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Text File | 1994-06-05 | 26.6 KB | 562 lines

MINEFIELD FOR EVERYBODY, FOR EVERY COMPUTER, FOR EVERY MONITOR. Version 1.1 Copyright 1993, 1994 by Judah Warshaw, All Rights Reserved. 1. INTRODUCTION & GAME OVERVIEW. "General, our spies have returned with their report!". "Fine, let's hear it". "Sir, there is only one obstacle left to our victory. A huge minefield separates our forces from theirs. We know the size of the minefield, and how many bombs there are, but not their location." "Then send out Major Miner, he has vast deductive and intuitive skills in this area." "Immediately sir. Victory is ours!". 1.2 General Description. Minefield For Everybody (MFE) is a game of logic and deduction, and a little luck. You are given a field that contains a known number of bombs. Your job is to deduce the exact location of all the bombs. As you uncover each location in the field, you will be given certain information. If the location contains a bomb, you lose the game. If there are no bombs, then one of two things will happen. If there are any bombs in any of the eight surrounding squares, then you will be told. From this you can slowly deduce the location of all the bombs in the field. If there are no bombs in the eight surrounding squares, then all 8 squares will be revealed. If any of those also have no surrounding bombs, then the area around it will also be revealed. This way a large amount of the map can be cleared at once. 2. QUICK START GUIDE. 2.1 Starting the Game. To play MFE simply type MFE and hit ENTER as the DOS prompt. Hit any key or click your mouse to pass the title screen. 2.2 Basic Game Commands. The following table gives all the basic commands needed to to play the game. This information is also available in the on-line help. ╔════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ MINEFIELD FOR EVERYBODY BASIC COMMANDS ║ ┌───────────╨─────────────────┬──────────────────┬───╨─────────────┐ │ ACTION │ KEYBOARD │ MOUSE │ ╞═════════════════════════════╪══════════════════╪═════════════════╡ │ Move Around Map/Menu │ Arrow Keys │ Move Mouse │ ├─────────────────────────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────┤ │ Reveal Information │ Space Bar │ Left Click │ ├─────────────────────────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────┤ │ Mark/Unmark Bomb │ Insert or Enter │ Right Click │ ├─────────────────────────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────┤ │ Pull Down Menu │ Highlight Key │ Mouse Click │ ├─────────────────────────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────┤ │ Menu Choice │ Enter │ Mouse Click │ ├─────────────────────────────┼──────────────────┼─────────────────┤ │ Cancel Menu │ Escape │ Click Off Menu │ └─────────────────────────────┴──────────────────┴─────────────────┘ *** QUICK EXIT ----- HIT Control-Break ANY TIME TO QUIT *** 2.3 Defaults & Command Line Options. By default the program will use your mouse if it is loaded. The program also defaults in 25 line mode. To force the program to use the keyboard add a /k on the command line. To force the program into 43 line EGA / 50 line VGA add a /h at the command line. Be defualt, the program writes directly to the screen. This will work with computers that are 100% percent hardward compatible. If the program is not working properly, you can force it to use the BIOS. This will work with any system that is IBM-BIOS compatible. Add a /b switch to the command line to force BIOS video. To force the program into monochrome mode, which uses a different character use the command line switch /m. This can help with some LCD monitors that read as color screens, but the playfield can run itself together. Trying this switch make make the playfield clearer. To load your save game from the command line, add the /l switch. This switch will override any use of the /h switch for hi-res if your save game is in standard 25 line mode. For a list of command line switches type MFE /? NOTE: You can mix your command line switches. Ex. To start in Hi-Res type MFE /h To start with the keyboard type MFE /k To force BIOS video output type MFE /b To force keyboard and BIOS video thpe MFE /b /k To start in Hi-Res with the keyboard type MFE /k /h To load a save game, using keyboard mode type MFE /k /l 3. GAME FEATURES AND REQUIREMENTS. Requirements: MFE has minimal requirements, hence its name. MFE will run on any IBM-PC or compatible, from XT's to 486's. It will run on both a color and monochrome screen. It plays equally well with both mouse and keyboard. Features: ** Runs from both floppy disk and hard drive. ** Has full mouse support, and works well with keyboard also. ** Supports both color and monochrome screens. ** Support for EGA 43 line / VGA 50 line modes. ** 5 preset playfields of varying difficulty. ** User definable size playfield, using the maximum resolution of your screen. ** User definable bomb ratio (From 1 in 2.5 to 1 in 25) ** Save and load. ** Easy to use pull down menu system for all game features, accessible by both keyboard and mouse. ** Small storage and memory requirements make it a fine game for laptops and many DOS compatible palmtops. (Storage space less than 100k, will run in 128k memory) ** MFE is shareware and is not crippled in any way. Every feature is fully functional, and the game is not copy protected in any way. 4. HOW TO PLAY THE GAME. 4.1 Navigating around the playfield. Moving around the playfield is very easy. If you are using a mouse, just move the mouse till the cursor is on the square you would like. If you are using the keyboard, use the arrow keys. A blinking cursor will move around the map according to your key presses. If you try to move off the edge off the map the cursor will start again on the other side. 4.2 Revealing a square. To reveal a square on the playfield, click on the spot with the left mouse button, or if you are using the keyboard, hit the space bar. One of three things will happen. 1) If there is a bomb underneath, you lose the game. All the correct bombs will appear. The last bomb chosen will blink on a black background. If you incorrectly marked any bombs, the will blink on a blue background. 2) If there are any bombs in the surrounding eight squares, a number will appear in the chosen place. This will help you deduce the placement off the bombs in the field. Ex. ╔═════╗ In the eight squares surrounding the 1 ║░░░░░║ there is only one bomb. ║░░1░░║ ║░░░░░║ ╚═════╝ Ex. ╔═════╗ In the five squares surrounding the 2 ║░2░░░║ there are two bombs. ║░░1░░║ ║░░░░░║ ╚═════╝ Ex. ╔═════╗ In the five squares surrounding the left ║22░░░║ 2 there are two bombs. ║░░1░░║ Since there are only 2 squares surrounding ║░░░░░║ it that are unmarked, BOTH must contain ╚═════╝ bombs. Ex. ╔═════╗ Since there is now a bomb marked next to ║22░░░║ the 1 that we first revealed, there can be ║δδ1░░║ NO other bombs around it. ║░░░░░║ We can therefore reveal all the places ╚═════╝ surrounding the 1. Ex. ╔═════╗ In this manner, you can slowly deduce the ║221 ░║ location of all the bombs in the field. ║δδ1 ░║ ║221 ░║ ╚═════╝ 3) If there are NO bombs in the surrounding area, then all 8 ajoining squares will be revealed. If any of those are also blank, all 8 around those will be revealed, until bomb information if found. 4.3 Marking a bomb. If you think you have figured the location of a bomb, then you may mark it as such. The total of bombs that need to be marked to win the game is on the menu bar, to the right, next to the words Minefield For Everybody. If you are using a mouse, then RIGHT click on the square to mark the bomb. If you are using the keyboard, hit INSERT or ENTER. After this the square will then show the bomb symbol -- δ --. Once a place is marked with a bomb, you will not be able to reveal any information about it. The game will not tell you if you are correct in your choice. The only way to know this is to CORRECTLY mark ALL bombs in the field to win. If you change your mind about a marked bomb, you may unmark it by right clicking or hitting INSERT or ENTER on it again. The square will return to its initial status as part of the field, and you can then reveal information about it or remark it as a bomb. 4.4 Winning the game If you have correctly marked all the bombs on the playfield, a box will pop up informing you that you have won the game. Try adding more bombs to the playfield, to better test your nerves and deductive powers. 5. HOW TO USE THE MENUS. 5.1 All the game features can be accessed through the menu bar on top of the screen. If you are using the mouse, click on the name of the menu you wish to use. If you are using the keyboard, then hit the highlighted letter of the menu of your choice. You can use upper or lower case, and Alt-key combinations work also. Keyboard Example: To pull down the Game menu, hit either g or G or Alt-g (Hit g while holding down the Alt key) 5.2 Once a menu is pulled down, you then choose the option of your choice. Mouse users: Simply click on the option of your choice. To abort or close the menu, click on any area outside of the menu. Keyboard users: Once a menu is chosen, the menu will pull down and arrows will bracket the first menu item. Use the up and down arrow keys to move the arrow to the option of your choice. The arrows will scroll from bottom to top and top to bottom. When the arrows point to the option of your choice, hit ENTER. To abort the menu entirely without doing anything, hit ESCAPE. 6. GAME FEATURES. This section will detail all the game features, in the order they appear in the menu system. 6.1 About. This option simply pops up a box with the game title, author, and version number. If you are using an unregistered shareware copy, you will be so informed. If you have registered the game, you can enter your registration number and name at this point. If you have already registered, your name will appear. Hit any key (if you are using the keyboard) or click either mouse button (for mouse users) to return to your game. 6.2 Game. 6.2.1 New. This option will start a new game. The solution to the current game will be shown. Hit any key or click to start the new game. 6.2.2 Load. This option will load a previously saved game. The current game will end, and the new game will be loaded as you last left it off. Please note: The game does no error checking when load a game. What I mean by this is if you save a Hi-Res game (43 / 50 line mode) and then try to load that game onto a machine that does not support that mode, the game will not load properly\, and the screen will be a mess. Just click where the menu should be to switch back into a supported mode and everything will be fine. 6.2.3 Save. This will save your current game, so you can quit the game and continue at a later date. NOTE: There is only ONE save game available, so any time you save, your old save game will be destroyed. 6.2.4 Quit. This will quit the game and exit to DOS. Your game is NOT automatically saved, so if your not done, please make sure to save before choosing quit. 6.3 Playfield. This menu allows you to set the field of the game. There are 5 built-in playfields of increasing difficulty, plus you can customize the size of the field and number of bombs in the field. This make the game playable by all ages, as the game can be as easy or difficult as you like. NOTE: Choosing any of these option will end your current game. 6.3.1 Private. This is a very easy game. A 10 x 10 game field, with only 6 bombs in it. Good for young kids, or to just get a feel for the game. 6.3.2 Sergeant. A 25 x 10 play field, with 25 bombs. Good for a quick game. 6.3.3 Major. This is the default play field when you boot up the game, or when you change resolution. The field is 50 x 15 with a bomb ratio of 1 bomb for every 7.5 squares, giving 100 bombs in the game. 6.3.4 General. The General option gives you the biggest play field possible in your current resolution, with a bomb ratio of 1 in 7.5. The width is 77 columns. The number of lines will depend if you are in 25, 43, or 50 line mode. The number of bombs will depend on the mode your in. Good for a lengthy challenge. 6.3.5 Commander in Chief (C. in C.). For a true challenge in luck, nerves and mental prowess, try C.in C.. It uses a playfield size like General, but with a bomb ratio of 1 in 2.5. If you have VGA and are in Hi-Res (50 line mode) the field will have 1293 bombs in it. Good luck. 6.3.6 Custom Size. This feature make the game infinitely customizable. A blank box will be drawn on the screen. This box can be moved and resized to your liking. Mouse users: Clink on the top bar of the box, and hold down the mouse button. While the button is held down, the box will move with your mouse movements. To resize the box, click and hold on the bottom right corner of the box. You can then drag the corner and the box will resize with your mouse movements as long as you hold down the button. Click on the box marked OK to finish. Keyboard users: Use your arrow keys to move the box around the screen. To resize, use the Shift-arrows keys (Hold down the shift button while hitting the arrow keys of your choice). NOTE: You can only resize from the bottom right hand corner. Hit ENTER when you are done. When you are done resizing, you will be taken to the bomb ratio selection box, to choose how many bombs will be hidden in the game field. 6.3.7 Custom Bombs. This will allow you to choose how many bombs will be in the field. The more bombs there are, the harder the game will be. You will also be more dependant on luck in the early stages of the game. Mouse users: Click on the up arrow to add bombs to the playfield. Click on the down arrow to remove bombs. Click on the OK to finish. Keyboard: Use the up and down arrow keys to add or take away bombs. Hit ENTER to finish. There are upper and lower limits to the number of bombs that can be in the game. The number of bombs in the game is determined by the bomb to square ratio. This information is displayed in the bomb selection box. The lowest number of bombs is 1 in 25, the highest is 1 in 2.5. The default rate in 1 in 7.5. Example: If you have 200 hundred squares in the field, the lowest amount of bombs is 8 (1 bombs for every 25 squares, 200 / 25 = 8). The most if 80. When you add or decrease the number of bombs in the field, you are actually affecting the bomb ratio. For each click or keypress, the bomb ratio increases or decreases by 0.05. As the ratio is lowered and many bombs enter the game, you will not be able to control the exact number of bombs. The only choices are those computed by the bomb ratio. 6.4 Control. This menu allows you to change the input device between mouse and keyboard. You can also toggle the use of 25 line mode and 43/50 line mode. NOTE: Changing the input device does NOT restart the game, while changing resolution will start a new game. 6.4.1 Mouse. If the current device if the mouse, a check will appear next to this option. If the keyboard is chosen and you wish to use the mouse, choose this option. If no mouse is present, the command will be ignored and you will remain in keyboard mode. 6.4.2 Keyboard. If the current device is the keyboard, a check will appear next to this option. If the mouse if selected and you wish to switch to keyboard operation, choose this option. 6.4.3 Hi-Res. This option will toggle you between 25 line mode and 43/50 line mode. If you are currently in 43/50 line mode, a check will appear next to this option. Changing the resolution will start a new game, using the default Major game field. 6.5 Help. This option will pop up an information box to remind you of all the keyboard and mouse option. Hit any key or click your mouse to return to your game. 7. WARRANTY, SHAREWARE, AND OTHER MATTERS. 7.1 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. 7.2 SHAREWARE & REGISTRATION MFE is a shareware program. It in not free software, nor is it in the public domain. This gives you the right and privilege to try the program before you actually buy it. If you like the program and plan on continuing to use it, you are required to send in a registration fee to the author. The registration fee for MFE is $5 (five) U.S. Dollars. When you register, you will receive a personal registration number that will shut off all registration reminders, and will you will be able to enter your own name into the program as the legal licensed user. This regirstration number will be good for ALL future version of MFE. You may get any updated version from any source you wish (shareware vendor, BBS, friend, etc...) and your registration number will work. Even if the price goes up at any future date, you will NOT be required to pay an upgrade fee. If you register now, you're registered for LIFE. You may register by sending your fee to: Judah Warshaw P.O.B. 27054 Jerusalem 91270 ISRAEL I would love to hear from users of the program. All comments and suggestions for future versions would be greatly appreciated. The author can be reached on CompuServe at [10074,205] 7.3 PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION Please make copies of this program for all your friends. Just make sure to include both the MFE.EXE file and MFE.DOC file. If you are a registerd user, do NOT pass on the MFE.REG file. This is for registered users only. Shareware vendors may charge their usual distribution fee for MFE, so long as the program is properly reperesented as shareware and not public domain or free. I would appreciate your letting me know if you are distributing the program, so that you can be up to date on any new versions. 7.4 GAME HISTORY This is version 1.1 of MINEFIELD FOR EVERYBODY, released in June 1994. The game was initially inspired by the popularity of a similar game for Microsoft Windows. I got to thinking of what a great game it is, since many games rely on fast reflexes and not on thinking. I also thought that it was a shame that only people with Windows could play this game. What if you can't run Windows? What of all those XT's out there!? I found a similar shareware game that was done in excellent VGA graphics, but again, what if you don't have VGA? More and more programs require higher end systems that many people still do not have. These programs are great since they take advantage of the best hardware available, but less and less things are available to the lower end of the market. From this MINEFIELD FOR EVERYBODY was born. Running in text mode, it will run on any monitor, monochrome or color. Small memory requirements and storage space allow it to run on any system, including those without hard drives, and laptops and palmtops where space is at a premium. A mouse is the input device of choice, but the keyboard is also nicely supported. If you have EGA or VGA, the game can take advantage of the Hi-Res modes of those systems for really BIG playfields. Add in user selectable playfields and bomb ratios; the game can be tailored to any person's desires. It is truly a game for everybody, for every computer, for every monitor.