ftp.wwiv.com/ftp.wwiv.com.zip/ftp.wwiv.com/pub/BBS/LUNAT20E.ZIP/LUNATIX.DOC

Text File | 1995-05-27 | 11KB | 189 lines

                           =----------------------=
                              LUNATIX Vers. 2.0e
                           =----------------------=
                            Written by Mike Snyder
                  (C) 1995 by Hunter Computer and Mike Snyder
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                   This game is Shareware... if you plan to
                   continue using it, you are required to
                   Register it for $15 (or $16 by credit card).
                   And hey... when you register... your
                   players can actually win the game... Use
                   the REGISTER.TXT form to register Lunatix.
                  -------------------------------------------
   The Newest version available directly from Orion's Realm BBS 405-924-7939
 Also from Danger Zone BBS 405-332-4059, Fidonet 1:3806/11 Magic Name "LUNATIX"
                  -------------------------------------------

       Lunatix is a DOOR game, which means it was designed soley for the
       purpose of online play.  It has been successfully run as a shelled-
       to program from a terminal host mode (by using a DOOR file with
       default settings) but it was designed for play over a BBS.  Lunatix
       will read info from a "drop" file your BBS creates.

       Lunatix is pretty easy to install:

       1) First of all, unzip all the main files into a directory on your
          master "server" node, such as C:\LUNATIX... if you're reading this,
          you've probably already done that.

       2) Next, run the INSTALL.EXE program.  You need to select every
          option from the main install menu.
          A) This is how you enter your Registration code once you register.
          B) Setup Lunatix.Cfg -- this creates a configuration file for
             Lunatix, which contains a few Sysop-selectable things, such as
             the Insane Assylum name, max closet fights per day, etc...
          C) Create .DAT and .TXT files -- just do this once, unless these
             files later become corrupted.
          D) Create Linkto.BBS -- this creates a "handle" file between
             Lunatix and the DOOR drop file of your choice.  If your door
             format is listed in the Linkto sub-menu, you'll have no
             problem... just select it, then at the prompts enter the
             path to your drop file, your modem setup (N81, E71, or
             whatever), and your IRQ number (0 for default, or a valid
             IRQ value).
             Special NOTE: In some (few) cases, Lunatix has been known to
             lock up.  This is just a warning, I've taken steps towards
             fixing this problem.  An option when creating LINKTO.BBS from
             within the install program is "Release vectors upon exit."
             The valid answers are 0 (no) and 1 (yes).  If you install, and
             it locks up, try re-installing using the other value.
          E) Reset player files -- Only do this once, unless the player
             files get corrupted... and they might get corrupted if you
             attempt to edit them with a text editor -- although the
             Lunatix player data file is no longer as volatile as it was,
             you can still mess it up if you diddle with it.

       3) Next, add Lunatix to your Online Games (Doors) menu within your
          BBS.  A batch file will probably be needed, to change to the
          Lunatix directory then run Lunatix.  For example, your BBS may
          call a LUN.BAT (that you make) which might like one of these:

             ;for single or master-node
             @ECHO OFF           ;don't echo DOS batch commands
             CD C:\LUNATIX       ;change to local copy of Lunatix
             LUNATIX.EXE         ;run local copy of Lunatix
             CD C:\RENEGADE      ;return to BBS directory

             ;for any other nodes (sample)
             @ECHO OFF           ;turn DOS command echo off
             CD C:\LUNATIX       ;change to local Lunatix "config" directory
             COPY E:\RENEGADE\CALLINFO.BBS C: ;optional - copy of drop file
             E:\LUNATIX\LUNATIX  ;run remote copy of Lunatix
             CD C:\RENEGADE      ;return to BBS directory

          Single-node play is the easiest... a simple batch file will run the
          game with no problem!  However, Lunatix has been designed to support
          multiple nodes... this usually refers to "linked" computers, but may
          also work for a multi-tasking single computer by making different
          directories to contain each Node's data (2 files required).

  4) MULTI-NODE OPERATION: New multi-node support was added in version 1.3a.
     This means, at best, you can have just 1 copy of Lunatix on your "server"
     node, which is accessable by all other nodes via a drive path (D: E: F:
     or whatever).  Multi-node setup requires a general knowledge of network
     structure and operation, but here's how it works:

     Install Lunatix on node 1 as usual.  Pay close attention to any mention
     for path names.  REMEMBER: Path names are specific to each node!  All
     nodes may have a common D: drive, which is actually the C: drive on
     your server... keep this in mind and use your own configuration when
     setting up Lunatix for multi-node play.

     Okay, You'll install Lunatix on the server as usual.  No problems there,
     I hope.  Now, You get to run the Install program again for each node.
     Begin by making a Lunatix directory on each node.  If you're multi-tasking
     on the same computer, make a separate directory for each "node" and
     continue using the same steps:

     Change directories into the Lunatix Node directory.  Over the network,
     you can run the install program from the server (ex. E:\LUNATIX\INSTALL).
     Or, you can run a copy of the install locally.  The only two functions
     you will need to do on a node are "Create Linkto.BBS" and "Create
     Lunatix.CFG."  You'll also have to select "enter registration code" for
     EACH NODE if you have already registered the game.  Remember, when setting
     up the Linkto and Config, you must answer all path-related questions AS
     SEEN BY the current node.  If one node accesses the server's Lunatix
     directory as F:\LUNATIX\ then be sure to enter this in the path spec.
     If yet another node accesses the same drive as D:\LUNATIX\ be sure to
     enter it when you setup that node.

     To run Lunatix from node 1, just have that node call the master copy via a
     batch file as outlined above.  To run from other nodes, the batch file must
     CD (change directory) into the Lunatix Node directory on the specific node,
     (which contains a node-specific LINKTO.BBS and LUNATIX.CFG.  While in this
     directory, the batch file should run a copy of Lunatix.exe -- from the
     server Lunatix directory, or from a local directory... in this way, you
     only need to duplicate 2 small data files -- not the entire program --
     to run multi-node!

     Remember, Lunatix reads from a drop file... which is found via the
     Linkto.BBS linking data file.  You will create a node-specific version
     of the Linkto on each node, so you can select for each node to read the
     drop file from a seperate directory or drive or whatever.  How you handle
     this is entirely up to you.  The first line of each node's Lunatix batch
     file could copy the drop file into the Lunatix node directory, and Linkto
     could be set up to read from the Lunatix node directory.  For a very few
     nodes, the Linkto could be set up to read the drop file directly from
     your BBS directory, although I strongly recommend that your batch file
     copy the drop file... this way it is created and preserved, hopefully
     before another node running from the same BBS directory overwrites it!

     REMEMBER THIS: For multinode operation, it is VERY important that the
     system dates on each node are very close!  When the time is very much
     out of alignment, the automatic daily event may be ran more than once.

     It sounds really complicated, but it isn't.  If this jargon is all too
     vague, you can always register, which will entitle you to Lunatix Tech
     support -- you can leave messages to the sysop of Orion's Realm about
     your specific situation, and I'll do my best to help you out... BUT...
     read these docs first to be sure the problem hasn't already been solved
     here!

  Lunatix now has IGM support!  See the STRUCTS.DOC file for an explanation
  of the data files, and info about creating your own IGM!  NOTE: If you
  create an IGM, it MUST be approved by us before you release it, otherwise
  it will be considered a hack, and we will encourage Lunatix users to
  avoid using it.

  The addition of IGM support is meant to increase the ever-growing popularity
  of Lunatix.  IGM's will work in an unregistered version of Lunatix.  We are
  taking a chance with this, in the hopes that great IGM's will prompt more
  Sysops to register Lunatix, although the IGM's work regardless.

  Note: A maximum of 9 IGM's will be read from the IGM.DAT file, so as the
  volume of available IGM's grow, you need to pick the best once to use. :)

       If you don't have a BBS, Lunatix can still be run in "local" mode
       on your system for evaluation purposes.  To do this, install
       Lunatix as normal, using "CALLINFO.BBS" Wildcat door as your Door
       type in the Install LINKTO.BBS configuration.  Then, use the
       included CALLINFO.BBS file.... you'll need a text editor to change
       the top line to your name... then the BBS will use this when mapping
       it to another "alias" name you choose.  You might keep a backup
       of the sample CALLINFO.BBS file in case your BBS copies over it
       and you wish to run Lunatix in No-BBS local mode.

       Also, read the LEGAL.TXT file for legal info on Lunatix.  The
       LISTING.DAT contains a list of all files that should be included
       within the Lunatix archive -- all must be included, and no more,
       or you received an illegal copy of Lunatix...

       Don't let that get you down... because Lunatix is definitely Share-
       Ware... you are free to distribute it as specified in LEGAL.TXT.
       However, we only ask that the original game remain intact with
       no modifications when distributed.  Also, when you're installing,
       check out the "Why should I register Lunatix?" option for a few
       good reasons to spend a mere $15 towards the enjoyment of your
       users.  :)

       A lot of the ideas for Lunatix came from some very creative people.
       I would like to thank Robert Graham of Danger Zone BBS for his help
       with the sysop-side of the screen, as well as numerous ideas and
       bug finding.  Also, thanks to Ray Brister for a lot of creative
       help in this game's infancy, and to Casie Graham (for the "map"
       idea among other things).