Klondike Pro (2.5.3)

Tanara Kuranov · 23-09-2013, 05:18 AM

I was wondering if anyone happened to have this game around, Klondike Pro:

http://www.baymoon.com/~solitare/KlonPro2.html

The 2.5.3 download that's here seems to be missing files, but still works to a point. Though, despite saying it's free, it says you have to pay the $20 fee at Gold Fellow rank, I think. I know it tells you this at some point.

I've e-mailed the author to ask about this, but I haven't gotten a response after several days, and I'd hate to see this one disappear into the digital ether. Haven't seen another solitaire game like it before.

I did manage to find an archive of an older version: http://web.lemoyne.edu/courseinforma...o2%20Folder.1/

I do not know if this version is registered or not, putting it up if it might be helpful in, say, activating the 2.5.3 version.

marko river · 23-09-2013, 08:42 AM

If they claim this version is now free and old version was selling, then it should be OK. We'll see if it gets approved. If you get any response, do share it with us.

Also, will you test that older version? I guess it could act as extra for the game.

Cluseck · 23-09-2013, 05:41 PM

[APPROVED]

Tanara Kuranov · 23-09-2013, 08:23 PM

The older version will say "File Dropback #215 Noted: Checkpointing Not Allowed" in-game when launched. Otherwise, it works like an unregistered version, giving instructions for registration and asking for a key number on the title screen each time.

The 2.5.3 version doesn't ask for a key, but will still inform me upon reaching Gold Fellow rank that I need to pay the $20 registration fee. Even though the title screen itself says it's free and provides no way to enter a registration key. Certainly baffling.

On another note, using the TEXTTEXT.TXT file from the older version into the newer version's folder will enable help to be read again and lets the messages the game gives you upon reaching different ranks to pop up.

marko river · 23-09-2013, 09:26 PM

Pffff.... I guess it is better with those messages... I don't know, you be the judge.

Perhaps a short review? No need to type a lot, just a short description what's going on... and similar with Casino

(I understand you don't feel like typing after video review, but a short review, nothing too hard... you'll get cookies and beer or something

)

Tanara Kuranov · 23-09-2013, 10:22 PM

Well, the help in Klondike Pro is useful, especially when you're looking at which tactics the opponents do/don't know (they get more advanced as you go up in rank). Besides, otherwise it just says "TEXTTEXT.TXT" is missing or something along those lines every time a message is supposed to show up. Now, if someone could figure out how to get the game to let you actually proceed into higher ranks...I don't know how to get anything out of the hex code, and the thing's written in CEEMAC, an obscure language made for Apple II computers in 1978, so there's not a lot of info on it. If I ever hear back from the author on that, I'll let you know.

As for Boxcars Casino, I already reviewed it, so a concise review won't be hard to do. Getting screenshots has been the tricky part. The game actually runs in a window and doesn't keep a constant resolution, changing the size to fit which game you're playing. I'd have figured out something by now and sent that in if I wasn't busy with school. I'll probably just record 640x480 from the center of the screen and crop a few screenshots out of the video stills.

Tanara Kuranov · 24-09-2013, 03:37 AM

Well, I can't seem to get screenshots of Boxcars Casino here. It doesn't use the default 256 color palette in Windows, so any pictures (Snipping Tool, Print Screen key) or video (Camtasia Recorder 8 with MSU Screen Capture Codec) I take have messed-up color. Tried running it in a 'Windows XP Mode' VM, but then it shows up with the messed-up colors by default. Not quite sure how to go about getting good screencaps from it. If anyone has any recommendations on that, let me know. Otherwise, I'm stumped on how to go about that. Could certainly write up a review, though.

As for Klondike Pro, pretty sure I could get screenshots and some kind of review written up tomorrow. It runs in DOSBox, so not difficult to capture it at all. I guess I just have to mention that, as of right now, you can really only get so far in it.

marko river · 24-09-2013, 07:52 AM

So, Klondike doesn't just warn you to buy it and lets you play, even though it should be free, but actually prevents you from playing further until you buy it... bah... I guess it is better than disappearing completely. And definitely with texttext, if the game asks for the file anyway.

As for Boxcars, review is always harder to achieve. Something will work about screenshots, to the point of taking photos of the screen if nothing else works

Tanara Kuranov · 30-09-2013, 10:15 PM

All right, finally got some reviews written up and uploaded. School really piled up there. Also have screenshots of Klondike Pro up (have entire videos on my hard drive, but don't think you want those on the FTP server, haha). Still couldn't figure out how to get screenshots of Boxcars Casino, hopefully someone can. The Mac screenshots are similar, though not exactly the same as the Windows version. I could provide those, if wanted.

marko river · 30-09-2013, 11:55 PM

You may upload them just in case, but name the zip something like "Mac screenshots" or "screenshots from Mac" to be sure what it is about. Better having them as reserve on our FTP. I will see with other members what can we do.