Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Ray,
    
    Yes I am on the GEnie network.
    Yes, the amiga is the other machine that they support.  I looked
    through the information that was about the simulator.  Looked pretty
    good.
    
    I am debating whether or not to get it and try it out.  I figuree
    @ $5/hr, it can't be too expensive to try once or twice. 8^)
    
    				Rob
    

    
    
    	Just wanted to add I have tried that game on Genie using my
    ST and a MAC emulator. It is a great game although not as intricate
    as FS II. Let me know when you are going to play. We can go up and
    Shoot each other up.
    
    			Steve
    

    I finally logged onto GENIE and applied for an account.  I plan
    on downloading the software needed to run Air Warrior and take to
    the skies.
    
    As soon as I check this thing out, I'll report back here.
    
    I understand that the software supports MAC Atari ST and Amiga
    versions.  Sounds like a real ball.
    
    Ed.
    

    I've downloaded version .4 (the latest) of Air Warrior for the Amiga. 
    The software is freely distributable, but of course, you need GEnie
    to use the simulator in interactive mode.
    
    The software comes in three modules:
    
    AirWar      (executable)
    Terrain.dat (terrain data base)
    Airwar.dat  (game data base)
               
    Plus:  Tons of documentation, much of it vague and confusing.
    
    There are lots of optional modules that allow you to fly in med-res
    or hi-res, and there are sound files, too.  What I really like best
    is the ability to create or download custom views of the airplane
    that you're flying.
    
    After a bit of practice (you can fly without logging onto GEnie,
    but there's nothing to shoot at) I logged on and and joined a fierce
    battle.  I got blasted from the sky in seven seconds.
    
    This game is pretty intense.  The element of competition really
    makes you sweat.  The graphics are not too bad, and update at least
    as fast as FS][.
    
    Some people on GEnie take this game pretty seriously.  I can almost
    picture them sitting in front of their monitors with goggles and
    scarf, with a fan blowing in their face.  :^)
    
    You can pilot one of a dozen or so WW][ planes, or, you can pilot
    a bomber or man a turret on a bomber.  The bomber pilot assembles
    a crew at your headquarters.  You can apply to join the crew.  I
    didn't even bother to ask, after my sad showing in dogfight.
    
    I am new to GEnie, so I don't know my way around too well, but some
    nice person gave me a few tips on how to stay alive.  They didn't
    work very well.
    
    Anyway, this multiplayer stuff is a real scream.  I can't think of
    a single way to have more fun for $5.00/hour.  
    
    If anyone seriously wants to try this on for size, I'll upload the
    three basic modules and some docs.  
    
    Ed.

    Do it !!
    

    Please do !
    
    M.A.A.

    
    I wonder if there is any way to setup a private game of it on GENie??
    
    Wouldn't it be a blast if we could have a DEC-only version? I'd
    join in a minute!
    
    It's a shame they don't publish the protocol. I talked to them at
    Origons last year and they told me they did their development on
    Micro-VAXs under Ultrix and then ported over to the GENie systems,
    whatever they are (I can't remember).
    
    

    OK, here's how it works...
    
    In LEDS3::USER6:[ACCIARDI.AMIGA]  there's a file called AW.ARC.
    Download it.  This ARChive is actually composed of (7) seven smaller
    ARChives.  They are:
    
    ARChive NAME	FILE SIZE 	COMMENTS
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Airwar.arc		129353		This is the executable AirWar
                                        v 0.4 program.
    
    AirdatL.arc		 60288	        The lo-res data file.  That's what 
    					the 'L' suffix stands for. There's
    					also med & hi res versions,
    					but I'm sticking to lo-res for
    					reasons that will become apparent 
	    				later.
					
    AirwarP.arc		 25856		This is the propeller sound
    					file.  There are bomber and
    					jet files on GEnie, also.
    
    Terrain.arc	         21504          Terrain data base.
    
    AWmap.arc		 14208          A full 640 x 680 (yup) map of
    					the AirWar universe.  View and/or 
		                        print using DPaint II or ShowPrint.
    
    Amigadoc.arc         12032          Doc package for v 0.3 of the
    					game.  Read it carefully. Will
    					print out pre-formatted.
    
    SWII.arc		 26752          A 'View File' of a P51 Mustang
    					named "Sweet Thing ][".
    
    The first thing to do is to format a fresh disk.  Since most of
    these small ARC files have their own README included, I'd print
    them out immediately.
         		
    Some things will not be perfectly clear from the docs, since this
    game is still evolving.  One of these is the 'View Files'.  When
    you run AirWar, the screen will be composed of an upper portion
    showing the view out of the cockpit, and a lower portion showing
    instruments etc.  The program will display some crude canned views
    of your aircraft as you change views, like FS][.  By storing the
    view file (I've included SW][) in RAM:, the program will substitute
    these pretty views for the crummy canned ones.  You can even make
    your own using a 'MAKEDAT' utility (not included).
    
    Another point not mentioned:  the program will not run on top of
    WorkBench.  They haven't figured the problem out yet, but they're
    working on it.  So, build a self-booting disk with all the files
    you need in the root directory, and use the following startup-sequence:
    
    	copy P51E to RAM: quiet     	:all view files must be renamed
					 to conform to the dozen or
    					 so aircraft supported.
    	Airwar
    
    That's all there is to it.  The program will load you into a menu
    screen from which you can enter a terminal mode to dial up GEnie,
    or, you can fly all you want without spending a cent.  This menu
    controls all aspects of the game.  By the way, if you are using
    a lo-res view file, you must be running AirdatL.  The reason I use
    it is that there were no med-res or hi-res view files on GEnie,
    and I didn't want to get into making my own.
    
    One more thing... to get an account on GEnie, dial 1-800-638-8369
    at HALF DUPLEX.  When connected, hit 'hhh' (three h's).  At the
    U# prompt, type 'XJM11868,AIR' (all one line).  After answering
    two thousand questions, they'll give you a temporary password and
    tell you when your account will be ready.  It only takes a day or
    so (I think they're doing a credit check).
    
    I hope you all enjoy this as much as I am.  Think of it as a belated
    holiday present.
    
    Ed.
    
     
        						 
        						
        						
         						
    				
     			
    
    			
    
    

    	Ed, thanks for uploading Air Warrior.
                
    		I have a problem with the view file.
    		I did exactly as you say, creating a bootable disk,
    renaming p51e.swii to p51e and creating the startup-sequence file
    to load p51e to ram:. Everything else I tried works O.K., but I
    am getting the crude views of the aircraft, at least nothing close
    to the description the author gives in the readme file. I tried
    renaming the file to p51d ( since the mustang in the menu is a p51-d)
    and a26 (there's a bomber called a26). The program starts when I
    select the plane (Mustang or A26, depending on how I renamed the
    file), but still get the dull gray views of the airplane.
    
    	I have an AMIGA 1000 with 512K, nothing else running.
    Any ideas ? Someone else with my configuration tried it ?
    Thanks for your help.
    
    Miguel A. Alvarez 

    You've don everything right, you just haven't done enough...
    
    Rename the view file to P51E and copy to RAM: at startup.  Once
    the program loads and you are in the colorful menu page, select
    'In Memory Views' from one of the drop down menus (the third I think).
    
    A little requestor should pop up, and you must enter '7', since
    that's how many views there are.  Now, the disk should access for
    a few seconds as the view file is stored in a configuration file.
    
    Then, select 'P51' from the Planes menu, then Fly.
    
    Good Luck.  Ed.