Both Macgaming.com and Mac Gamer's Ledge report that LucasArts will be returning to the Macintosh gaming market after a two year absence. LucasArts, the creators of Rebel Assault, Tie Fighter and other great games, left the Mac gaming market due to poor sales. The new game reportedly will be based on the May 1999 release of "Star Wars, the Phantom Menace," the first of a new trilogy of Star Wars movies.
What I find remarkable was just how shabbily LucasArts treated the Mac market when they left. "We think the Mac is dead, so get lost" was their attitude. And now that they're returning to the Mac platform now the Mac is hot again, we're all supposed to give thanks and rush out to support LucasArts by purchasing their products? Why, I have a mind not to, after the way LucasArts treated the Mac community and all. I mean, we have our pride...
The problem, of course, is that this is big news. And I really want to play the new game:-) Ah, who am I kidding... you know this will be a killer game! We both know I'll buy it, as will many of you. So I suppose it's time to forgive and forget. Welcome back, LucasArts. We missed you! (and your games!)
So what's your favorite color?
Apple has again shown the innovative thinking that began the whole idea of personal computing, this time by adding color to their newest machines. Now people have a choice of five new and "fruity" colors to choose from when they pick out their iMacs. Of course, the mass of PC manufacturers will undoubtedly soon ape Apple's innovations—some things never change—but until then PC users will be still stuck staring at beige. Can we say... "Look Different?"
Outrageously Arrogant
It should come as no surprise, but did you know Microsoft is involved in another lawsuit? While this one is not as well known as either the antitrust or the Sun litigation, I feel more strongly about this story than the others.
Here's the deal: Microsoft has over 6,000 workers who are considered "temporary" workers. None of these people are technically employed by Microsoft, but rather are contracted through employment agencies. Nothing wrong with that, but some of these people have been working at Microsoft for years, yet they do not enjoy any of the perks or benefits (not to mention paychecks) that a regular Microsoft employee receives. Many of these people have filed a class-action lawsuit against MS demanding what should have been offered long ago: that they receive benefits (such as stock options) consistent to what their peers were getting.
Microsoft responded in typical MS fashion by adding a waiver clause in some workers contracts "requiring they waive any payments or compensation a court might order as a result of the litigation." This, folks, is just plain sickening. Microsoft should hang its head in shame. (assuming they know the meaning of the word). The only good news was the reaction of the judge hearing the case. As Excite news reports "As Microsoft attorney James Oswald began to defend the contract language, (Judge) Coughenour cut him off and then abruptly ended the hearing after just 10 minutes, saying he wanted to "give the lawyers an opportunity to suggest to their client (Microsoft) that they do the right thing." And later, Judge Coughenour said "I thought I might hear that this was done by somebody without advice of counsel," Coughenour said. "I thought I might hear that even if counsel was involved, that upon reflection and with 20-20 hindsight some might perceive this as being outrageously arrogant."
With men and woman of the likes of Judge Coughenour, perhaps justice can still prevail over Microsoft's unprecedented corporate avarice. We'll be following the case.
Start looking for Mac bargains...
as Mac users begin to upgrade their old systems to the iMac and the new G3s. I'm finding tons of 6100s, 7200s, etc. are now becoming readily available in the reseller market. With the capability of adding a G3 upgrade card to these earlier 601 PowerPC chip units, those with limited budgets may just find themselves joining the ranks of G3 users for a greatly reduced price.
Giving Bill what he wants...
Bill Gates wrote on Feb. 14, 1998, "It would HELP ME IMMENSELY to have a survey showing that 90 percent of developers believe that putting the browser into the [operating system] makes sense" How can any survey, conducted by an independent firm, deliver honest survey results intended to give a foregone conclusion such as Bill Gates wanted? Easy, when the 350-word question that elicited the positive response detailed the benefits of integration and no disadvantages, according to the DOJ, as well as a Microsoft researcher, Ann Redmond. She wrote the survey was "not entirely unbiased," and that she "wouldn't refer to it as an opinion poll" and "would avoid releasing the question to the press." Wow!
Bill has been using this poll, which shows that 85% of those who responded indicate just what Bill wanted, in his senate testimony, as have other key witnesses for the Microsoft defense team.
Makes you wonder about those polls, no? Everywhere you turn, someone is spouting off about the results of this poll or another. The CNN/Times poll. The CBS poll. "The Independent poll conducted by blah-blah-blah shows 75% of people prefer warm weather to cold weather." Who are these people calling? They have never called MY house. In fact, I've never even heard of anyone being called by a pollster, or at least anytime in the last few years. Yet every day, every night, I am hearing what some poll has found, as if asking 100 random people is really an indication on what an entire population thinks. Personally, I'm sick of polls. And the Microsoft poll only furthers my contention that most polls are written in such a way to elicit a predictable response. What's shameful and sad about all of this is that these polls are then presented as the "truth," and how many people let themselves be influenced by them. But of course, that's just my two-cents.
Staff Update
Susan Howerter is still under the weather and not able to write again this month... our thoughts and best wishes are with you, Susan. Peter Miner is still traveling the roads of Canada and the United States. Anyone want to send Pete a PowerBook he can use to write his columns? Ed Tobey is hard at real life work and unable to join us this month again.
You will find a few new writers this month, including the father/son team of David Price and his son Damien. Bill Perry, one of our contributing artists, joins us this month for a review of Strata Studio Pro. And last, but not least, our new cover artist, Lonnie Houghton, joins us and shows off his latest creation on our cover.
Websites mentioned:
<http://www.macgaming.com>
 
<http://www.outpost.com>
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