...OASIS BBS Finds New Owner... Reported by Zin Marie Just before Christmas, 1987, a deal was struck that transferred ownership of OASIS BBS software from Leo Newman to Z INNOVATORS Co. A few days later, on Christmas day, OASIS III was released to OASIS SysOps, and in January, 1988, this new version of the software was made available for purchase by the general public. OASIS 3 represents the last revision of the BBS done my Mr. Newman and his partner, Mr. Ralph Walden. In 1987, Leo and Ralph put together four updates to OASIS, in March, April, May, and July. The 5/27/87 update to OASIS, enabled the BBS to run separate machine language modules. Toward the latter half of 1987, OASIS became a more popular BBS software for the Atari 8-bits. The final update of 1987, was a revision that brought us OASIS 3. Some of the features of OASIS 3 are: - ARCVIEW function in the download directories and in the message bases. - Change message subject when replying to messages. Ends the long chains of messages under one non-related subject headings. - Enabled modules to call other modules automatically. - Ratio restrictions on downloads. The OASIS SysOp can set the user level exempt from ratios. When OASIS was enabled to run machine language modules, a bright future opened up for OASIS BBS software. Under its new ownership, OASIS will continue to be updated and revised. Z- INNOVATORS Co. will employ the programming skills of Miss Glenda Stocks for this purpose. Miss Stocks has been writing OASIS modules since May, 1987. The first was the SURVEY program, which conducts user surveys from specially formatted text files, created by anyone, even users themselves. Other modules written by Glenda include: - EZMENU. Allows SysOps to create sub-menus with a text editor. The submenus allow downloading, reading text files, displaying Atari animation, and executing other modules. EZMENUS can be linked together to make adventure games and maze games. - TRIVIA. Conducts a trivia question and multiple choice answer game, with topten scorers list, where the score on each correct answer is based on how quickly the answer is given. Users can write trivia text files for this module also. - ADD-BBS-NUM. Users add BBS numbers to a list that they can view. - STATS LISTERS. Various modules that display user activity, including a LAST 51 CALLERS log. When asked about her plans for OASIS in the future, Miss Stocks responds: -In the long term, I expect to see a version, not an update, but perhaps even OASIS IV, to be compatible only with a DOS like SpartaDos 3.x and higher. In the short term, my plans involve splitting XBN into two boards. The split will allow for a more full and fair support of OASIS/RELIGION, and ZMAG/ATARI. I invite everyone to give the boards a call.- Z-INNOVATORS distributes OASIS 3 software for $20.00 from the following address: Z INNOVATORS 1344 Park St. Stoughton, MA 02072 Dept. 187 Answering Service Phone: 617-586-3385 BBS Phone Numbers: 617-770-0026 617-770-0197 For OASIS Sysop support call: XBN-MISSION 617-770-0026 (PC Pursuitable MABOS node) HELP BBS 918-251-5450 OASIS SYSOPS!! BONUS ! The $5.00 update fee to upgrade to OASIS 3, is hereby waived and done away with as of February 8th, 1988. TREAT ! The February 3rd, 1988 UPDATE is posted on XBN-MISSION at 617-770-0026. Call and download your NEW UPDATE! ______________________________________ | -=2=- |Atari News Update |_______|_____________________________ ATARI PRODUCT NEWS UPDATE: 1/27/88 (C) 1988 by Atari Corp. May be reprinted only with this notice.