Date   : Tue, 17 Mar 1987 08:49:40 EST
From   : Ferd Brundick (VLD/LTTB) <fsbrn@BRL.ARPA>
Subject: Re: Hitchhiker's Guide for CP/M-80

Haah,

I can't comment on Infocom's stock since I've never ordered directly
from them, but I'd like to pick a few nits with Calvin Culver's
response to Tim Brengle.

Yeah, when I was starting out with the Zork trilogy on my CP/M machine
I discovered that all ZORK?.COM files were the same, and by patching
one with DDT you could change the data file reference from ZORK1.DAT
to ZORK2.DAT.  This is very easy to do because the name is near the
beginning (don't delete the blanks between ZORK1 and DAT).

When my wife bought an IBM clone I bought some Infocom games for it.
Since the games run faster on her hard disk system than my floppy
system, I considered porting the .DAT files.  As a test I patched
HITCHHIK.COM to use LEATHER.DAT and it worked.

Ok, so I've confirmed Calvin's claims.  The gotcha is that in the newest
games the .COM files are customized -- they aren't as generic as they
used to be.  For example, HitchHiker warns you to put on your peril
sensitive sunglasses before showing your score.  One game even added a
new command (not the "oops" command; several games have that).  While
you may be able to run one games data with another .COM files, some
things (perhaps critical ones) may not work.

I agree that CP/M .DAT files should work under MS-DOS.  If I ever stop
playing Hollywood Hijinks long enough to wire a new cable I'll try to
transfer some .DAT files and see what happens.

                                        dsw, fferd
                                        Fred S. Brundick
                                        USABRL, APG, MD.
                                        <fsbrn@brl.arpa>

"That would take all the mystery out of life."