Interviewed: Reviewed: Fleecy Moss Photogenics 4.2 EZTower Mk. IV Tutorials: ImageFX 4.1 BMon CDROM Explained IBrowse 2.1 Wasted Dreams Sold! DOSDrivers Cam Control TZer0 First news Layers Olympus C1000L Ther Wanderer on page 9 Issue 4 - Winter 1999/2000 CONTENTS CONTENTS Contents The Chairman News SEAL Update ...... 3 Speaks

Editorial UPDATE News Items ...... 4 Games Update...... 8 s you’ve undoubtedly noticed ell what a weird three Photogenics 4 People News Flash ...... 9 we’re very late with this issue, months since our last maga- available and In the last month or two several SEALs Amiga Update ...... 10 A to be honest the main reason W zine, there have certainly on demonstra- for this was the bout of doom and gloom been some ups and downs. The World tion (cool), have been getting into Mac emulation which hit the Amiga after WoA and of Amiga was a major high point from ImageFX 4 (with help from Tony Johnson who’s Features sapped our motivation. We recovered SEAL’s point of view, and on the down available (nice), Wipeout on display been using a pseudo Mac for ages) which is an excellent way to get industry Fleecy Moss Interview ...... 11 with the release of OS 3.5 but then we side of the Amiga world, it has to be the (great) and of course many innovative standard applications from the likes of Amiga: The Future?...... 10 were being called on by SEAL members “plug” being pulled on the MCC hardware items. for help installing the new OS and promised by Amiga (or should that be Microsoft and Adobe to run on your CDROM Explained ...... 14 Strange that a platform that is supposed ROMs. Finally a dose of ‘flu scuppered a “Amintelsoft”) Amiga if you absolutely must have them. to be dead and buried, has so many en- per-Christmas release. Anyway we’re Let me tell you about WoA, without thusiastic people that are talented doing Reviews back now with a great issue (we hope) Raffle doubt one of the greatest I have everything in their power to keep it all and plenty of plans for the future... Photogenics 4.2...... 18 attended, mainly because for the first hanging together, what other type of At the SEAL meetings on the 29th of ImageFX 4 ...... 22 Incredibly it’s over a year since the first time we (SEAL) were involved in the or- platform has that kind of October and the 12th of November we CamControl...... 24 issue of Clubbed rolled off the presses ganising, and had our own user group loyalty? Maybe that’s what an Amiga sold tickets for SEAL’s first raffle. The Olympus C1000L Digicam...... 25 (well my printer to be more accurate!) so display table as did many other user (the computer not the company) is all major prizes of ImageFX 4 and an Amiga Format subscription were IBrowse 2.1...... 26 I’d like to take this opportunity to thank groups this year. It was great to meet so about, a combination of the hardware, donated by Nova Design and Future EZTower MkIV ...... 28 everyone who’s helped to make many people in the flesh, such as Kermit OS and just as important the people with Clubbed a success. That includes Woodall, Andrew Korn, Urban Müller, ideas and enthusiasm that keep the Publishing respectively with several BMon...... 29 of activity in the software and hardware people who’ve contributed their time and Paul Nolan, Jim Collas (whoops), Ben momentum going (without the aid of other smaller prizes being donated by Wasted Dreams ...... 30 markets as you can see from the an- work, SEAL members and also of Vost, and the QNX team (whoops again) Amiga, the company). members. Over 100 tickets were sold The Wanderer (Music CD)...... 31 nouncements in our news pages. It’s course all our subscribers. to name a few. SEAL were certainly very and the prize winners were drawn at the also great to be able to review not one But we cannot survive forever on en- Tzer0...... 32 busy at the show, from sorting out soft- meeting on the 12th of November. Tony This fourth issue also means that if but two recently upgraded Image thusiasm alone, we need new hardware Mini Review: VisionFX ...... 36 ware/hardware problems, people making Johnson, one of SEAL’s founder you’re one of our initial subscribers who processors. ImageFX 4.0 builds on the and software to take us into the enquiries about SEAL or CLUBBED, or members, won ImageFX and Steve Hirst started with issue 1 you’ll find a sub- success of version 3 (reviewed in noughty`s (geddit 80`s, 90`s, 00`s), be- just general chit chat about anything got the subscription to Amiga Format. Support scription renewal letter with your maga- Clubbed issue 1) with powerful anima- cause although we have tried to keep up Amiga related, it was great. We also Thanks to everyone who took part! zine. We hope everyone of you enjoys tion features and new effects (review on with technology with the many add-ons Back to Basics (DOSDrivers) ...... 37 sold many issues of CLUBBED, and Clubbed and will want to re-subscribe. If page 22) while Photogenics 4 (page 18) we all have attached to our machines, at Layers Tutorial ...... 33 Seal printed the posters and signs on WoA for any reason you don’t please let us starts with a clean canvas to produce a the end of the day it is a 80`s design Next Issue, Helpline etc...... 39 site, which were dotted around the know why... we can’t make the maga- brand new package with only a few con- machine and long overdue to be Several SEAL members were involved Back Issues ...... 39 floors, (luckily Robert brought his HP A3 zine better for you without your input. cepts related to earlier versions. upgraded, so it`s a real shame that with the organisation of this year’s World Gallery...... 40 printer with him). The best part of all was Amiga (Gateway) pulled the plug. But of Amiga show held at the Kensington Since issue 3 some pretty big changes At WoA we spoke to several dealers and meeting you Amiga loving loonies, there may be some light at the end of Town Hall Conference Centre on the have happened at Amiga which you’ll they all told the same story... Amiga couldn’t get enough of ya. The show the tunnel in the form of the Phoenix 24th and 25th of July. Mick, Gary and find reported in our news section and hardware is still selling reasonably well may have not been the biggest, but it Do The project that is being considered by the Robert headed down to the venue on our Amiga: the future? feature. It seems but the same cannot be said for soft- was certainly interesting with the real Amigans, lets hope so. the Friday to help setup. For the first like we won’t be seeing a new computer ware. There are some great packages proposed MCC mock up on display time usergroups were able to have their bearing the Amiga name from Amiga. out there now at relatively low cost and (whoops), IBrowse 2 on release (yeah), own table at the show, of course we However despite the antics of the parent a new wave of fantastic games appear- jumped at the opportunity to advertise Thing company the Amiga world keeps turn- ing starting with Wipeout 2097. What’s Blurb SEAL as well as add to the show. We Write ing. Haage and Partner have released the point of a kick-ass powerful system if took various banners, posters and OS3.5 (by all accounts early sales have you don’t have the software to run on it? We’d like to make Clubbed more “in- Clubbed is published quarterly by South Essex Amiga SS7 5AH, plenty of copies of Clubbed with us been good too) and Phase 5 should be So please people buy the software you Link. For subscription details see the back page. ENGLAND. along with Rob’s A3000 and printer, I teractive” so we need your input! will use and keep Amiga companies in Editor: Robert Williams Telephone: +44 (0) 1268 569937 releasing their accelerator cards based Design: Robert Williams (19:00 - 22:00 GMT only please). think I can safely say that ours was the Got a question you’d like answered on Motorola’s latest PowerPC 7400 (G4) business developing new versions. Contributors: The views expressed in this magazine are those of the Jeff Martin author of each piece, they do not necessarily reflect the best looking user group table. or an opinion you’d like to share? processor with the QNX Neutrino OS Martin Miller views of the editor, other contributors or SEAL. To finish on a brighter note you’ll hope- Gary Storm Please Note: Clubbed is produced by SEAL members in Our table in the usergroup area and got Write to us and we’ll include it in a soon. Met@box have also shown their Mick Sutton fully notice we’ve done a slight re-design their spare time, while we will always strive to produce the Amijoe G3 card for the A1200 at the Proof Reading: magazine on time and include all the advertised contents an excellent flow of people keeping us letters page. this issue which we think makes Cologne show. There are also several Sharon Sutton this is not always possible due to other commitments. The very busy especially on the Saturday. Got a tip for other readers or even an Clubbed look fresher and more profes- Gary Storm price you pay for Clubbed covers our costs and nothing plans afoot to bring a successor to the Cover Art: Robert Williams using ImageFX 4.1 and more, we don’t make a profit from it. We sold about 100 copies of Clubbed article up your sleeve? Send it in and sional. Any comments or suggestions on Photogenics 4.2 If you wish to contact a contributor please send your and took 20 new sub- scriptions which Classic Amiga to market from groups of If you have any queries suggestions or want to contact us message to one of the addresses above and we will pass you could very well see your name in the design and content of the mag are it on. current Amiga users and developers... for any reason please use one of the following: was excellent. We were able to help out print. very welcome. EMail: [email protected] Amiga is a registered trademark and the Amiga logo, AmigaDOS, Amiga , Amiga Workbench, many Amigans who visited the SEAL of course only time will tell if these come WWW: http://seal.amiga.tm/ Autoconfig, Bridgeboard, and Powered by Amiga are table and Mick had a long chat with Got a suggestion or comment on the to fruition. Robert Williams Post: Clubbed, trademarks of AMIGA International, Inc. / Gateway, Inc. 26 Wincoat Drive, All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their Urban Muller of fame about digi- magazine? Let us know and we’ll try Editor BENFLEET, Even in these rather uncertain times for respective owners. and make Clubbed better for you. Essex, tal cameras. Several SEALs were able Amiga there’s still a reasonable amount 2 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 3 NEWS NEWS SEAL Update Continued... Amiga generated a huge Amiga OS 3.5 & Boing Bag 1 amount of discussion. Regardless of the high jinx at Amiga OS to be a new system, not based on • Increased reliability and bug-fixes In the future we’ll be Activated 3.5 was released as planned on the 18th Turbo Print or Studio. of October. Several SEAL members • Internet support including the Miami One nice touch is the large selection of trying some other ideas The first issue of have the new OS installed and in most TCP/IP stack, Webbrowser (AWeb) backdrops which compliment the glow for keeping members AmigActive hit the cases the installation went smoothly and and a new EMail client. The EMailer is icons and make the system look great (especially those not on news stands on the OS works very well. Compatibility based on a new EMail library allowing straight out of the box. the ‘net) up to date with the 30th of with existing applications and utilities is integration of EMail into applications. Amiga happenings. Ideas in- September, the very good and the new features are Understandably as the first Amiga OS clude the SEALWeb Offline disk new magazine welcome, in particular the new Smaller, less obvious additions to the upgrade for 5 years, compiled by a team mentioned in the Web Pages section covers all Workbench is much more usable even OS include: who had not worked on the Amiga OS and a news sheet at each meeting. aspects of the though the changes made to it are fairly before there are a number of minor Amiga with news, reviews to meet Jim Collas, Alan Havermose minor. The upgrade is pretty good value • Improved icon system (backward com- problems with the initial release. To help Web Pages and how-tos on hardware, applications and Petro face to face and question for money especially for those with basic patible with original Amiga and fix these problems the first free “Boing and games. There is a strong leaning them about the future of the platform. Gary’s been doing a great job keeping systems. Even people who have NewIcons icons) Bag” update to OS 3.5 was released on towards the creative side of Amiga use the website up-to-date with all the most upgraded their with software like • Workbench with more short cuts and the 24th of December, this updates most Highlights of the show included with plenty of tutorials, including mini- important news in the Amiga world in TurboPrint and already have Internet progress requesters (not threaded yet of the major system libraries improving demonstrations of AmigaOS 3.5, tutorials with some reviews. The addition he has interviewed several software will find many things to help though) stability and the ROM update which ImageFX 4 and Wildfire not forgetting of AmigActive cover CD is tied closely to luminaries connected to these events. them, some examples are: • Fully AREXX scriptable Workbench failed on some systems. course Paul Nolan giving his brilliant the magazine with extra resources for The news and in particular the inter- • Streamlined preferences programs demo of Photogenics 4. While current most of the features, demos and the views have attracted lots of visitors to • Support for disks greater than 4.3Gb using new Reaction GUI So what are you waiting for? Get out events (see our Amiga: the future? item usual collection of useful freely dis- the website and have been mentioned including new scsi.device and fast file • Integrated PPC support (WarpOS) there and buy OS 3.5 for your own for full details) have put much of what tributable software all accesed from a on all the major Amiga news services. system. Complimented by new ver- • New Reaction GUI system for future benefit now and to prove there is a mar- happened at the show in serious doubt it HTML based interface. AWeb is used as By the time you read this we expect to sions of HDToolbox and the Format applications ket for future more radically improved was still a very enjoyable experience, the default browser because it can run have received our 10000th hit! command. • Rewritten asl.library for faster file lis- upgrades. enhanced by being a part of the or- programs from HTML links, combined • Full 24bit printing support with drivers tings and more requester options ganisation. With so much useful and interesting in- with either Magellan or for popular modern printers. Contrary • Improved Installer For more information and to download formation on the website Martin Miller Workbench 3.5 this allows directories to what we first understood this seems • Improved datatypes the Boing Bag Visit www.amiga.com. Meetings pointed out that many SEAL members and programs on the disc to be who are not on the Internet are missing At the meeting immediately after the accessed directly from the HTML pages. out. So the SEALWeb - Offline disk was WoA show SEAL members were treated born. This disk contains most of the Amiga Active is available monthly at to a video of the show and the Saturday SEAL website on one double density £4.99 complete with cover CD. Most evening conference taken by Gary disk that can be viewed on any Amiga WHSmiths have the magazine as do Storm. This allowed members who with a web browser installed. SEALWeb some smaller newsagents, if you can’t G4 On The Horizon weren’t able to attend and those who - Offline disks were given out to find it your local newsagent should be Phase 5 announced their PowerPC G3 As the G4 350 but with a 400Mhz run AmigaOS and most programs. didn’t stay for the conference to get a members not on the Internet at the able to get it for you. Subscriptions are based accelerator cards for the A1200 Processor. Phase 5's soloution to this problem is to feel for what went on and the announ- SEAL meeting on Friday the 15th of available at £55 a year. and A3/4000 earlier in the year, over the supply the boards with QNX’s Nutrino cements. The other two meetings in CyberStorm G4 400 - 799E (£665) October and will be refreshed with the last few months the cards have had and run AmigaOS in August were fairly quiet with many http://www.amigactive.com/ latest information at each meeting. several changes of specification, specifi- For the A3/4000 FastSlot. Spec. as the emulation on top of this. It remains to be people away on their holidays or out Subscription Hotline: cally dropping the built-in SCSI interface Blizzard G4 400 plus 2 12Mb USB ports. seen how well integrated and transpar- enjoying the warm evenings but even so The Clubbed website has had a major (01202) 296293 and adding USB and Firewire support. ent this system will be as well as what those that did attend were kept busy overhaul since the last issue. The layout Several mini PCI cards have been SCSI, DMA IDE and a CyberVision NG performance it will deliver. The G4 cards solving many problems and showing off has been much improved with most sec- announced and are scheduled for graphics card will be offered as options. will be shipped with a 512KB boot flash their WoA purchases. tions now split onto different pages for release along with the accelerators. Just when the specification seemed ROM and software to enable the user to quicker loading and new graphics. September saw the departure of Jim Fusion PPC settled Phase 5 announced that they • CyberVisionNG 3D gaphics card with select between up to three operating We’ve also added some submission Microcode Soloutions have set a date Collas from Amiga and the subsequent were dropping the G3 in favour of 32MB of video RAM - 180E (£145) systems at boot time. This would mean guidelines for anyone who would like to for the release of FusionPPC, their executive updates all of which we com- Motorola’s brand new PowerPC G4 • Ultra2 Wide SCSI - 150E (£120) that if Haage and Partner port their write something for the magazine (a PowerMac emulator for PPC Amiga municated to members at SEAL processor used in the latest Power • Ultra SCSI - 80E (£65) 680x0 emulator you could boot into this, printed copy is available on request). systems. Delivery was promised 60 meetings. As you can imagine this Macs. • Ultra-DMA 66 IDE/ATA - 80E (£65) a possible implementation or days after pre-payments were collected • IEEE-1394 (Firewire) Controller with 2 Neutrino. which sets a date of the 20th of There are now 3 boards in their G4 ports at 400Mbps - 100E (£85) Time to Eat Humble Pie... November. range: Phase 5 are at: http://www.phase5.de/ WebVision can be registered more Over the last three issues we haven’t cheaply than we stated in our product mentioned Sharon Sutton (Mick’s wife) Assuming everything goes to plan Blizzard G4 350 - 649E (£565) The CyberVisionNG and Wide SCSI Phase 5 products are available in the FusionPPC will open a library of up to controller are confirmed, the other three UK from: information box. Neil Bothwick handles who’s done sterling service proof read- • Motorola PowerPC 7400 processor date Mac software to PPC Amiga users. modules will only be produced if Phase registrations in the UK and it costs just ing articles and actually getting the mag- (G4) at 350Mhz White Knight Technology Once released FusionPPC will cost 5 receive 250 orders for them. £12 to get your keyfile which unlocks the azines labelled, stamped and posted • 1Mb Backside Cache 2 100Mhz SO- http://welcome.to/white-knight £149.95 and requires a PCI PowerMac full version. Full details are included in since the first issue. Everyone at DIMM Slots for up to 1GB of RAM As you will no doubt notice from the (01920) 822321 ROM and a copy of MacOS. the WebVision archive. Clubbed and I’m sure all our readers • 2 MiniPCI slots for future expansion specifications these accelerators do not really appreciate her hard work espe- Blittersoft: I forgot to credit Gary Storm for writing Fusion is distributed by Blittersoft: • 1 Full size PCI slot for a standard PCI have a 680x0 series processor as the cially as she has two young children to http://www.blittersoft.com/ the introductory paragraphs of my “Get http://www.blittersoft.com/ card or a PCI bus board current PowerUP cards do, therefore look after! (01908) 610170 Netted” feature... thanks Gary. (01908) 610170 Blizzard G4 400 - 799E (£665) they have to use a software emulator to 4 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 5 NEWS NEWS Photogenics Candy Pro Update Browser Bonanza The popular instant graphics program BoXeR Update Candy Factory Pro has been updated to As we anticipated in issue 3 currently available cards being written. version 1.03, the new version con- there’s been plenty of activity on However even if only a couple of centrates on improving stability and the the web browser front in the last 4.3 reasonably priced graphics cards were user interface. One SEAL member got couple of months, here’s the cur- supported the BoXeR will look pretty an error after installing the update that rent status of the “big three”. Since the last issue Paul Nolan has attractive compared to expanding an the tabs.gadget was missing. Copying released two updates to Photogenics 4. A1200, particularly when you consider it the file from the MetaView distribution IBrowse 2.0 was released at Versions 4.1 and 4.2 have made the already has fast serial and parallel ports on the original program CD into your the WoA show but purchasers package much more reliable and added Blittersoft have released updated and uses cheaper RAM than an ac- classes/gadgets/ directory solves this. were disappointed to find that some extra effects and features. A beta specifications for their Amiga compatible celerated A1200. the version on sale was in Download the 1.03 update from of version 4.3 has been released for BoXeR motherboard including prices for fact a pre-release with its fair In an IRC conference at the Cologne http://www.titancomputer.de/ public testing and should be available systems based on the board: share of bugs. However soon. A full review of version 4.2 can be show Mick Tinker (the BoXeR’s desig- about a month later HiSoft found on page of this issue. • 100% Amiga compatible. ner) stated that the final prototype were able to release an im- • Motorola 68040 or 68060 at 25-75MHz motherboards will be finished before the proved 2.1 version. 2.1 is Download the upgrade and public beta in a single processor socket. end of November. With time for testing now usable but far from versions from: • Integrated chip-set, AGA compatible this could mean production BoXeRs will perfect, a further 2.2 http://www.paulnolan.com but with performance enhancements. be ready early in the new year. Z4 Bus update has been promised al- • Most peripherals support high speed though currently there is no release DMA transfers. Prices date. We have a review of the upgrade • No CHIP RAM limits. Blittersoft are offering two complete Apollo have released a new bus board on page 26. • 2 x 64-bit DIMM sockets (low cost) for BoXeR systems the BoXeR 4 with a which gives numerous expansion ICS Is Scantastic! combined use as FAST/CHIP. 3 is now available after 5 68040 40Mhz or the BoXeR 6 which has options to A1200 owners. The new Z4 Wolf Faust, the author of the Studio print conversion and postage to the UK). I’ve • Dual IDE Hard disk interface, supports public beta test versions. The current a 68060 50Mhz processor, both share board includes 5 Zorro II slots, 2 custom enhancement system, has recently recently received a target from Wolf and fast IDE modes, including UDMA. release version is 3.0a which fixed a bug the following common features: slots named Zorro 4, and no less than 4 released a new product on Aminet. ICS the improvement in my scans is really • Flash ROM 2Mb. Provides Kickstart, in the Javascript implementation. V3 clock ports. A graphics card and fast is a scanner calibration system which fantastic and I don’t have to spend time resident modules and future enhan- • Choice of colour Tower adds many features that were lacking in IDE interface are promised for the Zorro automatically colour corrects your scans tweaking each scan. ICS is easy to use cements. • 64Mb RAM previous version and seems to have the 4 slots which should give performance without manual adjustments. ICS works (although “under the bonnet” it is very • High Density floppy drive interface. • 6.4Gb UDMA Hard drive most active development at the moment. similar to existing Zorro III cards, al- by analysing a scan of an accurately advanced, Wolf has spent 2 years in • Real Time Clock. • 40 Speed CD-ROM Visit v3.vapor.com for further details. though they have little in common ex- produced target image, and uses this development) and works with any scan- • 4 x Active PCI slots • Keyboard and Mouse (PS/2) cept the name. Two of the Zorro II slots information to correct future scans. ner software and scanner, it is directly • Upgradable to PPC Amitrix have released a minor upgrade • Amiga Video slot can run at twice the normal speed to AWeb bringing it up to version 3.3, a supported by ScanQuix 4 and ScanTrax • Expansion connector to support 2 x • KickStart 3.1 Until recently calibration targets were (about 2.5Mb/s) with specially adapted cut down version is also included with 2.2. If you’ve got a scanner, get ICS Zorro 3 slots • OS 3.5 only available from professional photo- cards but still share the normal ZII OS3.5 so this browser will be getting now! • Connector for full 64-bit PowerPC ex- • Multimedia Speakers graphic and DTP suppliers at a high cost limitations (8Mb address space and more exposure in the coming months. pansion card (£30 - £50). Now Wolf has produced his ICS is available for free on Aminet in the 16bit wide data path). • PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse ports. BoXeR 4: £799.95 incl. VAT Hopefully we’ll have reviews of the latest own calibration targets which he sells for hard/misc directory. The archive in- • Amiga Joystick and Mouse ports. The Zorro 4 bus board costs about £130 Voyager and AWeb in the next issue. DM25 (about £10 including currency cludes details of how to purchase a BoXeR 6: £899.95 incl. VAT and is available from Eyetech, Blittersoft The addition of PCI slots to the BoXeR For more information you can contact and Power Computing. could be a master stroke as a myriad of Blittersoft at: cards are available at a fraction of the Active Abandon http://www.blittersoft.com/ fxPAINT Debuts at Cologne cost of similar Amiga cards. How useful A brand new paint and image process- • Comprehensive set of image process- the slots will be depends on drivers for or phone them on: (01908) 610170 Retail ing package was released on the 1st of ing operators. Active Technologies are no longer sell- November just in time for the Cologne • Wide range of loaders and savers. ing direct to the public and are now con- show. fxPaint comes from a • Includes an image catalouger and Amiga Web centrating their energies on developing German company Innovative and batch conversion utility. their Amiga products such as is programmed by Felix Schwarz Directory Closed NetConnect and STFax. Eyetech will who is the talent behind programs The interface looks attractive and uses I’m sad to have to report that the closure, ironically the last news item now distribute Active’s products. like BlackIRC and UltraConv. standard windows and gadgets, full sup- Champaign-Urbana Computer Users they reported was the sale of the Amiga On a brighter note the NetConnect 3 port for graphics cards and PPC ac- Group decided to close its Amiga Web name to Amino. fxPaint is loaded with features and package is now available, highlights of celerators (PowerUP and WarpUP) is Directory on the 1st of January 2000. seems to draw quite heavily from What makes this news doubly sad is the new version include Voyager 3 with included.The feature list is certainly very AWD has been the premier Amiga links other Amiga packages: that CUCUG will not be passing their Javascript and Shockwave Flash sup- impressive and at a price of only 70Euro website for many years and has always database of links and descriptions or the port, a brand new FTP client, mFTP and • Bumpmapping for 3D effects. (about £45) we can imagine it catching provided a sterling service with over code for Agnes to another maintainer so the WebVision web cam viewer. We’ll • Glows and Shadows. on fast. 2000 indexed links with full descriptions it will be down to other sites like the have a review next issue. • Photo retouching functions. for all types of Amiga organisations and recently re-vamped www.amiga.org to • Scan optimising functions. For a complete list of features (there are the useful Agnes search engine to help Active Technologies: pick up where AWD left off. • Standard painting tools plus pan- loads more) and some example pictures find them. CUCUG point to the decline http://www.active-net.co.uk/ tograpgh (cloner), gradients, smear, and screenshots visit Innovative’s in the Amiga marketplace and Read the full announcement at Eyetech: blur and pyrotechnic effects. website at http://www.innovative-web.de/ Gateway’s inaction as reason for the http://www.cucug.org/aminew.html http://www.eyetech.co.uk/ 6 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 7 NEWS FEATURES

Games Update QuickBLASTS Amino Buys Amiga! Although things aren’t going the way we’d like at Amiga, there are a plethora of great T-Zer0 n a shock announcement on the eve 7. The Amiga operation as it exists There are good reasons to release the games to use on your favourite machine... of the new millennium Amino today. ‘Classic’ Amiga OS source, as it would Clickboom have just released a demo acquired the rights to the Amiga allow anyone to develop and improve Wipeout 2097 hit the Amiga in December and is the first game to make full use of the I for this fine shoot-em-up (reviewed else- from Gateway. Details are still Specific details of the developer the OS, and therefore the development PPC and 3D acceleration offered by Phase 5’s PPC and graphics cards. Developed where in this issue) for download, at sketchy but here’s what we system, the OS partners and cycle would be much quicker. To prevent by Digital Images (www.di-games.com) the Amiga version of Psygnosis’ classic looks (http://clickboom.com/t0/demo.shtml), know so far. how one can begin developing it becoming a behemoth though (exactly fantastic and plays just as well (if you can wait we’ll have a review in issue 5). but it weighs in at a hefty 26MB, luckily First will be released in the next what Amiga stands against), What a way to start 2000! To run Wipeout you must have a PPC card and 3D it’s also on the cover disc of Amiga couple of weeks. Amino/Amiga must take a central role in Amino (formed by Fleecy Moss graphics card and at least 32Mb of FastRAM. Wipeout Format and AmigActive. directing ‘official’ development and and Bill McEwan) have finalised NewsWe will be making an announce- is available from most Amiga retailers or directly from releases. Failure to do this would result a deal which brings the Amiga name ment on January 8th, 2000 with one the publisher, Blittersoft (www.blittersoft.co.uk). Napalm Add-on in the OS losing cohesion and splinter- back home to people who care about it, of our partners at CES in Las Vegas, ing into many unwieldy versions. For a Heretic II is another PC port. The original is based on Following on from the excellent (if and can see the potential of having a and more details will follow that release. deeper perspective, visit The Campaign the Quake II engine, and is the sequel to (funnily slightly hard) Napalm, Clickboom are modern computer with an Amiga badge. Fleecy, Myself, Petro, and the rest of the For Open Source Amiga enough) - Heretic. It’s a third-person shooter (a-la about to unleash something “more than We’ve reprinted the first official state- team are not going to make promises (http://www.savetheamiga.org.uk/) Tomb Raider). Hyperion software (www.hyperion- a missions disk” in ‘Napalm - Euro ment from Amino here, this comes and create presentations and demos. website. software.de) are the people responsible for bringing Burn’. Hmmm. We didn’t piss them off or directly from the http://www.amiga.com/ We are going to deliver products, ser- us this magical blood-fest. Not only do you get that, anything, did we? website. We know that Amino have been working vices, and the rest of the world will know but they’ve wangled it so that the add-on “Heretic with an OS partner (as yet unnamed, not what you have already known. Fortress” (by Wankeroo, I kid you not) will be ported Virtual GP Official Announcement QNX), Rebol ( - big with the package too. Heretic II is also blessed with an We will be officially changing the name respeck), and others to provide the foun- If grandprix racing is your thang, then January 3, 2000 active on-line battle. Hyperion recommend a minimum you’ll be pleased to know that Virtual of Amino Development Corporation to dation, direction and development of a of an ‘060 and 3D accelerated graphics card. PPC is Grand Prix has been released (much to YeeHaw and welcome to the year 2000; the this week, and successor to the Amiga experience, preferred, and you’d also be advised to have 64mb of we will let everyone know of this change while still keeping true to its values and Mick’s delight). We’ll have a review / I want to make something very clear RAM. But just look at these Amiga screenshots :) shortly once it is officially completed. karma... yet expanding on it to compete update from Mick, on the website from the beginning we have been told, in the modern and future computing en- Apart from Heretic II, Hyperion are also going to be porting the lovely ‘Shogo’ for us shortly. that Amiga was purchased by Gateway I want to thank all of you for your con- vironments. This new ‘Son of Amiga OS’ as well... more details on that when we can. because of the Patents, and that there tinued support we will make Amiga what would most likely be small and efficient Foundation DC were not even aware of the Amiga in- it should have been, and more impor- A new real-time strategy game from Polish developers is available in demo form. It’s in the Amiga tradition (especially impor- stalled base, or the people. tantly what it will be. called Exodus - The Last War and, according to Robert Elson on the Amiga-Flame Paul Burkey’s ‘Foundation’ has had a tant in the future to be a leader in digital website (www.amigaflame.co.uk - where you can get all the latest Amiga games new lease of life in ‘Foundation, the Gateway purchased Amiga because of Keeping the faith, convergence which needs the smal- news), it already looks better and faster than Napalm. WoW! Download the 6MB Director’s Cut’. It features all the good Patents, we purchased Amiga because lest/fastest system for communication Bill McEwen demo from Aminet (game/demo/ExodusTLW_Demo.). stuff of the original, plus all the patches of the People. between the various elements of a wire- President/CEO Amino Dev. Corp. and updates that make it (somehow) an less and Internet network), and com- Payback is a gangster warfare game from the virginal “Apex Designs” (www.apex- Without the people standing behind, even better game than it was. So, if you prise of a modern OS with features such designs.net). From what I’ve seen and heard about it seems like a Grand Theft Auto developing, creating, purchasing and Initial Reactions have any interest in Populous/strategy as multi-threaded multi-tasking, memory ...but with attitude. Running on even vanilla continuing to believe in the Amiga there type games at all, then Foundation DC Gary Storm and Robert Williams air their protection, virtual memory, POSIX com- flavoured 's (an ‘040 is recommended never would have been anything for should be top of your list... go get it. initial thoughts on the Amino buy-out pliancy etc. etc. It may even be a Dr. though), it features: Gateway to purchase. We recognize and raise some questions not answered Doolittle of the computer age, with a this, and it is because of you, and what • Perspective correct texture mapping. Super Frog by the short press release. near-effortless ability to interact and you have continued to accomplish with • Environment mapped cars. control alien computer systems (i.e. Also on the re-release trail is Amiga that we have purchased the com- Very good news and a late Christmas • Realistic physics model. communicate with the Microsoft ‘Superfrog’. Surely you’ve heard of it? If pany. present. At least something’s happening, • 100 square kilometres of land and 4 different cities animals)... possibly via TPFKNAO (The not, then where the hell have you been? and the Amiga name isn’t stagnating in to explore. I want to make sure that everyone Project Formerly Known As Amiga Superfrog is probably the finest platfor- the putrid pools of Gateway’s infighting, • Dozens of vehicles to drive, each with their own knows and understands what this all Objects) from Gateway. mer the Amiga has ever known. It was political remonstrations and lies. It’s unique handling characteristics. means to you the true Amigans. released by Team 17 way, way back, but back home at long last with people who Whatever their final product, we’re • Realistic real-time shadows. is so good it has stood the test of time. Here is what was acquired from actually care and understand what it’s all hoping (as we have many times before) • Non-linear mission structure. Get your vanilla miggy a X’mas present Gateway: about. Fleecy, Bill and friends know that this piddly little world may finally and have some great fun. we’re not crazy... well, maybe just a little have a decent computer system coming, Payback will even have graphic card support (via CyberGraphX), an advanced 3D 1. All trademarks logo’s etc. crazy. which has learnt from the mistakes and audio system, and there’s also a possibility of PPC support. Expected to be released 2. All existing inventory of Amiga For all the games currently available, triumphs of all those that came before it: at X’mas, this gorgeous baby will set you back £30. Well worth it if it lives up to what International As Amino now own the OS, will they be and to find out more (and maybe even Apple/ IBM/ Acorn/ Commodore/ is seen in these screenshots. 3. All existing licenses. releasing it as open source to proliferate pre-order) about the ones that aren’t Microsoft/ 3DO/ Sony/ WebTV/ Xerox/ 4. License to All Amiga patents (possibly even migrate to other plat- Finally, you’ll also read about the brilliant ‘Wasted Dreams’ elsewhere in Clubbed. quite with us yet, give John at ForeMatt HAL ( :) ) etc. etc., in the design, im- (Gateway still owns the patents, but forms) while they continue to develop The even better news is that Digital Dreams will also be producing a game called Home Computing or your preferred sup- plementation, marketing and support of we are able to use them). and release a ‘new beginning’ OS? Hell Squad. This arcade-adventure will even work on OS1.3 Amiga’s (with a CD- plier a ring. the Multi-media Millennium Amiga. 5. All web sites, and registered domain Since Fleecy Moss has previously ROM). WoW! Why? Whichever, it’s expected to be with us in November, but if you Happy gaming, and I’ll see your ass on- names. declared his support for COSA we can’t wait for a taste, download the 2.15mb demo from their website (www.dd- line where I can frag it in Quake :) 6. The Amiga OS and all that is associ- believe Amino are likely to open-source ent.com) Gary Storm ated with the OS. the Amiga OS. 8 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 9 FEATURES FEATURES

Amiga: the future, continued...

COSA have compiled a report called Amiga Update “AmigaOS: the Case for Open Source” Fleecy Moss which sets out why they feel the Robert Williams summarises the changes at Amiga since issue 3. AmigaOS source code should be released in this way and what benefits With Bill McEwan Fleecy has set out to create a new mmediately after the World of Amiga ing and less formally with Amiga staff job as Vice President of operations. this would bring Amiga Inc. and the platform with the user experince that makes Amiga show in July it looked as if things answering EMails and taking part in dis- Amiga community. The report was com- This news was reported on Internet were finally looking up for Amiga. cussions on Usenet this came as a piled in consultation with Eric Raymond special but based on a modern OS and hardware. I news sites and it was several days until Although the announcement that the surprise. Many people speculated that an open source advocate who acted as it was confirmed on the Amiga website MCC’s OS would be Linux had shaken Amiga’s plans and partners were being a consultant to Netscape when they Hi Fleecy, thanks again :) ing dude when you're about to launch (http://www.amiga.com), after the con- the community many users had begun put in jepoardy by the press coverage recently released their Mozilla browser new product(s). firmation rumour was rife on the Internet No problem - we are all partners in this - to understand and accept the decision generated by their announcements, as open source. The report highlights we aren’t the silent types either - when Bill got a bad dissing by a “senior as to what the change would mean to (even if they didn’t really agree with it). others suspected darker motives. that popular open source projects we hold a party, we party!!! employee” out to save his own skin current Amiga projects but in particular Jim Collas’ personal commitment to the benefit from large number of enthusiast when Collas took over. As a result, they At the begining of September rumours the MCC and OS3.5. Later in September Name: Fleecy Moss project was show by his evangelical programmers and often progress very never really understood just how much circulated the Amiga’s PR man, Bill Tom Schmidt published two executive speech at the show and the models and quickly. Just releasing the source code Age: 32 talent, leadership, and plain downright McEwen had not had his contract re- announcements on the Amiga website, goodness there is in Bill. As a result they specs for the MCC were proof that would probably give the AmigaOS a new Family: newed and hence was leaving the com- the first tried to calm the community by failed to utilise him. He never told me Amiga weren’t solely interested in the lease of life especially as the Amiga has pany. Bill had been heavily involved in stating that Amiga was not closing but 1 red headed Scottish warrior woman, what transpired, because we both set top box market. always attracted large numbers of hob- community relations particularly in the said little else. The second confirmed Elspeth, 2 boys, Seth (9) and Yerran (7) agreed when I was dropped that we byist programmers. The report was sub- In late August an announcement US and had talked at several shows, his what many had feared, the MCC and its and little Evie (Evangeline) - 1 wouldn’t talk about AInc stuff, but his mitted to Tom Schmidt of Amiga Inc. and mood started pretty black and just got appeared on the Amiga website stating departure was seen as a bad sign. This modified Linux OS were being dropped So, whatcha been up to since we Ted Waitt of Gateway on October the darker. Release was actually a relief for that they would be concentrating on proved to be true as two days later it although development of Amiga Objects spoke last (just after you 'left' 18th. him, and now we can get on and do their projects and not to expect any fur- was announced that Jim Collas had also is to continue. Tom Shmidt stated that Amiga)? what should have been done 2 years ther announcements. As regular public left the company to “pursue other inter- Amiga Objects will be developed for COSA has many influential Amigans Getting to know Evie, buying a house, ago. statements had been started by Jim ests and opportunities”. Tom Schmidt “Linux (and other operating systems that among its supporters including Fleecy getting into a horrendous ERP im- I know you're a Bill McEwan fan, even Collas with his monthly executive brief- replaced Jim as CEO moving from his support Java)”. Moss and even plementation at work. Trying to work on though he hadn't had any Amiga con- seems to be interested in the idea and KOSH when I can. I spent a lot of time tact or experience before joining passed COSA’s report along to Tom chatting with Bill about Amiga possibili- Amiga (after you left?). Why is that? Gary Storm and Robert Schmidt. ties, especially how we would do it if Williams look at some of there was an opportunity. Just spend ten minutes with him. For an Not everyone is convinced that an open American, he has a rare sense of From what we've read and heard source AmigaOS would be a good idea humour, cuts through the bullshit, and the organisations about, the many plausible ex- Amiga: however, it has been pointed out that enjoys wacky stunts. Schindler got really planations for Jim Collas ‘leaving’ hoping to revive the many key parts of the OS including bent out of shape because I went out to Amiga, We definitely know that he AREXX and the compugraphic font South Dakota one time, and we were all Amiga spirit. didn't leave because of any immature the future? engine are licenced products whose meeting up. I bumped into Bill at dickhead's threats (he’s a bigger, Minneapolis airport, and by the time we ith the Gateway situation so had signed up to their charter. The list pass their ideas to Phoenix through owners may not agree to them becom- stronger man than that), and didn't got off the plane in Sioux City, we were unsure a number of com- included famous names in the Amiga developers who belong to the group and ing open source with the OS. Another leave of his own volition. best friends - and Schindler had been W panies and groups have community such as Holger Kruse through a “Team Amiga Central” website worry is that the OS might loose it’s Comments? emerged with plans to revive the Amiga (Miami) and Olaf Barthel (Term and OS which is currently being developed. cohesive efficient design if it were his friend for years. He just “gets it”. The Jim left because Gateway got best compliment I can pay him is I would market in some way. As you’ll have read 3.5). Also included are representatives worked on by a large number of inde- In the PhAQ section of their website threatened by MS when they caught spend time with him outside of work. In on the previous page Amino have pulled from major current Amiga developers pendent programmers with little central Phoenix say they are trying to achieve wind of the last round of publicity, and fact, that’s the whole point - even work off something of a coup by purchasing like Phase 5 and GPSoftware and co-ordination. “A computer that people will enjoy using the comments that GW was going to isn’t work with him. We do it because it the Amiga rights from Gateway but even members of the original Amiga team like and a marketplace that has a future”. Haage and Partner who organised the take on Amiga. There were also a lot of makes us feel alive. so the companies discussed here are RJ Mical, Dave Haynie and Carl internal disagreement over direction, More information on Phoenix is available development of OS3.5 and Olaf Barthel At the moment, until some proof sure to have some influence on the fu- Sassenrath. and the role of the community, and he at http://www.owlnet.net/phoenix/. who was one of the main programmers comes from Amiga, it seems the only ture direction of the platform. was set up, to an extent (at least in my Phoenix say they aim to define open on the project have stated that they are good thing that's come out of the last opinion) by those who have now benefit- couple of years, is QNX, who seem QNX standards for a new computing platform COSA not in favour of a completely open ted. With his revenue stream and plan in with each of their members contributing source AmigaOS although in an IRC intent on keeping their word and co- The Campaign to Open Source tatters, what self respecting guy would QNX are still working on their own par- in their area of expertise. When the stan- conference at the recent Cologne show operating with hardware vendors to AmigaOS is a group of individuals and stay? ticular partnerships (with Phase 5) to dards are defined new machines could Markus from Haage and Partner did produce a new computer platform. organisations which lobby to have the There was a suggestion of you trying It's funny how things turn out, as you bring their Neutrino OS to us in a PPC be built by any of the Phoenix manufac- state that “It might make sense to make source code of the AmigaOS released. to get Jim Collas involved in AQUA. suggested QNX while at Amiga, and computer. QNX have also recently turers. some parts open source... so this can Open Source means that the source Any luck, or do you at least know now there may be a chance that you signed partnerships with Motorola and be discussed” he also pointed out that Phoenix has a pretty broad definition of code of the operating system is made what he's doing now? (and others) will be working with QNX IBM in some non-related ventures. We no code could be released without to do the deed, and produce the what qualifies a developer and asks for freely available and can be modified at It is always a possibility. I think Jim will should see something from QNX in the Gateway’s permission. AQUA (was 'Amiga QNX Uniform anyone who is involved in bringing soft- will. If a programmer wishes to distribute surface pretty soon but he is resting next few months. Architecture'). How are things moving ware or hardware to market to get in- modifications they must make them The latest updates on COSA’s progress now. The GW2K rape left him drained. on that front, and what is the vision? volved. This includes not only program- freely available in source code form. and an on-line survey where you cab Phoenix Bill McEwan was let go as well, which Do you have enough financial back- mers and hardware engineers but also This model has been successfully express your support are on their seems to indicate that they aren't in- ing yet? In September the previously unheard of beta testers, translators, marketing applied to many projects, the most pop- website at: terested in producing anything, as it's QNX is a great product, and we have Phoenix Platform Consortium published people and many others. Users can ular of which is probably the well known http://www.savetheamiga.org.uk a numb decision to lose your market- a very impressive list of developers who Linux Unix like operating system. been trying to get Dan and the crew in- 10 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 11 FEATURES FEATURES volved for well over a year. With Amiga them to gain from economies of scale. a computer - the initial revulsion by the know a part of the Rebol story and we would be safer to acronymise it as out if it can be done better. There aren’t Inc finally revealing their true colours, This SW architecture will be called community towards Digital Convergence will be delighted to be a part of telling 'Ami Qnx United Architecture', unless any competitors that I know of who take the time is now right to break the com- AQUA (Amino Qnx United Architecture). was a sign of this, but it is also a misun- the whole. Rebol will be one of the key Gateway were willing to sell the that approach or who target ppl who munity from its dependency habit. We derstanding - it is about the solution and pillars of AQUA. We only left the R out Amiga name (very doubtful). think like that. We win the loyalty of the Our hope is for a co-operating ocean of have coalesced a business, technical not the tool. We will fully support, devel- because it messed our nice water im- community because we provide a better companies, all doing their bit. With no Maybe you now see why we chose the and strategy document that we have op and work in partnership with others to agery up ;-) product, a better experience. single authority, we gain the flexibility name Amino - and its the building block been working on really for over 18 push this pathfinder community forwards and protection that has been missing in We all know that any new computer of life as well. Who could want more? Finally, common sense meets tech- months, even if informally. One of Bill’s - our techo-adventurers, and then follow the past. Of course, we want to further platform would have to have some AmIRC doesn’t even have to change its nological prowess, and the will to make “gifts” is that he seems to know ab- up 12 months later with products for the safeguard our own part of this, Amino. level of PC software compatibility. name ;-) it real. solutely anybody who is anybody, and mainstream. We see it as a wonderful We want to take the company public, but You believe that Java is the answer. If the job offers, and investment offers we opportunity for co-operation and just Are there any Amiga patents/traits Are you going to produce a website in such a way that the controlling Gateway have dumped Sun in favour have had in this little venture of ours plain fun.ainstream. We see it as a that are essential in the building of now, or only when the plans are shareholding is distributed widely of Microsoft, then perhaps Sun would sometimes blow me away. Money will wonderful opportunity for co-operation this new platform? finalised and backing has been amongst the community, users, be willing to join the AQUA project? not be a problem. and just plain fun. procured? developers, and the like, further protect- just the desire to do the best, and have QNX already runs Java. WINE already For us, the Amiga is a philosophy. ing our dream in case anyone ever You mentioned patching up the cur- fun, irrespective of the sneers of others. Once the money is in the account ;-) We runs PC apps to an acceptable level. We Elegance through simplicity is it’s motto. comes looking to buy it out. We have rent Amiga market. The only way you don’t want to do another iWin, or AInc, are always willing to talk though. I think we've all had years of practice at I spent the last year telling ppl that this already sent the preliminary proposal out can stop the rot, is to sell a mouthing off only to disappoint a few that. was the case, that it wasn’t the company to our partners in the community, and reasonably priced computer, that What about Transmeta? If Gateway months later. We will be in constant con- but the ideals. However, dependency is are talking to many outside of it. marries the Amiga ethos to pc hard- have become bosom buddies with M$ How much do you estimate the cost tact with many ppl, and we hope they a hard thing to kick, and Collas, to his ware. Can you go into more detail on again, then they may be out of the to design, produce and market will spread the word, or at least the We have received nothing but good credit, did offer something appealing. this? And if that's the first stage, Amiga equation too. AQUA? news. news up until now. We hope to have The collapse of that though is really the what is the 2nd stage? Amino up and running in 4 weeks, and Transmeta are a chip supplier, so are We have a very specific set of plans Will it be possible for people (like me) best thing that could have happened for our partnership plan is to get a set of Going along with AQUA, we see waves Motorola, AMD, Sun and others. I leave both for the common market, and for to buy shares in AQUA, and put a the Amiga - the ultimate slap in the face products, the second wave (we want to of development. In honour of Jay and that to the HW reference group. dynamic extra-market activity. The inno- little money into something we wake up call. We want the philosophy to reserve the first wave for the classic crew, the first wave will be reserved for vative nature of both our plans, and the believe in? continue. We made and are still making Any new computer also needs killer Amiga) out within 6 months - no dilithium the classic Amiga. The second wave is unique nature of the community itself strenuous efforts to get the name, but apps and games at launch. Where in That is one of the key points of our com- powered warp capable products, but a what we are working on with our makes it difficult to honestly answer that AInc has now made it clear they will try the world are you going to get these pany, Amino - I can’t speak for the good, solid basis that can come to mar- partners now. It will be a very powerful question. The standard answer is that it to wring as much as they can from it, from? An original game to show off others, but it is a great way to raise capi- ket quickly, and get the community system, even at the low end, but don’t costs $20 million to establish a brand- and we need our money for the future. the AQUA would take at least six tal, show your commitment to the com- moving again. In addition, there are look for miracles or warp drive. We are name. We intend to let our products So we will proceed anyway. However, months to program (and a port just munity and protect the future. AQUA is other efforts afoot to energise the com- calling the HW reference group together, establish that brand-name, and the $20 for the community to survive and wouldn't be any incentive to change the architecture, remember and it munity, developers and users. As we hopefully within the Phoenix organisa- million would be better spent research- prosper, we must break out of the cycle for). belongs to no single entity. have already said, we are wanting to tion to spec out a single sourced com- ing and developing those products. Still, of the past. No more single owners, see a new model, not just us selling to mon design - single CPU, single high Games companies want to show off, expect some fun - Bill already wants to As you said on the Team AMIGA mail- power focuses, or single points for them, but a dynamic habitat where we end graphics card, sound card etc - this and they also want to sell a lot. Play fair bungie jump off the Space Needle ing list, AQUA is a great marketing failure. We see all as working together all meet, work, play, and have a good minimises development time and effort, with them, give them the tools and sup- dressed as a mermaid (although stran- name. I can envisage a whole range for the benefit of all, working at their time. This cannot be done alone. We will support and incompatibilities, and port, and show them a hungry market, gely enough, that was before we coined of different AQUA's ....AQUA core competencies to produce a variety do it together, but this time it will be means we can hopefully get something and you would be surprised what turns the term AQUA?) Barracuda; AQUA Shark; AQUA of wonderful products and ideas based done by Amigans first. out within 6 months from startup. It will up. Multi-modal markets also helps a lot, Dolphin (also friendly and intelligent) around a common core. Bill. Seek help immediatly... it has to be give us the powerful foundation we and although the community is our love, etc etc, possibly even AQUA Storm? Hopefully AQUA will be multi-media a naked bungee jump a-la 'Man From We see QNX as producing the core OS need, to prove the market, to secure and it will be our pathfinder for technol- :) The designs could afford to be a bit centric, with DVD, audio and video Atlantis' :) and services. We see Rebol as provid- revenue streams, and to be able to start ogy and product, we are also going to wild and colourful too :) in/out ports, timecode generating ing the scripting and messaging designing the third wave, where hope- take our speedboat around the bigger The big question: Timeline to market? software etc etc for producing We are going to insist on it - we dare to paradigm. Bill and I see our new com- fully we can really go to town.ly we can ponds a la Caddyshack style. I also still When could we buy it, and what com- animations, music, and video's. What be different because we can be, and pany as providing the Amiga ex- really go to town. need to get someone to develop petition do you envision? are your visions for the AQUA range because it is demanded. perience, from the moment you ap- Cannon Fodder 3D. (if there is to be more than one)? I How much moolah will the AQUA(s) The existing community and market proach an new machine to the moment ...need an Australian in your team? I assume the internet will also play a set us back? Whatever the final solution, it seems needs to be stabilised and quickly. The you leave it. It is much more than an promise I won't shag your sheep big part in the user interface design, likely that (due to the nature of the second wave product line will be a good interface though, although that will be Again, Aqua is just the SW component, (much) :) to make it easier/friendlier. current industry) AQUA will have a solid foundation for our future. By one of the items we work on. It will be so I don’t know what the actual products much larger OS than the current simplifing, concentrating on maybe a We want to be part of a much bigger an attitude, an empowerment, a model, No, we intend to concentrate only the will be called. We are looking at 3 Amiga OS. Does this mean sacrificing single graphics and sound solution, and team, the community itself... but we a habitiat. Included in this is not just how soybean manufacturing computer device products for the second wave, at least some of the small size, cleanness, going for the base functionality, we have to be honest and you have already you relate to the machine but how it market. We see it as having a huge on paper, 1 single CPU workstation and efficiency of the code in an effort believe we can get product out within 6 failed that... an Australian who won’t relates to you, your finances, your home potential to keep our company in tofu for (<$1299), a multi-CPU workstation for semi cross-platform compatibil- months. It will easily be performance shag sheep much... pah, next you’ll be or office, your philosophy. Marketing a years to come ;-) AQUA is just the ar- (<$1799), and an integrated mother- ity? competitive with the competition (we do telling me the Welsh wear wellies be- reality that is far and away above what chitecture. We personally are going for 2 board, that takes a DreamCast type ap- have QNX after all), and point the way to cause it rains a lot ;-) stay in touch. exists today. markets, the pathfinder market (power proach - squash the single CPU With Carl and Dan on board??? Do you where we want to go once we have user, geek, academic, and technophile), workstation down onto a small board, think I have iron underpants on? They’d Well, gotta leave some sheep for you to Of course this is all talk and plans at the stopped the rot and began the climb and then the digippl market - technology with PCI/AGP headers and allow com- spank the hell out of me. shag on the edge of cliffs (they push moment, but that’s how it starts. I back to the top. Most important is to stop haters who just want technology panies to produce an A1200 like device back harder) :) I'm more 'into' rubber haven’t stopped though. QNX, Rebol, We intend to develop the best platform the great developers and users from solutions in their life but we will run at with a lot of expansion potential - I would chickens, myself. Easy to turn inside out and our company, which has a working out there, and if we have to be off the slipping away. There are as much our the first sound of the word computer. hope to see this sell for <$499.<$499. for cleaning, too :) name of Amino at the moment (for many mainstream, then so be it. We can’t ex- partners as are the investors and the The future is moving on, away from reasons ;-)) are just a small part of it - Where does Arexx sit in the AQUA pect ppl to come to us unless we companies. Competition wise, I don’t Thanks Fleecy. Good luck BTW. workstations, clients, servers etc - it is the core SW part. We also have invited equation? Would it be possible to present a compelling reason for them to see any. Sounds cheesy, but you have all about digital content, whether you are Interview by Gary Storm. hardware companies to come together adapt Rebol to be an Arexx replace- do so. We may not be able to get the to ask yourself, what are we building. building applications, sculpting 3D im- to form a hardware reference platform ment? name Amiga, but elegance through We are building a community and a plat- ages, listening to music, searching the group - core product specs that will simplicity will always be our motto. form that follows a philosophy. We won’t web or whatever. Many ppl are still We see Rebol as fulfilling the potential of enable our SW to run on it, and to allow take the cheap, easy or profitable way caught up with something that looks like Arexx, and so much more. Most ppl only Excellent name btw :) Perhaps it 12 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 13 FEATURES FEATURES

CD drive internally where they usually need to terminate the last device. Most drown something out. Most CD-ROMs connect via a 50 way IDC connector on Zorro SCSI cards designed for big box have a headphone output on the front a ribbon cable. External models are also Amigas have an internal and external that you can use to listen to CDs but of available although these are usually SCSI connector. If you connect devices course that won’t be mixed with the simply an internal drive in a powered internally and externally this means the Amiga audio and is a bit untidy. Usually case. External drives can be connected controller is in the middle of the chain there is also a connection on the back of with a variety of different cabling and thus should not be terminated. the CD-ROM which is designed to con- depending on the external connectors Some cards have a jumper to disable nect to a mixer inside the computer, un- supplied on both the device and your termination but with others the only al- fortunately the A3000T and the CDROM SCSI interface. However as long as you ternative is to physically remove the ter- A4000(T) are the only Amigas ever to A wealth of useful programs and buy a cable intended for SCSI with the minating resistors. have a mixer on the motherboard. If you files are available on CDROMs like correct connectors on each end every- have another machine several options Access to a huge range So to put it simply when adding your thing should work with no problems. Any are open to you. A small external mixer of software and Explained CD-ROM (or any device) to the SCSI type of SCSI CD-ROM should work. can be used with the Amiga and CD- these! bus: resources has never ROM output, this works well and means Setting up the SCSI Bus Ensure it has a unique unit number the level of each output is adjustable but been eaiser or cheaper! (remember that the unit number DOES can be a bit untidy. Another option is to Up to seven devices can be connected NOT have anything to do with physical build your own mixer and mount it inter- Robert Williams shows to a SCSI controller with each device position in the chain or termination). nally, there was an excellent feature by daisy chained to the next. Each device you how to add a Simon Goodwin in issue 126 of Amiga You can connect two IDE devices to has a unique device number from 0 to 7 Ensure that both PHYSICAL ends of Format on various types of DIY mixer. CDROM to your Amiga. the A1200 or A4000's built in IDE (the controller is usually unit 7) the unit your chain are terminated and nothing CD-ROM audio leads often come with port using an IDE cable with suit- number is usually set by jumpers or a else. CD-ROM drives and if not are available able connectors. because the selector on the back of the device. The from most PC retailers. Why Add A CD-ROM A1200s and A4000s come with an IDE A1200 was designed with a 2.5" IDE chain must go directly from one device Audio interface built in however the drivers for hard drive in mind you will need a to the next, therefore it will only have Drive? If you want to use your CD-ROM to play this interface which reside in the special cable which converts from the two ends. Both physical ends of the CD File Systems It’s hard to get away from the CDROM standard audio CDs or use games which Kickstart ROM were designed so long 44way connector to the 40way con- chain must be terminated, this uses a Once you have your CD-ROM attached these days, they’re stuck on the front of play their music from CD-ROM (most ago they do not support ATAPI devices. nector on the CD-ROM and has the cor- resistor pack to stop signals being to your Amiga you then need the soft- virtually every computer magazine and CD releases do this) then you will need This means you cannot use a CD-ROM rect connector for your hard disk. These reflected back along the chain. ware that lets the Amiga understand the being stuffed through our doors with to connect the audio output of your CD- with the built-in interface with simply a cables have to be hand made so they Termination can be accomplished in two data stored on the CD-ROM. This soft- junk mail. Why are CD-ROMs so popu- ROM to some speakers. Most people CD (as you can with SCSI). tend to be quite expensive (£10 - £15). ways, the last device in the chain can ware is called a file system. There are lar, well simply they provide an inex- will also want to be able to hear their Several patch programs are available For a little more you can buy a four way have it’s built-in termination switched on several CD file systems available for the pensive way of distributing a large Amiga audio at the same time, which which add ATAPI support to the Amiga’s IDE interface which makes connecting (if it has it) or a separate terminator can Amiga. One of the most popular is amount of data. Even though we were a causes a problem. To further add to the IDE drivers these include IDE Fix and the devices easier, allows you to use up be plugged into the last connector. AmiCDFS, which is available on Aminet, bit slow off the mark taking up CD-ROM problem the output from the CD-ROM EIDE99. to four IDE devices and often includes this works with almost all CD-ROMs and in the Amiga world now most modern IDEFix or EIDE’99 which you’d have to Most SCSI controllers have termination and that from the Amiga are at different Another solution to the ATAPI support is unrestricted shareware. AsimCDFS is software is distributed on the silver disc buy separately otherwise. built in so as long as you make the con- levels so you need a proper mixer, problem is to buy OS 3.5 which comes a commercial package that comes with and huge collections of software are troller one end of the chain you only simply combining the signals is bound to with a new version of the IDE driver soft- Whichever way you choose to go you loads of extras and a preferences pro- available in the form of magazine cover ware which does support ATAPI, it also need to set up the CD-ROM and hard discs and collections like Aminet. includes a good CD filesystem. disk correctly. If you have them both So if you haven’t got a CD-ROM drive plugged on to the same IDE cable you More Haste Less Speed? You can buy pretty much any ATAPI it’s a pretty essential purchase and this need to set one as master and the other compatible IDE CD-ROM and it will work The first CD-ROM drives transferred called Constant Linear Velocity or CLV speed before it can be accessed which feature will guide you in buying and in- as slave this is achieved by setting on your Amiga, even the latest 40 speed data at the same speed as audio CDs, for short. Some CDs are not stable slows response time in interactive stalling one. If you already have a CD- jumpers on the device. If you had the drives are commonly available for less 150kb per second. As technology im- when spun at over about 12X when operations like looking through direc- ROM we hope you’ll find out a bit more hard disk attached before it is probably than 40 pounds as an internal unit. proved faster drives were developed reading the inside of the disc so to tories on Workbench. Fast drives also about how it works with the Amiga’s OS set to master so simply set the CD-ROM When shopping for drives beware that with their speed commonly expressed enable drives to go faster a new type of often suffer from excess noise and and there are also some suggestions of to slave and plug it in. If you have a four many older CD-ROM drives for PCs did as how many times faster than an drive was invented. Constant Angular vibration. To avoid wear and minimise free and shareware software that will way IDE interface you will have two IDE not follow the ATAPI standard and audio CD they are. For example a 12X Velocity drives spin the CD at a con- noise many drives exacerbate the spin- help you get more from your drive. connectors (often called channels) and required a custom interface card which drive can transfer data at 1800kb per stant speed accepting that data will be up problem by stopping the CD after a you can connect two drives to each one, are not available for the Amiga (one ex- second. As speeds increased beyond read at different speeds on different few moments of inactivity so it has to What You Need one master and one slave. If you have ception to this is the tandem card which about 12X several problems caused by parts of the disc. Most modern drives be spun up again on the next access. If one device on each channel set them A CD-ROM drive worked with Mitsumi custom CD-ROMs). spinning the compact disc far faster are CAV and this fact is often indicated your main use for a CD-ROM is to in- both to master. A suitable interface Unfortunately most of these drives use than was originally intended were by the word “max” after the speed. stall programs, watch animations and A CD File system the same 40 pin connector as genuine SCSI encountered. 32Xmax for example indicates that 32X listen to music, all activities where the ATAPI drives and can damage your IDE is the maximum that will be achieved CD is in constant use, you’ll find a Audio CD players and slower CD-ROM IDE interface if you plug them in so shop If you have a SCSI (often pronounced on the very outside of the disc. Other faster drive will be a real boon as data drives spin the CD at different speeds with care. As a rule if you stick to drives scuzzy) interface for your Amiga then manufacturers are clearer and label will be transferred faster. If you’re more IDE CD-ROM drives are very widely depending on what part is being read to of 8 speed or faster you’ll find they are fitting a CD-ROM drive is quite simple. their CAV drives with the minimum and likely to be exploring magazine cover available at low cost because they are keep the data transfer rate constant at ATAPI compliant, if you’re unsure con- Almost all Amiga SCSI interfaces will maximum speeds possible for example CDs and Aminet discs you may well the most popular standard in the PC all times. This means the disc has to be firm the spec of the drive with the manu- work with CD-ROMs, you’re only likely 14/32. find a slower drive is actually much world. IDE CD-ROMs use an extension spun faster when the laser is reading facturer (most have excellent technical to run into problems with really old (pre easier to live with. to the IDE standard called ATAPI, this the centre of the disc than when it is High speed drives also have a problem references on their web site) before you 1990) ones. If your Amiga is in a case extension is also used by other IDE reading the outside, this type of drive is in that they have to spin the disc up to devices such as ZIP drives. Amiga try and use it. with 5.25" drive bays you can fit a SCSI 14 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 15 FEATURES FEATURES gram. Other options are CacheCDFS Setting up the File PlextorControl - disk/cdrom which comes with IDEFix and This useful command line utility allows AllegroCDFS that comes with EIDE’99. System you to set some of the advanced options All the above are very good and work CDROM Most CD File systems, with the available with the excellent SCSI CD- well. As a long term user I’d happily notable exception of AmiCDFS, ROMs made by Plextor. Options include recommend AmiCDFS unless you get come with an installer to help set changing the spin down delay for faster one of the others with your IDE interface up your CD-ROM, this is included browsing of CD-ROMs and options to or particularly need to read Utilities during the installation of IDEFix slow down the drive on damaged discs. CDs which are in the Joliett format that CDCat uses a simple MUI interface. and EIDE’99 too. However this AmiCDFS does not support but the If your SSD2 - disk/cdrom section explains what’s nce you’ve got your CDROM crunch, copy and view them etc. other three do. DOSDriver going on during the in- up and running there are a This utility stops Toshiba SCSI CD- icon does CDs are not formatted with the same stallation and should O whole host of utilities available Audio Players ROMs spinning down so quickly when not have any filesystem as hard drives and floppy help you answer any which you can use to deal with the huge they’re not in use which is very annoying Tool Types All CD-ROM drives that I’m aware of disks, in fact there are several CD awkward ques- amount of data found on the discs and when you’re browsing directories. defined you’ll probably allow you to play audio CDs on your formats commonly used. Most com- tions the installer to help you control the drive. Most of the have to edit the computer however you need a utility to puters including the Amiga, PCs and asks you. ones mentioned here are available Audio Extraction DOSDriver itself. A control the play back. These range from Unix machines use the standard ofrom Aminet either on the Internet or CD file systems usually DOSDriver is simply a text the very simple to complex programs It can often be useful to extract audio ISO9660 format which means a CD- from the CDROMs (of course)! consist of two parts, the file file that defines some informa- with more features than your stereo! from a CD onto your hard drive, once ROM from any of these machines system itself which resides in the L tion about the device needed by There are absolutely loads on Aminet there you can use it as a sample in should be readable on any of the others. Picture Cataloguing directory and a DOSDriver which is the file system so it can be easily but here are a few of our favourites: music programs, encode it into an Macs use a format called HFS which is normally called CD0 (if you want you edited. Assuming your DOSDriver is Many CD-ROMs are available with a MPEG audio file or even burn it onto a the same as their hard disks and flop- Groovy Player - disk/cdrom can name it anything you like and if you called CD0 choose Execute Command wealth of images of all kinds from mono compilation CD if you have a CD writer. pies but can also read 9660 discs if set had more than one CD-ROM you could from the Workbench menu and enter the clipart to 24bit photos. For this type of This neat player is now freeware, it has Most SCSI CD-ROM drives and some up to do so. The ISO9660 format is fairly have CD1, CD2 etc.). There may also be following command: disc a picture cataloguing program an attractive front end that looks like a IDE ones are able to transfer audio data restrictive, for example it only allows PC other support files that need to be allows you to search through a Hifi component. Supports all the normal across the bus rather than just play style eight character filenames. For ed sys:Storage/DOSDrivers/CD0 copied to the system directories. After thumbnail index of the images on a par- options like random play, program play audio CDs. Depending on the drive you machines which allow longer filenames the support files have been copied it’s Press enter and you should be ticular CD-ROM without even having the and intro scan. You can also name each may be able to extract the audio at (Amigas, Unix etc.) a set of extensions safest to place the DOSDriver in the presented with the DOSDriver loaded disc in the drive. Once you’ve found the of your CDs and all the tracks then greater than the speed of a standard CD to the ISO9660 standard were defined Storage/DOSDrivers directory so it will into an editor. Near the top of the file you image you want it can tell you exactly Groovy will recognise the CD when you but it usually does not reach the full called the Rockridge extensions. There not be mounted at boot up until you’re should see two lines looking something where it is. insert it. speed of the drive. is an Amiga specific portion of these ex- happy everything is working correctly. like this: tensions which allow Amiga protection PhotoAlbum - gfx/misc Plugged - disk/cdrom MakeCD - http://makecd.core.de Then you need to configure the CDFS to bits and file comments to be preserved DEVICE = scsi.device use the correct device and unit number Extremely fast shareware picture My personal favourite CD player, this Can legally be used for to extract audio on a CD, all the above Amiga CDFSs UNIT = 3 for your CD-ROM. This is done by edit- cataloguer, effortlessly handles CD- shareware program is now sadly unsup- without registering and supports a wide support these extensions. ing the DOSDriver. Some DOSDrivers Again simply change them to suit your ROMs with thousands of images and ported. Plugged lets you define play lists range of drives, the interface is complex have the device and unit defined as tool- set up and save the file using the saves catalogues of a reasonable size. for each of your CDs then happily play if you just want it for extraction though. types. To check this, click once on the Project/Save menu item. Includes functions to load images into just the tracks you want in the order you .device ? CDDA - disk/cdrom DOSDriver icon then choose Information image processors. Optimised for Amigas choose when you insert the CD. Once you’ve done this you should be Got a SCSI or IDE controller but from the Workbench Icons menu. In the with graphics cards. Reviewed in A small command line program which able to double click on the DOSDriver ACDP - disk/cdrom you’re not sure what its device name information window look for the following Clubbed Issue 2. has worked well for me but is difficult to for your CD-ROM to mount the drive. is? Here’s a list of the more common lines in the tooltypes section: This player has similar functionality to use. A number of extra GUIs are avail- Now insert a disc and in a few moments Collector - gfx/misc ones: Groovy player but uses a standard able on Aminet. DEVICE= an icon should appear on your This cataloguer displays better than GadTools interface if you prefer that over A1200 and 4000 IDE scsi.device UNIT= Workbench. You can then use the CD- PhotoAlbum on AGA Amigas although it Groovy’s custom look. OptyCDPlayer - disk/cdrom A3000 SCSI scsi.device ROM just as you would any other disc, If they are present simply click on each generates thumbnails more slowly. A MUI based Audio CD player with an A4000T SCSI 2nd.scsi.device except of course standard CD-ROMs one and edit the tooltype to reflect your Reviewed in Clubbed Issue 1. Drive Control Utilities extraction option. I couldn’t get it to work Most GVP gvpscsi.device are read-only... you can’t save anything set up then click save. For example if on my drive but if it works with yours it GuruROM omniscsi.device on to them. When you’re happy the CD- Ejectors you had a CD-ROM set as unit 4 on a Drive Cataloguing has a much easier interface than CDDA. Blizzard 12x0 SCSI 1230scsi.device ROM is working use Workbench to move GVP SCSI controller you might set the There are a number of utilities on CyberStorm MkI and 2 SCSI Module the DOSDriver icon from the These programs will generate an index Grabator - disk/cdrom tool types to: Aminet which allow you to eject the CD- Storage/DOSDrivers drawer into the of every file on a CD (or indeed any cybscsi.device ROM from your Amiga. Two good ones A shell based utility specially designed DEVICE=gvpscsi.device Devs/DOSDrivers drawer, your CDROM disk) and allow you to quickly search for CyberStorm MkIII and PPC are EjectCD (disk/cdrom) which opens to extract perfect audio from scratched UNIT=4 will now be available every time you files without putting each disc in the cybppc.device a small window with a button to eject the or damaged CDs, it may also improve Blizzard PPC blizzppc.device boot. If you want to use the CD-ROM drive. If you’re using an ATAPI CD-ROM check CD and dbEject (disk/misc) which is a grabs from CD-ROMs with poor audio bsc Oktagon 2008 oktagon.device from the shell you can refer to it by the the documents that came with your CDCat - disk/cdrom shell command that can be called from extraction quality. Optimised for quality HiSoft Squirrel squirrelscsi.device name of the disc you’ve inserted or by ATAPI driver (IDEFix, EIDE’99 etc.) to scripts, Directory Opus etc. rather than speed. the name of the DOSDriver, for example This MUI program is very attractive and If your controller isn’t on this list and find the correct device name and unit CD0:. straight forward to use. It creates you don’t have any documentation a number to use. catalogues of even large CDs very system information program like If you’re not sure of the device name for quickly and searching through several Scout or XOpa will list all the devices your controller take a look at its disks was virtually instant on my ‘060. on your system, with a bit of luck documentation, we also have a few of Once you’ve found the files you’re look- you’ll be able to see the one which the common controllers listed in the ing for CDCat even has a simple file relates to you controller. manager built-in where you can de- “.device?” box. Groovy Player is well... groovy! 16 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 17 REVIEWS REVIEWS

water colour or sponge. The brush style Something Fishy affects what is laid down on your paint Reviews are very subjective, what one layer. You can alter the size and pres- reviewer may love, another hates. Such sure of the brush to get just the effect is life. So we decided to have a general Photogenics you’re looking for and there is also a score, which the reader can take into transparency setting which allows the account along with the text. image to show through what you’ve painted. Because you are not painting So we invented the fish... it’s easy to After a rocky start with the buggy on the image itself but the paint layer work out which we feel is a better 4.0 version Photogenics 4 is ready you can alter what you’ve painted to product... the more bones that show, the your hearts content without actually smellier the fish :). We only award our to take on the world. Robert changing the image. At any time you top Caviar rating to products that are Williams and Mick Sutton find out can “spray off” what you’ve painted by practically perfect. 4 painting over it with the right mouse hotogenics has always been un- terface on button rather than the left, correcting like any other graphics package the Workbench screen with the preferen- mistakes is very easy. When you’re Pon the Amiga (or in fact any plat- ces window open on the Screenmode happy with the effect you’ve achieved form that I’m aware of), with its unique page for you to choose a screenmode. you simply fix the changes which Caviar paint layer enabling you to spray on and The following types of display are sup- actually alters the image and clears the off a multitude of effects. Then you ex- ported: paint layer ready for a different paint The best so far! We can hardly pick periment with the effect applied and its mode or colour to be applied. anything out of it, not even boogers. 16 Grey scales on ECS machines. 256 settings all without touching the original Rarer than Nessie. Greyscales, 256 colours (dithered), or If you’ve got the gist of how Photogenics image until you were completely happy. HAM 8 on AGA machines. 16 or 24bit works from the above (and it’s hard to The paint-on pyrotechnic effects are stunning. Photogenics was originally designed In this grab you can also see the flexible palette-based interface. CyberGraphX screens for those lucky describe in words believe me) you’re and written by Paul Nolan when he was probably thinking it sounds pretty im- enough to own a CgX or Picasso 96 mode your progress is hardly interrupted Using the rub-through paint mode you just 16, an amazing achievement. The pressive and flexible, however there is supported graphics card. as fixing even large images is now can use layers to compose several im- package was then published by another trick up its sleeve. You can not almost instant (it could take nearly a ages together. You simply make a layer Almathera and reached version 2 when Initially the interface consists of a tool- only paint on colours but also special minute in Photogenics 2). for each image and set the secondary they went out of business. Paul then bar along the top of the screen and an effects too. Because they can be image for each layer to the one you took the package on again and started Options window down the left-hand side. painted on these effects are referred to Along with the various brush types there This product is definitely worth buying want to compose. Then the rub through writing a new version from scratch, after The toolbar has buttons for common a “Paint Modes”. There is a wide range are also smear and smudge functions but, like most things, still has room for paint mode will bring the secondary more than two years of development options such as loading and saving to choose from and all of them can be which blend the existing image together. improvement. image onto the layer. Because layers Photogenics 4 was born. along with drawing tools and a drop simply painted on to the areas you want Unlike the previous versions of down list of the various paint modes can be moved and their position in the The two version number jump is a sign to change using any of the tools and Photogenics these modes can now be (image processing effects) you can stack changed you can simply organise that this is no ordinary upgrade, in fact brush styles. As you can change the rubbed off with the right mouse button apply. The Options window consists of your composition without committing to Photogenics 4 is a completely new pro- colour of what you’ve painted you can making them far more friendly to use. five pages each containing some tools any changes until you are completely gram sharing only some concepts from simply choose a different paint mode These two functions are very useful for or settings. This area of the program is happy. version 2. Not only is the user interface and it will be applied to the areas you’ve blending changes into an existing picture completely configurable, you can quite different but major new features painted over. Altering any options the and for changing even simple effects One really annoying aspect of choose which options appear on which paint mode has will instantly show you into beautiful flowing works of art, Photogenics’ layers implementation that Average, neither too good nor too bad have been added. In this review we are page of the window and open new the results too. The options for the cur- anyone who has seen Paul Nolan dem- is that a layered image cannot be saved — it works but there are areas which going to look at Pgs 4 as a completely options windows to which you can add rent paint mode are displayed in the onstrate Photogenics will know what I with the layers intact. This means you need major improvement or are way new program as much as possible. the options of your choice. For example options window so you don’t have to mean. The smear tool can even be used have to finish your masterpiece in one behind competing products. What You Get if you prefer having the colour palette continually open and close requesters to to achieve Goo type effects by stretching session as it will be saved as a standard available all the time you can simply experiment with the options. As all features of an image. To use the smear flat image. The Photogenics 4 packaging is mini- drag it off the initial options window and effects are paint modes you can use the tool smoothly, especially with larger For a hands on explanation of layers malist however as it is supplied on CD it will automatically make a new window brush settings and transparency options brush sizes, you’ll need a high spec take a look at our tutorial on page 33. with on-line documentation there really so you can place it where you like on to get subtle results. Amiga however as it is very CPU in- SMELLY is no need for more than the slim plastic screen. The only limitation I could find tensive. case in which the CD is supplied. with options windows is that they are Users of Photogenics 1 and 2 will recog- Undo nise this description from the older ver- Crap, but hopefully getting better in Photogenics is installed by dragging its designed for vertical orientation, al- Layers On top of the excellent paint layer tech- sions. In Photogenics 4 this method of future versions (if there are any). drawer from the CD onto your hard though you can stretch the window hori- nology Photogenics also has probably working is called experiment mode and Photogenics 4 allows you to add multiple drive, no installer is required. When zontally the contents remain in a narrow the most powerful Undo system in any as the name implies makes experiment- layers to your image, this makes the ex- Photogenics 4 is first run it opens its in- column. Amiga graphics program. You can undo ing with effects extremely easy. isting paint layer much more powerful as operations even if the results have been Product Information However if you know what you want to you can now have several active paint Painting fixed to a limit set in the preferences. achieve having to click Fix every time layers allowing you to experiment easily Developer: Paul Nolan The limit is set in the number of com- In Photogenics when you paint the effect you’re happy with a change can be a bit with combinations of effects. Each paint Distributor: Paul Nolan plete image undos to store. If you have is applied to a paint layer (more about annoying. In this case you can now turn layer can have its own paint mode, tool, WWW: www.paulnolan.com the undo limit set to three you could layers later). You can paint on the layer experiment mode off, Photogenics will brush, and transparency, not to mention Te l: undo three complete image effects or a with a variety of tools including free then fix the changes you made as soon an individual alpha channel and secon- Disgusting, multicolour yawn inducing USA 1 800 243 1515, extn. 400 huge number of individual brush strokes. hand, circle, rectangle, polygon etc. as you change the colour or paint mode, dary image. Layers are stacked one abomination that insults the Amiga. Orderline only, see website for fur- On the tool bar there are Undo and Each of these tools can be used with a this makes the painting process much above the other and there are com- ther details. Redo buttons which allow you to go choice of brush styles such as air brush, more natural. Even when in experiment mands to alter the order of the layers. Price: $99.99 (approx. £63) back and forward through what is in 18 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 19 REVIEWS REVIEWS

painting where you left off after using as if the “camera” was moving instead of you’ll need to use an external package. The Options them. Cropping is implemented as a tool the subject of the image. Probably them There is also no PhotoCD support which window pop-up bar button, when selected you simply most interesting is radial blur, this blurs seems odd as even with the rise of digi- menu allows you draw a box around the area you want to radially outwards from a central point tal cameras this is still a common format to add plugins. keep, an options panel appears which giving the feeling that the subject is for getting your own photos onto a com- Shown is the allows you to enter the exact position of rushing towards you. puter. NGIO plugin which the box manually. Burn Through lets you choose Documentation Reveals the secondary image through loader, saver and Pyrotechnics The on-line documentation is in HTML the main image where you paint, giving printer modules. Some of the most immediately impres- format so you can view it with any web the edge a singed look as if it was burnt. sive features of Photogenics 4 are the browser and it can include images and paint on pyrotechnics. These brush Cloner formatting. Photogenics uses the useful styles emulate different types of fire, openurl.library to launch your preferred Allows you to seamlessly clone part of neon lights and stars. You simply use browser from the help menu. The the image elsewhere by simply setting these brush types as you would any documentation is pretty comprehensive the offset and painting on the copy. This other (although they work best on a dark covering all the paint modes and tools is useful for covering up unwanted background). Creating anything from fire along with the concepts behind objects and blemishes in photos and balls to starry skies is easy. Most work Photogenics’ operation. At the moment producing fake squadrons of aircraft or best if you apply them in several passes it only has one tutorial but Paul hopes to families of children :). each with a slightly different colour. The expand this section soon. fire effects in particular look brilliant if RubThrough you smear them a little afterwards to The Need for Speed Like Burn Through this effect reveals the give a heat haze effect. secondary image but in this case with no You need a high spec Amiga to use The layer system is excellent for compositions. Paint Modes special effect at the edge. With multiple Photogenics 4 at its best, especially on machine is to make sure experiment an excellent tool for experimentation layers you can use Rub Through to large images. The real time nature of mode is on then paint over the area you even more flexible. It’s important to In Photogenics version 4.2 there are compose several images over the back paint-on effects can make them pretty want to affect using a fast paint mode remember that version 4 is a completely about 50 different paint modes which ground with each image on a separate frustrating on a slow machine. Instead of like ‘Paint’. You can then switch to the new program so it’s not surprising that effect a history of operations performed apply a wide variety of effects to your paint layer. getting a smooth curve from a sweeping mode you want to apply once the area’s not every feature of Photogenics 2 has on your image. Even more powerfully image. All of them can be applied to the mouse movement you get a series of covered, remember to Fix when you’re made it into the new version. That said it each button has a drop-down menu areas of the paint layer you want using File Format Support straight lines for example. The speed of happy. would be nice to have the wider file which shows a list of operations per- the painting toolsand most have a set of application depends on the complexity format support and AREXX scripting Version 4 supports a reasonable range One nice addition would be a progress formed and allows you to Undo back to options to alter their effect. Some of the of the effect, the blurs which were some from the previous version. Because of file formats such as JPEG and IFFs bar for the current paint mode as oc- a specific operation with one click. more interesting ones are: of the worst offenders in previous ver- Photogenics has a different philosophy for both loading and saving however casionally it’s hard to tell what’s going Undoing multiple operations can be a bit sions have been sped up dramatically in to other art programs (on the Amiga and Adjust there are some notable exceptions. GIF on especially if the mode has a very slow, you can actually see Photogenics 4.2. As I mentioned earlier even on an other platforms) it does take a while to support is missing (this is due to the subtle effect or it’s applied to just part of undo your work in reverse order! The The Adjust paint mode groups a number ‘060 the smear tool can only be used get to know it and appreciate the flexibil- licensing issues with Unisys) so if you the image. This would be particularly speed is a small price to pay for such a of common colour adjustments making it smoothly at quite small brush sizes. ity it offers. Once you have made it up want to create transparent web graphics useful when layers are being used as powerful feature. ideal for photo and scan retouching. You the learning curve you will find One boon on slow machines is that all the combination of several processor can alter the brightness, contrast and Photogenics 4 gives you amazing free- the effects are interruptible. This means intensive paint modes can lead to really gamma as well as changing the intensity dom to experiment at an excellent price. Image Manipulation that as you see the paint mode being of the RGB colour channels individually. long processing times even on a fast Menu options are provided to rotate or applied slowly to your image you can As with all Photogenics paint modes you Amiga. scale your image, both these tools offer change its options or even select a dif- can apply it to only certain areas of the As with any 24bit graphics program a the option to also affect any layers and ferent effect. Photogenics will im- Results image with the airbrush to correct small graphics card makes the world of dif- or alpha channels so you can continue mediately stop applying the old mode imperfections or to the entire image to and start again with the new mode or ference to Photogenics. Although it will deal with larger problems. Pros settings. Another useful tip for painting work on AGA the dithered 256 colour or The ModeOpts rather chunky HAM8 display loses a lot Astounding paint-on effects Stability Bizarre Pixelise on processor intensive effects on a slow plugin always of detail from the image you’re working Amazingly flexible interface Absolutely fab for experimenting As tends to be the case with brand This paint mode breaks the image up displays the on. These screen modes are also very new software the first couple of into user definable squares then distorts options for the Version 4.3 slow due to chipset limitations no matter releases of Photogenics 4 were the image in each one, the final effect current mode how fast your processor. Working on Cons Can’t save layers somewhat buggy and caused looks a bit like frosted glass and is really avoiding a Paul Nolan has recently released a large images is quite memory intensive, No feedback on slow operations problems on many people’s stunning. seperate public beta version of Photogenics Photogenics itself needs about 2Mb of No AREXX interface machines. My experience with 4.2 Blurs window for 4.3, this is mainly a bug fix release RAM to load, plus what ever is required has been pretty positive, it’s not per- each. but it does include a progress bar so for its screen. Then each image you load fect and I have had the odd crash but Although blur is a common function in you can see how slow operations are needs about 3 times the size of its raw it’s perfectly acceptable. However most image processors Photogenics has progressing and an effect preview 24bit image data. Mick Sutton and Gary Storm who run several different types to achieve dif- which shows you the effect on a the program on BlizzardPPC ferent effects. The basic blur effect blurs thumbnail of the image. The current Conclusion the image evenly all over, motion blur BVisionPPC combos have found it beta is pretty unstable but when it is Photogenics 4 is a brilliant program, blurs in a particular direction giving an less reliable than I do, currently we released 4.3 will effectively counter multiple layers are a perfect compliment illusion of speed, pan blur smears the haven’t diagnosed what is causing one of my few criticisms of to the paint layer concept in previous image slightly differently to motion blur, the problem. Photogenics 4. versions. This makes what was already 20 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 21 REVIEWS REVIEWS

The heavyweight of you select the effect a grid is drawn over It’s a pity to that the the image and you place the four Blob effect and the The new Amiga image corners where you want them, the grid new Move brush Distorter effect shows you what distortion will occur. animation requester is very useful processing gets another When you click Okay the image is dis- make you enter co- for warping major upgrade, Robert torted into the shape. This effect can ordinates manually images into give you the exact result you need very rather than clicking on awkward Image Williams finds out quickly without fiddling for ages with the the image to pick spaces like settings of the Complex Rotate effect. points. This is tricky what’s new. this monitor Distorter can also be used on a layer to to do and tends to FX screen. he announcement of ImageFX 4 are basically three types of animated animation systems to coexist. For ex- overlay one image for another, you end in trial and error was quite a surprise so soon effect you can apply: ample multiple objects (each on its own could use it to fit a new picture into a or noting co-ordinates after the release of 3.2 especially layer) could be simultaneously picture frame on an existing image. on scraps of paper. T Hand Drawn The previews of some after the very long wait between 2.6 and animated, animated layers could be Blob 3.0. However the upgrade dropped You can use any of ImageFX’s tools to faded in and out etc. etc. effects are still inac- through my door on the weekend of the create an image on each frame, you can Does exactly what it says on the tin, curate too making WoA show so I’ve had a few of months switch on the light table to see dimmed New Effects creates a gooey, translucent blob of them worse than use- to get my teeth into it. versions of the previous 3 frames to help gunk over your image. In true ImageFX less. These problems Three brand new effects are included place your new image correctly. fashion there are a wide range of in brand new effects Animated with ImageFX 4. These effects are im- options, you can alter the colour, shape, make me feel as if Nova isn’t moving Animate Brush plemented as hooks which are loaded size, position (you have to manually away from ImageFX’s rather old The big new feature in ImageFX 4 is a by choosing them from a file requester Anyone who is familiar with DPaint’s enter co-ordinates) and even texture of fashioned and occasionally downright built in animation system, previously you rather than a button in the main inter- move option will recognise this method your blob. The effect supports animation obstructive interface. Conclusion could only create animated effects using face. This seems rather odd and makes of animating. ImageFX lets you take a so you can have the blob slide over your the two external batch processing the effects feel like “last minute” ad- Although the animation system isn’t all I brush and specify its start and finish image leaving a slime trail (ugh!). Quite Stability engines supplied: AutoFX and IMP ditions to the package which they clearly hoped it might be when version 4 was positions. The package then moves the what you would use it for other than a bit (ImageFX Multi Processor). The anima- aren’t. Here’s a brief description of them: I’m very pleased to be able to report that announced it is still a very useful tool brush frame by frame between the two of fun is somewhat debatable though. tion system is implemented by extending the first version of ImageFX 4 has been especially if you’re willing to learn how positions. You can also make the brush Distorter the existing layers system, instead of Fireworks very stable in the couple of months I’ve to make your own effect over time rotate on any axis during the move. been using it. The same certainly could having a number of layers stacked one This effect allows you to distort your A really nice effect that produces bursts scripts. The new effects are pretty good not be said for version 3.x which even in above the other an animation has a Effect Over Time image by dragging its corners. When of pixels much like an exploding rocket. and I’m pleased to see they have the number of frames. You use the layer the last 3.2 version occasionally fell over array of options that ImageFX users are The final option is to apply an ImageFX This is a classic ImageFX effect with manager window to select frames in the on my machine. As I said in my review used to. The nicest thing of all for me is effect that changes over the frames of loads of parameters to set so you get animation, as you would select layers in the problem seemed to be that not all that ImageFX 4 seems to be back to the the animation. This is achieved by using Image What? just the result you want. Because you a still image. As you can move layers in the modules had been updated to cope rock solid reliability of version 2.6 which effect over time AREXX scripts which can also use your own brushes as well the stack you can move frames in the with layers, this seems to have been seemed to elude even version 3.2. After are executed for each frame of the ImageFX is probably the most com- as individual pixels for the “particles” animation. Some extra VCR style play done now and IFX is reliable again. the major 3.0 upgrade 4 seems pretty animation you select. A reasonable prehensive image processing pro- that make up the burst I’m sure this controls are included in the bottom of minor and many of the defects are still variety of scripts are supplied and most gram on the Amiga. It not only boasts effect can be used to achieve all sorts of Other improvements include an updated the layer manager window which enable there, yet the upgrade fee is the same. of them pop up a window allowing you to painting tools and a wide range of interesting results. Again this effect is Text module which works with PostScript you to play the animation directly in the For new users you get a tremendous alter the start and end parameters of the effects most of which have a huge ready for animation. fonts (although it seems rather picky on preview window. While this system amount for your money, now if they script. ImageFX has a huge library of range of configuration options it also which ones work), has much better an- makes animation easy to use especially could just sort out that manual... effects and these take on a whole new has the following “extras” included: tialiasing and works properly with layers. if you’re already used to the layers The Lens Flare module has also been dimension when animated. Some of the • An infinite number of layers for system it has the negative effect of enhanced with some more light designs supplied scripts include, an animated compositing effects. OS3.5 Issues Results making layers and animation mutually and extra options. lightning bolt, ripples, bubbles and many • Scanner modules for Epson (paral- exclusive, you cannot animate a layered There are a couple of problems with more. Creating your own scripts isn’t too lel and SCSI) and HP (SCSI). image. ImageFX running under OS3.5. Documentation Again Pros hard because you can record an effect • A stand alone morphing package . Easy to use animation features You can add animated effects to still im- Firstly the background images for being applied then compare the • Loaders and savers for more file When ImageFX 3 was only documented Some very useful new effects ages or load in a sequence of frames. both the screen and image windows recorded script with an EOT one and formats than you can shake a stick by a small addendum to the excellent Layers now more stable and complete are corrupted. This seems to be a The sequence can be either an anima- add the missing details. One thing that I at including Photoshop. ImageFX 2.0 manual. Unfortunately ver- datatypes problem as replacing the tion in a variety of formats (including IFF did find a little odd is that there are no • Support for CyberGraphX and many sion 4 suffers the same fate. The adden- old datatypes solves it or you can Cons and GIF anims) or a set of separate scripts supplied that fade one image into older display boards. dum is sadly lacking in detail and while it rename the files Ghost.iff and Inadequate documentation frames numbered sequentially. Once another which I would have thought • AutoFX and IMP batch processing covers all the new features there are no BackDrop.iff this removes the back- You cannot animate layers you have some frames to work on there would be a popular option especially engines. tutorials to help you use them. ImageFX drops completely. The other problem Upgrade expensive for its features Product Information with videographers. • Optional PowerStation PowerPC is such a big complex program (some of is that the Classact cycle gadgets the effects alone are as powerful as ImageFX 4's animation features are use- modules (£75 extra). used by ImageFX don’t work under stand-alone programs) that much of its Developer: Nova Design ful and make it much easier to produce • Full AREXX interface including 3.5 with its new ClassAct-based power will remain untapped without a Distributor: Eyetech effect over time animations that would macro recorder. Reaction GUI system. The solution to good manual to take you by the hand. Te l: +44 (0) 1642 713185 previously have needed AutoFX. The this problem is to add the tooltype The 4.0 addendum covers all the WWW: www.eyetech.co.uk brush move and onion skin animation ImageFX doesn’t have the same sort CYCLE_GADGET=NORMAL to the changes (including the addition of layers www.novadesign.com styles are new and couldn’t be easily of easy usability as programs like ImageFX program icon which forces and animation) from version 2.0 to 4.0 in Price: Full...... £149.95 achieved before. However it does seem Photogenics but once you master it the program to use standard 67 pages, the original manual was over 2.x - 4.0 ...... £99.95 to me that so much more could have there is a huge amount of power GadTools cycle gadgets. 400 pages, I think that says it all. 3.x - 4.0 ...... £74.95 been offered by allowing the layer and available. 22 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 23 REVIEWS REVIEWS

Digital cameras are Product Information getting better and more Developer: Versalia Camedia affordable by the day. Cam Distributor: Eyetech Te l: +44 (0) 1642 713185 Mick Sutton looks at a WWW: www.eyetech.co.uk Price: £29.95 beauty from Olympus.

Controlo you’ve bought yourself a fancy uses the same selection windows as the digital camera, now you will want save options. Print photo in camera C1000L hen digital cameras 1.8" LCD at the rear along with two rows the take shot button (not shutter release Sto connect it to your Amiga right? uses either Studio or Turboprint if you appeared on the scene I of buttons to perform various functions. as in most cameras) which when lightly Apart from Power Computing’s camera have them installed on your machine (it W have fancied one for myself, Some of these buttons are dual mode pressed makes the camera auto focus software that is bundled with the Mustek loads the images into Studio or Graphics but the cameras were very expensive functions depending wether you are in on the object in the centre of the lens, cameras that they sell, I can think of Publisher), but unfortunately you can’t and the image quality not good enough record mode or playback mode, for ex- and when fully pressed takes the shot. only one commercial package that is print directly or withWorkbench drivers... in my opinion, but as with all technologi- ample in play mode the top four buttons The integral flash is rather cunningly available to the Amiga user, and that is shame! We (Robert Williams and I) had cal products eventually prices tumble are Delete, Print, Slideshow and hidden in the top part of the case, when Cam Control from Vesalia Computer. to edit the AREXX script to and the quality rises to a point where Thumbnail. The same four buttons in you need to use it (an information allow printing because it was you think it’s time to take the plunge. record mode are Self timer, Macro, Cam control provides drivers for a range window in the viewfinder lets you know set for the German version of Flash settings and Spot of digital cameras from various manu- As with most devices that you may want when flash is needed) just flick the little Turboprint... Achtung! metering. facturers (see boxout for details). A sep- to use in conjunction with your Amiga release lever and up it pops... neat! arate driver programme is provided for The last option is to delete you have to research which ones you The camera also has You select One aspect of this camera that drew me each camera manufacturer, for example images from camera which can get drivers for, and digital cameras another four buttons that to it is that it is actually basically a digital the Casio driver is called QVControl. All pictures to does exactly what it says on are no exception! So after reading are for Menu con- SLR because it meters everything drivers use the same interface but in- download, the tin, but why the option through many reviews of digital cameras trol, Fix through the lens, and what you clude different options depending on the print and would be used I don’t know, that could be used on the Amiga I see through capabilities of the camera. delete as all the digital cameras that decided to purchase the Olympus the viewfin- using I have seen have this option Camedia C1000L. Several factors der is what Installation thumbnails on the camera! Images can helped me decide: image size 1024 x the camera also be loaded into ap- 768, renowned Olympus quality lens A standard installer is used to copy the connect your camera to the serial port actually plications that have AREXX support, that offers 3 x optical zoom, overall build correct driver for the camera you select and switch on (in play mode) and run the sees, where as such as Photogenics, Pagestream and quality of the camera, and a recent price onto your hard drive. Once the software software. A window opens showing five on many (nearly Personal Paint. reduction bringing it down to £299. is installed you can use a separate options Save film to disk, Save photo to all) digital preferences program to set up the disk, Show photo in camera, Print photo Conclusion If any of “Clubbed” readers read my cameras with driver. The camera is connected via the in camera and Delete photo in camera. column in the issue 3 then you will know zoom facility the serial port so the first thing that needs to Save film and save photo are pretty sim- Well it’s the only commercial digital the grief that I went through just to pur- viewfinder is only be set up is the serial device driver and ilar in operation, save film will save camera software available on the Amiga chase the bloody thing once I had let it an approximation unit number. If you are using the stan- selected photos to your hard drive and so it hasn’t got much competition, and slip that I was going to use it with my of the final shot. dard serial port on your Amiga then you name them by picture number as in the performs all the basic tasks you need Amiga , but that’s another story...! can leave these settings as default camera. Save photo will save the well, but at £30 I would have expected The camera takes (serial.device unit 0) but you will want to selected photos allowing you to name to see more features such as taking Hardware four AA size cells change them if you have a high speed each one as it is saved. The default path photo’s from the computer, direct print- which to be honest do not last serial port (such as Port Junior). The for each of these options is set by the ing support and an easier way to name The camera itself is rather unusual to long but rechargeable NiMH last default serial speed is 19,200bps which user in the preferences program. the photo’s from the preview window look at compared to most other digital better and are cheaper in the long run. is pretty slow believe me, if you have a before they are downloaded from the cameras which I have seen to date, focus 2.5m, Fix focus 0.4m and an OK Once you select your save option a The camera is supplied with a 2 MB fast processor, graphics card or a fast camera. Having said that it does the job looking more like a mini video camera button that is used in conjunction with second window opens which lets you Smartmedia card that can be replaced serial port then this should be able to required of it rather well without any than a stills camera, which I actually like some of the others. select a range of photos and also gives at any time with a larger one (I have an increase this to at least 57,600 (I have apparent problems and is pretty con- the look and feel of. you a preview of the current photo. An On top of the camera is a small LCD 8 MB card) up to 8 MB, or 32 MB if the mine set to 115,200). figurable to your requirements. overview window can be opened to dis- As I mentioned before the camera has a screen that confirms many settings or camera firmware is flash updated (via a By default Cam Control runs on a play thumbnails of all the photos in the Mick Sutton 3x optical zoom (as opposed to digital modes that you select and gives general PC only I’m afraid). zoom) and that equates to a 50-150mm information about battery condition, Workbench screen, but you can choose camera, you can click on a thumbnail to Finally on the far left hand side of the lens on a traditional camera. There is a quality setting and available shots left on its own public screen (a screen reques- select that photo, then you can set the camera are the various ports such as Results the Smartmedia card. Alongside the ter pops up) which is useful if you don’t orientation of the current photo and see power (adaptor not supplied), printer LCD there is a selector switch used to have a graphics card, but if you do, it the date and time it was taken. When Product Information (Olympus make a special printer for this set Record or Play modes and a button supports up to 24bit screens. If you wish you click on the OK button the range of camera), and communication which con- Developer: Olympus in the middle to power on/off. Also to run it on a public screen you can also photos you selected are downloaded nects to your computer’s serial port. choose which font for the screen... nice! from the camera with a progress bar in- Distributor: Dixons Group mounted on top of the camera is the dicating the total percentage done. Now discontinued... you may be able lens zoom control switch which operates Usage Usage to find one at a bargain price if you’re pretty much like any other camera of any The show photos option allows you to lucky! format, you just push it one way for wide The camera feels just right in your Once the Cam Control software is in- view the selected pictures in a viewer of WWW: www.olympus.com angle, and the other way for telephoto. hands, the balance and where the stalled and set up, the next thing is to your choice (set in preferences) and Price: £300 or less And finally in the middle of this control is buttons are located is just right. Switch 24 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 25 REVIEWS REVIEWS the camera on in record mode and you the camera to play mode and review browsing area, you simply click the tab however as these are an addendum to hear the lens motor move. them using either the slideshow function to see that page. the printed 1.2 manual it’s difficult to or select them individually from the main know where to look for answers, par- You are now ready to take a picture, just The useful context menus (which pop-up screen or you may overview them with IBrowse ticularly if you’re a new IBrowse user. point the camera at the desired object, when you press the right mouse button the thumbnail option, and here’s the The actual pages themselves are pretty press the take shot button part way and over an object) are still available but you beautiful part, if you think a picture is not sparse on information too with many one allow the camera to auto focus (a green Robert Williams looks at will be able to customise exactly what up to your required standard (Crap!) line descriptions of functions and not LED in the viewfinder confirms when options you want to appear in each one then just delete the bugger and retake it! the latest2.1 version of this enough in-depth explanations or focus is achieved). Then press the rest (when the interface actually works!). tutorials. of the way to take the shot. You will Not forgetting of course the best part popular browser. Menu options can be IBrowse built-in notice that as soon as you take the shot about digital cameras is that due to the Colour Screenshot on commands or even AREXX commands Bad Points (aka Bugs!) a red LED on the back of the camera fact no processing is required your pic- for really complex customisation. starts flashing (indicating that it is writing tures are totally private and anything the back cover... Version 2.1 is a huge improvement over The main change you notice when to the Smartmedia card) and the image goes (home photography has never The new Cache Browser. the 2.0 pre-release sold at WoA how- browsing normally with IBrowse 2 is the is displayed on the colour LCD screen been so much fun!), and also you can Browse 2 must be one of the most ever it’s still not perfectly stable and oc- did little more than strip out the HTML great increase in speed. Pages with for about 5-6 seconds. load them directly into the Amiga to view casionally locks up on my machine (and anticipated Amiga programs of the tags and send the plain text to your prin- large tables now appear instantly when full screen at your leisure, or if you want those of several other people I’ve talked The quality of pictures depends upon a Iyear. With the Internet becoming a ter. IBrowse 2 now has three printing they have downloaded where there used print them onto photo paper at any size part of many people’s everyday life a to). As I’ve mentioned a few options are few things such as the resolution you options: text, graphical and PostScript. to be several seconds delay (even on an you want and as many copies as you decent browser is becoming a require- not yet implemented like graphical print- picked from the menu (available choices The text mode is still pretty rudimentary ‘060), image decoding is also very want... brilliant! ment for a viable computing platform. ing and internal SSL (secure transac- are Low 640 x 480, High 1044 x 768 and and prints using printer fonts, tables and noticeably faster. Unfortunately as Internet standards (and tion) support (Registered Miami users Super which is 1024 x 768 but in a less My camera is used a lot for the photos lists are still not handled well (tables are proprietary systems) are developing it’s can use MiamiSSL). compressed format), how good the light- on our (SEAL) website, and nearly all admittedly hard to do). At the time of Interface Improvements hard for browser authors on a small plat- ing quality, and if you are in the correct photos printed within the pages of writing the graphical print option is dis- Probably the major change to the Conclusion mode for the type of situation you are in “Clubbed” , so you can see for yourself form like the Amiga to keep up. With abled and will be enabled in a future IBrowse interface is the new preferences (ie macro, force flash for background how useful it can be to us as a user support for Javascript and HTML 4 release. However from the documenta- IBrowse 2 is an evolution of previous IBrowse 2 goes some way towards clos- window. 1.22 has two preferences lighting, spot metering etc). group, for example when Jim Collas tion it sounds like this will enable high versions and in my opinion this is no bad ing the gap between the Amiga and the windows with tabs along the top which came to England in April the pictures quality printing on any printer using thing. The Javascript support (even Most of the time I have my Camedia set standards commonly found on the made it hard to find the option you were taken were on our website that night. compugraphic fonts. though it’s far from perfect) and better to Hi resolution mode which with my 8 looking for. In 2.x all the preferences are Internet. HTML rendering mean more websites MB Smartmedia card gives me about 40 Of course the software that you get with The jewel in the crown however is the in one MUI Prefs style window with a list are available to the IBrowse user. of the available pages down the left shots. the camera is no use on the Amiga but Java Script PostScript option, to use this you’ll need Browsing is not only faster but the small to my knowledge at least two software either a PostScript printer or a software hand side. There are now even more I have found that the Camedia is at its Javascript is a browser scripting lan- user interface changes add up to a big packages are available to you that are, PS interpreter such as GhostScript. options than before, the most notable best in well lit outdoor situations but is guage (not to be confused with Java, improvement in usability. The unex- these are the commercial Cam Control PostScript printing prints the page with being URL preferences where you can also good in less well lit conditions Sun’s cross platform programming lan- pectedly good PostScript printing is the and the Freeware Camedia available on smooth scalable fonts and includes im- set particular options for a particular provided the flash is enabled. The only guage) which allows web pages to be icing on the cake if you’ve got a PS prin- Aminet. ages and layout, the result looks really website. For example you could choose time I have had problems is when dark much more interactive. Javascript is ter or TP7. If HiSoft can get the stability fantastic and is by far the best way to to switch Javascript off for a particular situations arise and the camera has often used for trivial “eye candy” but is worked out and implement all the new Conclusion print web pages on the Amiga. Owners site which uses it just to pop-up annoy- problems auto focusing (it’s auto focus increasingly used to implement complex features it’ll be worth at least a Tasty, as of TurboPrint 7 can use its GhostScript ing advertising windows. system is not infra red... shame!) in- This camera offers very good digital im- interfaces within web pages. Many web it is... support to print webpages on any printer dicated by the green LED in the viewfin- ages, is easy to use and at a price that pages cannot be used unless your brow- Many other more minor improvements using its enhanced drivers. PostScript der flashing. Should this situation occur is more comparable to lesser quality ser supports JavaScript which has shut have been made to the interface and in printing does currently have a couple of the Camedia just refuses to take the (640 X 480) cameras. IBrowse users out of an increasing general IBrowse 2 is nicer to use than minor limitations; It only prints in black shot! But all is not lost as the camera number of sites. It is tough to get a reli- previous versions. A good example of and white not colour and there is no op- has a two fixed focus buttons (2.5 M & able Javascript implementation as web this is the cache browser which now Results tion to scale wide pages to fit on the Results 0.4 M) which can be used to force the authors tend to program so their sites- splits its list of documents held in the page. camera to focus at their preset focal works in Internet Explorer or NetScape cache into sections, one for each site Pros length, and hey presto you still have Pros you’ve visited. This means that instead rather than following the specs. Improved Browsing Fast your shot only maybe not perfectly Excelent picture quality of being presented with a list of Javascript 1.2 support is included in Many interface improvements sharp. Large optical zoom IBrowse has always been able to open thousands of individual HTML files and IBrowse 2.x which is the latest version Better website compatibility High build quality as many browser windows as you want images you can now see just the URLs As I have mentioned earlier the Fantastic PS printing Good battery life (on NiMH cells) however we found many of sites with however even a high resolution graphics of the websites you’ve visited. Double Camedia has a self timer (the camera JavaScript which either failed to work at card screen soon gets cluttered. In ver- clicking on a URL opens out a list of all does have a tripod mounting point), a all with IBrowse 2 or where only some Cons Cons sion 2 a new feature allows you to open the files cached from that site. macro mode for those close up arty elements worked. HiSoft seem Not as stable as 1.22 Difficulty focus locking in low-light several pages in the same window. shots and spot metering for those dedicated to improving the JavaScript another nice touch is the new cus- Javascript needs improvement conditions Each page has a tab at the top of the awkward shots (a black cat against a implementation and have asked that tomisable tool bar, you can decide which Some features not yet implemented bright white background for example) URLs which don’t work are EMailed to buttons will be on the toolbar and add and a flash function which is useful them so we hope that the situation will Product Information new ones to execute a built-in function should you wish to force the camera to gradually improve. Developer: Omnipresence Intl. or an AREXX script. AREXX scripts can use the flash for fill in light or maybe set Distributor: HiSoft also be launched from fast link buttons. it to red eye reduction for portrait shots Caviar Printing Te l: (0500) 223660 without the “Devils eyes” syndrome! Documentation A major bugbear in previous versions of WWW: www.hisoft.co.uk Once you have taken the pictures you IBrowse was its very poor printing sup- Price: Full Version £34.95 Appropriately on-line documentation is will no doubt want to see them! So set port. When you printed a page IBrowse 1.x Upgrade £12.95 provided in the form of HTML pages,

26 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 27 REVIEWS REVIEWS

Product Information Developer: Eyetech Contacts: See EZTower Review. Price: From: £39.95 TOWER BMon As Reviewed: £44.95 brought my BMon from the Eyetech What followed next I would hope is very EZ MkIV stall at the WoA ‘99, along with rare and I know of two other BMon users Isome other bits, as having a PPC who have had no problems what so Martin Miller’s A1200 gets a new home in one of Eyetech’s latest card and BVision I was having the lack ever. But as I am reporting my ex- of AGA blues. This was mainly because perience of the BMon I will tell all. So I EZTowers. Does it live up to the name? the wife complained she “couldn’t play switched on my Amiga and there was her games any more” and I also missed this small puff of smoke from the back of ntil The instruction booklet warns that “If, some keys are not mapped cor- some of my AGA programs. So on the the BMon switch. I quickly switched off recently, having read the book you feel that this rectlythey are # \ ¦ ~ ‘ ` and the HELP way home on the train I read through the and on close inspection of the switch’s UI have work is outside your abilities you should key. The F11 and F12 keys are the photocopied, double sided, A4 instruc- PCB I saw one of the tracks had burnt been against not attempt to carry out the fitting”. Well, Left and Right Amiga keys, the END tion sheet and looked at the collection of out. Now any person of sound mind putting my I consider that I am good at DIY and key seems to be the HELP key. I tried wires, ribbons and connectors. Having would have packed up the BMon and desktop classic have a reasonable background the Windows Keymap on Aminet and arrived home I soon discovered that I had it winging it way back up to Eyetech A1200 into a electronics knowledge, so I got stuck in. found it did not help, neither could had lost the A4 instruction sheet but but oh no, not me. I get out my trusty tower as it’s Eyetech themselves. luckily it’s not that hard to install. soldering iron and set about repairing Unfortunately, I encountered a number main selling the track. I set it all back up, switch on of silly niggly problems which really 5. The finger grip on the right side panel I have an Eyetech external EZVGA The EZTower is a bit point to me was and... puff... another track burns out. So should not exist, considering how long appears to bind against the internal scandoubler so I was supplied with the of a beast! Here you that it was ex- Rear of the EZTower showing how the I repair that one too, set it back up, this tower has been in production. This middle shelf, making it awkward to correct ribbon connector for this which can see the 6 5.25” actly that - a A1200 is mounted and the connectors switch on and... puff.... a third track made me a bit despondent and disap- get a nice clean fit. A little bending loops from the VGA connector in to my bays and Martin’s desktop com- (including the optional audio mixer). One burns out. Well I’m on a one way road pointed. After all, £200 may not be much with some grips and an extra screw at tower and connects to the BMon. When home-made floppy pact computer, now, I can’t return it so it’s out with the to some people but it was to me. To the rear cured this. of the side panels is removed. used with a BVision, as I do, you have to but I have to soldering iron for a third time and, as drive face plate.. summarize the problems: The end result was a very impressive remove the PCB, with the VGA out con- 6. I felt that additional support would be they say, third time lucky every thing confess that future upgrade options look tower which looks good and works well. nector, from the BVision and connect the 1. The DF0 faceplate did not fit the inter- beneficial to the bottom front edge of was OK. more suited to a towered A1200 and I am very pleased with the finished con- BVision ribbon to the BMon. Then on the nal floppy drive without considerable the A1200 to prevent damage from internal devices are much cheaper than version, and so would you be, but be other end of the BMon there is a new Once it was working I must say that the manipulation, and when it did even- pressure when trying to fit those tight- their external equivalents. prepared to be a bit inventive to over- VGA out for you to connect your monitor quality of both AGA and graphics card tually fit, you could not insert a disk fitting expansion boards, so I added a come any problems you encounter. to. This outputs scandoubled AGA or display is excellent. I can’t detect any As this was to be a one-off upgrade in- unless you had a long finger nail to small bracket with Araldite and graphics card output which is selected degradation in either outputs, they are vestment, with future expansion in mind, poke it in with! I eventually made my secured it with a plastic strap. A final note for users of PC-Task: When by a remote switch which you mount on both rock solid, sharp and clear. Now I decided to go for the Eyetech EZ- own faceplate using a plastic blanking you use Control + Alt + Delete to reset As I stated, these are silly problems the front of your tower. This is done with when I, or should that be the wife, Tower, EzKey2 keyboard adapter / PC plate from the tower - it works fine. MS-DOS, the PC Keyboard option with a 5 1/4" bay blanking plate that comes double clicks that Slam Tilt icon on my Keyboard (Yes, I know - but they are not which could easily be cured in produc- this tower will also reset your AMIGA! with the BMon switch attached. There is I just need to flick the switch too bad when you get used to them!), 2. The plug on the audio mixer/adapter tion, but the tower cost a lot and took a 2 core cable that goes from the switch and there it is. I must emphasize that the Economy Buffered 4-way Interface / EZ- did not fit my HiSoft CD-ROM socket longer to complete than I bargained on. to the BMon and a supplied tower con- problems that I encountered are IDE Software, and the CD-ROM / A1200 so I had to dissect the plug, squash The 4-way buffered interface, however, nector cable. Right, so you’re all con- probably very rare if not a one off and as Audio Mixer/Adapter. The total cost was the pins and push them onto the CD- was very easy to set up and allows nected up. Time to switch on and test my two friends have had no problems £198.80 including carriage. ROM individually. plenty of future expansion. Results your new purchase. then I guess it’s “only me”. So in con- 3. Neither of the pre-drilled holes on the If you happen to be using a 2.5 inch The system arrived within 2 days by clusion overall the BMon is an excellent blanking plates matched the cut-outs Hard Drive it would be worth considering Now hopefully this is where mine and courier in a large, very well packed box. piece of kit and despite the problems I in the tower’s back panel, requiring a longer cable when you order your Pros your experience will differ. What I unpacked and checked everything and faced I would recommend it as must buy filing with a needle file. tower, it can then sit in it’s cradle on top Plenty of room for expansion happened with me was that although I a set about reading the instruction book- to all those with a graphics card with no of the PSU with 4 sticky tabs. Another Reasonable price had a picture it was very colourless, let. This looks photocopied and some of 4. The keyboard interface advertised AGA pass through. option might be to secure it to the Easy access removable side panels almost grey. After a loan of a friends the pictures could have been better, but with the tower in Amiga Format was motherboard somehow, but I think future monitor to make sure mine was OK we Jeff Martin it seemed to cover everything. the EZ-Key2 which is the universal access might be difficult. Cons deduced that there was no red output adapter for PC or A4k keyboards. The The Eyetech Tower is an impressive Niggly problems which should have from the BMon. So after a phone call to version sent was the EZ-KeySE for looking beast which stands about 62cm been resolved as this is the ‘Mk4’ Eyetech my new piece of kit was wing- PC keyboards only. I did query this Product Information high (that’s about 24. 5 inches in old Keyboard interface maps keys oddly ing it’s way up to Stokesley with the Results with Eyetech and was told that the money!). It has a total of 9 drive bays Developer: Eyetech promise that it would be checked and advert was wrong (it has now which should be more than enough for Te l: +44 (0) 1642 713185 returned in perfect working order. A few changed). They offered to exchange it anyone. In fact, after completing the WWW: www.eyetech.co.uk days later I was informed that indeed the if I returned it along with £3 in conversion, you will soon realise that Address: The Old Bank red output was faulty cause by some stamps! So, allowing for the postage there is a fair sized empty space in the 12 West Green stray flux and was now on it’s way back to send it to them as well I didn’t bottom of the tower, which I found ideal Stokesley to me. On receiving my newly repaired bother. Nevertheless, the error was for a few internal bays from a stripped North Yorks, TS9 5BB BMon I connected it all up and switched not mine, so I couldn’t see why I down PC. The tower also features indi- Price: From: £99.95 on. vidually removable side panels, which I should have to pay at all. The main As Reviewed: £198.80 found to be a brilliant idea. drawback of the PC keyboard is that 28 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 29 REVIEWS REVIEWS

Gary Storm looks at the first release from Wasted newcomers Digital The Wanderer Dreams Dreams Entertainment Robert Williams listens to the first CD from prolific MOD icture yourself waking up after a one) of importance (an ammo clip, door, would blow it up?), but you’ll survive. composer Jogeir Liljedahl crash, on your newly-colonised rock, metal thing (really)), an animated You may not have much hair left, but Pplanet. Picture yourself being icon appears in the inventory bar the you’ll survive. nyone who has browsed the from mellow and relaxing to bright and If you like his modules on Aminet or just shot at by Aliens with very dodgy hair... joystick does all the doing, and the ‘ALT’ Which is why it’s a damn good thing the /mods directory on Aminet will invigorating, each one has its own char- enjoy relaxing instrumental music I think are they jealous of yours? Do they want button does all the selecting (would have saving and loading is so quick and easy. A remember the name Jogeir acter and the compilation never gets you will like this CD. If you’d like a taster you for kinky B&D games? been nice not to have to hold it down all The game is played off the CD, and Liljedahl, because his music modules “samey” as sometimes happens with of the tracks, MP3s of a selection are the time when you want to select some- This (and more) is what you must try each of the six possible saved games stand away from the normal techno fare instrumental tracks. I particularly liked available at the LynneMusic website or thing though... small point). A lot of and discover in this 1 or 2 player arcade are written to the S: directory on your with moving acoustic guitar pieces and the deep “soundscape” tunes like you can download some of Jogeir’s thought has gone into the control ‘brain-em-up’. It plays like a breeding hard drive. Excellent. many mellow tunes. Overture and Mystified 2000 which modules from Aminet’s mods/jogei system. Overall it’s intuitive, and you program between Guybrush sweep you away on a sea of sound. directory. can’t get much easier than direction and Wasted Dreams is full of nice little The Wanderer is Jogeir’s first CD and Threepwood (Monkey Island), Conrad Another great track is BeetleMix ‘99 fire. touches, such as the sparks that appear contains new versions of many of his Hart (Another World and Flashback), especially if you enjoyed the “chip tunes” when you shoot forcefields, and in-jokes most famous modules, re-recorded to a Results and the queens from the Chaos Engine. It takes a little getting used to the move- of old (although this is rather more (try opening the door a lot at the bottom professional standard with live session And that ain’t bad, if it’s pulled off ment, but it’s not that detrimental to the refined!). right of the military compound). You’ll musicians and sounding better than properly (I can’t help it... these in- game as a whole. What isn’t so much have to have a leap of faith for some of ever. The 14 tracks on the CD range The CD is a proper pressed disc and is nuendo’s have a life of their own), and it fun is the fact that the screen area isn’t nicely packaged with a beautifully generally has been. too large, and aliens can shoot you off- Product Information designed inlay. I would have been inter- screen before you even smell their hair- Viewed from a slightly off-isometric ested to see was some information on gel. This isn’t normally a good thing (and Artist: Jogeir Liljedahl perspective, it’s up to you to put the how the tunes were recorded and in par- they definitely shouldn’t be able to shoot Publisher: LynneMusic pieces together (not only of yourself ticular whether the Amiga was used you like that), but it does add to the WWW: www.lynnemusic.com after that crash) and solve the mystery. during production though. tenseness and atmosphere, so be Price: $19 (£12 approx.) Amazingly, the story (for once) is actually very good and plausible, with a Call or send SAE for 3d animation intro that really sets the free catalogue disk FORE-MATT Home Computing packed with details on scene and draws you into the Wasted Pay by credit card and Commercial Software, Dreams world. The atmospheric music get a free CD-ROM. Dept. C, PO Box 835, Wootton Bassett, Swindon, SN4 8RX CD-ROM, Peripherals, (call for details) and Shareware/Public and sound effects in the game take you the storyline though, as you’ll find your- State Amiga model Domain from only even deeper into unreality ...and bam! self killing humans as well (crewmates, when ordering. (01793) 853802 [email protected] 60p a disk! You wake up to the digitised speech no less), and I fail to understand why, CD32 GAMES CDROM GAMES CDROM CDROM DISK AGA A1200 ONLY DISK GAMES DISK GAMES EDUCATION/UTILITIES from Star-Soap hell. It’s an added after just rescuing an engineer, he asks Acid Attack...... 15 Civilization AGA oem...... 10 3D Images ...... 5 S/W Explosion 1 or 2...... 5 Theme Park aga ...... 15 Gunship 2000...... 15 Timekeepers...... 10 10/10 Maths (Number) ...... 10 Akira...... 10 Doom Trilogy ...... 15 17 Bit Level 6 ...... 15 System Booster ...... 13 Thomas Tank Pinball ...... 8 Hillsea Lido...... 10 Timekeepers Exp. Dsk...... 5 10/10 Maths (Statistics) ...... 10 bonus, sure, but after you finish laugh- me to return a book to a friend (???). Bubble & Squeak...... 3 Eat The Whistle...... 10 1500 WAV Snd Efx...... 10 The Colour Library ...... 15 Total Carnage...... 3 Huckleberry Hound ...... 5 Tiny Troops...... 10 10/10 Spelling & Punc...... 10 Cannon Fodder...... 5 European Superleague...... 10 Ami-Atlas UK ...... 45 The Learning Curve ...... 20 Virtual Karting ...... 5 Imperator {1.5Mb/hd}...... 15 Treasure Island Dizzy...... 5 10/10 Spelling Structured ...10 ing at the characters, you’ll just skip it Chaos Engine ...... 5 Final Odyssey ...... 10 Aminet Set 4 - 8 ea ...... 30 The Office Gold ...... 10 Virtual Karting 2...... 10 Impossible Mission ...... 5 Troddlers...... 10 10/10 Tables ...... 10 This is an excellent game, and I don’t Clockwiser ...... 3 Flyin High ...... 15 Amos PD CD ...... 20 Time of Reckoning ...... 10 Worms Directors Cut ...... 15 International Golf ...... 5 Turbo Trax...... 5 10/10 Words ...... 10 Fears...... 10 Foundation Dir. Cut...... 15 Animations CD ...... 15 UPD Gold...... 15 Xtreme Racing ...... 10 Jet Pilot...... 10 UFO Enemy Unknown ...... 15 ADI English {13/14}...... 10 and read the text instead, making up Fields of Glory ...... 15 Genetic Species...... 28 Classix ...... 15 Utilities Experience...... 5 Zool AGA...... 15 Jet Strike ...... 10 Valhalla 1, 2 or 3 ea ...... 10 ADI English GCSE ...... 10 prepared to be patient until you find your normally go for the brain-teasers. It has Gloom ...... 5 Heretic 2 PPC (soon)...... 30 Blitz Basic 2.1 (ult.)...... 10 Zoom 2...... 20 Kick Off 2...... 5 Valhalla Trilogy ...... 20 ADI French {13/14}...... 10 your own dodgy soap voices along the Grandslam Gamer Gld...... 10 Imperator CD...... 15 CDPD...... 15 DISK GAMES Kids Rule OK 1 or 2...... 10 War Zone oem...... 3 ADI French {14/15}...... 10 way around the world (and positioning of that balance of frustration and achieve- Guardian ...... 3 Islona Collection ...... 25 CPC Classix ...... 10 DISK AGA A1200 ONLY A320 Airbus v2 ...... 15 Lemmings...... 10 Wembley Rugby Leag...... 5 ADI French GCSE ...... 10 way (”A luv u Rickay-Alien-Dude!”). International Karate + ...... 3 Labyrinth Of Time ...... 15 D-1000 doom data ...... 10 Acid Attack...... 15 Arcade Action ...... 15 Lost on Parrot Island ...... 10 White Death...... 5 ADI Maths {12/13} ...... 10 enemy), by dodging and using whatever ment which is essential for what is in Kang Fu ...... 8 Moonbases...... 15 5...... 10 Banshee...... 5 A-Train...... 10 Marblelous 2...... 5 Wing Commander ...... 10 Alpha Office ...... 10 Last Ninja 3...... 3 Mutantology...... 15 Demos Are Forever...... 3 Bograts...... 10 Beambender ...... 15 Megablast...... 8 Wiz n Liz...... 10 BBC Playdays...... 10 Armed with a laser, and a smile, you cover you can. effect an adventure with an arcade slant. Marvins Adventure ...... 3 Myst ...... 28 Emulators Unlimited...... 20 Breathless...... 10 Blade ...... 10 Micro Machines...... 10 WCup All time Greats ...... 5 BBC Playdays Paint ...... 10 Naughty Ones...... 10 Napalm ...... 30 Encounters UFO ...... 15 Burnout ...... 10 Blitzkrieg ...... 5 Minskies ...... 10 World Golf...... 10 Better Maths {12/16} ...... 10 Now Games ...... 5 OnEscapee...... 30 EuroCD vol 1 ...... 12 Capital Punishment ...... 15 Blitz Tennis...... 5 Ninja Warriors ...... 5 Worlds at War...... 5 Blitz Basic 2.1...... 20 must survive, kill aliens, find goodies to There are quite a few points in which it Oscar/Diggers...... 3 Phoenix Fighters...... 15 Fonts CD ...... 10 Eat The Whistle ...... 10 Blockhead 2 {1.5mb} ...... 8 Operation Combat 2 ...... 10 WWF Euro Rampage...... 15 Data Retrieve oem ...... 5 At first you’ll die a lot, as you become Prey: Alien Encounter ...... 10 Pinball Brain Damage...... 15 Gateway vol 1...... 9 Fears oem...... 3 Body Blows Galactic...... 15 Overlord...... 15 XP-8...... 5 Deluxe Paint 5 {WB2+} ...... 20 pick up and use, talk to people and might have been better (movement, visi- Roadkill ...... 10 Quake ...... 28 Graphic Sensations 1 ...... 10 Football Glory ...... 5 Bravo Romeo Delta ...... 3 Pinball Dreams...... 8 Yolk Folk Dizzy ...... 5 Fun School 2 {over 8s}...... 8 accustomed to the game. Then you’ll get Simon the Sorcerer ...... 10 Shadow of 3rd Moon ...... 15 Guinness Records v2...... 9 Gloom Deluxe...... 5 Bubble & Squeak...... 5 Power Drive...... 10 Zeewolf 1 or 2 ...... 5 Fun School 4 {under 5} ...... 13 solve the puzzles with only your joystick ble screen area, B-movie soapy cheesy Superfrog ...... 15 Shogo PPC (soon)...... 30 Horror Sensations (18) ...... 10 Guardian ...... 5 Bumper Quad Pack ...... 10 Railroad Tycoon ...... 15 GFA Basic 3.5 Interpr...... 5 frustrated as you try to solve it’s puzzles. Superleague Manager...... 3 Sixth Sense Investns ...... 15 Illusions in 3D...... 9 Gunbee F-99 {4mb}...... 8 Cannon Fodder...... 10 Road Rash ...... 10 VIDEO / BOOKS Info Nexus/2 File Mgr...... 3 and the ‘ALT’ button for company (which dialogue), but at the end of the day it’s Super Skidmarks ...... 5 Star Fighter ...... 20 Insight Dinosaurs ...... 10 Heimdall 2...... 5 Captain Dynamo...... 5 Robocod James Pond ...... 25 A500 Made Easy VHS ...... 3 Hisoft Extend ...... 10 It’s not easy trying to get into the mind of Trivial Pursuit ...... 25 Street Racer CD...... 10 In-To-The-Net ...... 15 Legends ...... 8 Centrefold Squares 18 ...... 5 Rugby League Coach...... 5 Amiga Basic Manual ...... 3 Home Office Kit ...... 15 sounds suspiciously like a night spent fun to play and is very competent. If you Vital Light...... 10 Tales From Heaven...... 25 LSD 1 or 2 ea...... 15 Manyk Mayhem ...... 15 Championship Chall...... 15 Sci-Fi Collection...... 5 Official Quake Guide...... 9 Image Link ...... 15 the programmers (especially when it’s a Wembley Int. Soccer ...... 10 Theme Park CD ...... 10 Moovid ...... 15 OloFight {HD/4mb} ...... 15 Civilization...... 15 Simon the Sorcerer...... 15 Inter Base 2 ...... 5 The Prophet ...... 20 Multimedia Backdrop ...... 20 Pinball Illusions...... 5 Classic Arcadia...... 5 Skidmarks...... 5 EDUCATION/UTILITIES Inter Office 2...... 20 with a picture viewer directed at the like things like Monkey Island and CDROM GAMES The Strangers AGA ...... 15 Multimedia Toolkit...... 10 Pinball Mania...... 5 Club Football Mgr...... 5 Soccer Team Manager...... 5 10/10 Dinosaurs...... 10 Inter Spread 2...... 5 hard enough job to get into your own A7+...... 10 T-Zero ...... 30 Network CD ...... 10 Player Manager 2 aga...... 10 Colonization oem...... 15 Special Forces ...... 10 10/10 Early Essential ...... 10 Inter Talk 2 ...... 3 seedier parts of your hard drive. Flashback (at least), you’ll like this. Try it Adventurers Lair...... 20 Ultimate Gloom ...... 10 Network CD 2 ...... 15 Rise of the Robots aga ...... 5 Damage {18} {2Mb} ...... 10 Speedball ...... 5 10/10 English...... 10 Junior Typist...... 10 mind). Persevere though, and you will Amiga Classix...... 15 Ult. Super Skidmarks...... 10 Nothing But Tetris...... 10 Roadkill ...... 5 Death Mask...... 5 Sporting Spectacular ...... 15 10/10 Essential IT ...... 10 Mini Office...... 20 Hmmmm). Thanks to some ingenious out today. Arcade Classix Mk 2 ...... 15 Uropa 2...... 10 Octamed Soundstudio ...... 10 Sim City 2000 oem...... 10 Enemy ...... 15 Street Fighter 2 ...... 15 10/10 Essential Maths ...... 10 MultiMedia Experience...... 15 attain satisfaction. Once you get through Assassins Games 3...... 15 Virtual Grand Prix ...... 20 Oh Yes More Worms ...... 5 Simon Sorcerer aga ...... 15 European Superleague ...... 8 Superleague Manager ...... 10 10/10 Essential Science ..... 10 Organize! ...... 5 design and forethought, this control Assassins Games 4...... 15 Virtual Karting 2 oem...... 5 OS 3.5...... 35 Sixth Sense Investns...... 15 F19 Stealth Fighter...... 15 Super Tennis Champs ...... 10 10/10 French ...... 10 Photon Paint 2.0...... 10 the lack of body-shield (outer space Berties Animal Kgdm...... 10 Vulcanology...... 15 PFS2...... 25 Skeleton Krew ...... 5 F117A Nighthawk...... 10 Sword ...... 15 10/10 Geography ...... 10 The Works! Platinum ...... 15 system works rather well, as whenever Best of Gremlin...... 25 Wasted Dreams ...... 28 Power Movie...... 35 Slamtilt ...... 5 Fantastic Dizzy ...... 5 Theme Park...... 15 10/10 German ...... 10 Transwrite ...... 10 deodorant?) you have(n’t), and get Results Big Red Adventure ...... 10 Wipeout 2097...... 30 Pure Doom (data CD) ...... 5 Street Racer ...... 10 Fast Food Dizzy...... 5 Thomas Tank Colln...... 10 10/10 Junior Essentials ...... 10 Vista Pro 3D Lite ...... 10 you’re over or near something (or some- Blade...... 10 Word Games ...... 10 Scene Storm...... 3 Strip Pot {18} ...... 5 Firehawk...... 5 Thunder Blade ...... 5 10/10 Maths (Algebra) ...... 10 Wavelink ...... 10 through the twisted programmers CDS Collection ...... 15 Zombie Massacre{18}...... 15 Screen Savers 2...... 10 Testament ...... 10 Forest Dumb Forever ...... 8 Thnderhawk AH-73M...... 5 10/10 Maths (Geometry)..... 10 Workbench 3.0 Set...... 10 Product Information puzzles to make it to the recharger, Developer: Digital Dreams you’ll be a happy space-bunny. You’ll Entertainment find most of the clues logical, so when Available: Forematt Home Comp. you get given a locker key, maybe it’d be FREE GAMES & most games dealers a good idea to go and find the locker it 3.5” DRIVE CLEANING KIT £4.00 Worms Bundle belongs to? Some of the clues are pure Spend £25 and choose one of JOYPAD £10.00, JOYSTICK £8.00, MOUSE/MAT £10.00 £17 + £2 P&P (UK) WWW: www.dd-ent.com the following free (add P&P): Contains Worms evil though (who would have thought War Zone, Bravo Romeo Delta, any DD DISKS: £3.00 (10 pack) 100 CAP DISK BOX: £6.00 Demo and on-line reg. available Dizzy game, Timekeepers Expansion, Directors Cut & Price: £28 that a red rock chucked into a generator Thunderhawk. P&P per item: UK = £1, EU = £2.50, R.O.W = £5 first then £2 each Oh Yes More Worms CD. 30 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 31 REVIEWS SUPPORT Get Tzer0n the 24th of March 2199, the ‘hard’ ...eeek), and there T-Zero dimension was dis- are loads of excellent O covered. Unfortunately the weapons to pick up denizens take umbrage at you gate- from the fallen crashing, and decide to attack Earth. So enemy. Each you are sent to wipe them out instead. time you Good politically correct stuff then :) pick up a Layered certain Firstly, you'll need to have as much chip- coloured ram free as possible... OK, ALL your weapon power- ayers are a feature that adds sig- the Amiga that support layers, they are: chip ram. I made a theme in D-opus nificant flexibility to bitmap up, you'll increase ArtEffect - Haage and Partner £80 Tutorial Intro... Magellan II as basic as possible (no graphics programs (layers are the firepower of the L ImageFX (3.0+) - Nova Design £150 colours, no textures etc) to enable T- corresponding weapon also used in other types of application In the tutorial on the following pages Zero to live. To get the Story Mode to Photogenics (4.0+) - Paul Nolan £75 (guns and plasma for in- it if you’re such as structured drawing, CAD and we’re going to use the layers functions run, it’s even more chip ram hungry... TVPaint - NewTek FREE stance). Don't think you'll be able to just going to end DTP but we’ll concentrate on bitmap of your image processor to composite you might have to run from the Early blindly pick eveything up though, as up a blood- graphics programs here). When you use I haven’t used ArtEffect so I couldn’t two images then add a glow to the Startup menu’s ‘Boot with no startup- there are anti-powerups which reverse splatter on the a traditional bitmap package like a paint comment on its layer functions, you can foreground image. Because we’re sequence’ option! your movements and short-circuit your screen. program or image processor everything read reviews of ImageFX 4 and using layers you’ll find it’s easy to The Clickboom quality and slickness weapons (not a good idea), so you'll you do has an effect on the original Photogenics 4 in this issue, I described adjust the effects until you’re com- The obligatory end-of-level shines through as soon as you hear the need to actually think a bit in T-Zero... image. If you want to change what ImageFX’s layers further in my full pletely happy and even when the boss is here, and you’ll have to learn the first atmospheric sounds and the first rare for a shoot-em-up. You may also you’ve done or move it your only options review of version 3 in issue 1. TVPaint is image is finished you’ll be able to pattern of their attack to defeat them. I pictures of the intro. A sexy lady’s voice not want to pick up certain powerups are to undo or if you just want to alter available free to download but you must change it and try out different effects. found the first boss to be easier than something in place mask it off to avoid have a graphics card to use it. Its layers informs you of the background, and (like plasma) as I found that ‘guns’ were I will go through the process step by most of the first level (luckily). spoiling the rest of the image. implementation is limited to three layers offers you advice on the 3 (beautifully a better bet to keep upgrading. The step in both Photogenics 4.2 and but apart from that is very powerful. presented via rotating 3D craft) fighters Nuclear blast and any other special Clickboom have initiated a very good In a package supporting layers instead ImageFX 4.1 (version 3.x is very simi- you can choose: Gordon Maj - excellent weapons you acquire are triggered by save system for T-Zero. In effect it gives of altering the image directly you place Resources lar) for owners of both packages. If you firepower, but not as nimble. My beast of pressing the shift, alt or Amiga buttons. you 10 save slots on your hard-drive. If new elements, which could be painted own ArtEffect or TVPaint you should choice. Mantar 2 - Average and well bal- you ‘start at 0’ and die after reaching the The only game of comparable worth to on or an imported image onto separate It is worth bearing in mind that working be able to perform similar steps in anced. Suzer 4 - The smallest ship with second world (with 2 ship's left), you can T-Zero is ‘Project X’, the Team 17 clas- layers. Each layer can be thought of as on layered images can be very memory those packages too. If you don’t have the greatest manouverability, but can’t ‘continue at 0’ and return to the start of sic. T-Zero is very similar in style and a piece of glass sitting above the original intensive, each 24bit layer has to be a package with layer support this tutor- handle the biggest weapons. the second world (unfortunately with execution to Project X, except that T- image. Each layer can be moved in- held in memory possibly along with an ial is a good way of learning how they what you left with - two ships... no easy So strap yourself in and attack the Zero has the added danger of obstacles dependantly so you can reposition alpha channel image. Even quite a low work in practice. You’ll also notice that ride here baby). The same rules apply hordes of enemy in their horizontally in the screen... floating islands that har- elements on a layer in relation to the resolution image can quickly use a big each one has its strong and weak for any other start number you choose, scrolling dimension, and marvel at the bour enemy gun emplacements, spikes original image and the other layers. You chunk of RAM and that’s without con- points which, depending on your in- as the save will be allocated there. graphics, the sounds, the animations in and walkers. Don't get too close to these can change the order of the layers so sidering undo buffers and other memory tended use, might sway a buying the background (which you can turn off masses, as they aren't very generous on Playable on just about any AGA you choose which elements appear in hogs. ImageFX and ArtEffect have built- decision. front of others. Most packages allow you in virtual memory system to help deal to save processor speed if you need it) the collision detection (i.e. the detection equipped Amiga with 16Mb of RAM, and TIP Both Photogenics and ImageFX to use special effects to change how the with huge images but as soon as this and the sheer smoothness of T-Zero. is too good and you’ll need to be damn fantastic in one or two player modes, T- have recently been updated, it’s a layers combine together. A common has to be used processing times in- careful). The islands can also make Zero is a modern classic, and shows good idea to use the latest non-beta There are two game choices, Arcade or effect is transparency so you can see crease rapidly, Photogenics is limited by effective cover from enemy shots as that gameplay rules over polygons. Get version of these packages. If you’re on Story Mode. Arcade is obvious, and some of the background and any lower your physical RAM. well, but most of the time you'll be blasting! the Internet you can download the Story Mode is dependant on the pick- layers through the transparent elements. swearing at them. While I don’t think layers are inherently updates from ups you make which in turn dictate Gary Storm At any time you can add or remove more processor intensive than traditional http://www.paulnolan.com and which route you travel through the The screen is vertically slightly larger layers from the image. Finally layers image processing they do encourage http://www.novadesign.com respec- worlds. Story Mode is definitely easier, than the visible screen, and you can see allow you apply special effects to one you to combine effects. If you want a tively. If not give us a ring and we will as it actually gives you some continues. these edges when you fly towards them. layer independently of the others. For fast response you’ll need the most arrange to send you the updates for When you reach the screens extent, the example if you feel the background is This game is definitely a challenge, Results powerful CPU you can get your hands the cost of postage. ship has the ability to roll on it’s side, too dark for the foreground elements even on ‘easy’ (your other choice is on. My 060 system maintained an which is helpful as some unassailable you can simply lighten the background The two images I’ve chosen are a acceptable speed while creating the enemy can reach even further north or without effecting anything else. swirly space background and Product Information high resolution image on this issue’s south than you can, so rolling to avoid Commodore’s much maligned CD32 Developer: clickBOOM cover, and I would imagine you’d get them is good. What Programs with console. You could use any images Available: Forematt Home Comp. similar performance out of an ‘040 on You definitely have to learn to be careful you like, for example you could com- & most games dealers Caviar Layers are Available? video resolution images. On slower in this game. It’s easy to let the bloodlust pose photographs over a background WWW: www.clickboom.com system be prepared to wait! take over, or be greedy and grab that As far as I can find out there are four or use text to make a poster or sign. Demo and on-line reg. available extra star or power-up - but it’s not worth bitmap graphics programs available for Price: £30 32 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 33 SUPPORT SUPPORT

image covers the background. 8 Select the black colour in the palette style to Normal you can paint white and Layer from the popup menu, you’ll window and start painting on the black directly onto the alpha channel. see a duplicate entry appear. The To let the background show through areas of the foreground image you glow layer need to be below the around the subject we need to paint NOTE: In my version of ImageFX want to remove. If you make a image layer so while it’s still selected black onto the alpha channel in the TraceAlpha mysteriously stops working if mistake and remove too much just choose Layer Down from the popup. ImageFX 4.1 areas we want to be transparent. I zoom in or out while using it, if this select white and paint the missing bit While we’re here we’ll also give this ImageFX provides an easy way to do happens to you make sure you choose a back on. Remember that you can use layer a more descriptive name, 1 Open the background image. 4 If you need to resize the image is this using its TraceAlpha drawing style. suitable magnification before you start any of ImageFX’s drawing tools to double click on the Glow layer in the make sure its layer is selected in the This applies the selected colour to the work. 2 Open the Layer Manager window by add and remove portions of the list, in the Layer Settings requester Layer Manager then use the alpha channel while you paint on the clicking on its button just to the left of image. 9 Once you’re happy it’s probably a clear the Name: gadget and name the Size/Scale option to change its size. actual image. Combining this with the air the RGB channel selectors on the good idea to save your image so you layer “Glow” then click Okay. Then use Move Layer from the Layer brush we can make areas transparent TIP: Use the Alpha/Swap function to main panel. can play with the other options with Manager popup menu to drag the by painting with black selected and take a look at the alpha channel image 11 To make the glow a suitable colour out fear of loosing your hard work. 3 Now we’ll load image roughly where you want it. restore by painting with white. you’ve created, this is a good way of we’ll fill the whole layer with the the image we Click the save button then choose the Now we want to remove the background spotting any stray colour we want, the alpha channel will want to com- 6 Double click on the air brush tool in INGF format in the Saving... reques- from the subject of the image so it is pixels of the fore- take care of which areas are trans- pose onto the the main panel to bring up its options ter, this will retain the layers, alpha composed directly onto the background. ground image that parent. Make sure the Glow layer is background window then double click on one of channel(s) etc. ImageFX uses a monochrome alpha are still showing selected then pick a suitable colour as a layer, the other drawing tools to open the channel to control what parts of the through. If you Next we’ll add a glow around the fore- from the palette window, I’m choosing click on the Drawing Options window. image are transparent so first we need switch the drawing ground image, you can use the same a nice lime green! If you wanted to popup menu to create one for our layer... 7 Choose a suitable brush radius (20 is technique to create a shadow too. create a shadow you’d choose black gadget in the usually a good starting point) and at this point. To stop the fill operation 10As a pattern for the glow we’re going Layer 5 Click the Alpha button then choose select Realtime in the Airbrush clearing your carefully prepared alpha to use the alpha channel from the Manager and choose Load Layer... . the Create... option and then the Options window and choose the channel click on the “A” button at the foreground so we need to copy the In the file requester choose the Matte button in the Create Alpha TraceAlpha style in the Drawing top of the main window, this protects foreground layer. Select it in the second image. Channel window. This creates an all Options window. the alpha channel. Now choose white alpha channel so the whole Layer Manager and choose Clone Layers Tutorial By Robert Williams The foreground image is placed on completeThe with final stylish image, green glow! After a bit more work in ImageFX... Continued over... a layer over the background. See the back cover for full colour!

The background is removed so the 6 At any time you Time check box to see the layer con- In the Layer popup menu choose 12 Select the background image in the subject sits on the background image. can move the tents while you drag. Move Alpha to Paint Layer, the fore- Image selector and choose the layer foreground ground image should reappear. The without the alpha channel set. Click Photogenics 4 image around The Glow second copy of the Alpha channel will on the Move Layer tool and make a and position it be used as a template for our glow. note of the X and Y co-ordinates. 1 Open the background and foreground sure the Draw Tool (continuous line) 7 From the Layer popup menu in the over the back- Now swap to the other layer, click images. is selected then draw on to the layer Control plugin choose Move Paint 10Choose New.../Paint Layer from the ground. To do Move Layer and enter the same co- with the left mouse button, you’ll see Layer to Alpha. Click on the image Layer popup menu to create a new 2 If you need to re-size the foreground this click the ordinates so the layers line up. Press the secondary image show through. If selector and choose the alpha chan- layer for the glow. In the Alpha selec- image you can do so using the Position Layer Return after entering each co- you make a mistake you can rub off nel image from the selection. From tor choose the alpha channel copy Image/Scale/Choose Size menu op- Tool (hand icon) ordinate to see the layer move. any excess using the right mouse the Image popup menu choose Copy we’ve just created and cleaned up. tion. Make sure the foreground image then drag the button. If you need to you can adjust Image. So we can see what we’re doing 13 Choose the Blur paint mode and fill is selected in the Image selector in layer into posi- the Pressure and Size settings in the choose the “Paint” paint mode from the paint layer. The Mode Opts plugin Control plugin in the Options window tion. You will 8 A copy of the alpha channel should Media plugin. You can also use the the popup and pick a colour in the should appear in the Options window, before you select the Size option or notice the Option appear on screen, if necessary other drawing tools with the left or Colour plugin (I’m using lime greed experiment with the H and V radius you’ll scale the wrong image. window changes cleanup the image removing any right mouse buttons to add or remove again!). Now click the Fill Paint Layer settings to get a good soft edge for to show the Tool stray white areas by painting over 3 Make the background the current parts of the image. button (the filled square just to the left the glow (I used 12.5 for both radii). Opts plugin, here them with the “Paint” paint mode and image by selecting it in the Image of FIX). Take a look at the composed image to TIP: Try using the polygon tool to add or you can exactly black selected in the Colour plugin selector then make the foreground see the effect when you change the remove large areas then the air brush at position the layer (second tab of the Options menu by 11 Move the glow layer below the fore- image the Secondary image by settings. If you need to bulk out the a small size to do the detail work (this by editing the default). Click FIX. ground by selecting Move/Down from selecting it in the Second selector. glow try increasing the Gamma of the applies to both ImageFX and Position co- the Layer popup menu. Now select 9 In the Control plugin select the back- alpha channel slightly with the Adjust 4 Select RubThru on the drop-down Photogenics). ordinates. If you the alpha channel image in the image ground image in the Image selector. paint mode. Pick it from the drop- paint mode in the top toolbar. Make click the Real selector. 34 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 35 SUPPORT SUPPORT

ImageFX 4.1 Continued... Mini Review: Buffer/Fill then click Draw Colour in and Y offsets in the Layer Settings Back to Basics the requester. Press “R” on the key- requester, click Cancel. Double click board to re-draw the preview and you on the Glow layer and make its off- VisionFX should see a coloured shadow sets the same as the foreground’s, Available From: Aminet (gfx/ifx) 2: DOSDrivers slightly offset from the foreground click Okay. If you were making a Shareware Fee: $5 (£4 approx.) subject. Click on the “A” again to un- shadow you would simply offset the Robert Williams explains the Amiga’s DOSDriver protect the alpha channel. shadow layer from the foreground. VisionFX is a collection of shareware modules for ImageFX which take advan- system which allows you to access a variety of The glow really wants to have a soft Now our image is basically complete tage of PowerPC processors using edge that spreads out behind the sub- layers allow us to change things and Phase 5's PowerUP system (the devices eaisly. ject, as the edge is controled by the experiment even at this late stage. Here modules also work under WarpUP using OSDrivers are used to make If you want a device to be mounted alpha channel we need to process it to are some things to try: Frank Wille’s ppc.library emulation). devices available to AmigaDOS, every time you start your Amiga then soften its edges. Currently VisionFX consists of three Double click either the foreground or this process is called mounting a you place its DOSDriver in the enhanced modules and two new ones: D 12Choose Alpha/Swap to see the alpha glow layer in the Layer Manager and try device. There are two types of device devs/DOSDrivers/ drawer of your boot channel, next choose the different Mode options, each one JPEG Loader/Saver - Compressing and you can mount, physical devices such partition. This is carried out by the Convolve/Gaussian Blur then set the combines the current layer with the ones decompressing JPEG images can be a as CD-ROMs and logical devices which following mount command in the startup- radius to a high value (I usually use below it in different ways. slow operation so this module par- exist only in software such as a sequence: 5) and click Okay. Once that’s Choose a layer in the layer manager ticularly benefits from PPC acceleration, recoverable RAM disk. Each DOSDriver finished apply it again with the same C:Mount then apply any ImageFX effect to it, you saving a large JPEG is about 5 times is a ASCII text file which describes the settings to get a really soft edge. To DEVS:DOSDrivers/~(#?.info) can alter any layer independantly of the faster than the standard saver running characteristics of the particular device, bulk out the glow a bit so it sticks out other. For example if you felt the back- on an ‘060. On loading a JPEG there the name of the DOSDriver file is the There is also a storage/DOSDrivers/ default tool or by issuing the following behind the subject use the Balance ground was too dark you could simply are several options to enhance its device name used by AmigaDOS, so for drawer where disabled DOSDrivers are shell command: effect with the Gamma (Ga) function pick it then use the Balance effect to quality and saving offers an optimise example a CDROM DOSDriver might be kept, at any time you can mount a set to 127. MOUNT devicename match its brightness to the foreground. check box which can reduce file size. called CD0. device by double clicking on its Depending on the size of your images DOSDriver, which has Mount as the Where devicename is the name of the Choose a layer then do an Alpha/Swap PNG loader/Saver - The new PNG saver and the effect you want to achieve you device you want to mount. to reveal its alpha channel, then try is about 3 times faster than the standard my need to alter the strength and applying effects to its alpha channel, version, a welcome improvement. To disable a DOSDriver simply drag it number of times you blur and increase Editing a DOSDriver click swap again to see the result. I find from the devs/DOSDrivers to the the Gamma of the alpha channel. VFXForge - One of the great new the Distort effects and Effect/Straw par- features in ImageFX 3 was the FXForge In the vast majority of cases a pre- after the “=” sign). For example the storage/DOSDrivers drawer on the ticularly interesting. effect which allows you to use effects defined DOS driver is available either tooltypes of a CDROM DOSDriver Workbench, when you re-boot, the included with other software (for ex- might look like: device will no longer be available. When you’ve got an image you’re happy designed for Adobe Photoshop’s Filter ample with a CD file system) or from Similarly to make a device available at with or you want to import into other pro- Factory. One with this effect is that it’s DEVICE=scsi.device Aminet (for example many DOSDrivers all times drag its DOSDriver from grams choose Flatten Layers from the much slower than standard effects as UNIT=2 which allow you to read PC ZIP disks storage/DOSDrivers into Layer Manager popup menu then Save the filters are interpreted. VisionFX’s are available). In these cases you’ll If there are no tooltypes set in the icon devs/DOSDrivers then re-boot or double the image in a common format such as PPC version was amazingly over 17 probably only need to change the you will need to edit the DOSDriver file click its icon to mount it immediately. IFF ILBM or JPEG. It’s a good idea to times faster than 68k on the filter I tried, 13Now lets line up the glow underneath DEVICE and UNIT fields to point to itself to do this open a shell and type: also save the image as an INGF before amazing! VisionFX goes even further by Occasionally it is useful to disable a the foreground image, double click your hardware. Any other changes you flattening the layers so you can work on adding a Filter Manager which allows ED Devs:DOSDrivers/XXX device without re-booting, to do this you the foregound layer in the Layer might need to make will be explained it again if you want to. you to easily preview filters from a list. use the following ASSIGN command: Manager and make a note of the X in the documentation. Where XXX is the name of the ASCII Saver - This new saver generates DOSDriver you want to edit. A window ASSIGN devicename DISMOUNT When you edit a DOSDriver it is a text representation of your image, it will then open and you can edit the usually a good idea to move it into your This is useful when editing a DOSDriver Photogenics 4 Continued... can save plain text and a number of various fields in the DOSDriver. To Storage/DOSDrivers drawer before as it allows you to test a changed con- other formats such as HTML and ANSI. change a setting just edit the value down, fill the paint layer then save with layers intact so if you think you make any changes as a wrongly figuration without rebooting. Volume Light - This brand new effect after the “=” sign on the line you need gradually increase the Gamma value you’ll want to work on this image again configured DOSDriver can stop your simulates a volumetric light source, you to change. For a physical device to be mounted two in the Mode Opts plugin until you’re it’s a good idea to save the individual Amiga from booting. can set the number of rays that radiate pieces of software are required which happy. elements of the image (separate im- When you’re done choose Save from from the light source and change its size Some DOSDrivers come with some of are refered to in the DOSDriver: a ages, alpha channels etc.) separately. the Project menu then Quit ED. Now the basic image is complete experi- and position. The rays settings can their fields setup as icon tootypes so device driver and a handler. The device ment with Photogenics’ range of paint create a beautiful effect. you can easily alter them. When you If you’ve moved the DOSDriver into driver accesses the physical hardware modes, remember you can always need to edit the settings in a storage you can now double click on its connected to the computer, the handler Although VisionFX currently contains a create a new paint layer to draw on so DOSDriver always check the tooltypes icon to see if it works, if you get a interfaces the device driver to small number of modules all of them are you don’t damage what you’ve already first as they override the settings in the “Device XXX is already mounted.” error AmigaDOS. So for example a device fast, reliable and integrate seamlessly done. When you’re happy save using file. To do this click once on the message try dismounting the driver would be supplied with a SCSI with the ImageFX. The JPEG the savers tab in the NGIO plugin (the DOSDriver’s icon so it’s selected then DOSDriver as mentioned above. Once interface and a handler, for example a loader/saver is so commonly used that last tab in the Options window by choose Information from the the DOSDriver is working properly you CD-Filesystem, would be used to the speed-up is extremely useful and default). This way you can choose a Workbench’s Icon menu. If you see the can safely move it back into the access hardware attached to that inter- the speed up in FXForge makes the format to save in and change options if fields you want to alter in the Tooltypes Devs:DOSDrivers drawer if you want it face (in this case a CD-ROM) from module much more useable. VisionFX is the saver has them (for example JPEG list then just click on the one you want to be available after every boot. AmigaDOS (and hence the shell or well worth the low registration fee. quality). Unfortunately Photogenics can’t to change and edit its value (the part Workbench). 36 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 37 SUPPORT SUPPORT

Logical devices usually only need a Device drivers for the Amiga’s built-in Handler as they are created purely in devices are available in the kickstart Eeeh When I software and do not need to communi- ROM, this allows an A1200 to boot from cate with hardware. its built-in IDE interface for example. Were a Lad... Confusingly the device driver for the Next The device driver to use is sepcified in Back Issues A1200 and A4000 built-in IDE is called The concept of DOSDrivers was in- the DEVICE and UNIT fields of the You can now order back issues of Clubbed, each back issue costs £2.50 including Issue scsi.device, this is a carry over from the troduced with AmigaOS 2.1, so how DOSDriver and the handler is specified postage and packaging. A3000 which had a built-in SCSI con- were devices mounted in earlier ver- in the FILESYSTEM field. AmigaOS 3.5 troller accessed from the scsi.device. As sions of the OS? Issue 1 some hard disk software was hardcoded AmigaOS 3.5 is here! In About Device Drivers In these earlier version a file called to access the scsi.device Commodore • Piracy feature. issue 5 we’ll be bringing the mountlist, stored in the Devs: Many pieces of hardware are supplied decided to use the same name to • ImageFX 3 review. you a massive feature directory was used. This file has a with their device driver on disk, this file prevent incompatibilities. • CyberStorm PPC review. on the new OS. Is the block for each logical device, for ex- is usually copied into the devs: directory • Genetic Species review. upgrade worth it for you? Will it work Many devices can have several units ample CD0 which started with the during installation. Other devices have • Photogenics text effect tutorial. with your existing hardware and soft- attached to them, for example SCSI in- logical device name followed by lines their device driver stored in a ROM on ware? How to get the most out of the terfaces can have up to 7 different units defineing the various parameters the device, this means the driver is Very limited number of copies in stock*. new features. We’ll dig out all the in- connected and a fast serial board can controling the device very similar to a available straight away before the OS formation we can for you. have several serial ports. Therefore a DOSDriver. Each logical device then has loaded. Device drivers are called Issue 2 particular unit attached to a device is had to be mounted using the Mount xxx.device it’s important to remember CD Writing refered to by the device name and its command from a shell. If you wanted • Graphics Cards Explained. Plus a guide to A1200 gfx card options. that the name is case sensitive (unlike It’s easier and cheaper unit number. to mount a device every time you • Round up of PPC enhanced software. many other aspects of the AmigaOS). than ever to create your booted you had to add the command • Directory Opus Magellan II review. own data and audio CDs to your startup-sequence or user- • Interviews: Gary Peake (Team Amiga) & Fleecy Moss (ex Amiga) using your Amiga. We explain how If you need to mount several file systems on one physical device startup. DOSDrivers represent the • Workbench Cookbook: Get the most out of a 16 colour Workbench. (e.g. FFS and CrossDOS on DF0) grab mfs21.lha from Aminet CD writing works and what uses you same information in a different way (disk/misc). This utility mounts one device and passes calls to the can put it to. We also plan reviews of allowing you to easily enable and dis- Very limited number of copies in stock*. appropriate file system thus preventing DF0??? icons when a PC Amiga CD writing software and a disk is inserted and vice versa. able logical devices from the round up of the available CD writers. ? Workbench. Issue 3 • Interview with Petro Tyschtschenko of Amiga. Reviews CD0, PC0, PIPE and RAD • Get Netted: Get your Amiga on the ‘net and how to choose an ISP. • Reviewed: NetConnect, IBrowse, AWeb, AmFTP and WebVision. • fxPaint - We review this brand new paint package/image processor When you install AmigaOS four normal but no PC0 icon will be shown the sending program until it begins to • EMailer round up. from German developer Innovative. DOSDrivers are available: as it automatically hides itself. This empty. • Candy Factory Pro - Review/Tutorial. • Wildfire 7 PPC does pose a slight problem if you need • Back to Basics: Beginners tutorial on the startup scripts. CD0 - Commodore CD-Filesystem RAD - Recoverable RAM Disk • MakeCD to format a PC disk on the Amiga as • PFS 3 This DOSDriver can be used to mount you can’t see the PC0 icon for a blank The recoverable RAM disk creates a Plenty of copies in stock for immediate delivery. • Netconnect 3 a CD-ROM using Commodore’s limited disk and formatting the DF0 icon will virtual disk which you can use like any To order please list the back issues you require and send a cheque or postal order • NewRog - Is this the best CD-Filesystem designed for the CD32 use the Amiga format. The only option other. The clever thing about it is that it for the required amount to: newsreader on any platform? and CDTV. This file system has is to format from the shell: will survive a warm reboot, this gives Clubbed, • EIDE 99 Interface and Software problems with many discs, even ones you a very fast disk that you can boot FORMAT DRIVE PC0: NAME MyDisk 26 Wincoat Drive, • GrandTVAmazing designed for the Amiga so it is best to from. When most Amigas were floppy Benfleet, use one of the alternatives available Replace MyDisk with the name you disk based the RAD disk was used a lot Essex, SS7 5AH. from Aminet or included with most IDE want to give the disk and be careful to by people who had a reasonable Support and SCSI controllers (see the “CDROM double-check you have typed the com- amount of RAM as they could copy *Please telephone before sending your order to confirm availability. • Back to Basics: Monitors and Explained” feature for more). mand correctly, don’t format the wrong their Workbench disk to it then re-boot screenmodes disk by mistake! and access system files very quickly PC0 and PC1 - CrossDOS Filesystem • Hard Drives - We guide you though without disk swapping. In these days of PIPE Become a SEAL for Only choosing and installing a new This DOSDriver allows you to read PC fast cheap hard disks there aren’t many harddisk including jumping the 4Gb formatted floppy disks in your Amiga’s The PIPE device transfers data from uses for the RAD, however you can use barrier. Plus how to get best perfor- drive (PC0 relates to DF0 one program to another using tem- it as a destination for DMS disk images 2.50 a Month! mance from your current drives. the internal floppy and PC1 to DF1), porary storage in RAM. A PIPE is used that would otherwise have to be written If you live in or around Essex why not For more information and directions to • Cinema 4D Tutorial the DOSDriver works with both double when the output of one program needs to a real floppy. You can then copy the come along to a SEAL meeting? We’re a the venue: lively group who meet every other Friday and high density floppy drives. After to be used as the input of another and files to your hard disk or even boot from Visit http://seal.amiga.tm you mount PC0 by double clicking it is usually applied to shell commands the RAD, which is ideal for demos dis- evening at Northlands Park Community Plus two icons will appear when you insert a that output text which must be im- tributed in DMS files. You may need to Centre in Basildon. We offer help, Telephone Mick Sutton on News, interviews, hints and tips and disk in your internal floppy drive. One mediately processed by another com- edit the RAD DOSDriver to alter the advice and demonstrations at meetings (01268) 761429 (7 to 9pm) much more. and someone is always available to lend for DF0 and the other for PC0, if you mand. As one program outputs data it size of the RAD : Write To Mick Sutton insert a PC disk you’ll be able to fills a FIFO (first in, first out) buffer (4Kb a helping hand in between. HighCyl = 79 20 Roding Way access files on it which an icon DF0: by default) in RAM, as the buffer is If you decide to join membership costs Wickford Clubbed Issue 5 BAD is shown on the workbench in- filled the second program is passed the HighCyl controls the size of the RAD, £2.50 per month (or £25 if you pay Essex is planned for dicating that a non-Amiga formatted data. If the receiving program cannot each cylinder is equivalent to about yearly) and includes access to all SS12 9BB April 2000 disk is in the drive. If you insert an accept the data quickly enough the 11KB so 79 allocates about 880KB, the meetings, refreshments and 4 issues of EMail [email protected] Amiga disk you’ll be able to read it as PIPE buffer will fill eventually pausing size of a standard Amiga disk. Clubbed a year. 38 CLUBBED - Issue 4 Winter 1999 39 Gallery

Mandyleigh’s Website

By Gary Storm Ingredients: Photo of Mandyleigh’s eyes. Various nebulae (www.nasa.gov). Aqua bitmap (buttons). Icons modified from web pictures. Destructions: Buttons and text courtesy of Visitors Candy Factory Pro (PPaint for the button masks). Vigorous blending of fire effect, resize, rub-through etc. with Photogenics 4. Chuck in the web and taste-test with IBrowse 2, Voyager 3, AWeb, Nutscrape and Internet Exploder. Eagle-eyed readers will notice this shot also shows http://www.thunder.u-net.com/ IBrowse 2.1’s interace complete with browser tabs. mandyleigh/ In the mag... SEAL Photogenics 4.2

Here’s a quick montage of some of the great paint-on effects avail- able in Photogenics 4 (reviewed on page 18). If you look closely you’ll see paint-on fire and stars forming the background, DisplaceMap, BasRelief and Headland pixelise applied to the text which By Roy Burton was generated with Photogenics’ Roy has been busy with Cinema 4D text tool. And plenty of smudge again and has produced the nice and blur to blend everything rendered images above. together. I really like the 50's sci-fi feel of visitors and keeping to simple black and white has much more effect than the same image would have in colour. When we first started SEAL a 3D seal for the logo was suggested but no one was up to the job of modelling a good one. Well Roy seems to have come through here with a model that looks really good, maybe just a bit more work on the texture is required to get a less “plastic” look. Headland is another atmospheric image with a great choice of sky in the background.

Layers Tutorial Here’s our tutorial composition after a bit more work in ImageFX 4. Both the background and the glow’s alpha channel were distorted with the Distort/Liquid effect. The CD32 layer was http://seal.amiga.tm copied and combined with the original one using the Screen layer mode.