QuakeShell 1.6 (c)1997 Chris Platts
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>> Thank you for checking out QuakeShell! <<
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First, this....
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QuakeShell is Copyright 1997 Chris Platts / Intrinsic Software.
All rights reserved.
QuakeShell can be distributed in any medium, so long as it remains whole
and unmodified. The Author takes no responsibility for any loss of any
kind caused directly or indirectly by QuakeShell or any of it's
assosciated programs.
****************************************************
QuakeShell contains the artwork of Kyle R. Hofmann
****************************************************
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What Is QuakeShell?
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QuakeShell enables players of id Software's quite frankly gorgeous
Quake to get more from the game. It allows easy use of add-ons which
have appeared since Quake was released.
QuakeShell builds up a database of add-ons for Quake that you have on
your computer, allows you to give them useful descriptions, then enables
you to select which add-on you then wish to use while playing the game.
QuakeShell takes the place of awkward command-line fiddling, allowing
customisation of Quake through simple menus. As well as Quake Add-ons,
QuakeShell also provides options to control other aspects of Quake,
such as the sound playback quality, enabling and disabling of joystick
support, CD Music, and network play options.
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Why Use QuakeShell
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QuakeShell was originally written for a friend who was fed up messing
around with command line options and DOS batch files to get Quake
using add-ons. For example, to play Quake with, say, a Grapple Hook
extension, the following would have to be typed from DOS:
QUAKE.EXE -game GRAPPLE
.... and that doesn't include setting other options such as -nojoy,
-nocdaudio etc.
(see your Quake documentation for explanation of these options if you need
to, athough if you use QuakeShell, you won't need to! :-)
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What can QuakeShell Do?
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QuakeShell currently supports the following:
o Easy selection of Quake Add-ons using user-defined 'friendly'
descriptions These add-ons are any that take the form of a new
directory within the QUAKE Folder containing a *.PAK or PROGS.DAT
file, which is most of them.
o Selection, and storage of command line options to start Quake with,
including
o Sound On/Off toggle
o Disable CD Audio
o Set sound playback rate (8000Hz, 11025Hz, 22500Hz, 44100Hz)
o Enable CD Audio Media Check (allows swapping of music CDs mid-game)
o Enable access to the Windows 95 TCP/IP Stack (for playing against
others over the Internet in Windows 95)
o Start Quake as a Listen or Dedicated Server, with a definable no.
of players
o Usage of a 'Response File' to allow usage of command line options not
configurable from within QuakeShell.
o Support for a batch file containing commands to load mouse drivers,
VESA drivers etc. which is run when QuakeShell starts, to ensure the
computer is configured correctly for Quake each time it is started.
o Support for Windows 95 Memory Configuration. (as of v1.6)
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Installation
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There are two forms of Installation for QuakeShell. The first is a
Windows 95 based installation.
Although QuakeShell itself is a DOS Application, like Quake, it is aware
of Windows 95. It supports file drag 'n' drop, and has a Windows 95
Compliant installer featuring an uninstaller accessible from the Add/Remove
Programs Control Panel Applet.
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WINDOWS 95 INSTALLATION
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If you recieved QuakeShell on a QuakeShell Distribution Diskette:
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o Insert the Distribution Diskette into any floppy drive.
o Open the Windows 95 Control Panel, and select the Add-Remove
Programs icon.
o Click 'Install' in the upper part of the Install/Uninstall page.
o Click 'Next' - Windows should check you Floppy drive, and find
'A:\Setup.exe'
o Click 'Finish'
--- Skip to the section 'QuakeShell Setup' ---
If you recieved QuakeShell in some other manner:
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o Open a window onto the location where QuakeShell resides.
o Double-click SETUP.EXE
QuakeShell Setup
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o The InstallSHIELD Setup Wizard will start. Follow the prompts
until QuakeShell has been installed on your machine.
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MS-DOS INSTALLATION
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o If you do not have Windows 95, or are a DOS-Only user, then you
will need to use QuakeShell's DOS Installer. If you have Windows
95, this method of installation is NOT RECOMMENDED. Otherwise,
follow these steps...
If you recieved QuakeShell on a QuakeShell Distribution Diskette:
o Insert the Distribution Diskette into any floppy drive.
o From DOS, change to the drive into which you inserted the disk
(e.g. type A:)
o Type INSTALL, and press enter
o At the prompt, enter the location into which to install QuakeShell.
o Wait while QuakeShell decompresses onto your hard disk.
If you recieved QuakeShell in some other manner:
o Change to the location of QuakeShell (whether on CD, or a folder
on the hrad disk)
o Type INSTALL, and press Enter.
o At the prompt, enter the location into which to install QuakeShell.
o Wait while QuakeShell decompresses onto your hard disk.
If you recieved QuakeShell in a ZIP File...
o Decompress the QSHELL15.ZIP file to a suitable directory, then
change to that directory, and type INSTALL.
o At the prompt, enter the location into which to install QuakeShell.
o Wait while QuakeShell decompresses onto your hard disk.
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Er? What Now??
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For more detailed instructions on using QuakeShell check out the
documentation installed into your QuakeShell Folder (QSHELL.TXT).
You have installed it by now? Haven't you? Do it!
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Register QuakeShell
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No mandatory charge for QuakeShell is made. You *can* donate if you
wish, and any such donations would be greatly appreciated.
If you downloaded QuakeShell from the Intrinsic Website, then you have
probably already registered and joined the mailing list. If you got this
program from any other source, you can register (for free!) using any of
the methods in the Talk To Us section below. Include the following
details...
Program you're registering (QuakeShell)
Version Number (this is v1.6)
Your Name
Location (town, city, country)
Contact Address (email, website, or postal)
Whether or not you wish to be notified of updates/new software
Comments or Questions
Thank you in advance.
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Talk To Us
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Contact Intrinsic Software via the following methods (in order of
preference)
Online
Website: http://www.the-shack.demon.co.uk/intrinsic
email: qshell@the-shack.demon.co.uk
ICQ: 1413487
Or via post at:
Chris Platts,
107 Brow Crescent,
Orpington,
KENT.
BR5 4LN
United Kingdom.
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The Future
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The Future for QuakeShell depends on YOU! Y'see, the thing is, I write
stuff to try to be helpful. If you like my work, make me feel wanted
and write to me! Tell me how much you did or did not like QuakeShell,
comment on what's good and what's bad with it. If you find bugs, or should
that be WHEN you find bugs, tell them to me! Only with YOUR feedback can I
correct errors, fix bugs, and ADD FEATURES!! I hate to say this, but if
you'd like to send some money my way, it won't be wasted!
(please... I'm poor... sob...)
Here are some ideas I've got for QuakeShell in the future -- if you like
them, tell me!
o How about a Windows version? I've just got Visual Basic 4, and I want
to USE IT!
o More lovely features -- support for custom maps, organisation of
different CFG files.
o Errm.... Ideas running out here.... Care to help?
o Help me make QuakeShell better!
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Version History
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1.5 (Dec '96 - Jan '97) -- First publicly released version.
1.5a (6th March '97) -- Minor bugfix. Resolves an issue with
Quake not being able to compile a Vid_Mode
list. Fixed with a little memory allocation
tweak.
1.5b (27th March '97) -- Oops. The TCP/IP Stack interface didn't
work. AT ALL! Apologies to all affected.
After checking the code, it seems it was
just a typing error! Geez...
1.6 (9th August '97) -- Added support for Windows 95 Memory options.
fixed minor UI issues, altered the setup
scripts a bit, and tidied code up a tad.
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Other Stuff
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QuakeShell written in Borland Turbo Pascal for DOS, version 6.0
QuakeShell Windows Install/Uninstall created with Stirling InstallSHIELD SE
***************************************************
QuakeShell contains the artwork of Kyle R. Hofmann
***************************************************
Thanks To:
Peter Langford - The person who put the entire idea of this escapade
into my muddled mind. Also did Beta Testing - if
a bug's slipped through, it's his fault.
Dave Reynolds - Coputer Science teacher, and beta-tester.
"It'll work better if you put a semi-colon there..."
Martin Gardner - Post release testing -- found vid_mode memory probs
Cable TV - Provider of sanity, and The Simpsons. Doh!
R.E.M. - Good Music --> Good Code!
Garbage - Still more good music.