Re: Question about configuring TO apps.

[foegelle@sleepy.cc.utexas.edu (Michael Foegelle)]

In article <CI7LK9.K7E@ucdavis.edu>,
Kenrick Mock <mock@hyperion.cs.ucdavis.edu> wrote:
>In article <2etcro$6rb@sleepy.cc.utexas.edu>,
>Michael Foegelle <foegelle@sleepy.cc.utexas.edu> wrote:
>>
>>>You do know that Kenrick Mock and James Brookes have already released Columns
>>>for the PC, right?  You should also know that Sega now owns the rights to
>>>Columns and may be pursuing infringers...
>
>Yep, we released Columns PC sometime in August/September.   The only
>authorized copyright holders to Columns are HP and Sega; I had some nice
>email from Jay Geertsen (the original inventor of Columns) and he has no
>interest in legal action, but if Sega wanted to, they could - a big company
>like Sega can do all sorts of nasty legal things if they wanted to...
>(of course I hope they dont :)

Well, like I said, there's already another half a dozen copies out there.  I
have seen yours now on GEnie, and want to download it, but I'll do it over the
9600 baud line, not the 2400 baud line I was on..  (Unless you have it via 
anonymous FTP somewhere..)  I noticed it was uploaded in October.  I had mine
playable by then, but was just annoyed at a few things.  I wanted it to play
identically on all machines like Columns //e does, so that took me some time
to fix.  Also, wedding preparations kinda take away from programming time..  =)
Ah well...

>
>>I've seen half a dozen different versions of Columns for the PC, but so far
>>all of them have little bitty square blocks like Columns GS and none can 
>>compare to Columns VGA.  (Not to say that there aren't ones that could, but
>
>Well, our version supports 256 colors, lets the users edit the block set
>themselves, supports soundblaster music and sound, has configurable difficulty,
>raytraced graphics, and other nice features that I think make it stand
>out a bit from other versions of Columns :)  Of course PC users haven't
>sent in much shareware, but what can one expect from PC users. :)

I'm debating Soundblaster support in the final release version, but dunno.  
That may be in a future upgrade.  I do have 256 color intro screens, but 
went to 16 color 640x480 mode on the game to get higher resolution gems.  The
default gem set has dithered colors though to make it look much better.  And
of course, like the new version of Columns //e, the registration version has
a two player game and save game ability..

>>if they're the ones who wrote the one version of Columns GS (which I assume
>>was why you brought them up), then I already have their blessing to release
>>my one Columns IIgs if I ever finish it, etc.  They said they welcome the

>Sure, the GS can use whatever software is written for it.  Just thought I'd
>clarify that the FTA also wrote the Fun Columns desk accessory game, so there
>is more than one version out there.

Yeah, but wasn't yours the first GS version?  Actually, I've put aside that 
project for some time.  I WAS porting the 6502 assembly code over to the GS, 
but now I could port the C++ source code for Columns VGA over to the GS and
add 65816 subroutines...  Actually, what I REALLY want to do, is write a game
like "Xybots" for the Apple.  However, the limitations of the double-hires 
screen make that somewhat impracticle for the 8-bit machines.  The GS might 
work OK, but now I'm kinda spoiled with VGA graphics on the I*M..  What will
make the decision is whether or not I get a suitable amount of registrations
off of the IBM Columns VGA....

>Master Mock (just passed my prelims :)
Congrats!  I'm hoping to have my Ph.D. in Physics within six months or so..
>Look for a trivia gs game coming up sometime in '94...

Michael Foegelle


-- 
   Michael Foegelle  | Call Wunderland BBS! |   foegelle@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
    University of    | (512) 472-0544  8n1  |   foegelle@utaphy.ph.utexas.edu
   Texas at Austin   | 14.4kbaud, v.32/bis  |   GEnie:   M.FOEGELLE2
  Physics Department | 500 megs on a //e!   |   > Ask me about Columns //e! <