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Page 3 Reviews (from 12/5/00)
372. Swat 3. Close Quarters Battle Review
Proving that there's room for innovation even in a crowded genre, SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle enters the squad-level combat arena armed to the teeth with unique features and killer gameplay. Set in Los Angeles of 2005, the game puts you in command of a SWAT team faced with mounting terrorist activityThe gameplay is unique among squad-level games in that you command your troops on the fly and not just from tactical maps. While the Spec Ops games offer this feature, in SWAT 3 it actually works well and is absolutely essential for mission success. After your briefing, you select appropriate gear for yourself and your team. The weapon selection is limited but more than sufficient. Each trooper in your unit is equipped with tons of extra equipment, like CS gas canisters, flashbangs, all-in-one "toolkits" (which are handy for unlocking doors and disarming explosives), and an Opti-Wand. The Opti-Wand is a tiny mirror on the end of a 48-inch stick and is particularly cool because it lets you see around corners and into rooms before entering. Each trooper also has a hefty supply of handcuffs, which you'll need on every single mission.
The game's interface is also excellent; it has a transparent inventory overlay that lets you select a new SWAT toy without ever taking your eyes off the action. You can easily order your squad members with an unobtrusive menu that sits neatly in the upper corner of the screen. Even better, you direct each order with your reticle. In other words, if you want a team to breach and flashbang a room, you point at the doorway and issue the command. The interface and command system gives you near-total control of your troops, even in the heat of battle.
Basically if you want more than a "shootemup" - tactics and clear thinking is your forte, loved games like Rogue Spear--then Swat 3 is for you. Top game play, excellent interface, top graphics and brilliant scenarios make this really stand out in the crowd !!
373. Thief 2 The Metal Age 2 CD's Review
Thief II: The Metal Age uses the mechanics of a first-person shooter to make a game that's more about inaction than action. You won't find yourself running through hallways shooting everything that moves. Instead, you'll find yourself
hiding in alcoves, listening intently for the slightest indication that you've been
detected. The sneaking premise of Thief was only one of its best features; the game's excellent story and generally good mission design helped to make it one of 1998's best games. And in some ways, Thief II is even better. The mission design is more consistent, and some of the missions are among the best in any action game to date.
Although it requires nearly a Gig to install it it worth every MB. A fantastic game that turns 1st person combat into a true art form of stealth and tactics. Excellent !
374. NBA Live 2000 Review
Whether you're a fan of other basketball games or not, once you've played NBA 2K you can never go back to those other games. NBA 2K is an officially licensed NBA game from Visual Concepts, the developer of NFL 2K. It features all the real players, teams, and arenas, as well as the usual basketball modes, like exhibition, season, and playoffs. The game also has an extensive create-a-player option, and it lets you tweak just about anything. So those of you still living in the past will be able to create a pretty good facsimile of Michael Jordan. Still the best !!!
375 PGA Championship Golf 2000
As compelling as the real game PGA Championship Golf 2000 gives you all the tools you need to go low, while ensuring that skill and creativity are the primary factors in a well-played round. Combining amazing feel and control, an endless supply of beautiful courses and compelling season and career tournament play, PGA Championship Golf 2000 truly is the future of PC golf today.
Features:
Complete Season and Career Tour-style Tournament Play
5 NEW courses
Improved TrueSwing 3™, the finest real-time mouse swing method
Side Games - make the casual round more interesting with in-round side games like Greenies, Sandies and Nassau
SnapCam™ Automatic camera rotation that offers an up-close look at your shot's results .
376. Demo Dazzler
Contains some 60 fully playable demos mainly from Softseek and
just about ALL Sierra demos available.
Easy to install - just double click on the demo title.
This CD contains all types of games from arcade to 3D !!
There is literally months and months of entertainment.
Some of the titles include Croc, Eggbert, Croc, Mini golf ,Pharaoh, Leisure Suit Larry etc. Many of the games are puzzler games too--games that will stretch the "grey" matter a little.
All in all a great CD for all ages and tastes !!
377. M.Y.O.B. PLUS V10 Info
This is the latest release for Australian business. This PLUS version contains all usual MYOB features but also has Time billing and Payroll functions if needed.
Of course it includes GST handling.
One of the best accounting packages in Australia !!
378. Adobe In Design v1.5 Info
Page layout and design for the future of professional publishing
Adobe® InDesign™ 1.5 software is redefining professional publishing for graphic designers, production artists, and prepress professionals - and delivering a level of Adobe integration, creative freedom, productivity, and precision that no other page layout program can touch.
379. Army Men World War Info
War has been declared and it's up to you to lead the Green Army in a vicious battle against the Tan nemesis. Carefully guide your troops through a deadly barrage of enemy fire in over 15 intense missions. Only the best military minds will prevail in this blazing battle of ground-based infantry. Tons of weapons are at your disposal: Call in strategic air strikes, a swarm of paratroopers, or pierce enemy plastic from a distance with your sniper rifle. Never before has a plastic war reached this size and scale! Min Req'd P133, 16mb ram, 2mb video.
Top concept-- Battle strategy - just like when you were a kid, with those little plastic army men (I loved the one with the Bazooka). Brought to life on the computer with top graphics, game play and strategy.
380. Win Fax Pro v10
This is simply the best faxing / office management program there is !!
Easy to set up and run - Brilliant results.
Get Updates from the net - YEP -Live update included !
Automatically connects downloads and installs any updates.
381. South Park Rally
South Park Rally is a simplistic game but faithfull to the TV
program. All the characters are there each with there own unique
vehicles. There are heaps od tracks and a couple of different racing formats.
Althouth it is a simple driving game it is typical South Park with excellent representations of the characters and there environment.
Compared with Need for Speed etc, it's pretty ordinary as far
as the game goes, but in saying that, it is South Park through
and through. Very much like jumping into the program and having
a ball with all the characters. In that light - it is fun !
Lovers of South Park will have a ball.
Do you have children 3 to 6 years old ???? Then read this !!
Dorling Kindersley have produced an outstanding range of CD rom based
Programs for children aged 3 to 6.
Each CD is beautifully presented and designed for the young children to use on their own.
Animations, speech and educational concept are superbly "pitted" to interest, amuse, foster and enthrall users of these excellent CD's
Many children can use the same CD. The program keeps track of what child has done what and parent's can easily call up report charts on the child's progress.
There are special areas for parents to assist in the learning progress and keep them informed as to the goals of each of the CD's.
Possibly one of the best features of the CD's is the ability to print out worksheets on associated topics for further learning (and fun) experiences--to reinforce what they have already done.
Each of the CD's contains numerous graded activities as well as 3 levels of expertise.
Each of the CD's are independent of the others covering different topics.
Around 70% of all learning is achieved by a child by the time they 4 years old ! The more input and experience a child has in those years play a huge part in future successes.
These series of CD's are excellent in every respect. Every moment spent "playing" will be valuable moments indeed.
Apart from their educational merit--probably the best thing about this interactive learning is that they are really designed for the children to have fun !!
The learning is really designed to quite incidental !!
The CD's are usually sold in a party plan type situation costing in the vicinity of $60 each. This is money well spent !!!
382. My First Maths Adventure Counting and Sorting
383 My First Maths Adventure Adding and Subtracting
384. My First Reading Adventure
385. My First Amazing History Explorer
386. I Love Spelling.
387. The Amazing Human Body
Minimum spec's
A multimedia PC, with 486DX/33MHz or higher microprocessor, 8Mb, MPC-compatible double-speed CD-ROM drive and sound card, mouse, SVGA 256 colour display, loudspeakers or headphones, and Microsoft® Windows® version 3.1x or Windows® 95.
387. Lego Loco Review
BUILD RAILROADS !!! and roads and stations and put little people in there, points, rail yards, trees etc etc etc.
Who wants to do that ? Little kids - who else !! WRONG !!!!
I spent too much time on this already - actually made a great little town though.
Now I know - it's for little kids AND big kids too !
However there will be problems - who plays first !!
It really is a top program and although it's pretty easy to build your railway - it takes a lot of thought and planning to get it right - without trains colliding. (Actually that was the fun bit) OK a few train wrecks are ok !!
Great entertainment for ages 4 to "4 score". AND you don't loose those little blocks either. Animation and sound excellent.
Go for it !!
388. Lego Land Info/Review
Design, build and manage your very own LEGOLAND Park on your computer,
using elements from LEGO SYSTEM themes: Western, Adventurers and Castle. 'Free Play Mode' allows you to build freely with access to a wide variety of attractions. 'Game Mode' poses a slightly different challenge in that your Park's success relies totally on the actions you take. Make your Park a success and you'll receive rewards and surprises, including special Park attractions and the famous Minilands.
Yet another Lego masterpiece. This Lego software really is very good. This one yet again is so totally different from the others but with the same friendly user interface. Great for children aged 6 and up. Gives excellent guided tutorials on how to develop there own Legoland, and eventually they can go it on their own.
Apart from being the Lego version of the likes of Railroad Tycoon, Sim City etc. It really is very educational in that development of your "Land" requires structured thinking, organisation and planning to make it work.
Good Fun, educational and once again--no lost pieces !!
Can be played from the CD or installed to hard drive (quicker) and requires 250mb of hard drive space.
(My 8 yo son has just taken it - Who knows when I'll see it again !!)
389. DTMS Australian Phonedisc 4/00
Finally an up to date Phonedisc !!
The last one was 4/98 and it was brilliant.
This current one has a new look, easier to use interface and can be run from
CD or hard drive.
Features.
Full Yellow and White pages for ALL Australia. Search name,
phone number, business, suburb, radius searches, phone books,
etc. etc.
Can print labels, envelopes, lists, details, dial phone numbers,
cut and paste etc.
It really is the fastest and easiest way to find people, products,
phone numbers, relatives and so on.
This new Phonedisc can be used in a variety of ways--some as follows.
Type in name, select state, select area and search !
Type in phone number and see who it belongs to, or find out name and address.
See who lives in a street. Search a suburb or area and get a full listing of who lives there--names addresses and phone numbers.
Can search an area and specified surrounding radius.
Same goes for businesses.
Select from complete list of business categories -
Search as little as a suburb/postcode to as much as the entire country.
Brilliant for finding specific trades, companies etc.
Great for mail outs as labels and envelopes can be printed from search criteria.
Bottom line is if you need to fine a phone number anywhere in Australia it doesn't get any easier !
However if you like to snoop, save money by getting quotes, maximising your buying choices etc. etc. this is where this program flexes it's muscles !!
For this type of program it is brilliant and highly recommended.
390. World Book Encyclopedia 2000 Details
This is a really great encyclopedia - ideal for younger children.
Easy to navigate, easy to search, informative and well structured.
Contains excellent multi media - movies, bubble photos (360 degree panning/zooming, pictures sounds etc.etc.
Also had comprehensive DICTIONARY and Atlas.
Basically for the Dictionary component itself this is a winner.
The Encyclopedia is a bonus BUT what a bonus it really is excellent. It does NOT have the depth of Encarta or Britannica BUT it is superb for an additional resource, Just browsing out of interest and a BRILLIANT resource for primary aged
children.
Highly recommended.
391. Ceaser's Palace 2000
Gambler's rejoice !! Lose a packet (or win) win the comfort of your home.
Actually the good thing is that the money is only pretend !
I manges to lose $600 in the last half hour BUT who cares !!
Games include -
CARDS -
Blackjack, Spanish 21, Mini Baccarat, Red Dog, Casino War, and Pai Gow Poker.
SLOTS - 5 Different slot Machines
VIDEO GAMES - Poker Keno and Poker Challenge
TABLE GAMES - Roulette and Craps
Also has statistics and a cashier section.
All in all a fun time was had at Creaser's Palace (and I'm real glad it was there money and not mine.)
393. Daikatana Details
Awesome 3D first person shooter !!! In the vein of Quake, Doom, King Pin etc.
If you like 3D first person shooters then Daikatana is a MUST !
But you do need a fair amount of grunt to run it.
Minimum Specification and Recommended Specification
Pentium 233 or equivalent or Pentium II 300 or equivalent
Windows 95/98/NT/2000
32Mb RAM or 64Mb RAM
200Mb Uncompressed HD space 450Mb Uncompressed HD space
DirectX 6.0
4Mb OpenGL compliant video card 16Mb OpenGL compliant video card
4x CD-ROM 8x CD-ROM
100% DirectX-compatible sound card EAX Enhanced audio supported Keyboard and Mouse A3D Enhanced audio supported
A brain capable of comprehending Complete mastery over FPS games
Note - At lease 16mb card is required !! I tried it on an 8mb card and it hardly moved the screen ! Be warned!!
394. Macromedia Authorware v5.1 Details
Macromedia Authorware 5.1 is the leading visual rich-media authoring solution for creating Web and online learning applications. As a training developer,
instructional designer, educator, or subject matter expert, you can create engaging rich-media learning applications, deliver them to employees and customers on the Web, LANs, and CD-ROM, and track student results and the return on your
training investment
395. Dark Reign 2 Details/Reviews
Find out what the JDA is doing to keep the rioting dissidents known as the
Sprawlers from taking over Earth's largest city. Build bases, collect resources, amass an army and wage full-scale war. Run your battles from the traditional RTS view or zoom into the fray using multiple camera perspectives.
You're down in the trenches seeing the direct effect of your decision.
If a platoon eats it, you'll be there to count the bodies. This is war, up close and personal.
Welcome to the battlefield of the future. Welcome to Dark Reign 2.
For lovers of strategy type games, Dark Reign 2 has taken off from the enormously popular Dark Reign. The sequel is better in every respect. Awesome !!!
396. Pharaoh & Cleopatra Official Expansion Pack Details
Web Site/ Details (Cleopatra Expansion Pack)
Impressions Games, creators of the award-winning Caesar III, take you farther back in time with this stunning strategic city-building game set in the mysterious and beautiful land of the Nile. Welcome to ancient Egypt.
Grow thriving cities in the desert and see the economy and inhabitants come to life. Interact with your citizens; observe their culture, their habits and learn from them. Raise their hopes or raze their homes.
Never has a City Building game been so impressive. You play a dynasty - working over centuries towards having the greatest monuments of all time built in your honor. For in ancient Egypt, Pharaoh is the name revered above all.
Features:
Build the grandest, most realistic monuments ever seen brick by brick, including The Great Pyramids, The Sphinx, and more.
Govern all aspects of the exotic Egyptian culture, from embalming and worshipping the gods to trading with distant cities.
Defend against invasions, on land and water. Build armies and fleets to protect your civilization.
Gameplay based on actual Egyptian economy and industry. Even your
farming must take the mighty Nile into account.
Graphics are stunning and for RPG types pharaoh is tops !!!
Cleopatra Expansion Pack
In the last days of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra used every means at her
disposal - her wit, her money and her body - to save her empire. Join her in her fight to save Egypt from falling into the hands of the
Romans with the Pharaoh Official Expansion: Cleopatra.
Play 4 new campaigns with 15 missions tracing the careers of
Tutankhamen, Ramses II and Cleopatra.
Erect magnificent monuments, including the Colossi of Ramses II, the Tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Amon-Ra at Karnak and the Library and Lighthouse at Alexandria.
Construct more buildings for your cities, including Henna Farms,
Painters, Lamp Makers and Tomb Artisans, plus more beautification structures.
Battle fierce enemies from lands both far and near, including Persia,
Phoenicia, Assyria and Rome.
Face new threats from within your city's borders, including grave
Robbers and plagues of locusts, frogs and hail.
Pray to the gods to speed construction of your monuments.
Enjoy many other new features, like carrying over troops from one
Scenario to the next.
This pack is a dream come true for RPG type gamers.
Move over Age of Empires, Tiberian Sun etc. There is a new kid on the block--this is very very good !!
System Requirements:
Requires Pentium 133 MHz or faster, Windows 95/98, 32 MB RAM, 300 MB HD space, Windows-compatible soundcard, SVGA 256-color graphics, 4X CD-ROM.
NB Both Pharaoh and Cleopatra are contained on this single CD.
397. Extreme B.M.X.
Extreme BMX can best be described as the PC's answer to Tony Hawks
skateboarding (sony) but with Schwinn BMX bikes. (Of course Schwinn bikes being the most expensive stunt bikes in the universe.)
The game is very well optioned supporting software ,D3D and Glide for graphics so it will run on most computers. It can also handle resolutions from 200 x 320 up to
1600 x 1200. Has heaps of other options such as various bikes ,riders etc. and you get more places to ride as you complete the levels and gain sponsorship.
You can control your stunts using either mouse, keyboard or joystick--which is user configured.
My 8 yo son disappeared with the CD and I haven't seen it since !
If you like Tony Hawks then this will be a winner too.
Can be played from the CD or installed to the hard drive.
398. Star Wars Force Commander 2CD's Website
THIS IS WAR!
PREPARE FOR GROUND ASSAULT
Think you have what it takes to command a battalion of AT-ATs?
Or to defend the Rebel stronghold at Hoth? Prove it in Star Wars®: Force
Commander™, an intense real-time ground combat experience like no other.
As you weave through the epic storyline, lead both the Empire's monolithic military might and the ragtag-yet-resourceful Rebels.
Keep your war machine humming in single- and multiplayer modes.
The ultra realistic 3D terrain and vehicles give you the power to guide your troops to victory. This is war. This is Force Commander!
Specs 64mb ram P266, AGP/PCI video 8mb min.
For the strategist/action--need to dominate and conquer person--this is Lucas Arts at it's best.
400. Deux Ex Website
The year is 2052 and the world is a dangerous and chaotic place. Terrorists operate openly - killing thousands; drugs, disease and pollution kill even more. The world's economies are close to collapse and the gap between the insanely wealthy and the desperately poor grows ever wider. Worst of all, an ages old, conspiracy bent on world domination has decided that the time is right to emerge from the shadows and take control. No one believes they exist. No one but you.
Yeah the scenario sounds good but what's the game like ?
For the action / first person shooter fan - it's a new ball game !!!
Simply an experience you've got to try.
Specs Min P200mmx 32 mb ram 500mb hard drive, PCI video Card (I think not)
Really want a decent card ! At least 8mb and a PII kinda machine (the higher the better) and 64 mb ram.
401. Cake Walk Pro v9 Details of program
Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 is the new version of the industry's
leading multitrack digital audio and MIDI software. It's the professional's choice for creating, mixing and delivering music and sound in a wide range of media. Wherever your next
project takes you, you will find that Pro Audio 9 gets you there faster!
Quite simply this is THE best digital audio software !
402. Webster's Encyclopedia of Australia 2000
Webster's Encyclopedia of Australia 2000 is the only Australian Encyclopedia available in multimedia format.
It includes over 9,000 pages of text, more than 80 video clips, over 3,500 photos, maps and tables, and 2,300 major
Australian biographies.
In it you will find more information on Australian topics than any other single reference source.
403. Earth 2150 Details
After years of war, Earth lies in ruins.
Now, it is plummeting into the Sun. Your only chance for survival is to
fight your way onto a shuttle to Mars. In a deteriorating landscape
with hostile weather conditions, you'll need all your cunning and
intelligence to defeat your enemies.
The first all-terrain, totally immersive, real-time strategy game,
Earth 2150 has revolutionized RTS gameplay.
Features
Completely 3D landscapes, changing light, and weather effects.
Over 45 in-depth video sequences tightly integrated into the game.
A nonlinear mission system with 75 highly challenging missions.
Handy 3D camera system and a sophisticated tracking system.
Three totally different interfaces, soundtracks, and strategies.
Multiplayer mode that supports up to 8 players.
Requirements
Direct x 7, PII 233 +, 32 MB ram, Win 4 Meia Player, 450 mb
Hard Drive space, 4MB Video with Direct 3D,Open GL or Glide.
404. Grand Prix 3 Details / Reviews
The Formula One car racing simulation of the complete Grand Prix season featuring real circuits, real teams, real drivers and real cars reproduced accurately as licensed by Formula One Administration Limited. Featuring Driving Aids for rookies, Quick Race, Non-Championship Races and the complete Championship Season with full qualifying and practice days, pit stops, complete car set ups and data logging.
Minimum:
Windows 95/98
Intel Pentium II 266Mhz or AMD K6-2 or higher
32Mb RAM
2Mb Video card
4x CD-ROM Drive
Minimum 3D support:
Windows 95/98
Intel Pentium II 266Mhz or AMD K6-2 or higher
32Mb RAM
8Mb Direct X7.0 compatible video card
Reccomended
Intel Pentium III 450Mhz or AMD Athlon or Higher
64Mb RAM
16Mb DirectX7.0 compatible video card
This is probably the best car sim I have used - OK it has all the gimmicks and features, the graphics and game play BUT best of all - you can race straight away AND it feels GREAT.
You can really feel the grunt and power of F1. To me that's great. Top Game !!
405. Adobe Illustrator v9 Details
This is Adobe Illustrator 9.0, the most eagerly anticipated
release of the year in the desktop publishing world.
The industry-standard vector graphics creation software for
print and the Web Adobe® Illustrator® 9.0 expands your
creative freedom and enhances your productivity with its
new Web graphics tools, versatile transparency capabilities,
powerful object and layer effects, and other innovative
features. Now you can use these fast, flexible tools to
transform your creative ideas into sophisticated graphics
for use on the Web, in print, or in dynamic media projects.
WHAT'S NEW IN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR 9.0?
1. Flash and SVG output
With Adobe® Illustrator® 9.0, you can preserve your artwork
in vector form when exporting it for the Web. Illustrator
9.0 provides excellent support for exporting files to Flash
(SWF) format, as well as to the new Scalable Vector Graphics
(SVG) standard. Both Web vector formats maintain high-quality
artwork and fonts, while producing smaller file sizes and
faster download times than bitmap formats. Flash is widely
used to design vector-based Web pages and Web animations;
when exporting graphics to this format, you have the option
of exporting the entire graphic to a single SWF file;
exporting each layer to a separate frame in a single SWF
file; or exporting each layer to a separate SWF file.
SVG is an emerging, completely open standard that was
developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and numerous
industry players, including Adobe Systems, IBM, Netscape, Sun,
Corel, Hewlett-Packard, and others. The SVG standard provides
all the benefits of the Flash format, plus support for the
following features: Type 1 and TrueType fonts, extensible
markup language (XML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS),
interactive actions, and dynamic HTML animation. When
preparing SVG output, you can assign scripted events to
objects using the SVG Interactivity palette, and then
export that information with the file. Illustrator also ships
with the SVG Viewer plug-in, which works with different
browsers to play back SVG graphics and Web pages.
2. Pixel Preview
Because the vector artwork that you create in Illustrator
will be rasterized upon output to the Web, it's useful to
monitor your work in terms of pixels. Illustrator 9.0 lets
you specify pixels as a global measurement unit for sizing,
editing, and laying out your artwork. You can also preview
your vector objects as they will appear when rasterized in
a Web browser. Working in Pixel Preview mode guarantees that
your objects will snap to the nearest pixel edge in order to
minimize anti-aliasing. You can draw and edit artwork in
this mode.
3. Instant drop shadows, glows, and live shapes
New commands under the Effect menu let you convert type
and graphic objects to editable rectangular or elliptical
shapes, which can be especially useful for creating Web
buttons. These shapes can contain fully editable type
objects and appearances; when you modify or transform a
shape, its contents update automatically.
The Stylize commands under the Effect menu let you apply
appearances such as drop shadows and glows directly to
type and graphic objects while retaining full vector
editability of the objects.
4. Release to Layers command
The new Release to Layers command lets you instantly
distribute all of the objects on a layer onto separate,
individual layers. You can use this feature to prepare
files for further Web animation work in other applications
that support layers. For example, you can prepare
different frames of an animation by first applying blend
options to objects or using the scatter brush to paint
repeated copies of an object along a path. You can then
release each object in the blend or scattered path to a
separate layer, and export the file as a Flash (SWF) file
or to Adobe Photoshop® 5.5 to set up the animation. By
pressing Shift as you choose the Release to Layers
command, you can distribute objects onto separate layers
in a cumulative sequence. For example, you can create a
layer containing the first object, a layer containing
the first and second objects, a layer containing the
first, second, and third objects, and so on. This procedure
is especially useful for building animation sequences. ³
5. Unlimited transparency capabilities
The new Transparency palette lets you apply transparency
to any graphic object, bitmap image, or type character in
your artwork so that underlying objects are partially or
fully revealed. You can vary the transparency settings for
every character, word, or paragraph in a text block, and
even create cumulative effects by applying individual
settings to characters and then applying an overall
setting to an entire text block. Objects and text remain
fully editable with transparency applied.
You also have the option of limiting transparency to a
layer, to a group of objects, or to an object's stroke or
fill to achieve different creative results. To apply
transparency to multiple objects, simply Shift-click to
select the objects and then set the transparency. To apply
transparency to a layer, first target the layer in the
Layers palette and then set the transparency. The
transparency setting then affects the entire layer as a
single object - any graphics on the layer, and any you
add later on, immediately assume the transparency of
the layer.
6. Opacity and Layer mask
Two new masking features - Opacity masks and Layer
Clipping masks - let you selectively hide and reveal areas
of your artwork through custom shapes. Using the
Transparency palette, you can define any object as an
opacity mask, so that artwork attached to the mask takes
on modified transparency. The grayscale equivalents of
the colors in the mask correspond to different levels
of mask transparency. By editing the shape, placement,
and fill of the mask, you can achieve sophisticated
effects such as variable transparency across an object.
Clipping masks, which are defined through the Layers
palette, let you reveal a set of underlying objects
through a clipping shape.
7. Feathering
The Feather command under the Effect > Stylize menu
softens the transition between foreground and background
objects. As with other effects, the feathering effect
can be applied nondestructively to vector objects and
type.
8. Overprint preview
With Illustrator 9.0, you can preview your overprint
settings to proof trapping and spot-color effects before
you go to press. You can, for example, preview on-screen
how a spot-color object will overprint other objects.
9. Effects
Use the many commands under the new Effect menu to apply
nondestructive visual effects to graphic objects, bitmap
images, and type in your artwork. These effects preserve
the full editability of the objects to which they are
applied; you can continue to reshape, resize, transform,
and retype the objects with the assurance that the effects
will update with your edits. You can even remove an effect
from an object without having to re-create the object
from scratch.
406. Macromedia Director 8 Details
Director is the market-leading multimedia solution forcreating engaging, rich media corporate presentations,
e-merchandising applications, and entertainment.
Director combines graphics, sound, animation, text, and video to create streaming, multiuser, interactive Web
content that is easy to deploy for CD-, DVD-ROM, and the Web.
407. Omni Page Pro V10 Details
This is simply the best Optical Character Recognition program
there is.
V10combines the OCR technologies from three award-winning OCR
applications: OmniPage Pro®, WordScan Plus® and Recognita® Plus.
Along with a new user interface it the most powerful and easiest to use
O.C.R. software to date.
If you need to turn a scan into editable text then THIS IS IT !!
408. Who Wants To Beat Up A Millionaire
This is an absolutely irreverant rip off of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
BUT it wasn't enough to rip it off - they have added a touch of South Park and a big scoop of the Simpsons as well - to make ah, well ,ummm, a program that is as "wacky" (and at times even educational) as can be.
My son laughed his head off and promptly took away the CD
(probably never to be found in his room again).
But he loves the Simpsons and is a bit of a South Park fan - and he loves Who Wants to be a Millionaire too !!
Up to 4 players can play at a time - for better or worse.
It really is a wacky, weird but very funny game.
Lifelines also take on a new meaning ! And actually beating the "crap" of a
millionaire is does very tastefully !!??
Requirements P133 90MB hard drive, 16mb ram.
409. Nickelodeon Nick Click Studio
Although designed for the Nick Click Digital Camera this CD is chock full of great things to do with pictures from any source.
It is designed specifically for young children to turn their hand to wonderful and wacky artistry and games revolving around the Nickelodeon characters - such as the Rugrats etc. The CD will import any .jpg or .bmp files to play with.
The "Lobby" is the place to get started. There are 4
to go to. F/X - Where you can manipulate your photo to star in a video game and use the image editor to change your photo.
PROPS - where you add body parts of Nick toons characters
and backgrounds to make your own hilarious people.
DIRECTOR'S STUDIO - This is the area where you can make
your photos into a mini movie.
PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT - Where you can create posters,
postcards and ID cards featuring your photos and Nick Toon
characters.
This is NOT Photoshop !! It is designed for young children to experiment and have fun with photos. With a little dabbling, you can produce some hilarious photos. It is easy to manouvre through and very intuitive. I could imagine this being suitable for
children as young as 4 right upto the "big kids" just "foolin" around. Great fun and a great intro to picture manipulation.
Req's P100, 16mb ram,13mb hard drive, 16 bit Sound, 2mb
graphics card.
410. Rally Championship 2000 Review
Put simply - Rally Championship 2000 has been rated BEST game of it's type to date, eclipsing Colin McRae. 6 real world rallies, each consisting of 6 stages, 3 rally classes of cars to choose from All stages are "The Real McCoy" crafted to look as close to the original as possible.
Rally Championship raises the stakes for driving simulations in general.
It comes from a great pedigree and lives up to the promiseit showed when we were first wowed by its graphic realism. Despite the inclusion of a highly entertaining arcade mode, Rally Championship may still be rather too close to reality for some arcade driving fans - it makes very few game compromises.
These are essentially real roads, and if they seem a tad long at times, it's just because that's the way they are. However, fans of real driving games, those who buy the TOCAs and F1 Grand Prixs of this world, will not be disappointed.
Req's - Recommended Pentium II 300MHz, AGP, 3Dfx2 (12 Meg)
64 Mb Memory 8x CD-Rom Sound Blaster Live! High Quality monitor running
at 120 Hz.
Get by with P200 + 8mb 3dfx type card, 32mb ram (just)
Need 560mb hard drive space !!
412. Adobe Framemaker v6 Details
The multichannel technical publishing solution for print and Web
Adobe® FrameMaker® 6.0 software delivers a comprehensive solution for publishing long, content-rich documents across multiple channels. Whether publishing to the Web, CD-ROM, or print, FrameMaker 6.0 lets you work more productively than ever before. The program offers improved book-building features including book-wide commands, and now gives you the power of Quadralay WebWorks® Publisher Standard Edition software for enhanced HTML and XML capabilities. This version also supports creation of structured PDF files.
413. Ixla Explorer - Photo Easy Deluxe Details
Got pictures on a PC ? Then you need this !!!
This package combines a very sophisticated and fast graphics thumbnail creator with a stunningly comprehensive file converter.
So all the user needs to do is click on ANY directory and all the graphic files - regardless of their type or size, will pop up on the screen as very recognisable thumb nails.
Not only that the viewer will jump to a full screen in a "wink", export to almost any other file format you can think of, optimise images for Web output and even search for files lying around by size, date or name. It also directly supports digital cameras and scanners as well.
It will also catalogue and play audio and video files as well.
It also includes the Ixla Activity Center that is so easy to use !
There is importing/selecting of photos, photo fixing, photo fun (stretching, warping , putting frames around photos etc), emailing center and printing areas.
The Ixla Explorer is very much a "must have" - for people who deal with pictures - it is just "too good" to miss out on. The inclusion of the Activity Center is just good fun - the kids will love it !!
A well deserved 5 star rating from Sept 99 issue of APC Mag.
414. Flash 5 by Macromedia Details
Design and deliver distinctive, low-bandwidth Web Sites with Macromedia
Flash 5, the professional standard for producing high-impact Web experiences,
used by over half a million Web authors worldwide. Designers easily create
engaging graphics with the familiar Macromedia user interface, and developers build advanced Web applications using scripting, forms, and server-side
connectivity.
415. Map Source World Map v3.02 (Use with Garmin GPS)
For use with Garmin GPS units (not GPS100)
Provides World wide maps with limited detail to compatible Garmin GPS.
Display political boundaries, cities,towns, highways, lakes rivers and coastline
detail. Including many offshore islands.
Contains worldwide marine nav aids , allows to transfer
way points, routes and tracks between most Garmin GPS units.
416. X Word Crazy
This is the mother of all Crossword programs !!
Contains - Crosswords, Crypto's, hangmans, Word Searches, Word Matches and Telephone Scramble.
Options , options and more options
In each category - "billions" of choices - make your own ,
print them out, different styles, sizes, etc. etc. etc.
If you are a crossword "freak" and never want to be without--then this is the one !!!!
I've seen lots of X Word programs--but this one seems to have it all !
417. Sydney 2000 Olympics Review
Eidos Interactive has done a great job in bringing the look and feel of the Olympics to your armchair. Covers heaps of events including shooting, kayaking, running, etc.
It really is a great game to bring the look and feel of the Olympics to the computer screen - especially for the kids.
Multi player mode will also make it more interesting.
So choose you country - choose your sport and go for it !!
421. Norton System Works Pro 2001 Details / Review
Norton SystemWorks™ 2001 Professional Edition is the complete problem-solving
suite for advanced users and small businesses.
The new One-Button Checkup makes system maintenance as easy as the click of a mouse.
Norton AntiVirus™ 2001 is the world's leading anti-virus software.
Norton Utilities™ 2001 optimizes your PC's performance.
Norton CleanSweep™ 2001 cleans out Internet buildup.
Norton Web Services™ - powered by ZDNet Updates - and Symantec Web Partners offer convenient online services.
Norton Ghost™ 2001 provides fast system upgrading and backup.
And WinFax™ Basic Edition lets you send, receive, and manage faxes.
Now Windows NT®, Windows® 2000, and Windows Millennium Edition
users can also enjoy the benefits of Norton SystemWorks.
I have always maintained that this is one utility everyone MUST have to survive
in the Windows environment !!
It goes a long way to keep all of Windows glitches at bay !! (And there are heaps!) This new version supports 95 98 ME NT and Windows 2000 !!
This is good news indeed.
(The one caveat on this product is that I find the utilities system monitor which loads in the background a little intrusive--although some love it ! I prefer to turn this feature off and run the utilities manually at least once a week - problem solved)
Not a lot has changes to the basic interface - however Winfax has been added to the pro version - which is a good touch.
Update via the net has been streamlined and is more informative - as has installation options.
The anti virus component is a must !! It checks emails automatically as well -
which has saved me quite a few times !
The latest anti virus signatures are easily obtained from the net. All in all - this is still the best utility money can buy !!
Not only is it useful - it is of paramount importance to keep Windows up and running. Utilities once again can be run straight from the CD with no installation necessary.
If you haven't got it - GET IT !
If you are a ME or Windows 2000 or NT user - then this is it !! Go for it !
Highly Recommended !!!!
424. Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred v5 Details
This is the latest and greatest from Dragon 5 minute training option.
425. Norton Internet Security 2001 Details
If you have an Internet connection--then you need this ! Easy to set up.
426. Adobe Photoshop v6 Details
The world-standard image editing solution
Adobe® Photoshop® 6.0 software introduces the next generation
of image editing with powerful new features that offer something for
every user. Delivering the broadest and most productive toolset
available, Photoshop helps you explore your creativity, work at
peak efficiency, and achieve the highest quality results across all media.
Quite simply - if it's photo manipulation you want to do then this
is the one to do it with.
427. Paint Shop Pro V7 (Full Retail) Details
Discover what 20 million users already know , Paint Shop Pro offers
the easiest, most affordable way to achieve professional results!
Don't waste your time with high-end professional products that
cost a fortune and take a lifetime to learn. And don't settle for slow,
cookie-cutter programs that tie you to templates.
Get Paint Shop Pro.
OK They are right PSP is one of the best packages of it's type.
Between Adobe Photoshop - (high end and powerful) and PSP
powerful but easier to use and a bit more friendly - the
photo manipulation market is really tied up. PSP v7 brilliant software !!
Easy To use !! Powerful !!
428. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2 Details
The pinnacle of action / sports games. 3D real skateboarding to your PC.
Fully optioned - create your own parks to rule, many riders or make your own,expanded tricks and controls, additional multi player modes, top soundtracks etc. Each area is catered for from beginners to experts, heaps of modes of play from practice to tournament etc. Graphics and 3D action are superb.
Top Game !!!
-100% DirectX(R) 7.0a compliant 3-D Hardware Accelerator* for hardware acceleration.
-100% DirectX(R) 7.0a compliant 2-D video card for software mode.
-A 100% Windows(R) 95/98 compatible computer system (Including compatible 32-bit drivers for CD-
ROM, video card, sound card and input devices)
-233 MHz Pentium(R) Processor (Hardware Mode); P2 266 Pentium(R) Processor (Software Mode)
-350 MB of uncompressed hard disk space to install, plus an additional 95 MB for Windows swap file.
-32 MB of RAM-English language Version of Windows 95/98 Operating System
-100% DirectX(R) 7.0a or higher compatible sound card
-100% Microsoft(R) compatible mouse and driver
429. Lego Creator Knight's Kingdom Details
You're in charge of building a fantastical virtual 3D kingdom of medieval
adventure where you can role-play the scenes of centuries long ago! Enlist the help of brave knight Richard the Strong as you enter a land where you have the power to shape history. Will good conquer evil? It's entirely up to you. Design and build the castle, select battalions of King Leo's heroic knights and watch them do battle against the evil Cedric the Bull. Construct towers, build bridges, repair the castle, rescue the fair damsel and at all times, beware of the dragon!
Minimum System Requirements: Windows®95/98, DirectX 7 - included on disc, Pentium II 233 MHz MMX, 450 MB of free hard disk space, 4x speed or higher
CD-ROM / DVD drive, 32 MB RAM, Game resolution 800x600, high color 16 bit, 8MB 3D accelerated compatible video card, and DirectSound compatible soundcard.
430. Who Wants to be a Millionaire Details
This is made form the founders of the show and is a faithful replica right down to the sets and music.
It really is an absorbing game - you really hang in there trying to get to be a
millionaire. My son and I made it the other night (with a lot of help from the
internet) but the internet does not guarantee success !!
When / if you reach the millionaire club - you get to enter your name on the Eidos (distributor) web site.
Even though it is the UK host's voice on the show it doesn't take away from the
absorbing nature of the game.
It has one extra option than that of the TV show and that is you can have different amounts of players (up to 4) as well as playing on line.
A great game for all ages and deserving of it's top 10 game status in Europe !!
Recommended
Minimum Specs
Windows 95/98 Pentium 166 16mb RAM 2mb video card (DX7 compliant)
70mb HD space DX7 compliant sound card.
431. Command and Conquer Red Alert 2 Details Review
Red Alert 2 breaks new ground for RTS games !
Multinational manipulation, Eight multiplayer game modes, 30 multiplay and
skirmish maps, Exploding Cows !?, Ultra real Urban warfare zones
(places you know), Great interface, all unit upgrades on screen as well as
TAB interface, Streamlined design frees you from "micro managing" so you can
focus on the "killing".
2 single player campaigns are fortified with the best cutscenes ever made for a video game, New AI, Absolute VAST array of weaponry - land and sea units - including atomic tanks and prism cannons.
Simply - it is the best RTS game made to date, all class and an absolute must if RTS is your thing !!!
Minimum Requirements
Win95/98 P266MHz 64MB RAM 2MB video RAM 16-bit color 4X CD-ROM 350MB hard drive space .
Note--Ran the game on a Celeron 400, 64 mb ram, 8 mb video and it was as "smooth as silk".
432. Star Trek Voyager Elite Force Details Highly Recommended
Brilliant 3D First person shooter, using the Quake 3 graphics engine as a base with additional enhancements.
Based on the Voyager series with voices from the Voyager crew as well as battling the enemy on a virtual Voyager Spacecraft. Other battle scenarios include a Borg cube, Klingon Bird of Prey as well as other surprises. Various game modes Single Player , Skirmish , Capture the Flag - full network/net ready .
Basically Elite Force has taken a top scenario and the best ideas and technology from Quake, Half Life etc , added to it and made the best, full featured first person 3D shooter to date.
Whether you are a Voyager fan or not is irrelevant (to use the words of Seven), The game design from graphics, sound, scenario and game play is "state of the art" in every respect.
From the opening screen (in easy single player mode) - I was hooked. The Borg drones were really there. I mowed down 7 of the "suckers" until they adapted and was quickly assimilated (Should have shot myself).
Just to go for a virtual walk around Voyager would have been great--but I think I need more weapons and practice before I can have a good look around.
The bottom line is--this is really good--in every respect. If you ever had a small liking for Half Life, Doom, Quake, King Pin etc. then expect more from Elite Force--you won't be disappointed !!!
This is BRILLIANT !!!
Min Requirements Win 95 NT Win2k, ME, PII 233, 8mb Hardware
accelerated video WITH FULL OPEN GL SUPPORT, Direct x7,
650mb Hard Drive Space, 64 mb ram + 64 avail for swap file,
Internet connection for Multiplay over internet.
433. Partition Magic v6 (ME / 2000 support) Details
Better ? Yep Can do Windows 2000 and ME !! But there is more.
Safely manage multiple operating systems
Organize and protect the information on your hard drive
Includes easy step-by-step wizards to create partitioning tasks
Ability to view pending operations before implementing them
Flexibility to convert from one file system or partition type to another
Includes support for FAT, FAT32, Linux ext 2, Linux SWAP, and NTFS partitions
There is still more - new slicker interface, better organised directory tree and
reporting etc etc etc.
If you have ME or 2000 - this is a must !!!!
435. Star Trek Music Themes
Ok this is the weird CD of the year - but there are Trekkies out there who WILL love it.
It is a music CD (ie play in normal CD players) with all the themes (opening and closing) credits to all the Star Trek movies and series - Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Next Gen.
(The original Star Trek not included as the sound quality was too poor to include).
All the themes are in high quality stereo 128kb sampling and sound spectacular.
As well as the original themes there are extended themes for Voyager and Orchestral version (and extended) for Deep Space Nine.
You don't HAVE to be a trekkie to enjoy this superb music, but it will help.
436. Fisher Price Doll's House--Time to Play
Delightful program for the 2 to 6 yo children. (I guess it is aimed at girls but it would be a lot of fun for boys as well).
Beautifully presented in every respect. All activities just need a mouse.
You are presented with a Doll's House, where each room contains activities and fun things to do.
Basically, a lot of fun, educational, colorful and a top program for the preschooler.
Tonka Raceway Details
Now you can race your own TONKA trucks on courses that you design!
Choose from four different types of terrain - Desert, Frozen Tundra, Jungle and Country - for tough, rugged racing.
Course variations are virtually limitless and, because you select and place obstacles wherever you want, crashing has never been more fun!
Features
Race dumps trucks, front loaders, and awesome truck/car hybrids
Choose from 4 terrain types - Desert, Frozen Tundra, Jungle and Country
Design and customize your own race course
Select from 30 3-D default trucks or choose to race your own custom vehicle
Race the custom vehicles you built with TONKA Garage CD-ROM
Win new parts to permanently upgrade your vehicles
Print racing certificates, trophies, and course designs
Race in 1 or 2-player mode
Challenge a friend or any of 24 TONKA Town characters
Requires Pentium® 90 MHz CPU SVGA 8 Bit Color 16MB RAM Sound card
35MB free hard drive space DirectX® required (included)
438. Lego Stunt Rally Details
Select a track and your character, choose your opponents, customize your car, and head out to the track to enjoy the ultimate LEGO Stunt Rally!
LEGO Stunt Rally consists of a world of four different environments, City, Desert, Jungle, and Ice. Each environment consists of four races and one Boss. You must win each race to progress. As you win the races, additional pieces and themes for the Construction Mode become available so you can build your own Stunt Rally track!
Features:
5 Zones for competition
Verbal help commands
Create your own race tracks
Single and Multi-player races
Power-ups for special abilities
Real-time Racing
Race on! These tracks have hazards, power-ups, and all sorts of hidden features that will thrill and delight children. There are power-ups that give you great handling around corners, turbo rocket boosts, bumper car mode that will destroy other cars, and even a freeze ray that will stop a car for a few seconds to allow you a quick getaway.
This game has been a hit in our household! All 3 of my children (ages 12, 6, and 5 years) are enjoying this game. My 12-year-old, after beating Mr. X, is now having a great time creating the "ultimate stunt track". (Another reviewers comments)
Req's PII 233, 8mb video ram, 350mb hard drive, 32 mb ram.
439. Half Life Counter Strike Details
Half-Life: Counter-Strike is the ultimate multiplayer gaming experience,
combining all the elements of the Half-Life online universe with new single- and multiplayer content.
At the heart of this package is Counter-Strike, the number one played online action game built as an add-on for Half-Life, the PC CD-ROM named Game of the Year by over 50 publications worldwide.
Counter-Strike is team-based, and casts players in the role of terrorist or counter-terrorist. Each team has access to different ammunition and equipment, and each player has unique attributes and the ability to upgrade their gear as they successfully complete each mission. A growing number of missions are available, each having specific goals, such as rescuing a hostage or eliminating key enemy structures.
NB This is an ad on for Half Life and needs Half Life to be installed correctly.
Req's
Intel Penitum® 233 or AMD K6-2 32 MB RAM 400 MB HD Space
2x CD ROM Drive SVGA, high-color (16-bit) Win-compatible Soundcard
32-bit Internet service provider with 28.8+ modem or LAN .
440. The Magic Pudding Activity Centre Details
Based on Norman Lindsay's Australian children's classic and the hit animated movie starring John Cleese as The Magic Pudding and Geoffrey Rush as Bunyip Bluegum, this entertaining CD-ROM offers hours of fun for children aged 6 to 12. There are addictive games like Escape from Buncle's Cave and Sink or Swim and there are fun activities like painting, jigsaw puzzles and challenging mazes.
You can even watch some hilarious highlights from the movie!
Beautiful sound and graphics make this "Aussie" production a
delightful choice for children.
441. Hi 5 Activity Centre Details
Join in fun and games with the Hi-5 gang - Kellie, Tim, Charli, Nathan, Kathleen, Chatterbox and Jup Jup! Children will find hours of fun and develop important learning skills as they play with their Hi-5 friends in this exciting CD-ROM activity centre.
Hi-5 Activity Center will challenge, entertain and educate everyone who enjoys the music and games from the Hit TV series. With 10 educational games including plenty of musical activities you can play, paint and explore with all your favourite Hi-5 stars.
Educational Benefits
* Practice critical thinking skills.
* Develop important social skills.
* Learn word recognition skills.
* Explore dance and movement.
* Experiment with music.
* Improve memory.
* Encourage creativity.
Terrific Aussie production--graphics, sound/music and range of activities are excellent. Really liked the "Learn to Dance" part as well. All in all - excellent - especially for fans of HI 5 !!
442. Lotus Smartsuite 97 Details
Lotus Smartsuite includes
SmartCentre
123
Word Pro
Freelance Graphics
Approach
Organiser
Screen Cam
Suite on line docs.
Any or all can be installed. This is a fully interactive office suite that is a real alternative to MS Office.
443. Cricket 2000 EA Sports Details/Reviews
EA SPORTS have taken their interactive broadcasting style to new heights. Even for a die hard cricket fan like myself, playing this game is better than watching the real thing live on TV! It features amazing 3D graphics, highly detailed motion captured players, play by play commentary by the legendary Richie Benaud and David Gower, multiple camera angles (including "stump cam"), amazingly realistic 3D international stadium models, and just about anything else you can think of (and more) that puts you in the game.
Minimum Requirements for PC:
Windows ® 95 or 98
P166 or higher Intel ® Pentium ® 140 MB HD space 32 MB RAM 4x CD-ROM
4MB PCI video card with DirectDrawTM compatible Driver
Requirements for 3D hardware acceleration
P200 32 MB RAM 140 MB HD Space 8x CD-ROM !
446. Lotus Smartsuite Millennium Edition Details Review
Highly integrated office suite that rivals and beats in places
MS Office 2000.
The addition of IBM Via Voice Gold into the Word Processor
component (Word Pro) is an excellent step forward and a must,
if nothing else just to try it out.
The office suite contains
1-2-3 Speadsheet
FastSite Internet Document Publisher
Word Pro Word Processor
Organiser Time / Contact Manager
Freelance Graphics Presentation Graphics
Approach Database
ScreenCam Multimedia
SmartCentre Internet Info Manager
Smartsuite is used by many organisation and people as an alternative to Office 2000. It is leaner and meaner, highly integrated and a joy to use.
Of course individual components can be installed on their own to cut down on space or any combination of components can be chosen
Definitely worth a very close look !!!
447. Gunman Chronicles by Sierra Details
Gunman Chronicles combines a wild-west sensibility with a high-tech arsenal
to create a thrilling and visually unique first-person action experience -
powered by the Half-Life engine! All of the amazing effects and frighteningly real AI that made Half-Life the undisputed king of first-person action have been brought to Gunman Chronicles, a tale of revenge and redemption on the rim of the galaxy.
Top 3D First Person Shooter - powered by the Half Life engine
Huge worlds and terrains to battle in.
Customise unique weapons.
Single and Multiplayer scenarios
Pentium 233, 32 MB RAM, SVGA, high-color (16-bit), 2X CD-ROM drive,
600 MB HD space, Win-compatible soundcard, Mouse, Keyboard
Brilliant first person shooter !! A must for lovers of this genre
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