













 Software Review:
   Opus 'N Bill On The Road Again
     by Dave Bealer
 --------------------------------







   Screen savers are big business -- Berkeley Systems made a
 fortune off their industry standard After Dark package. Another
 Berkeley is now getting into the act. Berkeley Breathed is the
 cartoonist who made his name in the 1980s with "Bloom County."
 The second screen saver featuring Bill the Cat and Opus the Penguin,
 the twice unsuccessful Meadow Party presidential ticket and stars
 of "Bloom County," is now on the shelves of your favorite software
 retailer.

   Opus 'N Bill On The Road Again is published by Delrina. It uses
 Delrina's Intermission display engine for Windows. Systems equipped
 with a sound card can produce the sound effects that are available
 with most modules. Intermission also displays After Dark modules for
 those who cannot do without their Flying Toasters. A few O&B modules
 display over whatever Windows had on the screen when Intermission
 activates. My favorite in that category is Bill and Opus (in tutus)
 skating around the screen.

   Most of the O&B modules are full screen, replacing whatever was
 there before. A few of the funnier ones are:

   "Uneasy Riders" - you are in a blue Mercedes tooling down
 the highway behind the motorcycle-mounted title characters, Bill
 (complete with skull and crossbones helmet) and Opus, who are
 occasionally accompanied by an insect. Opus and the insect take turns
 falling off and usually end up on your windshield. When that's not
 happening Bill is hawking up hairballs, which always splatter on your
 windshield too. This module sets the tone for the classiness of this
 product.

   "Butthead Bill" - this ode to flying toasters features flying
 hearts (of the valentine variety). "Buttheaded Bill" and Opus, in the
 guise of cupid, share the screen with the hearts. Opus shoots down a
 heart with his bow from time to time. Opus, who has no visible quiver,
 always has another arrow available immediately. AD&D players may
 recognize this syndrome.

   "Tax This" - shows a jeans-clad Opus walking around on a sheet
 of uncut dollar bills. The wacky penguin draws some graffiti on one
 of the bills, moons the viewers, the scampers away as an IRS patrol
 car shows up. The car disgorges two suit-clad, mop wielding Feds, who
 clean up the mess.

   "Pistachios" - our heroes sit watching the tube, Opus munching
 on pistachios. He gives Bill a suspect pistachio to try - Bill's
 out- landish reaction confirms the penguin's suspicion.

   "Dancing Opus" - Opus does his best Fred Astaire impression in
 an attempt to cheer up a dejected Bill.

   "Bugs" - insects have infested your screen. Our heroes deal
 with the problem in their own ways. Opus uses a swatter, while Bill
 prefers to swallow the pests.

   "Information Highway" - A dazed Bill attempts to cross a multi-lane
 highway without being struck by any of the computer equipment crusing
 along at different speeds. The whole thing is reminiscent of the
 ancient video game Frogger. Whenever Bill gets run over, an ambulance
 notebook scoops him up and rushes him off the screen.

   "Opus In Space" - really a primitive version of the video game
 Defender. You control Opus's ship as he tries to destroy the
 invaders. I'm as lousy at this game as I was at Defender. I'd love
 to blame my problems on the Pentium processor (not inaccuracies,
 just the speed) in my system, but the truth is I'm just a klutz.

   "Opus Of The Jungle" - finds Opus residing in a thatched hut on a
 tree limb far above the jungle floor. He periodically comes out and,
 provided he remembered to wear his loin cloth, starts zooming around
 on vines until he smashes into something. Sometimes Opus has company
 - a really stacked human female (obviously a flightless seabird
 fancier).

   "Hairball" - Bill coughs up a hairball (trust me, it's not nearly
 as disgusting as the real thing)  Opus tries to clean it up, but it
 gets loose and starts chasing Opus around the screen.

   The really funny part is how much time I spent sitting in front
 of my computer cataloging these silly saver modules. At least I had
 the excuse of having to write a review. I've seen whole groups of
 people sitting around offices watching the antics of a new screen
 saver. I can't wait to read the results of the first serious study
 (government funded, no doubt) of how much office productivity is lost
 while people watch their new "Star Wars: Jedi X-Wing Toasters Strike
 Back" screen saver.

 ==============================={DREAM}===============================

