The Arsenal Files 8/The Arsenal Files Collection #8 (Arsenal Computer) (1996).ISO/doorware/artil11.zip/README.TXT

Text File | 1996-11-15 | 13KB | 272 lines

                      Documentation for Artillery Door Game
                         Written by Robert V. Chambers
                               Copyright (c) 1996


WHAT IS ARTILLERY?
Artillery  Door  Game is a simple game  based  on the physics of a projectile.
Quite  simply, the player attempts to kill the enemy by changing the angle and
velocity  of  a projectile such that the  shot lands directly on the opponent.
The  object is to score enough points  (sysop determines this) to win the game
and  beat  the other players.  Artillery features animated firing trajectories
and  explosions,  as well as obstacles that  protect  the enemy. It takes some
practice  to  score  a hit, but most  users  will quickly develop the skill to
become excellent marksmen.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
386 or better processor
Requires ANSI graphics on the user's end
155K memory (probably less, just being conservative).

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FEATURES?
*  Optional activity log.
*  Has a sysop chat mode.
*  Fossil aware.
*  No maintenance required.
*  Automatic game reset.
*  Supports   standard   drop  files   such   as  DOOR.SYS  (PCBoard/GAP),
   DORINFO1.DEF, EXITINFO.BBS, CHAIN.TXT, etc.
*  Supports multiple nodes.

LIMITATIONS ON UNREGISTERED VERSION:
The unregistered version will only support 20 shots for each user per day. You
must  register  the program to eliminate  this restriction. See the section on
registration below.

UPGRADING FROM VERSION 1.0:
Unzip  all  the  files  in the archive  over  existing  program files. Go into
ARTILRY.CFG  and add the desired path and name of your scores bulletin on line
five. See SAMPLE.CFG for details on what should be on this line. That's it.

HOW DO I INSTALL IT:
This is simple, but you must follow these instructions. I am assuming that you
are already familiar with the steps required to install a door on your BBS. If
not,  I  would  suggest  that you read  your  manual  first. This doc will not
attempt to guide you through that.

Step  1)
        Unzip all files into a single directory of your choice.

Step  2)
        Create a batch file that your BBS  will use to start the door. I use
        PCBoard, and my file looks something like this:

        @echo off
        cd\pcb\artilry
        artilry.exe c:\pcb\node1\door.sys /L
        IF "%INPCB"=="Y" EXIT
        %PCBDRIVE%
        %PCBDIR%
        board

        You  may call the file whatever you like, subject to restrictions that
        may be enforced by your BBS software. Mine is simply called ARTY, with
        no .BAT extension. Again, consult your manual.

        A  little explanation of the startup batch  file is in order here. The
        first line simply changes to the directory where all of your Artillery
        Door program files are found. (Remember you put them there in Step 1.)
        The second line is the name of the door program, ARTILRY.EXE, followed
        by  the  complete path to your drop  file  and the (optional) log file
        switch.  Notice that the drop file name is specified. If you are using
        PCBoard,  you  may also use the  PCBoard environment variables for the
        path to the drop file, like this:

                        artilry.exe %PCBDRIVE%%PCBDIR%\door.sys

        If you wish the program to log its activities, add "/L" after the path
        to  the  drop  file like this:

                        artilry.exe %PCBDRIVE%%PCBDIR%\door.sys /L

        The program will create ARTILRY.LOG which will contain information on
        door usage.  See the section below on "LOGGING ACTIVITY".

        Finally,   use   whatever  door   exiting   statements  your  software
        recommends. Your startup file will undoubtedly look different, but you
        get the general idea.


Step  3)
        Setup  your BBS software and configure  any door menus, etc. that give
        the user access.

Step  4)
        Edit  the sample configuration file to suit your tastes and save it as
        ARTILRY.CFG.  Instructions  for each line  are contained in the sample
        file, SAMPLE.CFG.

Step  5)
        You're finished! That wasn't so bad after all.

PS-> Don't forget to advertise that you now have a new door on your system!


RUNNING LOCAL:
You can run the game in local mode if a drop file is in the program directory.
DORINFO1.DEF is included in the archive for this purpose. Just place it in the
door  program  file directory and execute  the program by running ARTILRY.EXE.
You  should be able to leave this file  in your game directory with no problem
since  you  have defined the path to the  real drop file in your startup batch
file.  Note  that the user name in the  sample  drop file will be added in the
scores  bulletin.  Therefore you should only  run locally to initially try out
the game, resetting the game when you are finished.

CUSTOMIZATION:

-  TITLE AND WINNER SCREEN
If  you  want a new title or winner screen  you can do it. Create a new screen
using  your favorite ANSI editor, and call  it TITLE.ANS if you are creating a
new  title  screen.  Leave  enough  room  at  the  bottom  for  the additional
registration  text.  If you want a new  winner screen call it WINNER.ANS. It's
*CRITICAL* that you name these files correctly.

- INACTIVITY TIMEOUT AND MAXIMUM DOOR TIME
You  may specify the maximum time allowed in the door and the keyboard timeout
limit  by  editing DOOR.CFG. Instructions are in  this file and should be self
explanatory.

- LOGGING ACTIVITY
The program will provide logging of activity if the logging switch is included
in the startup command line in your batch file. For example:

                     artilry.exe c:\pcb\node1\door.sys /L

will  cause  the  program  to record entry  and  exit  times  in a file called
ARTILRY.LOG.  This  file can become lengthy if  the  door is used regularly. A
suggestion  is  to  enable  logging when  the  door  is initially installed to
monitor  its  use. After a period of time  you  may wish to disable logging or
trim the file occasionally (there are programs that will do this in an event).
Please  note  that the switch (/L) is case  specific and there must be a space
between it and the path to the drop file.

MAINTENANCE:
There  is no maintenance! The game will run its own maintenance when the first
player  of  the  day enters the game. It  will  also reset when there is a new
winner  and automatically create a winner's banner that is shown each time the
game is entered. A scores bulletin is created either on demand from within the
game  or when the game exits. Both ANSI (.ANS) and text (.TXT) versions of the
bulletin are created.

MULTINODE USE:
The  game is set up to run on  multiple nodes with multiple player access. You
should  follow your bbs software instructions  on setting up the startup batch
file for multiple nodes.

RESETTING THE GAME:
This has been made simple with the inclusion of RESET.BAT in the archive. This
batch file will delete all files generated by the game (excluding bulletins).

Or  you  can perform the task manually if  there are certain files you want to
preserve,  like the log file. Just delete  all the .DAT files in the Artillery
directory.  Resetting  the game should never  be necessary since the game will
automatically reset the scores, etc. when there is a winner. If a player is on
one  node when the game is won on another  node he will be able to continue to
play, but will be reset when exiting the door.

TROUBLE  SHOOTING:
The  program  has been successfully tested  with PCBoard running under DOS and
Windows  95,  as  well  as  Dos  with  Desqview.  Both  single  and multi-node
configurations have also been tested.

In  the  event you have trouble maybe some  of  these tips will help you. This
list  is  not  very  long yet, but  will  be  added  to as information becomes
available.

1)  The  door  will not open at all.  It  looks like it tries, but immediately
shuts down and returns to the BBS.

-  This is almost certainly a sign that the startup file is not specifying the
correct  path  and/or file name of the  drop file. It's also possible that you
have  not  set the board up correctly and  the expected drop file is not being
created.  The  startup batch file must include  the full path and file name of
the  drop  file as an argument to  the executable, ARTILRY.EXE. See the sample
startup file above.

2)  You  are using DOOR.SYS and the  door  keeps logging you out when entering
locally.

- If you are not using the long GAP version (51 lines) of DOOR.SYS then either
go  to  the long version or try  DORINFO1.DEF. The DORINFO style drop file has
been successfully tested on Maximus.

3)  The graphics don't behave exactly right (on the user's end) with the board
running under Windows 95.

-  If  you  experience problems with this  try  running the window either full
screen  or  in  the  foreground. This seems  to  solve  the problem if you are
running  the  X00 fossil driver, but is  not feasible if running more than one
node. Try switching to the BNU fossil driver. This driver seems to work better
with  Win95,  and  cleared up the graphics  problem  for  me (I was previously
running X00).

THE LEGAL STUFF:
Users  of  Artillery Door must accept  this disclaimer of warranty: "Artillery
Door  is  supplied  as is. The  author  disclaims all warranties, expressed or
implied,  including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and
of  fitness  for  any purpose. The  author  assumes  no liability for damages,
direct or consequential, which may result from the use of Artillery Door."

By  registering  you do NOT own this  software.  You have simply licensed it's
use.  You may use it on as many BBS  nodes as you wish, as long as these nodes
comprise  a single bulletin board system. You  may create as many instances of
the program as you wish, as long as they all reside on a single bulletin board
system.

You  are encouraged to pass a copy of Artillery Door along to your friends for
evaluation.  Please  encourage them to register  their  copy if they find that
they  can use it. You may NOT pass along your registration code, however. This
should go without saying.

REGISTRATION :
This  is  not  freeware; it is shareware.  If  you  are not familiar with this
concept it means that you are allowed to try the software free of charge for a
period  of time not to exceed 30 days. At the end of this time you must either
register it or remove it from your system.

I  feel  that  the  time  invested in  writing  and  testing  the  program was
significant  enough  to justify a registration fee.  The cost is $10 U.S., and
payment  may be made via check drawn on  a United States bank. No credit cards
are accepted. I will take your cash, but you send it at your own risk.

To  register  fill  out REGISTER.FRM (included)  and  send it, along with your
check  or money order, to the address on  the form. I will respond to you with
your  registration  either  through U.S.  Postal  Service, Fidonet Netmail, or
Internet E-Mail. The choice is yours; just be sure to specify which you prefer
on the form.

When  you receive your registration code  manually edit ARTILRY.CFG and change
the  first two lines to your registered name and code number. The registration
name  is case and space specific. Watch out  for trailing spaces at the end of
the registered name, as this will cause the registration code to be invalid.

The  unregistered  version  will  only  support  20  shots  per  day per user.
Registration  will  remove this limitation  and  allow nearly unlimited shots.
Registration will also entitle you to free lifetime upgrades.

There  will  be no automatic notification of  upgrades. You can always get the
latest  version  from my BBS, Tequilla  Sunrise,  at (504)-756-0383. Just type
FREE  at  the  main  menu prompt. There  is  no  charge  (except LD charges if
applicable) for the file or to become a member of the BBS.


TECHNICAL SUPPORT:
Technical support will be provided to both registered and non-registered users
to  the  best  of my ability.

You may reach me via the following:

Fidonet -              Robert Chambers@1:3800/49
Internet EMail -       [e-mail]
Tequilla Sunrise BBS - (504)-756-0383

MANY THANKS!:
I  would  like  to thank Fred Leger,  Dennis  Wallette, and Henry Lin of Cajun
Clickers  BBS  from Baton Rouge, Louisiana,  for helping with beta testing and
bug  fixing  as  well as thoughts  and  suggestions for improving the program.
These  folks are the real heroes here, and they run one of the slickest boards
around.

Thanks to all you guys!  I owe you one!