HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: oze3@quads.uchicago.edu (J. Daniel Ozeran)
Subject: Re: Darklands
Reply-To: oze3@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 20:04:32 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.181428.16637@adobe.com> mmwang@adobe.com (Michael Wang) writes:
>
>Indeed, I seem to be the only one defending the game around here. The
>most common complaint I see posted about the game is that it has no
>plot. Well, for those of you who think the game has no plot, RTFM!!!!!
>There is a major quest in the game along with many other related and
>non-related mini quests. If those of you complaining about that lack
>of a plot have not encountered any of this stuff yet, then I encourage
>you to read all the documentation again carefully. Also, don't limit
>yourselves to just exploring the various towns and cities. There are
>plenty of things to explore in the country side.
>
>-- 
>Michael Wang
>mmwang@mv.us.adobe.com

For the most part I'd have to agree with Michael.  I haven't played
enough yet to decide if I REALLY like it or not.  One thing I DO
like is the attempt to stick to a historically accurate
representation of the time and locale.  Granted, it limits some of
your options for fancier activities, but on the whole I find it
more interesting.

My primary complaint about the game so far has to do with the lack
of guidance regarding character training in the manual.  I found
out rather quickly, for example, that after 10 years as a bandit
one of my characters didn't have "a snowball's chance in hell" of
getting any help from a decent saint. But that's fairly minor.  I
just wish there was more information on what the various
occupations provide to the character.  Another thing that bothers
me is not being able to see what time it is without changing to the
'Party Info' screen.  Otherwise I find myself wandering home after
dark, or missing an appointment I made with the Meister.  

By the way, Darklands DOES run on 286 without being VERY SLOOOWWW.
There are certain places where screen changes and the like take a
few seconds.

Dan.

-- 
J. Daniel Ozeran	   |	Dept. of Biochemistry and
dan-ozeran@uchicago.edu    |	Molecular Biology and 
oze3@midway.uchicago.edu   |	The Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
jozeran@biovax.uchicago.edu|	Mental Retardation Research Center
From: 2ftylunar@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: help whats cyac?
Date: 29 Aug 92 22:04:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: kuhub.1992Aug29.170414.42653
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

I'm new to this newsgroup (so please don't call me a ignorant swine or
something like that), but what is cyac stand for( i know its a flight sim of
some sort).
From: opus@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (robin.g.kim)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: **PLEA to FALCON 3 aces**
Date: 28 Aug 92 18:09:20 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Aug28.144847.26564@newshost.lanl.gov> gavin.adams@lso.mts.dec.com (Gavin Adams) writes:
>In article <roeschmf.714980377@craft.camp.clarkson.edu> Martin F. Roesch,
>roeschmf@craft.camp.clarkson.edu writes:
>>
>>  If you're referring to the Padlock mode, I use it exclusively.  It's
>>the only way to dogfight iin my opinion.  It does take some practice to
>>get used to, so try it in Red Flag to get the hang of it.
>>
>I still have a few bitches (what else :) with the PadLok view.  I tend to
>get focused on one bogie, and never see/hear his wingman until he guns me
>down from behind.  What would be nice is a way of toggling between two
>targets.  That way I can still track my primary target while taking a
>look at my 'six to see if any other bogie has slid in and is getting
>ready for a kill.

I just keep hitting "t" to make sure that no one's saddling up on my six.
This works well when there are only a few planes, but when there are
four bandits in addition to three wingmen all in visual range at the same
time, it's pretty useless.  In situations like that, I just hope for the best
or use the rear view ("3").

I think it's more realistic that you have trouble keeping track of everything
in a big furball.  Your idea of being able to toggle between two targets
sounds very convenient, but I doubt a real pilot could keep such close track
of two planes at the same time.

Rob
ihlpy!opus@att.att.com
From: beelewm@wkuvx1.bitnet
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Battletech Simulator...
Date: 27 Aug 92 16:35:29 GMT
Organization: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Has anyone herd of a Battletech simulator In the chicogo area?  I read in a 
magazine once that you and friends could go to this "super" arcade to play
battletech.  For 5.00 you could play for thirty minutes in a full mech 
cochpit, fighting in a full lance.  Sence then I haven't hurd anything about 
it.  I think the article was in an Amega World or somethning...

Catch 22 ---------------------- beelewm@wkuvx1.bitnet
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: rvelez@ee.ubc.ca (VELEZ ROBERTSON JAO)
Subject: Re: Out of This World (HELP!)
Organization: UBC Electical Engineering
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 19:52:08 GMT

In article <1992Aug31.121705.962@gmuvax2.gmu.edu>, emeinfel@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (...) writes:
> What a wonderful game!  Who would believe that a good game could take up
> less than 3 megabytes on your harddrive?  Anyway......
> 
> I'm stuck at the bridgee with all the stalagmites at the bottom. You
> know the ones designed specificlly for impaling pasrticle phyisicist.
> Anyway, how to cross?  I am stuck.
> -- 
> Edmond L. Meinfelder  // In a gust of wind the white dew 
> // On the Autum grass // Scatters like a broken necklace. 

You have to jump across the bridgee. You can do it from a standing jump. No need
to do the running thing. You'll land on a safe ledge below, at which point you
should blast a hole in the wall and continue.
From: jferra@buscard.fidonet.org (Jim Ferraiolo)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: Darklands
Date: Thu, 03 Sep 92 15:31:33 EDT
Reply-To: jferra@buscard.fidonet.org (Jim Ferraiolo)
Organization: The Business Card (BBS), Lawrence, MA - Data: 508-682-5329

edg@Ingres.COM (Ed Goldman) writes:

> In article <NkwFqB2w165w@buscard.fidonet.org> jferra@buscard.fidonet.org (Jim
> >ppugliese@pimacc.pima.edu writes:
> >
> >> Does anyone if 'Darklands' *really* needs a '386 to run (like Ultima 7)
> >> or if it will on a '286 (sigh) with expanded memory (like Ultima UW)?
> >> 
> >> thanks,    PHIL
> >> 
> >
> >Don't bother with Darklands. It is a waste of money. It does not require 
> >a 386 I believe. Save your money for something with a 
> >plot/ending/gamepplay value..
> >
> 
> Wow.  It's interesting that Internet Users are trashing Darklands.  Users
> on GEnie are claiming it's the greatest since sliced bread and a new
> 'classic'.  My opinion, I was expecting more, but I'm still finding it
> somewhat entertaining.  IMO, a big problem with playability is the menuing
> system and combat movement *crawl* at a snail's pace [483-33, ET-4000 local
> bus video, 16M Ram].  
> 
> -edg-

Well then that just shows you the caliber of Genie users (not to offend 
any Genie people on here, heh).. Darklands, quite simply put, is a 
pointless 18 meg hack and slash. No play value whatsoever. The graphics 
aren't even that good! For 18 megs, I was hoping Ultima 7 quality.. I 
played the game for about 2 weeks and then deleted it from my HD. It's 
trash. It's slow. It has no point. End of story!
And I like RPG's too! 
]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   The Business Card (BBS), Lawrence, Massachusetts - Data: (508) 682-5329
   SysAdmin:  murph@buscard.fidonet.org / ...!ulowell!wizvax!buscard!murph
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 13:14:58 EDT
From: Eddie D... <EXD108@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: GS2000

   If anyone has, or knows of any patches for this great game, the info would b
e greatly appreciated
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: scheidt@neun.informatik.uni-kl.de (Hans-Joachim Scheidt (DA Assenmacher))
Subject: pinball ?
Organization: University of Kaiserslautern, Germany
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 19:42:33 GMT

Hello !

I am searching for pinball game for DOS. Is there a PD or SW version?

HJS


e-mail: scheidt@informatik.uni-kl.de

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Happy user of OS/2 2.0!

Getting the CSD, will remove all needs for WINDOWS or NT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: eaglei@carina.unm.edu (Steve Hockemeier EECE)
Subject: Death Knights of Krynn..Bug or corrupt file?
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 92 02:04:29 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

I've recently purchased a copy of Death Knights and after installing it, am 
having several problems.

First of all, the first choice screen, where you pick to see the demo, play,
etc.. there is a line of what looks like ascii garbage along the bottom of the
screen.

Second, when I choose to memorize the spells for the mages or clerics or 
whatever, the game will not register any hours that I need to rest. I even
add several hours or even days, then rest, but none of the spells get memorized.

I don't know if there is a bug to the game or the files are corrupt.  If it's 
the files, could someone send me by email or some anonymous ftp site the 
start.exe file. Perhaps this is the only corrupt file, if not, could someone
send any .exe file that might be needed.

_Any_ help would be appretiated.  Email to eaglei@carina.unm.edu
or to a directory on wuarchive.wustl.edu.

Thanx!
Steve.

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: ross@kaos.ingr.com (Ross Erickson)
Subject: Re: AOTP and its map
Reply-To: ross@kaos.b11.ingr.com
Organization: Intergraph Corporation
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 15:25:56 GMT

>
>The map features DON"T WORK. We've all been waiting along time for the second
>patch, the first one didn't fix it, and it looks like we'll wait even longer.
>They're probably trying fix the frame rate before they give out another patch.
>I bought the game when it first came out that day as a matter of fact and
>haven't played it since. The frame rate awful, the map doesn't work abd the Ai
>for the enemy pilots is way too easy. John
>
The 2nd patch disk _SHOULD_ be out by the end of September, so hang
on.  It should also fix some frame rate problems too.  
--
|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  Ross Erickson             |                                     |
|  ross@kaos.b11.ingr.com    | "No individual raindrop considers   |
|  205-730-4019 - voice      |  itself responsible for the flood." |
|  205-730-6445 - fax        |                                     |
|  Internet: 129.135.252.87  |                                     |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: ktso@eng.ie.cuhk.hk (Alan So)
Subject: Re: -=> THE FTP-SITE YOU NEED FOR GETTING GAMES! <=-
Keywords: ftp, archie, anonymous
Reply-To: ktso@mailbox.ee.cuhk.hk
Organization: Department of Electronic Engineering, CUHK
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 15:34:59 GMT

"prog nethack*.zip" will get you a listing of ftp sites that have some
version of the msdos version of nethack (there several hundred.)


Can you tell me what is "nethack"?

--
| Alan So                             |          
| Electronic Engineering Student      |  You are welcome to give 
| The Chinese University of Hong Kong |  me comments! :))
| Internet: ktso@mailbox.ee.cuhk.hk   |
From: x89werner6@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: Darklands is here!!
Date: 3 Sep 92 13:42:29 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

In article <7mgaqB2w165w@buscard.fidonet.org>, jferra@buscard.fidonet.org (Jim Ferraiolo) writes:
> richhsia@edison.seas.ucla.edu (Richard P. Hsia) writes:
> 
>> Darklands is finally available in stores. Has anyone begun playing yet?
>> 
>> 
> 
> Yes I am. Unfortunately I have found the game has no point, no plot, and 
> no ending and is really just an unending hack and slash.. Wowwwwwww..
>
Not quite correct.  If you've read the readme file you'll know that after
slaying some dragons and witches and other assorted nasties, you have some
sort of final showdown with the demon/devil Baphomet.

Someone else had also complained about having to look up the monetary,
prayer, etc. tables in the manual all the time.  I don't know about their
copy of the game, but mine came with a quick reference card with all the
important info on it.

While it's sometimes fun to just jump into a game, don't start griping 
about it unless you know what you're talking about.

Scott
 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>    The Business Card (BBS), Lawrence, Massachusetts - Data: (508) 682-5329
>    SysAdmin:  murph@buscard.fidonet.org / ...!ulowell!wizvax!buscard!murph
From: hbattera@cbnewse.cb.att.com (Harold Batteram)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Falcon questions
Keywords: Falcon
Date: 4 Sep 92 14:11:39 GMT
Organization: AT&T


I've had falcon 3.0 since January but did not used it much. The steep learning
curve just put me off. But since I started reading this news group and
the enthusiastic posting on falcon I picked it up again. Now, a couple
of weeks later I'm addicted to it.

One thing I can't get used to is the padlock view. I'm getting resonably
good at following a bandit in normal view, but when I use padlock I quickly
end up staring at my tail most of the time. I just can't figure out which
screen to focus on during a dogfight. So I'm very curious how the rest of you
handle the padlock view. Any advice?

Another thing that bothers me is the use of the radar STT mode. I'm
using the radar in HFR setting. When I get a blip on the screen I select
the target with the "z" key and switch to SST mode and press N for IFF.
I sometimes loose radar lock during the dogfight, but after a few turns
it usually picks it up again. The question is: will it be the same target
that I was chasing before I lost the radar lock or has it just picked
whatever plane was closest? (losing radar lock is why I'd like to master
the padlock view).

Final question, I've seen references to F3map (I've got falcnr). What is
it and is it availabe on a ftp site?

Harold
From: hennessy@acsu.buffalo.edu (Mathew A. Hennessy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: Wing Commander III wishlist
Date: 28 Aug 92 02:33:14 GMT
Organization: UB


	Elite Plus is now available for the PC (it's MCGA but most everything
in it is true to the original), and has been for awhile.  it's still lacking
modem/network play but we can't have it all, can we?


-- 
   /I\          Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.
  /(*)\         hennessy@acsu.buffalo.edu                 
 /IIIII\        
/IIIIIII\       Give me SLACK or give me food (or kill me).
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: mmwang@adobe.com (Michael Wang)
Subject: Re: Super VGA games
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 19:13:40 GMT

In article <22089@galaxy.ucr.edu> atristan@ucru1.ucr.edu (Andrew Tristan) writes:
>In article <F2y7PB2w164w@adp.bad.se> joe@adp.bad.se (Johan Olde ) writes:
>>avik@icase.edu (Avik Banerjee) writes:
>>> 	how may svga games are out there now? what i have so far is
>>> 	links 386 and grandmaster chess.
>>And Tristan from AmTex plus Microsoft Golf (for Windows) not to mention
>     ^^^^^^^
>Couldn't resist this one - what is this game?

Tristan is a pinball game, first done on the Mac and now ported over to
MS-DOS.

-- 
Michael Wang
mmwang@mv.us.adobe.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: jabishop@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Jonathan A. Bishop)
Subject: Falcon Red Flag Question
Originator: jabishop@essex.ecn.uoknor.edu
Organization: New Cate Space Agency, Norman, OK
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 21:40:50 GMT

After completing a Red Flag mission, am I supposed to
get a screen saying how the other flights did?  The only
debriefing I get is for my own flight.

--------
Jonathan A. Bishop
jabishop@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu

"Yippee!  That may have been a small one for Neil,
 but it was a big one for me."
                            --Pete Conrad
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: rsykes@AFIT.AF.MIL (Robert K. Sykes)
Subject: Killoblaster by Epic 
Organization: Air Force Institue of Technology, WPAFB OH
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 17:59:34 GMT

I lready uploaded it to wuarchive yesterday, we just had a computer fair 
here in Dayton, OH and everyone was demoing and buying this great new game.

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: skrause@informatik.hu-berlin.de (Steffen Krause)
Subject: Re: Wing Commander III wishlist
Organization: Humboldt University Berlin, Department of Computer Science
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 09:05:27 GMT

In <db0885.714968299@adx.adelphi.edu> db0885@adx.adelphi.edu (David J. Bristel) writes:

>>- more fighters than I can count. I mean, 4 or 5 fighter per game just 
>>  doesn't satisfy my need for variety.

You will need a bigger hard disk.

>>- how about a rear view mirror? Or maybe some way to look around you a la
>>  Red Baron?

Don't you realize the radar. But in a very sophisticated ship it will be ok!

>>- the ability to choose what you look like. Okay, so maybe Bluehair is
>>  our hero and the story is following his career. I want it to follow MY
>>  career.

Bluehair I don't like too. The smart boy from WING I was  better. But
why shouldn't be Angel the hero of WING III.

I would like not such a one way story as in WING II. But that will be more
a adventure than a "Shoot 'em up in space" game, but I like it.

Commander Kune alias Ulrich Kunitz
kunitz@informatik.hu-berlin.de



-- 
---------------- Steffen Krause --------------------------------------------
Zu Risiken oder Nebenwirkungen lesen Sie die Packungsbeilage und informieren
Sie Ihren Arzt oder Apotheker.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jferra@buscard.fidonet.org (Jim Ferraiolo)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: Darklands is here!!
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 92 18:07:29 EDT
Reply-To: jferra@buscard.fidonet.org (Jim Ferraiolo)
Organization: The Business Card (BBS), Lawrence, MA - Data: 508-682-5329

richhsia@edison.seas.ucla.edu (Richard P. Hsia) writes:

> Darklands is finally available in stores. Has anyone begun playing yet?
> 
> 

Yes I am. Unfortunately I have found the game has no point, no plot, and 
no ending and is really just an unending hack and slash.. Wowwwwwww..

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   The Business Card (BBS), Lawrence, Massachusetts - Data: (508) 682-5329
   SysAdmin:  murph@buscard.fidonet.org / ...!ulowell!wizvax!buscard!murph
From: sl8wm@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: EOB 1 Secret Quests Wanted
Date: 3 Sep 92 11:55:57 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

Once again, I would like to get a listing of all the
secret quests in EOB 1 if anyone has such a list please
e-mail to me or if you know of an FTP site that has one
please let me know.

Thanks

Bruce
From: magnus@thep.lu.se (Magnus Olsson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: Dunjin - working copy anywhere?
Date: 1 Sep 92 12:59:40 GMT
Organization: Theoretical Physics, Lund University, Sweden

In article <1992Aug30.030704.27676@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au>,  froggy@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Robyn McNamara)  writes:

>Last week I downloaded the text adventure game Dunjin from
>ftp.ulowell.edu.  The file (dunj422.zip) seems to be corrupt - almost
>every file fails CRC check when I attempt to unzip it on my PC.
>
>Yes, I _did_ check that the downloads were binary mode...
>
>Could somebody point me in the direction of an uncorrupted version, or
>else tell me how I'm supposed to unarchive the one at ulowell?
>
>Response by email would be appreciated, as the high traffic in this
>group means I often miss articles.


I think this problem may be due to taht you're using an old unzip
program - it is well known that e.g. the first versions of PKUNZIP
contain a bug that make them unable to unzip ceratin archives created
by newer zippers. I suggest that you get the latest version of PKUNZIP
(the latest official one is version 1.10; pkz110eu.exe on all major
FTP sites) and try again.

Magnus Olsson                   | \e+      /_
Dept. of Theoretical Physics    |  \  Z   / q
University of Lund, Sweden      |   >----<           
Internet: magnus@thep.lu.se     |  /      \===== g
Bitnet: THEPMO@SELDC52          | /e-      \q
From: ppugliese@pimacc.pima.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: Problem with WC2
Date: 30 Aug 92 18:29:06 GMT

In article <dwong.1axc@terapin.com>, dwong@terapin.com (Don Wong) writes:
> OK, I reinstalled with no success...the music is just high-pitched screeks that
> gets annoying REAL fast.  Another person suggested that I increase my smartdrv
> allocation, so I gave it a total of four megs and it worked fine!  Although I
> did notice a little bit of the music getting messed up, it was a lot better
> than before.  Thanx to those who replied

I've found that while increasing the expanded memory size beyond 1 meg does-
n't make much difference you really *can't* go wrong making the cache as
large as possible. using one with staged (delayed) writes also helps alot
with those pauses in the middle of a dogfight when the measly little 64k
replay buffer overflows.

PHIL
From: pegm@terapin.com (Margaret McCaskey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: 4 crystals of trazere
Date: 23 Aug 92 15:59:52 PST
Organization: BBS

Right after I posted my message yesterday about being stuck in the teleport
room in Fagranc, I went back to the game and was able to open the chest.  Maybe
all I needed to do was to get away from it for a while.  I haven't run into
anymore snags....YET.  I just seem to be having a hard time finding keys at
this point.  Thanks to all of those that WERE going to come to a damsels
distress! 8 - )

Peg
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.games:11028 rec.games.misc:16967
From: tatakamoto@vmsb.is.csupomona.edu (Teri Takamoto)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games,rec.games.misc
Subject: Help needed in Legend of Kyrandia
Summary: Stuck again...
Keywords: Legend, Kyrandia, Zanthia, chalice, potion, pipsqueak
Date: 26 Aug 92 09:19:25 GMT
Organization: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Nntp-Posting-User: rrodrigu


     We got past the last place we were stuck in Legend of Kyrandia, and
now we're stuck again...B-(
     *Zanthia is missing!*
     We've explored beyond the trap door.
     There is a potion we're supposed to complete, but we don't have the
recipe to even know what ingredients are needed, let alone the
ingredients themselves.
     Oh yes, we *had* a chalice.  Past tense.  A pipsqueak (really) has
taken it and we can't get it back.  Is it possible to?  How?
     Help would be appreciated...
-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  Teri Takamoto        California State Polytechnic University, Pomona  |
|  Senior Computer Operator                   Computing Resource Center  |
|  tatakamoto@csupomona.edu               (this .sig is *not* quotable)  |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
From: cooper@cos.com (Gary Cooper)
Subject: Re: Falcon help needed
Keywords: Falcon, Flight Sim,
Organization: Corporation for Open Systems
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 19:05:39 GMT

In <1992Aug10.145652.18555@ists.ists.ca> joseph@gkcl.ists.ca (Joseph A. Beernink) writes:

>	2.  Is there a way to acknowledge your wingman when he asks you
>        to check your joker?  Tell him to head for home while you clean
>		up the mess?

not that I know of - it's really annoying seeing four or five guys turning
with you, not doing a damn thing except bitchin' about fuel, when you're 
trying to down that SU 27 over your base....

>	4.  When you pick up a spike, can you immediately fire a shrike or harm?

No - turn till the threat is at the top of your RWR, and maneuver till
the crosshair turns solid - that's a lock. 

gary cooper (not the dead one) 
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games