On Thursday, December 14th, 1995 - Terry Russell wrote:
 
 > games? I have never written a BBS door game before.  If I had some 
 > more info on 
 > it, I would like to.
TR>  >
TR> Writing a door for the 8bit BBS is basicly the same as any other BBS, 
 
I haven't written any of those either.
 
TR> you have to write a mini program that will execute apon request. Now 
TR> you tell your BBS to send the information to the 2nd program such as 
TR> time, username, and such. Also traps should be put into it so that it 
 
I figured that, but I don't what the specifics are for the accepted
method of passing this information, the memory restrictions, and other
details.
  
TR> monitors the com port ect. Now when the programs runs it is passed 
TR> the information. I have seen many programs on the 8 bit that call 
 
What I'm wondering is if anyone had put together a set of documentation, 
or a package of core entry/exit/monitoring routines so that I wouldn't
have to waste my time in re-inventing the wheel.
 
TR> another porgram so I know it can be done. The doors I had on my BBS 
TR> were small programs actually written into the BBS. Once the BBS was 
TR> executed it simply went to the area that was the game on a gosub 
 
I suppose that would be the easiest way to do it, but you need a
specific BBS written in BASIC or some other easily modified language.
 
TR> command.  It then returned to the regular BBS after done. I believe 
TR> that the modual idea is better though because it would allow for a 
 
Yes, I agree.  It probably is better for a number of reasons, which is
why PC boards use that method.  I've seen games and sub-game modules
written in a number of languages, even Pascal of all things.
 
TR> bigger program. The problems would be to keep BBS info and such for 
TR> exit of the new prg. If I get a chance I will dig my old Forum XL 
TR> Basic XL/XE code up and see what I did. 
 
Which brings up the next question - is every Atari BBS different?  I
assume that they do not all conform to a program calling convention the
way PC boards do.  Wouldn't an Atari 8-bit BBS door have to be rewritten 
for each BBS program out there?  Again, I have never seen any
information of programming Atari door games published anywhere.
 
--- RiBBS v2.10        

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