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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 7 Games
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TRICKLE.HLP
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OS/2 Help File
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1994-08-27
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9KB
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293 lines
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. About Trickle Down ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Trickle Down
by
MultiGrain Solutions
Copyright (c) 1994
About...
Trickle Down is a four-in-a-row
genre game. The basic objective of
play is to arrange four of your
tiles in a row before Dr. Plopper
(the computer's AI persona) does.
Weak Artificial Intelligence
Trickle Down's AI persona is specially
attuned to the moves and strategic
possibilities of the game. Dr. Plopper
may not know whether or not you use
ketchup with your hamburger, but the
doctor knows this game very well.
The wily Dr. Plopper also learns
how to play against a player's style;
and so, each installation of Trickle Down
will play differently.
AI Version Upgrades
Ver. 0.1 Sequence analysis
Ver. 0.2 First pattern analysis
Ver. 0.3 First pattern mirrors
Ver. 0.4 Second pattern analysis
Ver. 0.5 Second pattern mirrors
Ver. 0.6 Endgame intrusion
Reporting AI Problems...
If you ever encounter a situation where
you are able to defeat Dr. Plopper
five times in a row at the Advanced
level using identical move sequences,
please notify the company by sending us
a copy of the move list. You cand send
the move list via surface mail
or email. Our email addresses are:
ldorfman@li.net
mstegman@mcimail.com
Your reports will help us to
continuously upgrade the AI
algorithms. Know that your
help is appreciated.
Playing Trickle Down is simple
Starting Trickle down is simple.
You start a new game by selecting
the New option from the Game drop
down menu. You can also start a
game by pressing and releasing both
mouse buttons simultaneously.
Making A Move
To make a move, point at one of the
numbered tiles atop each column of the
game's playing area and click the left
mouse button once. You'll see a tile
slide into its proper spot in that
column.
Winning The Game
The game ends when you or the
computer has placed four tiles
adjacent to each other in a row
horizontally, vertically or
diagonally.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Default Settings at Startup ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Trickle Down always begins with
the following settings:
Print to the system's default printer.
The printer must already be on.
Sounds on.
The game's mellifluous clicks and
clacks are turned on.
Difficulty Level
The game is set to New Beginner,
the easiest playing level.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Options ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Options menu item drops three choices.
Difficulty Set difficulty level
Players Set player and oponent
Sound Set silence or clicks
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. New ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Starting a new game clears the game
board. You can quickly start a new
game by chording the two mouse buttons.
To chord, press and release the two mouse
buttons simultaneously.
You can also start a new game by
selecting the New Game menu item
in the Game drop down menu.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Print ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The move list's two columns display the sequence of choices made by each
player. The left column reports choices by the player who moved first; the
right, the player who moved second. The numbers indicate the column chosen for
each move.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Quit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Selecting the Quit option ends play. Before Trickle Down closes its game board
window, it displays the message "Creating Markers / Storing in Subconscious."
When you are playing at the Advanced level only, Trickle Down records certain
aspects of your wins against Dr. Plopper. This record of your play increases
Dr. Plopper's IQ for your next session.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Game menu item drops three choices.
New Start a new game
Print Print the move list
Quit Quit the program
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Difficulty ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
There are four levels of game play
difficulty. They are:
New Beginner
The computer makes random moves
against your play. This level will prove
fun for children or players who wish to
quickly gain facility at winning.
Beginner
If the computer detects that you'll
win with your next move, it will move to
block that win. Playing at this level
will help you to create positions where
you will have two winning possibilites
at your turn.
Intermediate
In Intermediate level play Dr. Plopper
blocks your wins, and quicky grabs all
winning opportunities. When you can
beat Dr. Plopper at this level, move
on to the Advanced level.
Advanced
At this level the computer begins to
incorporate what it has learned from
being beaten in previous games at the
advanced level. Dr. Plopper learns to
use your playing strengths against you.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Players ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
There are three player options.
They are:
You Start
The first move of each game is yours.
Computer Starts
Dr. Plopper makes the first move of
each game.
Computer Vs. Itself
One subpersonality of Dr. Plopper
plays another subpersonality. You
can watch how players develop moves
and counter moves to achieve a win.
Print the moves from the game and try to
replay them yourself for practice.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Sound Option ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
You can turn the sound on or off. The sounds are unobtrusive clicks.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. MultiGrain Solutions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Mission Statement
MultiGrain Solutions is a company
whose mission is to produce software
that ignites the minds of children.
Children of all ages, that is!
Different Grains
Artistic Advisors Visualists
Keeper of the Language Writer
Keepers of the Code Programmers
Business Managers Money Men
Keeper of the Seal Approval
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Dr. Plopper ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Who is Dr. Plopper?
Ficticious entity residing in
a virtual world who outwits humans
by using artificially intelligent
guile.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Keepers of the Code ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Programmers in order of age:
Len Dorfman
Narendra Ghosh
Debugging deity:
Marc Neuberger
Weak Artificial Intelligence Buster:
JC Love
The "Defeat JC Love" maneuver
was inspired by JC Love!
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. Artistic advisors ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Artistic advisors in order of age:
Mike Stegman
Nandita Ghosh
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15. Keeper of Language ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Keeper of the Language:
Mike Stegman
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 16. Keeper of the Seal ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Keeper of the Seal:
Ms. Billie Briggs
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17. Business Managers ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Business managers in order of age:
Mike Stegman
Dennis Allendorf