Clint,
I have not seen Pascal since my intro to computer programming course more than 10 years ago, and it was dead then!!!
It looks like you have a pretty good plan so far. I wrote an order entry program for my own use, unfortunately I wrote it for the IBM AS/400 so it would not be useful for the PC. It also does not give advice!! I'd like to see that!
Without knowing the format needed for the Auto-Input I would not be able to help with the "snags" you have hit. This is probably not the place to discuss it either. If you want to continue this discussion, please email. I can at least give another point of view.
Thanks
Steve
<mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com> 11/22/01 03:11AM >>>
Message: 12
···
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 02:01:19 -0000
From: "MiddleEarthGames" <me@MiddleEarthGames.com>
Subject: Middle Earth
Hello Steve: there have been a few comments on it not becoming a democracy
should we buy-out GSI. In such circumstances I would agree with those
comments. I would prefer to look on it as a benign dictatorship with input
from players that we implement. (I have had experience of a large
democratic group of players attempting to strong arm us into a decision
which was clearly bad for the game I am afraid). So no storm troopers would
be needed. Dialogue pure and simple with considered perspective on what is
possible and what is not possible.
Your offer of developing the game would be very useful.
Plan would be to get the system working on the PC (I *know* Macs are some
players preferred medium - it's not within our ability to do this) to fit in
with our current accounting system and tied in with that to make the
processing of games easier. It's presently written in Pascal - something I
know a little about. We have a couple of Delphi developers already working
on some aspects of the game. I think I have put the 4-6 Stage process that
we hope to use but to re-iterate:
Stage 0 - account system has now been transported across to another system
and I think is a lot superior (certainly is for us saves us around 4 hours a
day work). We're working on the auto-attach and creation of Front Sheets
there now (hopefully later this week).
Stage 1 - a program able to put your turns into that checks the format for
simple errors and advice.
Stage 2 - Auto-input - well we're some of the route down that but have hit a
few snags. 
Stage 3 - After the game is processed we get the system to read the
Postscript file and that gets read into a file so that we can improve the
quality of the output Resultsheet
Stage 4 - Middle Earth Program editor - for those that have seen LPE
(Legends) it's that.
Stage 5 - everything combined - probably need the source code (ie GSI buy
out for that if not for Stage 2). (Might need the source code for Stage 2).
Stage 6 - Possible development of the Engine for other games/scenarios -
Middle Earth version II etc.
Various inbetween Stages are to get everything working together so that's
why we have gone for the modular design here (cough).
We're working on a business plan that we'll put forward to all our players
as soon as we can. This would show our responsibilities, our desires, our
plans, and ask for feedback on what system etc.
Clint
******************************************
Middle Earth Games
Website: www.middleearthgames.com
Mailto: me@middleearthgames.com
UK: Office A, 340 North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BP
USA: PO Box 280 Medford, OR 97501-0019
Phone: 011 44 29 2091 3359 (12-6.30 BST)
Fax: 011 44 29 2062 5532 (24 hours)
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Message: 13
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 02:22:03 -0000
From: "MiddleEarthGames" <me@MiddleEarthGames.com>
Subject: Off Topic: Diplomacy - the real world?
Okay as per normal try to keep a level head. I know that for some of the
posts there is the deliberate intention to incite and provoke, so please
take a moment to reflect and relax...
Enjoy the thoughts and perspectives of others, even when it does make your
blood boil.
Clint
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Message: 14
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 02:26:53 -0000
From: "MiddleEarthGames" <me@MiddleEarthGames.com>
Subject: Latest Games
The Gunboat game looks to be filling fast as does the normal 1650 game.
Bofa: Game 9 2wk turnaround game: 10 turn game: All Available - one nation
taken.
1650 2wk [Game 93]: All available - 2, 7, 11, 17, 18, 20-22, 25 - filling
fast
1650 2wk [Game 95]: Variant - 2 Nation game, Gunboat game - see Bree12 for
details. 15 positions filled we need 9 more. No diplomacy 12vs12 game.
1650 1wk [Game 132] Started 19/11: Send me a LIST of nations - when I get to
25 players I will allocate the positions - 8 positions taken so far (Note
95% of players get their 1st choice) This is a 2 nation game (ie you can
choose 2 nations to play of the same alignment [not for Neutrals]. You are
still able to play one nation if you want to.)
2950 2wk [Game 226]: 1,2, 5-8, 10, 14-16, 18, 22, 24 2 nation game.
1000 2wk [Game 142]: Fourth Age game - LAS (Limited Assassination game)
game. 2 Nations allowed. 15 nations available. (SNAs not allowed: +20%
K/A, 2xScout, Stealth)
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Message: 15
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 02:47:13 -0000
From: "MiddleEarthGames" <me@MiddleEarthGames.com>
Subject: HouseRules
Okay the latest version of the updated houserules have now (or within the
next day) been sent to your email address. Please take a moment to check
them out, and if there are any ambiguities or points that you would like to
question then please do so. Note this supercede the Rulebook in some cases.
Thanks
Clint
******************************************
Middle Earth Games
Website: www.middleearthgames.com
Mailto: me@middleearthgames.com
UK: Office A, 340 North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BP
USA: PO Box 280 Medford, OR 97501-0019
Phone: 011 44 29 2091 3359 (12-6.30 BST)
Fax: 011 44 29 2062 5532 (24 hours)
****************************************
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 16
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 22:20:23 -0500 (EST)
From: Player <pbmnoot@yahoo.ca>
Subject: Re: Re: A few points
--- simos@datablue.gr wrote:
Thank you for your patience if you read this far
Symeon Gavalas
Excusing the major [snip]'s.
Thank you Symeon. Best mail of the thread. Just for that,
I'll join your team next time I'm a neutral!
Regards,
Brad Brunet
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Build your own website in minutes and for free at http://ca.geocities.com
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Message: 17
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 09:00:23 -0000
From: "Matthew Riley" <matthew@mrassociates.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Re: A few points
Hi Simos
Some good points well made, very enjoyable reading
You did realise that Asia Minor had been colonised by the Greeks before the
Persians invaded it -- Alexander saw (or at least his PR guys saw) it as a
war of liberation originally, and not a war of conquest.
And yes the Arabs did keep alive a lot of the ancient knowledge that had
been lost in western Europe, but your forebears the Byzantine's also kept
that knowledge alive and so deserve a lot of credit
Matthew
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