[comp.binaries.ibm.pc] v01i023: hello, an executable-only puzzle

toma@tekgvs.gvs.tek.com (Tom Almy) (11/19/88)

Posting-number: Volume 01 Issue 023
Originally-from: toma@tekgvs.gvs.tek.com (Tom Almy)
Submitted-by: toma@tekgvs.gvs.tek.com (Tom Almy)
Archive-name: hello/hello.uue

HELLO.EXE is actually a game for expert 8086 computer "hackers" (is
this a challenge?).  HELLO.EXE prints out "Hello wirld" when executed,
and the object of the game is to fix the executable file so that it
prints "Hello world", while maintaining the original program logic.
(In other words, if I fixed my source file, my generated executable
should be identical to a "winning" patched executable).

Full instructions, with a "Mission: Impossible" theme, are to be found
as embedded strings in the file (if you can't read the instructions,
you have no business playing the game!).

I would estimate the time needed to win this game to be about that it
takes to complete an INFOCOM adventure.  Extra credit to anyone who can
solve it with just the standard MS-DOS tools such as DEBUG and
GWBASIC.

NO, it is not a Trojan Horse.  YES, I wrote it and am placing it in
public domain.  Sources are available for *winners*.

Tom Almy
toma@tekgvs.TEK.COM
Standard Disclaimers Apply
(And if I am caught, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of
 my actions).

[
Works, i.e., prints "Hello wirld".

Uuencode directly, or feed to the "combine" script, to get the
hello.exe executable.

checksum     size (bytes)  file
   48814         2044      this uuencoded posting
   46757         1462      hello.exe

-- R.D.
]

BEGIN--cut here--cut here
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end
END--cut here--cut here