As usual, we don't discuss hypothetical products until they are formally announced on our own website.

CRITERIA:

ADVENTURE: Perseus and Medusa (shipped on the game CD)

CLASSES: There will be two classes of competition: Expert and Novice. Experts will be required to complete the adventure using no difficulty setting lower than Olympian. Novices can use no difficulty setting lower than Hero.

WINNING CONDITIONS: The shortest elapsed times to complete the adventure shall be declared the winners in their respective Classes.

1) create your world map -- add all your cities and change the names to whatever you want, set the type for each one (Parent, Colony, Ally, Vassal, Rival, etc.). For all of the ones you have set as 'colony', set them as 'inactive' if you want the player to be able to establish them during the game; ie, if you want the player to be able to go in and build in the colony.

Here's a tip for those of you creating custom adventures: use the largest possible map for your parent city.

The default map size you get when you open up the map editor is a "medium" map. To change the map size, click on "file-new map" in the menu. Then choose the map size you want. Most Impressions adventures use the "enormous" map for their parent city and even for most colonies.

**Important Note** Doing this will delete the existing map and start you with a new, blank one. So you should make the change before spending lots of time working on the map.

This is my first attempt at an episode (i.e. single level). Create a Directory in Zeus/Adventues called 'ambras world'. Extract the zip files into this directory. You must have the 1.1 patch to play this adventure. The adventure is intended for players beyond the mortal level. I enclosed all files, so you can edit this if you want. I would request you NOT view the settings before you play. I am aware this is NOT perfect, but I enjoyed playing it, as did my beta testers. Good Luck Brother, and fight the Power.

Autodefend works better in version 1.1. Previously your company commanders became thoroughly confused when invaders arrived by sea. They have since undergone some training, and are less apt to muster their troops on the wrong side of the city.

Regarding the original question: heck, I don't know. But the gods sent the great Solomon, programmer of Zeus' combat stuff, into my office as I was typing, and Solomon spake thusly:

"25 is the cost per figure for infantry and rabble, and the cost for infantry and rabble shall be 25. Horsemen add 50 per figure present. Ships add another 50, unless it is some other number. Not even Solomon the Wise knoweth the cost to bribe a ship. These prices do increase with difficulty level."

1) using WinZip, open the zip file you want to extract and play, and click the 'Extract' button... down in the right corner is a button that says 'Create New Folder' -- use that, and create a new folder (usually named after the adventure you're extracting) in the Zeus\Adventures directory in your game. Extract the zip to that directory, and you're ready to go.

*OR*

2a) in Windows Explorer, find your game directory and click on the Zeus\Adventures directory so the folder icon is highlighted.
2b) under the File menu, choose 'New' ---> 'Folder'
2c) the new folder will appear in your Zeus\Adventures directory, labelled "new", with the label highlighted -- name it whatever you want, though usually you will name it after the adventure you're downloading, and hit Enter.
2d) extract the zip file into that new folder.

This version of the Official Zeus Enhancement Pack will work ONLY with the US version of Zeus: Master of Olympus. Trying to install it on other versions may have detrimental effects on the game. International versions of the enhancement pack will be available for download at the end of March.

If you're here looking for an editor for Zeus: Master of Olympus, you're a little early. Look for an important announcement about Zeus on all major gaming sites this Friday, and save some room on your hard drive for a sweet treat from Impressions. Keep yourself safe from Eros' arrows and have a happy Valentines Day.

Every Saturday a winner will be chosen from pictures sent during that week. People may send at the most three toons per week and may resend pictures again the next week. Winners will receive a special Empire Earth Calendar signed by Rick Goodman and a chance for the grand prize. Fans only win one calendar. The last week (July 28, 2001) of the contest the top three people will be chosen from all the winners and will recieve special prizes from Stainless Steel Studios. The #1 winner will be named "Master Empire Earth Toon Maker" and will recieve one additional prize.