Shivers 2 for XP/Vista

[Tawmis]

I have no idea, actually. I am not even sure I had internet when I got Shivers 2. Very Happy Or if I did, it was probably dial up and unbearable.

[jafa]

I have started putting together a server to respond to the Shivers 2 "internet" button.

Shivers 2 connects to the server and sends a packet to identify the game and the version. The server responds by sending back a DNS name and port number to use for further communication. It can also respond with a requirement to download a new DLL.

The game then connects to the game server and gives a login window. I have figured out the packet format for login and for "create new account", but not how to respond yet.

The resources look interesting - looks like a chat room style interface.

[jafa]

Partially figured out the login server response... teaser screenshot...

[Tawmis]

Amazing work... Way beyond me to ever do.

[Collector]

Nice. I wonder if this could be tied into the ImagiNation Revival project. Two different eras, though.

[jafa]

Hi guys,

I tracked down how Shiver 2 does the timing for panning. It has now been fixed properly.

Update:
http://www.squirtthecat.com/sierra/shivers_2/index.html

Nick

[Tawmis]

Very nice. Definitely makes it far more playable. Will download and test it today when I get home.

[jafa]

Hi guys,

I am seeing a few glitches in the "dream" movie (file 1020.VMD).

If you have the CDs handy can you please check this file. It is in the movies directory on the first CD.

md5sum of this file on my system: 6b5267b90a5cc101d9822e44a5c5f8d5

If the md5sum is different can you please put the file somewhere I can download it.

Thanks,

Nick

[Tawmis]

Hi guys,

I am seeing a few glitches in the "dream" movie (file 1020.VMD).

If you have the CDs handy can you please check this file. It is in the movies directory on the first CD.

md5sum of this file on my system: 6b5267b90a5cc101d9822e44a5c5f8d5

If the md5sum is different can you please put the file somewhere I can download it.

Thanks,

Nick

How do we find the md5sum stuff?

[jafa]

How do we find the md5sum stuff?

Try this utility...
http://www.pc-tools.net/win32/md5sums/

Nick

[Collector]

Or the one that I use that is a shell extension: HashTab. I'll take a look after I get back from work tonight.

[jafa]

Hi guys,

Can you please take a quick look at the VERSION file on the first CD.

The game is looking for a file called "VERSION" but the CD has a file called "VERSION.txt".

The game tries over and over again to load this file (failing every time). This adds about 5-10 seconds to the load time.

Nick

[Collector]

That is odd. Sierra has always left an extension off of the version file. It has the TXT extension on my copy, too. I never noticed. Is it possible to get it to look for it with the TXT extension? Or possibly get it to look to the game's installed folder for it, where it could be copied without the extension?

By the way, the MD5 of 1020.VMD on my copy is 6B5267B90A5CC101D9822E44A5C5F8D5

[jafa]

Ok, you have to laugh...

Shivers takes a long time to load. It uses a small executable to shows a loading screen for the first 30 seconds while the game is loading. This is a simple timer based app - show the loading screen for 30 seconds and quit.

I modified the main Shivers executable to load "version.txt" when the game tries and fails to load "version".

The game now loads instantly

The problem... run the game, poke around for 20 seconds, then quit... the loading screen app is still there

Small oops by Sierra