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Text File | 1994-08-31 | 32KB | 658 lines

Tile Match Release 1.2 September 1, 1994 Nels Anderson 585 Edmands Road Framingham, MA 01701 U.S.A. With all the beautiful tiles people have been creating for my Mah Jongg solitaire game it seemed a shame that only one game could make use of them. There are many other solitaire games for which tiles would make suitable playing pieces so it seemed only logical to develop one of them and that's how Tile Match was born. Tile Match is based on a card game that is known by various names such as concentration solitaire and memory. There are a number of variations on this game with different playing and scoring rules and even multi-player versions. Tile Match includes all these variations; there are 72 different solitaire variants, plus it can be played as a multi-player game with two to four players, or as a two player game where the computer plays one of the sides. That should be enough options to keep any player happy! Tile Match is an easy game to play, though obviously some thinking will be required to do well. You might want to just jump right into the game and start playing rather than reading the instructions. The basic objective is to find matching pairs of tiles from the set of tiles displayed with their backs showing. Once you've mastered the basics you can take a look at the various options available and try those that interest you. The game has a help function built in which you can reference at any time. Tile Match runs in 640x350, 16 color graphics mode supported by EGA and VGA cards. No other graphics modes are supported so if you have an older CGA, Hercules, etc. system you will not be able to use the game. Tile Match works best when played with a mouse but also has a keyboard interface which primarily uses the arrow keys for movements. Tile Match is distributed as Shareware -- this allows you to try it before you buy it, but if you continue to use the game regularly you are expected to register. When you register, please let me know what version you have (it's right on the title screen) and I'd also be interested to know where you got it from. Please, make sure you put your name and address on your letter! Or you can use the instant registration form in the file "orderfrm.txt". Just copy the file to your printer, fill it out, and mail it. If you're not familiar with the Shareware concept, please read the file "sharewre.txt". The registration is $15, for which I will send you a disk with the latest version. Or for $22 you can get the "deluxe" version which includes a copy of the latest version of the game in a binder with printed instructions. Either version also includes more tile sets and more background pictures. Shipping and handling is $2, or $4 for outside North America or for the deluxe version. Please note that all prices are in U.S. dollars. If you live in the U.K. you can register through Nildram Software. Please print the file UKORDER.TXT for an order form all ready to go or just send #12.95 to: Nildram Software 82 Akeman Street Tring Herts HP23 6AF SPECIAL OFFER: After writing the original Tile Match I found another game that was quite similar. While it still requires a good memory and involves matching objects this version is played as a series of increasingly harder games. Starting with a small number of tiles you work up to larger boards, then repeat while matching three and then four tiles of a kind. I've titled this version "Tile Match/Pair-Three-Four". Beating the computer in a full series of games is the ultimate Tile Match challenge! Tile Match/Pair-Three-Four is normally $15 and is not available as shareware. But, if you order it at the same time as regular Tile Match it's only $10. As a special introductory offer order before July 1, 1995 and get Tile Match/Pair-Three-Four for $5. If you have previously registered regular Tile Match you may also order Tile Match/Pair-Three- Four at these special prices. If you have any suggestions or discover any problems with the program you can reach me via the Xevious BBS (PCBoard) system (300 thru 28800 bps, HST/v.32/v.34, 8N1) at 508-788-6951. Leave a C)omment to the sysop to reach me. Xevious is the official support BBS for all my software and the latest versions are always available for downloading there. There is also a support conference for people to exchange game tips or ask questions. J)oin conference #31 and check out the latest tips. Also check B)ulletin #1 for the list of latest versions of all my software. You can also reach Xevious through RelayNet. If there's a RelayNet board in your area send a routed message to me at node XEVIOUS. The Shareware conference would be the best choice, but if that's not available try TPascal, Games or even Common. I'm also available through CompuServe's email system. Send email to me at 71020,2613. Or join me and many other Shareware authors in the Shareware forum (GO SHAREWARE). You can also reach my CompuServe mail box via Internet by addressing to 71020.2613@compuserve.com. ***************************************************************************** * PLAYING THE GAME * ***************************************************************************** OBJECT The object of the game is to find exactly matching pairs of tiles as quickly as possible. The tiles are placed on the playing surface face down so a good memory is required to make matches. Most variants favor fastest time in judging how well you do, though there are some variants where extra points are awarded for making multiple matches on one turn and here points are used for scoring. In the multiple player variants each player tries to make more matches on his turns than the other player(s) make. There are a number of variations on the scoring system. GENERAL You can end the game at any time by hitting the F10 key. You can also stop by using the mouse cursor to point to QUIT on the menu bar and clicking the mouse button. Other commands on the menu bar can also be clicked on using the mouse. If you prefer using the keyboard, each menu bar function can be accessing using a function key or by holding down the ALT key while pressing the letter key that is the first letter in the command you want (i.e., press ALT-H for the HELP command). Several menu items open up sub-menus. In the sub-menus either click on your choice with the mouse cursor, move the cursor with the arrow keys and select with the enter key, or type the number corresponding to your choice. A few of the most commonly used functions have keyboard shortcuts that are listed along with the function descriptions below. MOUSE PLAY SPECIFICS Tile Match can be played entirely with a mouse. Select your first tile by moving the mouse cursor (which looks like a pointing finger) over the tile and clicking the mouse button. The tile will flip over and remain displayed until you complete your move. Select a second tile as before and it will also flip over. If you have a match, your score will be updated and the tiles will either disappear or remain face up depending on which option you've selected in the Master Setup menu. If the tiles you selected don't match they will remain displayed briefly and then flip back over. How long they remain face up can be set in the Master Setup menu. To be able to use a mouse with Tile Match you must have a mouse driver loaded before running the game. The driver should have come with your mouse when you bought it and installation instructions should have been included with the mouse documentation. In general, the mouse driver is either an .exe file that you can run at any time or a .sys file that is included in your "config.sys" file making it load when you boot your computer. Mouse drivers are frequently updated by manufacturers so if you have any problems with your mouse check to see if an updated driver is available. KEYBOARD PLAY SPECIFICS Tile Match also plays easily using just the keyboard. Use the arrow keys (make sure NUM LOCK is off) to position the finger over the tile you want to select and then hit either the enter key or space bar to flip it over. The first tile will remain face up until you complete your turn. Move the finger over your second choice and hit enter or space as before. If your two selections match, your score will be updated and the tiles will either disappear or remain face up depending on the option you selected in the Master Setup menu. If the two tiles don't match they will remain face up briefly and then automatically flip back over. You can set how long they remain face up with the Master Setup menu. SINGLE PLAYER GAME Tile Match can be played as a solitaire game with the computer providing the playing surface and all timing and scoring. There are a large number of playing options which vary the difficulty level greatly. At the easiest levels, using the small playing board, Tile Match is simple enough for young children while as the highest level it will be a challenge for anyone. See the section below on GAME OPTIONS for a description of all the different variations. All options apply to single and multiple player games. MULTIPLE PLAYER GAME Tile Match can be played by two to four players in addition to solitaire. In these variants players take turns trying to find matches with the highest final score (when all tiles have been matched) winning. The scoreboard on the right side of the screen shows each player's score and cumulative playing time. A red "lamp" will light next to the player who should be making his turn and his clock will be advancing as well. In case of ties the fastest time wins so making moves quickly is a good idea. Players can use both the mouse and keyboard to play. A single person can also play a two player game with the computer as the opponent. Game options and scoring are the same as if a human opponent was playing. To play against the computer just select that option from the Master Setup menu. GAME OPTIONS Tile Match has a large number of options, most of which are selected from the Master Setup menu. The Master Setup menu in turn is selected from the option command on the main menu bar or directly by hitting ALT-S. Each option in the Master Setup menu is described below. Options can be selected with the mouse or the arrow keys. To select an option with the mouse click on the word or the button just to the left of the option description. The button will depress to show that it is selected. Using the keyboard move the cursor around with the arrow keys and use either the enter key or space bar to select. When you have all options the way you want click on the OK button. Hitting the ESC key will abort immediately and hitting the HOME key will move the cursor to the OK button. The options you select are stored in a file called "match.cfg" which is used each time the game is started up. Thus each time you play Tile Match will start with the exact same options you were using the last time you played. Master Setup Options: Sound On/Off: This option enables or disables sound effects during the game. Flip Time: This option lets you set the length of time that a pair of tiles remains displayed after you've selected them. Select the + symbol to increase the display time or the - symbol to decrease the time. The colored bar indicates the current time which can be varied from about 0 to 3 seconds. Board Size: Three board sizes are available to vary the difficulty of the game. The small board consists of only 16 tiles and is suitable even for small children. The medium size uses 36 tiles and the large size uses 72 tiles. Number Each Tile: This option works with the Board Size option to select the game difficulty. You can choose to have either two or four of each tile. With four of each tile there are several ways of finding matching pairs which makes playing easier even with the larger board sizes. Tiles Stay/Tiles Hide: This option selects what happens after a match has been made. You can choose to have the tiles disappear after a match or remain on the board displayed face up. Number of Players: You can select 1, 2, 3, or 4 players or 1 player versus computer. If you select 1 player versus computer you also can select how good a player the computer is. Computer skill is set by what percentage of tiles the computer remembers after they've once been turned over. Scoring: These options control whether time or points is favored in scoring the game and are used both for single and multiple player games. If "One Move Per Player" is selected each player gets one turn whether or not they make a match; this option favors speed in deciding a winner. If "Player Moves Until No Match" is selected a player's turn continues until he selects two tiles that are not a pair; this option favors points in deciding a winner. If "Player Moves Until No Match" is selected two additional scoring options are available. You can select either "1 Point Per Match" or "2 Points for 2nd Match". Choosing the latter allows for higher scores by more greatly awarding players who can make a series of matches on a single turn. This option gives one point for the first match then two points for each additional match made on the same turn. Wild Cards: Turning this option on will include two wild cards on the playing board. Each wild card matches any other card (including the other wild card). When using this option you will usually end up with unplayable tiles at the end of the game. Bad Cards: Turning this option on will include two "lose turn" cards on the playing board. When one of these is selected that player's turn ends immediately. Wild cards do not match lose turn cards. COMMAND LINE OPTIONS The game options you want are usually chosen using the Master Setup menu and are reloaded each time you play from the "match.cfg" configuration file. Most people will never need to use command line options. If you are not familiar with them you should avoid them and use the game's setup menus. If you want to you can override the last setup selections using command line options as follows: -2 use two of each tile -4 use four of each tile -b1 small (16 tile) board -b2 medium (36 tile) board -b3 large (72 tile) board -c play against the computer -f# tile flip time in 0.3 second increments -h tiles hide after match -l lose turn (bad cards) allowed -m multiple moves per turn allowed -p# number of players (replace # with 1,2,3 or 4) -s sound off -w wild cards allowed -x multiple points used for multiple matches You can also include the name of the tile set you want to use on the command line. Here are some examples: To play using a large board with sound off, use this command line: match -b3 -s Note that the dashes are required and there must be a space between each option. To use the State Flags tile set (stflags.til) and allow wild cards, use this command line: match stflags.til -w MENU BAR SELECTIONS Tile Match has a menu bar at the top of the screen to control all functions other than actual game play. Each menu item is described below: F1 or ALT-H - Help Several screens of helpful information on playing the game and on game options are available. You can move between the screens by clicking on the appropriate box: "NEXT" to advance to the next screen, "PREV" to go back a screen, and "QUIT" to exit help. F2 or ALT-I - Info Some basic information on Tile Match is displayed along with registration information and the author's address. Also displays the name of the artist who created the tile set currently in use, if known. F3 or ALT-F - File This opens up a sub-menu that gives access to files related to Tile Match as follows: New Game: This function ends the current game and starts a new one. You can use ALT-N as a shortcut to this function without going through the menus. Load Tiles: This function will load a new set of tiles. It will start by displaying all tile sets in the current directory (tile set files always end with the suffix .til). You can move to other directories by using the "close" option to move up or by clicking on a directory name to move down. Set Tile File Type: You have several options on how to store your tile sets on disk. The default is the way they come when you receive the game: the tiles are stored in their native format as .til files. Because there are many tile sets available and they can take up lots of disk space you can also use one of the popular file compression programs to store your tile sets. You can store all of your tile sets in a single .zip file. Tile Match knows how to view the contents of the .zip file so when you later go to load a tile set it will display the .zip file contents for you to choose from. This option only works with .zip files. You will need a utility that creates .zip files to use this option and you need to have a copy of "pkunzip.exe" somewhere on your path. You can also store one tile set per archive file. This option works with any data compression utility. Direct support is included for .zip, .arj, .lzh and .pak files but you can also manually enter others of your choice. When using this option the tile set file and the archive file must have the same name. For example, if you are using .zip files the tile set "flags.til" must be stored in the archive file "flags.zip". The utility that extracts files (i.e., "lha.exe", "pak.exe", "arj.exe") must be somewhere on your path for this option to work. To add a data compression format other than the ones directly supported you must also modify the batch file "tilearch.bat". This file is commented and if you are familiar with batch files and your archiver you should have no problem modifying it to your needs. Load Picture: Normally Tile Match displays a plain black background behind the tiles on the playing surface. You can, however, load a .PCX picture file as a background. Note, though, that Tile Match always uses the correct color palette required to display the playing tiles and if the picture uses a different palette it will not display properly. Save Game: If you need to quit before finishing a game you can save it with this function. Any file name can be used for a saved game but the file will always have the suffix ".sav". Load Game: With this function you can reload any previously saved game. All files with a suffix of ".sav" will be displayed to choose from. View Doc File: With this function you can view the complete Tile Match documentation file or any other text file. A window will pop up with all files available for viewing. Select the file you want and the viewer will display it. You can then move through the file using the arrow keys, Page Up and Page Down keys, and the Home and End keys. The left and right mouse buttons can also be used to page up an down. Hit F1 for a list of the viewer command keys. Hit F2 to print the entire file being viewed. Hit F3 to print the current page being displayed. When done, hit the ESC key to exit the viewer. Print Order Form: Use this option to print an order form for Tile Match and other games by the same author. Abort: Choose this option to abort the file menu. F4 or ALT-O - Options This opens up a sub-menu that gives access to Tile Match playing options as follows: Change Tile Back: Tile Match by default shows a plain gray back for the tiles but several other backs can be used if desired. Move the cursor over the back you want and click to select a new tile back. Master Setup: This function opens up the Master Setup menu which is fully described in the Game Options section above. You can use ALT-S as a shortcut to this function without going through the menus. View High Scores: High scores are kept for solitaire games only. Choosing this function will display the current high scores list. Note that a separate list is kept for each variant of solitaire play and only the list matching the currently selected playing rules (from the Master Setup menu) is shown. To view a different list, first select the playing rules from the Master Setup menu. Clear High Scores: Choosing this function will delete all high score lists and erase the file where they are stored. Deleting the file "match.scr" using normal DOS commands has the same effect. Shell To DOS: You can temporarily leave the game and return to DOS with this function. To return to the game, use the DOS command EXIT and the game will restart right where you left off. You can use ALT-X as a shortcut to this function without going through the menus. If this function appears not to work you probably have insufficient free memory. Clear Background: If you have a background picture loaded and decide you'd prefer to go back to the plain black background use this function to clear the background. View Tile Set: Use this function to view the complete tile set currently in use. The playing board will be erased and all 36 tiles will be shown in its place. The name of the artist who drew the tiles will be displayed at the top of the screen, if known. Hit any key or click the mouse to return to the game. You can use ALT-V as a shortcut to this function without going through the menus. Abort: Exit the options menu without taking any action. F10 or ALT-Q - Quit Choose this menu item to stop playing Tile Match. You'll be asked if you really meant to quit in case you chose this function by accident. ***************************************************************************** * MAKING YOUR OWN TILES * ***************************************************************************** If you feel artistic, you can create your own playing tiles that will work with either Tile Match or Mah Jongg solitaire. An editor utility called TileMaker is included. To use, run the file "tilemakr.exe" and for complete instructions see the file "tilemakr.doc". ***************************************************************************** * INCLUDED FILES * ***************************************************************************** The following files are included in Tile Match: MATCH.EXE Tile Match program MATCH.DOC This file MATCH.TXT A brief description of Tile Match MATCH.HLP Text for online help function KIDIMAGE.PIC Pictures used during the game BACKSIDE.TIL Tile back images TILEARCH.BAT Handles archived tile sets TILEMAKR.EXE Tile editing utility TILEMAKR.DOC Tile editor instructions *.TIL Various tile sets *.PCX Pictures for use as playing board backgrounds FILE_ID.DIZ Standard program description for BBS use SHAREWRE.TXT Information on Shareware ORDERFRM.TXT Ready to print registration form UKORDER.TXT Registration form for UK residents VENDOR.TXT Distribution information for disk vendors CATALOG.EXE Runnable catalog of other Arcanum Computing games TILES.DOC Information on available tile sets You are free to pass this program along to friends, give it to user groups, upload to BBSes, etc. with the understanding that anyone who continues to use the game is required to register it. All these files MUST be included when distributing this program. If you archive the program for distribution through BBSes, please use the name TMATCH12.ZIP (or .LZH, .PAK, etc. as appropriate). ***************************************************************************** * TILE SETS AND BACKGROUND PICTURES * ***************************************************************************** The Tile Match title screen and all background pictures (*.PCX files) were drawn by Gary Sirois, whose work can also be found on other popular games such as Daniel Linton's Picture Puzzle. Because of their size only one background image is included with the shareware version. Each tile set is by a different artist as described below. All these sets are included with the registered version of the game, but only a sampling with the unregistered version in order to save space (and download time for BBS users). These sets and many others are available from a variety of sources. ALASKA.TIL Mark Krizer (Scenes from Alaska) ALFABET.TIL Richard VandeVelde (Letters of the alphabet) FISHES.TIL Ron Gemeinhardt (Tropical fish of the world) FLOWERS.TIL Sue Tupper (Wild flowers) INVENT.TIL Charles F. Peterson (Inventions and inventors) KIDSTUF.TIL Betty L. Zirkle (Kids things: toys, animals) LGHTHOUS.TIL Larry Brown (Lighthouses) MATCH.TIL Nels Anderson (Default--playing cards) STAMPS.TIL Diana Gruber (U.S. postage stamps) STFLAGS.TIL Stuart Parsons (U.S. state flags) VEGGIES.TIL Don & Polly Hewitt (Fruits and vegetables) ***************************************************************************** * REGISTRATION * ***************************************************************************** Please remember that Tile Match is not free software. As with all Shareware you are expected to purchase it after you've given it a reasonable trial. The registration price for Tile Match is $15, which includes a disk with the latest version plus additional tile sets and .PCX pictures for backgrounds. Please note that all prices are in U.S. dollars. A deluxe version of Tile Match is also available. This includes a storage case, printed manual plus the registered version of the game as described above. This version is available for $22. Please include shipping as follows: $2 for standard version within North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) $4 for standard version outside North America $4 for deluxe version anywhere Please note that your total shipping cost for your entire order will always be either $2 or $4. Add $2 extra for either version if you want it on 3.5" diskettes. If you live in the U.K. you can register through Nildram Software. Please print the file UKORDER.TXT for an order form all ready to go or just send #12.95 to: Nildram Software 82 Akeman Street Tring Herts HP23 6AF ***************************************************************************** * DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY * ***************************************************************************** This software is sold "as is", without any warranty as to performance or any other warranties whether expressed or implied. Because of the many hardware and software environments into which this program may be used, no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is offered. The user must assume the entire risk of using the program. Any liability of the seller will be limited exclusively to product replacement or the refund of the registration fee. ***************************************************************************** * ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS * ***************************************************************************** This software is produced by Nels Anderson who is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442, USA or send a CompuServe message via email to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. FAX: 616-788-2765. _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER ***************************************************************************** * AVAILABLE SOFTWARE * ***************************************************************************** Other software which I've either written or contributed to: MAHJONGG: Solitaire game played with Chinese tiles. Supports EGA and Hercules graphics; mouse optional. See reviews in December 1988 "PCWorld" and April 1989 "Compute!". Uses the same tile sets as Tile Match. CIPHER: A word puzzle game involving solving quotations that have been encrypted. Runs in EGA or VGA graphics mode with or without a mouse, or in text mode. CIPHWN: Cipher for Windows. All the features of regular CIPHER but runs under the Microsoft Windows 3.x environment. EGATREK: Space strategy battle game, using full EGA graphics, based on the classic minicomputer game. Winner of Public Brand Software's 1988 software contest. SHOOT: "Shooting Gallery" tests your aim and reflexes in a number of different rounds of shooting. Uses MCGA graphics mode for 256 colors and and also requires a mouse. See review in "PC Magazine" vol. 9 #20. SUPERFLY: An action game using hi-res EGA/VGA graphics. Chase the flies and other insects through twenty different rounds. Includes three levels of difficulty, hall of fame, shell to DOS, etc. Keyboard/joystick/mouse supported. See review in "PC Magazine" vol. 10 #17. BASSTOUR: (Written by Dick Olsen). Game that simulates a fishing tournament, including rod and lure selection. Runs in EGA/CGA/MCGA/Hercules graphics modes. Uses many of the utilities from MOUSTOOL. Do not order this game from me; for more information contact: Richard Olsen, 68 Hartwell Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460. BASSMAP: Companion program for BassTour which allows lakes to be created or modified. EGA and CGA versions included. Requires BassTour or Bass Class. - - - - - Tile Match is copyright (c) 1994 by Nels Anderson. All rights reserved.