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- From decwrl!wyse!mips!apple!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tekred!saab!billr Thu May 24 09:38:47 PDT 1990
- Article 920 of comp.sources.games:
- Path: decwrl!wyse!mips!apple!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tekred!saab!billr
- From: billr@saab.CNA.TEK.COM (Bill Randle)
- Newsgroups: comp.sources.games
- Subject: v10INF1: Introduction to comp.sources.games
- Message-ID: <5661@tekred.CNA.TEK.COM>
- Date: 23 May 90 18:52:55 GMT
- Sender: news@tekred.CNA.TEK.COM
- Lines: 538
- Approved: billr@saab.CNA.TEK.COM
-
- Submitted-by: Bill Randle <billr@saab.CNA.TEK.COM>
- Posting-number: Volume 10, Info 1
- Archive-name: intro10
-
- [Thanks to Dan Heller, from whom I stole this format which he
- uses in comp.sources.x and to <?> from whom he got it. -br]
-
- This is the first of five introductory messages about comp.sources.games.
- There are *many* things covered in this posting -- each new topic is
- preceded by a Subject: line. If you get bored reading a particular
- section, fast forward to the next Subject: line and read that one.
- Please don't submit sources without having read -everything- in this
- file (you'll be tested and graded later :-).
-
- Most of all, this posting describes how to submit sources to comp.sources.games,
- where the archive sites are, and how to contact them. The second and
- third postings list the sources that have been published in this
- newsgroup (one by volume/issue number, the other alphabetically by
- name). The fourth posting is a cross index of patches that have been
- posted in c.s.g. The fifth and final info posting is an index of games
- in the archive on 'saab' (my "main machine").
-
- I am always looking for suggestions on how to improve the usefulness
- of the newsgroup. Please do not hesitate to send suggestions to
- billr@saab.CNA.TEK.COM.
-
- --------------------
- Subject: The structure of comp.sources.games articles
-
- Each posting in comp.sources.games is called an "issue"; there are roughly 100
- issues to a volume. The division is arbitrary, and has varied in
- the past. There are two types of articles in comp.sources.games; sources
- and "information postings." They can be distinguished by the subject
- line:
- Subject: v03INF1: Introduction to comp.sources.games
-
- This first word in the title identifies this as the first info posting of
- volume three. Similarly, the subject line shown below:
-
- Subject: v01i060: war - intergalactic simulation, Part01/40
-
- identifies this as the 60th source article in Volume 1. All sources are
- broken up into pieces. This is done so that there could be a proper storage
- directory when patches are issued. This is part 1 of a 40 part posting.
-
- The first few lines of an article are auxiliary headers that look like this:
-
- Submitted-by: root@freeware.ATT.COM
- Posting-number: Volume 7, Issue 82
- Archive-name: monopoly/Part01
-
- The "Submitted-by" is the author of the program. IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT
- THE SOURCES PUBLISHED IN COMP.SOURCES.GAMES, THIS IS THE PERSON TO CONTACT.
- When possible, this address is in domain form, otherwise it is a UUCP bang
- path relative to some major site such as "uunet."
-
- The second line repeats the volume/issue information for the aide of NOTES
- sites and automatic archiving programs.
-
- The Archive-name is the "official" name of this source in the archive. Large
- postings will have names that look like this:
-
- Archive-name: zork/Part01
-
- Please try to use this name when requesting that sources be mailed to you.
- Also, note that the "part number" given in the title, and the archive name
- given in the auxiliary header need not be identical.
-
- -----------------
- Subject: Patches Handling
-
- Patches will be handled as swiftly as possible. Authors of sources posted
- to c.s.g should send all patches to me so that I can post them back through
- the newsgroup in order that the patches can be archived. This has not been
- done in the past in other sources groups and has lead to lost patches. If
- the patches must get out *real* fast, post them to comp.source.bugs and
- send me a copy at the same time so that they will be available when they
- are needed in the future.
-
- To support the tracking of patches, the Patch-To: line is used in c.s.g.
- The Patch-To: line exists for articles that are patches to previously posted
- software. The Patch-To: line only appears in articles that are posted,
- "Official", patches. The initial postings would not contain the Patch-To:
- auxiliary header line.
-
- Patch-To: syntax
- Patch-To: package-name: Volume X, Issue x[-y,z]
-
- Patch-To: examples. These are examples and do not reflect the
- accurate volume/issue numbering for rkive.
-
- In the first example, the article that contains the following line
- is a patch to a single part posting.
- Patch-To: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122
-
- This example shows that the 122-124 indicates the patch applies to
- a multi-part posting. The '-' is used to mean "article A through article
- B, inclusive..
- Patch-To: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122-124
-
- If a patch applies to multiple part postings that are not consecutive, the
- ',' is used to separate the part issue numbers. It is possible to mix both
- ',' and '-' on a single Patch-To: line.
- Patch-To: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122,125,126,127
- Patch-To: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122,125-127
-
- If a new release is posted instead of a large set of patches, then the
- posting will ontain a Supercedes: header line with a format similar to
- the Patch-To: header.
-
- Supercedes: syntax
- Supercedes: package-name: Volume X, Issue x[-y,z]
-
- Supercedes: examples
- Supercedes: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122-124
- Supercedes: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122-125,127
-
- --------------------
- Subject: Reporting and tracking bugs.
-
- You should subscribe to comp.sources.games.bugs.
-
- Sometimes, when new versions of previously-published software is available,
- just patches are put out, usually in the form of shar files containing
- input for the "patch" program, new files, etc. Sometimes complete new
- versions are put out. Which method is used depends on the poster and
- the moderator. Minor updates must be in patch form and update the
- patchlevel.h file. Major updates should be the guidelines for postings.
-
- To report bugs, contact the person listed in the Submitted-by header.
- Often there is a contact address in a README file, too. I do not maintain
- the sources I moderate, so don't send your bug reports to me.
- Likewise, I normally do not post patches for a package from anyone
- except the author. If you have patches you would like to see included
- in the package, send them to the person listed in the Submitted-by
- header. If the original author is incommunicado I will consider posting
- patches submitted by other people.
-
- --------------------
- Subject: Submitting source for publication
-
- Items intended for posting or queries and problem notes should be sent to
- games@saab.CNA.TEK.COM
-
- If you want verification of arrival, say so in a cover note, or at the
- beginning of your submission, if it is small. I try to verify that a
- program works, and if I can't get it to work, I may hold up posting it
- for a couple of days. Please note that, except in rare cases, source
- that doesn't meet the guidelines will not be published. The backlog
- from receipt to posting varies from one to three weeks depending mostly
- on the set of submissions currently in my queue and my current work load.
-
- -------------------
- Subject: Guidelines
-
- To make life easier for both myself and the users of the comp.sources.games
- newsgroup, I request that all submissions follow the following guidelines.
-
- Initial Submissions:
- 1. Source filenames need to be 12 or fewer characters in length.
- 2. Source files need to be less than 50K bytes in size.
- 3. A Makefile is highly desirable.
- 4. A manual page is desirable.
- 5. A README file is required. This should contain a brief
- description of what the posting is and any special
- considerations in building it. The README should
- also contain a list of authors and the distribution
- and copying policy.
-
- Updates, patches, etc.:
- It is up to the author to determine if there have been major enough
- changes to warrant a complete reposting. This may be necessary if the
- size of the patches exceeds the size of the source, but in most cases
- only patches are posted. Total repostings should be treated as an
- initial posting. What follows pertains to patches...
-
- 1. When patches are submitted, they should be in context diff
- format.
- 2. A patch to patchlevel.h should be done to reflect that the
- patch has been applied.
- 3. Include information about which previously posted issues
- the patch pertains to if they were initially posted to c.s.g.
-
- For more information on patch see patch.man in util/patch/patch.man
- in the X11 Release 4 distribution or in volume7 of the comp.sources.unix
- archives. Patches can be made with diff -c on 4.XBSD based machines and
- with diffc on others. Diffc can be found in volume 1 of comp.sources.unix
- archives. GNU diff can also be used to create context diffs.
-
- ------------------------
- Subject: Becoming an archive site
-
- If you collect comp.sources.games postings and are willing and able to make
- your collection available to other people, please let me know. Benefits
- include the undying gratitude of your colleagues, and a promise from me to
- try to make sure you never lose an article.
-
- --------------------
- Subject: Accessing the archives
-
- The complete archives are fairly large; an average volume is three to
- four megabytes.
-
- There are several active archive sites around the net, but more are always
- welcome - especially outside the US.
-
- Some sites below will send tapes through the mail. For those sites, send
- a 1/2" mag tape WITH RETURN POSTAGE and RETURN MAILER. Tapes without
- postage or mailer will not be returned. No other methods (COD, etc.) are
- available; please don't ask. Other sites may make 1/4" mag tapes or
- floppy disks. It doesn't hurt to ask.
-
- --------------------
- Subject: Listing of archive sites in no particular order
-
- Here is what each field means:
- Site: The name of the site nice enough to act as an archive site.
- Contact: The name of the person to contact and their mail address
- Location: The general area of the world the site is located in.
- Modems: For providing UUCP access, what types of modems are available.
- UUCP: Type of UUCP access is available.
- FTP: Type of FTP access is available.
- Mail Server: Account address of the automated mail server if available.
- Additional: Additional information pertaining to accessing the archive.
-
- ************************
- U S A - EASTERN
- ************************
-
- Site: acf3.nyu.edu
- Contact: Gary Rosenblum (rosenblg@cmcl2.nyu.edu)
- Location: NY
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: None
- FTP: Anonymous
- Mail server: None
- Additional: Has 800/1600 bpi tape drive and can support tapes for 4.2,
- 4.3, System V, etc.
-
- Site: madhat
- Contact: Phil Harbison (alvitar@madhat.uucp)
- Location: Huntsville, AL
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: Anonymous
- FTP: None
- Mail server: None
- Additional: Will also make 96tpi 5.25" floppy disks using cpio or tar.
- Phone: 205-881-4317, 205-461-2957.
-
- Site: mgse
- Contact: Archive Administrator (archivea%mgse@rex.cs.tulane.edu)
- Location: Metairie, LA
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: None
- FTP: None
- Mail server: archive%mgse@rex.cs.tulane.edu
- Additional: To get the archive help file, and an index and Unix ls -lR
- style file listing, send the following mail to archive@mgse:
- help
- send comp/sources/games/index
- send comp/sources/games/list
- You will get back 80K of text files. The archive server offers
- several types of data compression and ascii file encoding. The
- information is in the help file about the different options
- available.
- If you are having problems with the archive server, send mail to
- archivea@mgse, the archive administrator.
-
- Site: uunet.uu.net
- Contact: Rick Adams (postmaster@uunet.uu.net)
- Location: Fairfax, VA
- Modems: Telebit
- UUCP: uunet uucp customers only
- FTP: Anonymous
- Mail server: netlib@uunet
- Additional: Files are stored by volume number and game name:
- comp.sources.games/volumeN. Newly posted articles may
- be in the directory comp.sources.games/new. Check there if
- it's not in the proper volume.
-
- ************************
- U S A - CENTRAL
- ************************
-
- Site: attctc
- Contact: Steven Parker (sp@attctc.dallas.tx.us)
- Location: Dallas, TX
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: Anonymous
- FTP: None
- Mail server: None
- Additional: Phone: 214-741-2130, also accesable via PC Pursuit. A sample
- L.sys line follows:
- attctc Any ACU 2400 1-214-741-2130 in:--in: uupdsrc word: Public
- Modify as necessary to fit local circumstances, of course. To
- get more information, request file attctc!/bbsys4/README.
-
- Site: mcf
- Contact: Sharan Kalwani (shan@mcf.uucp, shan%mcf.uucp@mailgw.cc.umich.edu)
- Location: Michigan
- Modems: 1200/2400, Telebit
- UUCP: On Request
- FTP: None
- Mail server: archives@mcf
- Additional: Sharan Kalwani at the Michigan Cancer Foundation (shan@mcf.uucp)
- has set up a mail-based server. The archive resides on mcf's
- machine. Comp.sources.games, comp.sources.unix and other stuff
- are available. Mail to "archives@mcf.uucp" and supply the text
- send index from comp.sources.games
- for some help on how to access the files and an index of the
- files currently online. For human help, mail to shan@mcf.uucp.
-
- ************************
- U S A - WESTERN
- ************************
-
- Site: aeras
- Contact: Jason Winters (jason@aeras), 408-432-1200, ext, 365
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Modems: 1200, 2400, Telebit
- UUCP: Anonymous
- FTP: None
- Mail server: None
- Additional: SnailMail tapes (Under duress)
- Systems/L.sys information:
- aeras Any 1200 4089439152 "" "" ogin:--ogin: uugarch word: freebee
- aeras Any 19200 4089439246 "" "" ogin:--ogin: uugarch word: freebee
- aeras Any 2400 4089439396 "" "" ogin:--ogin: uugarch word: freebee
-
- Suggested places to get additional information:
- /u3/archive/sources/LISTING
- LISTING contains the names of all the programs stored in the
- archives, and the sizes. Note: all archives have probably been
- stored in compressed form, with 12 bit compression (for machines
- that can't handle 16 bit). All multiple file programs have been
- stored in seperate directories, then compressed.
-
- More information about the files stored in a particular volume are
- kept in files called LOGFILE. Such as:
- /u3/archive/sources/games/vol1/LOGFILE
- would be the one to get to examine the exact contents of volume 1
- of the games section. Additional information from files: sample command
- to recover files:
- uucp aeras!/u3/archive/sources/games/vol1/LOGFILE /tmp/.
- Special note: wild cards have been proven to not be reliable, so
- to assure success they are not recommened tools.
-
- Site: hoptoad
- Contact: John Gilmore
- Location: <SF Bay area>, CA
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: None
- FTP: None
- Mail server: None
- Additional: Will email to local sites. To get copies of archived stuff,
- mail to: games-archive@toad.com. (Don't ask me for things if you
- have to mail through uunet to get to hoptoad -- why send it
- through an extra hop?)
-
- Site: otto
- Contact: Rex Jolliff (rex@otto.UUCP), 702-454-4636
- Location: Henderson, NV
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: None
- FTP: None
- Mail server: None
- Additional: Can make 1600/6250 bpi tar/cpio tapes, 1/4" cartrige tapes
- (either format) and VMS (1600/6250 bpi) BACKUP format tapes
- (in a pinch, if you grovel...). Contact for details.
-
- Site: pyramid
- Contact: Claudia Dimmers/Carl Gutekunst (usenet@pyramid)
- Location: Mountain View, CA
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: On Request
- FTP: None
- Mail server: None
- Additional: Somewhat willing to make tapes for people to come by and
- pick up, provided you call WELL in advance and bring lunch money.
-
- Site: saab
- Contact: Bill Randle (billr@saab.CNA.TEK.COM), 503-923-4422
- Location: Redmond, OR
- Modems: Courier HST
- UUCP: Anonymous
- FTP: None
- Mail server: None
- Additional: Can make 1600/6250 bpi tar tapes, 1/4" cartrige tapes,
- 3 1/2" and 5 1/4" floppys. A sample L.sys file for anon uucp:
- saab Any ACU 2400 5039234494 in:-\r-in: ugames ssword: letmein
- An index can be retrieved by (example):
- uucp saab!/usr1/ftp/games-archive/Index /usr/spool/uucppublic/Index
- The Index file also contains further uucp instructions. Will
- email selected missing parts for desperate people.
-
- Site: sandia
- Contact: Mike Arms (marms@sandia)
- Location: New Mexico
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP None
- FTP: None
- Mail server: None
- Additional: Will email to other NM sites.
-
- ************************
- Unknown US
- ************************
-
- Site: schizo.samsung.com
- Contact: N/A
- Location: N/A
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: N/A
- FTP: Anonymous
- Mail server: N/A
- Additional: Files save by volume number:
- usenet-archives/comp.sources.games/volumeN. Only volume2 and
- volume9 are present.
-
- Site: wuarchive.wustl.edu
- Contact: archives@wugate.wustl.edu
- Location: N/A
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: N/A
- FTP: Anonymous
- Mail server: N/A
- Additional: Files saved by volume number:
- usenet/comp.sources.games/volumeN. Archive access also available
- via NFS. Contact archives@wugate.wustl.edu for more info.
-
- Site: xanth.cs.odu.edu
- Contact: N/A
- Location: N/A
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: N/A
- FTP: Anonymous
- Mail server: N/A
- Additional: Files save by volume number:
- usenet/comp.sources.games/volumeN.
-
- ************************
- Austrailia
- ************************
-
- Site: munnari
- Contact: Robert Elz (kre@munnari.OZ)
- Location: Australia
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: N/A
- FTP: N/A
- Mail server: N/A
- Additional: Access for Australian sites only. Contact Robert for more
- info.
-
- ************************
- Belgium
- ************************
-
- Site: blekul11
- Contact: Philippe Bekaert (SAAAA02@BLEKUL11.BITNET)
- Location: Belgium
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: None
- FTP: None
- Mail server: LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET
- Additional: All files are compressed. Example archive retrieval commands:
- For VM/CMS:
- TELL LISTSERV AT BLEKUL11 INDEX U-GAMES
- TELL LISTSERV AT BLEKUL11 GET U-GAMES ARCHIVES
- TELL LISTSERV AT BLEKUL11 HELP
- For VMS:
- SEND LISTSERV AT BLEKUL11 INDEX U-GAMES
- For other, send an email message containing one or more
- commands, e.g.:
- HELP
- INFO
- INFO GENINTRO
- INDEX
- INDEX U-GAMES
- GET U-GAMES INDEX
- GET POSTERS PART01 F=UUENCODE
- For additional information on the BLEKUL11 archive, send email
- to the moderator (billr@saab.CNA.TEK.COM) for an info file.
-
- ************************
- France
- ************************
-
- Site: irisa.irisa.fr
- Contact: N/A
- Location: France
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: N/A
- FTP: Anonymous
- Mail server: N/A
- Additional: Files stored by volume number:
- News/comp.sources.games/volumeN. Missing volume1, volume5 and
- volume6.
-
- ************************
- Sweden
- ************************
-
- Site: sunic.sunet.se
- Contact: N/A
- Location: Sweden
- Modems: N/A
- UUCP: N/A
- FTP: Anonymous
- Mail server: N/A
- Additional: Files stored by volume number:
- comp/sources/games/volumeN.
-
- ---------------------------------------
- Subject: Editorial comments
-
- I generally accept any game (or entertaining diversion) software without
- regard to host architecture or operating system. There are some exceptions,
- as there are specific newsgroups for many architectures. Thus if your
- game is IBM PC specific or Mac or Atari only, it is generally better
- to post it in the comp.sources.<favorite architecture> newsgroup. The
- other exception is games that are specific to the X-Windows windowing
- system. They should be generally posted to the comp.sources.x newsgroup.
- If the moderator will not accept it for posting there, send it to me.
- Games that utilize more than one display system, e.g. X11 and SunView
- should be sent to me. Although there is a comp.sources.sun newsgroup,
- SunView based games have historically been posted in the comp.sources.games
- newsgroup.
-
-
- "Top 6 pet peeves of the comp.sources.games moderator."
-
- 1. Programs that don't compile right the first time.
- 2. Programs that don't execute right the first time.
- 3. Patches that don't apply correctly.
- 4. Individual source files larger than ~50K bytes.
- 5. Submissions that do not contain a README or Makefile file.
- 6. Submissions that do not contain a man page.
-
-
-