Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!think!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!BRL.ARPA!fsbrn From: fsbrn@BRL.ARPA (Ferd Brundick, VLD/LTTB) Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm Subject: Re: Hitchhiker's Guide for CP/M-80 Message-ID: <8703170849.aa04741@VIM.BRL.ARPA> Date: Tue, 17-Mar-87 08:49:40 EST Article-I.D.: VIM.8703170849.aa04741 Posted: Tue Mar 17 08:49:40 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 18-Mar-87 07:14:30 EST Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Distribution: world Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 35 Haah, I can't comment on Infocom's stock since I've never ordered directly from them, but I'd like to pick a few nits with Calvin Culver's response to Tim Brengle. Yeah, when I was starting out with the Zork trilogy on my CP/M machine I discovered that all ZORK?.COM files were the same, and by patching one with DDT you could change the data file reference from ZORK1.DAT to ZORK2.DAT. This is very easy to do because the name is near the beginning (don't delete the blanks between ZORK1 and DAT). When my wife bought an IBM clone I bought some Infocom games for it. Since the games run faster on her hard disk system than my floppy system, I considered porting the .DAT files. As a test I patched HITCHHIK.COM to use LEATHER.DAT and it worked. Ok, so I've confirmed Calvin's claims. The gotcha is that in the newest games the .COM files are customized -- they aren't as generic as they used to be. For example, HitchHiker warns you to put on your peril sensitive sunglasses before showing your score. One game even added a new command (not the "oops" command; several games have that). While you may be able to run one games data with another .COM files, some things (perhaps critical ones) may not work. I agree that CP/M .DAT files should work under MS-DOS. If I ever stop playing Hollywood Hijinks long enough to wire a new cable I'll try to transfer some .DAT files and see what happens. dsw, fferd Fred S. Brundick USABRL, APG, MD. "That would take all the mystery out of life."