ESheep
eSheep, Sheepy'' orScreen Mate Poe'' is a 16-bit Windows program by Fuji Television, in which a sheep runs around on the users desktop, interacting with open windows as well as with randomly generated objects, for instance flowers. If several copies are running at the same time, they will interact with each other. It can also alert the user about upcoming appointments. It is also partly comparable in function with later screensavers, although the user can continue working while the program is running. Multiple instances of the program can be run simultaneously.
The program is based on the Stray Sheep franchise by Japanese writer Tatsutoshi Nomura. The program originally (1996) distributed for 3,200 yen as a retail version, or 2,560 if bought by conventional mail. Computer students quickly translated the software to English and distributed that version over the internet for free illegally. As a reaction Engrish banners appeared on the official website where the sheep informed people "I am not a free". In 2000 the distributor stopped selling their software through snailmail. Similar programs, known as "screenmates", featuring other characters appeared as well during the same time.
Actions
Other than running around the computer screen, the eSheep can do an abundance of other things such as:
- Sitting
- Sleeping
- Jumping
- Eating spontaneously generated daisies
- Falling from the top of the screen
- Cowering
- Yawning
- Looking upwards
- Rolling over
- Standing on its hind legs and panting
- Doing a hand stand on its front legs
- Climbing up the screen, but eventually sliding down
- Urinating
- If more than one eSheep is on the screen, they may charge each other, causing the attacking one to fall over.
- If kept on the screen long enough, an eSheep will actually run into a gray container that takes it into space. Soon after, it will fall from the screen (in the manner of a comet) into a bathtub. This is called 'flame dive'.
- If dropped from a high place, the toy will sometimes hit an object with a "splat" face.
- When seated on a small window that the user quickly moves, the toy may hang in the air with a look of terror on its face and finally fall.
- the sheep May Be abducted
Ctrl + Shift + Double click to get the full menu.
See also
- Neko (computer program)