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Dream Forge Demo 1995 February
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1995-02-01
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Software Review:
Opus 'N Bill On The Road Again
by Dave Bealer
--------------------------------
Screen savers are big business -- Berkeley Systems made a
fortune off their industry standard After Dark package. Another
Berkeley is now getting into the act. Berkeley Breathed is the
cartoonist who made his name in the 1980s with "Bloom County."
The second screen saver featuring Bill the Cat and Opus the Penguin,
the twice unsuccessful Meadow Party presidential ticket and stars
of "Bloom County," is now on the shelves of your favorite software
retailer.
Opus 'N Bill On The Road Again is published by Delrina. It uses
Delrina's Intermission display engine for Windows. Systems equipped
with a sound card can produce the sound effects that are available
with most modules. Intermission also displays After Dark modules for
those who cannot do without their Flying Toasters. A few O&B modules
display over whatever Windows had on the screen when Intermission
activates. My favorite in that category is Bill and Opus (in tutus)
skating around the screen.
Most of the O&B modules are full screen, replacing whatever was
there before. A few of the funnier ones are:
"Uneasy Riders" - you are in a blue Mercedes tooling down
the highway behind the motorcycle-mounted title characters, Bill
(complete with skull and crossbones helmet) and Opus, who are
occasionally accompanied by an insect. Opus and the insect take turns
falling off and usually end up on your windshield. When that's not
happening Bill is hawking up hairballs, which always splatter on your
windshield too. This module sets the tone for the classiness of this
product.
"Butthead Bill" - this ode to flying toasters features flying
hearts (of the valentine variety). "Buttheaded Bill" and Opus, in the
guise of cupid, share the screen with the hearts. Opus shoots down a
heart with his bow from time to time. Opus, who has no visible quiver,
always has another arrow available immediately. AD&D players may
recognize this syndrome.
"Tax This" - shows a jeans-clad Opus walking around on a sheet
of uncut dollar bills. The wacky penguin draws some graffiti on one
of the bills, moons the viewers, the scampers away as an IRS patrol
car shows up. The car disgorges two suit-clad, mop wielding Feds, who
clean up the mess.
"Pistachios" - our heroes sit watching the tube, Opus munching
on pistachios. He gives Bill a suspect pistachio to try - Bill's
out- landish reaction confirms the penguin's suspicion.
"Dancing Opus" - Opus does his best Fred Astaire impression in
an attempt to cheer up a dejected Bill.
"Bugs" - insects have infested your screen. Our heroes deal
with the problem in their own ways. Opus uses a swatter, while Bill
prefers to swallow the pests.
"Information Highway" - A dazed Bill attempts to cross a multi-lane
highway without being struck by any of the computer equipment crusing
along at different speeds. The whole thing is reminiscent of the
ancient video game Frogger. Whenever Bill gets run over, an ambulance
notebook scoops him up and rushes him off the screen.
"Opus In Space" - really a primitive version of the video game
Defender. You control Opus's ship as he tries to destroy the
invaders. I'm as lousy at this game as I was at Defender. I'd love
to blame my problems on the Pentium processor (not inaccuracies,
just the speed) in my system, but the truth is I'm just a klutz.
"Opus Of The Jungle" - finds Opus residing in a thatched hut on a
tree limb far above the jungle floor. He periodically comes out and,
provided he remembered to wear his loin cloth, starts zooming around
on vines until he smashes into something. Sometimes Opus has company
- a really stacked human female (obviously a flightless seabird
fancier).
"Hairball" - Bill coughs up a hairball (trust me, it's not nearly
as disgusting as the real thing) Opus tries to clean it up, but it
gets loose and starts chasing Opus around the screen.
The really funny part is how much time I spent sitting in front
of my computer cataloging these silly saver modules. At least I had
the excuse of having to write a review. I've seen whole groups of
people sitting around offices watching the antics of a new screen
saver. I can't wait to read the results of the first serious study
(government funded, no doubt) of how much office productivity is lost
while people watch their new "Star Wars: Jedi X-Wing Toasters Strike
Back" screen saver.
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