Ultrasound Daily Digest     Wed, 24 Feb 93       Volume 2 : Issue  52 

Today's Topics:
				   Getting responses from companies
					   PARTIAL DEVELOPERS LIST
								 SbOS
			   Space Quest V -- time to boycott Sierra

	Information about the UltraSound Daily Digest (such as
mail addresses, request servers, ftp sites, etc., etc.) can be found
at the end of the Digest.

	*** HEY!!! *** 

	Before you ask a question, *** READ THE FAQ ***.  It's
available on the request server and the ftp sites, or check the
newsgroup archives.

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Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1993 12:09:31 -0500 (EST)
From: treason@gnu.ai.mit.edu
Message-Id: <9302231709.AA05268@spiff.gnu.ai.mit.edu>
Subject: Getting responses from companies
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

This has nothing to dowith Gravis in particualer, but after reading
the post made by another angry support 'developer', I think it might help.

The method I use to get information from companies about support issues
works best when I perform in this manner:

First I call and ask who carries the support issue.  I also find out
their mailing address and such.  I talk to this person about the support I
'expect' to have and then hang up...when left here or returning other calls
I have NEVER received word one.  The next step is to write the support crew
a nice letter about how you would like the upgrades, or information on cost
of upgrades, and information on availablility of said upgrades, release dates,
etc.  I have gotten some responses this way, but generally about 15% or my
requests are answered.  I then mail a second letter a little more pointed 
after about 1 to 2 weeks later.  This generally gives me a response of about 
30%.  IF this yet doesnt work, I write a third time after 1 - 2 weeks(you must
wait this long, or I find they get aggrevated and toss your mail without readingit...I found this out from a friendly(NOT) support tech).  This time the letter
contains nasty attitudes(not vulgar, dont give them a reason to ignore you)
about who you should contact to get a response, and that you will be calling
again to get that information, since you arent getting through.  This
will get you about a 40% response, but you still MUST call to make a point
(I do).  After this point If there is no response, forget it, I have yet to
receive a response after this point.

I hope this helps, and yes, I know, its a long wait between the first call and 
the last letter, but sometimes (40% hah) its worth it.  You spend a
maximum of 2 long distance phone calls, and 3 stamps.  I know this is too
much to pay for information or a 'FREE' upgrade, but if you want it, these
days you have to fight for it.

treason@gnu

PS.  The main point is to show thw support crew that you are more tenacious
than they can be.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 93 11:08:49 
From: john.smith@gravis.com
Message-Id: <9302231108.A5063wk@gravis.com>
Subject: PARTIAL DEVELOPERS LIST
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

						 Partial Developers List 

This is a partial list of companies who have the Gravis UltraSound
developers kit.  Included is their voice telephone number and fax
number if known.  This document is being made available to you
as a REFERENCE ONLY.

	Company Name                 Voice Tel. #    Fax Tel. #
	---------------------------------------------------------
	Access Software              801-359-2900    801-359-2968
	Accolade                     408-985-1700    408-246-1053
	Activision                   310-207-4500    310-820-6131
	Amaze Inc.                   206-820-7007
	Animotion Graphics           205-591-5715    205-591-5716
	Apogee Software              214-240-0614    214-278-4670
	Asymetrix                    206-637-1542    206-637-1542
	Autodesk Inc.                415-332-2344    415-289-4750
	Azeroth Inc.                 206-392-9941    206-391-7812
	Bethesda Softworks           301-963-2000    301-926-8010
	Borland                      408-438-4701    408-438-8696
	Broderbund                   415-382-4400    415-382-4523
	Cineplay                     503-223-4449    503-223-8946
	Compton's New Media          619-929-2500    619-929-2511
	Davidson                     310-793-0600    310-534-3169
	Dr. T's Music Software       617-455-1454    617-455-1460
	Electronic Arts              415-571-7171    415-571-7993
	Gametek                      305-935-3995    305-932-8651
	Hollyware                    310-822-9200    310-390-0457
	Ibis Software                415-546-1917    415-546-0361
	Icom Simulations             708-520-4440    708-459-3418
	Impressions                  203-676-9002    203-676-9454
	Interplay                    714-553-6655    714-252-2820
	Kesmai Corporation           804-979-0111    804-979-5428
	Knowledge Adventure          818-542-4200    818-542-4205
	Legend                       703-222-8500    703-968-5151
	LuscasFilm Games             415-721-3300    415-721-3342
	Macro Media Inc.             415-442-0200    415-442-0190
	Maxis                        510-254-9700    510-253-3736
	Mecc                         612-569-1500    612-569-1551
	Micrografx, Inc.             215-234-1769    215-234-2603
	Microprose                   410-771-6711    410-771-1174
	Mindcraft Software Inc.      310-320-5214    310-320-1522
	New World Computing          818-999-0606    818-593-3455
	NovaLogic                    818-774-0600    818-774-0684
	Odyssey Software Inc.        508-240-2317    508-686-9288
	Origin                       512-335-5200    512-328-3825
	Psygnosis                    617-731-3553    617-731-8379
	QQP                          908-788-2799    908-788-7684
	ReadySoft                    416-731-4175    416-764-8867
	SSI                          408-737-6800    408-737-6814
	SCO                          408-425-7222    408-458-4227
	Sierra On-Line               209-683-4468    209-683-3633
	Sir-Tech Software Inc.       315-393-6451    315-393-1525
	Spectrum Holobyte            510-522-3584    510-522-3587
	The Bruce Artwick            217-656-9796    217-356-7895
	The Learning Company         415-792-2101
	The Software Toolworks       415-883-3000    415-883-3303
	Three-Sixty Pacific, Inc.    408-879-9144    408-879-9739
	Virgin Games                 714-833-7810    714-833-8717
	Walt Disney                  818-567-0284    818-973-4160
	Westwood Associates          702-368-4850

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 93 11:14:47 EST
From: jagati1@SERVER.uwindsor.ca (JAGATIC JASON            )
Message-Id: <9302231614.AA16584@SERVER.uwindsor.ca>
Subject: SbOS
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I have been wondering something lately.  Many users have been complaining 
about SBOS and how it doesn't work with many programs.  Also, I have noticed
that there are alot of expert programmers that use and support a GUS.  Now,
why doesn't someone try to develop a third-party version of SBOS, one that
doesn't have the same limitations of the original SBOS?  Possibly one that
would even support the SBPro?  I know this is a tall order, but it is just 
a recomendation and suggestion.  If I could do the programming myself, I would
but I can't so I wont...    

	Isn't there anyone out there that might wish to tackle this problem?
	Is it even feasible?
	
						Jay.
 

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 93 18:06:15 PST
From: biggles@berlioz.nsc.com (Winston Worrell)
Message-Id: <9302240206.AA12169@berlioz.nsc.com>
Subject: Space Quest V -- time to boycott Sierra
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I purchased SQ V: The Next Mutation, and I fired up my trusty 486/33 with the
Opti Chip set, the Adaptec 1522 controller, and SBOS v1.23. I installed it
as a SoundDisaster card (even tho their auto config didn't detect a sound card).
The opening creditswent by with the introduction etc and then when it was time to 
quit the simulator, the machine just hung and played daft music for ten minutes 
(ok five). I hit every key on the board and tried weird combinations -- since I 
wasn't sure if this was part of the game or not -- ie "How do I get out of the 
simulator", and eventually settled on a reboot.

After going thru this a couple of times, I called the tech hot line (atleast its 
24hrs) and I was told that there is known problem with their SoundDisaster 
drivers and if I used Adlib mode on my sound card it would be fine. I asked if they
were going to send out a patch fix and he siad "No".

I promptly returned the game Monday, not because the game was bad, but because
of the lack of real support on the sound card. The box said SoundBlaster, if
it had said Adlib, I wouldn't complain, but it said SoundBlaster and they weren't
going to fix it. Where I was born that's called false advertising.

1: So much for Sierra's high and mighty attitude in terms of sound card support if 
   they can't even get the SD mode working.
2: Whoever did their card drivers should be shot.
3: 24 hour hint line. I called it. Went thru the 45 sec menu, SQ V wasn't on it. 
So I was out 2 phone calls. (I really hate that).

Anyway, be warned.

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End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V2 #52
******************************
