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!README.1ST
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1996-05-17
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6KB
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141 lines
Welcome to Iron Ox! After close to a year of development and almost ten
months of wide beta testing, this is the final release of Iron Ox
version 3.00. Iron Ox 3.00 is the fullest-featured and most exciting
BBS online game (door) available anywhere, with full EGA/VGA RIP
graphics support, real-time multinode play, and interBBS league support.
This version adds a much-improved map display interface and programmable
drones that move around the map in real time, fighting and making
products for their owners. (See HISTORY.TXT for more details on recent
changes in Iron Ox.)
New Installation
This section used to tell you to read SYSOP.DOC to find out how to
install Iron Ox. As of this version, we've gone to a "no-docs"
installation. :-) Run INSTALL.BAT (INSTALL.CMD for the OS/2 version),
follow the instructions on the screen, and only refer to the SYSOP.DOC
section entitled "INSTALLING THE GAME" if you have problems.
Where to Look
Again, for a basic installation, you can probably get by without reading
any .DOC files. However, the following documentation files are
available for your use and reference:
!README.1ST This file.
SYSOP.DOC Docs on installation, configuration, and more.
SAMPLE.BAT Several sample batch files.
INTERBBS.DOC Instructions on joining or starting an Ox league.
OXDOC.DOC Player's documentation.
REGISTER.FRM How to register your copy of Iron Ox.
INTLREG.DOC Registering Ox quickly with minimal long-distance.
BUGRPT.FRM How to report problems/bugs in Iron Ox.
IRONOX.SAM Sample configuration file (IRONOX.CFG).
OXNODES.SAM Sample Iron Ox league nodelist (OXNODES.DAT).
HISTORY.TXT Lists recent changes to Iron Ox.
MLTINODE.MEC Sample scripts for Maximus/2 (OS/2 version only).
Upgrading from Wide Beta Three
This is a drop-in upgrade from Wide Beta Three. Do the following:
1. If you're running DOS multinode, un-flag your IRONOX.EXE file using
ATTRIB IRONOX.EXE -R so it can be overwritten.
2. Copy all the files from this archive into your Iron Ox directory.
3. If you're running DOS multinode, type ATTRIB IRONOX.EXE +R or go into
OxConfig to flag the program file read-only.
4. Run IRONOX /UPGRADE to update your data files for version 3.00.
5. See "Configuring New Features," below.
Naturally, if you're in an interBBS league, you will want to verify that
everyone in the league is upgrading at approximately the same time.
Upgrading from Wide Beta Two
If you are *not* part of a league, this is a "drop-in upgrade" from
wide beta two: Just follow the instructions for upgrading from wide
beta three, above.
If you are part of a league, a leaguewide reset is required to upgrade
from wide beta two.
Upgrading from a Version Before Wide Beta Two
This version requires a complete reset from versions previous to wide
beta two, including Iron Ox 3.00 wide beta one. If you're installing
over v. 3.00wb1, just unpack this archive into your Iron Ox directory
and run INSTALL.BAT to set up the game. If you're installing over
version 1.x or 2.x, I recommend installing from scratch in a new
directory.
Configuring New Features
When installing/upgrading to this version, you may wish to visit
OxConfig and configure the following new features:
1. Drone Movement Rate: Controls how quickly drones move and how
CPU-hungry the game will be. Set from General Settings|General
Config.
2. InterBBS Logging: Controls a number of optional league debugging
messages the game can write to your log. Set from the League
Settings Menu.
3. External Protocol: Allows Ox to transfer icons automatically to RIP
graphics users. Set from General Settings|General Config.
4. New Bulletins: Set from Bulletin Config. You will also want to add
a call to IRONOX /BULLETINS to your nightly batch file to update the
bulletins you have selected.
5. Binkley Paths/Default Zone: If you are running Binkley, visit the
League Settings|Paths menu to set some new Binkley-specific options.
Installing for InterBBS Play
For instructions on setting up an interBBS league game, check the file
called INTERBBS.DOC. If you are joining a league, you will need some
setup files (OXNODES.DAT and NVDATA.NEW) from the League Coordinator
before starting league play. If you are starting a league, you'll need
to create these files. INTERBBS.DOC has instructions on how to do it.
If you're looking for a league to join, INTERBBS.DOC will include a list
of leagues I'm aware of. The FidoNet IRONOX echo is the place to get
the most up-to-date information.
Registering Your Copy
To find out how to register, look at the REGISTER.FRM file included in
this archive. Note that online registration via credit card is now
available! Using online registration, you will probably be able to get
your key *instantly*; at worst, it should be available within 24 hours.
Contest Information
To celebrate the release of Iron Ox 3.00, I have announced a
limited-time contest. The second- and third-place finishers in this
contest will win a registration to Iron Ox; the winner gets an Iron Ox
registration *and* a registration to Fiction Factory, my story door.
For full details on the contest, and hints that will help your callers
compete, join us in the Fidonet IRONOX echo today!
Providing Feedback to the Author
My goal is to make Iron Ox the hit interBBS game of Summer 1996. I am
very proud of the game, and of the work the 20+ systems in Dragon Net
League 277 have done testing it. However, in a program this large and
complex, defects will come up no matter how thorough the testing. I
want to make this game work for *you*. The file BUGRPT.FRM includes
instructions on how to contact me, as well as a list of questions that
help me track down bugs.
Thank you for trying the game! Please let me know how you like it.
Joel Downer
joel@dreamcty.cts.com
Fido 1:202/704