Status Update for Cluster Wars

[GrimFinger]

Can someone provide us a current status update for Cluster Wars?

[ixnay]

I just received an email from Jay, who is the owner and supporting patron of Cluster Wars. He reports that Vern Holford, the designer/developer/moderator of this legendary game is gravely ill and now in hospice care.

I don't know the current status of Cluster Wars with any certainty, but I believe that there had been one game currently running, and that it had been suspended at some point. I am guessing that Vern's health issues might have had something to do with it. If there are any Cluster Wars players who'd like to report on when the game was last processing turns, I'd like to hear about it.

Obviously I am deeply saddened to have heard this news. Cluster Wars (and the core design known as Empyrean Challenge) made a big impression on me a long time ago. It is easily in my top-5 games of all time. Vern, as designer and host, supported new and veteran players alike with great respect and professionalism at all times. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.

[GrimFinger]

I went looking for Vern Holford of Empyrean Challenge fame, this morning, over on Facebook.

As near as I can tell, Vern Holford died a couple of years ago. I say that based upon a couple of postings:

https://www.facebook.com/vern.holford

https://www.facebook.com/vern.holford/po...8431177053

[GrimFinger]

If anyone could track down what year that Vern Holford was born it, I will include is along with the year that he died in issue #19 of Suspense & Decision. I looked for his obituary, but didn't find one.

[RktSci]

Another bit of info. I exchanged emails with Jay on the status of the game.

He said that Vern's son had not responded to emails asking for them to send the game files and source code to him. So, it's unlikely to ever get going, unless there has been a breakthrough that I haven't heard of.

Too bad, as the game was getting to a good place and nearly ready for relaunch.

[RktSci]

Another update.

I pinged the Jay about the status of the game. He was able to get a copy of the source code in January and an effort to rebuild the game is underway. It was written in an old, obsolete language and needs updating.

So, great news!

[GrimFinger]

Another update.

I pinged the Jay about the status of the game. He was able to get a copy of the source code in January and an effort to rebuild the game is underway. It was written in an old, obsolete language and needs updating.

So, great news!

Excellent job!

[wraith]

I pinged the Jay about the status of the game. He was able to get a copy of the source code in January and an effort to rebuild the game is underway. It was written in an old, obsolete language and needs updating.

Do you know if there are any updates? I know that 2020 is not the best year for anything and I see that Cluster War's site is parked and up for sale.

This was the game that motivated me to look at PBM/PBeM.

[Davin]

I can't help but wonder what the obsolete language was.

[wraith]

I can't help but wonder what the obsolete language was.

I don't have anything old enough to actually run the files on to check, but those screenshots look like something you'd get from a DBase type application. (Edit: There's an old post from Darth Pedro that mentions using Access, so maybe VBA (totally a guess).)

  CentralCommand/setup.exe: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows