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| LICENCE TO QUELL | MARVELLOUS NEWS | |
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There's still some
confusion surrounding
the anti-copying system
developed by Jim
Lamont, of JCL Data -
that's the one that was
banned by the Ministry
of Defence when a
patent was first applied
for, because it might
have proved to be a risk
to British security. The commonly held belief is that the new (post MoD) system is only now being produced because no patent has been applied for - which means that nothing can be done to prevent its use. This is the view held by GOSH (Guild Of Software Houses) member, Rod Cousins, who is firmly in favour of anything that will prevent piracy. However, Jim Lamont explains, "The current system, for which I have applied and been granted a patent, is based on one of my very early ideas". And while it's apparently not dissimilar to the one banned by the MoD, it's only about 95 per cent efficient, whereas the other was virtually, if not totally, 'crackproof'. All of which seems to suggest the MoD thinks national security could be at risk if private companies or individuals had the capability to store information that was beyond the reach of government security organisations. Perhaps Orwell's 1984 is really with us after all. Mr Lamont went on to explain that JCL Data will be offering a |
complete service to
interested companies, by
supplying them with the
'basics' of the system he
is allowed to sell - for
which they will pay a
fee, and from which they
will be able to produce
their own, customised
devices. He says, "Once
this has been done,
companies must return
two copies of each
system to us, by post.
One will be retained,
unopened, to prove on
which date it had been
implemented, and the
other sent to the Trading
Standards office. After
this, anyone caught
trying to break the 'code'
(so to speak) will be
taken to court by JCL
for breaking patent
regulations." Any action
would be paid for out of
the previously collected
licence fees. So far,
JCL's device has
attracted favourable
attention not only from
GOSH, but also the
Trading Standards
Office, the Consumer
Protection Bureau and
the Fraud Squad. The software industry is already showing interest in the device, in particular some tape duplicating companies. BB Magnetics, for example, has already applied for, and been granted, a licence. And A&F Software is currently customising the system for its own use. A&F's Mike Fitzgerald says, "We've tried it, and are quite happy. Anything that prevents or discourages piracy must be a good thing for the industry as a whole." |
All fans of Marvel
comics, capes at the
ready, 'cos it's
Superhero time!
Adventure International
(UK) Ltd is launching
the first graphic
adventure computer
game featuring the
Incredible Hulk.
Adventure International
in America has signed a
licensing deal with the
Marvel Entertainment
Group to produce a
series of software
adventure games
featuring such Marvel
superfolk as Spiderman,
Captain America and, of
course, the Hulk. Mike Woodroffe in the UK office explains that "Marvel will produce a comic to go with each game. The storyline is left at a certain point and you have to go to the tape to continue the adventure." At last we'll have the chance to actually take part in the adventures, and as Mike Woodroffe points out "the potential is tremendous". This could really be something to look forward to ... |
| THOSE WISE VIRGINS | ||
|
Regular visitors to the
West End of London
will probably remember
the famous 'green'
Games Centre shops.
These stores sold all
manner of toys and
games, from D&D to
Dominoes and
Computer Battleships to
Rubic's Cube - until
one day, an acute
cashflow problem caused
the closure of all
branches. But here's the good news, for store numero uno in Oxford Street has recently been taken over by the Virgin Empire. Yes, in the turbulent wake of me Virgin 'cross-the-Atlantic-for- under-a-ton' scheme, multi-millionaire tycoon Richard Branson has decided to launch his own Virgin Games Centre. The store looks surprisingly similar to the way it did before. The bottom, or ground, floor is stacked with the usual toys and games, but the top has been |
taken over by the home
computer department -
obviously because Virgin
already has interests in
that direction. Checking out the shelves of the upstairs dept, one can't help noticing an obvious lack of plugging for Virgin's own-brand software. Apart from a few copies scattered amongst the racks full of rival product, the only push for Virgin Games is a small poster pinned to a pillar. The computer department's Les Baker said this was because, "we're going for new releases rather than just our own games" - a refreshing lack of bias indeed, and probably good commercial sense to boot. Once the centre has become more established, the plan is to move away from the VCS-type machines and concentrate on the home market. Wise people. There are also going to be special offers where |
you get 'nine for the
price of five', or
whatever. If this pilot
store is a success, then
Virgin hopes to open
similar centres in other
areas of the country. The Virgin Games Centre is only a couple of doors away from the Virgin Megastore at the Tottenham Court Road end of Oxford Street. Find out more by going there - or 'phoning nn-nnn nnnn. Still on Virgin ground, the games company has recently been expanding its operations. In a major change of strategy, Virgin has decided to become more than a mere publishing house. "We have decided to create a small team of in-house programming talent to develop unique creative software," said a spokesman. If you think you've got it - and Virgin want it - pop round to nn/nn xxxxxxxxxx xxxx, xxxxxx xnn and check it out. |
| EXPANDING BOUNDARIES | THE DAY ZIP GOT ZAPPED!! | |
|
WH Smith is planning to
extend its range of
Computer Shops by the
beginning of September
this year. The company
describes these shops-within-shops as having a
'relaxed' atmosphere
where you can sit in
comfort at console units
and use complete
systems - as well as
being able to make full
use of the computer
staff's expertise. John
Rowland, the
Merchandise Controller
for Smiths, says "We
want people to be able to
try out the hardware for
themselves and have the
opportunity to discuss
and compare the various
computer specifications
and software packages
with our specially
trained staff." Another
idea is computer
exhibition evenings to
demonstrate the specific
use of computers and
peripherals. Of the company's 355 retail shops, 50 will contain Computer Shops and 220 will have 'know-how' departments by September this year. New Computer Shops are being opened at Bolton, Chester, Coventry, Derby, Lewisham, Oxford, Preston, Southend, Sunderland, Watford and York; and 'know-how' departments will appear at (take a deep breath) Basildon, Bedford, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bradford, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Colchester, Crawley, Guildford, Hanley, Harlow, High Wycombe, Ilford, Luton, Peterborough, Putney, Nottingham, Richmond, Slough, Solihull, Stockport, Sutton, Swindon, Woolwich and Worthing. Computer evenings are planned for Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Kingston, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London (Holborn Circus and Brent Cross), Nottingham, Reading, Southampton and Swansea. (Whew!) |
Last month's ZIP article died the death of a thousand cuts when some demon scalpel wielder decided to chop it up and stick the bits down in the wrong order. If you find the article more confusing than usual, the following program (don't RUN it ... just read it!) will shuffle the bits into the order I intended. Alternatively, ace editor DOGER RUNFORM will spend |
his weekend making amends by slaving over a hot photocopier. Write in with a stamped addressed envelope, if you'd like a free photocopy of the article, in the correct order. This month's article has been split into two sections, so that the last part of the series will appear next month. That is, unless Doger loses it! Simon (fingers crossed) Goodwin |
100 IF page=47 AND column=3 AND paragraph=2 AND last line=errors may be detected Once again the THEN LET next line=line number and a full error message: GO TO page 48 column 2 paragraph 4
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Before you start typing, this program won't RUN - just read it through with issue 4's 'Adding Zip' article and all will be revealed. | ||
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