Subj : What's the worth?
To   : alt.bbs.doors
From : dperry.geo@yahoo.com (Darryl Perry)
Date : Fri Feb 20 2004 12:02 pm

Over time I have mentioned to others here in this group about honing
their programming skills and rewriting new versions of long-dead
doorgames.  I myself love to write code, and doorgames or other BBS
utilities are my favorite subjects.  I have written a port of Virtual
Sysop, (Virtual Sysop III) for dos and linux.  I have written a linux
port of Space Dynasty, which is a cousin to Solar Realms Elete, and
other uncomplete linux versions of Dragon's Hoard and Planets: The
Exploration of Space.  Keep in mind that these are only *my* clones
that I have done in C, because there was no linux ports of the games.

Recently, I have undertaken a new project to bring my own version of
TradeWars 2002 to Linux.  I've actually got it coming along pretty
good.  However, I never played this game for any extended period of
time before now.  Since I decided to write my own port, I chose to
play the game where I could find it, so that I could match the
functionality as best as I could.  What I have found is that this is a
hightly complicated game, and it still has a HUGE following.  Anybody
who plays TW would expect the same trick and quirks that they find in
the original.

This has led me to question whether or not I want to atempt to write
my own linux port.  I can still register it, I can still get TWGS
updates (but not the BBS version sadly) and I can run it on DOSEMU on
my linux box.  The other side of the coin is that I am not the only
person who has attempted a linux port of the game.  visit
http://twclone.sourceforge.net to find out more.  Sadly, it is a long
way from being finished, and is a client/server type of arrangement. 
You can however view what I have already done on my port by visiting
my BBS.  Check out the Development page (/M from the main menu) to
play my extremely beta version.

So what does the BBS community feel about this?  Is there something
else that they would rather see recreated?  Your input is appreciated.

-Regards,
Darryl Perry
Sysop of Cyberia BBS
telnet://cyberia.darktech.org

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