home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
PC-SIG: World of Games
/
PC-SIG World of Games (CDRM1080710) (1993).iso
/
ENT
/
DISK2266.ZIP
/
CIPHER.DOC
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-03-07
|
32KB
|
648 lines
┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐
│C│ │I│ │P│ │H│ │E│ │R│
└─┘ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘
Crypto-Quotes Puzzle Game
Release 2.0 March 7, 1991
Nels Anderson
92 Bishop Drive
Framingham, MA 01701-6540
U.S.A.
Various kinds of word puzzles have existed for years in many
different forms. People spend hours trying to solve them,
working tediously with pencil and paper. Many a newspaper has
been worn through trying and retrying different solutions.
With the advent of computers, working these puzzles becomes
more enjoyable because the computer screen provides a working
surface that's easier to manipulate than paper and pencil. You
can erase and retry as often as you wish and the screen will
never wear out as paper is apt to do.
Still, many computerized versions of word games look dull. Just
because it's a word game does not mean that it has to use text
mode and black & white only. Why can't word puzzles be colorful,
use high resolution graphics and even run with a mouse? Well,
they can, now at least, because that's exactly how CIPHER
works. For those who don't have a mouse the game will run with
keyboard only. And if you don't have VGA/EGA graphics available
it will also run in text mode (though it's still quite colorful
if you have a color monitor). But for those with a full featured
PC you get what I hope is the most colorful and fun to use
computerized word puzzle game available.
CIPHER will automatically run in the "best" possible mode, though
it is possible to override this. The following command line
parameters are available:
cipher -t (force text mode)
cipher -k (force keyboard mode)
Note that when in text mode keyboard mode is automatically selected
so it isn't necessary to use both overrides at any time.
CIPHER is a "crypto-quotes" type of game. That is, a quotation is
enciphered and displayed on the screen in its scrambled form. Your
challenge is to figure out the cipher by replacing the scrambled
letters with the actual letters. As you go along more and more of
the puzzle will start to look like real words and eventually you
should solve the whole puzzle and be able to read the quotation.
One set of puzzles is provided with the game. If you want more,
you can register the game for $15 and in exchange you'll receive
the latest version of the game plus many more puzzles to solve.
For $22 you can order the "deluxe" version of the game, which
includes a registered copy of the software, the additional
puzzles plus a printed manual and binder to store everything in.
CIPHER is distributed by the Shareware system -- this allows you
to try it before you buy it, but if you continue to use the game
regularly you are expected to register. When you register, please
let me know what version you have (it's right on the title screen)
and I'd also be interested to know where you got it from. Please,
make sure you put your name and address on your letter! Or you
can use the instant registration form in the file "orderfrm.txt".
Just copy the file to your printer, fill it out, and mail it. If
you're not familiar with the Shareware concept, please read the
file "sharewre.txt".
If you have any suggestions or discover any problems with the
program you can reach me via the )(evious BBS (PCBoard) system
(300/1200/2400/9600-HST, 8N1) at 508-875-3618 or 617-449-7322.
Leave a C)omment to the sysop to reach me. )(evious is the
official support BBS for all my software and the latest versions
are always available for downloading there. There is also a
support conference for people to exchange game tips or ask
questions. J)oin conference #31 and check out the latest tips.
B)ulletin #1 always has the list of latest versions of all my
programs, along with the file name if you wish to download them.
You can also reach )(evious through RelayNet. If there's a
RelayNet board in your area send a routed message to me at node
XEVIOUS. The Shareware conference would be the best choice,
but if that's not available try TPascal, Games or even Common.
I'm also available through CompuServe's email system. Send mail
to me at 71020,2613. Or join me and many other shareware authors
in the Shareware forum (GO SHAREWARE). You can also reach me
through Internet; address messages to 71020.2613@compuserve.com.
CIPHER is pretty easy to use, so rather than reading all the
instructions you might want to just start it up and play. The
game has help screens built right in and they provide all the
basic information you need.
*****************************************************************************
* PLAYING THE GAME *
*****************************************************************************
OBJECT:
The object of the game is to decipher the puzzle shown on the
right side of the screen. The puzzles vary in difficulty and
size. When you solve the puzzle correctly a message will pop
up on the screen to let you know.
KEYBOARD MODE COMMANDS:
If you're going to be playing the game with a mouse, skip down
to the "Mouse Mode Commands" section. Also see the section on
"Common Commands".
When using the keyboard you will alternate between "select
character" and "place character" modes. You will see a prompt
at the upper right corner of the screen to tell you what the
game is expecting.
You must first select a letter of the alphabet that you want
placed into the puzzle. Just type that single letter and it
will be highlighted on the left hand side of the screen.
Then you must decide where to place the highlighted letter
into the puzzle. Hit the letter that you want translated to
the letter you just selected. You'll see your selection placed
throughout the puzzle.
The game prevents you from using a letter to translate more
than one encrypted letter. Thus, if you change your mind on
the translation of a letter you can just reuse the translated
letter somewhere else and your previous use will be erased.
If you want to erase a guess without placing it somewhere else,
hit the space bar when asked to select a letter and then choose
where to place it in the puzzle.
MOUSE MODE COMMANDS:
If you're going to be playing the game with the keyboard, go back
to the "Keyboard Mode Commands" section. Also see the section on
"Common Commands".
Unlike playing with a keyboard, playing using a mouse is "modeless"
in that you do not have to alternate between selecting a character
and placing it into the puzzle. At the left side of the screen
you'll see the alphabet displayed. Click on the letter you want
to select for use in the puzzle. If your aim is off, just move
the cursor and click again. The letter you choose will be high-
lighted.
On the right side of the screen you'll see the puzzle. After you
have selected a letter point to the position in the puzzle where
you want that letter used and click the mouse. The letter will
be placed at that position and at all other positions that have
the same enciphered letter.
The game prevents you from using a letter to translate more
than one encrypted letter. Thus, if you change your mind on
the translation of a letter you can just reuse the translated
letter somewhere else and your previous use will be erased.
There are several options in addition to simply placing a
letter. If you click on the top half of a letter pair on
the right side, all occurences of that letter throughout the
puzzle will be highlighted but not filled in. Clicking the
right mouse button instead of the left one will remove your
guess from the position in the puzzle being pointed to.
COMMON COMMANDS:
Along the top line of the screen you'll see a number of
commands displayed. If you're playing using a keyboard you
will also see the name of the function key that activates
the commands. If you're using a mouse you just move the
cursor up to the command and point and click. Mouse users
can also use the function keys though the key numbers are
not displayed.
The available commands are as follows:
F1 - Help
Supplies several screens of basic information on how to play
the game. Each screen has the option to go to the next screen,
previous screen, or to quit help. Mouse users just point to
their selection; keyboard users should hit "N" (next), "P"
(previous), or "Q" (quit) as desired.
F2 - Info
Provides some basic information on the game and how to register.
Hit a key or click the mouse to remove the info window.
F3 - Filer
The filer has a number of subfunctions:
1) Next Puzzle -- if you're stuck on the current puzzle or
don't want to play it select next puzzle to get the next
consecutive puzzle in the puzzle file.
2) Previous Puzzle -- if you want to go back to a previous
puzzle use this command. You will use this command fairly
seldom because previous puzzles are ones you've already
played.
3) Select by Number -- lets you select any puzzle within the
current puzzle file by entering its number. Handy if two
people want to play the same puzzle.
4) Change Puzzle File -- this command allows you to load a
different puzzle file. All puzzle files end with the file
extension ".cpz". The shareware version of the game only
comes with one puzzle file so this command won't be useful
until you register the game.
5) Save Game -- use this command to save the current puzzle
along with your guesses to a disk file. All saved game
files use the file extension ".csv"; it's optional
whether you type this in or not when entering the file
name.
6) Load Game -- use this command to reload a puzzle that you
saved previously. Select the name of the saved game file
you want from the displayed list.
7) Make Puzzle -- this function lets you enter puzzles from
other sources and have them stored in a CIPHER compatible
file. The puzzle you enter is expected to already be
encrypted and should be entered in a form similar to normal
CIPHER puzzles; that is, enter up to four lines of puzzle
and then put the author's name on the last line with two
dashes in front of it.
When you select this function you are first asked for
the name of the puzzle file. If you're adding to an
existing user defined puzzle file just select it from
the list. If you want to start a new file, type in
the name of the new file. It is not necessary to enter
the .cpz portion of the file name (that is, "puzzle" is
enough, you do not need to enter "puzzle.cpz").
Once the file has been selected, a small box will open
in which to type in your new puzzle. When you have
the puzzle entered correctly, hit the enter key twice
and you'll be prompted to confirm; hit "Y" if the
puzzle is correct and it will be saved. At the
present time there are no editing capabilities
available so if you make a mistake your only option is
to not save the puzzle and to start over.
User defined puzzle files are slightly different from
normal CIPHER puzzles, so do not try to add your own
puzzles into the standard puzzle files. You also lose
one normal feature of the game when using your own
puzzles: the game can't determine when you've solved the
puzzle.
8) Clear Guesses -- use this function if you want to clear
all your previous guesses and start the current puzzle
over again. It also marks the puzzle as being unplayed;
use this if you want to quit but play the current puzzle
next time you play.
9) Abort -- select this if you changed your mind about doing
a filer function.
F4 - Hints
1) See Puzzle -- If a puzzle gets too frustrating you can
"cheat" and see the solution. Once you've done this the
puzzle is marked in the puzzle file as having been played
to completion.
2) Get Hint -- This allows you to get a hint on a single
letter. Enter the encrypted letter from the puzzle that
you would like to see the matching unencrypted letter for
and this letter will be entered throughout the puzzle.
3) Clear Wrong Guesses -- Selecting this will remove all
letters from the puzzle that are incorrect.
4) Show Letter Frequencies -- It's well known that some
letters of the alphabet are used much more often than
others. In the English language, the most common letters,
in order, are generally ETOANIRSH. Knowing this fact and
knowing which letters in the puzzle appear most often is
a strong clue. This hint will show all letters of the
alphabet along with the number of times they appear in
the puzzle.
5) Abort -- Select this if you change your mind about
getting a hint.
F5 - Options
1) See Hall of Fame -- Using this option you can see the
all time high score list at any time.
2) Select New Player -- Use this option to let a different
player use the game. You will select the player name
you want from a list, or you can enter a new player name
or change an existing player name and use that.
3) Switch Score/Clock -- The lower left corner of the screen
can display either the current time or a running score.
Use this option to toggle between the two choices.
4) Sound On/Off -- Use this option to toggle sound on or
off.
5) Select Colors -- You can customize your screen colors
with this option. Your selected colors will be stored
so that your last selections will automatically be
loaded whenever you play. Each player can have their
own color selections.
6) Switch Mouse/Keyboard -- If you're running in graphics
mode you can use this option to switch between mouse
and keyboard play at any time.
7) Abort -- Use this if you decide not to use one of the
options.
F10 - Quit
This quits the game. You'll be prompted just to make sure that
you really meant to quit and also if you want to save the game
if you did not complete it.
COMMAND LINE OPTIONS:
Normally you start the game by just entering "CIPHER". The game
will determine your hardware configuration and select the correct
modes automatically. It will then ask you for the name of the
player and the puzzle file you wish to use. There are a couple
of options available that can be entered on the command line if
you wish though.
The first two parameters let you override the default hardware
selections. Use "-t" to run in text mode even if VGA or EGA is
available. Use "-k" to play using the keyboard even if you have
a mouse attached.
You can also select the player from the command line. The game
stores up to nine player names, so to use a specific name use the
parameter "-p#", replacing the # with a digit from 1 through 9
for the number of the desired player.
The game normally shows the running score in the lower left
corner of the screen. You can change this to show the time of
day instead, which you'd normally do using the Options menu. If
you want to start up the game with the clock showing, use the
parameter "-c".
You can disable sounds by using the parameter "-s".
The final option lets you enter the name of the puzzle file you
want to use. The original shareware version only comes with one
puzzle file so you won't need this option until you've registered.
Some examples:
If you want to play in text mode, you'd enter the following:
cipher -t
To use the puzzle file called "puzzle2.cpz" you'd enter:
cipher puzzle2.cpz
To play using the keyboard and use the puzzle file "puzzle3.cpz"
you'd enter:
cipher puzzle3.cpz -k
Note that in the last example the order of the options does not
matter. You must have spaces between the options.
Command line parameter summary:
-t Force text mode (also forces keyboard mode)
-k Force keyboard mode
-p# Select player number #
-c Show clock in lower left corner of screen
-s Disable sound
CIPHER RECORD KEEPING
The game tries to keep track of which puzzles you've played in an
intelligent manner. In general, it expects you to play the
puzzles within a file in order so when you select a puzzle file it
automatically loads the first puzzle within that file that you
have not tried yet. When you've tried all the puzzles within a
file, you're given the option of going back to the beginning and
playing those puzzles you didn't solve the first time through.
These records are kept separately for each player, by player
number. Changing a player's name does not change the records for
that player number within the puzzle files you use.
CIPHER SCORING SYSTEM
The scoring system is fairly simple. When you start a puzzle you
are given 1000 points. One point is ticked off every second, so
the faster you solve the puzzle the higher your score. Clear
Wrong Guesses and Get Hint will cost you 10 points each time you
use them. Using Show Letter Frequencies doesn't cost any points,
but the clock does continue to run while you're looking at the
frequency list so you're losing one point per second. Using Show
Puzzle sets your score to zero.
If you solve the puzzle, you get a 100 point bonus. You get an
additional 100 points if you did not use any of the hint
functions. If you managed to solve the puzzle with no wrong
guesses you get a 100 point bonus. Finally, you get 20 points for
each correct letter and lose 10 points for each wrong guess you
made before solving the puzzle.
If your score is one of the top ten it will be entered into the
Hall of Fame and the hall will automatically be displayed. If you
wish to clear the Hall of Fame, just delete the file HALLFAME.LST.
*****************************************************************************
* INCLUDED FILES *
*****************************************************************************
The following files are included in CIPHER:
CIPHER.EXE Cipher program
CIPHER.DOC This file
CIPHER.TXT A brief description of Cipher
NEWS.PCC Title picture
PUZZLE1.CPZ Puzzle data file
SHAREWRE.TXT Information on Shareware
ORDERFRM.TXT Ready to print registration form
VENDOR.TXT Distribution information for disk vendors
You are free to pass this program along to friends, give it to
user groups, upload to BBS's, etc. with the understanding that
anyone who continues to use the game is required to register it.
All these files MUST be included when distributing this program.
If you archive the program for distribution through BBS's, please
use the name CIPHER20.ZIP (or .LZH, .PAK, etc. as appropriate).
*****************************************************************************
* REGISTRATION *
*****************************************************************************
Please remember that CIPHER is not free software. As with all
Shareware you are expected to purchase it after you've given it
a reasonable trial.
The registration price for CIPHER is $15, which includes a disk
with the latest version plus over 200 additional puzzles to solve.
Other sets of puzzles (about 200 puzzles per set) are also available
for $5 each; contact the author for availability.
Several other games are available from the same author. If you
register more than one game at the same time, a discount is
available. Register the first game for $15 and then each additional
game is only $10. For example,
$15 to register CIPHER
$25 to register CIPHER plus one other game
$35 to register CIPHER and two other games
etc.
Games currently available include Mah Jongg, EGATrek, Shooting
Gallery, SuperFly and BassMap.
A deluxe version of CIPHER is also available. This includes a
storage case, printed manual plus the registered version of the
program with over 200 puzzles. This version is available for $22.
No discount is available on this version.
*****************************************************************************
* REVISION HISTORY *
*****************************************************************************
V2.0:
Support for up to 9 players added
Screen colors now selectable; selections are stored separately
for each player
New hint: show letter frequencies
Filer now allows selection of any puzzle by number
Screen now displays player name, puzzle file name, puzzle number
within file and puzzle file topic
Scoring system added
V1.2:
On startup, if player hadn't select a specific puzzle file and more
than one is available, a list of files is presented to select from.
Added clear guess function to filer functions.
Added user defined puzzles to the filer functions.
On command line, entering the .cpz extension of a puzzle file name
is now optional; consistent with the way the filer functions work
within the game.
V1.1:
Changed the filer functions to force all puzzles files to a .cpz
extension, whether or not the user entered it.
Fixed bug with the scroll bar in the file selection function.
Fixed problem with selecting additional puzzle files.
*****************************************************************************
* DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY *
*****************************************************************************
This software is sold "as is", without any warranty as to performance
or any other warranties whether expressed or implied. Because of the
many hardware and software environments into which this program may
be used, no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is offered.
The user must assume the entire risk of using the program. Any
liability of the seller will be limited exclusively to product
replacement or the refund of the registration fee.
*****************************************************************************
* ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS *
*****************************************************************************
This software is produced by Nels Anderson who is a member of the
Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure
that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to
resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting
the member directly, ASP may be able to help.
The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an
ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members'
products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road,
Muskegon, MI 49442, USA or send a CompuServe message via email to
ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.
_______
____|__ | (R)
--| | |-------------------
| ____|__ | Association of
| | |_| Shareware
|__| o | Professionals
-----| | |---------------------
|___|___| MEMBER
*****************************************************************************
* AVAILABLE SOFTWARE *
*****************************************************************************
Other software which I've either written or contributed to:
EGATREK: Space strategy battle game, using full EGA graphics,
based on the classic minicomputer game. Winner of
Public Brand Software's 1988 software contest.
MAHJONGG: Solitaire game played with Chinese tiles. Supports
EGA and Hercules graphics; mouse optional. See reviews
in December 1988 "PCWorld" and April 1989 "Compute!".
SHOOT: "Shooting Gallery" tests your aim and reflexes in a
number of different rounds of shooting. Uses MCGA
graphics mode for 256 colors and and also requires
a mouse. See review in "PC Magazine" vol. 9 #20.
SUPERFLY: An action game using hi-res EGA/VGA graphics. Chase the
flies and other insects through twenty different rounds.
Includes three levels of difficulty, hall of fame, shell
to DOS, etc. Keyboard/joystick/mouse supported.
MOUSTOOL: A collection of utilities for Turbo Pascal programmers
wishing to incorporate mouse input in their programs.
Sample programs included for both EGA and CGA graphics.
Used extensively within CIPHER.
SOUNDPAS: A collection of utilities for Turbo Pascal programmers
to add music and sound effects to their programs.
Includes units for interrupt and real time sounds.
BASSTOUR: (Written by Dick Olsen). Game that simulates a fishing
tournament, including rod and lure selection. Runs in
EGA/CGA/MCGA/Hercules graphics modes. Uses many of the
utilities from MOUSTOOL. Do not order this game from
me; for more information contact: Richard Olsen, 68
Hartwell Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460.
BASSMAP: Companion program for BassTour which allows lakes to be
created or modified. EGA and CGA versions included.
Requires BassTour or Bass Class.
CALLDOOR: A PCBoard 14.x door that lets users view the system caller
log. Logs for any node can be viewed in reverse order
(i.e., most recent caller back) or the logs can be searched
for any string.
WAITDV: A sysop's utility that allows synchronizing of nightly
house keeping events on a multinode system. WAITDV was
written especially for systems running under DESQview: it's
DV-aware so the active task runs much faster than it would
if a non-aware wait utility was used.
TOPPERS: A PCBoard 14.x sysop utility that generates a formatted
list of the board's top users (by number of calls,
downloads and uploads). The output file has three columns,
one for each category. Graphics and non-graphics output
is available.
TOPTALK: A PCBoard 14.x sysop utility that tracks user activity in
conferences based on number of messages posted. Included
is a complete record of all user activity plus a bulletin
file of the top ten most active message posters.
GROUPERS: A PCBoard 14.x game door. Players gamble on the outcome
of the next card drawn from the deck. The game is set up
to run as a monthly contest and keeps track of current
scores, generates a current scores bulletin and an end of
month final scores bulletin.
- - - - -
CIPHER is copyright (c) 1990-1991 by Nels Anderson. All rights reserved.