xref: /original-bsd/games/phantasia/README (revision b3f911e0)
1June 25, 1986
2
3
4This is a much modified version of Phantasia.  It is intended to fix
5all reported bug fixes, enhance the game, and speed up the game.
6
7I have to thank Chris Robertson for many ideas which have made the game
8faster, and more user-friendly.  Most of her changes/additions are
9incorporated in this latest versions, although perhaps not in the exact
10manner of her design.  I left out a few items which were not in keeping
11with the spirit of the game.  (For example, I didn't like the extra lives
12and the pausing of the game.  I think it's too easy even WITHOUT that stuff.)
13
14CHANGES:
15
16    - Wormholes have been deleted (I never liked them anyway).
17    - The source code has been greatly enhanced for speed, size, readability,
18      and maintainability.
19      fight.c should no longer cause optimizers to run out of space.
20    - A few loopholes have been tightened to make the game more enjoyable.
21      (Except for those who are in the habit of exercising those loopholes.)
22    - Chris' map is enclosed.
23    - The "charac" file is not compatible with older versions of Phantasia
24      (3.3.1 and 3.3.1+).  A 'convert' program is provided to convert your
25      old file to the new format.  See Makefile for details.
26    - Movements can be made with HJKL for WSNE, respectively.
27    - Players may examine others while playing ('x') option.
28    - Monsters are now stored in a binary data base, to speed calling
29      monsters, and to ease formatting of monster listings.
30    - Taxes are collected on all gold and gems.
31    - Dead players can be resurrected by the 'wizard'.
32    - 'setup' is smarter, although not as smart as it should be.
33    - Players can change their names and passwords
34
35PORTABILTY:
36
37    I have tried to make this as non-machine/system specific as possible.
38
39    All identifiers are unique to 7 characters or less, dual case.
40
41    The code WILL NOT fit on a 16-bit machine without separate I/D.
42
43    Stdio MUST support fopen() with mode "r+".  I think this is true
44    for all Version 7 and later.
45
46    'curses' library functions are required.
47
48    All problems/solutions with portability should be reported to me,
49    and fixes will be included in subsequent versions of this software.
50
51
52Please send me any bugs, (of which I am sure there are many), you may find,
53but PLEASE be specific.  I cannot correct a bug which is described as:
54
55    "When I choose a character type, it blows up."
56
57    (What blows up?  What exactly was printed at the terminal?
58    Which character type was chosen?  Etc. . . ?)
59
60Also, please tell me which version of UN*X you are running, and upon
61which type of hardware.
62
63I will also do my best to help anyone with problems just trying to
64get the game running.  Again, I need to know which version of UN*X
65and what type of CPU.  Also, a copy of the output from 'make'
66would be extremely useful.
67
68Any and all ideas/suggestions/additions are more than welcome.  If
69you feel strongly enough about it, write the change and send it to me,
70and I will do my best to incorporate it in the next version of Phantasia.
71Otherwise, I will give serious thought to adding it myself.
72
73Follow the directions in the Makefile CAREFULLY to set up the game.
74Read the comments at the beginning of 'main.c', if you haven't already.
75
76Enjoy.
77
78Ted Estes
79AT&T Information Systems
80Skokie, IL  60077
81
82...!ihnp4!ttrdc!ttrda!estes
83