Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    I suggest you get a good C compiler for the Amiga.  You can use it to
    develop a game with the sprites, pictures, music and text of your
    choice.
        John Sauter

>    What program should I get to change sprites,pictures,music and text
>    of a game?
    
Unless you have the source code, as in .1, such changes carry some risk:
NEWZAP will change bytes of the executable file directly, but you'll
need a disassembler to discover all but the most limited info. If you
want to change some text output, you can search for it in the executable
and replace it with NEWZAP. It's PROBABLY safe to make the text shorter
and fill with NULLS, but you can't make it longer. 

Some games store their big data structures as separate files, and some-
times the storage is obvious. For example, "Empire" stores it's hideous
opening screens in a couple IFF files in a separate directory. These
are easy to replace with IFF images (of the same resolution and "depth").
Other games store graphics, sounds in not-so-obvious-format files. "Falcon"
has dozens of sound and image files, most with obvious names, but I'm not
familiar with the format, and changing an unfamiliar format entails some
signifigant risks.

Beyond that, I suspect considerable machine-code hacking experience is
necessary, along with a powerful disassembler and assembler. Needless to
say, such activity is a copyright violation, but is probably harmless
enough if you're just doing it to improve the game for your own use.

    re: .2--``Needless to say, such activity is a copyright violation....''
    
    How is it a copyright violation?  He isn't going to copy anything, just
    change it.  Sort of like buying a book and then crossing out some words
    and adding others.
        John Sauter

>    How is it a copyright violation?

Beats me- but you see it in copyright notices all the time: specific
wording prohibiting CHANGING the software. I can see some validity to
it, mostly on the "warranty" aspect: Suppose he changes game x and then
gets tired of it and gives (sells) it to someone else. This person 
encounters weird behavior and calls the original vendor to complain,
because the software is still on warranty, and they have to replace a
"defective" game...

John O.

    I don't think this is a copyright violation, but a violation of the
    terms of the license.  If the wording of the license agreement
    prohibits changing the software, then changing it is clearly a
    violation.  (Depending on the circumstances, the courts might decide
    that such a provision was unenforceable, but who wants to take a chance
    on that.)
        John Sauter

    By law in most states, no matter what is written on the package
    , you allowed to make an archival copy of any piece of software.
    	Also you are allowed to alter your software to meet your needs.
    	Although this would void any warranty.
     This information comes from "Commodore Magazine" from an article
    called "End of the Shrinkwrap Law".
    						Ed
    

Re: .6

If a copyrighted computer program is only protected by the copyright law,
you are permitted to make one or two archival copies.

If a piece of software is protected by a proper license, the license
may involve the licensee giving up some of his rights (like the right
to make backup copies) or taking on additional responsibilities (the
user agree to stand on his head while using this software).

However, it isn't clear if a shrinkwrap license is a proper license.
A shrinkwrap license is where the manufacturer prints the terms of the
license on the box along with the statement that if you break the seal
on the package, you have shown that you accept the terms of the license.

The rest of this reply is available only under the terms of a license.
By accepting this license, you agree to send $200 (in U.S. funds) to
Randy Meyers.  Hit return to accept the license.

Wow, I've just invented a new concept: Share-notes.  Send your checks
to Randy Meyers, ZKO 2-3/N30.  If I do well at this, I may go commercial.

An even better idea: If you inhale again, you agree to send me $1000!

    re.2
    
    I have NEWZAP for editing text.  I have deluxe paint for title pages.
     I have audio master for editing sound.  I have sonix for editing
    music.  What can I use to edit sprites????
    
    When I used Deluxe paint for changing the title page of fairy tale
    adventure instead of being replaced with my picture it became blank
    when the page with the changed picture appeared.  
    
            Matt
    

Re: .8

>    When I used Deluxe paint for changing the title page of fairy tale
>    adventure instead of being replaced with my picture it became blank
    
Well, I said it was fraught with perils. When it can't find the picture
file it wants, Empire shows a blank screen, it doesn't crash. That may be
what's happening. Another possibility is the width/height/depth is wrong
for the game. Did you use a "stencil" in Deluxe Paint, then not turn it
off? This leaves another "depth" plane in the IFF image, which is "invisible"
in Deluxe Paint, but which the game may not deal with. Compare the header
info of the IFF to the previous version, ANY change could cause problems.
(Compare all "chunks" except the one with the bit map itself.)

Good luck
John O.