Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!apollo!carlton
From: carlton@apollo.HP.COM (Carlton B. Hommel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: New "Spaceward Ho!" v1.2.2 now out
Message-ID: <51492660.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
Date: 30 Apr 91 17:08 GMT
Sender: root@apollo.HP.COM
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Apollo Division - Chelmsford, MA
Lines: 116

This message is being mailed to Delta Tao, along with my warranty
registration, and being posted to the Usenet group comp.sys.mac.games.

I head read the rave reviews on the network about Spaceward Ho!, and
decided to buy it.  I called up my friendly neighborhood software store
(the one with a 2 week return policy), but their distributor didn't
carry the game.

Well, I just called them back, and urged their purchasing guy to order
it direct.  The game is that good.

My phone call to Delta Tao was answered on the first ring, by a
cheerful human.  Wow.  I ordered the game, and wasn't even asked for a
charge card number.  Double wow.  The woman told me it would be a few
weeks, as they were getting a new package made up.

The package, with version number 1.2.2, is terrific.  It is a double CD
box, with a 4"x4" manual where one CD goes, and the floppy, warranty,
and cover letter where the other CD goes.  It looks a little strange,
seeing a 800K 3 1/2" floppy where a CD usually fits, but it is readily
available, relatively cheap package.  It all fit in a tiny manila
envelope, that even fit into my PO Box.  No worry about styrofoam,
cardboard boxes, etc.  CD holders use tough plastic, and mine made it
through the mail intact.

Oh, yes.  There even is a stamped envelope for me to return my warranty
sheet. (And payment.)

I read the manual while out walking with the kids.  It is written in an
easy style, with screen shots where appropriate.  It doesn't try and
teach you the Mac interface.  A welcome comment was something like "If
you've used Font/DA Mover, you won't have any problem with assigning
ships to fleets."  It gave me a clear idea of what to expect, and how
to play the game.

Later that night, I copied the game to my hard drive and started it up.  
Wonderful feature #1:
        No Copy Protection
Wonderful feature #2:
        The game immediately used the entire 19" color screen!

Heck, even SimEarth didn't do that.  But there they were, all the
important menus I had read about, easily viewable, and using every
square inch.  All except the main galaxy window are non-modal (I think
that is the term), so that you can type directly into them, without
having to click first to get the window's attention.

The on-line help has a great implementation, but could use a little
more depth.  There is a seperate window box, that magically describes
whatever items the cursor is over.  I've played many "conquer the
world" games, so was familiar with the thrust of the game, but a novice
would need more verbose help about what the various game controls are.

Another wonderful feature is that I can double click on a planet name
in just about any window, and *poof* the main galaxy window scrolls and
highlights to that planet, automatically setting the subwindows that
deal with planets and their fleets.

I've only spent 2 hours playing so far, but I'm sure that I will be
impressed with the rest of the game.  The ship pictures are a delight,
and the method of controlling the game by dragging bar charts is easy
to use.  The sounds, picts, and menus all appeared nice in ResEdit.

The "Standard Warranty & Disclamer" page had me in stitches.  Having
the type point dwindle from 12 to 2 is sooo like the cartoons.  (But
even the last line was readable.  Was TrueType used?) There is even a
non-standard zinger for careful readers.

Having gushed enthusiastically, here are some of the changes I would
request:

1.  The highlighting of explored (but not colonized) planets is not
    distinguished enough.  The light blue still looks like light blue.

2.  A brief section on "How to start your budding empire" would be
    helpful.  I figured out that I send scouts to all the reachable
    planets, and then send a colony ship to the one with the best
    terraforming capability / metals.  Your warning on not trying to
    terraform two colonies at once kept me from overextending myself.

3.  Many of the ship control boxes, from the ship menu, are modal 
    dialog boxes.  I'd really like to see a ship queue for my
    highlighted planet get updated automatically.

    The "list of all fleets" is a modal box.  What's worse, I can't
    click a fleet, and have the planet it is at highlighted.  This
    seems to be a glaring inconsistency in your user interface.

4.  I use two Macs at home, a Mac II and a Mac Plus.  It is unclear
    from your disclaimer page whether I am legally entitled to plop
    a binary onto each machine, and have a two person game with just
    one software purchase, or if I should buy a second game box for
    the second machine.

5.  I've been having problems with System 6.0.7 and SpeedBeep crashing
    my machine while beeping.  This happened during a game, and the
    "Andy" galaxy file could not be loaded.  The message was something
    like "Could not load Player info".  I've turned off SpeedBeep, and
    will collect more information if it happens again.

6.  The main galaxy map redraws after a modal box dissappears.  I
    presume this is a Mac limitation, but, as it is the only time any
    refreshing occurs, it does stand out.
    
7.  If I want to turn the sound off, I won't hear the audible feedback
    of setting a ship route.  Perhaps a line could be written into the
    report window.

8.  The little paper seal saying "If you break this seal, you sign away
    all your rights and agree to our outrageous demands", on the
    outside of the case is obnoxious.  I was tempted to open the case
    from the back, just to leave the seal intact...

Hyyah!  Spaceward Ho,
Carl Hommel
carlton@apollo.hp.com