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Text File | 1993-01-09 | 19.0 KB | 402 lines

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The P.E.F.H. Sofware Group (1/9/93) The P.E.F.H. Software Group (that's pronounced "pee-ee-eff-aich", not "peff" or something like that) is a small group of programmers based in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. We program a variety of things...small BBS programs and utilites, such as DoorGraph and Pocket Pager, and some various other non-BBS programs, too. Our philosophy is fairly simple: we want to make some useful, quality Shareware products, and yet we want to have some fun with it. Because of this, there's a little bit of humor (or stupidity, as some may call it) scattered throughout the documents for our programs, yet the programs themselves are still high-quality and do what they're supposed to. In short, we're going to have fun with this small "company" of ours - but not at the expense of the quality of our programs or the satisfaction of our supporters and users. Our policy on registrations is different than that of many other Shareware authors. We don't force our users to register the program by making the program operate for only a designated amount of time, and we don't tell users that they MUST register after a certain time period has elapsed. People who really like our programs and find them useful are encouraged to register (in return for other benefits, such as receiving the next version of the program on disk). Those that like the program but don't want to register are perfectly free to continue using it, and those that don't like the program don't have to worry about it, anyway. We hope this document will give you a little more information on what we're like, how big (or small, depending on your point of view) of a Shareware company we are, more insight on the programs we've made, and so forth. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PEFH Programs 3-D Tik Tak Toe - This is a simple program, yet very intriguing, addictive, and fun to play. It is based on the normal rules for three-dimensional tic-tac-toe, a variation of original tic-tac-toe that needs much more thinking and is much more fun. Version 1.0 supports two players competing against each other, and features attractive hi-res EGA graphics. Later versions will include an optional player vs. computer mode, among other features. DoorGraph - A door usage graph for BBSes. Works on any and all BBS systems. Simple to set up, and runs quickly...under 3 seconds. Creates an ASCII and ANSI version of the graph. Supports up to 18 doors, more in future versions. Latest version: 1.0. Movie Quotes - A simple but neat program that will show you one of 100 (usually famous) funny or humorous quotes from a movie. Generally intended to be put in the AUTOEXEC.BAT to run at bootup. Registered users will have the option to order a SoundBlaster version, where you'll actually have a chance to _hear_ the quotes digitized directly from the movies when the program is run! Latest version: 4.0. Pocket Pager - Our newest release. This is a full-fledged paging door for SearchLight BBS systems. Version 2.10 includes *TRUE* SoundBlaster support for .CMF and .VOC files, and external page bells allow the use of any executable or DOS commands the Sysop chooses. It is also extremely configurable, allowing the Sysop to define different paging availability times for different security levels, and so forth. Blends in immediately with your existing Searchlight BBS setup! Latest version: 2.10. Prompts - A cute little program that will pick a random DOS prompt for you each time you boot your computer. Better yet, you get to define the prompts it chooses from with an easy-to-use configuration program. Include your favorite sayings, one-line jokes, or whatever else you want. Prompts will also automatically include your current path on the command line for your convenience. Latest version: 1.01. QBBS2COA - A program that will convert DORINFOx.DEF (the door information file used with QuickBBS, Remote Access, RBBS, and SBBS) to the file (DOORUSER.DAT) that the door game Catacombs Of ASCII requires in order to run. Latest version: 1.01. Telltime - A simple little program that will greet you and display the current day, time, and date in huge, beautiful, marvelous fantastic letters! <ooooooo...> A handy thing to put in your AUTOEXEC.BAT. Latest version: 1.0. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Future PEFH Releases DoorGraph 2.0 - A major renovation over version 1.0. Most changes will be on the SysOp's end, including a new easy-to-use configration program, among other things. Registered users will be able to run DoorGraph to support more than 18 doors. LastWords - A "message-to-next-caller" door for BBS systems. Lets a caller, when s/he logs off the system, leave a short note for the next caller. Includes a few nifty other options for SysOps and registered users. Pocket Pager 3.0 - Features planned for the next version of Pocket Pager include a macro definition file, inter-node chatting, and a capture log command. Other features will be disclosed at a later date. Star Commander - A strategic starship tactical combat simulator. You and three other people can each captain one of nine different starships, and then proceed with the enjoyable task of trying to destroy your opponents. Other features will include intelligent computer opponents, hi-res EGA graphics support, and even disks full of several new ships for registered users! As of this writing, the game is almost finished, and will hopefully be released within a couple of months. A few other ideas on the drawing board that may or may not ever amount to anything are a new update for TellTime that talks to you, a new version of Prompts that's more user-friendly, a game called StarTech based loosely on FASA's BattleTech, and numerous other strange ideas we've been tossing around. * BattleTech is a registered trademark of FASA, and is used here without permission nor authorization. But I really don't think they care if we just _mention_ their game...who knows, maybe thousands of people will even flock out and buy a copy of BattleTech, just to see what our StarTech game would be like. <grin> Seriously, though, if you're wondering about the legality of our software - it's all legitimate. We honestly do have a legal staff, and he does excellent work. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The PEFH Distribution Network The P.E.F.H. Distribution Network consists of Distribution BBSes and Support BBSes. The most recent release of every PEFH program should be available in a separate file area on all of those BBSes (listed below). There are no fees to access the PEFH file areas on any of these systems. Support BBSes offer a number of additional PEFH-related services, including: 1) A separate message base set aside for discussions about and questions related to PEFH programs. 2) A mail forwarding service to any PEFH member. Although we do not often log on to every single support board, the SysOp there will forward any mail to us, ensuring you a quick reply. Simply address mail to "James Hogan". 3) Full access to all PEFH files, messages, and support on your first call. In addition to the Support and Distribution BBSes, most PEFH releases can also be found on other large systems, such as CompuServe and America Online. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PEFH Support BBSes: The Fourth Dimension Cedar Rapids, IA 3/12/24/96/144 (319) 365-5815 (SysOp: James Hogan, V.32, V.32B, HST Member of the PEFH) The Nexus Cedar Rapids, IA 3/12/24/96/144 (319) 362-6088 (SysOp: David Shafer, V.32, V.32B Member of the PEFH) 1:283/126 Fidonet 250:201/1188 SL_NET The Abyss St. Joseph, MO 3/12/24 (816) 232-7371 The Alternative Tampa, FL 3/12/24/96 (813) 886-8674 V.32, HST 3/12/24/96 (813) 882-8826 V.32, HST 3/12/24 (813) 882-0651 CMOS/Opus-DS St. Joseph, MO 3/12/24/96/144/168 (816) 233-1357 V.32, V.32B, HST - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PEFH Distribution BBSes: Cygnus X-1 Cedar Rapids, IA 3/12/24/96/144 (319) 895-6858 HST - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - File Requesting PEFH Files All PEFH files are now F'Reqable from The Nexus and The Abyss (see Support BBSes above) through Fidonet and SL_NET. All files are available under their DOS filename, as well as the following "magic" names (all are latest available versions): "FILES", "PEFH" - Descriptive listing of all PEFH releases available "PEFHINFO" - Information on the PEFH Software Group "DESIGNER" - Game\Graphics\Music Designer Application and Contracts "DISTSITE" - Distribution BBS Application and Contracts "PORTER" - Software Porter Application and Contracts "SUBSIDRY" - Subsidiary Application and Contracts "SUPPORT" - Support BBS Application and Contracts "3DTTT" - 3-D Tik-Tak-Toe "DG" - DoorGraph "PPAGE" - Pocket Pager "PROMPT" - Prompts "Q2COA" - QuickBBS to Catacombs of ASCII "QUOTES" - Movie Quotes "TTIME" - TellTime - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Joining the PEFH Do you like the PEFH? Enough to want to join the PEFH yourself? Well, never fear! Even though we are pretty small, we _have_ received requests from people who want to join us (though why, we can't understand...) :) All of the positions below have been requested by people at one time or another, so we've opened them so anyone may apply. Distribution BBS - You can apply for your BBS to be a distribution BBS! This means, as mentioned above, that your BBS will be printed in all PEFH.DOC files in the future, and that the latest version of every PEFH file will be uploaded to your BBS as soon as it becomes available. This could conceivably help boost your board usage...if someone actually decides it's worth the long distance charges to get one of our programs (ha!), then they'll probably call the closest Distribution or Support BBS, which may be you. Who knows, maybe while they're on to get the PEFH program they'll like what they see and keep calling...<grin> Support BBS - If you _really_ love us, you can apply to be a Support BBS. This means that you must provide all the services described above...make a separate PEFH file area (to which the latest versions of all PEFH software will be uploaded as soon as they are available), provide a PEFH message base, forward all mail for the PEFH members to us, and so forth. Porter - If you have the capabilities to convert IBM files to your computer's format, and are willing to do so, contact us! You will receive a percentage of all registrations received from a program you ported. Designer - Some people have indicated that though they have no programming experience, they'd like to somehow help in the production of some PEFH programs. Well, apply to be a designer! If you have a good imagination, are talented with drawing or computer graphics, or are good at composing music, you're who we're looking for! And yes, you can earn money. :) Subsidary/Affiliate: Basically, you release under us some programs that you or your software group have made on your own. We handle distribution, advertisement & all that, plus your program is mentioned in PEFH.DOC, distributed with every one of our programs! Your program would also be supported by P.E.F.H. Distribution & Support BBSes worldwide, so you could get input about your program from all sorts of people. You and/or your company still gets credit for programming it, and all we ask is a small part of the registration fees. Download the application form for details - there's too much to go into here. If you're interested in any of the above positions, log on to one of the PEFH Support BBSes and download the appropriate application forms. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - History of the PEFH March, 1991 - Matt Richey starts asking people in the Cedar Rapids area if anyone would be interested in starting a programming group this summer. April, 1991 - Rob Hansen and J.P. Karrell express interest. May, 1991 - James Hogan expresses interest. June, 1991 - The four agree to form a small Shareware company, and soon agree on "The Pink Translucent Elephant Software Company" for a name. July, 1991 - J.P. Karrell breaks off from the group because he decided he wasn't interested in doing the type of work the rest of us wanted. He formed his own company, MSB software, which is still in operation today. Later in July, 1991 - Matt Richey suggests a permanent name change to "The Psychotic Elves From Hell". Rob and James agree, and James designs the basis for the current PEFH setup - Support & Distribution BBSes, etc. August, 1991 - James Hogan begins work on DoorGraph. A few worthless programs are released - The Idiot Project and Russian Roulette. David Shafer joins the PEFH. September, 1991 - DoorGraph and QBBS2COA 1.0 are released. David Shafer also releases Wastelands soon after. September 21, 1991 - ANSI Enterprises, run by Jonathan Blase, becomes an official subsidary of PEFH. October, 1991 - PEFH receives its first registration! Ray Telles from New Mexico registers DoorGraph. November 27, 1991 - Cameron Beccario joins the PEFH, and releases Telltime. December 7, 1991 - ANSI Enterprises officially closes and ceases to exist. At the same time, The Psychotic Elves From Hell Software Group. officially changes its name to The P.E.F.H. Software Group. Though the old name was simply supposed to be funny, we wanted to be absolutely sure that no one got a misunderstood idea that we were Satanists or anything of the sort. Our official title is still an abbreviation with the periods (P.E.F.H.), though plain "PEFH" is often used for simplicity's sake. (It's also still pronounced "pee-ee- eff-aich", not "peff" or "peff-hu" or anything like that...) Basically, nothing has changed except for the fact that our name doesn't stand for anything. July 1, 1992 - Pocket Pager 1.0, our first product in a while, is released. September 23, 1992 - 3-D Tik Tak Toe and Pocket Pager 2.0 are released. The Abyss (Ryan Miller, Sysop) becomes an official P.E.F.H. Support BBS. January 9, 1993 - Pocket Pager 2.10 is released. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Contacting the PEFH Okay. Since we have about four addresses total, this section is here to help you understand where to send things to, and how to contact us. REGISTRATION FORMS are sent to the individual author(s) who wrote the program. Since different PEFH programs were written by different PEFH members, you often are required to send registration keys for different programs to different addresses. The address to send each individual program to will be listed both in the documentation and on the registration form for the program in question. When you receive your registration key back in the mail (or anything else your registration might entitle you to), it will be sent _from_ The P.E.F.H. Public Relations Department - though you send your fees directly to the author, the PR Department acknowledges the registrations, sends out registration keys, etc. APPLICATION FORMS for Distribution or Support BBSes, Designers, etc. must be sent to the P.E.F.H. Personnel Department. The address for this is listed on all application forms. CORRESPONDENCE TO A SPECIFIC PEFH MEMBER can be sent several ways. Various mailing addresses, CompuServe accounts, and so forth belonging to the different GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE should be send to the P.E.F.H. Public Relations Department. The address is listed below. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The P.E.F.H. Software Group Public Relations Department 260 Indiandale Rd. SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 Cameron Beccario: Robert Hansen: US Mail: 4153 Riverview Rd. NE CompuServe: 73727,3530 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402 Internet: 73727.3530@compuserve.com James Hogan: David Shafer: US Mail: 3409 Shasta Dr. NE US Mail: 260 Indiandale Rd. SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 BBS: (319) 365-5815 BBS: (319) 362-6088 America Online: JamesH42 1:283/126@Fidonet.org CompuServe: 70524,1343 250:201/1188@SL_NET.ftn Internet: 70524.1343@compuserve.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In Closing... Well, that's it...we'll continue to keep you posted. You can contact any PEFH member at any of the places listed above, or on any of the support boards (and in some cases the distribution BBSes, although we rarely call them). Remember to check the BBS you got this from for more PEFH releases. There's going to be some more _very_ soon. We're getting geared up for some major expansion within the next thirty days. Anyway, here we are. The end of the text file. You must either be extremely determined, demented, or insane in order to read through this thing without getting an uncontrollable urge to abort halfway through. Congratualtions. We're glad you've downloaded a PEFH program, and thanks for your support! "The P.E.F.H. - Because. Just because." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -