DA:IM
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Information
Last known URL: http://daim.jafwebdesign.com (see below)
Status: No longer maintained
Description
DA:IM (Formerly Dark Alleyway Interactive Map) was the first interactive map available for use by the players of †RavenBlack's Vampire game. Developed by Claud Simard, the mortal behind the vampire †Tristan in the early years of the game's history, it was a program that players could download and install to enhance their game play, and assist them with certain in game features.
The main function of the map was to show the current location and relative direction of the regularly moving Guilds, which it did via another pictorial map positioned to the left of the main play area. The Guild locations were updated on the map's server by a few trusted players whenever new locations were made known to them.
Other functions of the map included showing the closest locations of the non-moving Banks, Transit Stations and Pubs.
The map was available to those users who used Microsoft Windows based PC's.
History
In 2004 some players regarded the use of DA:IM as cheating because it easily enabled finding Guilds to purchase Powers, which others had struggled with more difficulty to obtain.
In April 2005 †RavenBlack stated on record his annoyance of DA:IM. In his news section he wrote:
Apr 2 2005 - Pranks It seems some people are still confused about yesterday's messages - mostly people using DA:IM, I think, because they will have missed the message on the following screen that said "April Fool". I hate that that program gets me so many bug reports. If you're using it, please don't ever complain about anything at all, because it's probably the fault of that. It's tempting to modify how the site works to deliberately break DA:IM, to stop people using it because it causes so much trouble, but I know that if I did, it'd be me stuck with the bug reports, even though the bug would be in the anti-endorsed client. End rant.
The last officially supported release of the map was available in 2005. It had a slightly updated layout, and included extra useful functionality comprising of: A list of the three closest Banks, showing the actual quickest route to Guilds, Banks, Transit Stations and Pubs, and the facility to help switch between multiple vampire names (for those mortals that played more than one vampire).
The final release also included an enhancement in the form of sound effects. For certain actions, including robbing, depositing coins in banks, and throwing Holy Water, related sounds would be heard. The user of the map had the option of turning these sounds off.
Because of the work put into the final release, there was a nominal one off charge of $5 to be able to have use of the full functionality of the map. You could however still download the map and use it without paying, however some key functions would not be available.
The locations of Shops were never added as a function of this map in any release.
As of early 2007 this map was no longer supported. Guilds are now not updated. The original web site does not exist. It is only available to download from mortals who have kept copies of the original installation files. The availabilty of other interactive maps such as LIAM may of been part of the reason that interest in DA:IM declined.
Links
v3.1.1 (as of November 24 2009) available to download from http://www.gatesofravenblack.com/SetupDAIM.exe
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