DeathMatch for Doom 1 & 2/DeathMatch.bin/sirdoom.txt

Text File | 1995-04-28 | 50KB | 1,046 lines

                                SIRDOOM
                         A DOOM/Heretic Loader
                                  for
                            Game Connection

               Copyright (c) 1994 by Sirius Software, Inc.


Finally, you can play DOOM, DOOM II, and Heretic with up to four
players via modem.  SIRDOOM has a built in terminal that will allow you
to call your favorite Major BBS system running the multi-player version
of Game Connection (V1.40 or higher for DOOM, and V1.45 or higher for
Heretic) and play against a group of friends or acquaintances.  While
there, check out the other games that are playable in multi-player mode
via Game Connection.

SIRDOOM is a simple terminal program, and fairly self explanatory,
with a built in DOOM/Heretic loader that not only allows you to play up
to four way games, but also allows you to play without the need for
expensive modems and difficult modem configuration.  It also allows
you to play a much smoother game than previously possible by optimizing
the data to reduce the volume.  This front end has been tested
thoroughly with DOOM V1.2, V1.5B, V1.6B, V1.666, DOOM II, and Heretic.

Support for DOOM and Heretic were combined into this single program due
to the similarities in their operation, and to keep from cluttering
your system with more files.  However, even though it is the same front
end, the communications of the two games are different, and require
separate game modes.  Make sure you select DOOM mode for DOOM or
DOOM II, and HERETIC mode for Heretic.  Game modes are explained a more
thoroughly in SIRGCONN.DOC, the user documentation for Game Connection
that should be available on your system.

Although SIRDOOM makes DOOM and Heretic play smoother and relaxes some
of the hardware needs, the game still requires high powered equipment
for smooth play.  Please read the hardware considerations section
below.



              Installing and Configuring SIRDOOM

To operate SIRDOOM, simply unzip SIRDOOM.ZIP into either your DOOM or
Heretic directory, or preferably, somewhere in your path so you can
play any of the games without the need for multiple copies of SIRDOOM
floating around.  Placing these files in your path will allow you to
type SIRDOOM from any path on your computer and select the game you
wish to play.

The first thing you will want to do after installing SIRDOOM will be to
configure SIRDOOM for your system.  The configuration editor will
come up automatically the first time you run SIRDOOM, and can be
accessed at any time by typing Alt-C from SIRDOOM.

This editor is fairly self explanatory.  You are allowed to configure
the com port, baud rate, init and dial strings for your modem, create a
dialing directory of the systems you frequent, set up one or more paths
where DOOM or Heretic are located on your system, and select game
options.  The 'Extra Args' field in the game options editor
allows you to specify additional arguments that the configuration
editor does not handle automatically, such as warping or external wad
files.  To warp in DOOM, use "-devparm -warp <episode> <level>"; to do
so in DOOM II, use "-warp <level> <level>".

The configuration editor will generate a file called SIRDOOM.CFG.  This
is a simple text file that SIRDOOM reads to determine your
configuration.  If you wish to edit this file with a text editor, the
options are as follows:


                            General Options

   * BAUD:   <baud rate>

          This is the baud rate you want to use for communicating with
          the BBS.  It can be set to any standard rate, but must be set
          to at least 9600 for DOOM to operate.

          This is the only required option.  If it is not provided,
          SIRDOOM will take your current UART speed, which in most
          cases is 2400.

          NOTE: With versions of DOOM V1.6B or higher, 2400 bps play is
          also possible, although much choppier than 9600 play.  See
          the TICDUP option for more details.


     BUFSIZ: <input/output buffer size>

          By default, SIRDOOM uses 1K buffers for input and output.
          This number can be increased (as high as 64000) or decreased
          if you like by adding the BUFSIZ option.

          The size of your I/O buffers should probably not be
          increased.  Our testing shows no more than a 40 byte build-up
          in the buffers during normal play with 4 players.  It may
          even help to decrease the size if you are having trouble
          moving your player accurately.


     DIAL:   <dial command prefix string>

          This is the string that will be used to dial your modem when
          you type Alt-D.  This should normally be set to ATDT, but is
          configurable so you can set it to what you like.


     INIT:   <modem init string>

          SIRDOOM will sent this string to your modem when you first
          enter (if you are not already connected), and each time you
          hit Alt-I.  Note that unlike most terminal programs, SIRDOOM
          does not send an init string if you are already connected.
          This feature allows you to easily enter and exit the program
          without having your init string sent to everyone on the
          system when you re-enter.


     HANGUP: <modem hangup string>

          SIRDOOM will automatically drop DTR briefly in an attempt to
          hang your modem up when Alt-H is pressed.  If this does not
          cause your modem to hang up (usually because your init string
          includes &D0), you may need to specify a hangup string here.


     INTR:   <game interrupt override>

          By default, SIRDOOM will attempt to locate an empty user
          interrupt on it's own to use for communicating with DOOM.  If
          you run into a conflict, you may need to override the
          interrupt used.

          Example:  INTR: 0x60

          This will cause SIRDOOM to use the general purpose interrupt
          60 hex for communications.


     NUMBER: <default BBS phone number>

          This field is only useful if you are not using SDCONFIG.  It
          is the number that SIRDOOM will dial when you press Alt-D,
          but is set each time by SDCONFIG.


     PORT:   <com port>

          COM port to use to call the BBS.  Set this to 1-4 for the com
          port you will be using.

          If you are using non-standard hardware, you can override the
          port using the PORTADDR and IRQ options below.


     PORTADDR:  <hex port address>

          If you are using non-standard hardware, you can override the
          PORT option by specifying the hex address of the port that
          you want to use with this option.  If you do not understand
          the use of this ability, then you most likely do not need to
          use it.

          If this option is used, you MUST also specify the IRQ to use
          (see the next option).


     IRQ:    <interrupt number>

          This option should not normally be used.  It will allow you
          to redirect the communications interrupt for non-standard com
          ports.  Currently only irq 2 through 7 are supported.

          If this option is used, you MUST also use the PORTADDR option
          to set the address of the port to use.

          Example:

          PORTADDR: 2F8
          IRQ:      5

          This would configure SIRDOOM to use the standard COM2
          address, but instead of IRQ 3, it would use IRQ 5.


     FLOW:   <ON or OFF>

          This option allows you to override the default value for flow
          control.  In most instances, flow control defaults to ON.  If
          your modem does not support hardware (RTS/CTS) flow control,
          you do not have it configured to do so, or your serial cable
          is incomplete, then you may need to disable flow control.

          Keep in mind that doing so will most likely cause data
          compression and data buffering to fail.