Wow, it's already the new year! :) Okay, this version was a little late coming, but it's here, and we're happy! v0.50b1 is a major step forward for Merchant! as I have *completely* rewritten and restructured all of the code. What this means to you is that I can add features much easier than I have ever been able to. As for features added, they were pretty insignificant, but Merchant! does create the necessary folders automatically upon init. Bugs fixed: LOTS! Remember that this was a code-update so features can be added later on.
*** Important Note: All currently registered users MUST contact me on PUMA or over the InterNet (Delphic_Software@delphic.com) to receive a new RegKey as all of the old ones no longer work. Thanks! Later...
--Mike
v0.48b2 (November 7, 1993)
Okay, this version fixes three bugs that were in v0.48b1. This version is the last version until I can release v0.50b1, which will have restructured code, but, more importantly, will contain a ton of new features. Here are the bugs I fixed...
1. The 0-startup bug where each user started out with 0 cargo bays, etc.
2. The crashing problem when buying reactor cores.
3. The crashing problem when buying cargo bays.
Enjoy! Later...
--Mike
v0.48b1 (October 20, 1993)
Wow, I have been out of the Hermes-loop for a while now, but all I have to
say is... I'm BACK!! Anyway, PUMA is running on Hermes II now, and all of my
externals have been updated. This version of Merchant! adds HII-compatibility.
I know, not much, and I'm sorry about that, but I had to get this version out ASAP so I can get to work on restructuring all of the code. Until I get that done it will be impossible to add any new features. However, once I do get that done we'll see a major influx of new things in the game!!
Also, the registration fee for Merchant! has gone up to $20. I am sure it is
obvious why I have done this. Current SysOps do not have to pay anything.
Thank you, everyone, for being patient while I was writing Aeolus! Later...
--Mike
v0.47b4 (June 20, 1993)
This version adds the missing B&W ANSI Editor resources that caused the B&W Editor to malfunction. Later...
--Mike
v0.47b3 (June 19, 1993)
This version fixes the problem with Merchant! crashing when a user tried to land at a Port 0. Later...
--Mike
v0.47b2 (June 12, 1993)
This version has been released to fix a major bug that caused the game to be unplayable. For those of you lucky enough to not have experienced it, the game would store all of the user's names as the SysOp, hence creating one, universal character. This has been fixed. Unless any more bugs of this sort are located before v0.50b1 comes out, this will be the last version until v0.50b1. Later...
--Mike
v0.47b1 (June 6, 1993)
****** You MUST re-init the universe AND erase the old players! ******
This version fixes ALL of the bugs that were caused by numbers being too
large. This includes trading, the bank, and money in general.
This version is NOT a complete release! I am releasing this version as an
interim one to v0.50b1. The only reason there is a v0.47b1 is so that people
can have Merchant! working in the area of large numbers. This version is
obviously not complete, and I did not intend to make it do so, but it does fix
all of the annoying bugs you have been experiencing. It does add the following
features, though...
1. COMPLETE ANSI SysOp editor. Just press @ in the computer menu.
2. The Karagenti and Aliens are in there, they move, but that's about it.
3. The fighters were fixed so that they are now unavoidable.
4. Updated Merchant! for Hermes 2.2.
If you are worried about the level of documentation for Merchant!, don't be.
v0.50b1 has a DocMaker file that explains every aspect of the game to SysOps.
If you have any comments or suggestions, please send 'em along! Also, notice
the change in address for registration in the READ ME file. In addition, it
should be mentioned that I will be calling Olympus less and less to provide
support for Merchant! now that my own BBS is up. Please give that a call if
you want to keep up on the Delphic Software scene. It's also a pretty cool
system! Later...
--Mike
v0.45b1 (March 24, 1993)
****** You MUST re-init the universe AND erase the old players! ******
I had but one goal in this version: To fix every bug in Merchant! Now, let
us see just how well I found all of the bugs. For those of you who were
participants in this mad bug-chase, the bugs you reported were fixed. If you
find a bug that I missed, let me know and I'll fix it! I also added the
following features...
1. You can now place fighters in any sector you wish. Fighters can be
set in any of the following 'formations'...
a. Offensive: Fighters will immediately attack any enemy ship.
b. Defensive: Fighters will attack if the enemy does not retreat.
c. Toll: Fighters will ask for a toll or attack.
2. You can now set the game to display the location of the StarBase via
the 'V'iew Game Statistics in the Main Menu.
3. Pressing Control-E at any prompt that *does not* ask for a number as
input will display a context-sensitive help file for that prompt.
4. Port 0 now exists and works properly.
5. Finished all of the definitions in the Encyclopedia! Added a few other
ones as well.
6. You can now port while you are Auto-Warping.
Later...
--Mike
v0.40b1 (February 15, 1993)
Well, here's the first release of the new year!!!! YEAH!!! Well, here's the
incredibly-long list of new features. BTW, sorry it took so long, but that's
the way the bugs bounced! ;)
1. PLANETS!! Yes, Planets! You can do everything here but create a base!
2. The 23 1/2 Near-the-Back Lounge!! Check out the StarBase for this
totally-rad lounge!
3. Mass drivers can now be bought! Where you buy them is up to you!
4. Number three goes for HBD Torpedoes as well! ;)
5. You can now type in the Sector number instead of having to press 'M'.
i.e.: M <cr> then 542 is now 542
6. Fixed the Hard-Disk light bug!
7. No more: infinite-energy, infinite-moves, etc.
8. The Help screen is A LOT better and has a cool story! Check it out!
9. Alignment now has neat little descriptions for each level.
10. You get one alignment point per day.
11. Alignment actually goes down now!
12. You can land on Terra and pick up colonists!
13. The game runs faster now that I have designed a new way of controlling
segments in an external! BTW, this new method allows me to create
externals of greater than 128k size! So, how big are your HDs? ;)
14. There's probably more, but I can't remember it all! ;)
Later...
--Mike
v0.32b1 (November 25, 1992)
YES, YES, YES!!! I have fixed one of the *last* bugs in Merchant, the Sector 0 bug!!!!!! If you have found this bug, then you know why I am happy! About 10 minutes ago I made the last changes to Merchant! to *totally* decimate the S0 bug. Oh, yeah, I also fixed a few other things. Merchant! now updates the universe when it's mignight, or when it finds out it needs to, *not* when a user calls on a new day! I also added pauses to the Help screen as that was pretty annoying when it flew off the screen. Let's see, there was also a bug in the Your information display that I fixed. I also fixed the Linking 1 to 1001 bug in Merchant! Init. I think that's all! That's *all* you're saying? Well, I try to work as hard as I can! Hehehe... Have fun! Later...
--Mike
v0.31b1 (November 22, 1992)
As of today, Merchant! is now officially in the Beta-Testing stage!!! You may ask why I have made such a sudden leap, well here's an answer. I completely rewrote, restructured, and basically redid Merchant!, I felt that all of that work constituted a 'b' in the version number! ;) Seriously though,let's talk about the features! Merchant! v0.31b1 adds Full COLOR and B&W ANSI Graphics and Animation, there is now an All-Purpose Transaction Moderator (ATM) in the Starbase, I have changed Merchant! Init to create the Ships file that will be fully implemented in the next version, I have added a Make Announcement and Display Log commands to the Computer Menu, and above all else, Merchant! now looks really cool! Well, I hope ya like it! As always, send all bug reports to me at AOL (Delphic Sw) or Olympus (Mike Marshburn). Later...
--Mike
BTW, you MUST reinit the universe or you will find that Merchant! will be rather unhappy with you! Also, I suggest that immediately after you init the universe that you quit Hermes and restart your Mac. That way you won't get any stupid System Errors caused by Hermes and Heap Collision. ;)
v0.30a1 (Never really made it)
Although I began numerous rumors that there was a v0.30a1, it never became a reality. Instead I decided to go right to v0.31b1 as I had added so many new features!!! Later...
--Mike
v0.27a1 (November 7, 1992)
As of this version, Merchant! is now being transferred to Mike Marshburn and Delphic Software. Please direct all inquiries and registration requests to:
Mike Marshburn
Po Box 7654
Redlands, CA 92375-0654
Now, onto the new version! This version adds Hermes 2.0 compatibility, which was a serious problem in previous versions. The registration codes were changed as of this version and all currently registered users should be receiving a letter with their new registration code. Let me know what you think, I am always open to suggestions! Later...
