GS WorldView: February MM Jeff Fink’s NEW Apple2 Games now available on Ground Jeff Fink’s new shareware releases; Apple Poker, Asteroid Miner, Demon Ball, Rice Farmer and his Silvern Castle update to v3.0 are now available for download from the Ground Apple2 ftp site. Go download them now, play and enjoy them and pay your shareware fee. Cheers, Tom ________________________________ Apple Poker, Asteroid Miner, Demon Ball, Rice Farmer ftp://128.255.21.234//apple2/upl2000/Jan/JFHARVEST1.BXY Shareware fees: $5 for the entire collection The programs in this collection consist of short Applesoft applications I have written over the years. They include: APPLE.POKER (1999) 5-card draw poker against 1-5 computer opponents ASTEROID.MINER (1994) Space-mining stragety game DEMON.BALL (1988) Adaption of Blood Bowl(tm) fantasy football RICE.FARMER (1987) Rice farming simulation Requirements- These programs will run on any Apple II under ProDOS. The programs in this collection are shareware. You may distribute them far and wide. You may legally use the programs in this collection for up to 2 weeks; thereafter to continue using this collection you must send payment of $5 to ... Jeff Fink 432 Eureka St., Apt. 210 Ripon, WI 54971 Please respect the shareware system. I'm only asking a single payment for the entire collection. Depending on how many honest users support my effects will determine IF any more programs will be released via shareware (and since this is practically the ONLY way to distribute Apple II programs nowadays, this may be my LAST). Jeff Fink ________________________________ SILVERN CASTLE: The Lost Crystal Orb ftp://128.255.21.234//apple2/upl2000/Jan/SCUPD30.BXY Shareware fee: $15 Program Author - Jeff Fink Version 3.0 - December, 1999 Copyright 1999 Silvern Castle is a fantasy role-playing game. Complete instructions are included. Requirements A fully installed copy of any prior Silvern Castle version is required to update to V3.0 (see "Update Procedure" section). In addition, Silvern Castle requires nothing more than any Apple II that can boot ProDOS. However, in lieu of a hard drive, 128K memory is recommended with floppy drive systems to optimize disk access times. The program is written in AppleSoft BASIC. Because of this, Silvern Castle may run sluggishly on a 1mhz Apple II-see the docs for one way around this; search for text mode). An accelerator or Apple IIgs will make Silvern Castle run more than fast enough. PRODOS version 1.8 or later is required. BASIC.SYSTEM version 1.5 is also required. PRODOS versions before 1.8 have a number of bugs which can destroy disks among other things. BASIC.SYSTEM version 1.5 is the latest version and Silvern Castle uses undocumented entry points in BASIC.SYSTEM 1.5 to overcome a problem involving the CHAIN command not respecting the LOMEM: value. Shareware Stuff This program is shareware. You may distribute it far and wide. You may legally use this program for up to 2 weeks; thereafter to continue using this program you must send a one-time payment of $15 to ... Jeff Fink 432 Eureka St., Apt. 210 Ripon, WI 54971 Everyone who sends in their shareware dues will be sent instructions to unlock the Maze Maker program to create unlimited random-generated mazes, as well as directions to unlock the door to Ragon's Lab where the talisman is located (you cannot win without it). Please respect the shareware system. This game, entailing years of programming, and comprising 3,132 lines of BASIC code, totaling 12,375 statements (including the utilities needed to create all the data files), represents a vast undertaking on my part. Depending on how many honest users support my effects will determine IF any more programs will be released via shareware (and since this is practically the ONLY way to distribute Apple II programs nowadays, this may be my LAST). Jeff Fink Error Reporting Should an unexpected bug pop up, Silvern Castle provides error recovery in most cases. Just note the two-line error message and contact me at the address listed above. If any errors should arise, they are reported in the format: Module Name Error #X-Y Where X is the error and Y the line number. In almost all cases, the program provides automatic error recovery to a known state. Update Procedure A fully installed copy of any prior version of Silvern Castle is required to prevent inadvertent copying-over of user-specific files when updating to a new version. Existing Silvern Castle users may skip down to the "Update Silvern Castle to V3.0" section. Installing Silvern Castle V1.0 (new users only) New users must unpack Silvern Castle V1.0 before unpacking the V3.0 update. You can find the Silvern Castle V1.0 archives at the Delphi Apple II library, Trenco Internet FTP site (www.gno.org), Juiced.GS, and elsewhere. Silvern Castle V1.0 comes in two flavors depending on what type of disk drive you have: SC.HD.SHK Shrinkit file archive for Hard Drives or 3.5" disks /SC.525.S1.SHK Shrinkit disk archive for 5.25" disks, side 1 \SC.525.S2.SHK Shrinkit disk archive for 5.25" disks, side 2 The only difference between them is that SC.HD.SHK combines all the files found on SC.525.S1.SHK and SC.525.S2.SHK into one folder. However, because of disk space, the maze on the 5.25" disk archive is smaller than the one on SC.HD.SHK. File Setup If you unpacked SC.HD.SHK you should have all the files listed below in ONE folder called SC. You may rename SC to anything you like. If you have only 5.25" drives, the Shrinkit 5.25" disk archives creates a disk with the volume name of SILVERN.CASTLE and a folder called SC on BOTH sides. You may rename the volume or folder to anything you like, BUT the volume must have the SAME volume name on BOTH sides AND the folder must have the SAME folder name on BOTH sides. The following files are found inside the SC folder (side 1 on 5.25" disks): SILVERN.CASTLE >Startup File QND.HRCG >Hi-Res Character Generator FNT.BOLDJW >Hi-Res Font CASTLE >Title Page Graphic CODE >ML Code CODEQ >ML Code QLIST >Datafile STATUS >Preferences * STUFF >Item/Spell Datafile ROP >Hall of Fame * READ.ME.FIRST >This info VAP/SC.DOC >Docs VAP/DOGPAW >Doc Viewer VAP/DOGPAW.DOCS >Doc Viewer Docs; Optional-may be deleted VAP/RESIZE.ROSTER >Code VAP/MAZE.MAKER >Code GAME >If Exists=Saved Game * The following files are found inside the SC folder (side 2 on 5.25" disks): MARKET >Code SC.CAMP >Code SC.MAZE >Code SC.COMBAT >Code SC.ACTION >Code SC.LOOT >Code GUILD >Code WIN >Code STORE >Quillon's Inventory * ROSTER >Character List * GOODIES >Datafile MONS >Datafile MAZEB >Maze Datafile; 21x21 (5.25") or 27x27 (HD) MAZEB5.25 >Exists only on SC.HD.SHK; contains the smaller 5.25" maze; Optional-may be deleted You should backup the SC folder (both sides on 5.25" disks) to guard against computer and disk crashes. * Files marked with an asterisk contain character data or important stuff that changes during play; these files should be backed-up often to prevent any possible file corruption from affecting your party's hard-fought gains. Update Silvern Castle to V3.0 A fully installed copy of any prior Silvern Castle version is required before updating. To update your existing version of Silvern Castle to V3.0 requires the following file: SC.UPD.V3.0.SHK Shrinkit file archive This archive contains an expanded scenario (see "New Stuff in V3.0" section for details). However, it will not fit on 5.25" disks; if this means you, do not copy the MAZEB or GOODIES files in this update! If you have created a new maze with the Maze Maker utility, it will be overwritten, so if you wish to keep it please copy the MAZEB file in your SC folder to another disk before updating. These files go in your SC folder (side 1 for 5.25" disks): SILVERN.CASTLE QLIST STUFF READ.ME.FIRST VAP/SC.DOC VAP/DOGPAW VAP/DOGPAW.DOCS Optional-may be deleted VAP/RESIZE.ROSTER VAP/MAZE.MAKER These files go in your SC folder (side 2 for 5.25" disks): MARKET SC.CAMP SC.MAZE SC.COMBAT SC.ACTION SC.LOOT GUILD WIN GOODIES 3.5" or HD only; see warning above MAZEB 3.5" or HD only; see warning above Simply copy all the files into your existing Silvern Castle folder (5.25" disk users MUST be sure to copy the RIGHT files into the folder on the CORRECT disk side-you may need additional disk space-see below). If you are a 5.25" disk user and you run out of disk space after copying the files in the V3.0 update, you will need to make additional disk space available. For 5.25" disk users, follow these steps: 1) Restore your backup copy of Silvern Castle. 2) Delete the DOGPAW.DOCS file (if it exists) in the VAP folder inside the SC folder on side 1. You may also want to copy the READ.ME.FIRST-this file-to another disk. 3) If you have a saved game in the maze, disband it at the market. 4) At the Adventurer's Guild, count how many characters are saved at the ROSTER. If you have more than 16 characters, you will need to delete them. 5) Run the Resize Roster Utility to make a smaller-sized ROSTER. Start with the smallest option, taking into account the number of characters you counted from step 4. You can increase the ROSTER storage limit after updating, if there's room. 6) Install the V3.0 update. If there is still not enough room on side 2, repeat the previous steps, this time deleting 2 additional characters. Depending on which prior version of Silvern Castle you have, it may be necessary to bring your datafiles up to date after installing the V3.0 update. Upon resuming a saved game after installing V3.0, you may get a message indicating that the saved game is being automatically disbanded (don't worry, this is just a preliminary step to bringing your datafiles up to date). After your saved game is automatically disbanded, or if you have no saved game in the maze, when you attempt to start a new game, you may get a message indicating that you will need to run the Resize Roster utility to update the ROSTER datafile. If this is the case, after you execute the Resize Roster utility-it's operation is automatic-your copy is now ready to start a new game and to reassemble your old party at the tavern. Whew! Version 3.0 fixes, changes, enhancements Bugs fixed >All AC spell docs have been changed to reflect the correct effect of additional power level's (which is multiplied per additional power level, not additive as listed previously). >Fixed a problem with casting/using FEAR spells/devices; it wasn't always affecting the correct monster group, or it was causing error #53 (I wasn't initializing a variable). >Some item/maze spelling mistakes corrected (e.g. orge gloves --> ogre gloves; altairs --> altars). Thanks Tony Ward, David Pierce. >Note: If you get an I/O error when starting-up SC and you have at least 128K of memory, it may mean that the /RAM drive may be damaged. To fix, reboot. >Wishing wells no longer will "bless" characters below age 15. Thanks to David Pierce for catching this. >Fixed a problem when refusing to give up the orb could have caused an error in certain cases. Stuff Changed in V3.0 >Halflings are now hobbits. >The Time Delay option in the maze only accepts [RET] to exit, not escape. >Aborting the party slaughtered screen is now without penalty on maze levels 1-2. >After reading about how many of you find getting ambushed unenjoyable, I've decided to tone down the number of ambushes by 66%, but only to those of you who have paid your shareware fees! (It's automatic with any prior or future registration.) >I've also made charged PROTECT devices and spells a little more powerful. Casting or using any charged PROTECT device (in CAMP) will now, in addition to its AC effects, also lower ambushes by 10% per power level over base level (only those devices with a "+", so PROTECT+1 reduces ambushes by 10%, PROTECT+2 by 20%, etc). By the way, regardless of any charged PROTECT devices and/or shareware payment bonuses, light and encumbrance penalties still apply. >Chest routines revamped. Chest hardness per level and character ability per chest hardness should be more consistent. Be careful! >Score displayed when you win has been changed. >You only need to defeat Drachma once! New Stuff in V3.0 >!!!!NEW EXPANDED SCENARIO!!!! Drachma has learned his lesson and has revamped his fortifications to make his lab more secure. To facilitate this renovation, a few special items (crystal orb, skeleton key, Li P-crystal) in circulation are removed and restocked in the maze upon updating, forcing you to defeat Drachma again if you have already done so (previous scores are now invalid). All will be explained as you quest to retrieve the Crystal Orb from Drachma. When I released V1.0, it was my opinion that it would take at least 6-9 months for anyone to finish; but some of you have did it in barely 2 months! Part of the reason some of you finished so fast (I think) is because the current maze was created totally by the Maze Maker utility; the new scenario included in this update includes portions of my own fiendish design. The files MAZEB and GOODIES contains the expanded scenario and will not fit on 5.25" disks, so if this means you: sorry, you will need at least a 3.5" disk or hard drive. Please note: The Maze Maker utility will only create a maze based on the earlier scenario. BTW, the expanded scenario only adds new areas, any maps you have made of previous levels will still be viable (with the exception of a couple of renovated patches near Drachma's lab). >The down-arrow key now works in the maze! Pressing the down-arrow will only change your direction (turn-about), not your position. I've added this in response to Ken Gagne's review of Silvern in Juiced.GS (Oct 1998, pg 19).