**>> SPYNET BULLETIN **>> EARTHDATE 95.02.05 **>> AN H-by-A SERVICE **>> Compiled by Hazed plus a team of specialist newsdroids **>> your news and gossip and get paid good groats! **>> HOW LATE IT WAS, HOW LATE Last week's news didn't make it onto the streets till Tuesday. This week, it's not up till Monday. What on Mars is going on? It's all because Bella is away, and has been having communication problems. Now that the news appears on the game menu, Bella has to put it up after it's written, by mucking about in the bowels of the backend (a revolting image that would be more suited to The Vile Cryptosporidium!). Last Sunday she had no access at all to a computer capable of linking to the backend; this weekend, although she has a computer with her, she's holed up deep in the country where storms have knocked out the phone lines! Or that's what Hazed has said, anyway... **>> TAKE-OVER There may be a more sinister explanation. It's just possible it's all part of Hazed's fiendish plan to sieze power in Bella's absence. She tried it last time, and failed, but she's made her plans more carefully this time. So far, her attempts at neutralising Our Illustrious Leader have resulted in Bella being trapped for hours in a mobile lounge at Washington airport (sounds more like an immobile lounge!), a wheel nearly falling off the car in which Bella was being chauffeured, Bella nearly being brained by icebergs falling off roofs... and now these storms preventing Bella from communicating with the outside world. In another display of complete and utter madness, Hazed has announced that henceforth she wishes to be known by the symbol @. The demi-Goddess formerly known as Hazed has obviously gone completely off her trolley! **>> CHEZ DIESEL EXPANDS TO TAKE OVER THE UNIVERSE! Unless you've had your head in a bucket, you will have noticed that the rather strange-looking menu that used to take you into Fed has gone and been replaced by something much more familiar and friendly. When you enter our GameSpace from your host system, you now find yourself in Chez Diesel! This branch of the Galaxy-famous bar is the gateway to all the Interactive Broadcasting games and products... about which, more in subsequent editions of the news. **>> CHANGING YOUR PLANET A number of the problems we've been having lately have been caused by incorrect planet data being loaded into the game - Devon's three exchanges, and so on. The planet checker should pick up these problems, but it hasn't been doing so because the checker only looks at the planet data once a day - when the game does its daily house-keeping run. Any other time the game fires up, it pulls in the data that's in the workbench without checking it. Hence the problems. When the current system was set up (shortly after the switch to NewFed), Bella didn't realise just how often the need occurs to fire the game up more than once a day. But when development work is being done, new features added, changes and so on, often the game gets closed down and restarted several times during the day, and each time there's the chance that unchecked planet data will be pulled into the game, with often catastrophic results. We just can't risk this any more. The stability of the whole game is endangered by strange things in planet data. The solution is: from now on, you will have to take your planet offline before making any change to the data. Yes, even a minor change like fixing a movement table problem. Use the offline command; wait until next day and your planet isn't in the game, then make your changes; use the offline command again to bring it back (type ) and it will return next day. On her return home, Bella will change the workbench so it won't let you make any changes unless the planet is offline. This means that you are really going to have to be careful to make sure you get your planet right before you link it into the game, and by an amazing coincidence, Plantking has provided a tool that will help you do just that (if you have a PC). It's a program that takes the listings from the workbench and lets you walk around the planet, offline. The program is in beta-test at the moment, so Plantking can't guarantee it will work exactly as he should. He would like as many people as possible to give it a try and report back to him any problems they find. Despite being in beta, we think it's something you will find very useful! The file is in the MPGames library on GEnie on page 1045. The file is #4888, called CKPL112.ZIP, it's in library 39. It requires an IBM PC or compatible, DOS 2.1 or higher, and an 80x25 display. You need to have a capture of all three listings from your workbench - locations, objects and events. **>> WANT TO BE AN IDIOT? THEN GET THE GUIDE! The Idiot's Guide to Federation (printed edition) is finally available for players who log into Fed through Delphi and Cris. To obtain your copy of this life-enhancing book, send a check for $15.95 to: Leah Parker 4543 La Crescenta Avenue La Crescenta, CA 91214-2912 Your Guide will be despatched to you by matter transmitter, arriving instantly on your doorstep. Or, failing that, by snail-mail. Don't forget to include the address you'd like the Guide to be mailed to! **>> WELCOME TO OUR NEW HOST Please welcome our newest Game Host to Fed DataSpace: Grannie. If she can lift her aching bones out of her rocking chair, she'll be helping new players, answering questions, and organising special events. Be nice to her, she's an old lady. If you're not nice to her, she might knit you a jumper or something! [shudder] **>> TRIVIAL ROMANCE Valentine's day... a time for hearts, flowers, love... and a Trivia Game in Fed! Come and test your knowledge of hearts, flowers, love... and Fed! Everyone has a chance, at least on the Fed questions, since all you have to do is read the highly entertaining Idiot's Guide to Federation, available for downloading on your host system. Join us on Sunday, February 12th, at 6pm Eastern, in Chez Diesel, the Social Center of the Solar System, for Valentine's Trivia in Fed! **>> THROW ME SOMETHING, MISTER! That's right, Mardi Gras is coming to Fed! Festivities start Friday night, February 24th, and continue through Fat Tuesday, on the 28th. There will be parties, parades and a special Mardi Gras planet to celebrate the occasion. Mardi Gras is a participation event, and so we will be offering prizes to the best floats, costumes, and anything else we can think of to give prizes for! Look for more details in the upcoming weeks! **>> BATTLE ON ICE Devon has uploaded a very impressive GIF picture of two ships fighting it out over a world of ice. It's file #223 in the Federation Official library on page 220 on GEnie. **>> ADVERTISMENT FROM EIRE As a public service to all the traders in Federation, the Duchy of Eire has released the following summary of what their planets Buy, Sell, and are Even in. We hope this assists you in your trading endeavers. Free Trade Council of Eire 02-01-95 STORM AISE TANARITH NAUG ESQUIRE OAC 40MILE DAWN Cereals B B B B B B B B Woods S S S B S B B B Hides S S S S B B B B Textiles B B B B B B B B Meat B B B S B B B B Spices B B S S S B B B Fruit B S S B S B B B Soya B B B B S B B B Stock S E S S S B B B Furs E B S B S B B B Rads S S S S S S S S Nickel S S S S S S S S Xmetals S S S S S S S S Crys S S B S S S B B Alloys S S S S E S S S Gold S B S S B B B S Monos S B S S B S S S Gens S S S S S S S S Polymers E S B B B B S S Lubs S S S E S S S S Pharms S S B B B S S S Petros B B B S S S S S RNA S S S S B S S S Props S S S S B S S S Exos S S B S B S S S Lanz S S B B S S S S Nitros S S S S B S S S Mun S S B S S S S S Mechs S S B S S S S S Gas S S B B B S S S Bio S S S S B S S S Masers S S B S B S S E Weapons S S B B B S S S Vidi S S S B B B S E Electros S S B B B S S S Tools S S B B B S S E Synths S S B S S S B B Droids S S B S B B S B Anti S S S B B S S B Power S S S B B S S E Controllers S S S B B S S S Hypnos S S B B B S S B Studios S S E B B S S S Sensamps S S B S B S S S Games S S B B B S S S Arts S S E B B S S B Kats B B B S B S S S Musiks S S E B B S S S Libs S S B B B S S S Holos B B B B B B S S Unis S S B S B S S S Sims S S B B E S S S **>> SPIES LIKE US Just why does Tellurian have two embassies on the planet Storm? Was it some kind of two-for-one deal, or is he planning double the amount of mayhem? We think we should be told! **>> VOYEURISTS ON THE WATCH! Well, we all know that Federation DataSpace has been plagued for many years with voyeurs. There were times when Samantha's was packed with seeking spybeams, popcorn (no pizza, please!), and the wide Vid-Screen for those tired of watching on their puny wristbands. The pressing throng inside the bar would watch for hours upon hours anything they found interesting, which according to the Russian Judge was just about anyone! No one was safe. Have things changed all that much? Only the price has! Jeb, an up and coming virtuoso voyeur, has been heard asking everyone he meets for 6 gig. 6 gigagroats!! Why would someone need 6 gig? (Ok, silly question.) When asked why, Jeb immediately answered that he needed 6 gig to watch China! Watch China do =what= the newsdroids asked, but when Jeb answered the circuits in the droid fizzled right out. We have submitted a bill, but he wasn't too happy about that. Our NewsTeam immediately dispatched another droid in hopes of finding out just what this was all about. China was the next to be interr...asked what 6 gig entails, and can the newsdroids get a Press Pass at no cost to cover (or uncover!) the story. The stunning PO simply smiled mysteriously and walked away, leaving the newsdroid's imagination to itself. We regret that we have lost yet another droid on this story! No more droids will be sent out to do a follow-up on this article, or any other articles that may arise. It seems that the editors have fired all the staff, sold the droids for scrap metal, and blackmailed all the high officials just to raise enough groats to watch China on their own! **>> INFLATIONARY PRESSURES Speaking of the way prices have gone up: Iceman made a killing recently, selling the tuning fork to someone for a million groats. They must have wanted it very badly! Time was when a Poor Person holding an object for ransome for outrageous sums would have found themselves on the wrong end of a twin laser. **>> STOP PRESS... We think we may have found out just what China is doing that makes her such a juicy target for spybeams! Rumour has it she's been spending a lot of time necking with Benson. One report we have of a steamy session in CDs mentions hugs, snuggles, kisses, gropes, stroking, blowing in each other's ears, deep breathing... goodness, our droid is starting to melt! **>> LEISURE TIME The baron class welcomes a new member to their ranks. Silk has managed his planet well enough to move his planet into a fine dining class. (Good going, Silk!) Fortymile is now the ninth leisure planet in this growing cluster. The other barons (baronesses) are Jade, Neuromancer, Blackadder, Chainsaw, Chance, Ciaran, and most recently Aja and Dirge. With planet decay we expect these numbers to grow, and soon to push on towards dukedom. Apparently enough, this would push several dukes out of the circle and on to senatorship, and change the outlook of the race. Presumably all political factions are quite aware of this as strategies change, grow, and fall with each advancement. Newsdroids will be watching to see who is pushed up, out, and off cliffs as election day rolls... closer? No leisure time for these droids! **>> CHOOSE CAREFULLY! No, this isn't about choosing emperors, or even choosing a duke to be faithful to (or backstab!). It's not even about the choice of mates, what to wear, or which you prefer, Hazed's scrumptious delights or Bella's avoirdupois delicacies. It has exactly to do with a newbod, Varian by name, going around stating that he, and only he, is "The Chosen". There was much ado about this when Tellurian found out, demanding that HE was The Only Chosen and that Varian must be The Chosen to Die. Has this all to do with the Church of Saint Pegasus? Newsdroids thought so, but didn't Tellurian wimp out of the trials (Pegasus, the One True vs. Tellurian ne Galdur) by stating that with the change to NewFed and an alternate universe, there was a new religion worshipping St. Glurg? Where, exactly, does Varian fit in to all of this? As soon as more details are revealed, we will be sure to print them. If not, we'll make them up! **>> PLANETS AND DUCHIES There are four new planets in the game this week, hence the harassed look on our Explorerdroid's face (or equivalent). Satriani's Opera and Brain Hedonist are reviewed below; Ceinwen's Forest and Cygnus' Dark will be explored next week, when they have had time to check that everything works ok. The latter two planets are Independent; obviously there hasn't been enough time for Dukes to woo them. Opera and Hedon both joined up with Budwarp's Epini. Looking at the current duchies, the support for Emperor seems pretty evenly split between the two main candidates, although some of the duchies have yet to declare their allegiance. Supporting Marcia's bid for the throne, are Zagmar's Valaria with 6 planets and Nightstalker's Nightfall with 7. On the other side, supporting Barberousse, are Amigan's Athens with 9 planets and Budwarp's Epini with 10. The dark horse that could upset everything is, of course, Sean's Eire with 7 planets. Will he support one of the existing candidates, or is he going to back someone who has yet to declare themself? Looney's Insanity has only 3 planets but even so his support could be vital if the main candidates remain evenly matched. Of course, with many of the Barons building for Duke, this may change soon. It all promises to be very interesting! Coming soon: Interviews with the election candidates, conducted by the well-known holo personality, Bahba Wawa. **>> TWO TO TOUR After we got over the shock of Satriani actually linking his planet, we sent out a droid to explore. Opera is, not surprisingly, a very musical planet. The city off the LP is being renovated, quite extensively. The newest, largest building in town is an Opera house. Early on, you pick up clues that this is a place that might be a bit familiar, such as a newspaper that is opened to a story about the Phantom, who is looking for the return of his property. There's a puzzle, and Satriani is offering a reward for solving it, as well as a "consolation prize" for finding the plaques on the planet. All he asks is how many there are, and what is written on each. Opera is a fun place to visit, and the puzzle is quite engrossing, though it can be dangerous. Enjoy yourself! Brain gave a whirlwind tour of Hedon for the press, and as we were whisked from place to place, we noticed all sorts of recreation sites, from camping and fishing, to a sumptuous hotel resort. Hedon has no puzzle, but it has plenty of make-out spots! Brain apologized for the difficulty with his mobiles, and promises to have them taken care of quickly. The only problem we noticed was that we couldn't figure out what some of them were called. All in all, a couple of very nice planets! We're happy to see that people have taken our beloved Editrix's edict to heart! **>> SPYNET REVIEW Congratulations to everyone who was promoted during the past week. The new Captains were Benedicte, Terra, Melissa, Atomic, Chicago, Kipdurron, Ukla, Kainaw (back from the dead), Jeffrey, Trista, Dylyss, Nightshade, Loubate, Homer and Radnolph. Marionarsis, Varian, Terra, Kainaw, Patrick, Homer, Chicago and Nightshade were promoted to Adventurer and Adventureuse. The Traders Guild has new members: Varian, Kainaw and Marionarsis. Helena, Bill and Kainaw made it to Merchant. The awesome JP puzzle proved no match for the wits of Scott, Cleric, Aubie, Merry and Erica. Cygnus and Scarlotti cracked the fiendish GM puzzle. Both moves immediately to become Explorers. There are four new Squires: Satriani (at last!) Brain, Ceinwen and Dark. Sadly, JP Spudk went d-d on Brain's new planet Opera. We know not how or why. and Technocrat Kainaw also came to a sticky end, but he is rapidly climbing back up the ranks again. **>> 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. The current Federation Party Hosts are: Mira, Redqueen, Caterpillar, Lyrynna, Gazoo and Grannie. Their function is to answer questions, help new players get started, and make fun things happen. In the event of a problem or question, you can: * talk to Hazed or one of the Party Hosts in the game * a message to Hazed * send mail on your host system to the Federation team: on GEnie, mail FEDII.2 or use the option on the main Fed page on Delphi, mail FED2 or use the option on the main Fed page on Cris, mail FEDERATION2 **>> BULLETIN ENDS