Games World

Paul Brett with the latest gaming news.

You may remember from the last issue that I said that the number of new RISC OS games was increasing. Well it's the same for this issue as we have a number of new games to tempt all RISC OS games, so what do we have new to look at this time?

BombScare - Andrew Clover

Andrew has recently released this as freeware on his website. To run BombScare, double-click on it. Alternatively, double-click on the levels directory, and double-click on any level set inside it. BombScare needs to save the highscores in the levels directory, so it's best to de-archive it first. To do this, simply drag !BombScare from the archive to a normal directory viewer.

BombScare

There are sixteen levels in each set. You must complete each in turn, by collecting all the bombs on it, before the time limit runs out and they all blow up. Before each level, you get shown a map and told a password. Press Return to skip through this, or Space on the map screen to start immediately. Remember the password for each level, and you can return to it without having to play earlier levels. To do this, press P on the main menu screen and type a password. To start at the first level, press Return.

For more details have a look at the !Help file supplied.

Inform

Inform is an Interactive Fiction (text adventure) game compiler, it takes source code you write and turns it into a game data file which is then played using an 'interpreter'. There are several interpreters available which can play Inform games on different machines. This is the latest 32bit clean version of Inform and will should run on all modern machines. You can find out more about Interactive Fiction from the Interactive Fiction Archive.

Jump'n'Bump - Really Small Software Company

This is a port of Jump n Bump. This is a fun multi player game for the whole family. You are cute fluffy little bunnies and hop on the other bunnies' heads. At the beginning you are in the menu, where you have to jump over the tree trunk if you want to play and walk right. Then you'll enter the arena. The aim is to jump on the other bunnies' heads.

Jump'n'Bump

Full source is included. Note that long filename support is required, although the game will run from the Archive.

The controls are:
a,w,d to steer Dott
arrows to steer Jiffy
j,i,l to steer Fizz
4,8,6 to steer Mijji (on the numeric pad)

Super Methane Brothers - Mark Paige

This is an updated RISC OS version of the Super Methane Brothers game. Puff and Blow each have a Methane Gas Gun which fires a cloud of immobilising gas. If this comes into contact with a bad guy he will be absorbed into the gas and then float around the screen for a limited time. Bad guys are harmless in this state. Puff and Blow must suck the floating gas clouds into their guns and blast them out against a vertical surface. Bad guys then turn into bonuses which can be collected. Be warned! - the gas cloud dissolves with time after which baddies become active again and extremely annoyed.

Super Methane Bros

The source code is provided. The GNU General Public License V2 applies to this game. The controls are shown on screen.

Battle for Wesnoth - Unix Porting Project

The Battle for Wesnoth is a turn-based strategy game with a fantasy theme. Players need to build up a great army, gradually turning raw recruits into hardened veterans. In later games, you can recall your toughest warriors and form a deadly host against whom none can stand! Choose units from a large pool of specialists, and hand-pick a force with the right strengths to fight well on different terrains against all manner of opposition.

The plot relates to your fight to regain the throne of Wesnoth, of which you are the legitimate heir, or you can use your dread power over the Undead to dominate the land of mortals, or lead your glorious Orcish tribe to victory against the humans who dared despoil your lands. Wesnoth has many different sagas waiting to be played out. You can create your own custom units, and write your own scenarios, or even full-blown campaigns. You can also challenge your friends, or strangers and fight multi-player epic fantasy battles.

Wesnoth

Build up a formidable fighting force, starting from a single leader and a small amount of gold.
Over 200 unit types in six major factions, all with distinctive abilities, weapons and spells.
Several multi-player options available, including internet play.
Scores of different custom-designed maps, and unlimited random maps.
Hundreds of campaign scenarios available for download via a simple in-game procedure.

That's all we have space for this issue, but we plan to have even more gaming delights next time.

Paul Brett