**>> SPYNET BULLETIN **>> EARTHDATE 91.12.29 **>> AN H-by-A SERVICE **>> THE LAST NEWS OF THE YEAR We'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy New Year from the Federation team. Any multi-user game is only as good as its players, and you've all made Fed Data Space a fun place to be. Thank you all. **>> THE BELLA BULLETIN As you know, Alan Lenton, the designer and programmer of Federation, is in hospital with a broken leg. Although originally it was hoped Alan would be home by now, the doctors are now saying he will have to stay in hospital until at least the middle of the week. Hazed has been passing all your kind messages on to Alan, and he sends you all a big "thank you" for your concern, and hopes it won't be too long until he can re-enter Fed Data Space and buy you drinks. **>> MEANWHILE... There was a little confusion among some of the planet-owners about whether they could be promoted without Bella's intervention. We can now assure you that the command is quite safe to use. Even Squires who wish to become Thanes can do so, although they won't be able to convert from full planets to mini- planets. Anyone who has just finished writing a planet will, unfortunately, have to wait until Bella is back in action before they can become a Squire. Still, it'll give you a chance to make "just a few more changes..." **>> HAVE YOU BEEN BAD OR GOOD? Santa Claus is visiting Fed all holiday season - he's already made many appearances, giving presents of groats and free connect time to the good little girls and boys. So far, Captain Dodger has won four hours of free connect time, and Explorer Krell has won two hours. Lots of players have won large quantities of groats, making it a profitable Christmas for their personas! And it doesn't stop yet! Right through to New Year's Day, Santa will continue to pop into Fed Data Space with his sack bulging with presents. On New Year's Day itself he will have another four hours of connect time to give away, and another two hour present sometime on Monday or Tuesday. Sometimes Santa will hide himself, and the first person to find him will get a present. Sometimes he'll ask players to bring him a certain object. And sometimes he will be asking trivia questions. Every player has a chance to get a present from Santa - you just have to be on the game at the same time! **>> PROMOTIONS NEWS The only promotions we know about this week are Allen, who made it to Trader this afternoon, and Tony who became a Merchant earlier in the week. Congratulations, both of you. Don't forget to tell us about your promotions, then we can mention you in the weekly news. **>>CONTACTS The following information will appear at the end of every News Bulletin, so you don't have to read it if you already know it. In the event of a problem or question, you can: * talk to Hazed, Bella or Clem in the game * leave a message in the game log * send mail with the Federation Feedback option from the main menu You can order a copy of the unexpurgated printed Idiot's Guide to Federation by typing ORDER at any GEnie menu. Cost - a mere $12.95. Federation has several category in the new MPGames RT. To get there, type M1045,1 from any menu prompt and SET category 13 (for information, instructions, questions and answers) or 14 (for general chat and discussions). The Federation Leader in the bulletin board is Occy (Mail ID: OCPAC). The MPGames RT also has a Federation library in the files area, Library 5. Library 18 holds the Federation News Archives. **>> BULLETIN ENDS