The Quick Guide To GameStor (Demonstration Version) *************************************************** Version 1.1 ©1994 Alexander Kerr. A Professional Shareware Product. ********************************* ********************************* CONTENTS --- «· Quick Intro ·» ******** ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ «· What Does GameStor Do ? ·» ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ «· How Do I Use GameStor ? ·» ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ «· How To Get The Full Version - Fast! ·» ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ «· What is Professional Shareware ? ·» ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ «· Credits And Other Information ·» ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ BUT FIRST: If you feel like skipping this Guide and experiencing GameStor right away, then first skim through the `Quick Intro' and `What Does GameStor Do ?', below. Then go straight on and try out GameStor, using the built in Help if you get stuck. This `Quick Guide' will be here to give you full details of the program when you're ready. ············ «· Quick Intro ·» ············ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Games. Totally cool, interesting, amazing things until.....›3mUntil?›0m .....Until the virus comes along and wipes the bootblock. .....Until you find your saved games disk has also been damaged. ›3mAnd that's irreplaceable.›0m .....Until you used that ›3mstupid›0m virus checker and it insisted there was a virus on ›3mall›0m your games disks. .....Until you finally cracked the 9th level all in one go ›3mand then›0m ›3maccidentally saved the game on your games disk.›0m Wiped out everything. Games. Concentrate ..... for minutes - got into the highscore table, for an hour - nearly reached your personal best, for an evening - finally reached second place in the highscores. Tomorrow, first place. Except..... .....Where's the highscore save? Games. Determination to succeed ..... to reach the end of this level, to get the next password, to finish this quest, to find the key, to solve the puzzle, to work out the solution. But, how did you get this far? And how do you get any farther? ›3mSomewhere›0m there's some help in ..... that pile of magazines ..... someone else's magazine ..... that book ..... that scrap of paper from last week ..... where? ············ «· What Does GameStor Do? ·» ············ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ GameStor solves all these problems... It stores the bootblocks on all your games disks, game save disks and demo disks for safekeeping and repairs them if they get damaged by virus or accident. So you don't have to spend time, effort and money getting a replacement from the publisher. It stores all your highscores, so you can keep a record of your achievements. So you don't have to worry about how far you got last time. It stores your hints, tips, cheats, passwords and solutions for your games when you've discovered them or seen them in a magazine somewhere. So you don't spend have to spend ages searching back through magazines or rediscovering the cheat. It does all this quickly and easily via a user friendly interface, which can be used by anyone from a beginner upwards. And the full version of the program is available fast, for just £5.00 including disk, postage & packaging, and a year's free technical support, should you need it. *** This demonstration version of GameStor will store five games *** *** and allows two Loads and one Save. All other features are *** *** fully intact. *** ············ «· How Do I Use GameStor? ·» ············ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ First, - What's a Bootblock ? ***************************** Bootblocks - generally the first place that a virus will want to go when it gets onto your computer (from an infected disk), and also the place where most games (and demos) store a small (but crucial) program (1K in size) that gets rid of the Amiga's usual operating system and loads some clever custom program that starts up the game (and usually prevents you from copying it as well). Unfortunately, game save features often save over this place as well. But where is this place? Well, all information on disks is stored in segments. It just so happens that on the Amiga, two of these segments are reserved as the part that gets loaded first when you've just reset or switched on your Amiga. This is why games, demos and viruses like bootblocks - they don't have to wait for the rest of Workbench to load, or they can stop it loading altogether to get maximum speed and memory out of your Amiga. The bootblock is an important place, and that makes it vulnerable... If You Want To Prepare A GameStor Disk... ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ If you want to save your GameStor data in this demo, you may want to prepare a blank disk first. The main advantage of doing this is that all your files and data to do with GameStor can be kept neatly on one disk. To prepare a GameStor disk, simply format a new blank disk by selecting `Format Disk...' (or equivalent) from the pull-down menus in Workbench, and/or following the instructions in your Workbench manual. When you have a blank disk, double click on the `Ram Disk' icon on Workbench so that the `Ram Disk' window appears. Then, select and drag each of the three GameStor-related icons (`GameStor', `Quick_Guide_To_ GameStor' and `PPMore') over the `Ram Disk' window and release the mouse button, one by one. Now, insert your newly formatted blank disk, double click on its icon so that its window opens, then drag and drop the three icons from the `Ram Disk' window to your blank disk window. That's it! You can now run GameStor from this new disk, and Save and Load your GameStor file(s) to it. However, if you already have somewhere else to save onto (e.g. a copy of your Workbench disk) you won't need to do any of the above. Starting GameStor (The Easy Way). ********************************* If you have not already loaded Workbench, do so by resetting your Amiga and inserting the standard Workbench disk supplied with your machine (or preferably a copy of it). Do you have two or more disk drives connected to your Amiga? If so, leave the Workbench disk in the internal drive, and put the disk containing GameStor into the external drive. From Workbench, double click on the GameStor icon. The program will take a couple of seconds to initialise. If you don't have an external disk drive, you will be asked to reinsert the Workbench disk at this point. Swap back to the GameStor disk after the drive light goes out. Other Ways Of Starting GameStor. ******************************** From Workbench, you can also start GameStor by double clicking on a GameStor data file icon, that has GameStor as its `default tool'. GameStor will then automatically load that data file when it starts up. Every time you save a GameStor data file, an accompanying icon is also saved. From the AmigaShell (CLI), type `gamestor' (without the quotes) and press Return. You can also type `gamestor ' (without the quotes), substituting for the full file name (including directory), for example: gamestor DF0:GameStuff/GameStor.Data What Next ? ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ You will now be presented with the `About' requester. Click on this with the left mouse button to continue. If GameStor cannot find a data file with the default filename ("GameStor.Data"), it will now ask if you wish to see the built in Help - this gives a brief overview of how to use GameStor, so that you don't need to reload and look through this Guide when you're using the program. However, if it can find the "GameStor.Data" file, it will presume you've used GameStor before, and will automatically try and load the file. This means that if you save your games information with this default file name (covered below) GameStor will always have your games list ready for you to use whenever you run GameStor. GameStor - The Main Points. *************************** As mentioned above, GameStor consists of four main elements - The Games List, Bootblocks, Highscores and Hints & Tips. Each element has its own separate section in the GameStor window, so you can use everything clearly and quickly. When you first start the program, all four sections are displayed, but you can turn any of these (except The Games List) on or off if you want (covered below). Another neat thing you can do is resize the GameStor window to (almost) any size you want, and GameStor will automatically rearrange everything to its new window size. Each element (except Bootblocks) has a slider bar and arrow gadgets to its right. These are used to see the whole of the contents, when there is more than can be shown in the element all at once. Bootblocks is really an extension of the Games List, and scrolls up and down along with it. As you can see, the Games and Bootblocks lists have a coloured bar, which highlights the currently selected item. Highscores and Hints & Tips show the extra information for the highlighted game. The Games List and Bootblocks can both be clicked on with the mouse to highlight a different game, and in this respect they are exactly the same. At the bottom of the Games List, you will notice that there is always at least one blank line (when you first use GameStor, the Games List is completely blank). You add new Game names to the list by clicking on this blank line. If a bootblock has been stored, the Bootblocks list will show the word `Stored' in line with the Game name. Otherwise, it will be blank. Game names are entered in the `Name:' box at the bottom of the Games List. However, like Highscores and Hints & Tips (covered below), the `Name:' box will only be active (so you can type into it) when it shows a coloured cursor. Accessing the two pull-down menus, `Files' and `Extras', (by using the right mouse button) allows you to do several other things such as Load and Save your GameStor files and turn the parts of the display on or off. The Games List is the most important element of GameStor, because it is here that you select the game that you wish to deal with. Bootblocks, Highscores and Hints & Tips then show the relevant information for that game. NOTE: When you insert a game disk, Workbench will probably display a request telling you that the disk is corrupt, or similar. This is simply because Workbench does not recognise the format. Please ignore it by selecting `Cancel' on the request. How To...? ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ The following details (which give more information than the built in Help) about how to use GameStor are given in `Tutorial' form, so you could in fact follow them through as a tutorial if you wanted, or simply use them as separate instructions. ADD A NEW GAME... ************************* First, click on the blank space at the bottom of the `Games' list. (** NOTE: To see the blank line, the Games List slider must be slid down as far as it will go. **). The title bar will change to `Enter a game Name...' and a cursor will appear in the `Name:' box. Type in the name of the game and press Return. The name will be sorted alphabetically into the Games List. You're now able to add other information for the new game: A NEW BOOTBLOCK... ************************** First, make sure that the correct name is highlighted in the Games list. Insert your game disk into the Amiga's internal disk drive (DF0:) and wait for the drive light to go out. Now if you're SURE you've inserted the right disk, select the `Store' gadget (under `Bootblocks'). The word `Stored' will appear in the Bootblocks list, at the highlighted item. NEW HIGHSCORES... ************************* First, make sure that the game is highlighted in the Games list. Now click on the `Edit' gadget (under `Highscores'). A coloured cursor will appear at the top left of the Highscores box. (** NOTE: This cursor MUST be visible for the editor to be active - when you select anything else (apart from the slider or arrow gadgets) the editor will deactivate. To reactivate, select `Edit' again and the cursor will reappear **). Use the cursor (arrow) keys to move around the text. If you type past the edge of the Highscores box, the text will automatically scroll to the left. Remember that the maximum length of a line is 120 characters. OR NEW HINTS & TIPS... ****************************** To enter Hints & Tips that you've got for a game, just follow the notes for `Highscores', above, substituting `Hints & Tips' for `Highscores'. Add Lots Of Games, One After The Other... ***************************************** So, you've got a stack of Games that you want to add to GameStor, AND store their Bootblocks, but each time you enter a new Game name, the whole list moves up because the name's been alphabetically sorted. So you have to keep sliding the list to the bottom again to click on the blank line to add the next game, RIGHT? ... NOT QUITE! As you want to get things done FAST, you can do the following... First, click on a blank line as usual. But, DON'T type in the name when prompted (`Enter a Game name...'). Instead, click on `Store' under Bootblocks. This will store your game's bootblock, but, because you haven't entered a name yet, you will again be prompted to do so. NOW enter the Game's name and press Return as usual. Now, the Name will be inserted alphabetically, you just won't see it, because the next blank line will automatically highlight! Again, simply ignore the prompt, insert your next Game disk, and click on `Store' again, and so on... __________________________________________________________________________ REPAIR A GAME'S BOOTBLOCK... ************************************ First, highlight the game's name in the Games list. Make sure that the game disk is `write enabled' (by moving the tab) then insert it into the Amiga's internal disk drive (DF0:) and wait for the drive light to go out. Now select the `Repair' gadget (under `Bootblocks'). A requester will appear, asking you to confirm. If you're SURE you've inserted the right disk, click on `REPAIR' to proceed. DELETE A GAME, OR JUST A BOOTBLOCK... ********************************************* To delete ALL the information for the highlighted game, select `Delete Game' from the `Extras' menu. To delete JUST the Bootblock, select `Delete Bootblock' instead. A requester will appear, asking you to confirm. DELETE HIGHSCORES, OR HINTS & TIPS... ********************************************* Select the relevant `Delete' gadget (under `Highscores' or under `Hints & Tips'). A requester will appear, asking you to confirm. __________________________________________________________________________ LOAD AND SAVE... ************************ Select `Load GameStor File' or `Save GameStor File' from the `Files' menu. An initial default file name is offered to you, `GameStor.Data'. As mentioned above (`What Next ?'), this is the file name that GameStor looks for when it first starts up, so if you use it to save a data file in the same directory on disk where GameStor is, GameStor will automatically load it up. RUNNING WORKBENCH 2.x OR WORKBENCH 3.x (A600 / A1200):- The Amiga's standard `ASL' file requester should appear. This is loaded from your standard Workbench disk, so you may need to insert it again, at this point (reinsert your GameStor disk afterwards). Then, select a directory with the mouse to Load from or Save into (or, click in the `Directory' box and type in a name). Now just click in the `File' box and type in a file name. Then select the `OK' gadget. NOTE: If for some reason the standard ASL requester cannot appear, follow these instructions: RUNNING WORKBENCH 1.3 (A500):- A simple file name request will appear. Type in the full directory and file name AND PRESS RETURN. It should be in standard AmigaDOS format, e.g. DF0:GameStuff/GameStor.Data START A NEW GAMESTOR FILE... ************************************ Simply select `Start New File' from the `Files' menu. NOTE: This will clear ALL your Game information from memory! __________________________________________________________________________ ········ «· How To Get The Full Version - Fast! ·» ········ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ The full version of GameStor (including unlimited Games, Loads and Saves), and Free Technical Support for a year are available for just £5.00, including Postage and Packaging. To get this now, enclose a cheque or postal order for £5.00, made payable to Alexander Kerr, and your name and address, and send to: Alexander Kerr, Professional Shareware, Pine Lodge, Mesh Pond, Wick Lane, Downton, Wiltshire. SP5 3NQ. England. Processing and delivery will be within about 1 - 2 weeks. Cheques take 4 working days to clear. However, please allow up to 28 days for delivery. Cash IS accepted, however the Post Office advise against sending cash in the post, and you do so at your own risk. If You Don't Live In The UK... ************************************** If you're ordering from Europe, or the rest of the world, please add £5 to cover extra postage and packaging. We will accept the total of £10 preferably in cash (or some other suitable form e.g. International Money Order) in a major currency, e.g. Pounds Sterling, American Dollars, Australian Dollars, French Francs, etc. ** Please package it well **. Processing and delivery should be within about 2 - 3 weeks (airmail). However, please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. ········· «· What is Professional Shareware ? ·» ·········· ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Too often, PD software is unfinished, or plagued by bugs, or hard to get hold of, or out of date, or it's hard to get technical support, even if you do send off the shareware fee. Professional Shareware is a new shareware software label, which will represent high quality software with technical support, at shareware prices. We hope to rectify these problems by only releasing finished, tested software, and providing a means for you to get assistance if you run into problems directly related to the program. We would also like to encourage you to provide feedback about our software, so that programs can be directly shaped by the users needs. Watch out for the next Professional Shareware release, a full disk cataloguing and file find and search program, the best available for the Amiga, to be released in early '95. ··········· «· Credits And Other Information ·» ··········· ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ GameStor V1.1 Designed, Written and CopyRight 1994 by Alexander Kerr. Distribution. ************* This demonstration version of GameStor V1.1 and this accompanying `Quick Guide To GameStor' are freely distributable in any form, provided that GameStor, its icon, this document and this document's icon remain together, and unchanged/added to in any way. `PPMore' and its icon should also be distributed with the four GameStor files. PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS DEMO OF GAMESTOR. Make copies for other people, upload to bulletin boards and online networks, and send to PD libraries. Disclaimer. *********** GameStor has been very carefully written and thoroughly tested for bugs. All known bugs have been fixed. Testing was done in a variety of conditions on a V3.0 Amiga 1200 and V1.3 Amiga 500. However, no software can ever be guaranteed bug free. Under no circumstances can the author be in any way held responsible or liable for the consequences of using this program. By using GameStor you agree to these terms and conditions. __________________________________________________________________________