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1996-09-28
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└───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┘
Pyramid Deluxe
Version 1.02
Copyright 1995-96 By Randy Rasa
18215 Troost
Olathe, KS 66062-9208
┌──────────────┐
│ Introduction │█
└──────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Pyramid Deluxe is a SuperVGA version of the well-loved solitaire
card game known as "Pyramid". The game is easy to learn, but
difficult to win, and offers plenty of room for skillful play. As
you play the game more, you'll find that there is more to it than
appears at first glance. It's damn addictive ...
Note: This document is intended to be viewed from DOS, and uses
DOS line-draw characters to spiff up its appearance. It
may look odd if viewed from Windows ...
┌────────────────┐
│ Included Files │█
└────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Refer to VENDINFO.DIZ for a list of all the files included with
Pyramid Deluxe. Of those, only the following are required to run:
PYRAMID.EXE ..... executable file
PYRAMID.RES ..... program resources
PYRAMID.CRD ..... card bitmaps
The remaining files may be deleted to save disk space.
┌───────────────────────┐
│ Hardware Requirements │█
└───────────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Pyramid Deluxe requires the following:
Processor: 386SX minumum, 486 preferred (the faster the better)
Video: SuperVGA capable of 640x480 at 256 colors
Memory: 256K minimum free, 600K preferred
XMS memory will be used if it is available
Mouse: Microsoft (or 100% compatible) pointing device
Disk Space: 600K, hard disk preferred
┌───────────────────────┐
│ Software Requirements │█
└───────────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Pyramid Deluxe requires MS-DOS version 3.0 or later. It is not
intended to run under Microsoft Windows or OS/2, but it probably
will. I have tested it under Windows 3.1, and it runs fine (although
if you switch to another window and back, Windows will get confused
and terminate this program). I have also tested it under Windows 95,
where it runs much better, without the problem mentioned above.
┌────────────┐
│ Disclaimer │█
└────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Yeah, this is the standard legal B.S. ... annoying but necessary,
I'm afraid. My apologies in advance.
This program is warranted to do nothing but take up space on your
hard disk. Randy Rasa may not be held liable for any loss or damage
to data and/or equipment by your use, whether proper or improper, of
this software. This product is provided AS IS. There are NO
warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied. By using
this program, you automatically CONSENT to the terms and conditions
of this disclaimer.
┌───────────────────────────┐
│ Distribution Requirements │█
└───────────────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
This program, as shareware, is meant to be freely distributed.
Please, pass it along to family, friends, and strangers alike. I
require only that the program be distributed in whole, with all of
its files unaltered and intact.
Refer to VENDOR.TXT for complete distribution requirements.
┌──────────────┐
│ Registration │█
└──────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Pyramid Deluxe is SHAREWARE! You may evaluate this program for a
reasonable period of time (typically 30 days), after which you must
either register with the author, or stop using the program.
Registration is only $15.00, for which you will receive a
registration code good for all future updates of this program, the
latest version on the diskette of your choice, and discounts on my
other games.
Prices and terms are subject to change without notice. If this file
is over a year old, you are encouraged to contact the author for
current registration information (and the latest version).
To register Pyramid Deluxe, please use the order form provided. You
may print the form (PYRAMID.FRM) by clicking the "Print
Registration Form" button in the "About" box. If no printer is
connected, you'll be asked if you wish to save the registration form
as a text file. If you say "yes", then PYRAMID.FRM will be saved in
current directory, and you may print it at a later time by typing the
following command from the DOS command line:
COPY PYRAMID.FRM PRN
You may also e-mail the form with a credit card order. If you do
this, attach the file to the message rather than including it as part
or the message text -- this will retain the form's formatting.
You may pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card. All
payments must be in US funds, and drawn on a US bank. Foreign
orders are encouraged to use international postal money orders.
EuroCheques are not accepted. Mastercard, VISA, and Discover
credit cards are accepted.
Note: If you are the author of any shareware programs, I'd be happy
to consider a registration trade. Please contact me before
placing your order, and let's talk about it!
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Differences Between Shareware And Registered Versions │█
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
The shareware version of Pyramid Deluxe is complete, fully
functional, and not crippled in any way. However, the program will
remind you that it's un-registered by displaying the "About" box
each time you run the program, and also by delaying a few seconds
when you exit.
When you register, you will recieve a registration code, which you
can enter by clicking on the "Register" button in the "About" box,
and entering your name and the code. Once you've done that, the
program will be "branded" with your name, and you won't be bothered
by any more delays or nags.
┌────────────────────────────┐
│ How To Play Pyramid Deluxe │█
└────────────────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
The game is begun by dealing 28 cards, face up, to the "tableau" in
the form of a pyramid (or triangle). The remaining 24 cards form
the "stock". The "waste" pile is initially empty. The layout will
look something like this:
┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐
│ │ │ │ │░░░│
│ │ ┌─┴─┬─┴─┐ │░░░│
└───┘ │ │ │ └───┘
Stock ┌─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┐ Waste
│ │ │ │
┌─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┐
│ │ │ │ │
┌─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┐
│ │ │ │ │ │
┌─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
┌─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┬─┴─┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
└───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┘
Tableau
The object of the game is to remove all the cards from the stock,
tableau, and waste. Cards are removed singly or in pairs that add
up to 13, regardless of suit. Kings count as 13, Queens as 12,
Jacks as 11, and all other cards as their face value (Ace = 1).
Examples of valid moves:
┌─────┐ ┌─────┐ ┌─────┐ ┌─────┐ ┌─────┐ ┌─────┐ ┌─────┐
│A┌───┴─┐ │2┌───┴─┐ │3┌───┴─┐ │4┌───┴─┐ │5┌───┴─┐ │6┌───┴─┐ │K │
│ │Q │ │ │J │ │ │10 │ │ │9 │ │ │8 │ │ │7 │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
││ │ ││ │ ││ │ ││ │ ││ │ ││ │ │ K│
└─┤ Q│ └─┤ J│ └─┤ 10│ └─┤ 9│ └─┤ 8│ └─┤ 7│ └─────┘
└─────┘ └─────┘ └─────┘ └─────┘ └─────┘ └─────┘
Only cards that are completely visible are available for play. In
the diagram above, only the top card of the stock and bottom seven
cards of the tableau are available. (The top card of the wastepile,
if any, is also available for play.)
If the top card of the stock cannot be played, move it to the
wastepile by clicking on the "deal" button (it's the one just to the
right of the stock, shaped like an arrow). You can also click the
right mouse button anywhere within the card area to deal the next
card.
When all the stock cards have been played or moved to the wastepile,
you can click once more to move all the cards from the waste back
into the stock. In this way, you can go through the deck three
times (this is shown on the bottom of the screen as "Deal x of 3",
where "x" is 1, 2, or 3).
┌───────┐
│ Hints │█
└───────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
If you're new to the game, or stumped (or just lazy <grin>), click
on the "Hint" button. You will be shown one possible move (if any
exist).
Note that this is not necessarily the *best* possible move, just the
first one that the program happens to find ...
┌────────────────────────┐
│ Pyramid Deluxe Options │█
└────────────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Pyramid Deluxe has several options that may be selected by clicking
on the "Options" button from the main screen. The following options
may be set:
General:
End-Of-Game Action: This option determines what happens after
each hand is won or lost. The possible setting are: "Do
Nothing", "Display Stats and Wait For Input", and "Display
Stats and Delay 3 Seconds".
Move Alert: Toggle this on or off to enable or disable the "move
alert" feature. If enabled, a red light will flash on the
"Hint" button if any moves are possible.
Background Color: Click this button to bring up a dialog box
from which you can choose a suitable background color for the
card area. Press Esc to exit the dialog without selecting a
new color.
Rules:
No options at this time ... (future)
Mouse:
Mouse Speed: This option allows you to adjust the mouse pointer
speed, from slow to fast. The speed you select will be
remembered, and recalled the next time you run the program.
Select "OK" to save the new option settings, or "Cancel" to restore
your previous settings.
┌──────────────────┐
│ Changing Players │█
└──────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Pyramid Deluxe will keep track of up to ten different players, and
allow each to have his or her own statistics and options. In
addition, there is also a player called "King Tut", which is used
only in demo mode.
To add a player, click on one of the numbered buttons to the left of
an empty players name (it will be displayed as "?"). This will
bring up a dialog that will ask you to enter your name, then a
second dialog will prompt you to select a picture for yourself.
Note: Players names may be up to 30 characters long, but it's best
to select a name of eight characters or less, since that is
all that there is room for on the main game screen. If you
have a particularly long name, use your initials ...
You can delete a player by highlighting the players name, then
clicking the "Delete" button.
You can clear the stats for a given player by first selecting the
player, and then clicking the "Clear Stats" button.
You can change a player's picture by clicking on the picture box and
selecting a new portrait.
To change players, simply select a new player, then click the "OK"
button.
If you've made a mistake (deleted the wrong plater, for example), or
changed your mind, you can click on the "Cancel" button, and it will
undo all your changes.
Note: You cannot change the player to "King Tut" -- he is reserved
only for demo mode. You also cannot delete him. You can,
however, clear his stats.
┌─────────┐
│ Scoring │█
└─────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
The game currently uses a simple one-point-per-card scoring method.
Other methods may be implemented in a future version.
The "Scores" dialog allows you to view your statistics, both in the
current session, and over all games played. You can also display
the stats for all players on a single screen, to compare yourself to
others.
┌───────────┐
│ Demo Mode │█
└───────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
When you click on the "Demo" button, the player will change to
"King Tut", and he will begin to play the game. He's not a
particularly intelligent player, but he's very persistent, and he
never misses a possible move.
He'll continue playing until you press a key. The "scores" dialog
will then pop up to show you his results.
As of the time of this writing, here are King Tut's stats on my
system:
Games Played: 6498
Games Won: 656 (10.10%)
Average Score: 37.81
Note: Demo mode can only be initiated when a game is not in
progress. If you're in the middle of a game, you'll have to
finish it before running the demo.
Note: Selecting demo mode ends the current players "session". When
demo mode ends, the previous player will be restored, and a
new session will begin.
┌──────────────────────┐
│ Command Line Options │█
└──────────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Pyramid Deluxe only has a few command-line options:
-h or -? = display command-line help
-s = convert the registered version to the shareware version
-x = don't use XMS memory
┌─────────────────┐
│ Version History │█
└─────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
1.00 09-05-95 First Public Release
1.01 01-28-96 Allow '-. characters in user's name.
Add OK & Cancel buttons to "Select A Color" dialog.
Added Windows icon (PYRAMID.ICO).
Added Windows setup program.
Allow mouse speed to be adjusted.
1.02 09-28-96 Simplified the registration code scheme.
Updated registration form and documentation to add
information about my newest games.
Removed DOS-based installation program; it wasn't
necessary -- just run PYRAMID.EXE.
┌────────────────┐
│ Future Changes │█
└────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
You tell me ... what do you want to see? Suggestions welcome!
Things I have in mind are:
■ Digital sound (WAV) support
■ Digital music (MIDI) support
■ Decent win/lose graphics
■ Alternate scoring methods
■ Tournement mode
┌─────────┐
│ Support │█
└─────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
I may be contacted by one of the following means:
World Wide Web: http://www.sky.net/~rrasa/sw.html
Internet: rrasa@sky.net (preferred)
randy.rasa@sound.com
randy.rasa@circellar.com
BBS: FoxFire BBS, 913-722-6577 (Official Support BBS)
Sound Advice BBS, 816-436-4516
The Nest Egg BBS, 913-492-2739
Snail Mail: Randy Rasa
18215 Troost
Olathe, KS 66062-9208
If you have any comments, suggestions, or problems with this program,
please contact me by one of the above means. I'd love to hear from you!
┌─────────┐
│ Credits │█
└─────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Concept, Design, Programming: Randy Rasa
Beta Testers: Les Blades
Dan Rosenthal
Michael Miller
Jesse Zuelly
Brad Sutcliffe
Robert Coffman III
Linda Rickman
Jim McGilton
Robert Rosenthal
Andrew Schendel
┌────────────────┐
│ Technical Info │█
└────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
The following tools were used during the development of Pyramid
Deluxe, and are highly recommended:
Borland C/C++, version 3.1
TGE (The Graphics Engine), by Matthew Hildebrand
(mhildeb@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca)
RES (Resource File Manager), by Matthew Hildebrand
(mhildeb@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca)
XMSIF (XMS Interface Library), by James Birdsall
(support@picarefy.com)
EXEVALID, by Brian Pirie
(brian@bpecomm.ocunix.on.ca)
┌──────────┐
│ Problems │█
└──────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Pyramid Deluxe is known to have the following problems (whether
these are "bugs", or "incompatibilities", or simply "limitations",
is a matter of interpretation): <g>
■ If you're running this program in a DOS shell from Windows 3.x, and
change to another window, and then back, Windows will report:
"This application has violated system integrity due to an
invalid page fault and will be terminated. Quit all
applications, quit Windows, and then restart your computer."
As far as I can tell, this is a problem with Windows 3.x and SuperVGA
programs in general, and is nothing specific to this program. My
best advice is to not run this program under Windows 3.x, and if you
do, to not switch windows ...
This problem does not occur under Windows 95.
┌─────────────────┐
│ Troubleshooting │█
└─────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
If you encounter a problem with running Pyramid Deluxe, look here
for possible solutions. If you cannot solve the problem, contact
the author for support.
Problem: The program doesn't recognize your mouse.
Solution: Make sure that the mouse driver is loaded. If you're
running under Windows, the driver should be loaded before
launching Windows (usually from CONFIG.SYS or
AUTOEXEC.BAT). As a quick check, type "mem /c/p" from the
DOS command line -- you should see MOUSE (or some
variation) listed as one of the memory-resident programs.
If it is not listed, refer to your mouse user's manual for
complete instructions on how to load it.
Problem: This program won't run with your video card.
Solution: First, are you sure that your card will support
640x480x256? Normally, this requires a SuperVGA card with
at least 512K of video memory. If your card doesn't
support this mode, then you can't run Pyramid Deluxe. :(
Second, is your card VESA-compatible? Perhaps your card
came with a utility program that allows it to emulate VESA
-- if so, use it.
If your card does not supply VESA support, either alone or
with a VESA utility, then contact the author (or search on
the Internet) for a freeware program called UNIVESA
(Universal VESA), which allows the vast majority of video
cards to emulate VESA video modes.
┌───────────────────────┐
│ Tested Configurations │█
└───────────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Pyramid Deluxe has been successfully tested on the following computers:
■ Pentium/166, 24M RAM, Diamond Stealth PCI video, Microsoft mouse
■ Pentium/100, 24M RAM, Diamond Stealth PCI video, Microsoft mouse
■ 486DX2/66, 8M RAM, Genoa VLB video, Microsoft mouse, Windows 95
■ 486DX2/66, 8M RAM, Microsoft mouse
■ 486DX2/50, 8M RAM, Trident VLB video, Logitech mouse
■ 386DX/33, 4M RAM, Trident video, Logitech mouse
■ 386SX/16, 4M RAM, Trident video, Dexxa mouse
■ 386SX/16, 8M RAM, ATI video, AAmazing mouse
┌────────────────────────────────┐
│ Catalog Of Games By Randy Rasa │█
└────────────────────────────────┘█
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
All of these games are available on FoxFire BBS (913-722-6577), or on
the World Wide Web at "http://www.sky.net/~rrasa/sw.html".
■ Solitaire Suite
A collection of seven classic solitaire card games, including
Calculation, Concentration, Idiot's Delight, Midnight Oil, Monte Carlo,
Osmosis, and Royal Cotillion. Requires EGA and a mouse.
■ Simple Pleasures
A collection of eight traditional and original solitaire card games
for DOS, featuring the same great graphics as Solitaire Suite, plus
hint mode and multi-player mode. Requires EGA and a mouse.
■ Four Seasons
This game is also known as "Corner Card", "Four Corners", and
"Vanishing Cross", and is an addictive solitaire game for Windows.
It is a full-featured solitaire, with auto move, undo, high score
lists, multimedia sound, and challenge scoring. The registered
version includes a bonus pack of extra sound effects. Requires
Windows 3.1 or later, and VBRUN200.DLL. A sound card is optional.
■ Poker Squares
This is an unusual solitaire game. Rather than simply rearranging
cards into a specific pattern, in this game the pattern is set from
the start -- a grid of twenty-five spaces, five rows of five columns
each. The object of the game is to deal twenty-five cards from the
deck, one by one, and place them onto the grid to form the best
possible poker hands in each of the rows, columns, and diagonals.
Hands are scored using either the American or English point system.
The game includes multimedia sound, statistics, extensive online
help, and lots of options for play. Requires Windows 3.1 or later,
and VBRUN200.DLL. A sound card is optional.
■ Chinese Solitaire
This is an original game, and combines the best elements of "Klondike"
and "Scorpion", two of the very best solitaires. Like all my games,
this one is full-featured, placing a strong emphasis on playability
and convenience features, including autoplay, an "easy" mode, full
statistics, selectable card backs and background color, sound effects,
and background music. The graphics and sound in this game are
particularly striking, reflecting the oriental theme hinted at in the
title. Requires Windows 3.1 or later, and VBRUN200.DLL. A sound card
is optional.
■ FoxFire 13 For DOS
This is an original solitaire game, similar in some ways to "Idiot's
Delight", but easier to win. Features full statistics, undo,
digital sound, and lots of options. The registered version includes
a bonus pack of extra sound effects. Requires EGA and a mouse. A
sound card is optional.
■ FoxFire 13 For Windows
This is a Windows version of the popular DOS game of the same name.
It also is extremely full-featured, with statistics, undo,
multimedia sound, and many options. The registered version includes
a bonus pack of extra sound effects. Requires Windows 3.x or later,
and VBRUN200.DLL. A sound card is optional.