ftp.wwiv.com/ftp.wwiv.com.zip/ftp.wwiv.com/pub/DOOR/CS58A.ZIP/HISTORY.DOC

Text File | 1993-10-16 | 12KB | 294 lines

VERSION HISTORY


Version 3.0 (02/15/89)

While Card Sharks has been available for play on my BBS for over a year,
this is the first attempt at releasing a completely standalone program for
others use.


Version 3.1 (03/01/89)

Fixed several bugs including a problem with the program in rolling over
the previous months scores. The game would rollover the scores fine the
first month, but subsequent rollovers caused the game to go into a
screeching halt. With this fix also comes improved error handling so that
if something else quirky does arise the program will exit gracefully back
to the BBS instead of just dieing.

Fixed a minor problem with the input of using 'H'alf of bank. If a person
had only $1 the program would round the bet down to zero. Now if the person
has only $1 left to wager, half the bet would be the $1 remaining.

Added a new file CS.REG which contains information on whom the program is
registered. Unregistered programs are given the default file that labels
the program as being unregistered. Failure to keep this program in the
same directory as the Card Sharks program itself or altering this file
will result in the game refusing to operate. This 'feature' makes it
very simple for me to pass along a registered 'copy' to those who register
as all I need to do is hand out their own personalized CS.REG file.



Version 3.2  (05/05/89)

Once again the problem with the previous months scoreboard rolling over
has appeared. Seems that the problem only occurs when a remote call is
the first call of the month. If the sysop was the first call (locally)
the rollover worked fine. I have once again reworked the code and hope
this is the final time to call out the pest control for this problem.

Changed the program so that the sysop must now pass the parameter 'new'
to initialize a new game. Passing the parameter 'NEW', ie. CS NEW,
will cause the game to create new data files for the game.

Also added some more color to the game by now displaying the card numbers
and suites in a different color than the card itself.


Version 3.3  (06/01/89)

The bug with the rollover still managed to appear, but this time it's
next to guaranteed that the monthly score rollovers will work without
fail. A conflict between my code and the CatPatch routines made it
difficult to uncover. This function has now been tested and retested to
ensure proper handling of the routine.

Expanded the scoreboard field to allow well over a ZILLION points to be
displayed. Yes, it happened, a real duel was underway with two players
rolling their scores into the zillions on my board.



Version 4.0  (09/22/89)

First off, there have been no problems reported with the monthly rollover
of the scoreboard. Told you is was nearly guaranteed that it would work
properly this time.

Added option to run as a non-BBS program (stand alone).

Enhanced the display to show actual suit cards (a club, heart, spade
and diamond) instead of 'C', 'H','S' and 'D' respectively if the user
selects ANSI graphics display.

Added multi-BBS support to allow Card Sharks to be run on PCBoard v14.x,
QBBS, RBBS 15.1c and of course Wildcat.

Recoded the card display option to update only the card changed. Previously
if a user changed the card after jumping to the next row the last card
on the previous row was also changed.

Found that some users would rather hang up after seeing the top card rather
than take a chance of loosing half their bankroll. Well that has now been
fixed in this version as the program will automatically take half their
bankroll if they decide to hang up instead of playing the card shown.

For those who are upgrading to the new version, you need not change anything
you now have set-up. Just copy the CS40.EXE file into the proper directory.


Version 4.1 (04/28/90)

Added support for WWIV (CHAIN.TXT) file format.

Revised scoreboard to include highest ever earnings in Card Sharks as
well as average earnings per play.

Added option where user can remain in door and play out as many turns
as he has left. For example if you allow 3 plays per day, the user no
longer is forced to return to the board after each play. If he has 1 or
more turns left for the day he is prompted if he wants to play another
round.

Again, if upgrading just copy the CS41.EXE file into the proper
directory.


Version 4.2 (Added support for Spitfire BBS)


Version 4.3 (08/13/90)

Limited release version for beta testing new routines for high speed HST
modems.


Version 4.4 (08/25/90)

Resolved problem with high speed modems (9600+ baud). Beta testers have
reported that program now operates fine at high speed modes.

Changed compiler to latest version, v4.5 of Quick Basic. Program now
requires use of patch BRUN45.EXE program. Program is distributed with
this program.


v4.5

Internal version, minor changes, never released.



v4.6 (08/04/92)

Revised I/O routines to accomodate changes to several file formats.

Revised I/O routines for RBBS systems. Seems the format has been
changed slightly when running local doors. Fixed problem, thanks to
Rob Engle for his assistance with resolving this problem.

Added new option, "B" for all but a BUCK. Many times, users will want
to bet almost all they have on a card (3,4,Q,K). This lets them bet all
but $1 of their total bank.

Revised scoreboard, deleting average $ per play and replaced with # of
plays and date last played. Helpful for users who are in competition
with another user to know if they have played recently.

Changed display character for the club if in color mode. Seems that the
Compuserve system uses that as their file transfer start character,
users who had AUTO COMPUSERVE ON were getting +0+0's popping up when the
club was displayed. The character selected isn't as "cute", but better
than +0's being displayed.


v5.0 (08/23/92)

Underwent a major upgrade in the I/O routines. This door now supports baud
rates up to 115,200 and COM1-4 (plus non-standard IRQ's). This should help
those who lock their baud rates at 38,400 and above. In addition, these new
routines should allow the program to be run under DesqView. Please note, those
who are upgrading from a prior version should review the new configuration
file format. This door is now released as a completely stand-alone
program, no longer requiring the BRUN45.EXE file.


v5.1  (10/18/92)

Many ideas have been suggested for improving Card Sharks. I've taken
several comments and implemented the following changes:

Added option to add a JOKER to the deck.

Added option to either BANKRUPT player or lose turns remaining for the
day if Joker is hit.

Added option for sysop to include their own WINNING and LOSING comments
in the file CS.TXT (registered version only)

Improvement in the screen displays.

Improved CHAT routine - now restores upon return.

Revised routines to not display scoreboard twice during replays.

Minor screen revisions.

Fixed problem with upper case input -  now accepts both upper and
lower case input without a problem.


v5.2 (11/11/92)

New support for FOSSIL drivers (see section on FOSSIL DRIVERS above for
details).

Screen displays have again been optimized, screen displays are faster
than previous versions.

v5.3 (05/22/93)

Enhanced the top player scoreboard display as well as increased number
of players included in the scoreboard from 5 to 10. The bulletin
filenames have been changed, Card Sharks will automatically handle any
conversion of this file information the first time it is run. You may
need to change your bulletin information on your BBS to reflect these
new filenames, refer to documentation above for filename conventions.

v5.4 (06/25/93)

I/O routines now support fossil based multi-port digiboards as used with
PCBoard /M version.

High scores could reach a number that would only be stored as
expotential. Wrote routine to convert this expotential number back to a
comma filled string for the all time high score display. All time high
score on my board hit $653,184,000,014,289,700!

Revised registration method. Moved registration from standalone file and
incorporated into .CFG file to be consistent with other programs of
mine. Users upgrading from prior version must run the program CSCONFIG
which will automatically convert your .CFG file to include the new
registration number. Note: Your prior registration number will not work
directly in the program, you must run CSCONFIG which will calculate your
new registration number.

Caught minor error where if a person quit playing before using all plays
for the day his current stats would not be reflected in the scoreboard.

v5.5 (07/25/93)

For testing of v5.4 I had the error routine rem'd out, prevented the
program from recovering from any internal error (hopefully no errors
occurred), fixed.

Due to a coding change, a user could have dropped carrier after last
card played and would not have lost his bankroll. Those cheating rascals
will now find that their bankroll is now much smaller their next play.

Random characters would appear at the start of the program for systems
using fossil based multi-port boards. Program now purges the buffer to
compensate for these occasional characters.

Revised scoreboard further, will now show previous months high score
plus a few other minor modifications.

Found a bug where a first time player would end up with a $200 if he
lost it all before the last card was played. Actually, the first time
caller was being given credit twice for his initial bankroll, fixed.

The routine to convert the expotential scores in the HIGH SCORE worked
so well I've now converted all scoreboard displayed numbers to convert
the expotential displays to regular, comma displays. Also expanded the
scoreboard fields to accomodate a larger score (had one user on my board
who was rolling up some big scores).

The library program for the I/O routine was revised due to it's large
size. Subsequently the support for WWIV was removed by the libraries
author. WWIV sysops will need to use a conversion program to create a
file format compatible with the host of other BBS format's still
supported in order to run this version. Sorry, not be decision.

Added option to enter wager as a percentage of bankroll.

Included revised CSCONFIG.EXE file. Appears there was a problem in the
version included in the 5.4 release.

Made new player welcome/help file an external ASCII and ANSI file. May
be edited by the sysop if desired.

v5.6 (08/01/93)

Fixed a bug in the monthly scoreboard rollover, would cause the game to
error out when the scoreboard was displayed at the end of play.

v5.7 (08/03/93)

The modified scoreboard caused another problem. Found that users with
older versions of the program would encounter when the program read the
last month scoreboard to pull in last months high score. Program now
checks for old and new scoreboard formats and, if the format is not
either of these two formats, it will use default information.

v5.8 (10/10/93)

Happened again, a top shark managed to rollover his top score beyond the
QUADRILLION limit I had set in the program. Expanded the scoreboard to
handle 3 additional digits, plus dressed up all score displays to
properly display as a string instead of expotential numbers if the
number became too large.

Other minor internal changes.