Mac Magazin/MacEasy 38/Mac Magazin and MacEasy Magazine CD - Issue 38.iso/Software/Mobiles Büro/Newton/Chiral deluxe/readme.txt

Text File | 1997-10-05 | 8KB | 243 lines

1.0  About Chiral Deluxe

Chiral is a gem of a game based on the formation of molecules.  It is
fast paced and can be quite nerve-wracking.  The goal of the game is
to take atoms that can bond with 1, 2, 3 or 4 other atoms and place
them in such a way that they form a molecule where all bonds are
satisfied.

Chiral Deluxe takes advantage of the greyscale and colour capabilities
of the MP2000 and eMate.  It does not run on earlier Newtons.  However,
Chiral Deluxe is written to take full advantage of colour capabilities
of future Newtons when they become available!

Chiral and Chiral Deluxe ©1997 Scrawl Software. All Rights Reserved.


2.0  How do I play?

The Goal of Chiral

The point of Chiral is to place atoms on the screen by tapping a
location with the pen.  An atom will appear on the screen at that
point and bond with any other atoms right next to it if both have at
least one free bond.  You want to place the atoms in such a way that
all of their bonds are satisfied.  When an atom's bonds are satisfied,
the dots in the center of the atom disappear.

The Atom Bin

The atom bin in the top right of the screen tells you what atoms are
next to be placed.  New atoms come down the ramp as time passes.
Don't let the atom bin fill up or you will lose a schzapp.  (A schzapp
is a free atom bin fill up.)  If you fill the atom bin too many times,
you run out of schzapps and lose the game.

The Schzapp Box at the top of the screen tells you how many schzapps
you currently have.  Every third level you get the chance to earn
another.

Placing and Swapping Atoms

You can place an atom on any empty space by simply tapping on that
space.

If you tap where there is already an atom, the new atom will replace
the one you tap, and the old one will be shoved back into the atom
bin.  But if the old atom is "Heavy" (see "Types of Atoms"), it cannot
be swapped, and nothing will happen when you tap it.

Completing a Level

To finish a level, you need to form complete molecules with at least a
certain number of atoms in them.  You will be required to form either
2 molecules of at least 6 atoms each, or 3 molecules of at least 10
atoms each.  Read the instructions at the beginning of each level to
find out what you need.

The "To Go" box at the top of the screen tells you the size and number
of molecules you still need to finish the level.


3.0  Types of Atoms

Normal Atom

Normal atoms are, well, normal. They really don't do anything
interesting except help you form molecules.

If they have completed all their bonds, the atoms are "saturated" and
the dots in the center disappear.

Radiation Atom

Radiation atoms look like scary little radioactive symbols.  These
atoms will destroy any atoms or molecules they touch.

Speed Atoms

Speed atoms have a lightning zig-zag on the top.

Any speed atoms on the board will increase the speed of the game.  As
soon as they are removed the speed will decrease again.  The more
speed atoms you have, the faster the atoms fall into the atom bin.  If
you get too many, just hope for a radiation to blow them all away.

Heavy Atoms

Heavy atoms have a grey filled in border.

Heavy atoms cannot be exchanged.  When you try to tap on them to swap
with the next atom in the bin, it just won't work.

Multiplier Atoms

Multiplier atoms have a X2, X3 or X4 on them, depending on their
multiplier factor.

Multiplier atoms will multiply the score for that molecule by the
multiplier factor.
Note:  It will multiply the stray atom penalty for that level as well!


4.0  What are these blinking things?

When an atom is placed next to more atoms than it can currently bond
with, the possible bonds start blinking to let you know you need to
choose.  You can either tap on the atom(s) you want the new atom to
bond with, or you can ignore the whole thing and the game will choose
which bonds to use for you.


5.0  How do I get Points?

Earning Points

There are three ways to earn points:

When you complete a molecule, you earn points based on your skill
level, number of atoms, level number, and number of bonds.  Also,
multiplier atoms will multiply your score for that molecule by the
multiplier factor.  You also receive however many bonus points are
left on the timer when you finish a level.  Finally, when you finish a
level you get a set number of points based on the level number and
your skill level.

Losing Points

You can lose points by having too many stray atoms lying around at the
end of a level.  Having a few extra atoms is okay, but the penalty
increases quickly as the total number of bonds increase and at higher
levels.  Multiplier atoms will multiply your stray atom penalty, so be
careful not to leave any lying around.

You will not lose points for a level even if your stray atom penalty
is greater than your bonuses.


6.0  What are these lines on my screen?

As you get better and get to higher levels, walls start appearing on
your screen.  Atoms cannot bond through these walls.  If you think
it's bad now, wait 'til you get to the really high levels!  It takes
some fancy footwork to form 10 atom molecules on level 23.


7.0  How do I save my game?

You can pause Chiral by pushing the pause button at the bottom of the
screen.  Chiral will automatically save your game when you quit.  The
next time you open Chiral, you will have the option to start a new
game or resume your old one.

However, if you push New Game, even when you are paused, you will lose
your saved game info.



8.0  Why is this so slow?

Well, the calculations to figure out if a molecule is satisfied are
pretty heinous.

It works pretty well on the eMate and 2000, but the older models are
still a bit creaky when you get to faster speeds.

I am currently working on making some of the calculations native, but
we're not there yet.


9.0  About Chiral's Cripple

Chiral is (barely) crippled shareware.  Unregistered versions of
Chiral will insert a new highest score every few games with helpful
reminders.  If you have suggestions for better reminders, send them to
[e-mail].

If you intend to use an unregistered version of Chiral in a critical
situation, (like trying to impress your significant other in front of
all your friends) be warned that you might be usurped.  Register so
you don't lose face.


10.0  How Do I Register Chiral?

To register Chiral by mail, send $10 to:

Sarah Buta c/o Scrawl
86 Norfolk St., Apt. 4
Cambridge, MA  02139-2652

Be sure to include the spelling of your name as it appears on your
Newton.  You will receive a registration string by email.  If you do
not have email, send a SASE.  Alternately, you can use Kagi with Flash
Sheridan's Register.


11.0  Register Chiral via WWW Kagi

You can Register Chiral directly over the WWW by using Kagi.  For more
information about Kagi, visit:

<http://www.kagi.com>

You can register Chiral directly over the Web at:

<http://kagi.direct.net/cgi-bin/register1.cgi?JV>


12.0  Contact Scrawl

You can visit Scrawl at:
<http://www.scrawlsoft.com>

or send email to:
<[e-mail]>


13.0  Credits

So I was playing this really cool game called Chiral on my Mac, when I
thought, "Hey!  This would be awesome on the Newt."  So I contacted
Ambrosia, and they said, "Sure, why not?" and this game was born.

This is the first published anything written by Sally Buta.  She had
lots of help from George Madrid and Sanjay Vakil.  We (the 3 of us)
are Scrawl.

Check us out on the Web:
<http://www.scrawlsoft.com>


14.0  Ambrosia

Thanks a billion to the guys at Ambrosia.  They thought of the game in
the first place and were extremely helpful.  (And besides, Chiral is
really awesome in full color and with really cool sounds.)

Ambrosia has written many excellent shareware applications for the
Macintosh.

Ambrosia Software, Inc.
<http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com>