OS/2 Shareware BBS: 7 Games/07-Games.zip/sbattle.zip/SBATTLE.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1996-07-12 | 15KB | 398 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. About Battle at Sea ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Battle at Sea for OS/2* is an exciting game. It is a way for people to
exercise their logic and analytical abilities.  The rules are simple, yet they
enforce the players to think carefully before every move.  These rules, till
some extend, may also be related to the real world outside of your computer.
One of them is "Use mistakes of others to benefit yourself."

The game starts with positioning a set of different size ships on the build
board.  This process we call building. The number and the size of ships allowed
for building depend on the board sizes (10x10, 15x15, or 20x20).  To start
building click on the "Build" pull-down menu of the Build Board window. "Battle
at Sea" gives you two different ways to build your fleet: one is manual build,
that allows you to position the ships the way you want it; and the other way is
Auto build, that will use the "brain" of your computer to position your ships.
Note, that your computer may be selected as your enemy for the game; however,
the computer will never remember about the configuration of your ships.

There are few simple rules that are enforced by the game for building the
ships:

   1. The ships should be build straight either horizontally or vertically

   2. The ships must be solid entities (in other words, a ship cannot be broken
      apart)

   3. Ships may never touch.

 When building the ships manually, "Battle at Sea" will actually guide your
 through the processes of positioning your ships by displaying the size of the
 currently built ship and the vacant spots on the Build board.  The Auto Build
 will build the whole fleet immediately at your request.

 The computer may not only play a role of a ship builder but  also of a
 rules-aware player.  "Battle at Sea" allows to select a computer as a player
 (in Options pull-down menu).

 Another outstanding feature of this game is the ability to play through modem
 (if it is available on your computer).

 When the build process is completed, the players are allowed to start
 shooting.  The shots are made on the shooting board and every shot is
 reflected on the build board of the enemy. If a shot was successful, the
 player is allowed to make another shot with no interruption.  On the other
 hand, if the shot was unsuccessful, the right to make the next shot will be
 passed to the other side (enemy).

 Because the rules of the game impose some restrictions on how the ships may be
 built -- the players with good analytical abilities will be able to skip
 unnecessary shots and save time. Enjoy it.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Load game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To load the game


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Game record ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Game Record displays the moves made by the two sides. The moves are displayed
in the order they were entered.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Player Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Player configuration dialog box allows to select the opposite side to play.
Selecting a computer will allow a local computer to be your opponent.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Player Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Player configuration dialog box allows to select the opposite side to play.
Selecting modem will allow to play with a human player via modem (this option
is only enabled if there is modem in the system).  The person on the other side
should also select modem in player configuration.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Player Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Player configuration dialog box allows to enter your name.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Player Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Pressing Done pushbutton will initialize the Game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Player Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 This dialog box allows to choose what type of the game you to play via Modem
or with Computer as your opponent. Type your name in the space provided.  This
name is used to when saving the game to designate the players.  The default is
'Human'.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Send message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To send a message to the player on the other side via modem type the message
the text window and press Send button.  It will appear on the other side in a
moment. To cancel the message press cancel button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Communication settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Port

Baud Rate

Parity .........


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Communication settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Options


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Communication settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Size settings allow to select different board sizes to play. The size settings
is applied to the both boards and must be the same for the both players (even
when playing via modem). The greater the size, the more ships is allowed to be
build.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Communication settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Sound settings allow to customize the sounds played during the different events
of the game.  This options is only enabled when multimedia is present on the
computer.  Note, when playing via modem one system may have multimedia, so the
sounds will be enabled; but there may be no multimedia on the other computer --
that's OK.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. Communication settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Background colors allow to select a pleasant colour for the Build and Shoot
boards. Use the number bars to customize the colors. Use save settings command
in Options menu for the next game to be started with the newly selected
settings (this will apply to all the available settings).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15. View Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The View menu contains commands to view game record and statistical information
on the currently played game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 16. Game record ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Game record command allows to view all the moves that have been made by both
players. To view the Game record info do the following:

     Select the View menu and choose the Game record command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17. Statistics ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You use the Statistics command to view the statistical summary of the current
game. To see the statistical info do the following:

     Select the View menu and choose the Statistics command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 18. Game Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Game menu contains commands to save a current game, load a previously saved
game, and quit the program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 19. New ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

New command starts a completely new game with the default settings. To start a
new game, do the following:

     Select the Game menu and choose the New command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 20. Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Save command allows you to save a current game if it has been saved once before
(using Save As command), or if it has been loaded (using Load command). To save
a game, do the following:

     Select the Game menu and choose the Save command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 21. Load ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Load command allows to start a game that was previously saved on the disk
(using Save or Save As commands). To load a game, do the following:

     Select the Game menu and choose the Load command.

 A dialog box appears, showing you a list of games in the current directory.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 22. Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Choosing Exit command from Game menu will terminate the program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 23. Save as ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can save the current game by using the Save As command. Use it if this is
the first time that the game is being saved. The command allows to specify a
file name where the current game is to be saved. To save a game, do the
following:

     Select the Game menu and choose the Save as command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Player Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Players Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

   1. Select the down arrow to the right of the Drive list to display all the
      drives on your system.
   2. Select a drive from the Drive list.
   3. Select a directory from the Directory list.
   4. Select a file name from the File list or type in a file name and select
      the Open pushbutton to display the file you want to edit.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 24. Modem Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The commands contained in the modem menu are used when the game is played via
modem.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 25. Call ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Before playing the game via modem, the players should decide who will call
first (and, consequently, pay the long- distance charges, if applicable).  The
computer of the person who is calling first is a caller, and the other person's
computer is host.  To make a call to the host do the following:

     Select the Modem menu and choose the Call command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 26. Answer ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Before playing the game via modem, the players should decide who will call
first (and, consequently, pay the long- distance charges, if applicable).  The
computer of the person who is calling first is a caller, and the other person's
computer is host.

To wait for a call (to be a host) from the other player do the following:

     Select the Modem menu and choose the Answer command. This option should
      be selected if you want to be called.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 27. HangUp ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use the HangUp command to disconnect from the remote player. To hang up, do the
following:

     Select the Modem menu and choose the HangUp command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 28. Modem Status ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To view the modem status use the Modem Status command. It allows to see if the
modem is dialing, connecting or idle. It also allows to see if the line is
busy, and when the data is being send via modem. To view the modem status, do
the following:

   1. Select the Modem menu and choose the Modem Status command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 29. Send Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To chat to the other player use Send Message command.  It allows to send a
message in a form of text.

   1. Select the Modem menu and choose the Send Message command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 30. Help Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Insert standard Help menu text here.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 31. Index ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Place information for the Help Index menu item here.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 32. General ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Place information for the General Help menu item here.

Note:  This screen will usually be handled by the default.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 33. Using ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Place information for the Help Using Help menu here.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 34. Help for Keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A mouse is required to play the Battle at Sea, there is no full keyboard
interface.

However, there are few keys:

 F1        Accelerator for Get help about this game

 F2        Accelerator for Save...

 F3        Accelerator for New

 F4        Accelerator for Load

 F5        Accelerator for Auto

 F6        Accelerator for Manual

 F7        Accelerator for Reset

 F10       Accelerator for Exit this game

 SHIFT+F2  Accelerator for Save as...


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 35. Options Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Options menu contains commands to set players' configuration, set game
settings, and save game settings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 36. Set players ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 This command allows to set a name for a player and who he will be playing with
(computer or modem). To set players' options, do the following:

     Select the Options menu and choose the Set players command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 37. Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To view and change settings for the game use Settings command. Background
colours options allows to customize the background colours for the Build and
Shoot windows. The Size option allows to select the boards' sizes. If the size
of the boards is changed, the User will be asked to save the current game and
start the new game. Sound may be enabled if multimedia is present. To view and
change Game settings, do the following:

     Select the Options menu and choose the Settings command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 38. Save Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Save Settings command to save the game settings.  The default game settings
will be used initially; however, if the user will save the game settings at
least once, the new game settings will become default. To save settings do the
following:

     Select the Options menu and choose the Save Settings command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 39. Build Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Build menu contains commands to build your fleet on the build board.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 40. Auto ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To let computer build your fleet, do the following:

     Select the Build menu and choose the Auto command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 41. Manual ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When building the fleet manually light grey cells indicate that they can be
chosen for building a new ship. After the first cell of the ship will be
selected, the computer will indicate (green cells) where to continue building.
The small window on the left will indicate the size of the currently built ship
and the number of cells that has been already built for the current ship.

     To start manual build select the Build menu and choose the Manual
      command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 42. Reset ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Reset command is used to disregard what you already have on the build board and
start building the new set of ships.  The reset command will keep the current
size of your boards.  If you would also like to change the size of the boards
go to Game settings in Options menu and change the size from there. To reset a
fleet, do the following:

     Select the Build menu and choose the Reset command.