Black Box 4/BlackBox.cdr/bbs_door/mx102.arj/MASTERIX.DOC

Text File | 1992-02-24 | 12KB | 293 lines

    ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐
    │ M │ │ A │ │ S │ │ T │ │ E │ │ R │ │ I │ │ X │
    └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘ └───┘

     The Ultimate Game of Strategy
     Version 1.00

     Copyright (c) 1992 by Master Software


     Master Software
     c/o Richard D. Rost
     74 Lemans Dr., Lwr
     Depew NY 14043
     716/656-8563 voice
     716/656-8573 BBS


     Written using Turbo C v2.0





MASTERIX


     Masterix is designed to be an interactive game of strategy
     between BBS (computer Bulletin Board System) users and the
     computer itself. There are unlimited levels of play, and a
     score listing (aka the Hall of Fame) is kept so that users
     may compete with each other for the highest score.
     Masterix's logic-oriented strategy should keep players on
     their toes for quite some time.

     Users may challenge the computer and try for their name in
     the Hall of Fame, or they may play against another user (in
     real-time, if there is another user present with him), or
     even play against the sysop himself, if he's available.

     Masterix is designed to be used with Wayne Bell's WWIV v4.xx
     BBS (c) software. Because WWIV handles IO redirection, this
     program does not contain any built-in modem drivers. See
     SETUP below.


STRATEGY

     Masterix is played on a board, or "matrix" which is an 8 x 6
     grid on the computer terminal. Each player is granted 24
     game pieces, or "units", and must acquire points by
     destroying and/or capturing his opponent's units. Players
     alternate until no possible moves remain, at which time the
     player with the highest score wins. If it is a one-player
     game, and the user wins, he is able to advance to the next
     difficulty "level" and add to his score.


STARTUP

     The first thing you are asked to do is activate your NUM
     LOCK key. This is important. Cursor codes cannot be easily
     transmitted via a modem, so MASTERIX is played using your
     numerical keypad and number values. If you do not have a
     keypad, don't panic. You'll still be able to play. See
     MOVING UNITS below for help.

     Next, MASTERIX's introductory screen is displayed. It will
     show the current version of the program, followed by a
     copyright notice, and a Shareware registration notice
     (either "Unregistered copy" or "Registered to...").

     You are then asked if you would like instructions on how to
     play MASTERIX. This is the text file that is printed for
     instructional purposes. You can abort at any time by
     pressing any key WHILE the text is scrolling on the page.

     Next, enter the number of players you wish to have play. If
     you select ONE player, you will be pitted against Masterix
     himself (the computer) and will be allowed to try and get on
     the Hall of Fame. If you select TWO players, you may play
     against someone else (if they are there with you), or the
     sysop (if he is around, and wishes to play). You will NOT be
     able to qualify for the Hall of Fame if you play in TWO
     player mode.

     You are next asked to input your name (or names, if in TWO
     player mode). Your name will be truncated to eleven (11)
     characters. You can bypass entering a name by simply
     pressing the [RETURN] key, in which case your name will be,
     properly enough, "Player 1". (Don't worry, though. If you
     make the Hall of Fame, you can change it then.)

     Finally, THE MATRIX is displayed. You will notice that you
     will have 24 blue units randomly placed with Masterix's 24
     red units somewhere on the matrix. (NOTE: non-color users
     can still play Masterix; the blue and red units have
     different-sized chaacters.)

     To the sides of the matrix are yours and Masterix's (or
     player TWO's) statistics, including (in order), name,
     designation (i.e. "Blue" or "Red"), score THIS round, and
     percentage of the matrix which you "own". In later rounds
     (higher levels) you will notice your TOTAL score above your
     name. See SCORING below.


MOVING UNITS

     The object of Masterix is to destroy/capture your opponent's
     units and cover the matrix with your own. You do this by
     "jump"ing one of your units onto a space in which one of
     your oppoent's units rests. In doing so, you destroy his
     unit, and capture any of his units directly adjacent to that
     space.

     Sound complicated enough? It's really quite easy. Take a
     look at this diagram below (red is represented by 'R', and
     blue 'B'):


            1   2   3   4   5
          ┌───┬───┬───┬───┬───┐    In this example, it is BLUE's
       a  │ R │   │   │   │ R │    turn. He can move one unit in
          ├───┼───┼───┼───┼───┤    one direction, so long as he
       b  │ R │ R │   │ B │   │    lands on a space occupied by
          ├───┼───┼───┼───┼───┤    an opponent's unit. He decides
       c  │   │   │ R │ R │ B │    to move his unit (d,3) to
          ├───┼───┼───┼───┼───┤    (c,3).
       d  │   │ B │ B │ B │ B │
          └───┴───┴───┴───┴───┘


            1   2   3   4   5
          ┌───┬───┬───┬───┬───┐    Now, BLUE loses possession of
       a  │ R │   │   │   │ R │    space (d,3) because he moved
          ├───┼───┼───┼───┼───┤    his unit to (c,3), but he then
       b  │ R │ B │   │ B │   │    captures any RED units which
          ├───┼───┼───┼───┼───┤    are adjacent to (c,3), which
       c  │   │   │ B │ B │ B │    is - in this example,  (b,2),
          ├───┼───┼───┼───┼───┤    and (c,4). It is now RED's
       d  │   │ B │   │ B │ B │    turn to move. Etc...
          └───┴───┴───┴───┴───┘

     Both sides continue to move in this fashion until there are
     no more possible moves left (the computer will notify you of
     when this has occured.).

     If you still find this confusing, think of it like a bomb.
     You drop one of your bombs on an enemy territory and destroy
     not only the square in which you land, but also every enemy
     unit in the adjacent squares to where you land. Get it now?
     The maximum "kills" for one attack is eight (8). In other
     words, you can capture at most eight enemy units (actually,
     you're destroying one and capturing the rest.)

     On the game matrix, you move your selection box around the
     screen with the numerical keypad.

                    7         8         9

                    4         .         6

                    1         2         3

     Eight (8) is straight up, and two (2) is straight down. You
     may also move diagonally and horizontally. You may also move
     your CURSOR BOX off one end of the matrix and appear on the
     opposide side. (NOTE: your units CANNOT move off the edges
     of the matrix, nor are you allowed to jump a move off the
     end onto the other side.)

     The "five (5)" key is used to represent the [RETURN] key. If
     you find this easier than hitting return, please do so. If
     not, make SURE you don't accidentally hit it!

     Once you have selected the unit you wish to move, hit
     [RETURN] (or 5). Your unit's box will then be highlighted
     with bright white. You CANNOT select a unit which has no
     possible jumps.


JUMPING

     Once you have selected your MOVE unit, you must select a
     JUMP target. This can be any on of your opponent's units in
     a space directly adjacent to your own. To select, press the
     keypad number which indicates the direction of your jump
     (i.e. eight (8) to jump vertically up, seven (7) to jump up
     and to the left, etc.) Your JUMP indication is RELATIVE TO
     YOUR MOVE POSITION. For example, if you select a JUMP with
     seven (7) and your first JUMP box appears up and to the
     right of your MOVE box, pressing two (2) will move the JUMP
     box to position two (and not down to position four as you
     may think).

     After you have selected the best JUMP for you, press
     [RETURN] (or 5) and the computer will automatically
     calculate how many captures you get, and award you points
     for them (see SCORING, below). It is then Masterix's (player
     TWO's) turn. This procedure repeats until there are no moves
     left.

     If this STILL sounds confusing to you, my best advice to you
     is to just go ahead and play a few games and then read these
     DOCs again. You'll have a fresh perspective on the game (and
     a little more insight as to some of the mechanics). If you
     are a sysop, remember that MASTERIX does not NEED to be run
     with your BBS program, and can be a fun standalone game.
     Users, ask your sysop to make Masterix available for you to
     download so you can practice on your own.


SCORING

     In the ONE-player mode, you are granted 2 points/level for
     each capture/termination of your opponent's units. After all
     possible moves have been made, you are also granted 1
     point/level for each unit you have remaining on the matrix.
     (For example, if you're playing LEVEL 4, each kill is worth
     8 points, and each unit you have left is worth 4 bonus
     points. Likewise, on level 10, each kill is worth 20, and
     bonus points are worth 10.)

     Throughout the game, you can also see how much of the matrix
     you own. This is merely to give you a feeling of how
     good/bad you are doing. The winner of the round is whoever
     finishes with the most POINTS.

     You are only awarded your points AFTER you have sucessfully
     completed a level. For example, if you acquire 400 points
     and finish level 6, but are defeated in level 7, you don't
     get any points that you acquired while playing level 7.
     Likewise, unless you finish at least the first level, you
     won't get ANY points!!!

     In the event of a tie, you must REPLAY the current level,
     and receive no points.

     Of all things, be careful once you start to go into the
     higher levels (7-10). Masterix has been painstakingly
     programmed with a logic circuit that becomes harder and
     harder to beat. Just like some chess programs, Masterix will
     actually scan for all possible moves and determine which is
     the best for him to make. His ability to do this increases
     in accuracy as you approach level ten (10).


THE HALL OF FAME

     In ONE-player mode, you can try and make it on the Hall of
     Fame, which is a listing of the ten best scorers on your
     system.

     Masterix comes with no user listing, but upon completion of
     your first game, a file (SCORES.DAT) will be written to the
     current working directory (which should be where
     MASTERIX.EXE is located). After that, if you ever wish to
     reset the Hall of Fame, merely DELete SCORES.DAT.

     SCORES.DAT is stored in machine format, and is not editable
     with a text editor. A sysop-editor may be released in the
     future, if there is demand (i.e. if enough users say, "yes,
     we'd like one!!!").

     Oh, by the way, the Hall of Fame lists: Number, Name (11
     char), Score, and last Level competed.



CONCLUSION

     Well, that's about it. If you have any problems or
     suggestions, please feel free to write to us! I can be
     reached at

          DaarKhan #1 @7653 WWIVnet

     I love hearing from users who enjoy my work. Register your
     copy and make me feel REAL good!




     SUPPORT THE SHAREWARE CONCEPT!




                                                  RDR/mpr
                                                  2/5/92
                                                  06:07:00