                     The "Little Computer People" (mini)FAQ
                                    by
                            Jeroen v Drongelen

                            version 30-03-1999

                    maintained on the LCP Research Page at
                     http://members.xoom.com/lcp_research


Q: What is this Little Computer People (LCP)?
A: A computer program that simulates the behavior of a little person
   who lives in a house, supposedly located "inside your computer".
   This person is similar to a 'pet', that must be fed and attended to.
   The user is able to talk to the creature through keyboard, and the
   LCP will (mostly) respond by taking different actions. It's like a
   "software toy".

Q: Who created LCP?
A: The company Activision (http://www.activision.com) released LCP back
   in 1986, with David Crane and Sam Nelson being the lead developers.
   LCP is still being sold by Activision in their '15 pack' with classic
   C-64 software, and still holds the copyright.

Q: What's so 'special' about it to dig it up after all those years?
A: I see this program as the first, fun-to-use "digital life" program
   ever created, and it still is never superseded. Even the Tamagotchi
   craze can't match up to an LCP, in my opinion. Think back 1986: all
   arcade games, text-adventures, racing games, and suddenly a program
   like LCP. It was a nice (and necessary) change, and LCP became
   incredibly popular. It was the birth of a new theme.

Q: What hardware/software is required by LCP?
A: LCP was originally programmed on popular home computers at the time.
   Those systems include the Commodore 64, ZX-Spectrum, Amiga, Armstrad
   to name a few. To run LCP on a modern PC, emulation of one of those
   older systems is neccesary. The version found on my LCP site is based
   on Commodore 64 emulation (emulator program is included with LCP).
   Usually, C64 or Spectrum emulators run on fast 486's and beyond.

Q: What do I do when the LCP is walking around?
A: Talk to him (refer to the list of words known by LCP on the website),
   have him do stuff, watch him doing it, discover what he CAN do. Like,
   playing the piano for instance. Also, keep him well-stocked by adding
   water to his water-tank (CTRL-W) and food, if supplies run low (CTRL-F).
   Or just use it as a 'screen saver' and sit back and watch him. Just talk
   to him now and then, he gets bored if you don't. Disk-version users can
   also play games with him.. just ask... politely...!


Troubleshooting
===============

Hold the questions! First, I want to tell a little story of the two versions
of LCP on the Commodore 64: the TAPE (stripped-down) version and the DISK
(full) version. With the TAPE version, there's some stuff ripped out of the
program, to have it fit into the C-64's memory in one instant (unlike the
disk-version, the tape version couldn't possibly read data from the tape
when needed; it had to load into memory in one instance). The "ready-to-run"
version on my website is the TAPE version. I have done this, because the tape
version runs like a dream on (almost?) ALL C64 emulators around, some even on
486SX-25 computers. That way, I can show more people the LCP without too
much trouble. Also, Activision is permitting the tape version to be distributed
through my site, as some sort of 'shareware' concept.

As I said before, the disk version is available at Activision, and here are the
differences between the two versions (AFAIK):

Tape version:				  Disk version:
----------------------------------------+---------------------------------------
Program runs on almost all popular	| Program runs only on good emulators
C64 emulators				| with true 1541 emulation. Activision
					| seems to provide its own when you buy
					| the 15 Pack.
					|
LCP's have no different personalities;	| There can be different LCP's in
all LCP's look and act the same		| character, as well in looks
					|
LCP doesn't play games			| LCP plays card and word games with you
					|
LCP doesn't "save" his mood (unless	| LCP saves his mood to disk(image)
the emulator can do this, like PC64)	|
					|
LCP doesn't "know" you			| LCP remembers your name
					|
Number of songs limited			| LCP knows more piano/turntable songs
					|
"moving-in" process absent		| LCP "moves in" at first session
----------------------------------------+---------------------------------------

On with the questions:

Q: Tape-version, nice.. but I want the max of LCP.. what do I need?
A: You need to go to www.activision.com and look for the Game Vault/
   "Commodore64 15 Pack". At the time of this writing, the URL is:
   http://www4.activision.com/games/vault3/15_pk/ From there on, you
   will be able to order the full version, plus some of the C-64's
   all-time hit classics for use on a Windows PC (I've heard they're
   disk-images of C64 diskettes, so it's conceivable they'll also run
   on other emulators, including the ones on other OS's, but I can't
   confirm this).

Q: I can't enter the time of day! I'm using your "lcp-arc.exe" version.
A: You might want to press the ; key instead of the : key (without
   SHIFT I mean). One didn't have to press the SHIFT key for the "colon" sign
   on C64 keyboards, and the entire '64 keyboard is emulated too. Enter time
   as 5:00 pm (no military time allowed).

Q: After a while, the LCP is starting to walk VERY slowly, and spending much
   time in bed. What gives?
A: He's ill! I'll bet he'll turn green too. Make sure he gets food (press
   CTRL-F to make sure) and water (CTRL-W).

Q: My LCP is walking slow all the time. Uh?
A: It's normal in the MIP (moving-in process) for him to walk slowly, but
   cautiously around the house. This should be better when he's settled in,
   so give him 20 minutes and he'll be more comfortable. Of course, it can
   also be that your PC isn't fast enough. You should have a pretty fast 486
   PC at least. Pentium's are the ones I would bet on.

Q: My LCP went to bed for only a second, and then stood up again! That's short
   even for an LCP?
A: There's a slight 'bug' in the LCP program. If you ring the alarm bell anytime
   BEFORE the LCP goes to bed, the program 'remembers' you using the alarm and
   the very next instant the LCP goes to bed, the 'get up'-sequence is forced.
   This happens even if you used the alarm bell HOURS ago! Solution: Don't use
   CTRL-A except the LCP is in bed, and you want him to wake up.

End of file.