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Monster Media 1996 #14
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Monster Media No. 14 (April 1996) (Monster Media, Inc.).ISO
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SYSOP.DOC
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1995-12-22
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Franchise Basketball v1.xx
by Scott Snella
Internet: aq239@detroit.freenet.org
December 31, 1995
...to Bruski... one man's best friend...
SYSOP DOCUMENTATION
Table of Contents:
[1] Warranty
[2] Agreement
[3] Problems, Comments and Questions
[4] Installation and Requirements
[4.1] Franchise Basketball Quick Setup
[4.2] Using a Configuration File
[4.3] Multi-Node Setup
[4.4] Nightly Maintenance
[4.5] Upgrading from v1.10b and v1.11b
[5] Command Line Parameters
[6] Special Keys
[7] Additional Utilities
[8] Thanks
[1] Warranty:
No warranty of this product is given, either explicit or implied. I do
not promise that this program will either run, or anything else. While
I have made an effort to test it on several systems, and configurations,
it is impossible to test all possibilities. If you do have trouble with
the use of this product I would like to hear about it. Please feel free
to Email me at the above Internet address.
[2] Agreement:
Please feel free to distribute this shareware version of Franchise
Basketball. It may be included in, but not limited to the following
means of distribution, CD ROM's, BBS downloads, floppy disk distribution.
A small fee may be charged by the distributor for the price of disks or CD
ROM manufacture.
The official distribution site list in the file DISTRO.DOC is a list of sites
where the latest version of Franchise Basketball should be available. If
for some reason one of the sites is no longer a member, has gone down,
or for some other reason does not have the software, you may get a copy from
one of the others. This list (DISTRO.DOC) is not a list of the only boards
allowed to carry the software, again please feel free to upload this package
in it's unregistered form to as many systems as you'd like.
I give you the right to run one Franchise Basketball game on your BBS or
LAN, and only one game, with the unregistered version. You may continue to
run only one game at a time for an reasonable period of up to 4 months. I
have disabled several functions for the unregistered version, and view that
as an incentive to register the game for $20. You may not, run more than
one unregistered copy of the game.
[3] Problems, Comments and Questions:
If you have any questions, comments, problems, or notice any bugs in the
program, please contact me immediately either at FIDO: 1:332/129, or VIA
the Internet email at aq239@detroit.freenet.org. I will attempt to answer
the question, fix the problem or add suggestions to later versions of the
software.
Remember, the latest versions of Franchise Basketball may be obtained from
all distribution sites in the DISTRO.DOC, at Mos Eisley 413-684-4266, or
by Internet FTP at the following locations:
ftp.uniserve.com /pub/bbs_doors/FBB###.ZIP
ftp.xmission.com /pub/other/ra/online/FBB###.ZIP
ftp.cts.com /pub/dferber/doors/FBB###.ZIP
### = the current version of the software.
[4] Installation and Requirements:
For quick and easy setup, I have included two short .DOC files with this
distribution archive. SETUP.DOC and LANSETUP.DOC are the two setup
instruction files. SETUP.DOC details the setup procedure for a BBS system,
while LANSETUP.DOC is a setup file regarding Local Area Network and stand
alone PC play. These files are smaller and easier to print and read than
the information below.
If you have a non-standard modem and IRQ setting (and are not running a
fossil driver), are operating a multi-node BBS, or wish additional
configuration or the door, please read "Using a Configuration file" below.
Franchise Basketball uses ANSI screen codes to create a friendly user
interface, and therefore must be run on a BBS using ANSI terminal emulation.
For stand alone PC's and Networks, the graphics and screen codes should
work fine without any additional programs in memory.
[4-1] Franchise Basketball Quick Setup
- Unzip Franchise Basketball Archive to its own directory.
- Change to the directory containing Franchise Basketball (FBB) and
type FINIT. This will run the initialization program. Answer YES to
the question, "Do you wish to create a league". Answer all of
the questions. Then Quit the FINIT program
- Now you have to create a batch file to run the game from the BBS.
FBB supports many major BBS drop files, and all you have to do is copy
your drop file to the FBB directory before running the program.
The main EXE file is called FBASKET.EXE. Here is a sample batch
file. (If you are running a multi-node system, non-standard PORT's
or IRQ's, or want additional configuration of the door, refer to
section 4-2, "Using A Configuration File".)
@ECHO OFF
COPY C:\BBS\DORINFO1.DEF C:\FBB\DORINFO1.DEF
C:
CD\FBB
FBASKET
DEL DORINFO1.DEF
CD\BBS
EXIT
A LAN or Stand alone PC would use the "l" option to run in local
mode.
- Finally, you must run the program called MAINT.EXE once per day (or
if you wish the season to move faster, more than once). Running
MAINT.EXE will create the schedule, or play games if the league
is full, otherwise it will wait until all teams have been filled.
Just put the MAINT.EXE program in your nightly events, this plays
games and creates many of the data files FBB needs. Until the
season actually begins play, several of the options (especially
in the Gazette Sports Page) will not seem to work.
[4-2] Using a Configuration File
*** This section is an alternative to Quick Setup ***
Included with your FBB###.ZIP archive is a file called FBASKET.CFG.
This is a sample configuration file (with instructions for each
selection included). You may choose to use the configuration file
system by simply running FBB with the configuration file as a
command line parameter...
FBASKET FBASKET.CFG
or
FBASKET C:\FBB\FBASKET.CFG
*WARNING*
Franchise Basketball generates a file called FBB.CFG, you may NOT
use this as a name for your config file, any other .CFG extension is
fine.
This configuration setup will be useful for multi-node systems,
non-standard settings without a fossil driver, and additional
custom BBS configurations.
There are several options which may be configured within the file,
including the NODE, COM PORT, IRQ and PATH to drop file. For
other options, descriptions, and syntax please view the FBASKET.CFG
file included with the distribution archive.
[4.3] Multi-Node Setup
*** This section only applies to sysops with more than one node ***
Franchise Basketball does support multiple nodes. Multi-node
operation, however, requires the use of the .CFG file system.
As a multi-node BBS, your system will most likely create drop-
files in an individual directory for whichever node is in
operation. (ie. C:\BBS\NODE1\DOOR.SYS)
You must define an individual .CFG file for each node. ( ie.
FBASKET1.CFG, FBASKET2.CFG, etc. ). When you call your batch
file to run the door, send it one parameter, the node number...
C:\BBS\DOORS\FBB.BAT %N (%N being your node number).
Then in the batch file, run FBASKET.EXE with the line...
FBASKET.EXE FBASKET%1.CFG
%1 is the first parameter sent to the batch file.
[4.4] Nightly Maintenance
The MAINT.EXE file must be run at least once per day (depending
on how many games you want to play in one day... once is
recommended). This event must be exclusive. No one may be in
the door when MAINT.EXE is run, because it updates and edits
ALL datafiles, and creates many files as well.
[4.5] Upgrading from Franchise Basketball 1.10 and 1.11 Wide Betas
Upgrading is simple, especially if you have an unregistered
version. For unregistered users, simply unzip this archive and
overwrite all Franchise Basketball files currently in your FBB
directory.
Registered users must unzip all files (replacing previous version
files) then execute FINIT.EXE. From the menu, there is a new
option, Remove all trades. Since the trade datafiles have been
revamped, you must delete all current trade offers before using
the trade system.
After doing either of these, you should be able to access all
options (depending on registration) normally.
Franchise Basketball should work fine with most major drop files, including
DORINFOX.DEF, DOOR.SYS, CHAIN.TXT*, SFDOORS.DAT and CALLINFO.BBS. All
you
have to do is copy the drop file from the location where your BBS creates
it, to the FBB directory, the program will do the rest, then you can
optionally delete it when finished. The game has been tested with the
following systems and configurations:
BBS's:
Wildcat! 4.01 (running under Windows 3.1)
Renegade 10-05 (running under DOS 6.22)
Remote Access
TriBBS (using DOOR.SYS drop file)
Local Mode:
486 DX/2-66 8 Meg of RAM (DOS 6.22, LANtastic Network)
486 DX-33 4 Meg of RAM (DOS 6.22)
286 (Monochrome Monitor)
* CHAIN.TXT, the WWIV drop file, sends users real names, as opposed to their
aliases (at least in Renegade 10-05). This does not effect gameplay if
CHAIN.TXT is used as the drop file from the beginning, however will cause
users to be unrecognized if it is switched to in mid-season (if aliases
are in use) or different nodes of your BBS use different drop files.
If your drop file is not supported, you may define a drop file by using the
configuration file option. (See FBASKET.CFG for more info)
Franchise Basketball uses external fossil drivers by default. The program
should read any non-standard ports or IRQ's from the fossil driver without
having to worry about anything.
[5] Command Line Parameters:
There are two command line parameters:
[1] l or L Runs FBB in local mode.
[2] The name of a .CFG file to use.
You can invoke local mode by typing "FBASKET L", make sure there are no
slashes, dashes or anything else before the "L".
Remember that you MUST run FINIT.EXE first! The game will not operate
without initializing all datafiles first.
[6] Special Keys:
UP/DOWN Arrow - Increase/Decrease time user has left in door.
Alt-C - Chat mode
Alt-J - DOS Shell
Alt-H - Hang Up on User
Alt-K - Suspend input from the online users keyboard
Alt-N - Reserves the system for the sysop next (RA 1.00 and Apex ONLY)
Alt-D - Drop user back to BBS without hanging up
F1-F6 - Various status line toggles
F9 - Sysop help
F10 - Turn off status line
[7] Additional Utilities:
FBB creates two score files, FBBSCORE.ANS and FBBSCORE.ASC. Both
contain last evenings game scores. The first is in ANSI format
and the second, ASCII format. Both are located in the FBB
directory and can be copied, moved or displayed from that location
to users during login. If not all of the teams are filled, the
score file acts as an ad for users to join.
You may want to make the file INSTR.DOC available for download. It
is a brief text file explaining the game, and detailing some
strategies for playing.
On many BBS systems, it can be difficult to get 12-24 users to play door
games. Especially within a 2-3 week period after you set up Franchise
Basketball. For this reason, I have added a special option in the FINIT
program. The option, choice "E", allows you as system
operator (or someone with access to the FINIT program) to create computer
controlled owners. You can either create the remainder of the league
(option E) with randomly generated names and players. After you fill the
remainder of the league, new users will not draft their teams, but will
take over a previously generated computer team, until there are no more
computer teams. At which time registered users can start another league.
This option is beneficial, not only to fill the league, but also allow
users with less Basketball knowledge to easily start playing.
In addition, the autofill option may be enabled when you setup the league.
By doing this, the game will automatically fill the rest of the teams after
a specified number of days pass.
The FINIT program offers registered users several other options.
While filling the remaining teams is NOT a registered version option, adding
team nicknames and city names for random team generation and player first and
last names to their respective databases are all registered options. In
addition, the perpetual league reset is a registered option.
With the perpetual league option, upon completion of one season (and the
crowning of a champion through the playoffs) another season is automatically
started. All team owners remain, and most of the players as well. The only
exception would be players that retire. Users are then forced to replace
those players that have ended their careers and pick up new players from
the free agent (or draft pool). Unfortunately to maintain the team in the
off season costs money, and the users stadium will revert back to a gym, but
players skills can increase and decrease in the off season.
For registered users, if for some reason a trade is unsuccessful,
and some or all of the players on either team are still marked as offered
in a trade, there is an option in the FINIT.EXE module that allows you to
cancel all trades. This will delete all current trades, and free all players
from those trades. You should only use this option when such an error
occurs.
Finally, registered users are able to add city, team nicknames, player first
and last names, and colleges to the respective database files. In addition,
I have included options to delete those datafiles if you'd care to start
from scratch. It does not matter if there are duplicate names in the
database. All it will do is cause that name to be used twice as often. As
a matter of fact, it may be more realistic to have duplicate names in some
databases to reflect the true distribution. (for example there are more
Smith's than Snella's in the world, so there could be more Smith entries
in the database).
[8] Thanks:
I'd like to thank the following system operators for their help testing
Franchise Basketball. If you are running a system that is not mentioned
in this document, and have tested Franchise Basketball on that system,
please E-mail me and I will add your configuration, and system name to
this text file as an official tester. Only the first E-mail for a
specific system will be added to the list. If you would like to be an
official SnellaSoft distribution Site, however, there is an included text
file listing all distribution sites and the procedures for applying to be
a site called DISTO.DOC, please read it for more information.
Thanks for alpha/beta testing goes to:
Dave Ferber The Castle of 619-488-7784 Node 1
Deception 619-488-7785 Node 2
George Christian Belgareth's Tower 301-753-8436
Coming in '96:
Franchise Football
Additional Franchise Basketball Utilities
Thank you for choosing Franchise Basketball...
Franchise Basketball (C) 1995-96 SnellaSoft