Articles
about Gypsy:
1) Macuser 86
2) Macazine 87
3) A+ 85
4) Macuser 85
5) LAMAC 85
By Arnie Katt
This month's selection of programs for review demonstrates the diversity of the Macintosh home entertainment software library. It is hard to imagine two products more different than Chessmaster 2000 (The Software Toolworks) and GYPSY (Magnum).
“"Should I review Gypsy: The Computer Oracle (Magnum Software)?" I shouted in the general direction of the Macintosh. My fingertips felt the mouse augmented by the Mouse Mover supplied with the product, begin to slide on Gypsy's smooth pressed board 'table,' which teetered on my lap. Joyce Worley, her fingers also resting lightly on the mouse, flicked a glance at the Ouija Board-style layout on the screen, where the pointer was selecting letters in response to the movements of the mouse on the board.
Quickly, we received the message from beyond. "Yes," said the Oracle. Somewhere, executives of Magnum Software breathed easier. '
Those who can dabble with so-called occult forces without ever believing in anything that happens will find Gypsy a pleasantly lightweight diversion.
The program provides a bank of three tables and three pointers, plus a construction module so that the user can easily design distinctive, customized layouts. These original creations can be saved and, since
come much more quickly than in the Automatic Writing mode.
Messages received through Gypsy: The Computer Oracle can be saved. They are MacWrite documents which can be edited at any time.
The disk also includes another entertainment called Automatic Writing. Instead of a board with letters, numbers and symbols, Automatic Writing uses a blank board. Members of the group lightly touch the mouse, which writes on the screen as it moves on the table. Skeptics and the impatient will probably like the Quija board approach better - while the answers may be a bit cryptic at times, results come more quicly than in the Automice Writing mode.
Some people will take Gypsy, The Computer Oracle far more seriously than it deserves. P.T., Barnum accurately gauged the incidence of gullibility in the general populace when he said, "There's a sucker born every minute." Anyone who takes the messages seriously will probably suffer the consequences such superstition merits, but Gypsy is a surefire ice-breaker at parties.
Gypsy
Magnum Software.
21115 Devonshire St., Suite 337 Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 700-0510
Suggested Retail Price: $39.95
they are MacPaint documents, it's a snap to decorate them as whim dictates.
The letter layouts on the Gypsy disk should inspire creativity. Murleen Parnell's, board and pointers are attractive and' readable, at least as good as most non-electronic Ouija boards. . '
Gypsy works best with two people, though up to four can participate comfortably. After the program boots, one member of the group uses the pull-down menus to set the session's parameters. The experimenters can choose the screen graphics, turn the sound on or off, adjust the sensitivity of the pointer, and much more.
The Mouse Mover is a plastic sleeve which fits around the standard Macintosh mouse and makes it roll much more smoothly. This handy gadget, which works its wonders with 99 ball bearings, is a wonderful bonus for computer users. It's likely to remain in active use even when Gypsy is tucked away in the disk file. Magnum should' consider' marketing the Mouse Mover separately, because it certainly puts extra zip into word processing and other productivity programs screen as it moves on the table. Skeptics and the impatient will probably like the Ouija board approach better - while the answers may be a bit cryptic at times, results
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