This file must accompany Kablooie 1.0, and neither file can be changed or commercially distributed without our written permission.
We can be reached at:
Adam_Miller@Memory.Ithaca.NY.US (comments only)
Jakub_Buchowski@Memory.Ithaca.NY.US (comments and fireworks)
or at:
Adam Miller
105 Cornell St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Kablooie is an After Dark module that simulates sophisticated fireworks. Not just little bangers that fly up and go, well . . . bang. Our fireworks come in eight different colors, can sparkle, launch other fireworks (even themselves), and do lots of other neat stuff. This module should work on all machines and configurations provided that you have After Dark™ 2.0u or later.
There are three options for Kablooie: Use Color, Always Small, and Clear Screen. If you want the fireworks to always be black and white, then check the Use Color option. Some fireworks come in sizes greater than one pixel by one pixel. Many times this is because the color they're in is too dark for one by one. If you run Kablooie in black and white, you may wish to consider checking this option. If the Clear Screen option is checked, the screen will be painted black before running. We recommend this option.
This module was written in THINK Pascal 4.0, the best language. The source code is pretty neat: it is clean, simple, efficient, documented, and covers many subjects. If you want this code, send $10, an initialized disk and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address mentioned above.
***********************MAKING YOUR OWN FIREWORKS**********************
Most users will be happy to enjoy simply using this module. However, the greatest enjoyment comes from designing your own fireworks. Best of all, it is very easy to do. All of the fireworks are stored in the module's resource file as resources of type 'Fwrk'. To make new fireworks, simply add resources of this type to the module using a program such as ResEdit.
The format for a 'Fwrk' is very simple. The fields are Sparkle?, Size, Can Launch, Explode How?, RED, GREEN, BLUE, Longevity, Gravity, and Children #. For each child there exist four fields: Child ID, Number Launched, Variation in Number Launched, and Strength Launched at. We have included a 'Fwrk' template in the resource fork of the Kablooie module. This makes editing very easy in ResEdit. (For those of you who don't know what on Earth we're talking about, don't worry about it, it works automatically.)
The way the simulator runs is simple. It starts out by launching one firework from the bottom. This firework lives for a while, and then dies. As it dies, it usually launches other fireworks. Fireworks can only launch others when they die. What follows is a complete yet short instruction manual on making your own fireworks. However, most people will be able to figure it out by simply looking at the pre-made fireworks.
The Sparkle? field determines how often the color of the firework will turn to white (if running in color mode) or turn to black (if running in black & white mode). If the value for this field is 15, then it will change colors once in every 15 frames.
The Size field determines the diameter of the firework. It is only recognizable as a sphere if the Size is greater than or equal to four. One and two are the usual sizes.
If the firework can be launched, which means that it can be one of the fireworks started off from the bottom of the screen, then give this field a value of one. Otherwise, a zero should be placed here.
The Explode How? field determines what the firework does when it dies. The options are to make an explosion sound, to flash, do neither, or do both. Here are the values to enter:
0 - Do nothing
1 - Flash only
2 - Bang sound only
3 - Both flash and sound
The RED, GREEN, and BLUE fields each contain either a zero or a one. These values have no effect for black and white screens. The effects are cumulative. For example, if there is a one in the RED field and in the GREEN field, the color of the firework will be yellow.
The Longevity field controls how long the firework lives for. If the firework is one to be launched, we suggest a value of about 150.
For the Gravity field, a value of about 100 is pretty normal. If you want your fireworks to fly in straight lines, enter zero.
Next is the Children # field. Simply enter the number of types of children here. Note: do not enter the number of total children, just the number of types of children. If you enter a too big number, the module is pretty sure to crash. Be careful.
The Child ID is the 'Fwrk' resource ID of the child to be launched.
The Number Launched is the number launched of this type when the parent firework dies.
The Variation in Number Launched is pretty self-explanitary. It works to both increase and decrease the number. Zero means no variation.
The Strength Launched At controls how hard the explosion ejects the fireworks. One-hundred is normally a good value.
That's the end of the fields. Go out and make some fireworks of your own! We suggest watching the module run for a while so as to see some examples. If you make any fireworks that you would like to share with us, simply send them to the following electronic address: Jakub_Buchowski@BAKA.Ithaca.NY.US (it's crucial that the fireworks get sent here, and not to another address) or the snail mail address given above on a disk. Include a SASE if you want the disk back.
**************************CREDITS AND THANKS*************************
This module is based upon a similar fireworks simulation by Dan Egnor. It is also called Kablooie, and runs as its own screen-saver on IBM's.
We would like to thank the following people for beta-testing this module and especially for writing fireworks:
