* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |_o_o|\\ Copyright (c) 1987 The Software Distillery. All Rights Reserved * * |. o.| || Masterminded by John A. Toebes, VIII with the help of * * | . | || Dave Baker Ed Burnette Stan Chow Jay Denebeim * * | o | || Gordon Keener Jack Rouse Mary Ellen Toebes Doug Walker * * | . |// BBS:(919)-471-6436 * * ====== * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ATTENTION: AMIGA HACK is freely redistributable for non-commercial uses, if this file accompanies it. Please pass this file on with any redistribution you do. Any distribution without this file is a COPYRIGHT VIOLATION. Welcome to AMIGA HACK version 1.0.3D! AMIGA HACK is brought to you through the efforts of The Software Distillery, a group committed to producing quality software for the Amiga at large. Inquiries and flames should be directed via US Snail to: John A. Toebes VIII The Software Distillery 235 Trillingham Lane Cary, North Carolina 27511 or on USENET ...mcnc!rti-sel!sas!toebes The latest version of Hack and our other projects are available for downloading from the Software Distillery bulletin board at (919)-471-6436 They can also be obtained from us directly at the above address. Send US$6 for a disk containing the latest Hack, or any of our other disks. (Overseas include US$1 extra for postage). Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a list of available disks. Many Thanks to Jeff Lee - Graphic Artist 945 S. Kenilworth Oak Park, IL 60304 For his excellent Icons and the Death Scene. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ABOUT HACK +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This is a version of the public domain program HACK (copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1984, 1985.) implemented under AMIGADOS with the LATTICE C 3.10 compiler. HACK is freely redistributable. You may upload it to public bulletin boards, or give it to users groups, and individuals you feel would enjoy it. Under no condition may you charge for HACK without explicit permission of the Software Distillery. If you do enjoy the program and would like to support further development (and receive information on the latest updates) send a contribution to John and his crew at the above address. We welcome suggestions for improvements and upgrades. The source is available for the original text version (1.0.1) of Hack for $6.00 at the above address. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ INSTALLING HACK +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Make a backup of this disk before doing anything. You should probably delete the Icon Editor and its source files to save disk space. Type the following from CLI: delete HackIconII#? all HACK needs a number of work files. You should create a file called 'record' to hold the high scores; it can be empty initially. Also create an empty file called 'perm'. If a file called 'news' exists, the contents will be displayed before the game starts. If you want to be able to save games, create a directory called 'saved games'. If you copy this disk, then these files will be set up for you. At any time you can empty out the high scores file with the CLI command: echo >record HACK creates some work files on its own. Files of the form 'bones_nn', where nn is a number, should be left on the disk for use in future games. Files of the form .nn are work files which should go away when you finish your game. You can use the Icon Editor 'HackIconII' to change any of the colors or characters used by the graphics version of Hack. See the file 'HackIconII.doc' for more information. Hack gets its characters from the file CHARACTERS. If you are familiar with the Unix or PC version of Hack, you may wish to use the partial graphics character set. Monsters appear as the ASCII letters, as on the other systems. To use this character set, rename the CHARACTERS file to something else and rename CHARACTERS.ALPHA to CHARACTERS. There is also a configuration file 'HACK103.CNF' that you will want to edit to set your default options. There are comments in it to describe what to put in it. Several people have asked about how to install HACK on a hard disk. Make a directory called DH0:HACK and copy the files from the disk into it. Then enter the CLI command ASSIGN HACK_GAME: DH0:HACK You can then execute HACK normally. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ COMMON PROBLEMS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If when you go to run your copied version of Hack you get a requester asking for you to insert the volume 'HACK_GAME' in any drive, then you need to rename the copied disk to HACK_GAME using either the CLI relabel command or the rename option from workbench. A common (VERY common) mistake is to delete the 'copy of' text from in front of the name leaving the space in front of hack_game (Workbench likes to put 'copy of ' in front of any disk copied. Make sure you delete the leading space also. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PLAYING HACK ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you've played HACK under UNIX or some other environment, you won't have any trouble with this version. Many of the commands are the same. Even if you haven't, however, you can use the menus in AMIGA HACK. Just hold down the right menu button and select the command. After you get to know the commands, you will be able to use the keyboard commands. The keyboard command equivalent for each menu selection is listed next to the selection. Two commands you will want to know are '?' and '/'. '?' gives you a summary of all commands. '/' will identify a character. In graphics mode, all icons are displayed. Click on one with the left mouse button to identify it. In non-graphics mode, type in the character you want identified. Before you play, you might want to print out the files 'hh' and 'help'. 'hh' is the file displayed with the '?' command; 'help' is the help file that came with the original UNIX version of the file. Also there is a file HINTS.DOC for people who have never played HACK or ROGUE before and want a description of what they can do in HACK. Since the major fun in HACK is discovery and surprise, there are not many details in HINTS.DOC +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.03B Changes +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Additional Features Keystone Kops Death Scene Spiders and Webs Magic Traps RockMoles Amiga Features Clicking on menu items substitute for typing in the letter +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.03C Changes ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mostly bug fixes: Saved Games are now put in the correct directory Saved Games are no validated consistantly The tombstone lettering is now in a lighter color for better readability KeyStone KOPS are no longer created incorrectly +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.03D Changes ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ghost levels now work correctly Rewritten for speed and size reduction Spurious standard output window removed +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WIZARD Mode ! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wizard mode under Hack allows you to play with almost complete invulnerability. It is there to allow you to learn some of the finer points of Hack. To get into wizard mode, you must enter from CLI the command HACK -W Once inside of hack it will ask you for a character as usual. You can choose anything. Once your games starts you will have in addition to your normal items a wand of wishing with 20 charges. Use them wisely. Note that although you cannot be killed in wizard mode, you can starve to death and you can choke over your food. Otherwise you are completely safe. One caveat, wizard mode will not allow you to save high scores (that would be cheating, wouldn't it?) +++++++++++++++++++++ Help for the Beginning Programmer ++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you are struggling with the Amiga and with learning how to program or simply use your Amiga, there are two excellent sources of information: Amazing Computing - generally available from your local Amiga dealer. It is a 'slick' cover magazine with advertising and fairly high level coverage of basic Amiga operations. It has been extremely informative and covers may advanced programming topics with farily indepth articles. Available from your local dealer The Amigan - PO Box 411, Hatteras NC 27511 - $24 for 6 issues/year subtitled 'Apprentice and Journeyman', the Amigan is aimed at both the beginning programmer and advanced hacker. The editor, Dick Barnes has a very readable style, making for easy and informative reading. The journal comes on 3 hole punched paper ready for building an ongoing reference manual for the Amiga. The articles tend to focus on solutions to problems and approaches to take. No advertising is taken so all reviews are fair and hard-hitting. Unlike other 'help' newsletters that tend to be fly-by-night, the Amigan is informative and committed to providing useful tips to make your life easier and more productive. A must for the serious Amiga Programmer. +++++++++++++++++++++ Other Public Domain Software ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Fred Fish 345 Scottsdale Rd Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Offers (now 50) disks of PD software for $6 each. These are well organized and a MUST for any user group. ++++++++++++++++++++++ From the Software Distillery +++++++++++++++++++++++ Other programs from the Software Distillery may be obtaining by calling our Bulletin board. At present this consists of: * C-Kermit (by Jack Rouse) - A telecommunications program that implements the full Kermit protocol with many features such as remote commands and batch file transfers. * An advanced UN*X MAKE program with default rules and macro expansions * POPCLI - a screen saver program and 'hot-key' extension for bringing up a new cli at the touch of a key. * ICONEXEC - a program for making AmigaDOS programs run from workbench without any changes. * SETALTERNATE a program for setting the alternate (selected) image on an icon to other than inverse. * BLINK - an Amiga Linker that is FULLY ALINK compatible and up to 4 times faster. It supports many advanced linking features as well as an excellent map facility. A must for the serious programmer. * TSIZE - a utility to list the amount of disk space taken up by the individual directories on a disk * WBRUN - A program for running workbench programs from CLI without having to load workbench * MEMWATCH - A background utility to watch for ramdom memory trashing * Soon to come - LARN, another UN*X game ported to the Amiga by Edmund Burnette. Similar to HACK but more strategy.