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Text File | 1991-02-23 | 20KB | 439 lines

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!