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1991-07-22
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352 lines
PC-Gammon V3.0
Copyright (C) 1991
Repstad Computer Consultants
RFD #1, Box 3720
Sheldon, VT 05483
(802) 933-5143 (Voice)
(802) 933-2417 (Data - Black Creek BBS
300/1200/2400/9600HST
24hrs/7days)
(802) 933-2417 (Fax)
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ ║
║ PC-Gammon is Shareware... it is NOT FREEWARE... ║
║ ║
║ If you enjoy playing this game, you must register it. Registered ║
║ users will not have to put up with the shareware screen, and they ║
║ will also encourage me to improve the game and help send my kids ║
║ to college. ║
║ To register your copy fill out the registration form (included in ║
║ the PC-Gammon archive or disk), and send $19.95 to: ║
║ ║
║ Repstad Computer Consultants ║
║ RFD #1, Box 3720 ║
║ Sheldon, VT 05483 ║
║ ║
║ Registered users can obtain support via the Black Creek BBS at ║
║ (802) 933-2417 300/1200/2400/9600HST, 24hrs/7days. Just leave a ║
║ message for the SYSOP if you have any questions or problems. ║
║ The latest shareware version of PC-Gammon will always be ║
║ available on the board. Thanks in advance for your contribution. ║
║ ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Hardware Requirements:
IBM-PC XT/AT (or compatible)
640K of memory
CGA/EGA/VGA or Hercules Graphics Adapter
Installation:
You can either play PC-Gammon from the floppy disk or
copy the contents of the disk to your hard disk.
PC-Gammon requires no special installation. It will
automatically detect your graphics card type and whether or not
you have a mouse when it is run.
PC-Gammon is completely unprotected. It is suggested
that you make a back-up copy of this diskette, consult your DOS
manual on how to do this.
Running PC-Gammon:
To run the game, make sure that the
PC-Gammon files are in your current default directory, for
example, hard disk users would enter the following
commands:
CD\PCGAMMON
PCGAMMON
Floppy users would place the PC-Gammon disk in their A:
drive and enter the following commands:
A:
PC-GAMMON
Additionally PC-Gammon can be invoked with command line
parameters, the syntax is:
PCGAMMON p1 p1 p3
The parameters are shown in the table on the following page.
Command Line Parameters:
Parameter Meaning
========= ===============================
C Force CGA 600x200 2 Color Mode
E Force EGA 600x350 16 Color Mode
V Force VGA 600x480 16 Color Mode
H Force HGC 720x350 2 Color Mode
Tnnn Set Animitation Delay Time
(nnn = Time in milliseconds)
Dnnn Set Animation Motion Increment
(nnn = number of pixels)
The first four parameters will overide the programs
automatic detection of the video card installed in your system.
This particular feature is mostly usefull to those users who have
a EGA/HGC card connected to a monichrome monitor. In some
instances the program will attempt to use the card in EGA mode
when HGC mode is required.
PC-Gammon animates the motion of
the men (i.e. it slides them across the screen) when they are
moved. The last two parameters control the speed and distance at
which they are moved. The default values are T25 D50, if you find
the men move to slow or fast, you may increment or decrement
these values to suit your needs.
Introduction:
PC-Gammon V3.0 has an easy to use menu system.
At the top of the screen you will see a "Root Menu Bar". To
select a menu item, you may either type the first character of
the menu item (i.e. "M" for move), or click the mouse cursor (if
you have a mouse) on the desired menu item.
Options:
Selecting the Options entry from the root menu bar will display
a pull down menu consisting of the following:
Restore : Restore a previously saved game.
Save : Save the game currently being played.
Score History : Select player/View score history
Print Screen : Provides a graphics dump of the
screen to an IBM PC Graphics
printer or compatible.
Configuration : Allows you to configure the default
settings used by the program.
Restore : Selecting the Restore Game option will
bring up a directory of previously
saved games. Use the arrow keys to
select the game you wish to restore
and press enter, or mouse users can
click on the file name they wish to
restore. Once the desired file name
is in the selection window at the top
of the directory,select the OK button
to restore the game.
Save : Allows you to save a game in progress.
Simply enter an eight character name
you wish to save the game under. File
names must conform to normal DOS file
naming conventions and must not contain
a file extension. Examples:
Legal Names: MYGAME
MY_GAME
GAME001
Illegal Names: MY.GAM (Has File Extension)
MY?GAME (Illegal "?")
TOOLONGNAME (Name Too Long)
SAVE GAME (Name Has a Space)
Invoking Options:
Score History:
PC-Gammon will maintain a score history for as many players
as you wish. If this is the first time you selected Score History
then just enter your name (up to 10 characters) and type ALT-O
(hold down ALT key and hit the O key) to continue.
Mouse users - Enter your name and click the mouse button when
the cursor in on the OK button. Or either user can select CANCEL.
When one or more players is already in the history file then
the names of the players will appear on the screen with an
optional scroll bar. (depending on how many players are in the
history file). Use the arrow keys to highlight your name and
press enter or mouse users can click the mouse cursor on their
name. The selected name will appear on the top of the names list.
When the desired name is correctly selected press "O" or click
the mouse cursor on the OK button.
To enter the name of a new user press "N" or click the mouse
cursor on the "NEW" button, then enter the name as described above.
Player selection may be done at any time, and the games score is
not actually updated until the end of the game.
Print Screen:
Select this option item to get a graphics dump of the screen to an
IBM Graphics Printer or Compatible. The default color scheme provided
with the game will produce an acceptable output. Should you change
the color scheme the printout may not be as readable.
Configuration:
The configuration menu item allows you to turn on or off the
Auto Doubles feature, and to select the colors used for the
display. This configuration information is stored in a file
named PCGAMMON.CFG.
AutoDoubles:
This feature allows you to select wether or not the doubling
cube will automatically be doubled on the opening roll,
if the opening roll is doubles.
Color Select:
PC-Gammon allows you to select the colors used in drawing the
screen. There are 15 different elements that make up the screen.
Each element is defined by two colors, the foreground color and
the background color. For instance, by default the message area
has a white foreground and a blue blackground (white letters
on blue). Colors are defined by numbers, color numbers are
as follows:
Black = 0 DarkGray = 8
Blue = 1 Light Blue = 9
Green = 2 Light Green = 10
Cyan = 3 Light Cyan = 11
Red = 4 LightRed = 12
Magenta = 5 Light Magenta = 13
Brown = 6 Yellow = 14
LightGray= 7 White = 15
You may change the colors of the display to suit your
liking. Each display element is described in the color selection
form. If you find that you would like to restore the colors to
the original defaults, simply exit the game and delete the file
PCGAMMON.CFG.
Hercules and CGA Card users should restrict
themselves to using colors 0 and 1, since their displays can only
display 2 colors.
Move:
Allows you to enter a move. Move is discussed in more detail
later in this document.
XDraw:
If for any reason the board display should become corrupted
the XDraw command will redraw the board for you.
Double:
The Double command is used to double the stakes of the game.
Initially neither player owns the doubling cube, and it's value
is set to 1 and it appears in the middle of the board. Either
player may offer to double when the doubling cube is in the
middle. As soon as one player offers to double the player who
accepts the double gets possession of the cube and then only
he may double. If either player refuses the double, that player
forfeits the game.
Pass:
If you can't play (i.e. you're on the bar and can't get off, etc.),
this command will skip the remainder of your turn and the computer
will play. The computer will not allow you to pass if you have a
valid move.
Backup:
Allows you to backup to the beginning of your move. For instance
if you rolled a 6,1 and you played the six, and then decided you
could have made a better move, use the B command to back-up to
the beginning of your roll. The program also asks you if you are
sure at the end of each move. If you respond negatively, your
move will be backed up.
Forfeit:
If you clearly see you are loosing and you don't want to hear
the snide remarks the computer makes when it wins, type the "F"
key and the computer will start a new game. (It will however be
scored as a loss for you).
ADice:
Selecting this menu item will turn computer dice rolls on and off.
When on (the startup default), the computer will generate all
dice rolls. When off you will be prompted to enter the dice rolls
for both yourself and the computer. (no cheating!) This mode is
made available for those who prefer to roll real dice.
Quit:
When dinners ready or you simply can't tolerate any more backgammon,
type the Q key and the game will return you to DOS.
Rolling the Dice:
The space bar is used to roll the dice. When it's your turn to
move, hit the space bar to roll the dice. You can't roll the
dice more than once per move. The dice are rolled at the
beginning of each game to see who goes first (yours is the
left die). The player that wins that roll must use the roll
as shown. Additionally if the first roll is a double, the
doubling cube is incremented to 2 (provided auto doubles are
enabled within the configuration menu), and you roll again
to see who goes first. Mouse Users may roll the dice by
clicking the left mouse button anywhere but the menu bar on
the top of the screen when it is their turn to roll the dice.
Moving/Playing:
Keyboard Users:
To move a man type an "M". A form will appear near the bottom
of the screen. Enter the location you wish to move from and
the value of the dice you wish to use separated by a comma,
(e.g entering a "12,5", would move your man from the 12 slot
5 spaces). The bar is designated as slot 0. Press enter to
complete the move or the ESC key to cancel a move.
Mouse Users:
To move a man simply click the mouse cursor on the man you
wish to move, a dot will appear in the center of the man to
indicated it has been selected. Then click the mouse cursor
on the appropriate slot you wish to move to. To deselect a
man (i.e. you changed you mind and don't wish to move
the man you selected), simply click the mouse cursor on the
selected man a second time (The dot will dissappear).
Alternately, after you have selected the man you wish to move
you may click on the dice you wish to use for the move and
the man selected will be moved the appropriate number of spaces.
If you attempt an illegal move the computer will notify you with
an appropriate messge.
Bearing Off:
Keyboard Users:
Bearing off men is the same as moving them, simply select
the man you wish to bear off followed by the dice value you
wish to use to move the man.
Mouse Users:
There are two ways you can bear off using the mouse. In both
ways select the man you wish to bear off by clicking the mouse
cursor on that man, then you may either click the mouse cursor
on the you die wish to use to bear the man off with, or you may
click the mouse cursor in the "OFF" area.
