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Classic Solitaire V1.01 Copyright © 1992, 1993 by Perry Rosenboom Box 333 Wantirna South Victoria, 3152 Australia Documentation Version - August 1993 **************************************************************************** Note: Solitaire, Tut's Tomb, Golf and Aces Up have been completed as of the documentation date. Please do not register for the complete set of games (unless you are prepared to wait for the other games!). Users who register for Solitaire or Tut's Tomb will be able upgrade their registration when other games are available. **************************************************************************** Introduction Welcome to Classic Solitaire, also known in some countries as 'Klondike'. This version came about because I wanted to put some card games together in one package which are of a high quality and presentation, and which are easy to play. I'm confident that I have achieved my goals, and that you will enjoy Classic Solitaire. Classic Solitaire is the first of the six games in this package. Other games include Cruel, Tut's Tomb, Golf, Tri-Peaks and Cleopatra. More games may be added to the package as (or should I say, "if") I get motivated to write new ones. Registered users have special privileges - see the information about Registration near the end of this documentation file. A Note about this documentation This file accompanies both the Shareware version and Registered version of Classic Solitaire. Differences between the two versions will be specified wherever appropriate. This means that I only need to maintain one version of the documentation (mainly because I hate writing documentation). Having only one version of the documentation will also show Shareware Users what you are missing by not registering!!!! Systems Supported This game was developed and compiled using AMOS and AMOS Compiler (Copyright Euorpress) version 1.35, which supports Workbench 1.3, 2, and 3. This means that this game should work on A500, A600, A1200, A2000, A3000 and A4000 machines. I do my best to support machines available at the time of writing the game, however I obviously cannot test every aspect of the game on every machine. If for some reason the game doesn't work, check the 'Troubles?' section below, and send me a polite letter, and I'll see if I can help. Obviously, registered users get priority. Abusive letters (such as one I received from England) will get no response. People who write shareware and public domain software do so because they enjoy it - abuse will only result in LESS software being developed for public release. We can't hope to make our shareware profitable, but we do hope that we are respected for our efforts. End of sermon. Changes from Version 1.00 Version 1.01 is a minor update to version 1.00. Version 1.01 has been compiled with the AMOS V1.35 compiler, which means that it should run on AGA systems without problems. Also included in Version 1.01 is one small bug fix. With Verson 1.00, after "End Game" was selected from the menu, it was still possible to click on a card. This has been fixed. Classic Solitaire Object of the game The object of Classic Solitaire is to move all of the cards from the deck and playing area onto the piles marked "Suits". One pile of cards will be used for each of the four suits. If you manage to form fours piles (one for each suit) consisting of all 52 cards, you have won (which is easier said than done). Rules When the cards are dealt, you will see seven columns of cards, with a different number of cards in each column. Column one has one card, column two has two cards, and so on. The top card in each column is shown face up. You are permitted to move any face up card from one column to another providing that the card you are moving is one less in denomination, and of a different colour to the card you are moving it to. For example, you may move a black nine onto a red ten, or a red Queen onto a black King. Moving a card will move that card, and any other face up cards which are in the same column and below the card you are moving. Only a King (of any colour) may be moved to a column which is empty. Cards may be moved to a suit pile providing that the top card on the suit pile is of the same suit, and one less in denomination than the card you are moving. If the suit pile is empty, only an Ace may be moved there. In other words, you are trying to build four piles of cards, from Ace through to King in each suit. You may only move one card at a time to a suit pile. When the game is dealt, you will see the deck of cards with the top card of the deck shown face up. Cards may be moved from the deck to either the columns or a suit pile, using the same rules as listed above. Clicking on the deck will turn over the next card or third card in the deck, depending on the option selected in the "Settings" screen (Draw one is disabled for the Shareware Version). When you get to the end of the deck, clicking on the space will flip the deck over, and you can go through the deck again. The game is over when all cards have been moved to the suit pile, or there are no more valid moves. How to Play Only mouse clicks are required to play Classic Solitaire. To move a card from one position to another, click on the card that you wish to move, then click on the destination location. If you are moving a card to a suit pile, you can double click on the card you wish to move (when moving an Ace, Classic Solitaire will find the first available suit pile and put the Ace there). To flip over the next available card in the deck, click on the deck. To turn over the deck when the deck is finished, click on the space where the deck was. Menus A number of menu items are available with Classic Solitaire. Clicking on the right mouse button will make the menus appear. The menus have been programmed to appear wherever the mouse pointer is currently located. Available menu items are coloured dark green and will change colour to light green when they are selected. A grey menu item means that the item is not available The available menu Bar looks something like this: ----------------------- | Solitaire | Options | ----------------------- Under the "Solitaire" menu item, there is a submenu wich looks similar to this: -------------- | Solitaire | -------------- | End Game | | New Game | | About | | Credits | | Quit | ----------- End Game Select this to End the current game. New Game Select this menu item to begin a new game (when the previous game has been ended). This menu item is not available when playing a current game. About Displays information about Classic Solitaire Credits My credits screen - I've got people to thank! Quit What can I say? Quit means exit, scram, Outahere, vamoose, goodbye, or "Ausgang" for my German speaking friends. Under the "Options" menu bar item, there is a sub menu which looks similar to this: ------------- | Options | -------------- | Sound | | Settings | ---------- Sound (On, Off) Selecting "Sound" will pop up a sub menu to allow you to turn the sound on or off. The current status is marked by a tick. Settings Use this menu item to change the settings for Classic Solitaire. This menu item is not available until the current game is completed. The Settings Screen Items which can be altered from the settings screen are: Sound Buttons are available to turn the sound on or off (this will alter the sound menu items described above). The pitch of the bell which sounds when a card is selected (Bell 1) and the pitch of the bell which sounds when the card is placed (Bell 2) can be adjusted using slider bars. The volume of the sound can also be adjusted using a slider bar. Draw One or three - determines how many cards are to be flipped when clicking on the deck. If draw three is selected, every third card will be available. If draw one is selected, every card will be displayed as you click on the deck. (Draw one only is available in the Shareware Version). Passes One, Three or Many - controls the number of times that Classic Solitaire will allow you to go through the deck. ("Many" is disabled in the Shareware Version). Pointer None, Outline or Card - this setting determines how the mouse pointer will look after clicking on the first card. The standard mouse pointer is used by itself, or in conjunction with a card outline, or an image of the selected card. Title On or Off - if this option is set "On", the title screen will be shown when starting Classic Solitaire. When set to "Off" the title will be skipped (Disabled in the Shareware Version - I'm going to make you sit through the title unless you register!!). Backs Clicking on the "Backs" button allows you to select which of the 13 card backs you wish to display during your game. Once selected, this back will be used until you "Quit" (in the case where you don't save your settings), or until you select another card back. To select a card back, just click on the back you want. To use random card backs (ie,have Classic Solitaire choose one at random for you) click on the box marked "Random". (The ability to select card backs is disabled in the Shareware Version - the "Random" option applies). Default Clicking on this button resets everything back to the default values. Defaults are: Sound - On Bell1 - 50 Bell2 - 60 Volume - 32 Title - On Draw - One Passes - Many Backs - Random Pointer - Outline (This button is disabled in the Shareware Version). Save This button saves your solitaire settings to disk. They are automatically loaded and used next time. (Disabled in the Shareware Version). Use This button allows you to use your settings, without saving them to disk. They will be lost when you "Quit" from Classic Solitaire. The Shareware version If you have already registered, then ignore this section. The shareware version of Classic Solitaire differs from the Registered Version in a number of ways: 1. Some features have been disabled in the shareware version. Registered users have: - unlimited passes through the deck (the shareware version allows only one or three passes through the deck); - the option to choose the card back which they would like displayed (the shareware version chooses them at random); - the ability to skip the title screen (although it's such a good title screen, I don't know why anyone would want to skip over it...); - the option to draw one or draw three cards from the deck ( the shareware version only allows you to draw three cards) 2. The shareware version has a message which flashes up at random while playing the game, to remind you (just in case you need reminding) that the version of the game you are playing is Shareware. This does not come up on the registered version. 3. Registered versions of Classic Solitaire contain the name of the person who registers in the title screen, and the "About" screen (so everyone who registers has their own personal copy of the game). 4. The Shareware version of Classic Solitaire is not supported. In other words, if there is a problem, I'll fix it in the Registered version, and registered users will receive the fix. 5. The Shareware version of Classic Solitaire is 'crunched' on the disk, to reduce the amount of space required for coverdisks, PD libraries, Bulletin Boards and so on. The process of uncrunching causes the coloured lines on the screen when you start the game. Registered users will receive an 'uncrunched' version of the game. Troubles? Most problems seem to be caused by low memory. If you notice that the screen is not refreshing correctly, or that the menu bar doesn't disappear, you've got memory problems. Most games these days are designed to work in 1Mb minimum, and this game is no different. If you have 1Mb or more and the game is still presenting problems (especially after you have been playing the same game for some time), then the memory may be fragmented. Try closing down some other programs, or closing down the game and restarting it. The other problem which I have heard of can occur on Workbench 2 and Workbench 3 systems. On these systems, it is possble to change the default font to something other than 'Topaz 8'. This game was written using the default Topaz 8 font, so if you notice that text does not fit properly in boxes or on the screen, you may need to alter your Workbench setting and restore 'Topaz 8' as the default font. Registration Details If you have already registered, then ignore this section. There are two options you have if you wish to Register. You may: 1. Register for Classic Solitaire only You have the option of registering for Classic Solitaire only, which will provide you with the Registered version of the game, any changes or bug fixes, and the next major upgrade. This means you will receive all versions 1.xx and version 2.00, if I write it. I'm hoping that the game is so good that there will never be a need for version 2...... 2. Register for the complete package This must be the best value in Amiga card games of all time! Users who register for the complete package will receive registered versions of all of the card games in the set, any changes or bug fixes for all games in the set, and the next major upgrade for each game in the set. In addition, I'll also send you registered versions of any new card games I add to the set. This means that you will receive all version 1.xx and version 2.00 (if and when they are written) for all games currently in the set, and registered versions of any new games which I add to the set. For details on which card games are currently supplied with the set, see the section below titled "The complete package". The price.... To register for either Classic Solitaire only, or for the complete package, send the appropriate amount to: Perry Rosenboom Box 333 Wantirna South Victoria, 3152 AUSTRALIA To make registration easier, you can send local currency (cash please) in the following amounts: Classic Solitaire Only Complete Package Australia $10.00 $20.00 New Zealand $15.00 $30.00 England £5.00 £10.00 United States $10.00 $20.00 Germany Dm 10,00 Dm 20,00 Canada $10.00 $20.00 Please send cash only, as our banks act like robbers and can charge us $6.00 to change a cheque! Cheques in Aus$ drawn on an Australian Bank are also acceptable. Prices for each individual country are based mainly on the current exhange rate that the country has with Australia. Why so inexpensive for the complete package? Because the high price of quality Amiga games prevents many Amiga owners from buying games. I plan to make my millions by asking for a fair registration fee from fellow Amiga Users, and registering thousands of users, instead of ripping off a few people. Also, I've tried to make the whole process as painless as possible by putting in local currency values for countries where I know some of my previous games have been. I understand that not everyone happens to have a few Australian dollars sitting in their cookie jar! Well, that's the plan, and those are the reasons - The rest is up to you! Distribution of Classic Solitaire and other boring terms and conditions The SHAREWARE Version of Classic Solitaire may be freely distributed, providing this documentation file accompanies the game. Neither the Game or this documentation may be altered in any way without the Author's written permission. No more than a reasonable fee for copying and distribution should be charged for the Shareware Version of Classic Solitaire. Registered Versions of Classic Solitaire are provided only to the registered user and are not to be copied or distributed under any circumstances, unless prior permission has been provided in writing by the Author (after all, a great deal of time has gone into writing this game). The title screen and the "About" screen clearly states whether the game you are playing is the shareware version or registered version. The Complete Package At the time of writing this documentation, one game has been fully completed. However, I intend to produce a package with a minimum of SIX games. These will include Classic Solitaire (Klondike), Cruel, Tut's Tomb, Tri Peaks, Golf, and Cleopatra. If you have some thoughts on particular games which you would like to see included in the package, then please write to me! Thanks My sincere thanks go to the following people: Therese and James (my wife and son) for putting up with the amount of time I spend writing card games, shoot'em up's and thinking games. A two year old can really test the error handling qualities of a piece of software! Andrew Kreibich for finding bugs (not that I really want to thank people for finding bugs), and for his ideas and some of the code (such as the button routine). Rene Katoll (Germany) for his many faxes, letters and the translation of this document into German. Ulla Katoll (Germany) for designing the Solitaire icon for this game (the icon is Copyright © 1992, Ulla Katoll and is used with permission). Classic Solitaire is written using AMOS and compiled with the AMOS Compiler, both of which are © Europress. Thank you to all who register. As with my other games, I'll name you all in the next release of the game. Copyright Classic Solitaire is Copyright © 1992, 1993 by Perry Rosenboom, as are the card backs and the cards themselves (you wouldn't believe how long it took to draw them!). If you would like a special version for release on a coverdisk, then please write to me. If you program in AMOS and would like to use the cards that I've designed for your own games, then please let me know when you register.