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- XPIPEMAN(6) XPIPEMAN(6)
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- NNAAMMEE
- xpipeman - connect the pipes to stop the leaks (X Windows)
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- SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
- //uussrr//ggaammeess//xxppiippeemmaann
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- DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
- Xpipeman is a game of skill requiring the user to connect
- together pieces of a pipe to allow a liquid to flow
- through without leaking out. The liquid flows out of the
- block marked with an "S". The aim of the game is to con-
- nect as many pieces of pipe to the start block as possi-
- ble.
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- A random sequence of blocks is generated and displayed
- down the right hand side of the screen. The next pipe
- block that has to be placed is under the arrow marked
- "next". After a block has been placed a new block is dis-
- played on the end of the sequence and the next block
- appears under the arrow.
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- After a period of time the liquid starts to flow. It first
- fills up the "flow start" meter at the right of the
- screen. When this is full it then begins to flow out of
- the start block and into any pipe blocks connected to it.
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- To finish successfully each level a certain number of
- blocks have to be connected to the start. This is indi-
- cated by the "Remaining" count. This count is decremented
- as the liquid flows through the blocks. This is the mini-
- mum number of blocks that must be connected, any further
- blocks connected generate extra points. The number of
- blocks that must be connected increases with each level.
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- To make life more difficult there are also object blocks
- where pieces of pipe cannot be placed. The number of
- object blocks also increases with each level.
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- Blocks can be moved and placed either by using the mouse
- and its buttons or by using the keyboard. For the mouse,
- button 1 (left) moves the next pipe block to the position
- pointed to by the mouse. Button 2 (middle) places a piece
- of pipe. Pipes may not be placed on the start block,
- objects, or any filled/partially filled pipe sections.
- Once a block has been placed it may NOT be moved.
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- At higher levels some pieces of pipe only let the liquid
- flow one direction. These pipe sections have an arrow
- within them indicating the allowed flow direction. Suc-
- cessful connection of one of these sections earns extra
- bonus points.
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- The game is over when the required number of blocks have
- not been connected or there are no more levels (I doubt
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- 7 July 1991 1
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- XPIPEMAN(6) XPIPEMAN(6)
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- the latter will happen before the first!).
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- The default keyboard setup is as follows:
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- zz move one square left
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- xx move one square right
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- '' move one square up
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- // move one square down
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- ssppcc place a piece of pipe
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- ttaabb speed up the flow
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- If no more blocks can be placed then pressing the tab key
- will cause the flow to speed up.
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- RREESSOOUURRCCEESS
- xpipeman.scorefile
- Set this to the path of your personal score file.
- The file will be created if it does not exist. The
- default: ./xpipescores
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- OOPPTTIIOONNSS
- In addition to the normal XToolkit options, xpipeman
- accepts command line options for the following
- resource:scorefile
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- For example: xpipeman -scorefile myscorefile
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- SSCCOORRIINNGG
- Each pipe connected to the flow scores 10 points. Any pipe
- placed on top of another piece of empty pipe incurs a
- penalty of 20 points. Any pipe not connected to the flow
- also incurs a penalty, but this time of only 10 points. A
- bonus 40 points is awarded each time there is a flow
- crossover and a bonus of 10 points is awarded for each one
- way pipe used (later levels). The name for the high score
- list comes from the USER environment variable.
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- FFIILLEESS
- ./xpipescores -- the score file
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- BBUUGGSS
- Type ahead may be a problem on some slower machines. To
- reduce the problem try to use the mouse instead of the
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- XPIPEMAN(6) XPIPEMAN(6)
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- keyboard. (I have a SPARCstation which seems to work
- fine!). Other tips to reduce type ahead: plan the flow by
- looking at the sequence down the right hand side of the
- screen and most of all don't panic as the flow
- approaches!.
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- 7 July 1991 3
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- XPIPEMAN(6) XPIPEMAN(6)
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- AAUUTTHHOORR
- This was written by Nigel Paver
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- JANET: pavern@uk.ac.man.cs
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- INER: pavern%uk.ac.man.cs@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk
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- with acknowledgements to Brian Warkentine (bri-
- anw@Sun.COM).
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- 7 July 1991 4
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