BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/doors_1/jot.zip/JOT.DOC

Text File | 1991-01-28 | 7KB | 165 lines

                        J O T - A Spitfire DOOR Program

                (C) Copyright 1991 by Sequential Software Inc.

                     Spitfire is (C) 1987-90 by Mike Woltz

  INTRODUCTION

          JOT is a single-player word guessing game for use with Spitfire
    BBS software. Features include full ANSI operation, local operation and
    complete file locking abilities for multi-node configurations. This is
    a complete version and not "crippleware".

          Each opponet chooses a "secret" word consisting of three letters
    and take turns guessing the other's word. Play alternates between
    players until one guesses the other's word, or each player has guessed
    12 times (in which case the game is a draw). Be careful though - the
    computer plays a mean game! Rarely will the game go to all 12 guesses.

  INSTALLATION

          This game is intended to be installed in the DOORS menu, and does
    not support the menu extensions at this time. For this example we'll
    assume you do not have any doors currently installed and your BBS
    resides on drive C: in a directory named \SF. If your configuration is
    different you will have to substitute the proper drive and/or pathnames
    for the ones given here.

          First you will have to create a file named SFDOOR.MNU with your
    favorite ASCII editor. Since this is your first door it will be door A
    on your system. Type the following line:

                                    Jot,10

          The name of the program comes first, and is how it will appear in
    the default door menu. The comma indicates the end of the name. Next is
    the minimum security level required to execute the door (in this case
    10). Place the newly created SFDOOR.MNU in your \SF directory.

          Next, create a subdirectory under your \SF directory called
    DOOR_A with this command:
                                MD c:\sf\door_a

    Copy JOT.EXE to this subdirectory. If you are unsure how to create a
    subdirectory then consult your DOS reference.

          The third step is to edit the main batch fire that calls the BBS.
    Load the file SF.BAT into your ASCII editor and find the line that
    reads ":DOOR_A". Right after this label is where the commands to
    execute JOT go. Change the batch file to read like this:

    :DOOR_A
    COPY SFDOORS.DAT DOOR_A
    CD DOOR_A
    JOT
    DEL SFDOORS.DAT
    CD ..
    GOTO LOOP
    :DOOR_B


          SFDOORS.DAT is created by Spitfire before exiting to the batch
    file. This file contains important information regarding the caller,
    and must be present for JOT to run properly. The line COPY SFDOORS.DAT
    DOOR_A will copy this file to the directory where JOT resides. This
    file should be deleted after JOT has exited.

          JOT should now be available as door A in your BBS. Be sure to set
    the security level of the DOORS menu to a level accessible to your
    users. Start it up and try it out!

  PLAYING THE GAME

          JOT will automatically determine if the user is using ANSI
    graphics and will use them if selected. Should ANSI not be selected the
    game will go to a total text output.  ANSI.SYS does not have to be
    installed locally to play.

          When the game starts you will be presented with a title screen.
    After pressing a key you have the option of displaying the game rules.
    Now you must choose your secret word, or the word the computer will try
    to guess. This word consists of three letters, and may be any word you
    can think of as long as it fits the following criteria:

          THE WORD CANNOT
    - be a proper name, as in "TIM"
    - be an interjection, such as "UGH" or "HEY"
    - be an abbreviation, as in "AVE"
    - have double letters like "ALL"

    This still leaves you with literally hundreds of words from which to
    choose. Also some of the more obscure and technical terms have been
    omitted to make the game a little more competitive.

          You then decide who goes first. When it is your turn you may
    enter a guess of the computer's word, "H" for a help screen containing
    the rules of the game, or "Q" to quit the game and return to the BBS.
    If playing without ANSI graphics you may also enter an "S" to see a
    summary of the game thus far.

          After you make a guess of the computer's secret word, the
    computer will tell you how many letters in your guess match letters in
    its word (the number of HITS). IT WILL NOT TELL YOU WHAT ORDER THEY ARE
    IN. Possible responses can be 0, 1, 2, or 3 letters correct.

          Next the computer will venture a guess of your secret word. After
    it displays its guess the computer will ask you for the number of hits
    (or correct letters) in its guess. Valid responses to this question are
    0, 1, 2, or three to tell it the number of hits, or "R" to tell the
    computer it has guessed your secrect word.

          Game play is very simple and fast. Play alternates until there is
    a winner or until 12 guesses have elapsed. I will tell you that rarely
    happens - the computer is really a good player.



  OTHER FEATURES

          You can play JOT from the DOS command line by using the "/L"
    command line switch. This will enter a local mode and allow play. When
    run in local mode JOT will always use full color operation.

          JOT will monitor the time the user has left, and will not let him
    start a new game if he has less than 3 minutes left for this call. If
    playing in local mode you are given 9999 minutes to play the game.

          File locking is also supported for multinode BBS's. This is all
    handled automatically.

          You may bump a user from JOT at any time by pressing F9. This
    will present the user with a message and immediately exit the program.
    This key will work only while a user is online. It is unavailable if
    playing from the DOS command line or while logged on locally to
    Spitfire.

  FINAL WORDS

          Our personal thanks go to Mike Woltz for creating a such a
    wonderful product as Spitfire BBS, without which this program could not
    be possible.

          This program is shareware, and is not free. You may use this
    program on your BBS for thirty days to determine its suitability. Use
    beyond this time period requires registration. You are encouraged to
    give JOT to your friends and upload to BBS as long as you include all
    files in this package in unmodified form. You may not charge for the
    program.

          Sequential Software Inc. makes no warranty of any kind regarding
    the suitability of this software. Furthermore we cannot be held
    responsible for any damages (either real or imaged) of any kind
    resulting from use of this software.

          You may receive support on this product by sending your problem
    by U.S. mail to the address listed in REGISTER.DOC included with this
    program. Or, you can call our support BBS at [phone] 24 hours a
    day, seven days a week. BBS inquiries will be answered in usually 24
    hours or less.

                           Thank you for trying JOT!