And now, the news ... What’s new on-line

BIX

TAB Book Clubs Online: You've probably seen magazine ads for The Computer Book Club and The Computer Professionals' Book Society. These are sponsored by TAB Books. This division of McGraw-Hill (BIX's parent company) is now online on BIX, taking orders and answering questions from members and prospective members. The club conference is moderated by Tammy Ray and Jeanette Shearer. You can check them out by typing JOIN TAB.BOOK.CLUBS.

CompuServe

Dell Computer Forum: Dell Computer Corporation has opened a product support area on CompuServe. The Dell area is part of the PC Vendor D Forum. Type GO DELL or GO PCVEND to take a look.

Minitel Link to CompuServe

CompuServe bolstered its position in Europe by making some of its services available via France's national Minitel system in July. French Minitel users have access to an extra-cost service that is essentially a 'limited edition', English-language version of CompuServe. Among the services available are software and database downloads. E-mail and message-base posting are not available to Minitel

DELPHI

Hobby Group Expands: delphi's Hobby Shop special-interest group continues to expand its areas of interest. The most recent additions to . the database and group topics are Antique Auto, which focuses on classic vehicles, and Autotech, where you can learn about new cars and technology. Type Go GROUP.

3. Fill in the gaps in this summary of the first part of the text. Each clue is an anagram. The first and last letters are correct.

In my opinion, there is no single 'best' online service. The choice depends on your ¹_______ (prltacuair) needs and preferences. Most users have their own ²_______ (ftrvaioue), but this can prevent them from seeing the ³_______ (agtvndaaes) of other services. Each one offers something which is either ⁴_______ (uqinue) to that service, or which is ⁵_______ (bteetr) than the same features on other services. So, when considering an online service, decide whether its features ⁶_______ (cosrernopd) to what you need. Until all services are ⁷_______ (iilktneernd), most of us will need to ⁸_______ (cunoitne) using more than one.

Text 4

Interactivity

Do the exercises on this page to help you understand and enjoy the story “INTERACTIVITY”

1. Before you read the story, answer these questions.

1. Do you think technology has made communicating with other people easier or more difficult?

2. Do you have an answerphone?

3. Do you use e-mail? If you do, do you have email friends that you’ve never met?

2. It’s midnight on Monday 12^th December. Read the first message on Alan Marshall’s answerphone. Then answer the questions.

1. What time did Alan’s mother phone?

2. What did Alan miss?

3. How many of these has he missed?

4. Do you think that his mother finds it easy to leave messages on answerphones?

3. Read the second message. Then answer the questions.

1. What time did Stefi Rosen phone?

2. Is this a meeting with friends or a business meeting?

3. Which country do you think Mr. Yamada is from?

4. Who do you think Mr. Prince is?

4. Read the third message. Then answer the questions.

1. What time did Karen Miller phone?

2. Where is she from?

3. Why is she calling Allan?

4. What kind of meeting does she suggest?

5. What do you think Alan Marshall does for a living?

5. Now read the whole story. Think about these questions while you read.

1. Who is Daisy?

2. Why was Pete’s weekend so bad?

3. Who is Elizabeth?

4. Do you think the writer of the article in The Sunday News liked Alan’s game?

5. Where did Daisy find the article she sent Alan?

6. What are the positive things about the game that this article talks about?

7. What are the negative things the article talks about?

8. Which country has banned the game?

9. What did the technician say is wrong with Pete’s old computer?

10. What did Alan’s mother phone about on Tuesday?

11. Who is Terry Watts and why did he phone Alan?

12. By the end of Tuesday 13^th December, five people were angry with Alan. Who were they? Why were they angry?

13. Why do you think he tried to kill everyone in Finland?

14. What happened to Alan in the end?

At midnight on Monday 12^th December, there were six messages on Alan Marshall’s answerphone.

Monday 9:21

Alan? Alan, if you’re at home, please answer the phone. Are you really not there? Well, I’d just like to say that I’m very angry with you – and your father is too. You know how much he loves our monthly family lunches. This is the fifth one you’ve missed. I hope you’ve got a really good reason this time. Oh, umm, this is your mother speaking.

Monday 10:02

Mr. Marshall, this is Stefi Rosen, Mr. Prince’s assistant. I’m calling to confirm tomorrow’s lunch with Mr. Yamada of Rising Sun Computer Games. Mr. Prince wants you to know that meeting is very important. Please to bring the interactivity designs with you. He says that Mr. Yamada is ready to pay for the world rights on your new game! The restaurant is The Four Stars in Gower Street and I’ve booked a table for quarter past one. Be there on time – please!

Monday 11:23

My name is Karen Miller. I’m a producer at interactive Computer Games, Australia. I saw your game “kill the Enemy!” at the International Computer Games Fair. I think your work is great and I’d like to discuss buying the rights for my part of the world. Someone at the fair said that you are working on a new game which is more interactive. How interactive can you get? Perhaps we can interact over lunch? I’m in London until Wednesday. My mobile number is 027747 61308000.

Monday 12:31

Hello, Alan. It’s Daisy. Did you have a good weekend? How’s the new game going? I MISS YOU. Bye.

Monday 16:14

It’s Pete. I’m going crazy. My computer crashed two days ago. My mobile has stopped working. Again. What does a guy do without his computer or a telephone at the weekend? I’m calling from a public phone. I’m going home now – I’m meting a technician. How’s the new game going? Did you see the Sunday News article on violent computer games? ‘Kill the Enemy!’ was at the top of the list. You’re famous! You know what they say – there’s no such thing as bad publicity!

Monday 22:16

Alan, it’s Daisy again. I just wanted to say “Hi!”. Bye.

At midnight on the same day, there were four e-mails waiting on Alan Marshall’s server.

Subject	Author	Time	Date
Where were you? You’re a genius! Disaster! Please write	Elizabeth Marshall Daisy Farrow Pete Bradley Daisy Farrow	8:56 14:28 18:54 23:00	12.12 12.12 12.12 12.12

Subject : Where were you?

From: Elizabeth Marshall

Hi Alan!

Mum is really angry about yesterday’s lunch. Why didn’t you phone? I know it’s not my business, but with all that communication technology in your flat…

Did you see the article in the Sunday News on “Kill the Enemy!”? A lot of people really hate it! They say it’s violent and awful. What goes on in your head, Alan? You used to be such a sweet little boy!

Love, Elizabeth

Subject: You are a genius!

From: Daisy Farrow

Dearest Alan,

I’m sending you this article about “Kill the Enemy!”. I found it on the Interactive News website (www.interactivenews.com).

Daisy

PS I’m sending it to everyone. It says you’re a genius!

“KILL THE ENEMY!” A DANGEROUS GAME?

I have just seen Alan Marshall’s latest game, “Kill the Enemy!”. The game is the work of a genius – but an evil genius. The graphics and the 3-D images are great and special effects are spectacular. It’s the most interactive game on the market.

The idea of the game is really very simple. You follow the enemy, trap him and kill him. This takes the player into some dangerous situations in which only brutality and a lot of luck can help him. And there is a lot of violence and a lot of blood.

So far, so good. But the problem with the game is that is the worst possible taste. At the start of each game, the player chooses his favourite enemy from a list which encourages sexism, racism and any every other –ism I can think of. There is also a long list of ways of killing your enemy, but these are too violent for me to describe in this article.

This game is not only violent, but in my opinion, evil and dangerous. Finland has banned “Kill the Enemy!”. I hope the whole world bans it.

Subject: Disaster!

From: Pete Bradely

Hey Alan!

What a terrible day! The technician says my computer is finished … a complete write-off. There’s a new virus that kills off computers and my computer has it. The virus probably came from e-mail. I’m sending you this from my neighbour’s computer. Tomorrow I’m going shopping for a new machine. Phone me!

Pete

PS Daisy sent me an article about “Kill the Enemy!” from the Web – it says you’re an evil genius. Wait till they see the new game!

Subject: Please write

From: Daisy Farrow

Alan sweetie,

I know you said not to e-mail or phone. But I can’t stop. I miss you and your messages. Please write to me – just a few words. I know you don’t want us to meet, but please … don’t disappear from my life.

Daisy

At midnight on Tuesday 13^th December, there were six more messages on Alan Marshall’s answerphone.

Tuesday 7:54

Alan answer the phone! I know you never leave home before ten o’clock in the morning. Oh … I hate speaking into these answerphones. I want to talk to you about Christmas. Elizabeth and Michael are coming here for three days from the twenty-third. What are your plans? Please phone me today!

Tuesday 9:05

Mr. Marshall, this is Terry Watts of Mad House Music. The music for your new game “Kill Everybody! Destroy Everything!” is ready. That’s a great title! Cheers.

Tuesday 9:25

Alan, it’s Pete. Sorry about the noise and the horrible line. I’m in Oxford Street. I’m going to choose a new computer. if you hear this message in the next half hour, call me on my mobile. It’s working again!

Tuesday 15:58

This is Stefi Rosen. Did you forget your lunch with Mr. Prince and the Japanese producer? They waited for you at the Four Stars until half past three. Mr. prince has asked me to give you this message. “Where exactly were you for lunch and where exactly are the interactive designs?” Mr. Prince didn’t exactly use the word “exactly”, but personally I don’t use this kind of language…

Tuesday 18:37

Alan, Pete. Where are you? It’s really difficult to talk to you. I know you always keep your answerphone on, but like, hey …it’s me, your friend, Pete! I’m at home, with my new machine. I’ll e-mail you when it’s working. Phone me – or I’ll send you a horrible virus!

Tuesday 22:20

Alan, it’s me Daisy. I know you’re here. Maybe you’re sitting at your computer, working on your great new game. I can see you in my mind’s eye. I know, I know .. I’ve never met you, never seen you, but I have a picture of you in my head. Please pick up the phone and say “Good night” to me … Please? …OK, sorry. It doesn’t matter. Good night.

Alan is, in fact, sitting at his computer. But he isn’t working on his new game “Kill Everybody! Destroy Everything!” He’s dead. He died early on Sunday morning when he made a wrong move. He wanted to kill everyone in Finland.

Soon – but not very soon – someone will find him there. And for a short time, he will be really famous. His new game really was interactive. It killed him. He was the first person to be killed by an interactive computer game. But there will be more …