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- * PILLMANIA *
-
- This game is (C) 1994 by Martin Olsen, but because it is shareware, you
- are granted the right to keep this game for a two-week trial period, aswell
- as the right to copy the archive in its unmodified form¹. If you wish to keep
- the game beyond these two weeks, you are obliged to pay a modest shareware
- fee to the author.
- If you choose to keep the game without paying, you have violated the shareware
- principle, thus classifying yourself as a pirate, no less than if you had
- copied one of those expensive, colorful (but dull) commercial games.
- Enough about that, because ShareWare also holds some distinct advantages for
- you. ShareWare offers an alternative way of distributing software, which is
- to the benefit of almost everyone:
- THE PROGRAMMER, because he can concentrate on gameplay, rather than trying
- to create the boring games (with colorful screenshots) that software firms
- demand for their 20-50 IQ target groups.
- THE USER, because he gets the opportunity to try out the software before
- paying, and has the opportunity to discard the game after the trial period
- - without having lost a dime!
- THE COMPUTER (Amiga!) because ShareWare offers even more software at even
- lower prices.
-
- But, on the other hand, big software companies may not like it. Have you
- ever wondered exactly how much money the big software companies put into
- advertising? Have you ever thought about who pays for all of this? Well..
- ShareWare is freed from expensive advertising. Quality sells. Poor games
- don't.
- ShareWare relies on confidence. It requires for people to think a little
- ahead. If nobody pays, ShareWare will not work -- and we are back to the
- software companies. Please pay, if you want to keep this software.
-
- The prices: 50.00 Dkr, 14.00 Dm, 5.00 UK£ or US$ 8.00. Mail a cheque to
- the following address (and support future releases):
-
- Martin Olsen
- Kongevej 36
- DK-6400 Sønderborg
- Denmark
-
- ¹) Note to PD-distributors. This piece of software may not be distributed
- without prior written consent of the author; use the above address.
-
-
- - - -
-
- * THE GAME *
-
- PillMania is based upon an idea "borrowed" from Nintendo. It reminds of
- the well-known game Tetris, but it is actually better! Although it may
- at first glance look like Tetris in the way the game works, it is not
- merely a Tetris-clone.
-
- The object of the game is to clear a pill-bottle of bugs. These nasty little
- suckers are of three colors: red, green, and blue. By changing the level, you
- can choose the difficulty, that is: the number of bugs in the bottle.
- From the top, PILLS will drop, which you can steer. Each pill consists of two
- halfs, each in one of the three mentioned colors. The point is to arrange
- these pills, so that four of the same color will be aligned, either
- horizontally or vertically, which will lead to the elimination of the four-
- on-a-row. The only way to rid yourself of the bugs is the include them in
- the "accidents", so that they blow up. For the beginners, vertical rows
- are the easiest to start out with -- with a little practise you will get hang
- of the principles to help you control the game and predict events.
- SCORING: When you drop a pill, you may start off a chain reaction. The number
- of bugs eliminated in a single drop of a pill determines the scoring. The
- score rises exponentially with the number of blown-up bugs, or in plain
- English: every extra bug in the accidents will double the added score. Don't
- worry, if you do not understand a thing, because scoring is usually of very
- little importance when you play; what matters is "beating" a level.
- DUAL-PLAYER MODE: An interesting aspect of the game, where you frantically
- try to beat a friend to clearing a level. Just plug a joystick in the
- mouse-port, and hit fire - both of you. You may have chosen the same level,
- but alternatively a less skilled player can choose to start at a lower level
- as a sort of "handicap". The object is to be the first to clear your bottle,
- or to survive for the longest time. If you manage to eliminate more than
- one row in one drop while in dual-player mode, your opponent will recieve
- some random "trash", which may be convenient but will more often be a
- nuisance. The first player to win four games is declared winner.
-
- By the way.. you can choose a speed before you play. A higher speed will
- increase scoring. Furthermore, the steering system may seem a little
- awkward at first, as you use joystick up and down to turn. This was
- necessary, as there is only one button available and it is necessary to
- be able to turn both clockwise and counterclockwise, especially at the
- higher levels. (I challenge you all: beat level 20 with the fastest speed!
- (I do it quite often, believe me.. I have even beaten level 21 fast a few
- times)).
-
- Disclaimer:
- I take no responsibility for loss of sleep or weird dreams not unlike those
- we all had when we first got to know Tetris.
-
-
- Do not forget to read the informative and entertaining (?) scroller. Best
- of luck!
- Martin Olsen
-