Virus&Antares

   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!!!