety of circumstances. The kids must know how to follow instructions properly and, in some cases, decipher graphics. Making the wrong decision sends them back to the beginning of the adventure. Let me tell you, it can be tough for an adult! Roger went back to the beginning enough times that he finally asked for help just so he could see the ending. So, maybe it is a little too hard depending on what grade level you are teaching╤that╒s the beauty of HyperStudio! You don╒t like it? Change it!! I would highly recommend these stacks for any teachers interested in using hypermedia tools in the classroom.
To contact the author:
Sheldon Davids
c/o Knoxville Middle School
306 South Park Lane
Knoxville, IA 50138
To purchase the stacks:
Big Red Computer Club
423 Norfolk Ave.
Norfolk, NE 68701
(402) 379-4680
News Item from England...
A new users╒ group has been formed in England with the aim of linking and helping Apple IIgs users (especially those in the U.K.). Its scope will include both 16- and 8-bit programs. One of the major activities will be to provide bi-monthly ╥members╒ disks╙ containing a wide range of IIgs related materials. The annual subscription is ú10 (U.K. members╒ rate).
For more information, contact:
Richard Dix Peter Stark
23 School Road 41 High Street
Heachum, King╒s Lynn Great Shelford
Norfolk PE31 7DQ, England Cambridge CB2 5EH, England
Voice: 0485-72253 Voice: 0223-843429
Morgan Davis Group unveils new product line...
The Morgan Davis Group has unveiled its latest product line with new and updated Apple II titles: ModemWorks 3.0, ModemWorks Lite 3.0, ModemWorks Technical Reference, ProLine 2.0, ProLine Reference Manual, Object Module Manager 1.3, VirusMD 2.1, and the MD-BASIC 1.5 Interface Update.
╥These products are the result of years of development, and we╒re enormously excited about the power our new software will finally bring to customers,╙ said Morgan Davis, company president. ╥While improving our products to maximize performance and value, our work underscores our dedication to the Apple II series of computers.╙
The new products include:
ñ ModemWorks 3.0. This communications toolbox for programmers now features Object Module Manager compatibility, full support for 40 standard and high-speed modems, emulation for 20 terminals (including ANSI, VT-220 and VT-100), all new XMODEM, YMODEM and ZMODEM protocols. Fully compatible with BASIC programs written for earlier versions of ModemWorks. $89.95 ($30 upgrade).
ñ ModemWorks Lite 3.0. For shareware BBS owners that need ModemWorks, but do not program with it, ModemWorks Lite 3.0 includes only the ModemWorks 3.0 software. $39.95 ($15 upgrade).
ñ ModemWorks Technical Reference. For developers interested in creating modules for use with ModemWorks. $14.95.
ñ Object Module Manager 1.3. This BASIC enhancement allows creation and management of Applesoft extensions. It features efficient memory management, intermodule communication, built-in ampersand command servicing, and related utilities. Includes AmperWorks, an indispensable set of tools for BASIC programming. New 70-page manual. $39.95 ($20 upgrade).
ñ ProLine 2.0. This is the big update ProLine fans have been waiting for. ProLine 2.0 is better, faster, and easier to use. New features: high-speed modem support, X/Y/ZMODEM protocols, improved command line shell, over fifty enhanced online utilities, ANSI, VT-220 and VT-100 terminal emulation. It also sports a new conference system look, generates manuals in high-quality PostScript format, and comes with the new ProLine Reference Manual. (Additionally manuals for co-sysops may be purchased╤ see below). $259.95 ($50 upgrade).
ñ ProLine Reference Manual. A hands-on tutorial for getting the most from ProLine, plus the entire printed version of the online manual in a convenient three-ring binder for easy updating. $19.95.
ñ VirusMD 2.1. Updated to take advantage of Apple IIgs System 6.0s newest features, this fast, reliable virus detection utility disinfects disks plagued by all currently known viruses. $19.95 ($10 upgrade).
ñ MD-BASIC 1.5 Interface Update. For MD-BASIC 1.5 owners, this disk includes a complete set of updated interface files, required in order to take advantage of new features in the OMM, ModemWorks, and ProLine. $5.95.
Priority orders and upgrades for all products are being accepted now.
Contact:
Morgan Davis Group Voice: (619) 670-0563
10079 Nuerto Lane Fax: (619) 670-9643
Rancho San Diego, CA 91977-7132 BBS: (619) 670-5379
America Online: mdavis
GEnie: m.davis42
Internet: mdavis@mdg.cts.com
Come on folks, let╒s support those companies that support us! Be sure and tell ╒em Softdisk G-S sent you.
╒Til next month...
If anyone has anything to comment about, write us! We love to receive feedback from our subscribers. Now, read on for more edifying ramblings from our Apple clowns╤Jay and Bryan.
Jay is soooooooo busy working on Son of Star Axe that he couldn╒t find the time to write a Diskovery piece this month. Look for his insights and witty illuminations next month (we hope). ╤Lee
Well, I╒m not a wimp like Jay, even though Lee is making me work 124 hours a week, I can still find the time to write my portion of Diskovery. :)
Guess what? There╒s a company out there looking for experienced Apple II programmers! Here╒s a copy of their ╥want╤ad╙ from GEnie:
╥Hi, I work for Westwood Studios, a software publisher in Las Vegas, Nevada, and we are in need of some good programmers. We have worked with the videogame industry╒s biggest and best publishers, such as Electronic Arts, Walt Disney Software, NEC Technologies, Tengen, FCI/Pony Canyon, and Sega. We
