BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/qbbs/poach10.zip/POACHER.DOC

Text File | 1990-04-29 | 10KB | 202 lines

                                  Poacher v1.0
                         The FIRST On-Line Arcade Game!
            Copyright(c) 1990 by Mike Hamilton - All Rights Reserved

Table of contents -

        PART I - The Basics!
                Section I.i.........................Introduction
                Section I.ii........................Installation
                Section I.iii.......................Registering
        PART II - The Works!
                Section II.i........................Playing
                Section II.ii.......................Winning
                Section II.iii......................Losing
                Section II.iv.......................Chatting
        PART III - Extras!
                Section III.i.......................Support

                            PART I - The Basics!

Section I.i - Introduction

     Poacher is, as the above title states, the first OnLine Arcade Game.
The object of the game is to shoot the animals that travel either
left-to-right or right-to-left on the screen by firing one of 5 guns.
Every shot fired detracts from the user's on-line time, and every animal
s/he successfully hits adds to his/her on-line time.

     Poacher alters the user's on-line time by means of TYM2XBBS, TYM2QBBS,
or TYM2RA.  Each of these files are available in the HamBank distribution
file or in the separate archive TYM2Vxx.* where 'xx' is the current version
number.  Both HamBank and TYM2xx.* is available at any of the distribution
sites listed at the end of this document.  If your BBS type is not
supported, please see the section "Support" to find out how to contact the
author and ask for support.

     In the distribution archive, Poacher is unregistered.  An unregistered
version of Poacher does not inhibit play at all: the game plays the same
if it is registered or not.  However, a registered version of Poacher
allows you to alter the default values for winnings and losses.  Please see
the section titled "Registering" for information on how to register your
copy of Poacher.


Section I.ii - Installation

     Installing Poacher is very simple.  Place the following files in a
directory (either your BBS directory or a separate one, it does not matter
to Poacher):
               POACHER.EXE         - Main Executable
               POACHER.CFG         - Configuration File
               TYM2*.EXE           - The TYM2* file for your BBS Type
     POACHER.CFG is not necessary if your copy of Poacher is unregistered.
You can also place the TYM2*.EXE file in your BBS root directory if you are
using more than one MysticWare/HamSoft door (i.e.: Poacher and HamBank).

     Next, create a batch file to run Poacher.  Your batch file should look
something like this:
               @Echo Off
               CD \XBBS\Poacher
               Poacher.Exe E:\XBBS
               \XBBS\TYM2XBBS.Exe E:\XBBS
               CD \XBBS
     This batch file is the one I use for my board, which runs the XBBS
Bulletin Board software.  As the example states above, the only parameter
to pass is the path to your DORINFO1.DEF file (commonly created in your BBS
root directory).  Then, you must run TYM2*.EXE to convert HAMBANK.TYM
(created by Poacher) to your BBS's exit files (ONLINE.XBS for XBBS,
ExitInfo.BBS for QuickBBS/RemoteAccess).

     If you run XBBS, you must use either one of the following two commands
to run Poacher:
               
EsC:\Command.Com /C BatFile.Bat
               
EdBatFile.Bat
     If you do not use one of the above two commands, the time changes will
not be recorded when the user returns to your board.

     If you run QuickBBS or RemoteAccess, you must use a Type 15 exit.
Please refer to your BBS documentation on the procedure for a Type 15 exit.

     This installation procedure may seem rather long, but it isn't.  The
most difficult part of the procedure is creating the batch file to fit your
system.  If you have any difficulties setting up Poacher, please contact
one of the distribution sites listed at the end of this document.

Section I.iii - Registering

        I spent a lot of time on Poacher, making sure it does what it is
told and that it does not harm your board in any forseable way.  I think it
is only fair that I be compensated for my efforts.  Therefor, I am asking
you to send in a donation of $5 to register your copy of Poacher.

        When you register Poacher, many new options will be made available
to you.  You will then be able to configure how much each shot will take
away from your user's time.  You will also be able to configure how much
time will be rewarded when a user hits an animal.  As you can see,
registering Poacher is not buying Poacher, but simply informing me that you
like what I write, and it will encourage me to write more.

        To register your copy of Poacher, send me a letter containing the
following information: Your name, Your BBS's name, your FidoNet address (if
applicable), your street address (with city, state, and zip!), and how you
want me to return your registration number (by mail (will send it to the
enclosed address), by NetMail (will send it to the enclosed FidoNet
address), or by a voice phone call (please enclose your telephone number as
well).  Send all the above information to:
             MysticWare Registrations
             c/o Mike Hamilton
             310 Berry Street
             North Andover, Ma, 01845

                            PART II - The Works!

Section II.i - Playing

     Poacher is very simple to play.  There are on-line help screens
available for the user if s/he gets confused.  Basically, the only action
takes place on the 4-5-6-7-8 keys.  At the start of each round, a number of
animals will appear (1 animal up to 6 animals at one time can appear)
heading in either direction.  The user must time his or her shots in order
to directly hit an animal.  The user presses one of the 5 gun keys
(4-5-6-7-8) and watches the shot travel upward toward the moving animals.
Since the animals move at different rates, a user can not fall into a
"pattern" of shooting.  As the bullet travels upward, it will either the
animal (the animal will turn into a red star and then disappear) or the
bulletin will miss entirely.

Section II.ii - Winning

     If a bullet hits an animal, then the user will be rewarded with a
certain amount of time.  The amount of time is calculated by how close the
gun was to the starting point of the animal.  If the animal started on the
left side of the screen, and the user hit the animal with the 4 gun, then
s/he will get the most amount of time.  If the s/he hits the animal with
the 8 gun, then s/he will get the least amount of time.  The amount of time
won for each cannon in the unregistered version is:

                     Animals Going Left to Right
                 Gun 4: 7 Minutes    Gun 6: 5 Minutes
                 Gun 5: 6 Minutes    Gun 7: 4 Minutes
                          Gun 8: 3 Minutes

                     Animals Going Right to Left
                 Gun 4: 3 Minutes    Gun 6: 5 Minutes
                 Gun 5: 4 Minutes    Gun 7: 6 Minutes
                          Gun 8: 7 Minutes

     In the registered version of Poacher, you can define the winnings for
each cannon.

Section II.iii - Losing

     Each shot a user takes will subtract some time from his remaining
on-line time.  In the unregistered version, each shot is worth 2 minutes.
In the registered version, you can define the cost.  The amount of time a
user loses depends on the number of shots s/he takes and the number of
animals s/he hit.

Section II.iv - Chatting

     You can chat with a user while s/he is playing Poacher.  Simply press
ALT-C anytime during the game (or at a prompt) and the screen will be
cleared, allowing you to chat with the user.  Hitting ALT-C again will
return the user to the game.  If the game was in progress, the screen will
be redrawn and the animals will reappear as well as any shots the user has
taken.  If the user was at a prompt, the prompt will not be redrawn; the
user must hit return.

                             PART III - Extras!

Section III.i - Support

        I will support Poacher in the following way:

        If you have any suggestions or (shudder) problems, there are a
multitude of ways you can get in touch with me.  Please pick one of the
following:

        1) Send a NetMail message to Mike Hamilton at 1:324/131.  This is
by far the best way to get in touch with me since I'll most likely reply
within a few hours.

        2) Log on to The Mystic Tribunal at [phone] and comment to
Mike Hamilton.  The latest versions of any MysticWare are always
downloadable on your first call.  Or, you can call any one of the
official MysticWare support boards. They are:

The New EDGE BBS   [phone]  Fido 1:324/118  Lawrence, Ma. (2400)
The Business Card  [phone]  Fido 1:324/121  Lawrence, Ma. (14.4DS)
FunTime BBS        [phone]                  Summit, NJ.   (2400)

        3) You are also able to pick up the 'MYSTICWARE' echo from me or
any of the above listed support BBSs.  If things go right, MYSTICWARE may
even be on the backbone shortly!

        4) The worst you could do would be to send SnailMail to MysticWare,
c/o Mike Hamilton at 310 Berry Street, North Andover, Ma, 01845.  This is a
slow method, but if that's the way it has to be done, there's no stopping
it.