About the image converter ArtPRO
ArtPRO supports a variety of file formats like ILBM, GIF, TIFF, BMP, and PCX. It can even load more using datatypes. ArtPRO also supports some raw formats like chunky. Images can be saved as bitplane, chunky or truecolor, as binary or source.
ArtPRO's source generator is capable of creating copper lists and sprites. The program offers very fast down calculation of images of very good quality, has a palette optimizer and real time colour bias also working with true colour pictures.

Development to be continued?
ArtPRO was written in 100% assembler. Who seriously would like to continue development might contact Frank Pagels. It really would be a pleasure if someone would do so.

Because all text informations about countries, cities and organizations are saved with special index numbers as filename it was nearly impossible for the user (without knowledge of the program interna) to change/extend the informations by himself.

I've just uploaded the second Amiga release, and the first platform release for 4.1.3. Some minor 4.1 problems may crop up, but I expect this to be a pretty solid release.

4.1.3 for the other 2 platforms will occur over the next few days, bringing everyone up to speed.

The informations stated in an earlier update are still valid. No big breakthroughs in the last week (but none are planned, though ;) ).
The Exec Kernel is running in a Simulator (parallel to the normal system). In this time it is ported to the hardware platform.
The rest of the components is in different states of finishing. Some are finished but are waiting for the final converting onto the new kernel (this means just only a recompilation of it).

This is a hint for those who want to start with developing for OS4: Develop for 68k. The sources will be fixed with minor changes to OS4 (it means only one or two lines are added to the sourcecode). You can use the normal Exec API. We will release a beta version for developers that will document the new functions (about 20). It should be a change to PPC at least.

• BrainTeaser (March/April)
• Kaliko Minigolf (March/April)
• Pirate's Puzzle (April/June)

Other new additions to the games section are: Merchant Colony, Virocop, Impossamole, Darkmere, Fire and Ice, Katakis, Jaguar XJ220, R-Type II and many more.

I've finally got around to finishing off all of my Amiga compiles, and they've all been uploaded. Details below.

News first!

68000 Support
I've decided to drop 68000 support - I'm going by the assumption that if a user has enough memory to play some of these variants, then they will have a better processor than the bog standard one. All variants will now be targetted for the 68020. Demands from some of the Zangband-based variants are increasing, and with the addition of Lua into Angband and Zangband, and inveitably into their offspring, then a basic unexpanded 68000 system just wouldn't be able to cope.

CD32 (other than English)
Disk version (other than German)

The Amiga Arena talked to Stefan Blixth about his new programs and a very comprehensive comment by Stefan completes the interview. The interview is available in German and English.

PuzzelBOBS news
On the PuzzelBobs support site of the Amiga Arena is the module "Rockers Galore" by "Up Rough System" available for download! Matching the puzzle game this module offers a relaxed dub sound! Just copy it into the directory "Module" of PuzzelBOBS!

Aural illusion V. 3.0 source released
The until now unreleased source code of the unfortunately never published sound sampler Aural illusion V 3.0 by "Blachford Technology" is now available for download and for free continuation of development. According to Nicolas Blachford can this code used without restrictions.

• Improve text Requester:
  More easy to select vectorial font
  Font Path can be changed.
• Bug Fix:
  Control anim requester
  Movie Factory
  pp_CheckBox
  Processing tool: Linked Freehand
• Increase to 50 the number of gadgets usable in arexx dialog
• New Arexx Command:
  pp_ScreenToFront
  pp_PlaceGui
  pp_Convert2RGB
  pp_ScalePicture
  pp_GetLocale.
• AdjustLevels and AutoLevels work well now with Stencil
• Improve AppIcon (add the possibilities to load Icon)
• Jpeg size detection is much faster.
• Add a menu to the undo/redo button:
  Free Current Undo/Redo
  Free All Undo/Redo
• Improve RAW saving, with a requester.
• When PfPaint can't load a picture, it tries to load it as a RAW picture.

This is a 'last resort' plugin, there will be files it will not work on due to formatting differences, but it can be used for files for some files which no plugins exist yet (I tested it on an Outlook 2000 email, worked with no glitches, works with a few glitches on some Mac text files).

Here you will find News, Forums, Downloads, a Web Directory and more.

This site is dependent on you contributing with Amiga News, Downloads, Web Links and your wisdom(!) in the Forums.

This month we take a look at the graphically stunning Descent game Freespace: The Great War and an interactive guide to the upcoming ALT-WOA Amiga show on the 23rd February.

• 08.02.02 improved: Geisha (Cocktel Vision) supports German version too, misc other changes
• 08.02.02 new: Carcharodon - White Sharks (Demonware) done by Galahad
• 06.02.02 improved: Rotor (Arcane) blitter waits added, snoop mode fix
• 06.02.02 new: The Final Battle (Mirrorsoft) done by Bored Seal
• 06.02.02 improved: Elvira - The Arcade Game (Flair Software) music/sound fixed, blitter waits added and more
• 06.02.02 improved: Cliffhanger (Psygnosis/Spidersoft) Fast-Mem support
• 06.02.02 improved: Alien Breed Story (Team 17) Fast-Mem support, delay added

The latest version finally enables players to annex enemy towns, thus exterminating enemy players. It also allows them to maintain several towns in a country.

You are Feeble or rather you're a down trodden Grenelon who just happens to be called Feeble... Rendered animation, stereo sound and a plot of epic proportions take this adventure into a different galaxy. Witty and humerous but with dark undertones. THE FEEBLE FILES contains acts of betrayal, intrigue, revolution and even a bit of cross dressing. Add to that around 80 locations to visit, six thousand voice lines to interact with, there should be plenty to keep everyone happy without the aid of chemical supplements.

THE FEEBLE FILES for the Amiga comes on 2 CDs and contains both full english and german speech versions. The Amiga version requires either an Amiga with 68060, 4 MByte Gfxboard and 32 MByte RAM or an Amiga with PPC, 4 MByte Gfxboard and 32 MByte RAM.

H&P first will distribute the English version and offer German speaking support via email and phone. The translation of the program is to follow, soon, and will be available for free download to H&P's customers. Translation of the detailed manual is being worked on, too.

Example of patching a save game is included in the documentation. Additionally Akiko has now a real Joypad emulation which means that the user can map every key / joystick button to the CD32's joypad buttons. Akiko also supports the emulation of the language identifier of the CD32 and CDTV now so some games appear now automatically in the language you configured in the Akiko settings. Finally there were some bug fixes and improvements in the single patches as well as an extended documentation.