Microsoft Agent Scripting Helper

Microsoft Agent Scripting Helper

Microsoft Agent Scripting Helper on Windows 10.
Name	Microsoft Agent Scripting Helper
Developer(s)	Bellcraft Technologies
Initial release	February 14th, 1998 (26 years ago)
Latest version	7.5
Latest version release date	February 14th, 2008 (16 years ago)
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Website	https://bellcraft.com/mash/
Discontinued?	Yes

The Microsoft Agent Scripting Helper is a software developed by BellCraft Technologies. It allowed for users to record and playback presentations made with Microsoft Agent. The graphical user interface allows the user to perform actions such as making the Microsoft Agent character do animations, speak, or move to an area on the screen. Other features include website integration, Microsoft Powerpoint presentation integration, VBS scripts, and interactive presentations.

Use for Microsoft Agent videos

MASH started being used for Microsoft Agent videos in the 2000s. The first known appearance of MASH being used for Microsoft Agent videos is dated around 2006-2007. The earliest known Microsoft Agent YouTube video produced with MASH was published by Nihal Jackson in 2007. MASH later became the main program that was used to produce Microsoft Agent content. As of 2024, nearly all Microsoft Agent videos published are made with MASH.

Reaction to Microsoft Agent discontinuation

Following Microsoft's announcement of discontinuing Microsoft Agent, BellCraft Technologies announced on their site that MASH will become freeware and drop the $25 cost. A later announcement stated, "This website and software will remain here for historical reasons, and users still using Windows XP."

However, despite the message stating that the BellCraft site will stay up, some components of the website have begin to break down over the years. Notable components on the site that don't work as intended include the download section that contains text to speech engines for different languages and the Microsoft Sam, Mary, and Mike voice download links. The MASH site was last updated on September 20th, 2013, with no announcements about MASH since then.

Trivia

• MASH originally costed $25 USD for a single user license and $250 USD for an educational license before becoming freeware.
• MASH was briefly featured on Twitch Vinesauce Joel's "Windows 8 Destruction" livestream, but the application was never properly installed.
• Nearly all Microsoft Agent videos are produced with MASH.
• Early versions of MASH came with a free trial before requesting that the user paid for the full version.
• MASH has a full setup and a mini setup. The full setup contains Microsoft Agent 2.0, MASH, the Visual Basic 6.0 runtime, Lernout & Hauspie TruVoice TTS English, Microsoft Speech Control Panel, and Microsoft's Genie character. The mini setup only contained MASH and is intended for those who already have Microsoft Agent components installed.
• Running MASH in compatibility mode for Windows 98 allows for character transparency on Windows 10, 8.1, 8, and 7 (Aero theme only).
• According to the "About MASH" under the Help menu inside the application, the last version of MASH was released on its 10th anniversary.