GIF News Issue 21

July / August 1992

GN9207.TXT

GIF News

July/August 1992

Issue #21

(C)1992 Hsiao & Hunter, Inc.

Release date: July 3, 1992


------------------- From the Desk of the Editor -------------------------


Hi, this is Eric Hsiao, the creator of GIF News. Thanks for taking the

downloading GIF News. In this issue I bring back information and news

from the latest and greatest shown at PC Expo #10 in NYC. This includes

the Gravis Ultrasound, the Sound Blaster 16, US Robotics new line of

modems, and more. If you find the information in this issue of GIF News

useful and helpful, please consider a small donation of around $5 to

help cover long distance telephone charges incurred from the distribution

of GIF News.


So, sit back and enjoy the issue. Please feel free to send me any

comments and questions you may have (i.e. that green on white font is

too difficult to read, what software do you use to create GIF News,

do you have any more information on the Gravis Ultrasound, etc.).


Our next issue will be September/October. Look for it around Sept 1st.


Thanks,

Eric Hsiao


Files in this archive:

GN9207-1.GIF --- Page 1 (EGA 640x350 16 color page)

GN9207-2.GIF --- Page 2 (EGA 640x350 16 color page)

GN9207-3.GIF --- Page 3 (EGA 640x350 16 color page)

GN9207-4.GIF --- Page 4 (SVGA 640x480 256 color page)

GN9207.TXT --- This file (From the Desk of the Editor)

GIFNEWS.ADS --- How to advertise in GIF News

BACKISSU.TXT --- Description of all back issues of GIF News

------------------

7 Files Total


Again, GIF News can be freely copied and shared just as long as no

modifications what-so-ever are made to this archive. This includes the

addition or deletion of files to and from this archive.


If you enjoy reading GIF News, please consider a small donation of

$5 (US) to cover my expenses of uploading GIF News to long distance

Bulletin Boards across the country. Also, please upload GIF News to a

couple of your favorite boards. Any bit of distribution helps. By the

way, a PostScript Laser Printer would really be appreciated here. It

would enable us to send hardcopies of GIF News to those who want it

on paper. If you know of any office/computer supply auctions, please

let me know.


Free advertising continues...read GIFNEWS.ADS for more details.


Special note to Internet readers: If you would like to be a

GIF News subscriber, just send me E-mail and I will add you to the

mailing list. GIF News will be uuencoded and sent to you via E-mail.

Many uudecoders exist for both unix and ms-dos platforms. If you are

unable to handle the .ZIP format on your machine, let me know and I

will send you the file in an LHARC, ARJ, ZOO, or ARC format.

Also, if you're anonymously FTP'ing, and come across some files you

think might be GIF News. You can easily tell which issue is up by

looking at the filename. For example, the filename is:


gn92-07.zip <-- The gn stands for GIF News, the 92 re-

presents the year, and the 07 is the

month (July in this case).


So be sure to look for gn92-09.zip in the beginning of September.

Several FTP sites you might want to look for GIF News are:


media-lab.mit.edu /pub/

wuarchive.wustl.edu /graphics/gif-news

netserv1.its.rpi.edu /pub-write/gif-news


For the easiest way to contact me, please check out the following:

Note: Besides US Postal Mail, I check my Internet E-Mail most often.


How to reach me:


US Mailing Address #1

Eric Hsiao

7 Fair Way

Poughkeepsie, New York 12603-5014

USA


US Mailing Address #2

Eric Hsiao

406-A BARH Mailroom, RPI

Troy, New York 12180-3590

USA

Note: Both addresses will reach me, but address #1 will reach me quicker

during the summer months of May to August. After the end of August,

#2 will reach me quicker.


E-mail

Internet:

hsiaoe@rpi.edu

Bitnet:

userha6g@rpitsmts.bitnet

Compuserve:

ADDRESS:>INTERNET:hsiaoe@rpi.edu

MCI Mail:

TO: Eric Hsiao (EMS)

EMS: Internet

MBX: hsiaoe@rpi.edu

MBX: [press ENTER key]

Prodigy:

XPJD96B


The following bulletin boards are GIF News distribution sites, which means

you can call them up and get the latest issue (or older issues)


Bulletin Boards:

MMT-80 (914) 297-2915 USR Dual/Standard

PC Pitstop (914) 298-1914 USR 16.8KHST v.42bis (First time access

to GIF News files)

Channel 1 (617) 354-8873 (See BBS Ad - GN9207-3.GIF)

AmeriCall (212) 876-5885 Dual Standard

Patchbay (818) 441-3965 Dual Standard

IDS DataForum (401) 884-7564 HST

Software Creations (508) 368-4137 Dual Standard

Radio Daze (219) 256-2255

Executive Network (914) 667-4567

Strat's Asylum (407) 269-2495

Remember, just do a search for GN*.* for GIF News files. On Compuserve,

go to the GAME forum and go to the online magazines file section and

search for keyword GIF NEWS.


Sysops: If you want your BBS on this list, please let me know. I will

only upload to boards with a Dual Standard or HST (at least until my

v.32bis Dual Standard comes in).


Some information that didn't make it into the graphics pages:


* Battlechess 2000 is coming out, and will feature futuristic battles

complete with lasers and other space periphernalia. 25 Megs of

uncompressed data will make this a true multimedia experience.


* LucasGames' answer to Wing Commander will be X-Wing, based on the

Star Wars movies. Release date will be sometime Fall '92.


* A special welcome to Game Bytes, a new magazine dedicated to the

review and coverage of PC computer games. Welcome to the world of

online publishing. It is available on FTP sites and bulletin boards.

Look for the filename GAMBYT*.ZIP


* AdLib was to be bought out by Creative Labs, but the Canadian government

said no, because Creative Labs planned to move the operation out of

Canada. Right now, a German firm is looking into AdLib and they plan

on keeping AdLib in Canada.


* Besides Gravis, another company called Advanced Strategies Corp is

releasing a Wave Table-based sound card called the Audio/Media Master.

It's hard to say whether Wave Table will take off in the near future,

but Gravis' aggressive pricing makes the Ultrasound a very attractive

board.


If you are interested in hiring a full time graphics artist or computer

systems engineer, please contact me. I have experience with creating

computer graphics and video as well as skills in Windows, Lotus 123, Word

for Windows, Modems & Communications, Unix, Pascal, C, and PC Hardware &

Peripheral Installation. I'm also interested in working in the field of

multimedia.


Contact me and I will send you a resume.


--------------------- Thank-you for downloading and reading GIF News,

Eric Hsiao

Editor-in-Chief

July 3, 1992

BACKISSU.TXT

BACKISSU.TXT

------------

** Descriptions of every single issue of GIF News that has come out **


If you want any of these issues, just send a Self-Addressed-Stamped-

Envelope and a blank floppy (5.25 or 3.5) and I'll copy them over for you.

Each issue is around 100K zipped. You must include the FLOPPY AND S.A.S.E

or else you won't receive anything back. ------------------

Or send a check/money order (see GN9205.TXT for the address)


Cost per each 360K disk (5.25) = $ .75

Cost per each 720K disk (3.5) = $1.25

Add $.75 for shipping - average size of an issue is around

80,000-100,000 bytes.

Or call any of the bulletin boards listed in the GN9207.TXT file.

Issue # Date Description

------- ---- -----------

01 Nov/Dec 1988 Reviews of Leisure Suit Larry II, Fire Power,

GN88-11 and Sentinel Worlds, a short autobiography of

Hsiao & Hunter, Inc.


02 Feb/Mar 1989 Virus protection safeguards, review of Police

GN89-02 Quest II, "Are MS-DOS Games Getting Better"

editorial, game hints to Leisure Suit Larry 2.


03 May/June 1989 Industry news, Space Quest ]I[ review, 1st

GN89-05 annual Sight & Sound Awards, "Taito Games Are

Terrible" editorial.


04 July/Aug 1989 Nintendo Game Hints (Super Mario Bros 2, Rad

GN89-07 Racer, Karnov), Reviews of 4 different driving

simulation games (Vette, Test Drive 2, Lombard

Rally, F40 Pursuit Simulator), Review of the

game Caveman Ugh-Lympics, a short overview of

Lotus 123 Release 3.


05 Nov/Dec 1989 Review of Maxis' Sim City, the new Tears For

GN89-11 Fears CD "Seeds of Love", and a review of

Sierra's Manhunter II.


06 Jan/Feb 1990 A Look back at the eighties, review of Sierra's

GN90-01 the Colonel's Bequest, and a overview of music

cards (AdLib, GameBlaster, SoundBlaster, &

Roland), the best VGA games.


07 Mar/Apr 1990 "Do Sound Cards Really Sound that Good?"

GN90-03 editorial, a profile of the Channel 1(tm) BBS

in Cambridge, MA, review of Access' Crimewave

and Bitmap Bros' Xenon II, look at digitizing

sounds.

08 May/June 1990 Detailed look at the VGA and VESA video

GN90-05 standard, the Ultima VI built-in cheat, the

World of Amiga show in New York City.


09 July/Aug 1990 Request for BBS distribution sites, Computer

GN90-07 Industry News, a look at the Sound Blaster card,

a review of Spectrum Holobytes' Faces game.

10 Sept/Oct 1990 Review of the games Atomix & Puzznik, a look at

GN90-09 Battlechess II and future game releases, v.42

& v.42bis - what their advantages are.


11 Nov/Dec 1990 Look at the TrakBlaster program, new Flight

GN90-11 Simulator scenery disks, Reviews of games

Spellcasting 101 and Jones in the Fast Lane,

the Amiga Video Toaster by NewTek, Being a

Game Designer for Electronic Arts.


12 Jan/Feb 1991 V.32bis standard, XGA, LaserDiscs, the

GN91-01 controversial Lotus-Equifax CD-ROM CD, "Boo to

Disney Software" editorial, FD-Format, review of

the game Hard Nova.


13 Mar/Apr 1991 Look at Workstations, BBS's pay business rates

GN91-03 on their phone lines, JMPlayer review, Amiga 24

bit graphics, the first VGA page ever.


14 May/June 1991 The Prodigy STAGE.DAT controversy, review of

GN91-05 TrakBlaster v2.0, MediaVision's Pro-Audio

Spectrum, Amiga News, Review of Lemmings.


15 July/Aug 1991 The PC Expo in NYC, look at Creative Labs'

GN91-07 Voice Edit program, hints to the adventure game

Time Quest, a review of the game Armor Alley,

Internet News, and the first-ever GIF News

contest.


16 Sept/Oct 1991 Sound Blaster Pro Vs. AdLib Gold, "High Prices

GN91-09 for Game Software" Editorial, Internet News,

Contest Winners Announced.

17 Nov/Dec 1991 Closer look at AdLib Gold, Windows 3.1 news,

GN91-11 Wing Commander II Built-in cheat, Police

Quest III, WordTris, Internet sites, new

releases for various computers.


18 Jan/Feb 1992 AdLib Gold Delayed, Brief Windows 3.0 program

GN92-01 review, Oh No More Lemmings!, 1992 planned

releases, best graphical adventure game company,

first SVGA page, Internet Archie Server.


19 Mar/Apr 1992 Reviews of two VGA shareware games: Scorched

GN92-03 Earth and Galactix, short look at two multi-

media groups, the new US Robotics 16.8K Modem,

SupraCorp's v32bis modem, industry news,

coming Apogee releases, $49 CD full of share-

ware and public domain software.


20 May/June 1992 IBM/compatible sound cards reviews. Pro Audio

GN92-05 Spectrum 16, AdLib Gold 1000, Sound Blaster Pro

comparison chart.


21 July/Aug 1992 PC Expo #10 - news straight from the show!

GN92-07 Reviews of Dagger of Amon Ra & Classic Tetris

Soundcard news on Gravis Ultrasound and

telecommunication news on V.fast standard

and US Robotics new line of modems.


GIFNEWS.ADS

* FREE ADVERTISING * FREE ADVERTISING * FREE ADVERTISING * FREE ADVERTISING *


Policy updated for May 1992, subject to change.


Advertising in SIMPLE and EASY in GIF News, and very very affordable.

Basically a small ad, roughly under 1/5 the size of a full page, will be

free of charge. Often times these are ads for Bulletin Board Systems.

GIF News is read by thousands of readers throughout the world. Besides

the standard way of distribution through Bulletin Board Systems, GIF News

travels by means of the worldwide Network of Internet which reaches many

countries such as Japan, Australia, Norway, Finland, Canada, USA, France,

Great Britain, Singapore, New Zealand, Mexico, and more. GIF News can also

be found on the Compuserve Game Forum in the Magazines download section.


Here are some guidelines to follow for advertising in GIF News:

1. If short and small, the ad is free of charge. I may add

some simple graphics to make the ad a little more interesting.

2. If advertising a BBS:

a. Send me a normal-access user acount pre-registered. In

other words, add an Eric Hsiao to your user roster and

pick a password and send it to me (along with your ad).

b. Sysops must let me know before each and every issue comes

out that they want their ad in it. This will help me keep

track of which boards are still up and which ones have gone

down. This will save our readers from the trouble of dialing

long distance to a board and getting a "Sorry, the number you

have dialed has been disconnected..." I am unable to accept

requests that say "Please put my BBS ad for the next 10

issues." If you want your BBS ad in the next 10 issues, you

much notify me before the deadline of each of the 10 issues

that you want the ad in it.

3. If contributing money for an ad:

a. A full page with customized drawn graphics by me will general-

ly run around $75 - add $25 for each additional issue that you

want the ad in.

b. Pre-supplied/drawn graphics full page size will generally

be around $50 - add $25 for each additional issue that you

want the ad in.

c. Half a page of custom graphics will run around $30 - add $10

for each additional issue that you want the ad in.

d. Pre-supplied/drawn graphics half size will be around $15 -

add $10 for each additional issue that you want the ad in.

e. Please keep in mind that these are only general numbers, I am

very flexible and will negotiate. Also, unlike the FREE BBS

ad policy, you can request that your ad be in for a certain

number of issues (ex. "Please put my full page ad in the

January issue for a contribution of $50, plus I would like

to see it in the March/April and May/June issues for an

additional contribution of $50 (2 x $25). See above for

contribution guidelines.

f. Contributions not need be in the form of monetary units

(money). Instead, products of interest to me such as a

PostScript Laser Printer, v32Bis Modem, etc. would really

be appreciated.

4. Any legitimate commercial/business/organization/group/individual

can advertise in GIF News. GIF News retains the right to refuse

any advertisement due to content, space considerations, or

other reasons. We try to screen all advertisers for legitimacy.

Complaints against advertisers should be directed toward the

advertiser or the Better Business Bureau, not GIF News.

5. The final deadline for the next issue is 10 days before the issue

is to come out. In other words, for the Sept/October 1992 issue,

I must have the ad in my hands by August 21, 1992.


* FREE ADVERTISING * FREE ADVERTISING * FREE ADVERTISING * FREE ADVERTISING *