Within this forum it will be my pleasure to introduce two unique technologies: countless cardboard squares, pages of printed instructions, complex matrices, and colorful cartography (Europa in its many forms) AND countless silicon squares, pages of printed instructions, complex bus structures, and colorful cathode ray tubes (microcomputers in their many forms).

It is my hope that in the coming months I can provide insight into how microcomputer technology can enhance one's enjoyment of the Europa game system. The PC (personal computer) serves as an excellent assistant to Europa play, although it is not (at present) the platform for the complete automation of the Europa game system (e.g. there is noEuropa computer game). To that end, the discussions herein will be focused on what I call Computer Assisted Europa or CAE (excuse my acronym - in my line of work they are a matter of survival). CAE can take many forms, the following is a short description of the techniques I will address in future columns:

Available TODAY: Play By Electronic Mail

PBEM is a less expensive, swift method of playing Europa with other computer/Europa users across town, in the next state, or around the globe.

Available TODAY: Play By Electronic Mail Tool Kit

A program designed to speed the execution of "game turn" generation for Europa PBEM games. This product will assist by sorting units by type, strength, compass orientation (i.e. north to south, east to west), "rolling the die", and even printing the results of combat.

Available TODAY: Europa Game picture on a disk.

Through the use of optical character recognition technology, share a picture of the current 'front' with computer/Europa users around the world on a floppy disk. Actually take a video image from your Camcorder and digitize it, then send it (via GEnie Email) to a friend in a computer file he can read on his PC. Look for these PICS in the Europa library on GEnie.

Available 3rd quarter '90 (partially functioning program available TODAY): 'Computer Ready" FitE/SE Rules Set

A complete listing of the FitE/SE rules set ready for your word processing program.

Available TODAY (albeit a bit expensive): FitE/SE Intelligent Rules Set SmarteXt TM

A program designed to search by key 'word" or "words" the entire rules set and provide a list of rules sections to choose from and then to take you to the exact passage asked for. How many times have you thumbed through that FitE/SE rules set? Great learning tool.

Available for the Mac: TODAY (other Europa rules set supplements

to follow available at Origins '90). ... just to name a few.

GEnie

This month I would also like to introduce you to GEnie: General Electric Network Information Exchange. GEnie is exactly what the name implies: an information exchange. GEnie is a large computer system that you can call using your computer and a modem (a computer's telephone) by simply dialing a local telephone number (in most cases).

As I mentioned, a computer, a modem, and a GEnie membership are required (see the magazine ad for membership information) to take advantage of this system. GR/D, Europa, and wargamers in general have reserved a special place on GEnie. To my knowledge GEnie is the largest gathering of wargame hobbyists online anywhere in the world. Over 75 different wargame topics, and numerous game designers (anybody remember Jim Dunnigan?), game companies (i.e., GR/D, GDW, Microprose, and 3W), and game players communicate using GEnie. In an effort to maximize your time online with GEnie, here are a series of shortcuts that take you right to the "front."

After you have entered your password and find yourself at the "Top" menu (the first screen), type the following exactly: m 805;1 and then hit the return key. This command will deliver you to the Games Round Table and specifically to the General Discussion menu. At this point we are just one command away from the Europa Category - just type the following: 3 and then: 26 with a return after each number. At this point you are no longer in Kansas. You are deep within the recesses of a machine where uniquely intelligent creatures communicate by sending electronic pulses across wire that crisscrosses their even stranger world. In order to read and take part in the fun type: 2. This command lists all the new (unread topics) available to read and respond. Note all the subjects listed have a corresponding number. If you find a subject that sounds interesting type: 7 and then the corresponding subject number.

More later; time to shut down for now!