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System requirements
------------------To play HACK you need the following:
1 - MSDOS computer running MSDOS (or PCDOS) 2.0 or greater
I have tested HACK on the following systems and it runs without
a hitch:
IBM AT (80286) with lots of memory, a hard disk, and
the enhanced graphics display.
IBM PC with 256K and 2 floppies or hard disk
- monochrome monitor and monochrome display card
- color monitor and card (sorry, HACK doesn't uses color)
- monochrome monitor and Hercules card.
ATT 6300 with 256K and a hard disk.
Columbia PC with 256K and 2 floppies.
Compaq portable with 256K and 2 floppies.
Compaq Deskpro (8086) with 512K and a hard disk.
ITT XTRA with 256K and 2 floppies.
Tandy 1200 with 256K and a hard disk.
It will probably also run on other MSDOS systems like the Tandy
2000 (80186) and 1000 but I haven't tested it yet because I
couldn't find these with sufficient memory.
256K ram
You need about 230,000 bytes of free ram. Use chkdsk to find out
if you have enough. I tried HACK on a Tandy 2000 with 256K and
MSDOS but it wouldn't run because the Tandy had only 210,000 bytes
of free memory. Under MSDOS 2.0 I have about 233,000 bytes free.
2 - 360K floppies or a hard disk
In principle you could use one 360K floppy but you would not be
able to save and restore big games (big in the sense that the longer
you are alive in the game, the more disk storage is used. Thus, the
big games are also the good games).
Configuration of HACK for your MSDOS computer.
---------------------------------------------The configuration of HACK is controlled by environment variables.
At the system prompt type:
A>set VAR=VALUE
This sets the value of the environment variable VAR to VALUE. See the
PCDOS 2.0 manual page 10-21 for details.
The variables used by HACK are:
HACK
HACKDIR
HACKLEVELS This the PATH where the program will generate its
temporary level files. As well, this is where some
of the level files get left as bones files (you will
understand bones when you start playing).
ex:
C:\games\hack\levels\
default value: B:\
IMPORTANT: This is a directory PATH and should end with
the '\' character.
HACKSAVE This is the full name of the savefile (including any path)
for saving and restoring incomplete games.
ex:
C:\games\hack\hack.sav
default value: .\hack.sav
If you append ";noprompt" or just ";n" to the name of the
savefile, the program won't prompt you to insert the diskette
used for saving. This is useful if you have a hard disk.
ex:
C:\games\hack\hack.sav;n
Of course, using a batch file to set the environment variables is
easier than typing them in each time you want to play.
Sample configurations
---------------------
This means you will play with the name Terminator and you will be a
Cave-man (person).
-s [name]
Once you have started hack, type a ? to get help on the available
commands. You can also print the help file and keep it for a handy reference.
Pitch
----In order not to get bad karma you should rush out with all haste
and send $$$ to:
Don Kneller
2 Panoramic Way #204
Berkeley, CA 94704
Even if you don't send $$$, you are encouraged to copy this program and
give it to your friends and post it to BBS's. You can send me mail on
the Walnut Creek, CA BBS at (415) 937-0156. For people on the network
you can get in touch with me at:
ucbvax!ucsfcgl!kneller
-orkneller@ucsf-cgl.ARPA
We have been playing HACK on an IBM PC for about 3 weeks now and seem to
have the bugs worked out. If you find a bug, please let me know at any
of the above 4 locations.
Your contribution would be much appreciated and provide encouragement to
update to version 1.0.2 of HACK. Whether you contribute or not,
Happy Hacking!!!!!!!