The Best of Select: Games Special 3/cd.iso/dosgames/pileup-4/readme.txt

Text File | 1995-03-12 | 12KB | 278 lines

PILE-UP Version 4.0
Written in C by J.R.Mitchell.    1995.

The files that should accompany the pile-up game are :-

                   pileup-4.exe       executable
                  readme.wri       this document  (Windows Write version)
        readme.txt    this document  (Notepad version)
                   pile-up.dat        hi-score tables
                   pu1-4.dat        resource files
        pile-up.cfg    system configuration file
        pu_optns.dat    options configuration file
        pu_spr.dat    resource file
        pu-sys.dat    resource file
        install.exe    installation program (May not be
                 present on this Ver).

NOTE: The configuration file, 'pile-up.cfg' will probably not be present on
the disk, as it will be added, when the game is initially configured.
IF YOU PASS THIS GAME ON, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT 'PILE-UP.CFG' DOES NOT GO
WITH IT.

Introduction:
This document should acompany the program file, and gives instructions on
how to play this simple but addictive game. Firstly I would like to mention
that, as many of you will no doubt realise, this game bears a remarkable
similarity to a famous game of years gone by.
This version takes the basic ideas involved and improves them.

Instalation:
If this disk does not include an install program then you should copy all
the files to your hard disk, preferably to a directory called pileup, (or
something similar). If on the other hand there is an install program or
batch file, then please use it.
NOTE: if there is a file called 'pile-up.cfg',  please do not copy it to
your Hard Drive, or at least remove from the hard drive before running the
game. To run the install program, type a: or b: at the DOS prompt to log on
to whichever drive the disk is in, then type install and follow the on
screen prompts.

Loading the game:
To run the program from the DOS prompt, make sure you are in the correct
directory, (ie:- the one containging the game), and enter pileup-4 at the
dos prompt.

Configuration:
Upon running the program for the first time, it will set up a configuration
file, called pile-up.cfg. This file will contain data relevent to your
machines speed, and will help the program maintain a standard speed, no
matter how fast or slow the machine.
(the time taken for the configuration will vary depending on the speed of
the machine. Please follow on screen prompts).
NOTE: It is important for the program to be allowed to run the configuration
,especially when the program and its asociated files are transfered to a new
mahine. (If not, the game may act unreliably).
The program will run the configuration routine, providing the file, pile-up.
cfg, is not present. The program can be forced to re-configure, by using the
/c switch. ie:-
    pileup /c

WARNING!   Pileup is a DOS based game, and as such it may have problems
configuring itself if windows is running.  In particular the calibration
may suffer. As a guide you can check to see how long it takes for a block to
drop from the top of the play area to the bottom.
The approximate times are as follows :-
    level        time (secs)
       1           13 - 17
       2            8 - 12
       3            4 - 6
If the configuration procedure takes upto a minute and beyond, to complete,
then something about the system setup is creating havoc with the program.

In conclusion, it is best to run this game without windows running.

REMEMBER :  you can re-calibrate pileup-4 at any time, simply by adding the
/c switch

Other switches:
These are the alternative ways to run Pileup-4 :-
    pileup-4 /c    - (re-)calibrate game
    pileup-4 /jrm    - reset hi-score tables
    pileup-4 /?    - gives switch info
Please only use one switch at a time;  if you run the game with the
following command line :-
    pileup-4 /c /jrm
only the /c will be activated.

The /c switch provides a way to re-calibrate the game, if moved to another
system, or the current system's hardware is modified.
The /jrm switch allows you to clear the hiscore tables if the current scores
are too high to reach.

Playing the game:
The rules are simple. Use you skill to rotate, move and drop the blocks,
trying to make complete horizontal lines at the bottom of the play area.
Each full line created drops from the play area. The higher they pile the
harder it gets. Play continues untill no more blocks can be placed into the
play area. It pays to create as many full lines at once, (Max 4), as this
will greatly increase you score.

Options:
The main option screen has options that are selected using the arrow keys;
up and down to traverse the list, left and right to alter the changeable
options, and RETURN to select an option

    Option        Description
        ------------------------------------------------------
    Play        Play the game, with the selected settings
    Level        Speed of play, ( 4 = timer game, and is played
                         at the same speed as 2 )
    Height        Selects how many lines to randomly fill with
                         blocks
    Sound        Turns the sound on and off
    Keys        Allows the player to configure the playing keys
    Crazy        Adds a new element to the game, (Registered
                         version only)
    Hi-Scores    Shows the Hi-Score tables, (Only saved with
                    registered verion)
    Quit        Quit the game

Level :
The level option has 4 settings, which vary the games speed, and thus
difficulty. 1- slow, 3 fast.
Level four will play the 3 minute time game, and the speed will be the same
as level 2.
The level affects the points scored for lines made during play. So level 3
will give higher scores, but will be harder to play.
The game will gradually speed up as more blocks are used.
Level 4 : (3 minute game)
This game is a race against the clock. The timer will slowly get eaten away
and the game ends when you either run out of time or run out of room for
blocks. This level has a separate Hi-Score table.

Note:    the level that  is set when the game is quit, will be saved so that
it is the same the next time you play.

Height
The height option has 16 settings 0-15.  Each height adds a random line of
blocks to the play area, thus adding a further difficulty setting. A
selection of 0 adds no lines.
There are advantages to adding height lines.  For each of these lines that
you successfully remove from the play area, an additional score is added
when the game is complete.
Each height line removed adds 100 more points than the last line. So if you
played at height 10 and managed to remove 5 lines, the score that gets added
at the end of the game is worked out thus :-
    1st line        =    100
    2nd line        =     200
    3rd line        =    300
    4th line        =    400
    5th line        =     500
    total            =    1,500 pts

The maximum score for all 15 lines is  12,000 points.
So you can obviously score alot more, the higher you make the height setting
, but the harder it gets.
Different strategies of level and height, make for slight differences in
obtainable scores, and I will leave you to discover the relationship.
As with the level option, the height is saved to disk.

Sound
This option just selects sound or no sound, whichever you prefer. Some
systems may not be able to reproduce the sounds to a satisfiyng degree,
from the internal speaker, and you may prefer to leave the sound off.
As with the level and height options, the sound setting is saved to disk.

Keys
Use this option to configure the playing keys. some keys are not selectable,
like control keys and function keys, but this should not be a problem. Also
the chosen keys should not be Capital letters and the numeric pad keys
should not be set to arrows. Do not worry about this, as the Num Lock and
Caps Lock keys are forced on and off respectively.
Once you have selected the keys you wish to use, you will be asked if your
choice is correct; choose 'y' to return to the main option screen and 'n'
to reconfigure.

There are 3 special keys that cannot be selected. They are :-
    Space    -    used elswhere in the program
    p    -    used for pausing the game
    q    -    used for quiting a game in progress

As with the level, height and sound options, the keys you choose will be
saved for future games.
If for some reason the above options cannot be loaded when the game is run,
a set of default values will be assigned to them as follows :-
    key ( left )    4
    key ( right )    6
    key ( rotate )    8
    key ( drop )    5

These are the defualts for the other options, ( if the file fails to load).
    Level         2
    Height        0
    Sound        on
    Crazy        off

Hi-Scores
selecting this option will show the high score tables. If the main option
screen is left long enough, the hi-score screen will appear anyway. Hit any
key to leave this screen.
If at the end of the game a game you have scored enough points to be
included on the Hi-score table, then you will be given a chance to enter
your initials, (Max 3), and the score will be saved on the disk.
Enter your three initials carefully.  You won't get a second chance !
There are 2 Hi-Score tables, one for the standard type of games, (level 1-3)
, and one for the 3 minute game, (level 4).
NOTE: The Hi-score tables are only saved to disk on the registered version
of the game.

Pausing the game
While playing a game at levels 1-3, you can pause the game by pressing 'p'
This option is NOT available on level 4, the timer game.

Quitting a game
You can quit a game in progress by hitting q
The game will end as it would had you lost the game. If youre score
qualifies for the Hi-Score table, you will get to enter your initials.


            SHAREWARE NOTICE

If This program reports that it is a shareware product, it may be freely
distributed. Providing all the related files, listed at the start of this
document, are passed on with it. Feel free to upload the complete package
onto any BBS's or pass it on to your friends.
As with all shareware programs, you are requested, if you have not already
done so, to pay a small registration fee, that entitles you to the full
registered version, and any future versions of the the game that I may write
If on the other hand, this program does not issue the Sharware notice at the
start, then you have a registered version, which MUST NOT be distributed


NOTE: If you have access to the Internet or CIX , could you please send me
some e-mail, giving your opinions of the game
E-mail code:      [e-mail]


(Shareware version only)
REGISTRATION FEE:     5.00 UK Pounds
Please make your cheque payable to:

        MR J.R.MITCHELL

and send it to the following address:

           2 SALISBURY WAY
     THETFORD
           NORFOLK
           IP24 1EP
    ENGLAND

I would appreciate any comments or criticisms regarding this game, that may
help me improve it further. I would particulary like to hear about any bugs
I may have missed.

WARNING !!.  This software may have passed through many hands before
reaching you, and could have picked up a virus on the way. As such you are
advised to check this disk for viruses.

Oh well, you knew it was coming, but I really do have to mention the
following, so lets get it over with.....
I, J.R.Mitchell, can, and shall not be held liable for any damaged caused
directly or indirectly through the use or missuse or this software.


Thanks go to the following people for their efforts, in making this software
a success:
Sharon, my wife, for her patience while waiting for the game to be completed
, and for her uncanny ability to find new and wonderfull bugs....
Pat Kelly, Mick Holland, Irek Kalisz and Martin Green for thouroughly
playtesting it and giving their ideas and much needed criticism, and finaly,
Thetford Micro's, who graciously allowed me to use their various machines
for compatiblity testing.......

Enjoy

Jules..