Special K Software Pty Ltd is a computer game
developer and publisher based in Melbourne, Australia,
established in 1992.
History
Special K Software was established as an independent software development company in 1992. The company has no relationship with Kellogg's Special K breakfast cereal.
After creating its first commercial game of the card game of 500 (a game most commonly played in the USA, Canada, and is the national game of Australia), the decision was taken to also become a distribution company by releasing the game as Shareware.
With the commercial success of this game, further non-game applications were developed and released - (TSR-in-Basic, Screen Saver Creator, Secure).
The new non-game releases did not have the commercial success of the earlier card game. This resulted in the decision to focus only on card games. This decision remained in force for 10 years until the release of Image in Focus in 2005.
The company became a public listed company with an over subscribed IPO in 2004. This injected much needed funds to allow the venture into non-game related software. Much future development was carried out in cooperation with the University of Melbourne.
As the company's start-up coincided with the creation of the World Wide Web, initial distribution was via submission to Computer Bulletin Boards, and computer swap meets, and distribution in localised shops. Following the creation and continual expansion of the WWW the distribution of Special K Software games increased exponentially. This funded the development of more advanced and sophisticated games. Special K Software is a foundation member of the Organization of Independent Software Vendors.
The most recent release is the German National card game of
Various third party companies were used to promote and distribute the games, Alberts Ambry, GetSoftware (before it went broke owing a considerable amount of money to Special K Software), and currently RegNow and Kagi.
As Operating Systems developed, the platform for the games and programs naturally evolved from DOS programs and Assembly Language drivers, to each version of Windows.
Key Personnel
The company was started by Garry and Rae McKay. They still manage it today, with minor personnel changes since its inception. Stability of management has been one of the factors for Special K Software's success.
Products
*Card Games
**500 DOS version (first release 1992)
**500 Windows 3.1 version (first release 1996)
**500 Windows 32 bit version (first release 1998)
**Bridge Card Game Windows 32 bit version (first release 1999)
**Euchre Card Game Windows 32 bit version (first release 1999)
**Rummy Card Game collection Windows 32 bit version (first release 2000)
**Canasta Card Game Windows 32 bit version (first release 2000)
**Whist Card Game Windows 32 bit version (first release 2002)
**Skat Card Game Windows 32 bit version (latest release in 2012)
*Applications
**TSR-in-Basic DOS version (first release 1993)
**Secure DOS version (first release 1995)
**MacProtect DOS version (first release 1995)
**Screen Saver Creator DOS version (first release 1994)
**Image in Focus Windows 32 bit version (first release 2005)
**Exposure Magic Windows 32 bit version (first release 2007)
developer and publisher based in Melbourne, Australia,
established in 1992.
History
Special K Software was established as an independent software development company in 1992. The company has no relationship with Kellogg's Special K breakfast cereal.
After creating its first commercial game of the card game of 500 (a game most commonly played in the USA, Canada, and is the national game of Australia), the decision was taken to also become a distribution company by releasing the game as Shareware.
With the commercial success of this game, further non-game applications were developed and released - (TSR-in-Basic, Screen Saver Creator, Secure).
The new non-game releases did not have the commercial success of the earlier card game. This resulted in the decision to focus only on card games. This decision remained in force for 10 years until the release of Image in Focus in 2005.
The company became a public listed company with an over subscribed IPO in 2004. This injected much needed funds to allow the venture into non-game related software. Much future development was carried out in cooperation with the University of Melbourne.
As the company's start-up coincided with the creation of the World Wide Web, initial distribution was via submission to Computer Bulletin Boards, and computer swap meets, and distribution in localised shops. Following the creation and continual expansion of the WWW the distribution of Special K Software games increased exponentially. This funded the development of more advanced and sophisticated games. Special K Software is a foundation member of the Organization of Independent Software Vendors.
The most recent release is the German National card game of
Various third party companies were used to promote and distribute the games, Alberts Ambry, GetSoftware (before it went broke owing a considerable amount of money to Special K Software), and currently RegNow and Kagi.
As Operating Systems developed, the platform for the games and programs naturally evolved from DOS programs and Assembly Language drivers, to each version of Windows.
Key Personnel
The company was started by Garry and Rae McKay. They still manage it today, with minor personnel changes since its inception. Stability of management has been one of the factors for Special K Software's success.
Products
*Card Games
**500 DOS version (first release 1992)
**500 Windows 3.1 version (first release 1996)
**500 Windows 32 bit version (first release 1998)
**Bridge Card Game Windows 32 bit version (first release 1999)
**Euchre Card Game Windows 32 bit version (first release 1999)
**Rummy Card Game collection Windows 32 bit version (first release 2000)
**Canasta Card Game Windows 32 bit version (first release 2000)
**Whist Card Game Windows 32 bit version (first release 2002)
**Skat Card Game Windows 32 bit version (latest release in 2012)
*Applications
**TSR-in-Basic DOS version (first release 1993)
**Secure DOS version (first release 1995)
**MacProtect DOS version (first release 1995)
**Screen Saver Creator DOS version (first release 1994)
**Image in Focus Windows 32 bit version (first release 2005)
**Exposure Magic Windows 32 bit version (first release 2007)
Naruto-Arena is a fansite based on the Naruto anime and manga series. It's a free online browser game created on June 2, 2006 by webmasters Mark and Gametester. The game is most popular in Brazil, United States, and The Philippines. Reaching an average community of 15,000 online players each day as of January 1st, 2012, Naruto-Arena has a strong connection with its sister site Soul-Arena; which has an average community of 300 players each day. Other sister sites include Soul-Boards, Naruto-Boards, Naruto-Kun, and War of Ninja. A handful of Naruto-Arena members enjoy playing on Naruto-Boards, a community based forum that still remains active with events like Holiday Havoc and Spam Kingdoms. Contest are held on Naruto-Boards that consist of but not limited to, clan battles, graphic showcases, poetry and literature contest, and AMV contest.
Currently the game has over 123 characters; including: Sennin Naruto, Nagato, Deva Path Pain, Mangekyo Sasuke, and Uchiha Itachi.
Naruto-Boards
Naruto-Boards is the sister site of Naruto-Arena. It is a discussion based website were events and fun activities are held to keep members interested. Events like Holiday Havoc, Spam Kingdom, graphic contest, AMV contest, custom character contest, and clan battles keep members interested. There is a large selection of literature, graphic showcases, humor threads, gaming threads, anime and manga discussions, technology, recent news, and debate sections that most members enjoy viewing. On Naruto-Boards you have a signature space were you can attach a signature, banner, icon, avatar, link, text, or anything else that doesn't violate the rules.
Topics are sorted by the date they are posted: newest/oldest. Currently Naruto-Boards has no search engine for finding topics, the webmaster of the website commented on this problem, and in response he said, "Unfortunately there is no such feature at this moment. It has been asked for a lot so it may be added in the future. Currently you have to use Google.com to find topics you are interested in." Unlike Naruto-Arena, Naruto-Boards has strict rules that must be followed. Flaming, trolling, hate speech, impersonation, glitch/hack discussion, stealing images/ripping, excessively flashing/strobing images, scamming, double-posting, discussing a moderators actions, and advertising/promoting websites are not allowed unless given the authority to do so by a Global Moderator.
Statistics
Every Naruto-Arena user profile includes a statistics section that includes the usernamename, User-ID, rank, post, E-mail, status, current activity, registration date, clan name, clan abbreviation, clan rank, and clan registration. Additional detail may include his date of birth, MSN E-mail, Aim name, gender, country, and website; all these are optional. Also available are in-game statistics which tell you his current level, experience points, win/loss ratio, streak, highest streak, and highest level.
Currently the game has over 123 characters; including: Sennin Naruto, Nagato, Deva Path Pain, Mangekyo Sasuke, and Uchiha Itachi.
Naruto-Boards
Naruto-Boards is the sister site of Naruto-Arena. It is a discussion based website were events and fun activities are held to keep members interested. Events like Holiday Havoc, Spam Kingdom, graphic contest, AMV contest, custom character contest, and clan battles keep members interested. There is a large selection of literature, graphic showcases, humor threads, gaming threads, anime and manga discussions, technology, recent news, and debate sections that most members enjoy viewing. On Naruto-Boards you have a signature space were you can attach a signature, banner, icon, avatar, link, text, or anything else that doesn't violate the rules.
Topics are sorted by the date they are posted: newest/oldest. Currently Naruto-Boards has no search engine for finding topics, the webmaster of the website commented on this problem, and in response he said, "Unfortunately there is no such feature at this moment. It has been asked for a lot so it may be added in the future. Currently you have to use Google.com to find topics you are interested in." Unlike Naruto-Arena, Naruto-Boards has strict rules that must be followed. Flaming, trolling, hate speech, impersonation, glitch/hack discussion, stealing images/ripping, excessively flashing/strobing images, scamming, double-posting, discussing a moderators actions, and advertising/promoting websites are not allowed unless given the authority to do so by a Global Moderator.
Statistics
Every Naruto-Arena user profile includes a statistics section that includes the usernamename, User-ID, rank, post, E-mail, status, current activity, registration date, clan name, clan abbreviation, clan rank, and clan registration. Additional detail may include his date of birth, MSN E-mail, Aim name, gender, country, and website; all these are optional. Also available are in-game statistics which tell you his current level, experience points, win/loss ratio, streak, highest streak, and highest level.
Carol Perrier) is best known as the author of the historical fantasy sensation “The Prali Trilogy,” which
consists of “The Dragon of Prali, The Wizard of Prali, and The Vampires of Prali.”
Early Childhood
Davidson spent his entire life living in San Jose, California attending Sherman Oaks, Blackford Elementary
schools, and later on studied at Campbell Junior High. In his early years he excelled in a variety of sports,
though his passion was writing. Davidson wrote his first scripted play at age six, and eventually his
works would be visualized and performed on stage in school plays and assemblies at Sherman Oaks
Elementary. During his childhood he read such greats as J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis, who inspires him
to this day. Davidson also was an actor of local stage doing many improvisation works and stage plays.
After graduating Junior High School Davidson attended Del Mar High School where he found himself
bored with the structure and found he enjoyed writing more and more without obeying school protocol.
Davidson would graduate from high school in 1988.
Adulthood
After graduating high school Davidson attended San Jose City College, and in the summer months would
work for the Department of Forestry in the wild fire department in Magalia, California. During this time
Davidson became a single father at age nineteen, and continued his schooling while conducting his
parental duties. Eventually he realized that a city college would not be sufficient so he packed up his
tent and attended Xavier University where he majored in Ecology. Soon after receiving his Bachelors Of
Science he was employed as a writer of fantasy novels with a publishing company in the mid-nineties
where he would eventually have creative differences and he felt moving forward on his own would
be best. In the late nineties and early two thousands Davidson wrote movie scripts and television
commercials, though he never sold a film script he continued forward. Eventually the economy would
fall into recession and Davidson needed to think of another road to take and new challenges, so he
decided to go back to writing novels. Davidson would eventually form Haworth Enterprises, his own
writing company. Though it is only a one man operation Davidson continues to write his books for all
to enjoy. Between 1999 and 2000 Davidson would have two more children, and eventually marrying in
2011. Davidson enjoys being an author for young adults because it brings him back to that happy place,
his childhood.
References
Selling Books
Davidson L. Haworth website
The Genre Traveler Podcast
Mayor Burt Reynolds is an optionally essential character in part of the award winning trilogy; .
Role in Game
Reynolds' can be first accompanied by the player whilst accepting the mission 'Zombie Attack!' This consists of finishing the task of removing a substance called 'Zombie Gas' (Made by a private security firm; STAG) from __ island. The zombie gas is held in canisters which can be disposed of successfully from using an additional weapon called 'Sonic Boom.' The island itself is situated between north-west of the Saint's Headquesters. Collectively, it is one of the smallest islands available.
Role in Game
Reynolds' can be first accompanied by the player whilst accepting the mission 'Zombie Attack!' This consists of finishing the task of removing a substance called 'Zombie Gas' (Made by a private security firm; STAG) from __ island. The zombie gas is held in canisters which can be disposed of successfully from using an additional weapon called 'Sonic Boom.' The island itself is situated between north-west of the Saint's Headquesters. Collectively, it is one of the smallest islands available.