The Game Master (3rd Edition)

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Text File | 1989-10-19 | 11.7 KB | 286 lines

Miner VGA A sprite based game of mining for VGA only. Version 1.1 September 10,1989 Public Domain, FrodoSoft, Inc. written by Harrell W. Stiles ********** Introduction ********** Miner is a game of rare earths mining. In the game, you assume the role of a miner in search of rare earths like silver, gold, and platinum. The game was originally implemented on a Commodore Pet computer in the late 70's as a text only style game. The current version encompasses more than the original version, but much of the charm remains intact. I wrote and released another PC miner game (text only) several years back. That earlier version was primitive and bears little resemblance to the current (hopefully better) one. For this version I started from scratch in a different language and used only VGA screen modes. My personal goal with this program was to gain experience working with the graphics technology of the VGA card. I would be very interested in locating the original programmer of the Commodore version if anyone has any clues. ********** MinerVGA Distribution ********** MinerVGA is distributed as public domain software. You may freely copy and distribute MinerVGA provided you receive no compensation for doing so. There are no fees, licenses, or other BS. Personally, I hate those companies that take PD software and sell them to you with a charge on the diskette that the software is contained on. It defeats the purpose of releasing the software as PD. Anyway, the games consists of four files: MINERVGA.EXE the game executable file MINERVGA.LBR the sprite library MINERVGA.DOC this document file MINERVGA.SAV the save game file MINERVGA.SCR the high score file Source code may be available. It depends on the demand. I will likely include source listings in future releases. If you are desperate for source code, leave a message to me on the Walnut Creek Auntie BBS at (415) 937-0156 Harrell Stiles MinerVGA was written in MS Quick Basic 4.0. **********Graphics Modes and Compatibility ********** MinerVGA uses only graphics mode twelve (12). The resolution is 640x480 with 16 colors (text 80x30). It is a standard VGA video mode, and some EGA cards may support it as well. I don't know if MCGA supports this mode, but you might try. The code was written on and for VGA compatible displays. In my opinion there are too few recreational programs for these machines when this should be one of their strong suits. ********** The Object and Winning ********** The object of the game is to "make a lady" out of Miss Mimi, the owner of the brothel. If this sounds too sexist for you, you might want to quit reading now and not play. In essence, she has agreed to marry you IF you present her with a diamond ring and $20,000 in cash (your mutual retirement fund.) "Anything less and I would be wasting my god given talents on just one man.", says she. Because of her history of unsanitary sexual practices you may also want to consider having a condom as well. You win the game when you present yourself to Miss Mimi with $20,000 and a diamond ring. The toughest part, of course, is mining enough ore to come up with the $20,000. ********** Key Help ********** You control your miner with the keyboard. The arrow keys move the miner in up to 4 directions (diagonal movement is not allowed.) Other keys are as follows: H Help, brings up a help screen with keystroke commands, suggestions, etc. X eXit, ends the game. No Save, No Query, It's over. Useful if the boss comes around the corner, if you have saved recently. S Save, saves the game to MINERVGA.SAV and ends the game. R Restore, restores a previously saved game from MINERVGA.SAV Q Quiet!, silences the program. Note: if you win the game, you will still hear the song at the end, even if silenced. E Enter, used to enter buildings. Works only in town. You must move to the space in front of the door you want to enter. T Top, when used in the elevator, takes you to the top of the shaft. Otherwise, has no effect. B Bottom, when used in the elevator, takes you to the maximum depth available to you. Otherwise, has no effect. D Drill, allows you to remove granite from the mine by drilling it out. You must have a drill to do this. P Pump, allows you to remove water from the mine by pumping it out. A bucket is required. A pump will decrease the cost of this. Y dYnamite, will initiate a dynamite blast sequence. you need dynamite and a torch. ********** The Mine, the Town, and the Elevator ********** The game is in 2 dimensions, limiting you to up and down and left and right. You move through the town, the mine, and the elevator in the same fashion. You have secured the mineral rights for an oddly shaped section of earth. The dimensions of the mine are approximately 240' wide by 960' deep. The town lies over the top of the mine, separated by an impassable ground water barrier that keeps the buildings from falling into your mine. The barrier is impervious to all but the most powerful of tools. The Elevator shaft is on the far right of your mine and actually is the rightmost limit to your mining area. The elevator is your only means of transportation between the mine and the town. It remains in the shaft and will only move when you are in it. You cannot enter the shaft at any point except where the elevator is. At the start of the game the elevator has a maximum depth that is less than the maximum depth of the mine. You can spend money to increase your elevator's maximum depth in increments of 60' until you have reached the bottom. Extra depth is purchased in the general store. ********** Health and the Hospital ********** During the course of your underground adventures, you will find there are hazards to your health - cave ins, underground springs, etc. Health is represented in the game as a percentage of total health. Although it is possible to go above %100, this is rare. Generally, your health will range from zero to one hundred. When your health goes below %20, it will turn red in an effort to attract your attention to your failing condition. If your health falls below zero you are dead and the game is over. Health can be recovered through surgery and bed rest at the hospital. For a price, of course. ********** Money and the Bank ********** You have available to you at the start of the game a bank account of $1500. It is necessary to outfit yourself with proper mining equipment, etc.. You must remember that mining is not cheap and you will incur costs every time you venture into the mine to explore the depths. If you run out of money, the bank will spot you a very little bit, but whenever your account is below 0, you run the risk of immediately losing the game. The bank is also the assay office, and you can exchange any minerals you have found for a credit to your account. ********** Equipment and the Store ********** Equipment is not necessary to play the game. It is probably necessary if you want to win, however. Pieces of equipment fall into three categories: items that help you mine by giving you abilities, items that are necessary in order to do special mining tasks, and all others which generally have some special use. Digging implements like a shovel or pick will decrease the basic cost of mining. Their benefit is cumulative, having two is better than one. Light sources increase your chance to locate minerals and hazards before you walk right into them. Lanterns and torches are good for this. Periodically, a light source object might get used up and need to be replaced. Lanterns last longer then torches. The clover will improve your luck. The drill is necessary to drill granite. The bucket is necessary to pump water (the pump reduces the cost of this, but is not necessary.) Both the dynamite and the torch are necessary to make an explosion. Special Note: Make sure you have a path directly to your right to run away to or you will be caught in the blast and suffer grievously. Equipment can be purchased at the store. You cannot have more than one of a given item at a time. There are several items that cannot be bought. They must be found, stolen, or built. There are a total of 12 items available in the game, each with some unique property. ********** Miss Mimi's Place ********** The saloon/brothel can supply you with beer, food, condoms, and women. More importantly, it is where you can evaluate your progress in the game. The saloon is closed for the first part of the game, and Mimi is unavailable until you have a certain amount of money. Visiting Mimi with the proper amount of money and the ring wins the game. Food and drink are not required to play the game. Like the outhouse, they simply add color. The "night to remember" option is useful because the working girls often have hints and suggestions.