The program offers several options for the SysOp to control the game.
Game settings are stored in 2 databases.  One is the Control database
which maintains the list of top ten high scores, etc.  The other is the
Players database which maintains each player's top score, the date they
last played the game, their key configurations (if any) and the number
of plays they have left.

   The SysOp menu is accessible one of two ways.  Anyone with a
privilege of 255 will see the SysOp option on the main game menu.  If
you would like someone else to have access to the SysOp option you can
create a separate menu entry that will allow SysOp access to the game.
The menu entry should look similar to the following:

Entry:
[D]rop Block
Priv=10 A1=-------- A2=-------- A3=-------- A4=-------- ANS=X IBM=X
key=D Type=200 OptData=C:\GAMES\DROPB\DROPB &SYSOP

   The SysOp can control how many times a user can play the game in a
day.  The number of plays can be from 1 to 998.  You can allow unlimited
plays by entering 999.  The default is unlimited number of plays.  You
can change this by using option 1 on the SYSOP menu.  The SysOp will
always have unlimited plays.

   The high scores will automatically be reset the first time someone
plays the game each month.  These scores can also be reset manually by
you by choosing the option 2 on the SYSOP menu.  Choose option 3 to
reset the previous month's high score.

   Since the game creates a record in the database for each person that
plays the game you may find that the database needs to be cleaned up
periodically.  This is a two step process.

   The first step is to go to the SYSOP menu and choose option 4 to
delete players.  The program will prompt you to enter a date to use.
Once you have supplied a date the program will delete any user who has
not played since the date you entered.  For example, if the current date
is 3/13/94 and you wanted to only keep players who had played in the
last month you would enter the date, 02/13/94.  The program would then
delete any player who had not entered the game since 02/13/94.

   This step only sets the players for deletion.  It does not actually
remove the records from the database.  In order to remove the records
you must pack the database.  You must have exclusive access to the players
database in order to use this option.  In other words, no one can be
playing the game.  Once you start packing the database no one will be
able to play the game until you are done.

    You can remove the records one of two ways.  One is to choose option
5 on the on the SYSOP menu to pack the database.  If someone is playing
the game you will be told how many players are in the game and you will
not be permitted to pack the database.
    The other is to run schedule this as a ghost event.  Enter the
following line OptData line for your ghost event:

Type=200 OptData=C:\DROPB\DROPB &PACKDB

If you are unfamiliar with ghost events, consult you TBBS manual.

     It will not hurt the database if you run a run a pack without first
deleting users.  The program makes a backup copy of the database before
the pack so, if you need to go back to the previous database it is still
available.  The backup databases are called OPLAYERS.DBF AND
OPLAYERS.NDX.

     If, for some reason, you believe that the PLAYERS.NDX index file
has become corrupt, you can use the pack option to re-create the
PLAYERS.NDX file.

     As the SysOp you also have the ability to change the colors of the
blocks.  Choose option 6 on the SYSOP menu to edit the colors of the
blocks.  I have found it best if each block is a different color but you
are welcome to use whatever colors you and your users prefer.

     You also have the option to set the speed and frequency at which
the blocks drop in the game.  You can configure this using option 7 on
the SYSOP menu.  There are 2 values that control the speed and
frequency.  The first is the time between drops (or the clock ticks).
This is the amount of time that will elapse before the block advances to
the next row.  The second value is the amount that will increase the
speed.  The speed increases after every 1000 points.  I have set a
default of 60 as the beginning drop rate and a value of 10 as the speed.
In other words, you start with a drop rate of 60.  When you reach 1000
points, your drop rate decreases to 50 (smaller number means the drop
rate is faster).  You most likely need to adjust this for your system. A
single line system will most likely need a longer dropping time and a
longer frequency than a larger, multi-line system.

     The default in the game is to display the next block that will
drop.  I personally like to see what the next block will be so that I
can plan ahead.  Option 8 on the SYSOP menu will allow you to turn this
ability on/off.

     In setting up the SysOp functions I have tried to think of things I
would want to do.  Things that would make my life easier.  I am always
open to suggestions on functions that could be added and ways the
program could be improved.  If you think of something you'd like to see
added, let me know and I'll consider adding it the next time I update
the program.

If you have any problems or questions please leave a message for Suzi
Hamilton via EMail on the GW Associates Customer Support System at
(508) 429-8385 or in the GW Associates Software Support Conference.