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1991-02-23
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SFTYTRV
TURBULENT YEARS
1960 - 1979
"A Non-Trivial Trivia Game"
Version 1.0
by Rick Thoma of
VILLAGE BBS
INTRODUCTION ------------
SFTYTRV is a fast paced History trivia game, covering the period of 1960
through 1979, the Decades of Turbulence. This is the first of a planned
series of such "Non-Trivial Trivia Games" designed to run as a door
feature within the SPITFIRE Bulletin Board System.
The door can be installed as a sysop configurable command from the Main,
File or Message menus of SPITFIRE. A data file containing 500 History
questions is randomly accessed and displayed to the screen. With each
question that is displayed, four multiple choice options are provided
from which the player may select. SFTYTRV allows the SYSOP to configure
the delay time (defaults to 17 seconds) that the player is allowed to
read the question and respond with the number corresponding to the answer
they wish to select.
SFTYTRV COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS --------------------------------
/D - Designates the delay time (in seconds) that the user is allowed to
answer the question before it "times out". 17-20 seconds is suggested for
this, as the questions are complex, and this is not a speed reading test.
/L - Allows local usage of SFTYTRV.
/P - Designates the drive, path, filename and extension of the high score
bulletin to be used with SFTYTRV.
DELAY TIME ---
The /D command line parameter is available which will allow the Sysop to
designate the delay time (in seconds) that is allowed between the time
the question prompt is displayed to the screen and when the user must
enter the desired answer. This is done using the /Dnn (where nn
represents the number of seconds) command line parameter. As an example,
if the Sysop wishes to allow a 15 second delay, a /D15 would be entered
on the command line as illustrated below:
SFTYTRV /D15
If no /Dnn is designated at the command line, SFTYTRV will default to a
17 second delay.
BULLETINS ---
The /P command line parameter will automatically create Ansi and Non-
Ansi high score bulletins for your BBS system.
If you would like to use this option, a "/P" should follow the SFTYTRV
in the command line to indicate a valid DOS path where the bulletin file
will be created. (NOTE: This should be the same as the display file path
you have set up within SPITFIRE.) The path is then followed by the file
name of the bulletin to be created. It is not necessary to include the
file extension. SFTYTRV will automatically add a .BBS extension for the
Non-Ansi display file and a .CLR extension for the Ansi display file
created. The correct syntax should look like this:
SFTYTRV /P C:\SF\DISPLAY\DORBUL1
The "/P" command line is optional and SFTYTRV will operate perfectly fine
without it. However, it is a convenient means of providing and posting
high score bulletins for the Canadiana trivia door.
LOCAL USAGE ---
The /L command line parameter will allow SFTYTRV to be played locally
without requiring a SFDOORS.DAT, SFMAIN.DAT, SFMESS.DAT or SFFILE.DAT
file. Using the /L command line parameter disables the program's carrier
detect monitoring and redirection of the game through the comm port. For
local operation of SFTYTRV enter the following command at the DOS prompt:
C:> SFTYTRV /L
** SPECIAL NOTE ** The /L, /P and /D command parameters can be used
together on the same command line.
It should also be noted that the /D, /P and /L command line parameters may
appear in any order on the command line. SFTYTRV does NOT require these
to be used in a specific order.
SFTYTRV SETUP AS A SPITFIRE DOOR ---------------------------------
To set up SFTYTRV to be executed as a door, it is recommended that a
separate directory be set up for it. For explanation purposes, let's
assume the directory DOORA is created for use with SFTYTRV. The
following files must then be placed in the directory:
SFTYTRV.EXE The actual game program.
SFTYTRV.DAT The data file containing the trivia questions.
SFTYTRV.TOP This is a listing of the top ten players. SFTYTRV.EXE
will create this file if it is not found.
SFTYTRV.LMT This allows you to set time limits according to the
callers security level.
The Sysop will then need to use a text editor to edit the SF.BAT file as
illustrated below:
:DOOR_A COPY SFDOORS.DAT C:\SF\DOORA SFTYTRV ERASE SFDOORS.DAT GOTO LOOP
:DOOR_B
You will notice that the commands needed to execute SFTYTRV are placed
between the :DOOR_A and GOTO LOOP command lines. These are entered in
place of the existing REM Place Program Name Here. The following will
briefly explain each of the commands which were set up within SF.BAT to
run SFTYTRV as a SPITFIRE Door program:
SFDOORS.DAT is created automatically by SPITFIRE when a user enters a
door. It contains information about the user such as name and password.
SFTYTRV requires access to the information within SFDOORS.DAT.
Therefore, before executing the program it must be copied to the
directory in which SFTYTRV is running.
SFTYTRV is the program name and executes the game program from within the
door program.
Once the user has terminated the game play of SFTYTRV, SPITFIRE erases
the SFDOORS.DAT file.
SFTYTRV SETUP AS A SYSOP CONFIGURABLE COMMAND ---------------------------
-------------------
SPITFIRE has a sysop configurable command for the Main, Message and File
menus. The sysop configurable command is executed through a batch file
which corresponds to the menu it is being run from. In other words,
SFMAIN.BAT runs the sysop configurable command from the Main Menu,
SFMESS.BAT runs the one from the Message Menu and SFFILE.BAT the one from
the File Menu. The commands necessary to execute SFTYTRV can be set up
in the batch file which corresponds to the menu you wish to have SFTYTRV
run from.
The first thing you will need to establish is which of these menus you
wish to use to run SFTYTRV. For this purpose, let's assume that it is
going to be set up so it can be run from the Main Menu. (It should be
noted the set up procedure is the same regardless of which Menu you are
running SFTYTRV from.)
Next, you will need to decide what you wish to name the command option
and establish what security level will be required for users of your
system to be able to access this option. Once this is determined you
will need to modify the SFMAIN.MNU file using your favorite text editor,
as long as it saves in ASCII format. (Refer to the SPITFIRE manual for
further documentation on this if needed. It should also be noted that if
SFTYTRV were being set up to run from the File Menu, you would need to
modify the SFFILE.MNU file and if it was being set up to be run from the
Message Menu you would need to modify the SFMSG.MNU file.)
Examining the default SFMAIN.MNU file, you will notice the sysop
configurable command appears as:
<K>............. Add Your Own,,1000,@
This will need to be replaced with a Command Character that will be used
to select the option from the menu. It is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that the
Command Character must not duplicate an existing Command Character for
another menu option. You will then need to include a brief description
of the door program you are running, two commas, the security level
required to access this feature, and another comma followed by the a @.
The @ must not be changed! (For more detailed information on modifying
your SFMAIN.MNU, SFMSG.MNU or SFFILE.MNU refer to your SPITFIRE manual.)
<K>.... Brief Program Description,,10,@
Now you will need to modify the corresponding batch file, SFMAIN.BAT, so
that it can be executed from the Main Menu. Do this using your favorite
text editor, as long as it saves in ASCII format. (Again, it should be
noted that if SFTYTRV were being set up to run from the File Menu, you
would need to modify the SFFILE.BAT file and if it was being set up to be
run from the Message Menu you would need to modify the SFMESS.BAT file.)
Place the SFTYTRV.EXE file in the directory you wish to run the program
from. SFTYTRV will create its own player score file, SFTYTRV.TOP, if it
does not already exist.
The commands set up in the SFMAIN.BAT file are very similar to those used
for executing the game through a door in the SF.BAT file. For instance,
if you were running SFTYTRV from the main SPITFIRE directory your
SFMAIN.BAT file might look like this:
ECHO OFF
BRK OFF
SFTYTRV
BRK ON
(BRK is not included in the SFTYTRV package because it is written and
copyrighted by Solid Systems, 1985, but can be downloaded from The Mother
Board BBS and Buffalo Creek's BBS as well as a number of other BBS
systems. BRK is not required to run SFTYTRV, however, it is recommended
since it will prevent a user using the CTRL BRK command to terminate the
batch file, gaining access to your system at the DOS level.)
If you wish to set SFTYTRV up in a separate subdirectory from SPITFIRE,
for instance, a subdirectory named SFTYTRV, your batch file might look
like this.
ECHO OFF
BRK OFF
COPY SFMAIN.DAT \SF\SFTYTRV
CD \SF\SFTYTRV
SFTYTRV
ERASE SFMAIN.DAT
CD \SF
BRK ON
When SFTYTRV is executed, from either the door with the SF.BAT file or
from the sysop configurable command through a menu with the corresponding
batch file, it will first look for the SFMAIN.DAT file, then the
SFMESS.DAT file, then the SFFILE.DAT file and lastly the SFDOORS.DAT
file. It will look for each of these files until it finds it and the
commands required for its execution. If none of these files are found,
SFTYTRV will halt its execution.
DTE LOCK FEATURE ----------------
SFTYTRV automatically detects if the DTE is locked at 19200 baud. If
SFTYTRV detects that the DTE is locked, then SFTYTRV opens the serial
port to the maximum baud rate of your system. If SFTYTRV does not detect
that the DTE is locked, then the serial port is opened to the baud rate
of the caller.
SFTYTRV ON A MULTI-NODE SYSTEM -------------------------------
SFTYTRV is fully compatible for operation on a multi-node BBS. It
automatically handles any file locking and file sharing required during
the doors execution.
SYSOP FEATURES --------------
First, a status line is now displayed on the BBS monitor that provides
information concerning the caller's name, baud rate of the caller and the
security level of the caller.
A SFTYTRV.LMT file allows the sysop to establish a time limit for door
play according to the security level the caller has on the system. To
modify the accompanying SFTYTRV.LMT file, use your favorite text editor
to represent the various security levels you have available on your
system, a comma then the corresponding time you wish to allow for that
particular security level in minutes. For instance, it might look like
this:
10,15 25,20 50,25 999,30
Each security level should begin a new line and you should have a setting
for each security level you have available on your system. If you do not
have a time limit set for a particular security SFTYTRV will default to
the level 10 security level setting.
Pressing the Shift Key and the F1 key simultaneously will terminate game
play of SFTYTRV and return the caller back to the BBS. Pressing the Shift
Key and the F9 key simultaneously will terminate game play of SFTYTRV and
log the caller off of the BBS. If the Shift Key and the F9 key are
pressed together, logging the caller off the BBS, SPITFIRE will recycle
and return to the SPITFIRE Ready For Caller Prompt.
SFTYTRV EXECUTION ------------------
When first executed, SFTYTRV will display a list of the Top Ten high
score players and the percentage of correct responses they achieved while
playing SFTYTRV. Initially, this will be a dummy listing with ten lines
that display:
0%...............YOUR NAME COULD BE HERE
However, as the game is played, this will fill with the name of the
players, their percentage ratings and the date that the player was added
to the top ten listing.
NOTE: At least twenty questions must be attempted before SFTYTRV will
figure the percentage rating for the player.
To keep things interesting...the Sysop can erase the file which contains
the top ten listings SFTYTRV.TOP on a routine basis to give additional
players a chance to have their name added to the list.
As the top ten list is displayed, at the bottom of the screen is a
question which prompts the user whether they want to have ANSI Graphics
(y/n)? available to them during game play. If the user responds with a
y (for yes) the game will display in color and if the user responds with
a n (for no), the game will display in monochrome.
PLAYING SFTYTRV ----------------
Immediately after pressing any key (other than <Q> for Quit) from the Top
Ten listing the game screen is displayed. The screen will look like the
following:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ >>>>>>>>> DECADES OF TURBULENCE <<<<<<<<< │
│ 1960 - 1979 Ver 1 │
│ "A Non-Trivial Trivia Game" │
│ Freeware from Village BBS │
│ In Cooperation with Buffalo Creek Software │
│ Copyright (C) Rick Thoma All Rights Reserved │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────┘
-----------------------------------------------
RIGHT: 0 WRONG: 0
QUESTION:
The trivia question will be displayed
here.
<1> Choice 1 <2> Choice 2
<3> Choice 3 <4> Choice 4
Enter Answer: [ 1 2 3 4 <Q>uit]?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The first randomly chosen trivia question is selected from the data file
and is displayed to the screen.
The player makes his selection by entering the corresponding number. As
the game progresses, SFTYTRV will provide a running total of the correct
answers and also of the wrong answers the user has selected during the
game play.
If the timer should elapse before you respond, SFTYTRV will count this as
a wrong response and add an incorrect answer to the total WRONG answers
obtained so far.
EXITING PLAY ------------
When you are ready to exit the game, simply select press "Q" for <Q>uit.
If you qualify as one of the top ten players to date, SFTYTRV will
congratulate you for becoming one of the top ten scorers and add your
name to the Top Ten listing. You will once again see the Top Ten list
displayed with your name added to the list.
If you exit the game before you have completed the twenty questions
required for eligibility to the Top Ten list or if you do not qualify as
a Top Ten player, the Top Ten listing will be displayed and you will be
prompted to press any key to return to SPITFIRE.
DISTRIBUTION ------------
Please feel free to share SFTYTRV.ZIP with others. However, it must be
distributed with SFTYTRV.EXE, SFTYTRV.DAT, SFTYTRV.TOP, SFTYTRV.LMT and
the SFTYTRV.DOC in the SFTYTRV.ZIP distribution package. The files must
not be altered in any way or by any means.
PUBLIC DOMAIN - DISCLAIMER --------------------------
SFTYTRV is distributed under the public domain concept. The software and
its accompanying documentation are provided "as is" without warranties
expressed or implied as to the performance or merchantability. No
registration fee is required and the program can be distributed freely.
However, by the use of SFTYTRV, the user assumes all responsibilities and
agrees that Rick Thoma of Village BBS shall not be held liable for any
damage incurred to hardware, software or peripheral devices while running
same.
Many thanks are indeed owed to Mike Woltz of Buffalo Creek BBS (515)-225-
8496 for his assistance. Without his help this program would not have
been possible. I gather that Mike does not generally make the support
programs available to non SPITFIRE Sysops. Well, he was kind enough to
waive the rules, and allow this Wildcat Sysop to provide you with this
new program. I hope you enjoy it!
(Special thanks to Brenda for the proof reading!)
History -------
Release 1 SFTYTRV released.
SFTYTRV and (certain) other SPITFIRE programs are available for download
from:
Buffalo Creek BBS Village BBS
Sysop - Mike Woltz Sysop - Rick Thoma
(515) 225-8496 *( ) -
19200/9600/2400/1200 19200/9600/2400/1200
** NOTE: The Village BBS may be moving soon, hence there is no phone
number provided! You will always be able to find it via the FIDONET
Nodelist. This move is planned for the Spring of 1991.
The newest versions of this or any other SPITFIRE door (that I manage to
find the time for) will always be available on Mike's board before they
become available anywhere else, so calling him would in most instances be
the best way to obtain them.
Look for additions to this "Non-Trivial Trivia" series soon!