ºÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸º
º³ Cliff Diver: Investigator For Hire ³º
ºÆÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͵º
º³úùúùú Crime to the Ninth Power úùúùú³º
ºÆÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͵º
º³ ðð Game Data Copyright (c) 1991 ð𠳺
º³ Game Data Author: Patrick Farley ³º
The Private Investigator's Handbook
Section 1: Introductions are in order.
Hello, my name is Patrick Farley. I wish to welcome you to this, my first
attempt at computerized interactive fiction; an adventure novel entitled,
"Crime to the Ninth Power." In this game, you'll be introduced to a char-
acter named Cliff Diver; a private investigator living and working in San
Francisco. I hope you and your friends will enjoy playing this as much as
I enjoyed writing it. Thank you.
Section 2: Any questions?
Yes sir. What type of system is required to run your adventure?
Cliff Diver is designed to be run on an IBM PC-compatable computer with at
least 384 K of memory, MS-DOS 2.1 or later, and at least 1 disk drive. The
system doesn't require any advanced graphics and will adjust its output to
best suit whatever monitor you choose.
So how do I go about introducing Cliff Diver to my computer?
Because it's constantly active and able to provide increased access time, a
hard disk installation is recommended. If your system hasn't been outfitted
with a hard disk drive, the program can be run from a single floppy disk.
Please consult your DOS manual for procedures used in creating and maintain-
ing hard disk directories and for the correct form of DOS's COPY or DISKCOPY
command that's appropriate for your particular system.
The following files are required for running Cliff Diver (approx. 70k)
CLIFF .D$$ Encrypted game data
CLIFF .DA1
CLIFF .DA2
CLIFF .DA3
CLIFF .DA4
CLIFF .DA5
CLIFF .INS A few notes on the game (this file can be printed)
CLIFF .TTL The game's title in billboard format
Well after doing all that, how do I run Cliff Diver?
NOTE FOR AMIGA OWNERS:
Download the AGiliTy AGT interpreter and read the instructions that come
with that to play this game. This file was written mainly for PC users.
If you've installed the program to a hard disk, move to the sub-directory
containing the Cliff Diver files. Once there, run the batch file by enter-
ing CLIFF [return]. The file calls the runtime program and the game, as
they say, will be underway.
Floppy disk users can simply insert the disk into an appropriate drive and
run the batch file above. The game will appear sluggish while it's reading
in information from the "on-demand" floppy drive.
I've heard the word "shareware" quite a bit these days. What is that?
Shareware's copyrighted software distributed at minimal cost. Because you
can "try before you buy", it's easy to find programs that fit your needs.
Shareware authors release their programs with an element of trust, expec-
ting payment if the program's used regularly. Because expensive marketing
costs are eliminated, you'll wind up saving money with Shareware instead
of commercial software.
Sounds like a good idea. How do I go about registering my copy?
At the end of this document is a registration form designed to simplify the
task of registering. There is a reason I produced this form the way I did.
When a customer sends me registration, I send them a thank-you letter. It's
one thing to send a letter to a wrong address, it's quite another thing to
spell the person's name incorrectly. That's the reason for the ONE PRINTED
LETTER PER SQUARE format.
Your information is entered into my customer database. And before you turn
up your nose and roundfile this and my form, let me assure you that I will
not release your name to any marketing firm. You will not receive a mailer
for photo processing or catalogs schleping the latest yuppie gadgets.
Uh-huh. So you're saying there are benefits to my registration?
If you should find yourself in a spot you can't get out of, you can write
to me for assistance. You can also request printed maps of the adventure.
You can also-- No wait, I don't want to reveal that just yet. It's enough
to say that there's something on the back burner that will prove to be of
interest to Cliff Diver's fans, but only those who have registered.
Excuse me, sir. You say your adventure takes place in San Francisco.
Should I be familar with that city before I play this?
I had several maps of the city to refer to while I was writing this so I
could make reference to streets and landmarks. I'm not sure if any build-
ing I wrote into the game is standing at the address or location I gave.
In fact, I should be telling you that...
ANY SIMILARITY TO ANY PERSON, LIVING OR DEAD, OR TO ANY BUILDING OR
LANDMARK, PAST OR PRESENT, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED PURELY COINCIDENTAL.
(phew!) I hope that clears that up.
Knowing your way around would certainly be an advantage in playing my game.
Cliff may talk about something down by the waterfront, and you may remember
driving along the waterfront. But as to going there and trying to find the
building Cliff mentioned, I don't think you'll have a lot of luck.
I think that about covers any questions. If you have any others, please
write to me. Right now I want to move on to...
Section 3: Acknowledging those people who helped me produce this game.
It's traditional for an author to dedicate his first work to his mother.
So, Dorothy, thank you for having faith in me and for silently telling me,
"Don't give up. You can do it." I also wish to thank...
The Staff at Softworks: David Malmberg along with his partner Mark Welch,
produced the Adventure Game Toolkit. Their compiler sweated out the pro-
gram for me, taking all my descriptive files and producing the necessary
game files. A note of thanks goes to...
Charles Viescas, my part-time logic consultant, who helped me get Cliff
over a number of difficult logic hurdles. And, finally...
Phil Staudinger; my close friend and game beta-tester, who was always
there and asking, "Why does that do this when I do that?"
I would also like to thank you, but, of course I can't do that just yet.
I hope I'll be able to very soon. I welcome letters from users, whether
they're registered or not (the users, of course, not the-- never mind).
My mailing address is: Patrick Farley
1751 13th Street
Los Osos, CA. 93402
Please be sure to include: ATTN: Cliff Diver
Oh, one more thing. A note of special interest to Adventure Game Toolkit
programmers and AGT text adventure players.
Traditionally, adventure games created under AGT were run in their final
state by a runtime engine called RUN. The syntax RUN reflected a fantasy
adventure format that featured you, the player, directing you, the char-
acter. Responses to commands such as GET THE BOOK would be, "You get the
book." or "You do not see a book." Creatures encountered (and attacked)
during the course of a game (ie Dragons, Orcs, Elves, etc.) would die in
horrible agony and disappear in huge puffs of foul green or orange smoke.
I chose not to write adventure fantasy, but reality. The problem was that
the syntax was etched in stone and couldn't be changed. Writing to Soft-
works, I explained my problems to David, who took an interest in this new
adventure angle. With David's permission and my trusty editor, I sat down
to change RUN's syntax from one of YDY, or You Directing You, to YDSE, or
You Directing Someone Else.
I altered the way AGT speaks. It still plays the way it always did. Oh, I
did soften the way things die. In reality, death wouldn't occur in a puff
of smoke.
Sending the changes to AGT, David verified them, re-compiled the files and
christened the new format IRUN. This is the runtime program I've included
with Cliff Diver. If you understand that Cliff's talking to you while you
are directing him by remote computer control, you should have no problems.
If you do have problems, write to me. I can recommend someone who'll help
you for just $45 down and $45 dollar an hour - no house calls or multiple
personalities, please.
Patrick Farley
1751 13th. Street
Los Osos, CA 93402
Thank you. Your support of Shareware programming is appreciated.
|
aminet net>