Conference hydra::amiga_v1

There is supposed to be a demo of this on ab20.larc.nasa.gov .  Maybe
someone has already grabbed it...

-steve

    The demo on ab20 came from me originally. I've got the .dms file on
    line somewhere; I'll make it available tomorrow.
    
    Cheers,
    
    					Jamie.

    I've copied the .DMS files to TAPE::AMIGA:[UPLOAD]GODSA.DMS, GODSB.DMS.
    They've got about 40 tracks apiece to make up a single disk.
    
    The demo is from Amiga Format and the disk contains some other PD stuff
    too such as a sample editor, picture, text viewer etc. The GODS demo
    takes a LONG time to load up so be patient.
    
    Most controls are self explanatory. To pick objects that don't get
    picked up automatically by walking over them, crouch (joystick down)
    then press fire to bring up an inventory screen. Pressing fire to a
    vacant spot or to an object with which to replace the object you're
    picking up will do the trick.
    
    Enjoy!

Is .DMS yet another archive format? Is so, where does one get the de-archiver?

Frank

-> Is .DMS yet another archive format? Is so, where does one get the de-archiver?

Either from TAPE::AMIGA:[UPLOAD]DMS-102.LZH;1  

or same file at CGOU01::AMNEW:

/Steve.

    Well I've got the real thing now! Truly amazing game. The password
    system seems to be unique as well; you get a password when you get so
    far through the game. This gets registered on the hi score screen.
    Thing is, I believe (don't quote me!) that the passwords will be
    different for every player; the password is a 3 letter code generated
    randomly then stored on the (unprotected) levels disk. This means no
    cheats in the magazines that list all the level codes! (Let's face it,
    that kind of thing does ruin games!).
    
    
    
    				Jamie.

    I've now got to level 3 world 3 and I'm now convinced that the game is
    a 2-D version of Cadaver! It's got the puzzle element of Cadaver with
    an added arcade touch. It's really neat how if you're doing badly you
    get help in the form of teleports or extra lives/health etc and if
    you're doing really well you'll get cash bonuses + more obstacles! And
    there are loads of hidden parts to the game. I know there's a whole
    section of level 2 world 1 that I haven't seen and a part of level 1
    world 2 that I missed too, so perhaps I'll go back sometime and figure
    them out...
    
    Highly recommended.
    
    
    				Jamie.

An aside about .dms files...

What is it with .dms files?  They refuse to download reliably.  I'm
not talking about the ones just posted, but in general.  This is the
second .dms post and this one seems to be as difficult as the last.

VLT/zmodem just stops every once in a while.  No error, just says "Done.".
Resuming causes something wierd to happen because in the end the file
size is larger than what it should be.

I lharc'd the .dms file (it got a tad smaller by the way) and downloaded that
and while the download went fine all the way I had a crc error when I
unlharc'd the file and dms choked on it.  Both parts gave me the same
results.

I had the same problems with the lemmings .dms post a while back.  Anyone
know what the problem is?

-steve

    re -.1 
    I know what you mean.  I have never had a .dms file extract without the
    CRC error on the last file.  The archive usually works fine even though
    It gets the error; I just ignore the error message and use the
    application, game, etc...  I've never had a problem downloading or
    uploading .dms files, though.  
    
    mark
    

->     I know what you mean.  I have never had a .dms file extract without the
->     CRC error on the last file.  The archive usually works fine even though

	I looked at the lemmins .dms files and they were padded at the end
	with zeros. I compared the byte size to that of the directory from
	ab20, and zapped those extra bytes away. It then unarcd cleanly.

	Seems, like between ab20 and here the extra bytes get added to
	the end of .dms files? Although it does'nt seem to cause any problems
	with DMS, just the error message.

     Steve.

    
    Errors here, too.  In my case, my df0: has nada on it after the error
    message.  Message is ...CRC ... header... .
    
    I lharced the two .dms files (sz failed on .dms, convert to slf failed,
    also), download ok, CRC errors when trying to dms write or dms view.
    
    Ideas?
    
    Thankx,
    Dennis

    I've never had any problems with .dms files at all. You'd expect to get
    an error at the end of the unpacking on these disks simply because
    they're not normal DOS format ? (A guess).
    
    The GODS.DMS didn't come from abd(whatever!) so if it's got the
    trailing bytes I don't know where they came from.
    
    Also, there's probably little point in lharcing the .dms files since
    DMS has already done the packing. You may get a few more bytes squeezed
    out but they're probably not worth the effort.
    
    The way I get .dms files from here to the Amiga is to copy the files
    onto a dos disk, either on a networked PC or onto the floppy drive of a
    Vaxstation 3100, then use DOS2DOS to get the file onto a normal Amiga
    dos disk, then use DMS from one floppy to the other. Note that if
    you've only got 1 meg of memory, it won't work if you copy the .dms
    file to RAM then try to DMS it from there (at least in the case of
    GODS). More than 1 meg would be fine though.
    
    Cheers,
    
    
    				Jamie.

The reason we both lharc'd the file is that there is something wierd
going on when you try to download one of these as is.  I've downloaded
hundreds of files and when I download a .dms file the transfer stops
intermittently for no apparent reason.  Maybe it's something to do with
zmodem or VLT.  Maybe I'll try out using my tk50 to do the transfer...

-steve

    If you like I can warp it instead...

    Actually, I think I found the problem.  The file record formats
    are set to stream rather than stream-lf.  Oddly enough cvtarc on
    vms did the same thing zmodem did.  It completed successfully
    at about 70 blocks.  So I converted the files to stream-lf using
    dcl CONVERT.  This produced a reasonably sized result.  I tar'd
    the files to a tape and I'm trying to get them off the tk50 right
    now with BTNV2.
    
    -steve

>               <<< Note 4696.15 by ELMST::MCAFEE "Steve McAfee" >>>
> 
>     Actually, I think I found the problem.  The file record formats
>     are set to stream rather than stream-lf.  Oddly enough cvtarc on
>     vms did the same thing zmodem did.  It completed successfully
>     at about 70 blocks.  So I converted the files to stream-lf using
>     dcl CONVERT.  This produced a reasonably sized result.  I tar'd
>     the files to a tape and I'm trying to get them off the tk50 right
>     now with BTNV2.
>     
>     -steve
> 


I just uused VMS BACKUP to put them on a QIC tape, then restored them with
Steve Peters VBACK program. Works like a champ!

I don't think GODS liked my 030 though, I couldn't get pased the title
screen - system just hung.

john

-> I don't think GODS liked my 030 though, I couldn't get pased the title
-> screen - system just hung.

 Worked on my GVP030, it does sit there for abount 1 min, looks like its
 setting up a copper list.

	Steve.

> Worked on my GVP030, it does sit there for abount 1 min, looks like its
> setting up a copper list.

I'll have to try it again....

john

    Re: GODS*.DMS file format.
    
    Can someone provide either a good Stream-LF format version of these two
    files, or else enter the FDL file for VMS CONVERT?  DMS gave me CRC
    errors in both files even after my attempt at format conversion.
    
    Wes

    The stream-LF formatted ones wouldn't work for me either.  I'm
    still trying to the get the Tk50 path working in general.  I'm not
    sure how to convert them to the proper format since convert doesn't
    seem to work.
    
    -steve

I'm on level 3 world 3 also..

Has anyone tried the familiar? I bought it along with wings and power boost 
I think it was. All I can say is it was great while it lasted! It cost 
about 50k altogether and it didn't even make it through the world. Maybe it 
didn't agree with one of the nasties it ran into..

Anyway...a brilliant game, definately worth the money and hopefully they'll 
come up with some more levels.

Adrian

    Whoops! I typed level 3 world 3 where I meant level 2 world 3! You're
    way ahead of me!
    
    Did you ever figure out how to push the button in level 1 world 1 that
    was high above the ladders that took you to the platform where the door
    to world 2 was ?
    
    
    Cheers,
    
    
    				Jamie.

>    Did you ever figure out how to push the button in level 1 world 1 that
>    was high above the ladders that took you to the platform where the door
>    to world 2 was ?
    
I've seen that button, but I haven't managed to press it. I went over it 
time and time again and just couldn't figure it out. There's also the 
teleport gem above your head when you first start on level 1 - I couldn't 
figure out how to get that either. After a while I just left them - they 
didn't interfere with progressing onto the next worlds.  You'll love level 
3 - it's pretty tough though.

Ady

>There's also the teleport gem above your head when you first start on level 1 
>- I couldn't figure out how to get that either. 

	Ah, this is a case of RTFM :-}

	Look at the little pictures in the manual then you'll see what I mean.


I've see the daemon on the very last level a real *******.
Has anyone managed to get the axes just before the end. I can't figure out how 
to get them down.

AD

    The teleportation gem is possible to get to. (spoiler at end!).
    
    I'm as far as level 3 world 3 now though finding the guardian a bit
    tricky!
    
    Found a really neat shortcut through level 3 world 1. Saved getting
    dumped on by the bats!
    
    Never did figure out the overhead gems in L1W1 though!
    
    
    				Jamie.
    
    
    Just make sure the 1st lever you get to in the game is UP. The rest
    will follow!

    RE .22 (talking to myself! Must be mad!
    
    Found out how to press that button! Anyone interested ? Or is the
    knowledge that it IS possible sufficient... ?
    
    
    	
    				Jamie.

>    Found out how to press that button! Anyone interested ? Or is the
>    knowledge that it IS possible sufficient... ?

	Tell all.

	I like the short cut around the bats.

	Last night I got to the end daemon again this time with a set of axes.
	On the basis of how much energy I drained from him, I'll need four or
	five lives to stand any chance of killing him.

	My high score so far is a million and some change, very little.

	Here is another possible spoiler


	I've forgotten which level/world it is on but

	    There is a hint at the bottom of a long ladder which says
	    ~'get to the top with full energy to gain a key"

	    The key is to the treasure room, but you don't actually need it
	    you can get to the treasure room from the far right of the top level
	    by hitting the levers in the order 1,2,3. (Seems so obvious but that
	    was one of the last combinations I tried, maybe I'm starting to get
	    paranoid about the traps!)

    Sounds like to finish level four you'll need to play from level 3 and
    build up a large number of lives from there ? Hope I get there soon!
    
    RE the button on level 1... tell all ? Should I ? Well ok then... (you
    listening Gary ?!!!)...
    
    *** Spoiler ***
    
    You need to go through the world door as far as you can go without it
    shutting then go back and pull the first lever you come to. A little
    stone platform will trundle out below the button.
    
    I *think* that you need to press this one in order to get to the
    objects in the top right of world 2 but I'm not sure. The only time I
    got to them was when I pressed this button + all the others in world 2.

    Yeah thanks Jamie, to think I was going to try that anyway :')
    
    Level IV is a killer, the creatures take a hell of a lot of shots
    before they go... I find the mace with a power up to be the best,
    until you get the axes in 4-3.
    
    The end-of-game big guy is really tough, Ive got nowhere nere killing
    him yet, but in time....
    
    Gary.

So, what's the secret for downloading this beast? It does not appear to be
in stream-lf format, so after download does not extract properly. cvtarc is
of no use.

Frank

    It's been a while...did you all give up? :-)  My friend and I picked it
    up again last night and after a few hours playing finally got past the
    level 4 demon! We had 5 lives when we entered the room and came
    extremely close to being killed (totally)...
    
    Ady

    
    I completed the game last night and was a little disapointed with the
    end sequence - I'm not going to give it away to mortals who are yet to
    complete GODS, but the ending isn't half as good as the ending to
    Lemmings.
    
    I tend to find that completing games is becoming less and less
    rewarding in terms of an end sequence.  Some of the old Commodore 64
    games had brilliant endings which gave a real sense of acheivement.
    
    
    Russell.
    

    
    I know its been awhile, but I have an lharc'd version of the demo
    that I can upload to TAPE, if anyone's interested.  It's amazing
    how much power-un-packing the demo does as it loads.  I've got it
    on a bootable diskette for the wife.  If she makes it to the end
    of the first level, I guess I'll be buying it.  
    
    Also, I can get a file known as GODS...mumble...cheats, if there's
    any interest, I'll be downloading that as soon as I get more cockpit
    time.
    
    Dennis
    

    
    Ok, finally got it uploaded to TAPE::amiga:[upload], whew.
    
    Dennis