




     MULTI-TREK is a game similar to traditional Star-Trek  games
except  that it involves several players (currently up to 8), who
play  against  each  other  in  real  time  rather  than  against
imaginary   Klingons,   Romulans  or  whatever.   The  MULTI-TREK
universe consists of a 100 by 100 matrix, of which an approximate
20  by 20 matrix of each player's immediate area is displayed and
continuously  updated  at   their   terminal.    MULTI-TREK   was
originally submitted to the New Orleans RSX/IAS sig tape, then to
the 1979 San Diego RSX/IAS sig tape with the  addition  of  robot
ships.   Since  then  it  has  been  recoded  in  RATFIV  and has
significant  enhancements  and  improvements,  most  notably  the
addition  of energy nets, an improved screen display, much better
input-output  (any  terminal  with  clear   screen   and   cursor
positioning  may  be used at speeds from 1200 baud on up), use of
default ship and direction  with  most  commands  ("L"  sets  the
default  direction),  more  competitive  scoring,  smarter  robot
ships, and fewer bugs.  This version was submitted to the  Spring
1981  VAX and RSX/IAS tapes, and is being resubmitted to the Fall
1981 tapes with some slight improvements.  Complete  instructions
for starting and playing MULTI-TREK are in the file MTREK.DOC.

     The game consists of a driver task (MTREKD), a  player  task
(MTREK)  for  each  terminal, and a shared global common area for
inter-task communication.  This version runs on VAX VMS, however,
it  should  run  under  any  system  with shared global areas and
rudimentary task switching or  time-sharing.   Real-time  systems
without  time-sharing  may have to play with priorities to insure
that the driver task  gets  sufficient  CPU  time  and  that  all
players get an equal amount of time.

     MULTI-TREK was written  with  a  structured  Fortran  called
RATFIV.   The IAS version contains all of the Fortran produced by
RATFIV, as well as the RATFIV source (file type .RAT).   The  VAX
VMS  version  does not include the .FOR files, however the RATFIV
compiler is included on both distribution tapes.

     MTREK will work properly with any terminal with clear screen
and  cursor  positioning.   The  source  code  is set up to drive
ADM3-A's or VT100's.  If you are using different  terminals,  you
should   modify   the   file  "TERMINAL.RAT"  (you  could  modify
"TERMINAL.FTN") to drive your terminal.  Modification  should  be
straight-forward as the code is commented on where to change it.

To build MTREK, do

@BUILD 


     The VAX VMS version  places  the  common  area,  LEDFOR,  on
SYS$SHARE  and installs it /WRITE/SHARE.  It also puts MTREK.EXE,
the player task, and MTREKD.EXE, the universe  manager  task,  on
SYS$SYSTEM,   and   installs   MTREK.EXE  with  DETACH  and  ACNT
privileges, so that anyone can start  up  MTREKD  as  a  detached
process (only one copy of MTREKD runs at a time, however).


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     After building MTREK, first run MTREKINI.  Then, on VAX  VMS
systems,  say  MCR  MTREK  and  you  are off and running.  On IAS
systems, the universe manager MTREKD  must  be  started  by  hand
before  MTREK is run.  You can run MTREKD on a dedicated terminal
or install it and run it /REAL.  

Send comments, problems, etc.  to:

       William Wood
       Computer Center
       Intstitute For Cancer Research
       7701 Burholme Ave.
       Philadelphia, PA. 19111
       (215) 728 2760



