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1995-05-10
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Railroad Empires(RRX)(tm)v2.20 Copyright(C) 1993,95 Steven R. Lorenz
An Exdx Systems Development
DISCLAIMER
The author of RRX has taken every precaution to insure that no harm
or damage will occur on computer systems operating the RRX package.
Nevertheless, the author of RRX shall NOT be held liable for what-
ever may happen on your computer system or to any computer systems
which connects to your own as a result of operating the RRX package.
The user assumes full responsibility for the correct operation of
this software package, whether harm or damage results from software
error, hardware malfunction, or operator error. NO warranties are
offered, expressly stated or implied, including without limitation
or restriction any warranties of operation for a particular purpose
and/or merchantability.
LICENSE AGREEMENT
The RRX menu program, option programs, maintenance programs, and
documentation are copyrighted products of Steven R. Lorenz. Steven R.
Lorenz reserves all rights to these products. This is protected by the
United States of America (USA) and International Copyright Laws. In
no way shall the components of the RRX software package be reproduced
or modified in any form or method without prior expressly written
permission from Steven R. Lorenz.
Tampering with or altering the contents or integrity of the RRX soft-
ware package is prohibited. No fee may be charged by any agency other
than Steven R. Lorenz or Exdx Systems beyond the cost of distributing
unregistered copies without prior expressly written permission from
Steven R. Lorenz.
A major portion of this software was written by Scott Baker.
Mr. Baker's Doordriver kit has been used for the communications and
interrupt handling and this part of the software remains copyrighted
by him.
RRX is distributed under the Shareware concept. You are allowed to
operate RRX for a trial period of forty-five (45) days. After this
trial period, you must register RRX or discontinue its usage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
REGISTRATION
Registration of RRX is mandatory if you wish to continue using RRX past the
forty-five day trial period. RRX allows up to 99 games to be run.
The following two features are reserved for registered games:
1. Super-express trains can be purchased.
2. Express highball (automatic) movement.
Rip detect will occur if Rip is not found per the dropfile (WC door.sys).
If played on the local level the game will show ANSI graphics.
Sysop Instructions;
Railroad Empires supports a multitude of different BBS systems.
Setup:
Step 1: Create a Sub-Directory called RRX2.
Move RRX2.zip to this directory.
Once there type <path>pkunzip -d RRX2.zip.
This will create and load the correct sub-directories with the proper
files.
Step 2. If you did not use the -d switch then you will have to create four
subdirectories of RRX2; called DATA, HELP, MENU and RIP.
All .exe and .ovr programs and .bat files should be in RRX2 directory.
All .dat, ix and .RRX files should be in DATA and all helpX.txt and
.doc should be put into HELP. All MenuX.txt files should be put into
the MENU directory. At start all .rip should be place in the Rip
directory.
Once the game is registered put the RRX2.key in the RRX2 directory.
C:-- RRX2
|__ DATA
|__ HELP
|__ MENU
|__ RIP
Step 3. Customize the RRX2.CTL file. This is a file that contains crucial
information that RRX needs to run. The RRX2.CTL file itself explains
what information it needs. If you have fossil drivers be sure to
uncomment the 'fossil' option. If you have a modem set to a non-std
IRQ be sure to use the PORT# option for that com port.
Where to put this file?
Put this file wherever you are running RRX2GAME.exe from. If you are
running multi-node you could put a copy in each node directory and run
from there. If you opt to change directory to the RRX2 directory put
the file here. Two example door#.bat files are included. These show
two different ways that the door can be run. You do not have to do
a changedirectory to run the game. The game finds where it is being
run from and uses that as part of its path.
If you have more than one Exdx system game you can rename this file to
exdx.ctl and all games will use it if their respective .ctl file is
not found. (versions EAW2.12+, RAW2.12+).
Step 4. In order to run the (online) RRX2GAME.exe program the following
parameters may be used.
"/Bxxxxx" This tells RRX2GAME.exe to lock its baud rate at
xxxxx. In order to get the most efficiency out of a high speed
error correcting modem (9600 baud or above), you may lock the baud
rate to a speed higher than what the caller is actually using.
By locking the baud to say 38,400, the modem can compress text data
that is being sent and achieve a baud rate much higher than the
actual transmission rate.
This will lock the baud rate at the same value for all nodes that
use this command line. If you perfer a more selective way to lock
baud use 'LOCKBAUD' command in the RRX2.ctl file.
"/Cx" (where x is 1..4) This specifies a comport number.
Some bbs software does not create door information files (dropfiles)
that contain the comport number. If your bbs does have a comport
listed in the dropfile then there is no need for this parameter.
The default is comport 0, local mode.
"/E" - Expanded Memory Specification If your machine has over one
megabyte of memory, then you may have some available. RRX2 can
utilize EMS to improve game performance and reduce conventional
memory requirements.
This command will tell RRX2GAME.exe to use EMS memory to hold its
overlay buffer. Otherwise disc area may be used to hold this buffer.
This needs a memory manager and when enabled and is compatible with
DESQview.
"/L" This tells RRX2GAME.exe to load up in LOCAL mode.
This is good for testing or when a sysop just wants to "try out" the
door without messing with his BBS setup. The "/L" mode will ask the
user for his name and run the door in local mode.
"/Nx" (where x is 1..9) This specifies a "node number".
Some bbs software support multinode environments in which you must
know the node number of the drop file to use. For example, RBBS-PC
uses DORINFOx.DEF. If you specified "/N2" then RRX2GAME.exe would
use DORINFO2.DEF.
"/Pyyy" This specifies the path to the drop files.
For example, "/PC:\WC30\WCWORK\NODE1" would tell RRX2GAME.exe to
look for the drop file in C:\WC30\WCWORK\NODE1. If this is left out
the program assumes the drop file is local.
Two sample .bat files are included --> Door1.bat.
--> Door2.bat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
WC digiboard help. Using the digifos 13 fossil you can run the
game using the following commands:
DF LOCK %WCPORTID%
CD\DOORS\RRX2
C:\DOORS\RRX2\RRX2GAME /PC:WC30\WCWORK\NODE%WCNODEID%
CD\WC30\WCWORK\NODE%WCNODEID%
DF OFF %WCPORTID%
EXIT
Step 5. Turn maintenance program RRX2TURN.exe can be run 1,2,3...7 times a
week or however often the sysop wants. This updates the time
record, makes weather, outputs a text file NEWSxx.TXT (xx is the
game number) into the DATA subdirectory. This can be made into a
bulletin for your BBS. The NEWSxx.rip is also created here but it
needs some editing to be useful as a bulletin. The easiest thing
to do is to create a seperate .rip file using your favorite editor.
This file will contain the reset or framing rip code need for your
own particular bbs. Then use dos copy to make a joined file as
a bulletin. Example:
copy news01.rip+reset.rip bulletin##.rip
Parameters:
"x" (Where x is 1,2...). This tells the RRX2TURN program to run
the turn for game #x. List the game numbers to be run as
parameters. (Do not use "/" here).
"/A" This directs RRX2turn to be run automatically for all
games that have the full 6 players. Completed games are skipped.
Number parms are ignored. A log file (RRX2TURN.log) is created in
the DATA directory. This can be made into a bulletin in order to
notify players that their game has started.
Example 1:
cd c:\BBS\doors\rrx2
rrx2turn.exe /A
cd c:\BBS
This tells RRX2TURN to run the turns for all full active games.
Example 2:
c:\BBS\doors\rrx2\rrx2turn.exe 1 2 3 5
This tells RRX2TURN to run the turns for games 1,2,3 and 5.
A sample event file (EVENT1.bat) is included.
Step 6. To insure proper multi-node use DOS SHARE must be loaded prior to
the game and prior to DESQview.
Step 7. This program uses quite a few files. If running on a single line
it may require a setting of FILES=30 BUFFERS=20. For a multiple
line BBS add at least 15 files per additional line.
Sysop Config:
Included is a utility program called RRX2UTIL. This program has only
four options. The first allows the sysop to change the name of the
players of a selected game. Second, it allows the sysop to change
the Railroad company name of selected players. The third option will
rebuild critical database indexes. (Game.IX, Train.IX, Railroad.IX).
This should only be done if these have been corrupted and the game
will not run. Other data bases can be either be restored from the
originals or deleted if they become corrupted.
The last option allows the sysop to change the number of game days
per turn.
No parmameters are available:
Upgrade:
If you currently have a registered copy of RRX1.xx you simply install
the RRX2 game as described and copy the RRX.Key to RRX2.key and put
this in the RRX2 directory.
Finally:
Copy the RRXICONS.zip file to your files area and allow Rip users to
download this in order to put the icons therein in their ICONS sub.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
1.Some of a screen is missing: This is caused when only part of a Ripscript
sequence is acted on by the terminal program. Some code is lost along the
way. Starting from the host end make sure your BBS modem baud rate is high
enough (but not higher than it can handle). If some users are Ok but others
are not, have the user check to make sure he has the modem rate high enough.
Also, make sure that he has not set the rate higher than his modem can
handle.
2.Users are getting weird or a messed up map along some with good graphics.
You may have to lock the port (or unlock it). Whichever way your port is
set for your bbs you must do the same for the game. You cannot lock your
bbs and run the game unlocked.
3.If the movement of train icons is real slow the user should compress and
unfragment his hard drive. Some compressers allow one to move files to the
front of the drive for faster access. The user should do this for the term
program and the icons. (The term program may have to be reinstalled).
COMMON ERROR CODES
3 Path not found. The /z parm is incorrect or directory names are missing
or incorrect.
201 Files not found. Check to make sure that there are files in the Data
subdirectory.
208 Overlay file not found. Your setup or door bat file is incorrect.
Notes - While the game allows simultaineous multi-node play it does not update
certain factors dynamically. In particular the rates that one player charges
another is set for the entire login. Also the map does not update the positions
of other trains while a player is in the Train Option. It will update the map
if you leave the option and return again. This will prevent train races where
a player on one node tries to race in front of another on a different node in
order to constantly delay him.
History
1.00 2/15/93 First version released.
1.01 Corrected problem of Doordriver has of sending too fast when a high speed
modem sends to a slow speed modem using the Door.sys drop file. Also
removed the /S sysop option.
1.02 Corrected train counting problem. Sometimes game would not allow a player
to buy a new train even though he did not have the maximum limit of four.
Train counts are done before a new train is offered for sale.
New RRXUtil allows sysop to change number of game days per turn.
1.03 Corrected mail 'to many files open' problem.
1.04 Corrected new mail notice problem. Corrected too many railroads for sale
problems. Added ANSI graphic entry screen.
1.05 Soft slow down for high speed transfer to 2400 baud modems was a little
too much in the case of the ANSI screen. This should make the screen
showing run at normal time.
1.06 Allows 4 games to be run on unregistered version.
1.10 Allows sysop to specify path to rrx directory other than off the root.
1.11 /A parm (automatic play) for RRXTurn added. RRXTurn.log file
displays what game turn(s) were last updated.
2.00 10/1993 Rip icons and graphics added to the game. New method of file path
direction. X-press Highball option added to train subsystem.
Special Delivery event added. Many new Rip features. IRQs 0-15 supported.
CTS/RTS supported.
2.01 10/20/93 fixed bug in ripscript that messed up the map icons when viewed
with QmodemPro only.
2.02 12/07/93 Added Net Worth in Newsxx file. Also greatest net worth is report
ed in .log file. User fee per mile varys per engine type. In rrx2.ctl RBBS
Dorinfo# ansi graphics mode is now different than Dorinfo# of Quick, R.A.,
and others. Previously color1 option was used to fix color mode.
2.03 Maximum internal ports speed set to maximum port if rate is over 115,200.
The /z parameter has been eliminated.
2.04 It appears some bbses have buffered their modems. This causes some loss
to the Rip detect feature, thus I slowed down the Rip detect to account
for the slowness by buffering. Hope this helps.
2.10 Support for 38,400 fossils and file share in networked bbses.
2.11 Fixed problem that OS/2 serial IO drivers were locking on exit.
2.12 Fixed problem with sending mail to all tycoons.
2.13 Added XFOSSIL option in rrx2.ctl file to support hyper speed X00 fossil
driver.
2.18 Fixed some fossil things with the implementation of DDPlus6.4
2.20 Incorporated DDplus7 and new file locking procedure.
Future
Outside of any bug fixes RRX2 will be upgraded to take advantage of new
Ripscript features. (But, I'll try not get out ahead of the version the
majority of players are using.)
Will try do develop support for Hayes ESP port card. To support speeds
up to 921,600 bps.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary beta site: Threshold of Origin (509) 248-5478
sysop: Don Rowe
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other ANSI only games by Exdx Systems:
Empires at War 2 (EAW2) a Napoleonic warfare strategy conquest game.
Romans at War 2 (RAW2) an Ancient warfare strategy conquest game.
Star Force Commander - Space War battle game.
..............................................................................
DESQview is a registered trademark of Quarterdeck Office Systems.
Doordriver kit is proprietary software by Scott Baker.
Ripscript & Ripterm are registered trademarks of TeleGrafix Communications.
QmodemPro is a registered trademark of Mustang Software, Inc.
=======================================================================
Railroad Empires(tm) LICENSE ORDER FORM
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Check
One Description Each Total
--- ----------------------------------- ------ -----------
[ ] Railroad Empires 2 $25.00 ___________
[ ] Package Deal - EAW2,RAW2 and RRX2 all for
only................................... $60.00 ___________
[ ] I am a already a registered licensee of
EAW2,RAW2. ($5.00) discount
[ ] 1.44M 3.5" disk
[ ] I will dial into The Officers' Club BBS and download
the files and key.
(818) 249-8579 28800 v42bis
** Make check out to: exdx systems
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SHIPPING AND HANDLING:
(Not required on dial in download orders)
Inside U.S. $2.50 ___________
Canada $4.00 ___________
Outside U.S. and Canada $10.00 ___________
TOTAL ___________
Upon registration you will receive a registration key file to be
included in your RRX2 directory which will allow the entry screen
to display both your BBS's name and the sysop's name.
=======================================================================
ENTER SYSOP AND BBS NAME AS YOU WANT THEM TO APPEAR IN THE ENTRY SCREEN:
SYSOP NAME: __.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__
BBS NAME: __.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__.__
(Letters a-z,A-Z,-,/,&,=,>,<)
=======================================================================
SHIP TO: NAME: ________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________
_________________________________________ZIP____________
PHONE: VOICE: (______)_______________ BBS: (______)________________
TYPE OF BBS SOFTWARE: ________________________ Multi-line?___________
HOW YOU HEARD OF THE GAME: ____________________________________________
Mail to:
ATTN: Railroad Empires
exdx systems
4010 Mayfield Ave.
La Crescenta, CA 91214