PC Online 1996 October/PCO_10.ISO/filesbbs/prodrags.arj/SYSOP.DOC

Text File | 1996-09-10 | 19.4 KB | 363 lines

            UltraSoft AHRA PRO DRAGS Version 1.6 Documentation
                          Prepared by Steve Hansen

                          Copyright(C) UltraSoft 1996
                          Software Division of
                          UltraSoft Computers, Hawaii

                          5070 Likini St.
                          Suite 1209
                          Honolulu, HI 96818

                          UltraSoft Product Support BBS - Hawaii
                          [phone]   2400bps - 28800bps
                          Sysops: Steve Hansen - Alice Hansen

                          UltraSoft CompuServe ID: 75120,2506
                          UltraSoft Internet ID: [e-mail]
                          ftp.hi.net /pub/ultrasoft

   Please see WHEREARE.WE for Distribution Center Locations and Numbers
   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

INTRODUCTION
----------------
NOTE: Due to intense and extensive animation involved in this game, CPU
speeds below a 486DX 33, may have difficulty with ProDrags running slow.
If a multi-tasker is involved, CPU speed is even more critical. We regret
that we had to eliminate slower machines, but tried everything imaginable
for almost a year, to get the game to run well at all speeds. All with very
little success. There is only so much a programmer can do about CPU speed.

However, even if you have a slower machine, feel free to try the game and
let us know how it runs for you. We were already pleasantly surprised to
find that it runs quite well on a 486DX33.
=========================================================================
Also due to intense animation, AHRA Pro Drags is designed for baud rates of
9600 Baud+. It will show a screen to anyone below 9600 bps, and ask if they
still want to continue into the game.
==========================================================================
If you are watching a REMOTE Player in this game at a lower baud rate, you
may see the game appear to pause from time to time during a race. Not to
worry though. The remote side is not seeing it the same way. You are locked
at a considerably higher rate than the caller is connected, and the pauses
you may see are your system's RTS/CTS (Stop/Start), waiting till it gets
the signal to send more data out to the modem, at the caller's rate, much
like a stop light does with auto traffic. Callers will not see the pauses.
==========================================================================
Welcome to AHRA (American Hot Rod Association), Pro Drags, one of the series
of Animated Graphics Door Games for BBS Systems, produced by UltraSoft. This
Door Game operates in ANSI graphics mode only. Non-ANSI callers are given a
choice of changing their graphics mode (if possible) or otherwise are
restricted from playing. This is due to the extensive animation and ANSI
position controls involved, which would not be functional in Text Mode
operation.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

AHRA Pro Drags is the FIRST of its kind ever, to our knowledge. ProDrags
is fully Hi-Speed User Interactive. This means that the caller controls the
dragster both off-the-line, and during the race by strategic gear shifting.

Please encourage your callers to read the directions inside the game, and
understand how the game operates before their first race, or they will have
little success.
___________________________________________________________________________

If you are not a registered User, then with registration you will receive
a file called PRODRAGS.SYS which will open the full registered game for you.
With registration, you will also receive several useful utilities, for use
with this and other BBS Door Games. Please refer to the documentation
contained in those packages, for instructions on their use. We include these
other BonusWare items, registered to you, and free of charge, as part of our
thanks for becoming our valued Customer. But since they are proprietary
software, we ask that they not be distributed in any way.
___________________________________________________________________________

AHRA Pro Drags is an Auto Drag Racing game, representing Drag Racing as we
have often seen it at NHRA, (National Hot Rod Association) Drag Strips and
on TV.. You, or each caller, is in full control of your car. But dragsters
are powerful and very volatile, so you need to know what you are doing first.
__________________________________________________________________________

In addition to full animation, ProDrags utiliizes full online sound effects.
This occurs in the form of engine sounds and music. To hear these effects,
a remote caller must be using a compatible Comm Program such as QModem,
TeleMate or GT Power, which process what is commonly called ANSI Sound, but
really isn't ANSI at all. Sound effects will always be there when playing
locally, IF sound is enabled for that particular player, inside the game.
See the Menu Command [S].

GETTING STARTED
---------------
The fastest possible way to either test or install this product, and
usually the most efficient, is to have all Files in the unzipped archive in
either a Sub-Directory on your Hard Disk, or on a Floppy Diskette.

TEST IT
-------
You may easily Demo the Door Game prior to installation, by typing
PRODRAGS /L. This will run the game in LOCAL Mode and independent of any
BBS. It can even be run as a Home Game, in this manner.

INSTALL IT
----------
Install AHRA ProDrags by typing INSTALL while within the Directory or
external Floppy Disk where the Distributiion Files reside. It is assumed
that they have already been decompressed, and placed in a convenient
directory or on a floppy disk.

INSTALL virtually does everything for you, and is highly recommended. It
creates what normally is one complete operating DoorGame, with appropriate
files created for your system, and placed in the proper locations. If you
are using multiple nodes, copy the .BAT files and .CFG files created by
install, (normally PRODRAGS.BAT and PRODRAGS.CFG), to the locations needed
to run with the other node(s), and then edit as necessary.

In most cases the only lines of the .BAT file that need to be edited for
additional nodes, will be the last line, which changes you back to the
operating directory before the game began. In the case of the .CFG file,
normally only the first line needs editing for other nodes.

Here is a typical PRODRAGS.BAT file, created by install with your input.

@ECHO OFF                    <---IF YOU'D RATHER NOT SEE THINGS HAPPENING
CD \BBS\NODE1\DOORS\PRODRAGS <---CHANGE TO WHEREVER THE GAME IS LOCATED
PRODRAGS PRODRAGS.CFG        <---RUN PRODRAGS ACCORDING TO PRODRAGS.CFG
COPY BLTG. C:\BBS\BULLETINS\BLT5G.  <--PLACE BULLETINS WHERE YOU WANT THEM
COPY BLT. C:\BBS\BULLETINS\BLT5.    <--SAME AS ABOVE (ASCII BULLETIN)
CD \BBS                             <--GO BACK WHERE THE BBS SOFTWARE IS
BBS                <----POSSIBLY NEEDED IN SOME CASES TO BRING BACK THE BBS

If you registered PRODRAGS and got the DOORGraf Utilities with WATCHER, and
the DSA Sysop Utility, the above PRODRAGS.BAT might look more like this:

@ECHO OFF                    <---IF YOU'D RATHER NOT SEE THINGS HAPPENING
DSA                          <---CHANGE SYSOP NAME IF APPLICABLE
WATCHER PRODRAGS.LOG         <---LOG GAME ENTRY INTO THE LOG FOR DOORGRAF
CD \BBS\NODE1\DOORS\PRODRAGS <---CHANGE TO WHEREVER THE GAME IS LOCATED
PRODRAGS PRODRAGS.CFG        <---RUN PRODRAGS ACCORDING TO PRODRAGS.CFG
COPY BLTG. C:\BBS\BULLETINS\BLT5G.  <--PLACE BULLETINS WHERE YOU WANT THEM
COPY BLT. C:\BBS\BULLETINS\BLT5.    <--SAME AS ABOVE (ASCII BULLETIN)
CD \BBS                             <--GO BACK WHERE THE BBS SOFTWARE IS
BBS                <----POSSIBLY NEEDED IN SOME CASES TO BRING BACK THE BBS

The basic format for PRODRAGS.CFG is:

C:\BBS\DOOR.SYS    (DORINFO1.DEF OPTIONAL, BUT NOT PREFERRED)
5
30
<---(Blank for Standard IRQ, but still must be here, even tho blank)
       <---(Blank for Standard Port Address, but still must be here)
=============================* DETAILS *===================================
** LINES 1-3 MUST BE FILLED IN. LINES 4-5 MUST BE USED OR BE LEFT BLANK   **
** PLEASE LEAVE THESE NOTES IN THIS FILE AND SIMPLY ALTER THE LINES ABOVE **
** IF USING MULTINODE, WITH MORE THAN ONE .CFG FILE, JUST COPY THIS FILE  **
** TO THE .CFG FILE USED BY OTHER NODES. (i.e. PRODRAG2.CFG)              **
===========================================================================
Line 1 = Path to DOOR User Interface File (Sometimes called drop file)
Line 2 = Number of PRODRAGS races allowed per day. (5 if unregistered).
Line 3 = Minutes allowed each Session
===========================================================================
 ** LINES 4 & 5 ARE FOR ADVANCED USERS. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO PUT **
 ** PUT IN THESE LINES, LEAVE THEM BLANK.. STANDARD VALUES WILL BE USED **
===========================================================================
Line 4 = IRQ for this Node. (If STANDARD then COM1 & 3 = 4, COM2 & 4 = 3)
         Otherwise assign your Non-Standard IRQ for this COM Port. If you
         don't know, leave blank and the STANDARD will be used.
Line 5 = Use ONLY if you are using a NON-STANDARD COMM PORT ADDRESS. Or else
         leave line blank. If line is left blank, the blank line still must
         be there. If a Non-Standard Port address is entered here, it must
         be in HEXIDECIMAL format and must be exactly 4 Digits. i.e.  03F8
==========================================================================

Install may be performed manually, using the above file formats, but we can't
imagine why anyone would want to do that.

If you want to use Node Variables, i.e. %wcNODE%, and use the .BAT and .CFG
files for multiple nodes, the Door can run this way as well. Most BBS
Software can run doors either way. Yours is probably among these.

INSTALL will do it in the standard way. If you prefer Node Variables anyway,
Edit and adjust files as needed for Node Variable installation. There is some
variation in method, depending on your BBS Software.

We recommend the independent .BAT file method (as done by INSTALL), over the
Node Variable or Node ID method, since it is simpler, uses less memory, and
is much easier to comprehend.

Standard Disclaimer
-------------------
AHRA ProDrags has been extensively tested, and should provide no possibility
of harm to your system in any way. However, no warrantees, either expressed
or implied are provided with this software and one must run it purely at
his/her own risk, without liability to UltraSoft or to the author(s).

Compatibility overview
------------------------
AHRA ProDrags is currently capable of being operated on any BBS System that
uses a DOOR.SYS or a DORINFOX.DEF door interface file. This includes:
GAP/PCBoard/RoboBoard/WildCat/RBBS/QuickBBS/Random Access and many others,
not to exclude other BBS Software that will run doors for the above. In some
cases, a conversion utility such as QKDoor.EXE or DoorFrame might be needed
to convert another form of Drop File, preferably to DOOR.SYS, (since this is
a highly animated Game, and requires awareness of the Caller's connect speed)
or DORINFOX.DEF, (2nd choice), which does not pass the caller's connect speed
to the Door, but is accomodated inside the Door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have the option, PLEASE use DOOR.SYS. It is a far superior file, to
DORINFO1.DEF.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
AHRA PRodrags may also be run at any Baud Rate up to 115,200bps and is
compatible with COM1 through COM4 with the current release. It does not
directly support non-standard Com Port arrangements such as Digiboards.

AHRA Prodrags is Multi-Node aware, and has been tested successfully with
and without DesqView. Standard IRQ's are 4 for COM1 and COM3 and 3 for COM2
and COM4. Use with non-standard IRQ arrangements is introduced in this
Release, as is NON-STANDARD Port Addressing. Any COM Port can now be used
with an IRQ assignment of 2-15. If Non-Standard IRQ's are used, they MUST be
defined in Line 4 of the applicable PRODRAGS.CFG file(s). Otherwise Line 4
MUST be left blank, but it still must be there.. Line 5 contains the HEX
address of the Com Port, only IF non-standard. Otherwise it should also be
left blank.              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Running with DesqView
------------------------
AHRA ProDrags runs very well with QuarterDeck's DesqView Multi-Tasker. The
only consideration necessary for this mode of operation is to activate the
ANSI driver from QuarterDeck, prior to calling the game, unless it has already
been made resident by the BBS or some other program. In this case, place
the line  C:\DV\DVANSI.COM  as the first line in your batch file which calls
the game. (i.e. PRODRAGS.BAT)  MSDOS's ANSI.SYS is ignored by DesqView and is
replaced when necessary by DVANSI.COM, a TSR. This DoorGame requires ANSI
support to run properly.

Running with Windows & OS/2
---------------------------
Most UltraSoft Doors have been tested running on BBS Systems under MicroSoft
Windows and also under IBM OS/2. they also reportedly run well under Major
BBS from Galacticom, but we cannot support this setup extensively, since we
do not have that set-up in house, to test.

While Fossil Drivers are not needed or recommended, (ProDrags contains all
it's own internal Comm Interface Routines), ProDrags and similar UltraSoft
Doors are running in many environments with Fossils. There seems to be no
problem of any kind using a Fossil, but again, this door does not need or
even want one, so please do not load a fossil for the sake of this game.

Note:
-----------
AHRA ProDrags is maintenance free, in that no Maintenance program exists
or is necessary for any reason. All data is fully updated at PLAY time.

ProDrags is designed to store all data files at their current state, in the
event of abnormal terminations, such as Lost Carrier. However, no door can
always recover from any possible operational distruption, so here is yet
another precautionary measure to ensure against corruption of files.
We recommend backing up DRIVERS.DAT files during a nightly BBS Event process.

If there are any unforseen complications with the use of this door game, in
any configuration, we would appreciate hearing about it. Please notify the
author(s) at one of the locations shown at the beginning of this document.

Manual Installation
-------------------
We have attempted to keep simplicity at the forefront in designing UltraSoft
Games. We hope installation is among the simplest you have ever encountered.
Again, the INSTALL process is by far the easiest, but here are additional
manual guidelines, if ever needed.

STEP 1: Create a directory where the Door Game will reside.
i.e.   C:\BBS\DOORS\PRODRAGS

STEP 2: Expand all of the files in the distribution package into the new
Directory.

STEP 3: Create a BAT file to call the Game from your BBS System. This
often will reside in your BBS default directory, but sometimes elsewhere.
i.e.   C:\BBS\PRODRAGS.BAT

STEP 4: Edit the existing PRODRAGS.CFG file (and the PRODRAGx.CFG file(s) (if
running Multi-Node) to indicate your operational preferences as shown earlier.

STEP 5: Enjoy the game and feel free to offer suggestions for future
enhancement releases.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRODRAGS creates User Bulletins as well, called:

BLTG.   -for the ANSI graphics Bulletin
BLT.    -for the ASCII Bulletin

Normally these would be copied to wherever you like, as a part of the .BAT
file that brings up the game and after execution of the game. For example:

==PRODRAGS.BAT=================================================================
CD\BBS\DOORS\PRODRAGS
PRODRAGS PRODRAGS.CFG
copy bltg. C:\BBS\GEN\BLT15G.   <--copy bltg. to your chosen ANSI Bulletin
copy blt. C:\BBS\GEN\BLT15.     <--copy blt.  to your chosen ASCII Bulletin
CD\BBS
BBS      <--if needed with your BBS software
============================================================================

In this case, these lines should be inserted in the BAT file just after the
line PRODRAGS PRODRAGS.CFG, as shown above.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRODRAGS also responds to any alternate .CFG file you choose, by including
the name of the .CFG file on the command line as a parameter.
i.e.  PRODRAGS OTHER.CFG  ..   or    PRODRAGS PRODRAG2.CFG   (for Node 2)
Usually the only difference between the two files is line 1 (Path to DOOR.SYS)
Obviously, that .CFG file must exist, and if it is in some other directory,
that Path must be included in the parameter.
i.e. PRODRAGS C:\BBS\OTHERDIR\OTHER.CFG

REGISTRATION
---------------
For continued development of the variety of UltraSoft products, including
this one, please register withing a period of 30 days after installation and
testing. This will entitle you to all future version updates as a Registered
Licensee. You then must only retain your PRODRAGS.SYS file and either order
the product directly from UltraSoft at the nominal cost of $6.00 (not to be
confused with initial Registration) for Media, Shipping and Handling or
simply download the newer shareware version from your favorite BBS, copying
in your Registered PRODRAGS.SYS file into the PRODRAGS subdirectory. This
file CANNOT be edited/altered in any way, without adverse effect to the game.

The Unregistered version of PRODRAGS has some restrictions. We regret that
this is necessary, but for further development of this and many other
UltraSoft products, registration revenues must be realized. Earlier
unrestricted versions of our variety of products proved to us that unrestricted
products are not often registered by the public, while restricted products are.
We wish this were not the case, since after developing what one hopes is an
exciting and interesting DoorGame, the LAST thing we want to do is restrict
how much it can be played. But alas, we need to eat and pay the rent too, and
this is how we are able to do that, and continue developing other products
for you to use and enjoy.

This product, like other UltraSoft DoorGames, has undergone many enhancements,
design changes, re-writes after Beta Test phases, and more testing and
rewrites. So many many hours have gone into producing something special and
entertaining for your BBS and your users. Like others who go into an office,
or elsewhere, and work hard on what they do, we deserve to be paid for what
we do also.

In the unRegistered version, there are a maximum number of 5 races that can
be run by any caller in one day. Registration makes this unlimited and
completely under control of the Licensed Sysop. It also credits the Sysop
with his/her name at the top of the Game Screens and on initial caller
entry into the game.

There are other achives enclosed, one of which contains ANSI and ASCII
artwork that can be used as News Files or Bulletins to make your callers
more aware of the existance of AHRA PRoDrags among your Door Games.

     If you haven't already done so,              Aloha!
     Please Register, and Enjoy!                  Steve Hansen
                                                  UltraSoft - Hawaii