Here is your upgrade for 
     Spheres of Influence Version 2.1

ALL #?.library files, the "Spheres of Influence"
executable and many data files must be replaced,
(the entire distribution is included here for
completion.)

My recommendation is that you re-name your current
SOIDATA: drawer as "soidataold" and de-compress this
as normal, naming this "SOIDATA" drawer as you had
your old one named (this will insure that all new
files will correctly be used.) After everything checks
out, delete the "soidataold" drawer.

With this version release I am adding better auto-save
features, especially auto-incrementation of the file name
under which the game is being saved. I also fixed some
auto-save related bugs, some bugs relating to galaxy
modification, and a bug in the star naming routine.

To Do:

I have one challenge left, and am seeking user input on
the ultimate resolution to this question:

How can I best display a 3D galaxy on a 2D screen? Especially,
how can I deal with the stars on the edge of the display?

If I may be allowed some artisic freedom here, I will try to depict
the problem by drawing a flat plane universe with *'s, and will
place a viewer (V) at the bottom looking up toward the top. the
/'s and \'s signify a "normal" field of view:

                                                               
        \                                 *                 /    
         \             *                                   /     
          \                                               /      
           \                                             /       
            \        *                                  /        
             \                                         /         
              \                                 *     /          
               \             *                       /           
            *   \                                   /            
                 \                                 /             
                  \                               /              *
                   \                  *          /               
                    \                           /                
                     \     *                   /                
                      \                       /                  
                       \                     /                   
                        \                   /                    
                         \            *    /                     
                          \               /                      
                           \             /           *            
                            \           /                        
         *                   \         /                         
                              \   *   /                          
                               \     /                           
                                \   /                            
                                 \ /                             
                                  V    *

notice that the bottom right-most star is out of the file of view.

This is the way I do it now:

                                                               
|                                         *                       |
|                      *                                          |
|                                                                 |
|                                                                 |
|                    *                                            |
|                                                                 |
|                                               *                 |
|                            *                                    |
|           *                                                     |
|                                                                 |
|                                                                *|
|                                     *                           |
|                                                                 |
|                          *                                      |
|                                                                 |
|                                                                 |
|                                                                 |
|                                     *                           |
|                                                                 |
|                                                    *            |
|                                                                 |
|        *                                                        |
|                                 *                               |
|                                                                 |
|                                                                 |
|                                                                 |
|                                     *                           |
|_____________________________________________________V___________|

all stars are now visible, but the viewer is no longer the "center"
of the galaxy. I have had a few complaints that the star display 
should be a 3D rotation view (like in Elite), and would like that
myself, except for the drawback of not seeing those stars on the
perifory of the display.

Any comments?