Everyone knows about the game of Dominoes. There are so many
variations, from the simple "play until you're out" up to the game of
"42", which involves bidding, and lots of other weird silliness.
This is an implementation of my favourite, which I've recently
learned derives from a game called "Muggins". Basically, the idea is
to score as many points as possible by making smart plays, and/or running
out of tiles before your opponent. The key to this game is that points are
always gained in multiples of 5. If a play brings the total of the
playing field to a number that is divisible by 5, the player gets the
total added to his/her score. When a player goes out, he scores the total
of all the pips his opponent has remaining - rounded to the nearest multiple of 5.
Simple, right?
How to Play
Tiles are dealt out to create initial player hands. Remaining tiles
are put into the boneyard, for use later. (if playing with a double-9 set,
each hand starts with 9 tiles, if the double-6, each player gets 7 tiles).
Play always starts with the highest double. Whoever has it,
goes first and plays it. After that, the next player plays a
tile to the left or right of that domino, one side of which has to
match the double. Play alternates, each player playing on the
endpoint of one of the four chains (left/right/up/down). Note that
the top and bottom chains can't be developed until there is a tile on
the left and right chains. (Don't ask me why, it was the way I was
taught). If a player can't make a play, they have to draw tiles from
the boneyard until they can. (or until there are no tiles left in the
boneyard).
To play a domino, just select it, and click in the general area you
wish to play it. To draw another tile, click on the draw pile, or use
"Draw Tile" from the game menu. (As long as there are tiles left, you
can draw as often as you wish, you don't have to wait until you have
no plays) If you have no moves, and there are no tiles left to draw
from the boneyard, you have to pass - select "I can't go" from
the Game menu.
Note: In previous versions of Dominoes, it was possible
to keep drawing tiles even if you were able to play with the ones you already
had. This practice is called "Pulling Bogus", and is no longer allowed. In
hardcore domino games, you would be penalized points for attempting this, but
in this version, the computer will merely tell you off.
Scoring
Ok, bear with me, it's an easy concept, but slightly tricky to explain...
You score points if you play a domino that brings the current
"value" of the field to a multiple of 5. The "value" of the playing
field is calcuated by adding up the end value of each of the four
branches. (If the last domino in a branch is 4:3, the 3 outermost, the
value of that branch is 3.) If there is a double at the end of a
branch, it counts as twice the number (double-6 counts as 12).
The initial double is an exception, half of it's value counts for
the top branch, the other half for the bottom. It will make sense
when you play, I promise. The new "persistant spinner" option affects
this. With this option on - the top and bottom of the spinner (the first
double) count even when there are no dominoes on it. With it off, once
the left and right sides have been started, the spinner stops counting
towards the score. (i'm told this is the "classic" way to do it).
When a player runs out of tiles, they score the total of the
opponents tiles, rounded to the nearest multiple of 5. (e.g., if you
played your last tile, and the sum of your opponent's pips was 23, you
would get 25 points).
Score in this game is kept by marking crosses, each line of each
cross is worth 5 points, each cross therefore worth 10. A set of 5
crosses makes 50 points, you need 6 sets of crosses, or 300 points to
win.
Notes
Currently, you can only play against one computer opponent
(which is actually quite tough to beat). If I get enough positive
feedback, I'll come back and make it better, more players, sound,
different computer strategies, etc... fun things like that.
If branches get too long for to fit in the window, the branch
will be scrunched to fit, the early dominoes in the chain just won't
be drawn. The "Used Dominoes" window will always display which Dominoes
have been played, visible or not.
You can only create new chains from first double, subsequent
doubles can not spawn new branches.
System Requirements
System 7.0.x or later.
needs to run on a 68020 or better.
Colour.
Changes
1.2 - Save and Restore games
"Pulling Bogus" no longer allowed
List of used dominoes shown.
"Persistant Spinner" option added.
A few display enhancements.
1.1 - Removed the message dialogs, replaced it with message line.
Score Window keeps track of whose turn it is.
1.0 - Initial version
Licensing
Dominoes is Postcardware. I retain all
rights to it, but you can keep it for free, give it to your friends,
put it on your website, etc... as long as you don't modify it in any
way.
Please! For Pete's sake, keep the instructions with
it!!! If you like it, send me a postcard.
I know it sounds daft, but I love getting them
and it will encourage me to keep writing free software. Even
better - it is by far, the best way to get me to include any
requests that you have into the next version. Send postcards to me
at:
Mike Perry
3417 Daniel St
Newbury Park
Ca. 91320
USA
NOTE: Please contact me before distributing this
game on CDROM, with the following exceptions who may include it on
their compilations: MacFormat, MacUser, and
Info-Mac.