23 Nov
1998
23 Nov
'98
2:45 a.m.
Unfortunately, I have two specific programs I want to
see. One of them is
DECRITE from DECUS (a ReGIS text editor -- runs on VMS). The other is Empire
(The Wargame of the Century), version 5.0 (?) which is on magica.update.uu.se.
As for Empire, the source (and binaries?) were actually commercial, I think.
I've been playing Empire under VMS for over a decade now
(now on an Alpha), and I see no indication that it's commercial at the
comments at the top of the source:
C PROGRAM EMPIRE
C
C This program is a war game simulation for video terminals.
C The game was originally written outside of Digital, probably a university.
C This version of the game was made runnable on Digital Equipment VAX/VMS
C FORTRAN by conversion from the TOPS-10/20 sources available around fall 1979.
C After debugging it, numerous changes have been made.
C
C Now that you are the proud owner of the source and you are all gung ho
C to do things right, there are a few things you should be aware of.
C There are many magic numbers controlling how many different kinds of
C units can exist and how many of each, so it is unfortunately not easy
C to add another unit type. Also, "slight changes" to the way the units
C work will typically have a fairly devastating affect on the computers
C strategy. If you are interested in really hacking this, there is a plenty
C of room for enhanced computer strategy. As you'll see, there are some
C very good debugging tools tucked inside, and you will soon discover weak
C points and bugs, that up until you, have remained problems (all the previous
C programmers got lazy or lost interest). Finally, please be careful with
C the version number and identification at start up to avoid confusion of
C ongoing versions with private copies. If you make a change don't remove
C the major version id, but rather add something like (V4.0 site.1 20-JUL-80).
And the source I've seen is for the previous
version. The new version has
two modes (VT125 and Gigi) neither of which works very well. I think the code
uses nonstandard ReGIS, since (as a magica person told me) even a real VT340
won't work with the program.
Yep, you need a real Gigi. But the source is reasonably commented
and I'm sure that you could produce V5.1 which'll work on a VT340 :-)
What is a little confusing is that my sources identify themselves
as 4.7, 18-Oct-1981, while the documents are for V5.0. They seem
to be completely consistent with each other, though.
Very likely, like Super Star Trek, there were hundreds of localized
versions at various DEC sites and colleges/universities.
--
Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/
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