The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 49

2f Green Guide Thursday 10 October Tangling with Terminator in post-apocalypse LA COMPUTER GAMES LEE PERKINS binoculars, and the Terminator has enhanced direction-finding gear in an HUD (heads-up display) system. The Terminator may be one tough puppy, but It Is far from indestructible. Damage is cumulative and must be repaired almost as soon as the threat situation Is over. Auto-repair and normal healing takes valuable time and will give your opponent a possible advantage, so try to stay out of the way of flying lead. Speaking of bullets and such, a raid on the National Guard armories will yield the right tools for the job.

The game has a good balance between arcade, strategy and role-playing. In spite of my XT's limitations, I found the game to be visually exciting in places and quite imaginative. I would like to see more games of this style in future, but deplore the trend towards writing major software releases for high-speed, high-price machines. Graphics: 80 per cent (VGA max detail). Gameplay: 75' per cent.

Sound: 70 per cent (AdLib). Challenge value: 70 per cent. Format available: IBM 3.5 and 5.25 only. Recommended retail price: $89.95. Software supplied by: Questor Pry.

Ltd. Postal Bag 9, Rosebery 2018, NSrV. straight at its exposed RAM (Don't try this at home, Once over the slight manmachine Interface problem, I found ample scope for mayhem. I spent a few minutes muttering "Arnie-speak" catchphrases to get Into character, and set off in pursuit of Sarah Connor. It wasn't easy, as central LA Is a large area.

It is a good Idea to use the phone book frequently and your first stop should be a gunshop. It Is only a matter of time before the police arrive, and then the fun begins! Depending on your choice of character, there are differences In available displays and actions. For instance, Kyle Reese can only get close-ups by using The Terminator. By Bethesda Softworks. IN THE year 2006 A.

a military command computer called SkyNet will decide that humanity threatens Its existence. Deep within its core, algorithms or synthetic genius have crossed the borderline, and have generated an exquisite paranoia. World leaders have finally settled most of their differences, and have decided that their nuclear arsenals are no longer required. SkyNet broods; a plco-second later, a decision of even greater consequence Is reached The commands flash along SkyNet's and Its remote "limbs" react in an instant. Missiles, orbital lasers and particle beams wrench cities from the very face of the planet, geysers of nuclear fire erupt, washing over all of humanity's works.

In the silence of its own creation, SkyNet contemplates its failure, for within the guttering ruins of civilisation, life still exists. Feeble, wounded and despairing, but still capable of striking back against perfection, SkyNet-style. In many concealed locations, automated factories started. Within a matter of minutes, the first Model 101800 became operational. SkyNet was ready to handle this problem at a grass-roots level, and the 800 Series Terminator cyborg Is very good at winkling out One man holds the key to the future of the human race.

John Connor will drag humanity back from the brink of extinction, and strike hard at the very heart of SkyNet In desperation, the crazed computer uses a recently-completed time machine, and sends a "Terminator" back to kill Sarah Connor, his mother. As the cyborg Is transmitted, John Connor's troops succeed In penetrating the time-travel complex, and send one of their number, Kyle Reese, to prevent Sarah's death. Far from being a carbon-copy of the film, The Terminator offers a chance to rewrite future history, by playing either Reese or the Terminator. Neither choice guarantees success, but the future belongs to the more cunning player. By linking two compatible machines via serial cable, the game may be played with a human opponent, as opposed to the Implacable logic of your own version of SkyNet! The game has stunning front-end title sequences and a very creditable rendition of the theme music, as played by the AdLib card.

It Is possible to use the RealSound option, which gives digitised sound through the Internal speaker. I prefer to hear In stereo, so it's the AdLib for met With the credits out of the way, the player(s) have an option screen to set, allowing a choice between roles and game length, control modes, difficulty levels and graphic options. Once completed, the option screen gives way to a security check, where the player is required to choose the correct icon from the coordinates given. THE CHASE is ont Your chosen character has to navigate through the streets of LA, either on foot or In a car. It Is this stage that requires your computer to be fairly wicked, speed-wise.

The recommended machine should be a 286 or better, to take advantage of the "virtual 3D graphics. My poor old XT didn't feel like playing at first, but after a subtle blend of science and threats of violence. It grudgingly agreed. My computer knew that I meant business as I pointedly shuffled my 'eet, pointing a crackling finger jsx ip: ve. yilr Ihbuie tcldiy, No rcpjjymeriits fs From PAGE 20 9 but for most people it is not going to be a serious liability.

John writes a magazine column and all his business letters and the like on the word processor. "The exquisite part about ft A 4.0," he says, "Is that you really dont need the manual." I know what he means, but I recommend that you read not just the manual, but 'Q A Bible', because you will gain Immensely from them. Helen Jenkins, of Computer Confidence, is one of Melbourne's most expert trainers on WordPerfect She developed her expertise by reading every para- Saph of the manual and everything else she could id. It Is not a bad thing to do. Even better, of course, Is to take a course with a trainer like Helen.

If yon want to do a course In ft Richard Mil-land at Progressive Training Computer Services, will be running one on 4 November. Inquiries to (M) 74 57M. Richard uses the program extensively In his company. He has It linked to the CD-ROM program Oz on Disk for direct-mail campaigns. PC USER GROUP: The level of service offered by the Melbourne PC User Group has Improved remarkably under the new committee.

Regrettably, although I am vice-president, I can claim very little of the credit I have contributed a few Ideas, but in the past few months) I have been unable to participate In the enormous workload undertaken on an entirely voluntary basis by the dab's directors aad a few of Its members. The membership fee certainly represents the heat Investment yon will ever make In PCs, particularly If yon happen to win one of the No strings attached. No catches, no traps and no hidden interest. We've cut Ihrouth Ihe red tape to offer you the best home improvement in town, the best gjamr FREE design service available, OiALtNQE bank und (he best bank finance all, you can now have the home improvement you want today. no repayments until January 1993.

That's a home improvement at 1991 prices with no repayments until 1993 Ring our design consultants now for a free computers being offered lor both new and existing members daring the current membership drive. package available (to approved puchasers). Hut perhaps, besl of no-obligation consultation Willi absolutely no strings attached! 890 0721 Membership costs a year for Individuals, $40 for corporations (two representatives), aad 22 for students. Yen will more than recoup that from the cheaper prices available to members. The rates that nave been negotiated by the president, Spen iWJennings Home Improvements If anyone can, Jennings can.

Display Centre open 7 days a week. J2 Rutland Road, Box Mill. Ingamells, for computers, disks, peripherals aad various accessories are truly remarkable. In addition to that, yew will have a monthly magazine, special Interest groups, bulletin board, shareware library and dial help. The club's Is 2nd Floor, St ElMa Road.

Telephone lit 2x44, fax: III fit. Magnum Opui AV) 078.