Newsgroups: comp.ai.games
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!rochester!cornellcs!newsfeed.cit.cornell.edu!newsstand.cit.cornell.edu!news.kei.com!simtel!news3.noc.netcom.net!ix.netcom.com!netcom.com!obrien
From: obrien@netcom.com (No parking EXCEPT FOR BOB)
Subject: Re: Shareware GA game available in a few hours...
Message-ID: <obrienDHL2HL.4uC@netcom.com>
Organization: Writing Revisionist History since 1957...
References: <obrienDHHoFD.Ew@netcom.com> <47hani$1bqe@navajo.gate.net>
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 18:39:21 GMT
Lines: 143
Sender: obrien@netcom4.netcom.com

Steve Woodcock <woodcock@news.gate.net> wrote:
>
>   Sound fascinating!  And yes, you've come to the right newsgroup.
>I think everybody here would love to see your beta.
>

Thanks very much!  And thanks to those of you who've emailed
already, too.  I may not be able to respond to each of you, sorry.
If you write me again, as noted below, I promise to respond
just as quickly as I can.  But please, use www or ftp instead,
if you can.

Anyway, the moderator of c.s.i.p.g.announce may not have gotten
to my submission yet, but it's been sent, and the web/ftp site
seems to be working fine.

I now wish I had added this group to the crosspost list, so that
the post would show up here automaticly when the moderator can
get to it.  Oh, well.  Why don't I just give you a preview?  B-}

Below is the mentioned post, as submitted.  My apologies to
any bandwidth-freaks, for not making it a proper crosspost.

	Bob O`Bob

%%%%%%
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.announce,comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic
Subject: CDDNA: Shareware Strategy Game - and Genetic Algorithm Laboratory
Summary: Limited release, version 1.0, COMMENTS REQUESTED
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic
Organization: for Oidian Systems, San Jose, California
Keywords: Genetic Algorithms  No Cheats  Network Multiplayer  Evolve Your Own Opponents  Trade CPs with Friends
 
=======
 Game description:
=======
 
CDDNA runs on Microsoft Windows.
Testing on Win95 has been less extensive than on 3.x
 
CDDNA bears some comparisons to Diplomacy, to Stratego, and to Risk.
 
CDDNA is the first in a planned family of Genetic Algorithm programs.
 
CDDNA was inspired in part by the above mentioned games and many more.
 
Among the inspirations for the Computer Player sections of CDDNA are
games like Civilization, Master of Orion, and others where the CPs are
not bound by the same rules as human players.  These games are often
accuesed of "cheating," and CDDNA will have none of this.  Using the
included programming language, CDDNA players will have the option of
writing their own CPs.  These, along with all CPs included with the
game, can be used in the Evolution Laboratory section to evolve more
and potentially better CPs than even the game's creators have written.
 
 
=======
 Release Note:
=======
 
This is an "early feedback" release.  We want you to try our game if
you are at all interested, but it is very important to us during this
early phase to receive feedback, good and bad.  Obviously, registration
fees are our FAVORITE kind of feedback, and registration information is
included in the extensive built-in help.  Feedback is welcome, to the
contact points noted in the help, and also to the account originating
this posting, <obrien@netcom.com> (during the limited release period of
November, 1995.)
 
This is being called a "1.0" release, because we believe it to be very
stable.  It has passed serious testing, including a Beta program, but
our standards for Beta testing aren't like those of certain large
companies - we think that's a good thing for YOU, but we also are aware
of the possibility that there are still things that should be fixed
right away.  We intend to be very responsive with a "1.1" release,
IF reports warrant it.
 
We hope, but are not certain, that this version is good enough to
encourage everyone who gets it to distribute it freely.  However,
at this time, we are asking that you NOT do so.  IF it should prove
to have problems, we WANT to fix them right away, BEFORE lots and
lots of people see it.  Obviously, anyone you know who WOULD be
happy to send FAST feedback is someone we DO want you to give it to.
 
The Registered version IS expected to be ready to ship
on the date shown below.
 
 
======
 Press Release:
======
 
               Computer Game uses Genetic Algorithms
           to Improve Computer Opponents while you use it.
 
San Jose, CA - Oidian Systems has announced the release of a Windows 
shareware computer strategy game which uses genetic algorithms to
improve the performance of the computer players.  "Cloak, Dagger and DNA"
contains, in addition to the game, an Evolution Laboratory which allows the
user to control a gene pool of computer players, and set various parameters
while running an evolution engine.
 
This multiplayer game allows human players to play interactively using a
local area network.  The computer players can be hand coded, evolved, and
traded with other players.  The shareware version contains everything
needed to play and evolve players, including extensive on-line help files,
and a handful of computer player gene files.
 
The registered version, available after 15 November 1995, contains a
scenario editor which allows changing the playing map, starting positions
and player strengths, and modification of some of the game rules.  Different 
environments and game rules can be constructed for experimenting with
evolving different computer player capabilities.
 
 
======
 How to Obtain:
======
 
For the shareware version, 
 
     browse to:   http://www.obob.net/~obrien/oidian
     ftp from:    ftp://www.obob.net/users/obrien/oidian/cddna.zip
 
     **  For a LIMITED time ONLY, E-mail requests may be sent to: 
     **       obrien@netcom.com
     **  Explicitly request the file "cddna.uue"
     **  E-mail recipients MUST uudecode and unzip.
     **  Encoded file is ~400K bytes.
     **  E-mail offer EXPIRES at the end of November, 1995
 
 
For the registered version, send $25 to:
 
     Cloak, Dagger and DNA
     Oidian Systems
     PO Box 700365
     San Jose, CA, USA 95170-0365
 
     (CA residents add sales tax)
     (Overseas Orders add $3 s&h)
%%%%%
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