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Text File | 1997-02-28 | 13.1 KB | 327 lines

Matrix Version 2.2 Documentation Copyright(c) 1997 Tim Truman Tim Truman 110 Homestead Ave. Springfield, MA 01151 United States of America FAX (413) 543-9181 Voice (413) 543-3237 Compuserve -74734, 2203 AOL - Tim Truman Internet - TimTruman@AOL.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- What's new since Matrix 2.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bugs, They always show up. Version 2.1 went out with a few good ones and a few new ones croped up with WIN 95. Here's the report: (1) Program failure when using the RECORD mode (ALL OS's). Matrix would stop executing if an illegal name was used during a recording session or if you tried to back out of using the record mode. Now pressing the ESC key or Enter key without a name will return you to the options screen. (2) No mouse control (Win 95). Full mouse control has been restored under Windows 95 without affecting operation under DOS or Windows 3.1. (3) Erratic Gamepad operation (Win 95). Still working on this on. If you prefer using the gamepad your best best is to run Matrix in DOS mode. (4) Screen Flashes (Win 95) The screen may flash after a line is cleared. Some machines do this and others do not. Still investigating this phenomenon. If this is a problem you can play Matrix normally by running it in DOS mode. (Quick Fix -turn off the sound when in WIN-95) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- System Requirements ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- An IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or a 100% compatible with at least 512K of system ram, a VGA graphics card and at least 500k bytes of free hard disk space. Recommend a 386 or higher processor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Registration & Source ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- You have the complete uncripled version of Matrix. Matrix is shareware. This means you can try it before you buy it. If you like it please consider sending a small amount of money to help the author continue making programs of this quality. $4.00 dollars would be nice but send any amount feel you comfortable with. You can send the money to: Tim Truman 110 Homestead Ave. Spfld, MA 01151 USA Matrix was written in QuickBASIC 4.5. Source code is available upon request. See orderfrm.txt for details. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Getting started ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -DOS- Enter in "Matrix" at the DOS command line, including any optional switches you may wish to use. For a list of command line options enter "Matrix /?" at the DOS prompt. -Windows- Double click on the Matrix.exe file. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Control ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >---- Gamepad Because of the control the gamepad delivers it's the preferred input device. The direction pad will move pointers, make menu selections, and move play pieces. The buttons do the following : Button 1 - rotate piece counter clockwise / press option button Button 2 - rotate piece counter clockwise / press option button Button 3 - Escape / menu Button 4 - Toggle slam mode To use the gamepad for play enter "Matrix/g" at the prompt. Or press the F2 key during either the options screen or during the game. If the game goes bezerk because of a bad calibration hold both button 1 and button 2 down simultaneously. This will force a recalibration. >---- Mouse If you prefer the mouse, move it to control pointers, move through menu lists, and move play pieces side to side. The mouse buttons do the following: Left - Presses buttons / Rotates play pieces clockwise Right - Drops play piece Middle - Rotates pieces Counterclockwise (3 button mice only) The mouse is automatically detected and available for play. Move the mouse up and down and press the left button to make menu selections. >---- Keyboard The keyboard allows access to some of the games other features. And of course, you can play the game with it too. Here's what the keys do : Esc - Menu F1 - Help F2 - Activate / Calibrate gamepad or joystick F3 - Awesome screen saver F4 - Shell to DOS F12 - Radical quit to DOS (Here comes the boss!) Insert - Toggle slam mode (pieces land fast!) / - Menu 8 - Rotate play piece clockwise 4 5 6 - Move left , rotate piece or press button , move right 2 - Move down 0 . - Toggle slam mode, Toggle sound on/off /\ < \/ > - Move play pieces ,pointers, and make menu selections Spacebar - Presses buttons , Rotates play pieces clockwise. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Using the option Screen ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Use your preferred input device to move the cursor around and make your selections. Here's what the buttons will do: Scenario - Load a preconfigured game. LoadGame - Play a game that you saved earlier. Play Demo - Play a demo file. Record Demo - Record a game to review later. Slam - Set slam mode on or off Level - Select the level you wish to start playing at. Handicap - Fills the play pit up with selected amount of rows. Piece Type - Carved or block type pieces can be played with. Pit color - Pieces can change color when they hit bottom. Sound Mode - Too loud ? Turn off the sound ! Play Matrix - Start the game with the selected options. Palette - Move the cursor above the 'Play Demo' button and press. Personal Favorite: Load in the darkcent palette. Select carved type pieces and a multicolor pit. LightBrites! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Playing The Game ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Try to get the falling pieces to fit as best as you possibly can to form complete rows in the pit. When a completed row is formed that row will be cleared and all blocks above that row will fall down making room for more pieces. The gamescore is calculated from a combination of several variables. The level, what row the piece lands in, and how lines are cleared. Points are given every time a piece lands in the pit. The higher the level and the higher it lands the more points received. The score received is indicated to the right of the pit at the row the piece landed. Every 30 lines that are cleared increment the level by 1 and the amount of time it takes for the pieces to drop is decreased. When a level change occurs bonus points will appear at the bottom of the pit and add to your score. Bonus points are calculated by the following line clears : Number of Lines cleared Called Points ------------------------------------------------ 1 Single 100 2 Double 400 3 Triple 900 4 Matrix 2500 Obviously more Matrix's means higher bonuses adding to the score. Strive for these if you can. If you see the pit flash at any time during the game you have beaten the current highscore. When you can no longer stack pieces within the confines of the pit the game is over. If you have beaten a highscore you will be able to enter your name in the Matrix Hall of Fame. Pressing the escape key at any time during the game will bring up the Menu. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Playing a Scenario ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The game changes a little if you load a scenario. Try and remove all the blocks with an 's' in them. Accomplish this using as few pieces as possible. If the top of the pit is reached the game will be over. But if you can clear the marked blocks out of the pit and have done so in fewer moves than an opponent, you can enter your name in this scenario's low score screen. (the lower the score the better). By the way, each scenario has it's own low score screen. Pressing the escape key at any time during the game will bring up the Menu. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Using The Menu ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pressing the button 4 on the game-pad or the escape key brings up a menu. From this menu you can : () Escape to DOS () Save the current game (during game play only) () Restart Matrix () Return (leave menu with no action ) If you select the "Save Game" option and you will be asked to enter a name to save the game under. Enter your name or something like that. When finished you will be returned to a paused game . Press any key to get it started again. Later, you can load the saved game from the option screen. When you restart a saved game the last piece that was in play will appear. All pieces after that piece will have been the same as if you had never stoped playing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Know the Codes ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- During the game you can type in these cheat codes. The caps lock should be off. If you think you have made a mistake press the 'enter' key a few times to clear the last code that was typed in. dropoff - Pieces will stop falling. dropon - Pieces will start falling again. matrix - This will clear out the four bottom rows from the pit. A great way to drop the pit level if your in a jam. password - This code will allow you to enter a password. Next time you try to enter a cheat code you will be prompted for it. If you forget your password just delete the Matrix.pas file and you will be able to enter a new one. score - After entering this code you will be prompted for a value to add to your score. Type in any value from 0 to 999999 and press enter. single - This will clear out the bottom row from the pit. upactive - Changes the default status of the up and eight key so you can move the playpiece upwards. viewcredits - Let's you view the credits screen without playing the neccesary levels. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Windows 3.xx and Win 95 considerations ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Although I recommend running Matrix in DOS you may find Matrix runs well under Windows. There is a Matrix icon included to add to a program group of your choice. If you have trouble running matrix under windows please contact me and I will do my best to get it running well for you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Trouble Shooting ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- P - problem S - possible solution P. Any of the problems below or otherwise. S. Try quitting Windows and starting Matrix from DOS. P. Pieces flip on there own when using the keyboard. S. (1) On slower computers keyboard presses cause the gamepad values to change. Use the gamepad or start Matrix without enabling it. (2) Something is running in the background in windows. Quit windows and start Matrix from DOS. P. Gamepad buttons don't seem to act correctly. S. Make sure controller switches are set correctly. For right hand operation the cable should be at the top. Set the top switch away from cable and the bottom switch towards the colored buttons. Lefties turn the gamepad so the cable is at the bottom. Set the top switch toward the colored buttons and the bottom switch toward the cable. P. Gamepad acts erratically. S. Hit the F2 key to recalibrate the gamepad. If keyboard input is impossible hold both button 1 and button 2 simultaneously. P. Gamepad action is jerky. S. (1) Quit Windows and start Matrix from DOS. (2) The turbo button was hit during a game. P. Screens disappear before they can be read. S. (1) Press the F2 key to recalibrate the gamepad. (2) Don't move the mouse, hold down on the gamepad or press the keyboard. (3) Use the 'm' switch to disable the mouse P. Demos stop playing or don't play back correctly. S. The file is probably corrupted.Erase it and make a new one. Recording a demo with under Windows running probably being the culprit. P. Problems with mouse. S. (1) Try an different or updated mouse driver. (2) Use the 'm' switch to disable the mouse.