**** The Exodus Project: *** * Ultima II Upgrade * * * * Release 1.1 * ***************************** Project Status: 09-29-2001 - Release 1.1: This is a maintenance release of the U2 EGA Upgrade, which has a lot of new features. Updates since the previous release are: - I finished the converting all TLK files to lower-case text where necessary. I tried to base most of the changes on the "Enhanced" U2 that was released for the Apple II. I'm not sure if I got all of it right, but I'm sure it's close enough. - Upgraded RENGAL.BAT so that running it twice does not generate a stream of errors. - I created a new program, U2RESET.EXE, which resets your saved game in the event you want to start from scratch. Previously, it was required to recopy all the MAP and MON files from the CD, but that is no longer necessary. The program removes all monsters, vehicles, and moongates from the map, clears the monster files, and resets the player file. It also restocks Legends with Minax's monster hoard and Pluto with a few modes of transport. - Fixed a problem where the game would exit with an error after creating a character. Please see below for an abbreviated project history or visit the project website (http://exodus.voyd.net/) for the complete status history. I also post relevant information on project updates to the rec.games.computer.ultima.series and .dragons newsgroups. Known Issues: There will be some compatibility problems with the save games between the CGA and EGA versions if you save on a non-Earth planet or save while on a vehicle. If you saved your game on the inner planets (Mercury-Jupiter) and you attempt to start the CGA program, your game will load on one of the Earth time periods. You will get a "Wrong Disk" message if you attempt the same with the outer planets. Saving with a vehicle in the EGA upgrade will result in that vehicle being lost in the CGA version. This is by design. It is therefore recommended that if you started your game on the EGA version, you finish it on the EGA version. There is no problem migrating save games in the other direction, that is using a saved game from the CGA version on the EGA upgrade. Abbreviated History: 09-29-2001 - 1.1 - Current version. Please see above for details. 07-02-2001 - 1.0 - You can now save your game on the galactic maps - And you can also save your game on a vehicle (fixes moongate-vehicle bug in original) - Implemented safeguard for raising an attribute over 99. It now does not roll back to 00. - Configuration program U2CFG.EXE created. You can enable/disable frame limiter and autosave. - Must launch game from ULTIMA2.COM; launching from U2EGA.EXE will return an error. - Changed the way the screen is cleared. (int 10 fcn 06 didn't work properly on some systems) - Resolved previous NT endgame stability problems (not sure how, either!) - Removed some wait period before hyperwarp sequence AND the ability to skip it. - Lower-case conversion to all text within U2EGA binary. TLK files not yet converted. - Lower case permitted in character name and (Y)ell - Colored (Z)tats, create character, and main menu screens 05-13-2001 - 0.3 Beta - Improved stability - Fixed water tile scrolling - Slowed frame limiter by 1/2 - Circle appears over enemy when attacking - View through magic helms & in color - Fixed outer-space crash - Dungeons implemented - Dungeon monsters in color - Slowed down space sequences - Slowed down dungeon sequences - Made some modifications to galaxy map patch so game restores properly - Divide Overflow fix = Micro Dragon's Speed Fix - Graphical glitch fixed on PICTWN-E 04-21-2001 - 0.2 Alpha - Upgraded file I/O - Slowed down intro & demo screens - Fixed divide overflow error (used fix from UC) - Screen blinks when spell is cast - Improved stability for dungeon/tower and view helm (although it still doesn't draw to screen) - Changed routine prompting for direction - Recolored intro & demo screens - Encorporated Moonstone Dragon's Galaxy Map Patch 01-30-2001 - 0.1 Alpha - Tiles converted to EGA and colored - Implemented EGA video algorithm for maps - Frame limiter introduced - Added hotkeys (ALT-X,R,M) - Applied Frame limiter & hotkeys to endgame - Converted intro/demo screens in EGA 11-21-2000 - Project Begins