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1996-05-27
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Squirmy Dots
"The world's next screen saver"
Version 6.0 (C) 1996
System Requirements:
8088 or up
256 color monitor (multiscanning preferred, but not crucial)
256 color video card (256k to 1mb)
Do not compress this screen saver with -any- "on the fly" file compressors like
Stacker, especially not with PkLite, etc....
Operation is quite simple. To start, type Squirmy at the DOS command line.
The file Squirmy.Exe only needs to be in the DOS Path. To start over, you may
press the N key, which blanks out the screen, and begins plotting the dots
again. If you press the B key (for Back to the menu) you can return to the
main menu to choose a different video mode. Any key other than B or N (new
screen) will exit Squirmy Dots. The number of dots or 'stars' that appear per
second is based on the speed of your computer, to a point. A Pentium 133 Mhz
machine with local bus video will probably run this screen saver at peak
speed, But a 386DX 25 AT won't come close. There is definitely a peak speed,
and like I said it's probably acheived on a good fast 100 Mhz or higher
Pentium-class computer. Existing stars may change color at random on any
computer. If the display flickers badly, then this screen saver is not
compatible with your computer. It should only appear dots and change their
colors. Occasionally there is a short flicker at the screen, this is supposed
to happen and to be pretty.
Squirmy Dots is based on a Christmas lights type theme, and is meant to be
relaxing and fun to watch endlessly. It's designed to stimulate inner peace
and a feeling of beauty (as in nature).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revisions:
Version 2.0 was optimized for color randomness.
In version 2.1, I blocked out the Ctrl-Break key combination. While this is
just minor touch-up work, if you were to press Ctrl-Break during the show, it
would mess up the DOS prompt. Now it doesn't.
The version, 3.0, is the first one to use 256 color mode. Previous versions
were 640x480x16, this one is 640x480x256. Also in this version, I made the
executable file Squirmy.Exe truly a stand-alone program, needing no other
files. In previous versions the file EgaVga.Bgi would have to be in the same
directory as Squirmy.Exe, and you had to be in that same directory to run the
files. Now Squirmy.Exe is independent, needing only to be in the command path.
Of all new drivers I looked at, I opted to include the file Bgi256.Obj in the
Code Segment of my program, and Link it to the Executable Image, for Stand-
alone executable ability. Squirmy.Exe now in effect contains or Encapsulates
the .Obj file. The source is also included. This file compilation took place
in Borland Turbo Pascal 7.0 for DOS. I use the DPMI version of it, Tpx.Exe;
It's pretty cool. In the version 3.0 of Squirmy Dots, I answered my two
biggest challenges, getting 256 colors instead of 16, and making the .Exe file
truly independent of external files. Yay! I included the 256 color .Obj file
and the documentation for fellow Turbo Pascal programmers.
In the version of 3.5, I added 320x200x256 mode to add a choice to the program
which usually ran at 640x480x256. Now you decide which of the two you want at
the first menu. I also slowed the starting speed of 100 stars/sec down to 50
stars/sec, and in so doing added 10 slower speeds for a total of 21 speeds.
For version 4.0, I've deleted the speed choices and left only one key, the N
key, as an option during play of Squirmy Dots. Also, I went beyond the ability
to eventually display 256 colors to being able, over time, to display up to
262,144 colors. (Up to 256 at any one instant). Up to 262,144 colors over time
(say a half-hour on a 486DX). Whether you get this is dependent only on your
video card setup and/or monitor. This is a "palette window", as it is called,
an 8-bit window into an 18-bit palette. Getting this palette window into 18
video bits is another of my challenges solved. The file Squirmy.Exe is still a
stand-alone executable image file. The 18 bits are divided out as 6 bits each
for Red, Green, and Blue.
For Version 5.0, I added 800x600 mode and 1024x768 mode. I also added a way to
return to the main menu to switch between them (the B key). Also, remember, N
will blank the screen and start over, same mode. Any other key exits. One more
change is to slow down the accumulation of dots by 1.5 times, such that dots
accumulate about two-thirds (2/3) as fast as before, in all modes.
For version 5.5, I randomized the timing of dots appearing and the changing of
their color also. These timings had been fixed, now they are random within the
same general timing range, with the former fixed timing as the average.
For version 6.0, I added 640x400 mode, for a total of five graphics modes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To register it's $2.00, which helps initiate new projects and future versions.
The payoff is a free upgrade disk of Squirmy Dots by mail when it's ready.
Duane Bailey "Mission Control"
1617 S. Main St 05-21-'96
Winston-Salem, NC 27127