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READ.ME
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1995-12-19
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11KB
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188 lines
January 1994 - December 1995
Dear Word Game Player,
This is finally version 4.02 of the WORDY package. I programmed the first
crude version of the WORDY game some 6 years ago using the old Mix C (tm)
compiler. That version worked only with a monochrome monitor, had very
limited features, and was buggy. This version is written in Borland C++ (tm)
ver. 3.1 and TASM (tm), ver 3.0. None of the specific C++ language features
are used with the exception of the double backslash remarks.
WORDY 4.02 will work with either color or monochrome monitors (use the file
WORDYM.EXE for mono systems). The word validity checking is enormously
improved, using a binary search algorithm to check entered words against a
100,000 word dictionary that's compatible (but for legal reasons, not totally
identical) with the 3rd edition of the OSPD (tm). This makes WORDY ideal for
practicing the word construction and pattern recognition skills used in the
Scrabble (tm) game. The master word list, WORD.LST, has been completely re-
edited for improved accuracy (estimated fewer than 10 errors total) and
updated to conform with the *OSPD3* which will be valid as of February, 1996.
The user interface and the display, although still confined to ANSI
graphics, are much improved. The game is easier and more fun to play and
most all of the bugs from the first version have been eliminated.
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WORDY is no longer just a game. It is now a complete practice system for
serious Scrabble (tm) and similar word game competitors. WORDY is very pos-
sibly the best tool available for tournament players to hone their "edge"
prior to competitive play. Word list generation for study is no longer a
lengthy and tedious pencil-and-paper operation.
Included in this package is a standalone SEARCH utility that permits the
user to check whether any particular word is in the game dictionary. See
the SEARCH.DOC file for usage instructions.
Also included is an ANAGRAM utility. This permits entering a letter com-
bination and finding all valid words contained in it ("wild cards" or "blank
tiles" are permitted). An INSET utility lets the user generate word lists
with exact in-order letter patterns.
Some new inclusions after version 2.6 are an XFIND word pattern matching
utility to help crossword puzzle solvers find the missing letters in words
they are seeking and an UNSCRAMBLE utility to help solve jumbled-word or
"Scramblegram" puzzles such as those found in newspapers and magazines. Also
an XTRACT utility to help Scrabble (tm) players generate lists of words with
specified letter patterns has been added.
Version 2.9 added a utility to reformat the output of the other utilities
for ease in hard copy printouts. Version 3.0 was finally "compatible" with
the 2nd Edition of the OSPD (tm). Version 3.10 added "wild cards" or "blank
tiles" as an option to the ANAGRAM utility, and there is now even a BINGO
utility. Version 3.11 has some minor bug fixes and a modification in the
BINGO utility. Version 3.12 added "intelligence" to the RF reformat utility.
Version 3.13 features a 20% speedup on the utilities (they now execute in
under four seconds on a 486DX66). Version 3.15 gives the WORDY game a "new
look". Versions 3.60 and up have a corrected master word list, enhanced
functionality of some utilities, and offer a registration bonus of a supple-
mentary 133,284 list of 8+ letter words that the utilities work on. Version
4.02 updates the master word list to be compatible with the *third* edition
of the OSPD (tm). The WORDY package may well now be the most effective
computer aid available for the serious Scrabble (tm) player to hone their
competitive edge.
WORDY has grown into a complete word game study system, complete with its own
built in word game to practice on. The tournament Scrabble (tm) player will
find no better resource to sharpen his/her playing skills with, and in a com-
petitive situation that can mean extra money in the pocket. Even neighborhood
Scrabble (tm) tournaments often have prizes running up to $100 or more, not a
bad windfall for the practiced player. [My stepson and I once "looted" a
local tourney in Baltimore, taking home $35 cash, a book and some nice cups.]
Newly added to the WORDY system are details of and support for the bold new
Scrabble (tm) variant, 1DIF. See the file 1DIF.TXT for a description of the
rules and play of 1DIF. 1DIF.EXE is a list generating utility specially made
for 1DIFfers.
This game is Cheapware. I am asking for a voluntary contribution of a
very modest $2. If you don't feel that the results of my many hours of labor
merit $2, or if you truly cannot afford it (hard to believe), well, I can't
prevent you from using and enjoying the system all the same. If you use
WORDY and fail to send me a contribution, I will not put a curse upon you,
nor will I even feel particularly bad about it, much less hold a grudge.
Feel free to send me suggestions for improvement, criticism, advice,
encouragement, brickbats (but no proposals of marriage, please), even if you
have not enclosed the MODEST (hint, hint) contribution.
A slightly larger $3.50 contribution will get you the next major update sent
to you at no extra charge. A huge $5.00 contribution gets you all the source
code, compilable in Turbo C and TASM, for you to modify to your heart's
content, the next update, and registration and a copy of all my other soft-
ware. *And now* registered users will receive as a bonus an extra 133,284
list of words over 8 letters long that the WORDY utilities can operate on.
At some point in the future, I intend to release WORDY as "freeware" under
the GPL (General Public License) as defined by the Free Software Foundation.
This would mean that WORDY could be freely distributed, copied, and used but
that the distributors could not restrict anyone else's distribution and use
rights. At this time, I still need to ask for "contributions" from WORDY
users. It costs me approximately $1.00 in materials and postage to send out
an update to a user, not to mention the 15 minutes of my time. The total
cost would come to about $6.00, if I wished to charge that much, which I do
not. As is, I am about breaking even - the shareware "fee" / user contrib-
utions just about pay for the costs of my programming "hobby". If, in the
future, I can afford to subsidize WORDY, I will be happy to do so and will
make it totally "free" under the GPL.
This is "open architecture" software. In the spirit of the pioneer micro-
computer hobbyists of the 1970's, the source code of all the utilities is
included for tinkering with and "improving". I ask only that you do not
distribute a modified version of any of my code without permission. Let us
go back to the Ethic of an earlier time, a more Moral time, when no one made
the arrogant assumption that writing a line of code gave the author absolute
ownership and mastery of it forever. Does anyone remember a time when PC's
were the gateway of liberation and empowerment (Ted Nelson, COMPUTER LIB!),
rather than a "productivity tool" and yuppie toy?
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Now for a commercial for myself. If you are at all impressed with the pro-
gramming effort, not to mention style poured into this software, and if you
know of any career opportunities for an intermediate-level C programmer,
please let me know. I have been unhappily slaving at a non-computer related
trade for eons and would welcome the chance to career-change to programming
or any other computer-related profession (I proudly mention that I have NO
professional credentials... I'm self-taught). You would earn my undying
gratitude, not to mention a lifetime exemption from paying for this and any
previous and future programming efforts of mine. Also, I pledge, once I am
able to make a living programming computers, to release WORDY as free soft-
ware under the GPL (see above).
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Oh, yes. I formally disclaim responsibility for any damage, direct,
indirect, or incidental that the use of the program may cause. The program
will not, to the best of my knowledge, cause any harm to the computer it is
run on, but it can be addictive to the user, resulting in damage to the
person's career and/or relationships. Warning: it is a fun game, but is no
substitute for Real Life (this may not hold true for the next version,
though).
Yours sincerely,
M\Cooper
3425 Chestnut Ridge Road
Grantsville, MD 21536-9801
--------------------------
Email: thegrendel@aol.com
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WORDY is dedicated to my wife and lover, Anita, without whose steadfast sup-
port and encouragement I would have stumbled and fallen.
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My stepson, Mike Dumler, deserves much credit for his many helpful suggest-
ions and for beta-testing the game. A portion of all contributions received
will be set aside for his college education.
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Scrabble (tm) and the OSPD (tm) are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc.
Turbo C++ (tm) and TASM (tm) are trademarks of Borland International.
Mix C (tm) is a trademark of Mix Software.
The Free Software Foundation releases superior quality "free" software under
the General Public License. The address is: 59 Temple Pl., Suite 330, Boston,
MA, 02111-1307. It is worth while supporting this alternative to corrupt
commercial software "factories".
WORDY has not been trademarked, and the name WORDY is therefore placed in the
Public Domain. I feel that the entire concept of trademarking a name has an
element of the absurd. I wonder if anyone has trademarked ABSURD yet.
1DIF has been (pd)-marked, that is, placed in the Public Domain for free and
unrestricted use. Please give the author credit, though.
The master word list included in WORDY, WORD.LST, is herewith placed in the
Public Domain for unrestricted use and distribution.