Re: Torpedo Fire by SSI

[heuser.marcus@freenet.de]

On Aug 1, 4:00 pm, "RetroC64" <stede...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> As for the game, I select the Introductory Scenario (number 1 on the list)
> Play against the computer (C)
> Novice Rules or something (Y)
> Then the game starts. On my first turn I type (o) for order
> then choose convoy (C)
> then type MC090 or MC180
> type (E) to execute
> and BAM! Error.

I get a "DIVISION BY ZERO ERROR IN 8010".

It then crashes to the prompt at which point I type LIST
& enter. Then the game interestingly resumes and I have a
two-player game - not a human vs. computer game anymore...

At first I thought that your command isn't correct but it is.

I see four ships on the screen and one of them is bearing
guns - which violates the rule of the manual, that convoys
are all freighters and tankers.

So there must at least be an escort - and escort movement
commands do work with my image! I tried issuing movement
commands to "E1" or "E2" which brings me to another menu
where I can enter movement or fire commands. Chaining orders
is allowed, too.

I tried two orders similar to the examples in the manual:
(M)OVE
(N)EW
MSS10
(A)DD
MC030
(Q)UIT
(E)XECUTE

I then had to type in the map parameters to display the
results. X=1, Y=1 and SCALE=A should give you a nice overview.
A higher scale (B to F are allowed) zooms in but "F" may give
you a corrupted screen (the author even admits in the manual
that this "is a function of the graphics package and can't be
prevented in all cases" - hokey).

You can then choose between O= Original positions or N= new
positions.

Then the movement phase was being calculated and the ships
being drawn. You can then repeat the same command (E) or
with ENTER go to your command selection menu.

Interestingly the map shows five(!) ships and when you
manipulate E1 and E2 to change course you see that they are
below and above the three ships in the middle which are aiming
to the right screen border (eastern course?). These are indeed
the convoy ships and here's the kicker:
You can change their course *after* you issued course change
commands to the escorts - I had no crash after a "MCC030" was
issued following the above sequence. In fact the convoy turned
on the map with the ships now being drawn angled, too.

The screen with the four ships appears to be a representation
of the types of ships in your whole "armada" (escort & convoy).

What I find hilarious is that the game advertises other SSI
titles when the search phase is running... Imagine seeing this
while waiting and waiting and waiting - and not having an
emulator that you can speed up by pressing a key! (See help
file of AppleWin)

Hint: Use F11 and F12 to save states in AppleWin - use this if
you aren't sure that your command executes without breaking
the game.

Hope that helped,
Marcus