Anthony K. Baggaley · 9 November 1993
The new round of comments on Virus brought some things to mind...(Viruses
were on my mind recently- this areas been hit with a new strain of Beijing
flu so badly I'm reminded of 'The Stand':))
When the Virus idea came out just about everyone hated it, for a wide
variety of reasons- it sounded stupid, it didn't fit Traveller, it was
unnecessary. I still think all those apply, but as time goes by the idea gets
almost reasonable (....well a bit less stupid). Current events like that
wonderful Virus-protection for Windows and Flash-programable EEPROMS show
that as computers become more common they have to become transparent, and
soon people have no idea WHAT rubbish the makers put in there (Hardware or
Software). If that is continued into 1120 TI then the concept that a Virus
can get into a computer and run rings around the person using 'Sys-Op for
Windows 482.3' is OK.
Besides, I am sure that a large number of Traveller players have considered
the possibility of AI Viruses before TNE came out- I did and more than one
person on the TML has mentioned it. So overall I've stopped hating TNE
because of the Virus.
I think the reason the Virus sounds so wrong in Traveller is that it doesn't
match with how Traveller Computers appeared in the rules. In Book 2 they
were one step above the Difference Engine- the MIGHT have used that new
fangled Silicon Chip stuff (or maybe not- the power consumption was closer to
a BIG electric motor turning those brass wheels very fast....) It was a
logical step to assume it included various control systems in the cost/mass
as well, but then MT came out and you had to add them seperately (I used the
MT design system a lot, but now it's gone I feel relived :))
To make the Virus work, suddenly all these computers had to become hugely
powerful optical/organic systems, that were beyond the understanding of those
operating them. It just didn't seem right that the Model 1bis went from
VAX to HAL in one step....
OK, so I'm exagerating- but they could have at least given PCs a chance to
use those super-supercomputers for useful tasks before they suddenly become
sentient/insane/homicidal :)
Still, now TNE is here it's back to the Transistors.....
Suffering from the Virus
Anthony K.
NEW THIS CHRISTMAS!!!-
LATEST RELEASES OF TRAVELLER BENDY TOYS!!!
Zhodani (with special 'evil psionic' feature! Eyes light up when turban
pressed!) (Batteries not included)
Virus (For MegaDrive, Super NES, CD-I, IBM PC, Amiga and Mac.)
Plug in the cartidge/insert your disk, and it flashes ASCII garbage
on the screen and tries to blow up your TV!!!