Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!uwvax!astroatc!nicmad!hill
From: hill@nicmad.UUCP (Ray Hill)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Linking two computers
Message-ID: <2416@nicmad.UUCP>
Date: 22 Feb 88 14:46:43 GMT
References: <578NU109703@NDSUVM1> <5240@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Reply-To: hill@nicmad.UUCP (Ray Hill)
Organization: Nicolet Instruments, Biomedical Division
Lines: 51

In article <5240@watdragon.waterloo.edu> swklassen@trillium.waterloo.edu (Steven W. Klassen) writes:
>> I would like to be able to hook up two atari computers for interactive games,
>> etc. that require that you do not see the screen of the other person.
>> My brother and I both have Atari 800XL's with parallel ports.
>
>I sent a solution to a similar problem to someone on the bit-net quite
>awhile ago.  This time I guess I will make it public (perhaps there are
>others out there who are interested).
>
>Although this solution isn't exactly what you asked for (I have no info
>on Atari XL parallel ports [unless of course you're referring to the expansion
>slot on the back]) it may be useful to you.
>
>The joystick ports on the Atari 8-bits can be configured for output as well
>as for input.  This will rule out joysticks (except on the old 400/800s) but
>will allow you to communicate between your computers.
>
>I hope that all this helps.
>
>> ...I would probably send in the results to a magazine like Antic or
>> Compute...
>
>Good luck!  When I sent it to ANALOG two years ago they sent it back to
>me saying something about a lack of reader interest in the subject.
>(I guess they think we're only interested in games :-)

I did something similar about two years ago too. (However, it was Antic that
turned me down then)

I wrote a two player Adventure game in standard Atari Basic. The second player
was attached through a serial port to another Atari or terminal. It also
worked with the then popular MPP 300 baud modem drivers that talked at 300
baud through a single joystick port. I made a simple "null modem" cable that
allowed the two Atari's to talk at 300 baud without any modem hardware. (just
two Radio Shack replacement joystick cables)

The adventure game wasn't much. I wrote it to prove the concept worked, and 
work it did. The game generated a random 20 room maze and allowed the two
users to wander around the maze picking up treasure and talking to each other.

My favorite part was the descriptions about distance when someone talked. (ie.
You here a voice in the say:) Also playing a standard type boring adventure
game really changed when the description: "Another adventurer just entered the
room" appeared on your screen.

I wish Antic would have been interested. I kept dreaming about writing "REAL"
games in ACTION using the same hardware configuration.


						Ray Hill
						hill@nicmad