RUMMY 500 (Version 4.2) - RUMMY500.FAQ
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Q. What programming language is Rummy 500 written in?

A. Microsoft Visual Basic.  See the "For The Technically Curious" section of
   the help file for more information.


Q. Why do I get an "Invalid File Format" message when I try to run Rummy 500?

A. Because there is an older, and incompatible, version of VBCTL3D.VBX on
   hard disk.  Rummy 500 is loading this rather than the newer version
   distributed with Rummy 500 4.2 and later versions.  Make sure that the
   copy of VBCTL3D.VBX distributed with this version is present in your
   \windows\system directory and make sure you delete any other copies of
   VBCTL3D.VBX which are on your system (possibly in the directory where you
   previously kept Rummy 500, or your \windows directory).  

   [If you have multiple programs on your system which use VBCTL3D.VBX and 
   they require different versions of VBCTL3D.VBX, you can install a copy of
   the required version in the same directory as each program that requires 
   it.  Such a copy will be loaded in favor of the "central" copy in  the
   /windows/system directory.]


Q. Why does my mouse not work correctly in Rummy 500?

A. We have had a couple of reported instances of this problem, but we are
   unable to replicate it or guess at what the problem might be.  One
   customer found that the problem disappeared when he upgraded from Microsoft
   Windows 3.1 to Windows for Workgroups 3.11.  We therefore surmise that
   this problem is system configuration dependent in some way.


Q. What happens if Rummy 500 causes system messages, "bombs out", or freezes?

A. These problems are almost always to do with the way your system memory
   is configured or managed.  Check that you have around 450K minimum of
   low memory available and that your memory manager (e.g., EMM386) is not
   causing the conflict.  Rummy 500 is quite intensive in its use of system
   resources and runs on 99% of customers' systems without problems. However,
   sometimes such problems are reported, and all we can do is offer the
   advice noted here.


Q. Why do I have to reset my sound and color preferences each time I play?

A. You don't.  After you have made the changes, "Save Configuration", either
   as your system's default, or for yourself personally.


Q. How do I permanently change the default colors or card designs?

A. Set up the screen as you want the defaults to be.  Then select the "Save
   Configuration" choice from the "Configuration" menu.  If you are playing
   as a named player, you will be given the choice to save "As Default", which
   you select.  Otherwise, if you are playing as player "Default", selecting
   "Save Configuration" will automatically save the current options as the
   defaults.  Consult the help file for more information.


Q. Does Rummy 500 cheat by peeking at the player's cards?

A. No!  However, at the higher skill levels, Rummy 500 will remember what you
   have picked up from the discard pile, and will also make probability
   estimates of which unseen cards might be in your hand versus the stock.


Q. Why didn't you respond to the suggestions for enhancement I made?

A. Our first priority is to provide a quality game at the lowest possible
   price and this prevents us from entering into much personal correspondence.
   Most suggestions are incorporated into the next version of Rummy 500. This
   is our way of responding positively to your suggestions.


Q. I am a shareware distributor.  How do I obtain permision to distribute
   Rummy 500 to my customers?

A. As noted in the readme.txt file, permission is automatically granted
   provided you distribute only the files noted therein.  Include VBRUN300.DLL
   if your customers might not otherwise have it on their systems.


Q. I am a software developer.  Are you able to share any of the Rummy 500
   program code?

A. No.  All Rummy 500 code is proprietary, except for the third-party
   components which are described in the help file (in the section called "For
   The Technically Curious").


Q. Does MeggieSoft Games market any other games?

A. Rummy 500 was our first offering, released in August 1994.  We released our
   second product, Gin Rummy, in February 1995.  See the help file for more
   details.


Q. What's next?

A. We are currently researching the enhancement of both Gin Rummy and Rummy
   500 to support a "modem opponent" option so that two players can play
   against each other over a dial-up telephone line.