Play and Learn 2

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Text File | 1994-02-04 | 15.9 KB | 304 lines

┌─────────┐ ┌─────┴───┐ │ (R) Roger D Hamilton ──│ │o │────────────────── "CRAIGARD" │ ┌─────┴╨──┐ │ Association of Dalcataig │ │ │─┘ Shareware GLENMORISTON └───│ o │ Professionals Inverness IV3 6YG ──────│ ║ │──────────────────── Telephone(UK): 0320 51282 └────╨────┘ MEMBER Telephone International:+44 320 51282 * DTQ.EXE * MEMORY GAME (also Typing Aid) * VGA ONLY * 8086 CODE * 195K * * Version 1.0 * (05-03-92 5:17p) * Compiled BASIC * Reg. Fee US$15 inc * * Reg. Fee UK £8.55 inc * DTQ New Program May 1992 -------------------------- |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | THE SOURCE CODE FROM WHICH DTQ.EXE HAS BEEN COMPILED CONSISTS, IN TOTAL, OF | | BASIC INSTRUCTIONS WRITTEN BY ROGER D HAMILTON AND CONTAINS NO INLINE | | ASSEMBLER CODE OR MATERIAL IN BREACH OF ANY COPYRIGHT, NOR ANY MUSICAL | | INTERPRETATIONS WHICH COULD BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH | | DTQ.EXE WAS COMPILED USING PowerBASIC by Spectra Publishing WITH FULL | | PERMISSION FROM Spectra Publishing to SELL SUCH COMPILATIONS | | DTQ is Copyright (c) May 1992 by Roger D Hamilton | | All rights reserved | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH GENERAL COMPUTER PROCEDURES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** RUNNING DTQ *** YOUR COMPUTER MUST HAVE A VGA VIDEO DISPLAY CAPABILITY ! ALTHOUGH NOT ESSENTIAL TO THE GAME PARTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE WRITTEN TO USE THE PgUp/PgDn KEYS IF YOUR COMPUTER KEYBOARD HAS THEM. To run this game simply type 'dtq' ie just the three letters. The game starts by looking for a Hi-score file called DTQ.DAT :- 1. It looks in the CURRENT DIRECTORY which should be that from which DTQ is being loaded. 2. If DTQ is loaded from disk then keep that disk in the drive and 'WRITE-ENABLED' via the small tab; - the score file is updated as you play. If you have removed the disk then the message, in red, "Score file required" will be displayed and the game will STOP, and you will be returned to the DOS prompt(or your 'SHELL' program), because DTQ will not function unless able to WRITE this file. If DTQ.DAT is simply missing then a starter file is written out, with the mesage 'Writing score file' displayed, and the program runs without ABORTING. Should this file ever become changed('CORRUPTED') then 'Bad file - restarting' will appear and, as before, DTQ will restart. 3. Should you try and play DTQ from a floppy disk drive whose disk is WRITE PROTECTED then the game will ABORT and the following message will be displayed [ Error 70 at pgm-ctr: 123006 ] This message means WRITE PROTECTED DISK ( see para 2 ) 4. DTQ.DAT keeps note of your position in the game, to which you are returned at a subsequent session; a 'HOT-KEY' facility in DTQ allows the player to renew this file should they wish, and start again. **** INSTALLATION/COPYING PROCEDURE **** If you are not familiar with the MS-DOS° commands for backing up or copying files then you can use the program provided on this disk : INSTALL.EXE - will both install and make backups NOTE : IF YOU ARE COPYING FOR ANOTHER PERSON REMEMBER TO COPY ALL THE FILES FOR REGISTRATION PURPOSES - DTQ IS NOT A FREE GIFT - IT MAY BE DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT CHARGE BUT IF KEPT FOR USE THEN A FEE IS REQUIRED. °MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation **** COMPILATION **** DTQ is a program written in PowerBASIC° and COMPILED to an EXEcutable, independently run game. Basic instructions 'normally' run under and depend on a machine code program known as an INTERPRETER. Compilers, in this case PowerBASIC, generate MACHINE CODE instructions which enable the program to run much faster and independent of the interpreter. This code is less efficient, greater in size and slower than 'LOWER-LEVEL' language compilation or ASSEMBLY. The Compilation Date and File Size of DTQ.EXE should be 05-03-92 5:17p and 199,111 bytes. DTQ supplied for distribution is in 8086 code to ensure that those who have computers with earlier PROCESSORS than 80286 can run it. I found no noticeable difference in speed between the two compilations - the 80286 version is available to those who REGISTER at no extra cost if they would prefer it. Any MODIFICATIONS that are required eg substitute your name and that of your computer - simply include details when Registering ( for RECOMPILATION ). See Register.doc on this disk. °PowerBASIC is a registered trademark of Spectra Publishing ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PLAYING DTQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DTQ is very simple being based on PAIRS. The name is derived from DEUX, TROIS, QUATRE - or Pairs, Threes, Fours. By using the CURSOR KEYS² to indicate your choice of position on the screen as depicted by the white square, in lieu of a cursor, the player tries to recall the respective hiding places of the ICONS available at any one stage of the game, as brought up using the SPACE bar. Should all icons displayed at any one turn be identical then each represents a point to a player and the icons in question are replaced by squares coloured green for yourself and red for the computer. Finding THREE or FOUR at a time may seem a very difficult task but like all things is easier with familiarity. The computer takes correspondingly longer to succeed as the number of CLONES to match up increases. At any one time the maximum SCORE available may be one of four TOTALS - viz 18, 24, 36 or 72; which gives 4 basic levels at Deux and Trois. QUATRE HAS ONLY 3 since 18 is not evenly divisible by 4. For each of these totals there are DIFFICULTY levels as indicated in the High-score table - two each for 18 and 24, three at 36 and four at 72. This gives a grand total of 31 STAGES at which you must score HIGHER than the COMPUTER to become the champ. Recalling icon emplacement on an empty screen may also seem disconcertingly hard to do especially at the higher scoring stages but as successful moves are made the coloured squares proliferating the screen help to GUIDE you; although finding your way about is as easy as you decide. You can use color spots(circles) instead of icons, but this may prove quite a bit harder as many of the shades are quite close. If your concentration is jaded then the effort to match these up may improve it dramatically. Under certain conditions you may use the TAB key, ONCE PER STAGE, to swap scores with the computer, to progress more rapidly to higher levels - see features below; this facility is only available in "MATCHMAKER" mode ie when a successful match is made then the player may CONTINUE with his turn until he/she or the computer fails to make any more matches. BUT you can't GUARANTEE to be able to use this PLOY to any effect; once the computer gets going there is a very good chance it may not stop until its score is at least HALF OF THAT POSSIBLE at any ONE stage, whereupon the facility is SWITCHED OFF. When you decide you have had enough press ESC; twice to EXIT the program or once to change options eg :- FULL KEYBOARD USE or CURSOR/SPACE KEYS ICONS or COLORED SPOTS * SHOW or NOT SHOW COMPUTER MOVES ALTERNATE MOVES(whether making matches or not) or NOT The HI-SCORE FILE/TABLE is automatically RESET to zero scoring as you go from Deux, to Trois, to Quatre. [ ² You may prefer to use the full keyboard, or as many keys as are required at any stage. The letters may serve to guide you visually and could be used as a MNEMONIC aid to recalling the icons 'lurking' there. By adopting the HOME POSITION on the keyboard using all fingers AS DESCRIBED IN TYPING TUTORS you can begin learning to TOUCH TYPE. ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEATURES OF DTQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** CLEAR VGA GRAPHICS *** It is a deliberate policy to give the whole screen over to game play rather than subdivide it for the sake of showing scores and other paraphernalia. The size of the game-play area is not prejudiced and distractions avoided. Game options are presented in a sequence of easy, 'friendly' mini-menus. For variety and added difficulty a 'library' of 72 icons, or their drawing instructions, is embedded in the code. Some are identical but for a relatively minor detail, again to add to the fun. 72 colored shades, many of which are also similar, may be used instead. For the sake of clarity and ease of use a CHARACTER SET of over 72 in number was designed to harmonize with and greatly enhance the pleasure of playing the game. Being flexible in both size and color it can be varied to present a colourful aspect, or shown in discreet shades to minimize distraction when DTQ is used in KEYBOARD MODE. *** KEYBOARD OR CURSOR KEY CONTROL *** Although cursor/space key operation is provided for users it is recommended that you try working with the FULL KEYBOARD; the large characters make the TRANSITION to typing easy on the eye and PROGRESSIVE; beginning with 18 and working up to 72, you may RAPIDLY learn to touch type at least as quickly as you did previously. If you already touch type then DTQ provides a nice game of patience and skill - and your typing may improve. Keypresses in DTQ are minimal, as you will discover; cursor movements use absolute coordinates and are positive, always providing the player with an immediate possible choice; messages of confirmation about matches made, or not made, are avoided. *** VARIATIONS ON PAIRS *** A greater challenge is incorporated in DTQ in that you are required to find THREE of a kind, if you get past the first 11 stages; and the last 9 stages require the player to find FOUR identical figures. *** PLAY/PRACTISE OPTIONS *** You may elect to PRACTISE any stage of DTQ, in which EXTRA DIFFICULTIES are available to try out. The player can experiment by keeping the computer moves INVISIBLE ie the computer has the benefit of 'SEEING' your moves while you note how well you fare keeping 'distractions' to a minimum. The player may also ALTERNATE moves with the computer for any advantage gained but, as noted below, SCORE SWAPPING is prohibited here. *** SCORING *** As well keeping a record of BEST SCORES for both PLAYER and COMPUTER, a running total of GAMES PLAYED, per SESSION, and POINTS GAINED totals for player and computer are also displayed; to present TWO CHALLENGES simultaneously. *** HOT KEYS *** ESC - use twice to EXIT the game or once to change the VARIOUS OPTIONS. TAB - if you feel like taking UNFAIR ADVANTAGE of the computer. If you are in "MATCHMAKER" mode, see "PLAYING DTQ" above, and the computer has not achieved HALF THE AVAILABLE POINTS, then you may SWAP SCORES. You have only ONE CHANCE PER STAGE to use this. PgUp- to help develop a rhythm or momentum then you can RESET the Hi-Score file/table to begin again at Deux, Level one; PLAY MODE ONLY. PgDn- while in PRACTISE MODE you can have a look at a RANDOM SELECTION OF ICONS in groups corresponding to the four score levels. It may be considered preferable to ignore this function and leave the surprise element in the game. If you have problems determining whether the color shades actually are all different then you can peruse the whole lot here. *** GAME POSITION *** The player's PROGRESS is RECORDED after each stage, thus the game may be ABANDONED, either by using ESC twice, or simply RESETTING the computer; the HI-SCORE file will remain intact in either instance, returning the player to that point in the game on a subsequent session. **** POSSIBLE BENEFITS ACCRUED FROM PLAYING DTQ **** As a SPIN-OFF from playing DTQ you MAY DERIVE the following benefits : - 1. Much improved power of recall - accurate reflexes necessary to play well at ARCADE games, for instance, are based on ACCURATE recall; as is success in more academic pursuits. 2. In conjunction with 1., the power to concentrate and eliminating 'faulty' observation, in part at least. 3. Use the keyboard to learn TOUCH TYPING or help establish confident finger work; assume the HOME KEY POSITION and gradually learn to Touch Type. Apart from the sense of ACHIEVEMENT in learning to type properly you will eventually benefit greatly from being able to sit at the computer and avoid all the unnecessary wasted effort and concentration continually "hunting & pecking" when you KNOW where the keys are already. 4. Develop a sense of PERIPHERAL VISION and SUBLIMINAL intake of information ie let your brain(or is it mind ?) work on 'auto-pilot' without trammelling up its workings in superficial 'shallow' concentration. Learn to trust your SUBCONSCIOUS ABILITY - eg You go to fetch something but half way there you realize that you have 'consciously' forgotten what it was; you stand transfixed trying to recall the object instead of continuing to follow your 'subconscious' and let it take you to the spot; another example, you are counting a large number of objects, identical ones like cans(beer ?) say, and you suddenly realize you have 'lost your place' and decide to go back to the beginning, when, with a bit of faith you could have carried on and it would have come back to you; remembering names and facts, another. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOME POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WHEN PLAYING DTQ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. At levels 1 to 3, if you are using the full keyboard, you may get no response when it is the your turn. This will be due to the fact you have CAPSLOCK engaged. Please note, at level 4 you will get lower case letters, when CAPSLOCK is engaged, by using SHIFT, unlike mechanical typewriters. 2. If you elect to play the computer when its moves are hidden, you will hear a beep when it fails to make the requisite matches. The computer move is very fast in this mode and you may wonder initially who's to do what next ! 3. If, at the last few moves in any one stage, you deliberately play idiotically ie bring up non-identical choices, it is quite likely the computer will emulate you. Play to win and so will the computer. 4. Should you run DTQ on a CPU whose speed is lower than 16MHz, then the introductory sequences may seem interminably slow. Even so, if you are patient the game-play will, in the main, be fast enough. 5. As 4. you may feel impatient to 'get on' with the next game, and dislike the breaks for score writing, total display etc. for being slow. If you play for an extended session you may find yourself recalling positions of icons(or color spots) from former games. It's perhaps best to take advantage of these breaks. 6. If you get the impression that there are more clones, color spot clones that is, than there should be, then go into practise mode and use PgDn to have a look. Could be an indication that your monitor is poor quality ? That's just a guess on my part ! There is a slight delay when the PgDn key is pressed before the icons or spots(2, 3, or 4 of each - depending whether you're practising D, T or Q) are shown. Space precludes me from going into technical explanations here.