Emerald Hunt ------------ Author: Scott Powell (of Evolutionary Systems) Email: support@evolutionary.net Version: 1.7 (Shareware) Date: 03/07/2000 Install Notes Simply use the Palm Install Tool to install the 'hunt.prc' file onto your Palm device. Instructions Start a new game by selecting the menu 'New Game', then a menu item for the level of difficulty you want. The screen is then filled with objects, which will be animated until everything is reasonably stable. The 'bulldozer' (you) is then placed on the screen, and you're ready to go. Objective: You have to collect enough points to finish the level. You get one point for collecting an emerald (light coloured squared shaped object), and five points for a diamond (dark coloured square shaped object). Your target number of points is displayed at the top of the screen. Status Display: At the top right hand side of the screen are three numbers. These are described as follows: 'T:' - your current target (in points). When this gets to zero you have won! 'G:' - number of Grenades left. 'A:' - units of air left in your air tanks. Game Control: * You are the bulldozer. You simply tap to whatever side of the bulldozer you wish to move towards. Or you can drag the pen around the screen, and the bulldozer follows you. NOTE: the screen only scrolls when you lift the pen. This is for better control. * To set off a grenade move to the position you want to lay the grenade and press the hardware 'down' button. Once you move away the grenade pin is pulled, and you must get at least two cells away from it to not get blown up. Object Types: -------('free' objects, ie. that aren't fixed to a position)------ * Boulders These objects fall if not supported, and roll off round topped objects. Be careful not to get crushed by one. Also you can push a lone boulder left or right. * Emeralds These are the light shaded square shaped objects. Just move into them to collect them. These also fall and roll like boulders, and can also kill you. * Diamonds These are the dark shaded square shaped objects, and behave like Emeralds, except that they are worth 5 points, and can be CRUSHED by objects falling on them. * Bombs These are easy to recognise (have a little fuse above a round looking object). The explode if something lands on them, or if they land on something else. They fall just like boulders. If you are within one cell distance from one when it explodes you will die. Also you can push a lone bomb left or right. * Water Water is easy enough to recognise. Water will fall and spill over when it can, and will tend to form pools. If you go into water you must have some air in your tanks. If you stay under too long you will drown. Water can drop onto you and spill over you, ie. it will not kill you like a boulder. * Bugs Be afraid, very afraid of bugs. They will explode if they get to within a cell distance from you - killing you in the process. They roam around where ever there is empty space. You can kill them by dropping something on them, or blowing them up. --------('fixed' objects, ie. don't move, don't fall)----------- * Brick Bricks are PERMANENT. They can't be destroyed in an explosion, and don't move. * Stone These are the round-topped brick-like objects. These can be destroyed in an explosion. Falling objects will also roll off them. * Air Canister Move into these to collect them (like Emeralds & Diamonds). You get 20 units of air for each one. * Grenade Move into these to collect them. * Dirt Dirt supports falling objects, but you can destroy dirt by moving into it. Be careful as this will likely cause landslides. Building Your Own Levels There should be a file included in the package (ZIP file) called 'mkgame.exe'. This is a Windows 95 console application. Use this to make PDB files which you can download onto your Pilot. There is a sample level called 'sample.txt' (source), and the final output 'sample.pdb' (pre-built using mkgame.exe). You simply edit up a text file (make a copy of the sample) and then run mkgame.exe. If you run 'mkgame' without any parameters it shows you what parameters it expects. The sample level has comments inside it to describe how you 'paint' your level. This level builder is admitedly very simple, but it does the job. Revision History 09/11/2000 1.7 Discount mechanism, plus 'Beam Me..' menu. 03/07/2000 1.5 new - COLOR version. 14/11/1998 1.3a Fixed 'assertion failure' bug. Changed behaviour of Bugs (now explode within 1 cell distance) 09/06/1998 1.3 Expiry timeout stuff removed. Program now delays when a new game is started, if not registered. 21/02/1998 1.2a 'About' information changed. 27/06/1997 1.2 New 'Load Game' feature + Win95 Level builder Now extends evaluation period if upgrading from previous version. 22/05/1997 1.1 Fixed 'Fatal Error' bug. 17/05/1997 1.0 Initial release Credits thanks to: - John J. Lehett for the GNU 'C' port. - Wes Cherry for 'PILRC' Standard Disclaimer Stuff This program is presented 'as is'. We take no responsibility in any loss of data or productivity in case of operating failures.