xBill

# xBill 2.1 — ArcaOS SDL2 Port xBill is a classic Unix game where you play a system administrator defending computers against an evil hacker named Bill who tries to infect them with "Wingdows", a virus disguised as a popular operating system. This is the SDL2 port of xBill 2.1 for ArcaOS (OS/2). --- ## Requirements - ArcaOS 5.x (or eComStation / OS/2 Warp 4.52) - SDL2 for OS/2 (`SDL2.DLL`) - SDL2_image for OS/2 (`SDL2_image.DLL`) - GCC/EMX toolchain (for building from source) SDL2 and SDL2_image are available from the ArcaOS Software Subscription or from Bitwise Works (https://www.bitwiseworks.com). --- ## Building from Source Open an OS/2 command prompt in the project directory and run: ``` compile.cmd ``` This produces `bin\xbill.exe`. The build log is saved to `compile.cmd.log`. ### Build dependencies - `gcc` (GCC/EMX) - `make` (GNU make) - `wl.exe` (OpenWatcom linker, used via EMXOMFLD) - SDL2 development headers at `/@unixroot/usr/include/SDL2/` - SDL2 and SDL2_image import libraries --- ## Running the Game From the project directory: ``` bin\xbill.exe ``` The game window opens centered on the screen. No additional files need to be copied — all graphics are embedded in the executable. A high score file (`xbill.scores`) is written to the current directory. Runtime error messages are written to `xbill_err.log` in the current directory. --- ## How to Play You are a system administrator. Bills (the small running figures) will try to reach your computers and install Wingdows. Keep them away. | Action | How | |---|---| | Kill a Bill | Click on it | | Restart an infected computer | Click on the computer | | Recover a stolen OS | Drag the OS icon back to a compatible computer | | Extinguish a network spark | Drag the bucket onto the spark | The status bar at the bottom of the game area shows: ``` Bill: on-screen / off-screen System: running / off / Wingdows Level: N Score: N ``` A level ends when all Bills are defeated. The next level starts automatically after 2 seconds. The game ends when only one (or zero) computers remain productive. --- ## Keyboard Shortcuts | Key | Action | |---|---| | Ctrl+X | Quit immediately | | Ctrl+P | Pause / resume (toggles PAUSED overlay) | | Escape | Quit (with confirmation) | | N | New game | | W | Warp to level | | H | View high scores | --- ## Menus | Menu | Item | Description | |---|---|---| | Game | New Game | Start a new game from level 1 | | Game | Warp to level... | Jump to a specific level | | Game | View High Scores | Show the high score table | | Game | Pause | Toggle pause (same as Ctrl+P) | | Game | Quit Game | Quit with confirmation | | Info | Story | Read the story | | Info | Rules | Read the rules | | Info | About | Version information | --- ## Technical Notes - Window size: 750 × 772 pixels (750 × 750 game area + 22 px menu bar), centered on screen - Game logic runs at the original 400 × 400 resolution, displayed at 2× scale - All XPM and XBM graphics are embedded in the executable (no external image files needed) - The SDL2 cursor API is not used on OS/2; the cursor is rendered in software - Application icon embedded via OS/2 resource compiler (`src/xbill.rc` + `src/xbill.ico`) - When paused, a semi-transparent PAUSED overlay is drawn over the game area - Pausing via Ctrl+P or the Game menu does not interfere with the window-focus pause --- ## Original Authors - **Brian Wellington** — main programmer - **Matias Duarte** — programming and graphics (v2.0 and earlier) ## ArcaOS SDL2 Port Ported to ArcaOS using SDL2. See `doc\changelog.txt` for the full history of changes made during this port.