FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet
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submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission
standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from
node 1:1/1.
Copyright 1988 by the International FidoNet Association. All
rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for
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please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067. IFNA may also be contacted
at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141.
Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of
Fido Software, 164 Shipley Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94107 and
are used with permission.
The contents of the articles contained here are not our
responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them.
Everything here is subject to debate. We publish EVERYTHING
received.
Table of Contents
1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1
KeyChek -- "Agents" for OPUS? ............................ 1
Universal Mayhem(c) A real killer! ....................... 2
MENSA Echo Conference Grows Onto The Backbone ............ 6
2. COLUMNS .................................................. 7
Let's YACK about Getting Back Into FidoNet ............... 7
3. NOTICES .................................................. 9
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 9
International Medical Software Exchange .................. 9
NEW Region 18 REC! ....................................... 9
Latest Software Versions ................................. 10
FidoNews 5-35 Page 1 29 Aug 1988
One of the biggest additions to my OPUS BBS was a mail checking
program. Although I've gone through several of these by now,
and am not satisfied with any one of them, it still strikes me as
wonderful that upon logging in, I get a message telling which of
the hundreds of messages OPUS receives every night are meant for
me.
Ok, so I'm easily satisifed. Not quite. I've been thinking of
how to improve on mail checkers, and have come upon an idea that
I think is both simple and powerful. It's the concept of a
keyword checker.
With KeyCheck, each user would have a set of keywords, say up to
10 or so. Every night, KeyCheck would go through the message
base, and search for the presence of the keywords in the To:,
and Subject: fields, or if specified, in the text of the
messages.
With the proliferation of gateway programs like UFGATE and
GATEWAY, the Fido To: field is now often used as a gateway
keyword, rendering conventional mailcheckers useless. With
KeyCheck, users would still be able to check for their mail, by
looking for references in the text of the message.
I have thought about this, and it seems to me that KeyCheck
ought to be feasible on an ordinary XT PC receiving say, 500
messages a day. With the advent of gateways, and the steadily
increasing FidoNet traffic, it's time we started thinking about
creating "agents" as part of FidoNet BBS's.
I am posting this article in order to get a dialog going on the
features that a KeyCheck program should have, and the
enhancement of Fido systems with text search in general.
Universal Mayhem is finally available for general Network
consumption. There are only a few SysOps who know what
Universal Mayhem, (UM), is so I'll give a very brief run-
down on it here.
Universal Mayhem is a Doors (tm) or Outside (tm) program
which is basically a shoot-em-up type game in that those
players with accounts constantly maintain a space ship in a
universe and hunt and fight other ships, maintained by other
players. Enemy ships are automated to fight back such that
they are not "sitting ducks."
Planetary commerce, subspace communication between users,
the Galactic Police, black holes, remote robot sensors;
these are some of the things that the current version of UM
has to offer. Alliances between ships may be forged in that
the two allied ships may not fire at each other If an
alliance is broken, the Galactic Police get involved.
If you attack an enemy ship, it will return fire with its
torpedoes until they run out, (if they ever do). When no
more torpedoes exist, the automated ship switches to
phasers. While the battle is going on, the automated ship
will attempt evasive which may result in the running battle
from one side of the universe to the other, with the
possible destruction of any planets that happen to be in the
line of fire, (sorry, guys, happens all the time). When
destruction seems to be unavoidable, the automated ship will
attempt a random jump in any direction for the distance its
class warp drive will permit, (you must buy higher classes
of warp drives and even sell them to make profits to buy
other items).
A top-ten list is maintained, showing the top ten strongest
ships and the top ten killers. You may name the planets, (a
universe that is 8000 by 8000 sectors will have 64000
planets).
It's considered unfriendly to battle a ship into submission,
board it, then leave it drifting. It is much nicer to
simply back off a sector and send them one last torpedo to
finish them off.
Subspace messages are sent to the FidoNet BBS system as one
of the mail areas. This can be an echo mail area and will
be used in the future to exchange subspaces messages across
"universes." AREA:MAYHEM as a matter of fact...
BUGS - - -
Well, there are a few of these. They are NOT going to be
FidoNews 5-35 Page 3 29 Aug 1988
fixed, partly because they are not destructive faults, and
most importantly because the C version is soon to be
released. The C version allows the maintenance of command
files which tell a players ship how to act when various
other ships are active. 'Run-From' this ship if he gets too
close, 'Attack' this ship if he signs in, 'Assist' this ship
if he attacks someone, 'Defend' this ship if he gets
attacked. These are the various commands that the C version
has. The C version also has corresponding white holes for
the black holes in the universe. Entry into a black hole
causes the exit at a known space in the universe where
reentry into the nearest black hole will return a ship back
to its point of departure.
DISADVANTAGES - - -
Universal Mayhem the current version requires a lot of disk
space to run. Some 1 meg or 1.2 meg of disk space to have a
universe some 8000 by 8000 sectors. The C version, which is
soon to be released, will allow a universe of 32000 by 32000
sectors using 1 meg. Testing has shown that a universe of
64000 by 64000 is easily possible if space is available.
WHERE, WHAT, WHEN - - -
If you are interested in Universal Mayhem, The BASIC
version, it is downloadable from Astro-Net (103/503), at
714-662-2294. If you wish, send me network mail along with
a FidoNet address and I will upload it to your board so long
as it is in the mainland United States. If you require
configuration information, send me network mail.
If you run Universal Mayhem, let me know through network
mail so that I may mail you the C version when it hits its
initial release. I'll mail a floppy free of charge.
MAYHEM.ARC - (Downloadable)
Universal Mayhem, the BASIC version
Contains everything you need, including
GATEWAY.ARC for the console redirection
required. A sample config file is
enclosed for a universe of 8000 by 8000.
The allowable time to play and systems
password is stored in the config file and
will need modification.
CUM.ARC - (Downloadable) C Version of
Universal Mayhem (Document only) This
file contains the documentation for the C
version of Universal Mayhem. It details
the functions in the source code and
describes what they do. At the function
level documentation, a complete
description of the game is available.
FidoNews 5-35 Page 4 29 Aug 1988
CUMCARD.ARC - (Downloadable) Business
cards will be mailed to SysOps who run
the C version of Universal Mayhem. This
file describes the business cards and how
to ask for them. I will mail cards free
of charge to all SysOps so that they are
distributed to their users also free of
charge. The cards sport a really neat
planet with a sword plunged into it
surrounded with wheat stocks. The
symbolism is described in this file.
Cards are used by players to identify
them as Mayhemites and will entitle them
to nothing.
UMSOURCE.ARC - (By mail only) The source
code, congesting of two files, is not
made available for general release. This
is because of the FidoNet message
interface function which can be miss-
used. Also, Universal Mayhem represents
a LOT of work which I want to sell. If
you would like to obtain the source code,
send me ten bucks in a check or something
and I'll mail a floppy. The source is in
Digital Researches Compiler BASIC and is
some 200K or so due to the HEAVY use of
in-line documentation. The code was
originally intended for release into the
Public Domain and as such was documented
because of the need to allow
modifications easily. The source is
copyrighted and may not be redistributed.
CUMSOURCE.ARC - (By mail only at a later
date) The C version, written in C, uses
linked-list structures and contains the
kernel of a psudomulti- tasking
environment. This is intended to
automate the ships via command files that
the players maintain. Because of the
technology involved in the development of
the C version, the source is not to be
made available to the Public Domain, (the
ships can even be made to move as a timed
event from the FidoNet software). If you
are interested in obtaining the source
for the C version, I require fifty
dollars for it as a check or something.
I will require a written agreement,
however, acknowledging copyright holding
if you want the source to the C version.
Eventually, C Universal Mayhem will allow the running of and
the destruction of other ships sitting in other universes.
The way this is to work is through network mail. A captain
FidoNews 5-35 Page 5 29 Aug 1988
on Astro-Net may destroy a ship which is captained by a
player on another node. At night the data differences are
transmitted and both systems are updated to reflect the
destruction. This can, of course, be turned off to seclude
game play to one universe.
- - -
Universal Mayhem is, and as was intended, solely for the use
of FidoNet people for the propagation of honest
bloodletting. Beta testing has been underway for the last
eight months and is available for evaluation at Astro-Net.
This enables you, the SysOp and user alike, to run the game
before spending the time of downloading it.
MENSA Echo Conference Grows Onto The Backbone
by George Falcon, 1:109/648
Moderator, MENSA Echo Conference
For about six months now, I've been keeping the FidoNet
community aware of the growth of the MENSA Echo Conference
since I assumed responsibility for it back in February. I've
posted the list of systems carrying the conference in the hope
that those of you interested in participating could find an easy
link to the conference.
An easy link is even easier now. A few weeks ago the MENSA
Echo Conference went onto the national "backbone" of echomail
distribution. At last count, there were 81 systems
participating, far too many to list here. The conference is NOT
restricted to member sysops or users, but is completely open, and
serves as an interface between the organization and the FidoNet
community.
What is MENSA?
Mensa is an international organization with only one
requirement for membership - a performance on a standardized
I.Q. test (or certain alternative tests, such as the CEEB, SAT,
GRE, LSAT, etc.) in the top 2% of the general population.
MENSA membership
American Mensa has over 53,000 members, and another
15,000 members belong to national Mensas in many countries.
There are Mensans in 98 countries throughout the world.
MENSA's purposes
1) to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit
of humanity
2) to encourage research in the nature, characteristics, and
uses of intelligence
3) to provide a stimulating intellectual and social
environment for its members
"MENSA" defined
Mensa is Latin for "table." We are a round-table society
that makes no distinctions as to race, color, creed, national
origin, age, or eco-nomic, educational, or social status. Only
intelligence matters.
MENSA organization
American Mensa has about 130 Local Groups, located in all
50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Chances are
there's a local group nearby.
For more information, write to American Mensa, Ltd.
2626 East 14th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11235-3992
Hello, friends of old and new. I'm back. I was on
vacation for awhile (There are those who would say that I've been
on vacation for a LONG while), but that doesn't account for the
length of time I've been away. My last column was, of course, in
FidoNews 5-15, way back in April. Here I am, over four months
later, trying to pick up where I left off. Well, I guess I have
some explaining to do.
I'm sorry for abandoning the newsletter when I was just
getting started on a regular column; I'm sorry for the MASS of
EchoMail I generated in response to the 'Disincorporate IFNA'
campaign; I'm sorry I allowed Node 128/31 to die this summer; and
I'm sorry I can't attend FidoCon. Most of all, I'm sorry I
didn't get my ballots off in time; I have not contributed well to
FidoNet this year.
However, EagleTech BBS is up again, with me as its new SysOp
and such, though at time of writing I'm still waiting on Node
reassignment.
Thank you, FidoNet SysOps, for the times past when I was a
user; thanks again for the short time I was a co-sysop and
columnist for FidoNews; and thanks in advance for the fun times
to come.
Yes, FidoNet is fun; chatting with the users, and our local
GENERAL echo in town gets loads of users from time to time when a
discussion gets underway about copyright laws or the size of the
sign outside of town; and direct overnight communications with
both old friends and new ones found here in FidoNet is always a
treat. (Hi Geof! I should be back in the NodeList soon.)
With the fun comes the responsibility, however, to run the
node with care; respecting other SysOps' needs in FidoNet;
working out tech problems with them; helping new users get
'smart' on telecommunications basics; keeping the file and
message areas clean; and contributing wherever there is a lack of
true communication in FidoNet. I haven't gotten involved enough
with FidoNet to say I've been a help. I guess it's time for a
change.
Well, I didn't vote, so whatever happens this year, like it
or not, I have to face up to the fact that I did nothing to avert
FidoNews 5-35 Page 8 29 Aug 1988
it. I guess the Net is in y'alls' hands, now. See ya' next week.
Richard Kaplan
Medical Software Exchange
1:135/3 (1-305-325-8709)
Software Trade: International Medical Software Exchange
As sysop of a PC-Pursuitable medically related BBS, I'm
interested in exchanging public domain medical software with
computer users throughout the U.S. and in other countries as
well. I currently have 5 meg of medically related software on-
line and FREQ-able (contact me via netmail during NMH for my
operating hours, which are variable).
I'd be interested in trading software through U.S. mail with
anyone who has interests similar to mine. Please contact me via
netmail to work out the logistics of such a trade.
Christopher Baker
Region 18 Coordinator
135/14 (18/0)
24 Aug 88
NOTICE: Region 18 has a NEW Region Echomail Coordinator.
Jon Hall at 123/12 has taken over the duties of
REC for Region 18. This change was not noted in
this week's Nodelist due to late notice and the
occurance of FidoCon V. The listing for 1/218
is NOT correct since it reflects the information
for the previous REC 18, Jerry Cole at 123/2.
Please update your system accordingly. The change
FidoNews 5-35 Page 10 29 Aug 1988
in 1/218 should be reflected in Nodelist.246.
123/12 is set up will ALL of the Echo control
files from 123/2. The Alternate Hubs in Region 18
are unaffected as of this writing.
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by
reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list
all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.
Hal DuPrie 101/106 Chairman of the Board
Bob Rudolph 261/628 President
Matt Whelan 3:3/1 Vice President
Ray Gwinn 109/650 Vice President - Technical Coordinator
David Garrett 103/501 Secretary
Steve Bonine 115/777 Treasurer
IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIVISION AT-LARGE
10 Courtney Harris 102/732? Don Daniels 107/210
11 Bill Allbritten 11/301 Hal DuPrie 101/106
12 Bill Bolton 3:54/61 Mark Grennan 147/1
13 Rick Siegel 107/27 Steve Bonine 115/777
14 Ken Kaplan 100/22 Ted Polczyinski 154/5
15 Larry Kayser 104/739? Matt Whelan 3:3/1
16 Vince Perriello 141/491 Robert Rudolph 261/628
17 Rob Barker 138/34 Steve Jordan 102/2871
18 Christopher Baker 135/14 Bob Swift 140/24
19 David Drexler 19/1 Larry Wall 15/18
2 Henk Wevers 2:500/1 David Melnik 107/233
