PhoneBase for the Macintosh

Since PCS has completely abandoned the Mac, I’ve decided to step in on the behalf of Mac users everywhere. Here’s my story:

I convinced our church to give up the WinDOS machine that was giving us nothing but trouble and replace it with an awesome Mac network. Problem: we have this PhoneTree and the accompanying software! Emulators and DOS cards are iffy at best, so we needed an alternative. I noticed in the manual that there was a Mac version of the software! Problem solved, right? Wrong! Not only did they not have it available, they didn’t even have an old copy sitting around the office!

I did FTP searches, etc. and came up with absolutely nothing. I put feelers out on several e-mail lists. No response. I despaired and started looking for DOS cards. Ug! Then, I get this note:

>We use PhoneBase on an SE and I believe it has System 7.5 or 6. Works
>fine. Too bad the company trashed it. Want a copy?
>
>Ron Donhardt
>@ North Wake Baptist Church

Ron sent me a copy, and now we’re in the process of getting it going. The import won’t work on my Quadra 800 with 7.6.1, but there are alternatives. Here’s what you need:

1. An old Mac that will run System 7 or earlier. PCS only supports it through System 6.x, I believe, and don’t count on them to support this copy. SE’s and other old Macs can be found extremely cheap, often free. A 512K is ideal.

2. A connection cord. Note the shape of the 9-pin serial cord (DB-9). These should be available from Mac parts places. Just describe it to them (DB-9 Male to DIN-8 Male). It should plug into your DIN-8 modem port. It is a straight through connection. 512K’s are DB-9 on both ends.

3. A PhoneTree box (duh!)

Another option is using a previous system on an emulator. Check out www.emulation.net for old Mac emulators.

Questions? Leave a comment. Please don’t contact PCS, as they’ll probably make me get rid of this software so people stop bugging them.

Download PhoneBase for the Macintosh

Marathon Starship Factory

Here at Infinity Ltd., we use the latest in outdated starship manufacturing equipment. You just wish you could use stuff as old as ours that still works! Our starships have been manufactured with Chester and Nicodemus, a pair of 68K Macintoshes.

If one of these ideas sounds good to you (& is not yet complete, let me know so I can speed production for you.

Marathon 2 Maps

Most of the maps I make will attempt to be M2 compatible. Love that Durandal. Until I bought the trilogy, I was stuck with M2 & got frustrated with the lack of M2 maps on the web. Anyway, some will be for Marathon Infinity, but only when necessary.

• Pfhounders Way is my first map, based on the apartment I lived in at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. It was nice, but the pfhor infestation was a bit annoying.
• Pfhlood Waters was almost done when my Hard Drive crashed on Nicodemus, and since I didn’t back up, I’ll have to start from scratch. It involves intrigue, carnage, and a surprise ending. Oh, I hope you can tread water!!!!!
• May the Pfhors be with you! is a story of freeing the persecuted. Remember who your friends are….
• Pfhormaldehyde is one for people who like lots of carnage. Nothing else. No extras like plot, etc. I got the idea from playing DOOM.
• Mall Rats purges the Mall of America of nasties.

Other plans include:

• A complicated maze based on the labyrinth of the minotaur
• Rescue kids from a school (based on the schools I’ve attended) Okay, this one is real tentative. Given the new “bomb the school” craze, I’m reluctant to release this one since some psycho will think it’s fun to kill the kids the way we all like blasting away @ the B.O.B.s. What do you think?
• A series based on the buildings of the University of Wisconsin: Madison.

Marathon Infinity Maps

Coming Soon?

• Super Marathon Bros is based on the Super Mario Bros games from Nintendo. Maybe a tribute to the Donkey Kong series which began the whole thing. Note that it won’t include Super Mario 2, which had nothing to do with the other ones in the series.

• No Long Underwear! Involves rescuing various superheroes from certain death.

• Pfhac Man is based on the classic Pac Man game.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Pfhor is based on Eastman & Laird’s popular comic, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (Not based on the TV show&emdash;no “cowabungas” or pizza here!)

• Danté’s Inpfherno is based on the hotter portion of the Divine Comedy.

• I, Strahd places you at the mercy of Strahd Von Zarovich of Ravenloft fame and his undead minions. (For fans of Vampires, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and necromancy.)

Marathon Physics Models, Patches, etc.

Future Plans:

• Bunny Patch replaces the enemy with Intel Bunnymen. Expect a few M$ cameos, too. Toast ’em with style!
• Death Star gives you stormtroopers and Darth Vader himself to blast at. Possible other Star Wars cameos.
• Barney Patch: Ever glad you have a Mac so you don’t have to get your kids that annoying purple Actimates doll? You’ve heard about its Y2K issue, right?
• Kevorkian Patch: Think of it as “Assisting Physician suicide” at its finest! Send Dr. Death to collect from his clients, and let him go with dignity. Note that, however much he deserves it, no one should shoot the real Jack Kevorkian.

Important Links:

Bungie Software Apple Computer Marathon.org Marathon @ Bungie.org Marathon Map Makers Guild

And of course…