Issue 23: Sep 2002
Features
- | Foreword
- | Mega STE Love
- | LANtastic
- | Tip of the day
- | Atari in the USA 2002
- | Atari and the DX7
- | Draconus
- | Game On Revisited
- | Unconventional 2002 Art Gallery
- | Lato Ludzików 2002
- | Linux Installation 1
Review
- | The DGS compilation CD-ROM
M@ilbox
News
| News Atari-Source.com changes URL The popular Atari news portal, Atari-Source, has recently changed its URL from http://pikachu.atari-source.com to either http://portal.atari-source.com or http://atari-source.com. So, update your favourite lists today! MagiMac X 1.0 EarlyStarter Ulf Dunkel, 10 September 2002 "MagiCMac X" is a completely new wrapper for Calamus SL and other TOS applications under Mac OS X. The "EarlyStarter" version is not yet fully ready for use with Calamus and other TOS applications. These basic functions are not implemented yet: MacPrint, the universal Mac printer driver adapter, cannot be used in Calamus. Mac Type-1 fonts cannot be loaded in Calamus (use CFN or Type-1 and TTF font files in PC format instead). 256-color screen mode is not recommended under Mac OS X. Thus Calvin cannot be used. We are releasing this "EarlyStarter" version right now because it is very stable and reliable. Many Calamus users don't want to wait any longer and want to start using Calamus under Mac OS X right now, creating PS or PDF files instead of printing their documents. If you want to start using Calamus SL2002 under Mac OS X right now, too, we recommend you order the upgrade right now and change to Mac OS X. Get the demo version of MagiCMac X EarlyStarter right now. The demo has limited file access (read-only). The hot prices in the order form below are valid until December 31, 2002. Afterwards, the regular prices take effect. The Settings dialog of MagiCMac X: Memory: http://www.calamus.net/man/img/prg/mmx/de/mmx_set_ram.jpg General: http://www.calamus.net/man/img/prg/mmx/de/mmx_set_gen.jpg Drives: http://www.calamus.net/man/img/prg/mmx/de/mmx_set_drv.jpg Devices: http://www.calamus.net/man/img/prg/mmx/de/mmx_set_dev.jpg Screen: http://www.calamus.net/man/img/prg/mmx/de/mmx_set_scr.jpg Calamus in action: http://www.calamus.net/man/img/prg/mmx/de/mmx_sl_desk.gif MagiCMac Demo: http://www.calamus.net/us/modules/mmx.php#down Order right now: http://www.calamus.net/us/modules/mmx.php#buy My Calamus: Get out of the module jungle Ulf Dunkel, 5 September 2002 "I am lost in my Calamus module jungle! No idea which modules I own and which I really need." You know this for sure: Calamus is a highly modular DTP system. The modules offer easy updating and keep prices for enhancements low. You only buy modules which you really need. Nevertheless, many Calamus users have collected a bunch of modules for Calamus SL over the years. Now many of these users lose control over their modules and requirements. Do you? Years ago, we started adding a so-called "Calamus Data Sheet" to each Calamus or module shipment. This data sheet lists your Calamus version and all of your registered modules, in a rather simple way. It offers upgrade and crossgrade recommendations, marks free updates automatically and describes which modules are still supported or have been discontinued. Here is an example of these data sheets: As of today, you can view this data sheet directly in our website, of course in an appropriate format! We introduced a new column in the Service Area: "My Calamus". http://www.calamus.net/login.php Here you can check which of your modules are registered in our database. See all upgrade recommendations for your registered modules. Furthermore, we offer you the chance to purchase all modules which you do not have already at once! You will get 25% SLC rebate then. This gives you the SLC status. The 'C' in SLC means 'C'omplete, that is "Calamus SL Complete Edition." The dream comes true: invers Software buys Calamus rights from MGI/Roxio. The Calamus story Back in 1995, invers tried to buy the copyright for Calamus SL from the former DMC company in Germany. The contract was never signed because DMC sold the complete Calamus SL and Calamus for Windows package the newly founded Canadian company, MGI Software Corp. MGI was created from the former ISD respectively DMC Canada an focussed on SOHO software products. The most famous mass products from MGI were and still are PhotoSuite and VideoWave. In summer 1997, invers was granted the development and worldwide exclusive distribution rights for Calamus SL from MGI. While invers successfully released Calamus SL96 and SL98, MGI still worked on a new release of Calamus for Windows, called Calamus Digital Publisher 2.0. This version was never released. MGI decided in December 1998 not to put Calamus in MGI's product range because of its high support requirements. At this time invers decided to release Calamus SL for Windows, too. In fact, Calamus SL was combined with a wrapper for Windows and the dialog look was tuned for Windows. Since the successful release of SL99 WinPack Calamus SL has found its place on Windows computers, too. Ulf Dunkel from invers Software went to Toronto in spring 2000 in order to get the software rights for Calamus SL and the distribution rights for Calamus Publisher. At this time MGI didn't see a chance for giving away the rights. Calamus Publisher was technically outdated at this time, third-party licenses had expired already. At the end of 2001, the American Adaptec company ROXIO Inc. incorporated MGI. Now Ulf Dunkel could finally purchase the Calamus SL rights from ROXIO. Since July 26 2002, invers Software owns the Calamus rights - Calamus is back home in Germany again. Calamus future When MGI owned the Calamus rights, invers Software was not allowed to port Calamus SL to Windows or Mac OS. Although this restriction is no longer valid, an immediate port of the complete Calamus system with some millions of lines of code in C and assembler doesn't make sense. This work would devour several man years of development resources without pushing the Calamus techniques forward. Therefore Ulf Dunkel decided a so-called "incremental porting". Even now several parts of the Calamus system are run native under Mac OS and Windows, while other parts still require the appropriate wrapper which runs the original TOS code under Windows or Mac OS. The main steps on the to do list are: implementing the high-precision 160-bit vector output engine, a relaunch of the user interface and a redesign of text formatting. Of course the adaption of Calamus for Mac OS X has highest priority, too. MagiC Mac X, the new wrapper for Calamus under Mac OS X, has been finished in version 1.0 already. The binding to the Mac OS X system printer drivers is still under development. In the Calamus web site, a development system based on the well-known Bugzilla system will be installed, giving all Calamus users more influence on the ongoing development of Calamus. This development system offers, for example, detailed bug report techniques with automatic notification e-mails when a feature changes, a voting system for very important bugs and status reports. Filter module upgrade for all The Filter module (previously distributed by adequate systems GmbH) can now be upgraded by all Calamus users who only have older and incomplete versions. When adequate systems GmbH distributed the Filter module, you had to purchase the additional filter disks #1 and #2 separately for the Filter module (coming with 9 standard filters). When invers Software bought the rights of the Filter module and the additional filters by Frank Renkes Software, the Filter module was offered as a complete Filter module package with all existing filters. If a user wanted to get version 4 of the Filter module then, he/she had to have the additional filter disks #1 and #2 already or would be required to purchase them with the upgrade. We have changed this now. If you only own the adequte systems Filter module with none of or even just one of the additional filter disks, you can upgrade to the current version 4. Of course you will receive the complete Filter module package with all existing filters then. The Filter module requires Calamus SL2002. Hint: If you already use SL2002 and the Filter module 4.0x but do not own both filter disks already, you will find your free update of the complete Filter module package right now in your Service Area (see below). Another hint: Don't confuse the adequte systems Filter module with the old DMC filter module "PhotoTouche"! PhotoTouche is dead, no longer supported and not valid for the following offer. Order right now: http://www.calamus.net/us/modules/fil.php#buy Service Area Get access to your Service Area via the according link in our Download Area: http://www.calamus.net/us/download/ Or simply click here: http://www.calamus.net/service.php If you are sure you should have this free update, too, but you don't find it in your Service Area, please don't hesitate to send us a short e-mail. We will then check your module update status. We also recommend the "Version checker" module in order to check your module versions. Version checker has been in the SL standard package since SL2002. Game On Education Event - The End of Play A major discussion featuring key commentators from the games industry exploring the impact and future of computer games in our society. The End of Play Saturday 7 September 2002 1pm - 2.15pm Cinema 2, Level 4, Barbican Centre To mark the end of Barbican Gallery's Game On exhibition, which closes on 15 September, this event explores the future of computer games and their continuing role in society, and examines how new technologies will effect the way in which we play games. Chaired by exhibition guest curator Lucien King. Speakers are Peter Molyneux, Managing Director of Lionhead Studios; David Braben, Founder of Frontier Development Ltd.; and Miles Jacobson, Managing Director of Sports Interactive. Peter Molyneux is one of the best-known names in the international world of computer games. During his 15-year career, he has worked on numerous top selling computer games that have attracted immense critical acclaim and which cumulatively have sold in excess of 10 million copies. His career in game development began in 1987 with the formation of Bullfrog Productions and the creation of the game Populous, a massive worldwide hit for the company. After selling the prosperous Bullfrog to Californian leisure giant Electronic Arts, in 1997 Peter formed "Lionhead Studios". The game Black & White attracted a huge amount of media attention throughout its development and was voted Game of Show at E3 2000. Peter Molyneux is recognised as one of the computer games industry's most articulate and eloquent speakers on the subject of the development of computer games. He is regarded as the games industry's major spokesperson and in this capacity has been featured in most national newspapers. Miles Jacobson is the Managing Director of Sports Interactive, the developers of Championship Manager. He was originally an A&R man for Food Records and, later, Polygram/Island Music. It was during this time that he got involved with Sports Interactive, becoming their business advisor on a part time basis, and discovered the world of games soundtracks, becoming music supervisor on Gran Turismo. Miles left Polygram/Island Music (now Universal) to form a record label, publishing company and games soundtrack company but soon accepted an offer from the Collyer brothers to run Sports Interactive while they moved away from the UK. Miles' 12 years of work has seen over 10 million record sales, 30 games soundtracks and a turnover rise at Sports Interactive from £143k per annum to over £3m per annum. He was a finalist at this year's London Region "Entrepreneur of the Year" awards for his work with the BAFTA award-winning development studio. David Braben is the founder of Frontier Developments. Based in Cambridge, it is one of the games industry's leading independent developers. Games are licensed via a number of top publishers and are currently developing for PS2, GameCube, Xbox and PC. Frontier Developments have a proven reputation for original game design and commercial success, use innovative technical and artistic approaches on all leading-edge gaming platforms. Lucien King has wide experience of videogames. Most recently he worked for Rockstar Games, identifying and developing new talent. Before this he worked in the gaming division of German publisher Bertelsmann. Lucien King, who as Guest Curator of the exhibition worked alongside the Barbican Gallery's curator, Conrad Bodman, conceived the Game On exhibition. For further information please contact Lucy Chant, 020 7638 5403, lchant@barbican.org.uk For further information on Game On please contact Lisa Collins, 020 7382 7169, lcollins@barbican.org.uk To view this press release on the Barbican website click on: http://www.barbican.org.uk/information/press/pressitem.asp?releaseID=305
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