Dominoes v1.2

by Mike Perry, December 15th, 1999

Introduction

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. Send comments, bugs, jokes, etc... to me at: allgoodsw@actrix.co.nz The latest version of this, and other "great" software can be found on the Allgood Software website.