
F I V E   H U N D R E D  F O R   R E M O T E   A C C E S S
   F I V E   H U N D R E D  F O R   R E M O T E   A C C E S S
      F I V E   H U N D R E D  F O R   R E M O T E   A C C E S S
         F I V E   H U N D R E D  F O R   R E M O T E   A C C E S S
            F I V E   H U N D R E D  F O R   R E M O T E   A C C E S S
               F I V E   H U N D R E D  F O R   R E M O T E   A C C E S S





                          release version 2.1.1
                        written  by   G. M. McKAY

                                 

                                 

                                 

SUMMARY :




        This software plays the popular card game of 500.   It is
designed to compliment the standard "FIVE HUNDRED" program, in which 
you play for one person while the computer plays for the other three.
500BBS, on the other hand, allows you to play the same card game of 500, 
but against other people rather than just against the computer.

        Often, you may find it inconvenient to find four people to
play with, so the computer will automatically play for any missing
people.   Obviously you cannot play against other people on the one
computer (you would be able to see each other's cards), so this software 
gives you three ways of playing:

        ***   via your modem, with direct one on one play against
                another person and his modem,

        ***   on a multi-user network.
        
        ***   via your modem and a bulletin board which is supporting 
                this game as a DOOR,
        
        Different parts of this program are needed for these different 
ways of playing.   Consult the following detailed instructions for help 
on installing this software properly.   This package also includes the
software that sysops will need to install 500BBS as a door, so that
their users will be able to play each other.









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 COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS :


               Any 286, 386, 486 or better IBM compatible computer
will successfully run this game as long as it has an EGA or VGA colour 
monitor and 400K of memory available.   It will use a mouse if one is fitted, 
but this is not a requirement.   To run on a network, all you need is a 
directory on a disk that all players can read, write, and create files in.   
To run on a Bulletin Board (BBS) as a door, the requirements are similar - 
the computer only has to know the COM port used and needs a common 
directory that all nodes can access and read, write, and create files in.

        For all modes of play, you need enough disk space to store the
files plus an additional 40Kb.   This is not exactly a lot of space, but 
you do have to make sure that the disk is not 100% full.

        Obviously if you want to play this game via a BBS, or by dialling 
up your opponent, you will need a modem.  Any Hayes compatible modem 
operating at any speed or flow control will work.  The only requirement 
is that both modems (or your modem & the BBS) can talking to each other 
successfully via any standard communications program.   This is one game 
that people with 1200 baud modems can play with the same response time
as people with 28800 baud modems.









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 DISTRIBUTION :


        This copyrighted game is distributed under the SHAREWARE system 
which depends upon your support for on-going development.   You are 
encouraged to freely copy and distribute this product unaltered to  
friends, business associates, bulletin boards and user groups.   
HOWEVER THIS  PRODUCT IS NOT FREE !   You have an evaluation period of 
two weeks for personal use and four weeks for BBS use.   If  you decide 
you do not like the game, simply pass it along to someone else.   If you 
are still using 500BBS after this evaluation period, you are obligated to 
register it.   Refer to the later REGISTRATION section to see how much
this costs.   If the future of low-cost quality software is to continue,
we all must support this concept.   If you  cheat on this  payment may
you be constantly finessed.

         You should have all of these files in the whole package -

        500BBS.EXE    -    remote access 500 program
        500BBS.TXT    -    this information
        README.EXE    -    .exe version of 500BBS.TXT
        REGO.FRM      -    user registration form
        SCORES.       -    game scores and set-up information
        1.CRD         -    card data files
        WHOARE.YOU    -    network data file
        BBS-DOOR.EXE  -    door program run from a BBS
        BBSSETUP.EXE  -    utility program to set up the BBS door









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 RUNNING IT :


        500BBS can be run from a floppy disk or your hard disk - if you run 
it from a floppy make sure the disk is NOT write protected - check the tab 
on the disk.   Naturally when run from a multi-user BBS, or on a network 
it has to be on a hard disk which is accessible by all users.









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 PLAYING 1 ON 1 VIA A MODEM :
        
          
        Everybody should read this section, because it contains a general 
summary, as well as "1 on 1" specific information.   Playing 1 on 1 allows 
you to play with 1 other person.   The computer automatically takes the place 
of the other two players.   This is different from playing as a user on a 
BBS, in which case you can play against up to 3 other people.

        You can connect via modems & telephone lines, or if you happen
to have two computers, you can connect them via their serial ports to
communicate (you do not need a modem for this).   Either way, initialise
communication with a standard communications package (eg Telix, or
Terminate).   This makes sure that both computers are talking at the same
speed, parity, flow control etc.   You can chat together on the
communications program to co-ordinate running 500BBS.   When you are
ready,  exit or shell out of your communication program and run 500BBS.
When you do this, it is essential that you DO NOT HANG UP, or have your
communications program set up to hang up automatically.    If you shell out, 
it is preferable to use a communications program such as TERMINATE which 
swaps itself out of memory - otherwise you can check how much free 
conventional memory you have by running MEM.   You must have 400 Kb of 
conventional memory available for 500BBS to use.

        I emphasise again.   DO NOT HANG UP when you leave the
communication program.   You can practise exiting when logged on to a BBS 
to make sure you get this right.

        If you have problems synchronising with the other computer
when you run 500BBS, try setting NO flow control on BOTH your
communication programs before starting 500BBS  (ie. no XON/XOFF, no
CTS/RTS, no DSR/DTR).  You can do this at any time when in you communications 
programs, as long as you both do it at the same time.  If you still have 
trouble synchronising, you can both return to your communications programs, 
and try again.

        After leaving your communications program, you must change to
the directory that all your 500BBS files are stored in (commonly C:\500BBS).

Run 500BBS.EXE

        The first screen allows you to input the name that you want
to be known as during the game.   This defaults to the name you used
last, or the name used in the command line when you called the program.   
For example, if you called the program with the line

                500BBS my name

then it will offer "My Name" as the default name.   Yes, it capitalises it 
for you.   Your name can be up to 10 characters long.   Unregistered copies 
have a nuisance delay built into them.   Obviously, this is there to remind 
you to register.

        The bidding rules, strategy, and personal options (eg speed of
play) can be set in the next screen.   Change this screen by tabbing between 
boxes, or clicking the left mouse button on one.   Change an item by 
pressing the space bar to toggle between choices.   Make sure that the last
two boxes are set up correctly - to play 1 on 1, they should read "1 on 1",
and the correct COM: port that you are using for your modem (only COM1:-
COM4: are supported).   Press "ENTER" (or right mouse button) when you are
happy with your selections.

        The next screen is where communication starts to take place, as
the 500BBS program tries to find another computer to talk to.   If it
synchronises properly, it will ask one of the players to decide where to
sit in the game, ie. choose to be the other player's partner, or opponent.
The computer adopts the game rules of the player who did not have this
choice.   The rules set up menu is displayed once again so that you can see
the rules that are being used.   You can still change your personal
options, but now neither player can change the game rules.

        Make bids and play cards using the F1 - F10  function keys, or
with the left mouse button (the right mouse button cancels selections
made).   If you have a mouse fitted but do not want to use it, it can be 
parked off the screen at the bottom. If your mouse is not working properly, 
jumping, or pointing to the wrong place,  the problem is usually that your 
mouse does not fully meet the Microsoft standard - try running another mouse 
driver, preferably the standard Microsoft driver (you may have to remove the 
current one from memory first - change it in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and
reboot).

        There are a number of hotkeys which may help you when you
are playing a game:

        H - gives a summary of which Help hotkeys are available
        B - reviews the Bids made in that hand
        C - shows you the score Card with the last 10 scores in your    
                game to date
        R - Replays the cards played in that hand
        S - enter the Set-up menu - you can always change the personal 
                options, but may only change the game rules if you are 
                the only player (on Network or BBS modes of play)
        Ctrl Q - Quit the game
        space bar - extend your time to play a card

        The space bar "extend time" is used for Network and BBS games,
but not for "1 on 1" play.   Refer to the full explanation in the Network
section.

        You will not be expelled from 1 on 1 play if you are slow,  but
you will still see the flashing background screen to remind you to hurry up.

        If one of the players leaves the game,  the other player cannot
continue by himself.   Always return to your communications program to make 
sure the telephone has been hung up.

        If you have problems refer to the later TROUBLE SHOOTING section.

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

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 PLAYING OVER A NETWORK :

        To the user, playing over a network is easy.   You do not have to 
enter any communications program, you can simply access the directory all 
the files are stored in, and run the 500BBS.EXE program.   Naturally, in 
the MENU screen, choose the "PLAY OVER A NETWORK" option.   Otherwise the 
method of playing is equivalent to playing over a modem - read the earlier 
"1 on 1" section.

        If you press H - you will see the Hot keys displayed.   These are
explained in the "1 on 1" section, but now the "space bar" key needs a
little explanation.   When you are playing with other people, it is very
boring for them to be left sitting for minutes while you try to think of 
which card to play, or while you choose kitty, or type in a message.   Hence 
you will be thrown out of the game if you delay for more than 60 seconds.  
The card table colour flashes to warning you that this is about to happen 
(and the buzzer buzzes if the sound is turned on).   This time limit can be 
extended once only if you press the space bar.  It is extended by another
60 seconds.   In effect you send the other players a message - "hang on a 
bit, I really am still here".

        Network managers have to install the software with all the program 
files in a directory that all users can read, write, create, delete, and 
modify files in.   All users access this same directory.   The 500BBS program 
is set up to handle all errors that occur when more than one user tries to 
write to the same file.









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 RUNNING AS A USER ACCESSING A BBS :

         
        Establish contact with your BBS in the normal way through your 
communications program.   If your BBS allows you to play 500 with other 
players, it will have 500 set up as a door in its menu.   Select this door, 
and follow any on-screen instructions.   The final instruction will be to
exit or shell out of your communication program and run 500BBS.   When
you do this, it is essential that you DO NOT HANG UP, or have your
communications program set up to hang up automatically.   If you shell out, 
it is preferable to use a communications program such as TERMINATE which 
swaps itself out of memory - otherwise you can check how much free 
conventional memory you have by running MEM.  You must have 400 Kb of 
conventional memory available for 500BBS to use.

        I emphasise again.   DO NOT HANG UP when you leave the communication 
program.   You can practise exiting when logged on to a BBS to make sure you 
get this right.

        The general instructions for running 500BBS are given in the
"1 on 1" section.   When accessing a BBS, obviously you select "ACCESSING A 
BBS" as the mode of play in the setup menu.   When synchronisation starts, 
the 500BBS program tries to find another computer to talk to.   If it
synchronises properly, it will tell you whether you are joining a game
that is currently in progress, or you are the only player.   When
joining a game, you can choose where to sit - ie if there is currently
one player in the game, you can choose to be his partner, or his opponent.   
If you are the only player,  the rules that you chose become the rules of 
the game, however if you are joining an existing game, then obviously you 
will be adopting their rules.   The rules set up menu is displayed once 
again so that you can see the rules that are being used.   You can still 
change your personal options, but now you cannot change the game rules.

        As with the Network play instructions, you must play a card within 60
seconds, or risk getting thrown out of the game.   The card table flashes to
warn you of this.   The space bar can extend the non-activity time out for
an additional 60 seconds.   Note that this non-activity time limit is
different from the time limit that most BBS's impose on you - that time
limit cannot be extended.   If you are expelled from a game, simply return
to your communications program and continue.

        After leaving a game, always return to your communications program 
to continue using the BBS, or at least to make sure the telephone has been 
hung up.   I will not be responsible for long distance call costs incurred 
by not hanging up!









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 RUNNING A DOOR ON A BBS :
        
        

        In some respects this is similar to running over a network.   The 
job of the BBS is to provide a single directory for all callers who are 
playing the 500 game to access.   In the BBS case, this is just a directory 
where files are created and written to, read from and deleted.   The BBS 
does not run the 500BBS.EXE program as the remote user does.   When the door 
is activated, the BBS runs the BBS-DOOR.EXE program.   This program 
communicates with the remote user's 500BBS.EXE program and ensures that 
they can communicate with every other remote user playing the game at the 
same time.   Your computer only needs 150Kb of conventional memory to run 
BBS-DOOR.EXE.
        
        The BBS-DOOR program requires some information to run properly.   
It needs to know the COM port that it is operating on, the time remaining 
before the user will be thrown off the BBS, and the user's name.  This 
information is contained in a file that your BBS program produces each time 
you call a door.    For example the file may be called DOOR.SYS.   
Unfortunately, every BBS program produces a file of a different name, and of 
a different format.   This means that you have to tell the BBS-DOOR program 
what file to look at and what line in the file stores the information that 
it needs.   You do this by including the information on the command line 
when you call BBS-DOOR.

        For example you may call:

                BBS-DOOR.EXE  DOOR.SYS,1,10,19,M,Y

This means that when the BBS-DOOR.EXE program runs, it looks in the
DOOR.SYS file,
        at line 1 to find the COM port used (either as a number eg 3, or
                as COM3)
        at line 10 to find the user's name
        at line 19 to find the time that the user has left before being
                thrown off the BBS
        and it knows this time remaining is in minutes (M=Minutes, S=Seconds)
        and it knows that you want it to maintain a run log of who is using 
                the 500 game door (Y=Yes, N=No).

        
        I have included a file called BBSSETUP.EXE with this software.  A 
sysop can run this file to determine where in the door file (eg. DOOR.SYS) 
the required information resides.   Create a door file in the same directory 
and run BBSSETUP.   Each piece of information in the file is displayed with 
its line number.   These line numbers are the ones you will put on the 
command line when calling BBS-DOOR.EXE.

        A word about the run log - this log file is called  500_LOG and it
resides in the same directory as all the other 500BBS files.   It tells you 
who has just joined the game, how many people are playing at that moment, 
and the date and time.   This log is rewritten when it reaches 5Kb in length 
to stop it becoming too large - this means you do not have to worry about 
maintenance of the door at all.   This log file is useful to the sysop to 
establish  how popular the 500 door is.   You may want to advertise it more 
to get more custom, or you may want to install several doors if there are 
usually 4 players (ie. often people will not be able to join the game as 
there are 4 players already).   If you do not want this log file, simply 
replace the "Y" with a "N" at the end of the command line.

        If there is no time limit on the user, put a "0" in that space in 
the command line.

        As well as running the BBS, if you want to play in the same game
as your remote users, you can do that by accessing the same directory that 
the BBS-DOOR program is run from, and running your own 500BBS.EXE program, 
but running it in the NETWORK mode.   This may appear odd, but the reason is 
that the remote users of your BBS have to tell their programs to talk to 
your BBS (ie. it doesn't write the important files to their own directories), 
while your BBS-DOOR.EXE program effectively works as a Network program 
(ie. it allows all programs working in that directory to read & write the 
important files).   Thus you can access those same files by running your 
personal 500BBS.EXE in Network mode.

        Both the 500BBS and BBS-DOOR programs are carefully designed to have 
multiple levels of error recovery and disaster recovery.   All this is 
designed to minimise the maintenance that you have to do to keep the door 
running.   It can even "heal" itself from events like disk crashes, as well 
as more mundane events like dropping carriers and forgetful/careless users.

        If you want to manually stop a BBS-DOOR running, you can Ctrl Q to 
exit.   But note that this leaves the remote user hanging, ie it does not 
tell the remote user that you have manually cut him off.









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 TROUBLE SHOOTING :
        
        
        The most common problem is the synchronising of the computers when
playing over a modem.   Modems are funny things and it doesn't take much to 
throw them out of sync.   500BBS uses the modem settings that you establish 
with your communication programs and assumes that it is 100% correct.   If 
500BBS does not synchronise within 2 minutes of its trying, Ctrl Q out of 
500BBS, and rerun it.   You can try this a few times before both parties 
should return to their communications programs.   It is best for both people 
to agree on a time they will wait before returning to the com. program ( eg 
4 minutes).   When you return to the com. program don't give up yet!...
Repeat the procedure a few more times and you will probably have success.   
In your com. program you can check you both have the same flow control (I 
recommend using no XON, CTS, or DSR with 500BBS), and that your program does 
not close the COM port when you exit or shell out.

        You can Ctrl Q out of 500BBS at any time.

        If  the computer appears to hang, it may simply be your opponent
taking a long time to play a card.   If it has hung and Ctrl Q does not exit, 
you can reboot, and re-enter your communications program.   This is usually 
successful.  

        If you get a "carrier not detected" message, either the other player 
has just hung up, or you have not set the correct COM: port on the setup menu.

        If you run a Windows communications program, do not swap out of it -
shell out of it or close it - otherwise both your communications program and
500BBS will try to access the COM: port at the same time.











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 RULES :



        FIVE HUNDRED is a well loved card game with a myriad of local house 
rules (some are accommodated here via the set-up menu).   The object of the 
game is to collect 500 points and avoid collecting -500 points.   The game 
is played in teams with you and your partner (player 2) playing against 
players 1 & 3.   Cards are ranked in order of Ace down to 5 in the black 
suits and 4 in the red suits,  except in the suit that has been designated 
the TRUMP suit for that hand, in which the order is - Joker, right bower 
(the Jack of the trump suit ), left bower (the Jack of the other suit of the 
same colour), Ace, King, etc. 

        The game starts with each player bidding for the number of tricks 
they think they can win (with their partner's help) with a particular suit 
as trumps - 6 is the minimum bid, and the order of the suits is spades, 
clubs, diamonds, hearts, no trumps.   The highest bidder wins the bid and 
endeavours to win at least as many tricks as he/she bid; if successful he/she 
gains the points for that bid otherwise he/she loses those points. 
250 points are awarded for all 10 tricks, and the non-bidding team gets 10 
points for each of their tricks.   NO-TRUMPS with no suit as the trump suit 
is a legitimate bid, with the Joker being played as the sole trump.

        MISERE (or NULLO) is a bid in which the bidder tries to lose all 
10 tricks (the bidder's partner does not play).   CLOSED MISERE is worth 
250 points and can only be bid after a 7 bid has been made, while OPEN 
MISERE is worth 500 points and must be preceded by an 8 bid.   OPEN differs 
from CLOSED only in that the bidder displays his hand to the other players 
after the first lead.   An 8 bid is higher than a CLOSED MISERE bid (in the 
rules set-up menu you can choose whether you want 8 spades to be higher or 
not), and 10 no trumps is the only bid to beat OPEN MISERE ( 10 hearts is
of the same points value so OPEN cannot be bid after 10 hearts).   MISERE 
has a different balance of luck to skill from other bids, so it is not 
allowed in some card schools.   You can choose to have no MISERE, only OPEN, 
or both OPEN and CLOSED.   You can also set the enthusiasm the players have 
for bidding MISERE to match your own (note that this only applies to the 
computer players).

        The winning bidder gets the 3 card kitty to supplement their hand, 
and chooses which 3 cards to "throw out" again.

        Each player plays consecutively in a clockwise direction, with the 
winner of the last trick leading.   Each player must follow the suit led if 
they can.









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 VERSION 2.1.1 :

        This is the first full version being distributed, so do not be 
surprised if you find bugs in it.   The idea is that I would love to hear 
from anyone with problems, suggestions, or even praise.

        Naturally when you register, you will get the latest version.









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 REGISTRATION :
        
        
        As discussed above, if you are still enjoying this game after the 
evaluation period you should support the  Shareware concept and register 
your copy.   The cost of registering depends on what you want to register.
If you want to register your copy of 500BBS as a private citizen who likes 
to play the 500 card game (whether on a network, via a BBS, or with the 1
on 1 play), the cost is $25 plus $6 postage (ie. $31.00).   If you are a 
sysop and want to run a registered Door program for your customers, the cost 
is $120 (I'll cover the postage & this will also get you a registered copy 
of all the  programs).   If you run a Network used for commercial purposes,
the cost to you for a registered version that all the uses on your network 
may access, is $120.

        All those who register, will receive:

        ***  a registered copy of the latest version of the 500BBS
                user's software
                
        ***  the latest version of the BBS-DOOR software (registered for 
                those who pay $120 and unregistered for those who pay $31)
                
        ***  the latest version of the original FIVE HUNDRED CARD GAME 
                software which allows you to hone your skills by the 
                computer playing for the other three players.

        ***  the latest version of STRIP500, which is similar to the 
                FIVE HUNDRED CARD GAME, except it involves naked ladies.

        ***  and finally, if you would like to receive other non-game,
                programming aids I have written, then let me know
                
                
                
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FIVE  HUNDRED  FOR  REMOTE  ACCESS

   Name:  _______________________________  Date:  ___/____/____

   Address: _______________________________________________

   City:  _______________________  State: _____  Code: __________

   Country:  _______________________

   Version:  _2.1.1_   My Copy From: ______________________

   Most use will be on BBS/1 on 1/Network ______________________

   Computer: _______________  Floppy (pref. 1.44Mb): _________

   Registration:  $------ ($31, $120)

   I will be grateful for any suggestions, comments, or
   information on problems with the software you may have.
   
   
   
   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   SEND THE FORM TO:
                              G.M.McKAY
                               29 Melissa St.
                                Strathmore
                                 Victoria , 3041 
                                  Australia
                              
                              ph (0)3-9379-7696
