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by David Dunham

In this month's Eat a Bug (see the PR attached below), er I mean Eek a Bug, we help define Jason's diet.

Snapz Pro 2.0.1

We've had a couple of users complain that if they capture a long movie with Mic recording turned on, the video would sometimes stop in the middle of recording. The preview was fine, so the video was captured, it's in the conversion from the temporary video track to the QuickTime movie format that the problem lay. We haven't found a cause, or common thread, except that mic recording had to be on for the problem to appear. If you are experiencing this problem, please send details to me at Help@ambrosiasw.com.

Cythera 1.0.1 and 1.0.2

1.0.2 change list

• Support for switching resolution on the fly
• Works on 68K macs (correctly determines QuickTime)
• LogicTech and other multi-button mice now lets the mouse software handle the multiple buttons
• Various minor scripting fixes (things like conversation pauses, to do checkoffs, typos, location of Halos shop, Alaric training with only 4 training points, etc...)
• Journal is updated when game restored
• You now get experience for damage done via spells
• Immunities, abilities, armor, etc... are now correctly applied against damage from spells and traps
• Damage from things falling on your head or you stepping on them only check for helmets and footgear respectively for absorbing damage
• Fixed lines splitting punctuation onto a new line of text in conversations
• Spreading flour on a doorway no longer prevents it from being opened again.
• InputSprocket support turned on (this might have been in 1.0.1)
• Expanded the size of the persistent storage (from 64K to 256K), as well as fixed incorrect reference counting when appending to lists in certain cases (you do _not_ have to start over)
• If something is in a doorway to the east or south, it is now correctly considered to be "close" (in range for a "touch" spell, can be searched, etc...)
• Minor refinement in combat - characters don't target the last attacker by default, allowing better AI
• The "Defend.ai" has been made more intelligent
• Note taking dialog is now moveable
• The Cythera Documentation was expanded and revised based on input we received

A Madagascar Hissing Cockroach from Will Hicks' page.

1.0.1 change list

• The hard drive is no longer accessed every step you take, thus speeding up gameplay significantly
• Cythera is given more memory by default, easing situations where it would previously run out of memory
• Fixed the "Persistant storage" problem which could result in out of memory messages, corrupted game files, and possibly even crashes
• Sacas conversation bug/last person talking being you bug has been fixed (this would cause the conversation to fly by)
• Possible fix for machines with more than one monitor
• Various typos were fixed
• Buying the building now works (though in light of other bug fixes, not sure you can carry enough coinage)
• Selling stuff multiple times exploit has been eliminated
• Carrying too much coinage from selling stuff has been fixed
• Equiping too much stuff has been fixed
• Trapped by unicorn carcass; these you can now walk over, and additionally, you can destory carcasses by attacking them now
• Random items/monsters carrying weapons/etc... that actually belonged to other monsters
• Berosus moved in the vinyard a bit so it's possible to find him
• NPCs can no longer walk through locks or magically closed doors

So, I guess this is as good a place as any to keep a running tab of Bugs to Eat. Sorry Jason, but I just report 'em.

That's a bunch of tasty critters for ya, Jason.

Ambrosia Takes the Bug Free Pledge:Marketing Director will eat real insects if products ship with bugs

Rochester, NY -- August 19, 1999 -- Ambrosia Software, Inc. fired a shot across the software world's bow when it announced today that it would force Marketing Director Jason Whong to eat real insects if any Fall/Winter 1999 or Spring 2000 product shipped with a bug. In doing so, the company became the first software publisher in history to punish its marketing staff with ingestive penalties.

"I regret that I have but one palate to defile for my company," said Whong, as he looked up from a listing of bug recipes on the web. "We'll get 1.0.0 right, or I'll be munching on some pretty creepy stuff."

If any of Ambrosia's late 1999 or 2000 releases require bug fixes, Whong may be required to eat live or roasted crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, spiders, or any number of edible insects at a special bug-munching jamboree at MacWorld New York 2000.

Among the products Ambrosia expects to release this year:

Cythera - Can you rescue the land of Cythera by curing its King, and vanquishing all evil? Kidnapping, murder, and lies await you in this much-awaited roleplaying game.

Ferazel's Wand - As Ferazel, the last Habnabit, your quest is to avenge your Habnabit brothers and sisters by defeating the Manditraki, the henchmen of the evil Dread Queen Xichra. Journey through the underground caverns, across the Great Western Desert, and into the heart of Xichra's lair for the final showdown! Magic and Danger await!

Pop-Pop - Is your chi better than hers? Take up the competitive sport of the Pops as you duel for supremacy of the ricochet court in this deviously addictive game for one or two players. Focus your chi and invoke your Pop's special powers!

Additionally, there are other projects which may be ready in the coming year; these releases (as well as incremental updates to existing products) will also apply to the Bug Free Pledge.

Ambrosia openly challenges other developers to join in the bug-eating fiesta by forcing their own marketing staffs to eat bugs. "We think that if everybody made someone accountable for the bugs, the world's software would improve dramatically," said Andrew Welch, Ambrosia's President, as he eyed catalogs of live and roasted insects.

Anyone with tasty insect recipes is encouraged to e-mail them to Jason Whong, jason@AmbrosiaSW.com, before MacWorld NY 2000. Companies interested in joining with Ambrosia in the Bug-Free Pledge may also contact Ambrosia directly. There may be plenty of mealworms (and stiff libations) to go 'round.

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