January 1999 Volume 80 Number 1 "serving the protectors"
Computers

ITBits
By Mike Horsfall (mich@picknowl.com.au)

OFFICE 2000 - MICROSOFT

With the approach of the new millennium comes the next version of Microsoft® Office. Office 2000 is expected to be released in the second quarter of 1999. It will be designed to interact with the Web even more than the current version. Expect Office 2000 to be available in a number of formats. The Premium version will include:

• FrontPage® 2000 - web-site creation and management tool.
• PhotoDraw™2000 - business graphics software.
• Word 2000 - word processing.
• Excel 2000 - spreadsheets.
• Outlook 2000 - scheduling and e-mail.
• PowerPoint 2000 - for professional presentations.
• Access 2000 - database management.
• Publisher 2000 - publishing newsletters, brochures.
• Office Small Business Tools.

Microsoft has announced that beta 2 (2nd test version of Office 2000) is now available to consumers. Participants will receive the beta version of Office 2000 Premium, and be among the first to experience what is claimed to be a total solution for creating and managing webs for their workgroup or for their individual use.

Interested parties can sign up for the preview on Microsoft’s Web site at http://www.microsoft.com.au/australia/office/cpp/. The cost of the program is $49.95. It is also possible to order the program by telephone. Call 13 20 58 between 9am and 5pm EST Monday to Friday.

WORKS SUITE 99 - MICROSOFT

One of Microsoft’s most commonly used products would have to be Works - a program bundled in with many new PCs. A new release in the range is Microsoft Works Suite 99, and at a RRP of $189 it’s a real winner. The broad range of software in Works Suite 99 is designed to meet the diverse computing needs of families. It includes:

• Works 4.5 - an integrated program for creating spreadsheets, databases, calenders and more.
• Word 97 - a high-quality word-processing program that allows users to create professional-looking letters, school assignments, and other documents. The program features excellent spelling and grammar checkers.
• Encarta World Atlas 99 - the complete source for geographical and cultural information, combining high-quality maps and extensive geographical facts.
• Money 99 - a money management tool for tracking expenses, constructing savings plans and paying bills.
• Graphics Studio Greetings 99 - to provide users with the tools to create a wide range of greetings, both in print and online. The program includes more than 15,000 graphics and 6,000 messages to create Hallmark-quality cards, invitations and multimedia e-mail greetings.
• Internet Explorer 4 - for browsing the Internet and managing e-mail.

Works Suite 99 will meet the needs of families looking for key software applications at a reasonable price and is in stores now.

ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

It doesn’t matter how good your PC or software is if a malicious computer hacker mangers to violate your files and infect them with a virus.

The importance of good anti-virus software can’t be stressed enough, particularly if you access the Internet, receive e-mail, or use disks from outside sources such as the work PC.

If you’re unlucky enough to receive the Groovie Virus, a file will be left on your hard-drive called groovie.sys. In addition, your hard drive will also be renamed “groovie”.

The virus will also turn off macro protection in Word 97, and then install a new macro which causes an Illegal Operation every time Word is closed, or a file is saved, or any other macro run. Even if the groovie.sys file is deleted and the word processing program re-installed the virus will remain.

The best cure, as always, is prevention - purchase one of the better-known anti-virus programs such as McAfees, Norton’s or PC-Cillan. If you’re unsure which one to purchase, obtain trial versions of the programs from disks supplied with many PC magazines or download one from the Web. You can download an evaluation of McAfee VirusScan at http://www.mcafee.com.au/. PC-Cillan can be obtained at http://www.pc-cillin.com/products/beta.htm. Norton AntiVirus can be obtained from http://www.symantec.com/.

PCGames
By Colin Hand (chand@picknowl.com.au)

Age of Empires Expansion Pack - The Rise of Rome - Microsoft

Previously in the Police Journal was a review of Age of Empires - a computer simulation of evolution and war, and now an award-winning, best-selling, real-time strategy game.

The expansion pack, Rise of Rome, focuses on the ancient Roman Empire and requires the original Age of Empires game.

It’s not a completely new game but does include several new features, including four additional civilizations, several unique units and entirely new campaigns, including the showcase campaign that focuses on the rise of Rome.

It also includes three other races, Carthagian, Macedonian and Palmyrian, each with its own unique traits. Whichever race you select, there will always be someone else hell bent on destroying your people. Other new features include:

• A camel rider.
• Spike chariot.
• Slinger.
• Warship.
• Armoured elephant.

Four new technologies, including medicine and logistics, increase aspects of your civilization. There are new additions to the game, which make it easier and a little more enjoyable. For example, when you hear a warning sound, hit the HOME key and you’ll be transported there. This can be done for the last five warning sounds, so you can always keep an eye on your troops.

Other enhancements made in The Rise of Rome make the gameplay more difficult, so if you managed supreme domination in the original Age of Empires, now you have a new challenge. To add to the difficulty there’s now a gigantic map size in which to roam (Rome).

This add-on will use the same system configuration as Age of Empires - a multimedia Pentium 90 with 16MB of RAM, and the original Age of Empires. It is recommended to anyone who has successfully completed Age of Empires.

O.D.T. - Psygnosis

A new release of an entirely different genre is O.D.T. (Escape... Or Die Trying) - a 3rd person action adventure game available now for PC and PlayStation.

The city of Calli is on the brink of an epidemic, which is already decimating the population. The only hope for survival is the legendary green crystal, believed to hold magical powers. But the whereabouts of the gem is unknown. Only Captain Lamat and his highly skilled crew are fit for the treacherous mission into the uncharted lands.

After a successful search, the team board the Nautiflyus and head for home, only to fall prey to a strange force which sees their ship crash into an enormous tower in the Forbidden Zone. Now the pearl is gone and the ship is severely damaged. One of the crew must leave the ship and recover the gem, but a legion of horrid mutants lies waiting, ready to put a gruesome end to the mission and claim the sacred gem as its own.

O.D.T. is very similar graphically to TombRaiders but with more realistic character movements. The game offers what must be the smoothest character movement of any game to date, and with its scenery detail and atmospheric texturing is very realistic. There are some flaws in the screen imaging at times when characters appear to be standing in mid-air or walk through the edge of buildings, but overall O.D.T. offers challenging gameplay and exciting visual images.

System requirements for the PC are a Pentium 166 with Windows 95, 16 MB RAM and (of course) 3d-acceleration. The PC version will feature up to four-person play over a network and two-person play over a modem or serial link. O.D.T. is available now at a RRP of $89.95.

ConsoleGames
By Phil White

Formula 1 ’98 - Psygnosis

The 1998 Formula 1 racing season has been etched into PlayStation immortality with the third release in the F1 series.

This classy arcade/simulation racing game puts the complete 1998 F1 racing season on home console. Everything about this game oozes quality and realism - from car design to the identical track layouts and the ear-piercing sounds of high-octane motors buzzing away on the track.

As you would expect, F1 98 comes with many changes including a new (drive) engine that generates an improved feel and enables better handling at higher speeds. A new multi-player function enables a four-player link-up mode through combined split screen and combat-cable play.

Formula 1 ’98 includes all 11 constructor teams and all 22 drivers. Choose from 16 Formula 1 tracks, including the legendary Silverstone (UK), Monaco (Monte Carlo) and, of course, Albert Park (Australia).

You can blast your way around the track in arcade or full Grand Prix mode and work your way through the season in real time (actual race time).

There’s a whole range of car and race set-up options to choose from, including steering and brake assist, manual or automatic transmission and selective weather conditions.

The visuals are excellently textured and control movements are smooth and responsive, and with the added use of Sony’s dual-shock controller, Formula 1 ’98 puts you in the driver’s seat.

F1 ’98 is available now. It’s a must-have for all die-hard racing fans.