PC World Interactive 7/PC World Interactive 7.iso/online/ytb30.EXE/README.TXT

Text File | 1996-03-30 | 19KB | 451 lines

                           Ancient Yacht
          Copyright (C) LatticeWork Software, 1995

REQUIREMENTS

Windows 95
VGA
mouse
Windows-supported sound card preferred
hard drive

INSTALLATION

To install Ancient Yacht, click on the "Start" button and move the
mouse up and over to "Settings" and then select "Control Panel."  Double-
click on "Add/Remove Programs" and click on the "Install" button.  You
will see the message "Insert the program's first installation floppy
disk or CD-ROM, and then click Next."  Click on "Next" even though
the install program is on your hard drive.  On the next screen click
on "Browse" and select the directory or disk where your unzipped
program files are (e.g., if you downloaded this program from CompuServe,
select c:\cserve\download, or if the files are on a disk on the a: or b:
drive, select a: or b: ).  Double-click on install, and click on "Finish."
 - The program will ask for the destination path.  For the default
pathname of C:\LATTICE\YACHT, just press <ENTER>.  On some systems,
installing the program to the same directory where the unzipped files
already are, will cause a problem installing or running the program.
If this occurs, install to a different directory.  To install the
program in a different subdirectory, or on a different drive, type
the path name as in the following example:
                C:\GAMES\YACHT
- the installation program will then create the directory, and copy
files from the floppy disk or directory.  NOTE: Install will exit with
an ERROR message if any of the necessary files on the installation
disk or directory have been erased.
- Once the files have been copied, install will place the program in
Start Menu Programs.  To start the program click on the "Start"
button and move the cursor up to "Programs" and over and down to
"LatticeWork Software" and over to "Ancient Yacht."


UNINSTALL
To uninstall Ancient Yacht, follow the instructions in the file
UNINSTAL.TXT.

INTRODUCTION

Ancient Yacht is a dice game where the object is to score the
highest you can by rolling the dice, or a subset of the dice,
a maximum number of rolls, depending on the game variation and
the level of difficulty, and placing a score in one of the
twelve score categories each turn.

The game is played with one to four players or with one player
playing against the computer for the five-dice games.  Ancient
Yacht is a set of  four yacht games:
        five-dice, one-column Yacht
        five-dice, two-column Yacht
        ten-dice, one-column Yacht
        ten-dice, two-column Yacht
The five-dice option can be played with one set of scoring categories
(1 column).  Or, it can be played with two columns of complete sets
of score categories.  The scores in the 2 columns are sub-totaled at
the bottom of the screen and the sub-total for the second column is
doubled.  Finally, the players' total score is the sum of these two
sub-totals.  As you can see, two-column Yacht provides additional
strategic options.

The ten-dice game is played in much the same way as the five-dice game,
except that ten dice are used.  Scoring for some categories is a
greater challenge.  For example, in order to score Double Yacht,
ten of a kind are needed, and so three levels of difficulty (3, 4,
or 5 rolls) are provided.  Some of the score categories are more
difficult to obtain, but the scores for each category is correspondingly
larger.  The two-column option is also available for the ten-dice game.

STARTING A GAME

To start playing Ancient Yacht, select the "Play new game" from the
"Play" menu.  Or, if you've already played one game, and wish to
play another game with the same playing options, choose "Play again"
from the "Play" menu.  If you wish to play a different form of Yacht,
after having played already,  choose "Play new game."

You will now see a "Choose an option" dialog.  Choose one of the following:

    o   5-Dice Yacht
    o   5-Dice Double-Column Yacht
    o   10-Dice Yacht
    o   10-Dice Double-Column Yacht

(The shareware version Ancient Yacht has only 5-Dice Yacht available)

If you've chosen one of the 10-Dice games, next, from the "Level of
Difficulty" dialog, choose one of the following (maximum number of
rolls per turn):

    o   5 Rolls
    o   4 Rolls
    o   3 Rolls

From the "Number of Players" dialog, choose one of the following:

    o   One Player
    o   One Player vs Computer
    o   Two Players
    o   Three Players
    o   Four Players

Then enter the Player(s)' name(s)

PLAYING A GAME

You are ready to play a game.  The score scroll for the first player
is on the scroll to the right of the screen with the player's name
and total at the bottom of the scroll.  The dice are in the cup at
the bottom left of the screen.  Notice when you move the mouse around,
the cursor on the screen will change.  The cursor will change from a
hand holding a die, to a hand holding a quill, to a scroll with the
word "Roll" written on it.  These cursors indicate the action which
may be taken at that portion of the screen if it is appropriate to do
so.  Of course, before you've rolled the dice, it is meaningless to try
to score a category.

ROLL THE DICE

To start, click on the cup.  Your cursor will be the "Roll" cursor
when it is on the cup.  The cup will rattle, and the dice will be
rolled onto the tabletop.  If you are satisfied with the dice you
have rolled, you may click on a score category.  Probably, however,
you will want to roll some or all of the dice one or more times.  To
roll some (or all) of the dice again, click on each die you wish to
roll again.  Notice the cursor now is a hand holding a die.  The dice
will disappear into the cup.  When you have the dice you wish to roll
again in the cup, click on the cup to roll these dice.  NOTE: if you
have accidentally put the wrong dice into the cup, don't worry!  Select
"Give me back my dice!" from the "Oops!" menu, and all the dice in
the cup will be placed back on the tabletop, so you can choose
correctly which dice to roll.  (Once you have rolled the dice, however,
you cannot get them back!)

Continue in this way until you have rolled all or some of the dice
the maximum number of times (3 in the 5-Dice game, 3, 4, or 5 in
the 10-Dice game depending on the level of difficulty) or have dice
you are satisfied with and wish to score.

NUMBER OF ROLLS LEFT

Notice the small gray dots under the cup.  These indicate the
number of rolls left.

SCORE A ROLL

Click on one of the score category names on the scroll, or even
to the right of the name where the score will be written, or, in
the 2-column game, click in one of the rounded rectangles, where
you wish the score to go.  The score will automatically be entered
for you and the total (and sub-totals, if any) will be added and
written onto the scroll (see Scoring).

If you accidentally clicked in the wrong score category, never
fear!  Just select "I clicked the wrong category!" from the "Oops!"
menu and that score will be erased from the scroll (and subtracted
from the total, and sub-total,if any) and your dice will be placed
back on the screen, where you can choose the correct category.  If
you have any rolls left, you may roll the dice again before choosing
a score category.

If you are playing a 2-column game, the sub-total of the second
column is doubled, so it makes sense to put high scores there.

NEXT PLAYER

If you are playing against the computer or against another player,
a "Next Player" button will appear on the cup.  When you have taken
a look at your score and are ready to go on, click on this button.
The cursor will be a scroll with the word "Next" on it.

After you have clicked on the "Next Player" button the screen will
change to show the next player's scroll.  If it is the computer's
turn, the computer will roll the dice, wait a second and roll some
or all of the dice again, or choose a score category.  When the
computer is working, the cursor will change to an hourglass.  After
the computer scores, the dice will remain on the screen so you can
see its choice.  You know it is your turn when the "Next Player"
button appears on the cup.

COMPLETING A GAME

Play continues in this way until all players have filled in every
category on their score sheets.  One score category must be chosen
after each turn.  If, for example, you were trying to get a Yacht
(five of a kind) and ended up with a pair of threes, a pair of
fours, and a one, you may score in Threes (6 points), or in Fours
(8 points), or perhaps even in Twos (0 points).  If Yacht is the
only category left unscored, you need to choose that score category
and receive zero points for Yacht.

At the end of the game, the program will show the winner of the
game, and also keeps track of the ten highest scores in each of
the four game variations (5-Dice Yacht, 5-Dice Double-Column Yacht,
10-Dice Yacht, 10-Dice Double-Column Yacht).

SCORING

Remember, in a two-column game, the second column sub-total is
doubled, so you score more points by putting your first (and perhaps
only) Yacht, Large Straight, etc., there.  However, if your score for
that category is low, say a Full House of only 7 points, it is better
to put that score in the first column.

SCORING 5-DICE GAMES

YACHT - In order to score points in the Yacht category, you need
five of a kind.  The score for Yacht is always 50 points, whether
you have five 6's or five 1's.

LARGE STRAIGHT - In order to score points in the Large Straight
category, you need either:
            1 2 3 4 5
                 OR
            2 3 4 5 6
Your score is always 30 points, regardless of which Large Straight
was rolled.

SMALL STRAIGHT - To get points for a Small Straight, you need one
of the following:
            1 2 3 4
               OR
            2 3 4 5
               OR
            3 4 5 6
Your score is always 15 points, regardless of which Small Straight
was rolled.

FOUR OF A KIND - For points in this category, you need four of
the same number, e.g., 3 3 3 3 4, or 4 4 4 4 1.  Your score is
the total of all the pips on all five dice.  A Four of a Kind of
6 6 6 6 6 will score 30 points, the maximum obtainable, whereas
a Four of a Kind of 1 1 1 1 2 will score only 6 points.

FULL HOUSE - A Full House in Yacht is scored the total of the pips
on all the dice if there is three of a kind and a pair.  The maximum
score for Full House is for a roll of 6 6 6 5 5, for a total of 28 points.

SIXES      [ These categories are scored by adding only the points of the
FIVES        corresponding number.  For example, only the dice
FOURS        with 6's are added for the score in the Sixes category.
THREES       The maximum score is five times the value of the category
TWOS         and the minimum score is zero points in the case where there
ONES         are no dice of that category. ]

CHOICE - The score for the Choice category is just the sum of
the pips of all of the dice.  The maximum score is 30 points for
five 6's.  This is a good category to score when no other category
fits the rolled dice.  You will always receive some points here,
and if you have many 5's and 6's, the number of points may be high,
especially in the second column.


SCORING 10-DICE GAMES

DOUBLE YACHT - In order to score points in the Double Yacht category,
you need ten of a kind.  The score for Double Yacht is always 100
points, whether you have ten 6's or ten 1's.

DOUBLE LARGE STRAIGHT - In order to score points in the Double Large
Straight category, you need to score two sets of large straights.
The combinations may be:
        1 2 3 4 5   AND   1 2 3 4 5
                 OR
        2 3 4 5 6   AND   2 3 4 5 6
                 OR
        1 2 3 4 5   AND   2 3 4 5 6
Your score is always 60 points, regardless of which sets of Double
Large Straight were rolled.

DOUBLE SMALL STRAIGHT - To get points for a Double Small Straight,
you need two sets of Small Straight.  The combinations may be one
of the following:
        1 2 3 4   AND   1 2 3 4
              OR
        1 2 3 4   AND   2 3 4 5
              OR
        1 2 3 4   AND   3 4 5 6
              OR
        2 3 4 5   AND   2 3 4 5
              OR
        2 3 4 5   AND   3 4 5 6
              OR
        3 4 5 6   AND   3 4 5 6

Your score is always 30 points, regardless of which sets of Double
Small Straight were rolled.

EIGHT OF A KIND - For points in this category, you need eight of
the same number, e.g., 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4, or 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 1.
Your score is the total of all the pips on all ten dice.  An Eight (!)
of a Kind of 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 will score 60 points, whereas an
Eight (!) of a Kind of 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 will score only 11 points.

DOUBLE FULL HOUSE - A Double Full House in Yacht is scored
(pay attention here) the total of the pips on all the dice if there is:

        Four of a Kind
               AND
        Three of a Kind
               AND
        Two of a Kind
               AND
        One of a Kind

The maximum score on a Double Full House is on 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 3,
for a total of 50 points.


SIXES      [ These categories are scored by adding only the points of the
FIVES        corresponding number.  For example, only the dice
FOURS        with 6's are added for the score in the Sixes category.
THREES       The maximum score is ten times the value of the category
TWOS         and the minimum score is zero points in the case where there
ONES         are no dice of that category. ]

CHOICE - The score for the Choice category is just the sum of the
pips of all of the dice.  The maximum score is 60 points for ten 6's.
This is a good category to score when no other category fits the
rolled dice.  You will always receive some points here, and if you
have many 5's and 6's, the number of points will be high, especially
in the second column.

OOPS!

The Oops! menu is used when you have accidentally put the wrong
dice into the cup to be re-rolled, or have accidentally selected
the wrong score category.

If you have accidentally put the wrong dice into the cup, don't
worry!  Select "Give me back my dice!" from the "Oops!" menu, and
all the dice in the cup will be placed back on the tabletop, so
you can choose correctly which dice to roll.  (Once you have rolled
the dice, however, you cannot get them back!)

If you accidentally clicked in the wrong score category, never
fear!  Just select "I clicked the wrong category!" from the
"Oops!" menu and that score will be erased from the scroll (and
subtracted from the total, and sub-total,if any) and your dice
will be placed back on the screen, where you can choose the
correct category.  If you have any rolls left, you may roll the
dice again before choosing a score category.


SOUND

Choose the menu options to turn the sound effects on and off.
The checked option is the one that is currently activated.
Turning sound effects on and off may be done at any time during
the game.

QUIT

The 'Quit' menu allow you to exit the game at any time.

HELP

The "Help" option of the Help menu gives full on-line help
for using this program.

ORDER

Having played 5-Dice Yacht, you may now feel ready for a greater
level of challenge.  When you feel proficient playing against the
computer in single- and double-column yacht, then go on to the
even greater challenge of 10-Dice Yacht.  Once you've played the
10-Dice variations of the game, you may never want to play 5-Dice
Yacht again!  The 5-Dice game seems tame by comparison.  But when
you order Ancient Yacht, you receive all four game variations, and
a computer player for the two 5-dice variations.

To order Ancient Yacht, choose "Order Ancient Yacht" from the
"Order" menu, fill in the dialog box and follow instructions.
Or print register.txt (using Windows Accessory Notepad, or from
DOS), fill in the form and mail to the address on the form:
        LatticeWork Software
        P.O. Box 362
        Lafayette Hill, PA 19444
        USA

Or, if you are a member of CompuServe, you may order the program
online, and be charged to your CompuServe account.  GO SWREG and
enter registration ID number 9582

Support

The following support of Ancient Yacht is provided.
LatticeWork Software will answer questions and fix serious bugs
during a one-year period after ordering.  For problems involving
specific hardware or software environment or feature, LatticeWork
Software may choose not to modify the program.  In that case,
if a problem is reported within three months after ordering,
then LatticeWork Software will refund the user's order
price.  You may contact LatticeWork Software at the following
addresses:
1)  LatticeWork Software
    P.O. Box 362
    Lafayette Hill, PA 19444
2)  By way of America Online mail to LatticeWrk
3)  By way of CompuServe Mail 74453,2112


SHAREWARE CONCEPT

"Ancient Yacht" is a "Try before you buy" program and is provided
at no extra charge to the user for evaluation.  Feel free to share
it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as
part of another system.  The essence of "user-supported" software
is to provide personal computer users with quality software without
high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue
to develop new products.  For this reason, Ancient Yacht gradually
slows down after the evaluation period of 30 uses.

ASP OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT

This program is produced by 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 49442-9427 USA, FAX [phone]
or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman
70007, 3536

DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT

LIMITED WARRANTY

THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION ONLY, ON AN "AS
IS" BASIS.  LATTICEWORK SOFTWARE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING
TO THIS SOFTWARE, WHETHER EXPRESSED  OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NEITHER LATTICEWORK SOFTWARE NOR ANYONE ELSE
WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF
THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH
SOFTWARE, EVEN IF LATTICEWORK SOFTWARE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS.  THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE
BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.