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REX'96
Review By Mike Sommerset
Plants are all around us. In fact the earth is so dominated by plant life and they are such an intrinsic part of our lives that we rarely give them a passing thought - that is until we start setting up a garden or add to an existing one. Enter 'REX'96', a CD ROM encyclopaedia of Australian native plants. REX stands for Revegetation EXpert project and the CD is a national standardised vegetation database set up by a team comprising of members of conservation and land management groups in W.A. Initially intended for commercial and large scale revegetators, this database is also ideally suited as a sophisticated reference tool for home gardeners or as an educational aid.
Features: It is an extensive botanical encyclopaedia giving full details of Australian plants; also what the plants look like, ideal growing conditions, how to plant them and how to look after them. If you don't understand a technical term used in the text - no matter. Just click on it and a definition will come up on the screen automatically. It has top quality photographs showing what that shrub or tree will look like fully-grown (so you don't end up with a multi-story tall tree growing in the back patio). Some of the photos are so good you can print them out and hang them on the wall. It has a library that contains a number of queries that have been worked out for you. It also allows you to build up your own queries and save them for future reference. There is also a collection of articles written by specialists to help you understand some of the issues involved in revegetation and conservation.
Using it: Finding your way about is simple. A half-hour is all it takes to be familiar with the basic features. Unlike some CD ROMS, this one allows you uncomplicated access to different features with only one click of the mouse button. As with all good quality CD ROMS, REX'96 has an easy to use on-line manual giving a complete guide. The text in REX'96 can be enlarged three times, especially useful for tired eyes during those late night sessions. Photos can be zoomed in or out and can also be printed separately or with accompanying text. Used in conjunction with the diary or editor features, you can build up a personalised printed library of what you've got growing in your garden.
Installation: It is easy to install - just follow the instructions on the screen. The minimum recommended system requirements for REX'96 are - 486 DX microprocessor, 8 MB RAM, Windows 3.1, Super VGA (256 colours), mouse, CD ROM drive and it takes up approx. 20 MB hard disk space.
The CD RM is produced by the same company that assisted the RAA in producing the TRAVELGUIDE CD ROM (reviewed in the March 1997 edition of the Police Journal) so, of course, the RAA sells the REX CD. It costs $89, which sounds expensive, but you will get nowhere near the amount of up-to-date information if you spent the same amount on gardening books. Also, plants definitely do not come cheap these days - you will want a good guide on how to look after them.
Review by Julie Jansen
Put yer seatbelt on boys and girls, and get ready for an exciting ride of hell-bent selt destruction!
Behind the wheels of the big 4WDs, the race is endless, and the prize is secondary to stomping everything in your path and destroying your mates and getting 'em off the road - permanently....
Monster can also be played with friends via modem and connection to Microsoft's Monster Truck Web Stop site for a real challenge (and laugh). High quality graphics add to excellent 3-D realism and an wide range of angles available to the driver, including behind the rival's wheel(!), and instant replay. You will probably waste a few good weeks on this one, so put in for leave now before pressing "Play".
Review by Julie Jansen
You are in control of troops who are heavily fatigued and still have a long way to go before the battle is over. Some of them refuse to continue and some are even retreating. What do you do?
Like Doom, in Close Combat the soldiers' energy and stamina depletes on a regular basis and their reactions to situations vary accordingly. As the leader in command, the game is of your own making. You can create World War II conditions and relive historically accurate situations, just to see if under your command, history would have been different.
The game is enhanced by updated personnel data files which give you indications of strength levels of each member of your platoon, ammunitions remaining and more besides.
Deadly Tide
Review by Julie Jansen
"Aliens have landed and Earth is drowning..."
In the battle to save the planet from complete invasion, your mission takes you deep undersea with the lethal Hydra, a prototype attack craft that just may save the day.
Good use of colour and angle makes for a game that is dependent on your instincts and imagination for you to emerge as the victor. Just remember, Roswell was real, the Pentagon is lying and the fear you feel is REAL.