...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.