May 2000 Volume 81 Number 5 "serving the protectors"
By Mike Horsfall

Codename Eagle

Intriguing from the outset, Codename Eagle is a first-person war-strategy game with very smooth computer-generated animation of the storyline. It not only looks nice, but also provides vital information.

The player takes on the role of a secret agent called Red who, in the early 1900s, works for a covert British intelligence military called Shadow Command. But a time warp has occurred and a parallel world is created. At the same time, the Tsar, or most powerful man in Russia, has died. His son, Pietre, inherits the whole Russian Empire and declares war on the rest of the world. You are one of the good guys who work for the allies, or at least the countries that are still free. As a hero, your job is to retrieve documents, prevent rocket launches and save the day.

Codename Eagle is a quality product that features excellent gameplay. The ability to drive, fly, control and manipulate a huge range of objects makes the game enticingly involving and much smarter than its predecessors. Aside from actually doing smart things, players will also need to talk to people and not just shoot them - isn’t that a change. These in-game dialogues are a great part of Codename Eagle and should be incorporated into more games.

The game engine used in Codename Eagle is very similar to that of Quake 2, and the gameplay is very similar to Hidden and Dangerous, but this seems to be more of an advantage as the game is much more refined. The variety and complexity of features will ensure most gamers are happy with their purchase of Codename Eagle.

Grand Theft Auto 2

The controversial Grand Theft Auto 2 (GTA2) has already caused a stir among those who see the game as an inspiration to would-be car thieves.

There will always be conflicting views on the content of computer games, but this one borders on being inappropriate for children, and possibly not worth the bother for adults.

The sequel is similar to the first: the objective is to car-jack other people’s vehicles, cause death and destruction and attempt to outrun the police.

What I can’t understand is why the player earns money for doing all that is wrong. GTA2 would be just as fulfilling if the player was rewarded for doing the right thing and sent to jail for breaking the law. That would seem like common sense, but perhaps it lies in one’s own moral fibre.

Some might suggest that the game is restricted to the over-18s, and if parents decide to purchase it for their children then they must ensure their kids understand it is only a game.

GTA2 requires a multimedia Pentium 200 with 32MB of RAM and Windows 95 or greater. It’s quite graphically hungry (like most new games) due mainly to the image quality and range of activity that occurs.

Those who consider purchasing Grand Theft Auto 2 should check the game out before handing it over to their kids.

Microsoft Hardware

With most homes now owning a PC, it’s probably more important than ever to have the most common component look good as well as be functional. While it’s said that appearances aren’t everything, it certainly doesn’t hurt to look one’s best. And, apart from the other features, the Microsoft Internet Keyboard does look great.

The keyboard includes 10 Internet and e-mail hot keys providing instant access to your e-mail and Internet programs, and a number of navigation commands. In addition, there are also buttons for My Computer, Calculator and Sleep (which quickly puts your PC in standby mode).

Another new addition to the range of Microsoft hardware is the IntelliMouse Optical, a five-button optical mouse that also features the fantastic scroll wheel. For the uninitiated, this tiny wheel lies between the left and right button and performs a multitude of actions, including scrolling up and down pages and zooming in or out of web pages, documents or just about anything. Once you use the scroll wheel you’ll never want to go back to that old-fashioned two-button mouse.

This new mouse from Microsoft uses digital optical tracking and therefore has no track ball. The digital sensor - which captures 1,500 images of the work surface every second - is claimed to be more accurate and durable than previous mouse designs. Easily recognizable by its glowing red underbelly, the IntelliMouse Optical is also designed to satisfy the needs of the world’s lefties by being symmetrical in its design and slightly smaller than standard.

The Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical is smooth, stylish and functional, and at a RRP of $79.95 it’s also affordable. Team it up with the Internet Keyboard at $59.95 and your PC will really start to look stylish.

Visit http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware for more information and system requirements.

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