IBM PC/XT/AT or compatible computer with 110K of free RAM, 80X24 column monitor.
Optional: Microsoft or compatible mouse, color monitor, printer.
Files: KC.EXE - program; SCORES.LOG - default score file; KC.INI - User adjustable initialization file ; KC.TXT - this text; KC.PIF - sample program information file for Windows 286/386 users
Overview
Kings Columns is a solitaire card game requiring a little strategy and planning. The cards are shuffled and laid out face up on a playing surface four rows deep by fourteen columns wide. No cards occupy column "B" at the start of the game. The object of the game is to rearrange the cards in ascending order within their own suits. Thus if the player is successful, all four aces will be in column "A" with their respective suits lined up ending with the king in column "M". The four intentional spaces left in column "B" allow the player to get started.
The rules are simple and straightforward:
1. Cards may only be moved to one of the four open spaces on the board.
2. Only Aces may be placed in column "A".
3. A card may be placed in any open space provided that the card to the left of the open space directly precedes the moving card in its suit (i.e. the 9 of clubs may be placed in an open space only if the 8 of clubs occupies the immediate space to the left).
4. No cards may be placed to the right of a King.
Version 2.0 Features
Several features are provided for the enjoyment of the user. Up to nine players may play against each other and/or against the computer. A score sheet is displayed at the end of each round that shows the current game score and the accumulated scores for all rounds played. This allows the players to play a multi round "match". A high score hall of fame is provided that displays the all time top 15 scores. An optional printout may be obtained for the hall of fame. The program fully supports the use of a Microsoft or compatible mouse.
Version 2.0 has some new features that make it more enjoyable to play. Options may be changed during play and saved as start up defaults. The changeable features include: toggling the sound on or off, changing the name of the high score history file, and permanently setting the monitor and printer types. The card movement commands have been simplified. With a mouse it is as simple as pointing to the card you want to move and clicking the left mouse button twice. Movement with the keyboard is just as easy by using the numeric keypad and pressing <Enter> twice.
Starting The Program
Type KC at the DOS prompt. The program will start by displaying a copyright message, description, the default parameters and a prompt for you to press any key. Note that the default parameters cannot be changed until you get into the playing screen. Press any key or the left mouse button and an animated screen will appear. After the soldiers have completed marching you will be prompted with the following questions:
How Many To Play(1-9)? Respond by pressing a key between 1 and 9.
Enter Player #1's Name : Respond by typing a name up to 12 characters then press Enter.
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Enter Player #X's Name: Continue Entering names of the players.
Can I play too? The computer asks if it may play. Answer by pressing "Y" or "N".
Same cards for each player? The computer asks this when there is more than one person playing. Answer by pressing "Y" if everyone is to play with the same deal or "N" if each person gets a new shuffle.
The screen will blank and a new one will appear with all of the cards laid out in a finished pattern. This is what the board should look like if the game is completed successfully. This is the Options/Setup screen. The numbers 1 to 4 that are listed down the left side of the screen are row labels. The letters A to N across the top are column labels. There is also a command bar listed across the bottom of the screen. The program always shows the available commands across the bottom of the screen. Any currently listed command may be executed except when the computer is waiting for a response to a question. All questions may be answered with a "Y" or "N". Pressing <Enter> means yes and <Esc> means no. The following describes each available command:
F1 - Help Pressing the F1 key displays a help/options screen. This screen shows all of the available commands and changeable system options. Pressing any key except for those listed immediately below exits the help mode. You will be asked if you want to save the start up parameters if any of the program parameters have been changed. Answer yes to make your changes permanent or no to use them for the current session only.
Pressing "S" while in this screen toggles the sound on and off.
Pressing "P" toggles the printer between Extended Graphics and Alphanumerics. If your printer is capable of printing the extended ASCII character set then leave this setting at "Character Graphics". A good rule of thumb is that most dot matrix printers that emulate an IBM Graphics printer will print the graphics set. An Epson printer running in Epson mode will print italic characters in place of the extended ASCII set. If you are unsure, leave the setting in Graphics. Change the setting if the printer prints junk.
Pressing "M" toggles the monitor between color and monochrome modes.
Pressing "F" allows you to change the name of the score file. Type a name up to eight characters without an extension, Kings Columns will automatically add a .LOG extension to it. Press <Esc> to exit without changing the file name. You may edit typographical errors by backspacing over the current text.
Pressing "R" displays a brief set of rules and describes how the game is scored.
F2 - Play Game Pressing the F2 key tells the computer to shuffle the cards and start a game. See "Playing a game" for a full description of how to play the game.
F3 - Change Players Pressing F3 causes the computer to go through the start up questions listed above. This allows the amount and names of the players to be changed without having to restart the program.
F10 - Quit Pressing the F10 key ends the program and returns you to DOS.
Playing A Game
Press F2 from the Options/Setup screen. The computer will then shuffle, clear the screen and deal the cards onto the board. This is the playscreen. Version 2.0 eliminates having to type in row and column coordinates by using the numeric keypad, or arrow keys, for cursor control (keyboard play is now almost as easy as using the mouse!). A new menu bar will appear with the play commands:
Arrow Keys Pressing a key on the numeric keypad (1-9) will cause the highlight cursor to move one space in the corresponding direction on the screen. I.E. if the cursor is at column C, row 2 and you press the PgUp key, the cursor will move up and to the right one space.
<Enter> Pressing enter selects the highlighted card and causes the computer to find where it goes. It will place a highlight on the corresponding legal position to where the card may move. Press enter again to confirm and the move takes place.
<Esc>=quit Pressing the Esc key ends the current players round. This key is used only to terminate a round early. The computer normally knows when no more moves can be made and will end a players round automatically.
X=cancel command Pressing "X" will cancel any move sequence currently displayed on the screen. This is useful if you have made a selection error or change your mind about the card that you want to move. Note: once a card is moved it cannot be moved back, that's cheating!
F1 - Help Displays the help screen listed above.
The screen also displays some other useful information. A running tally of the current game score is listed in the upper right hand corner. The score will change as the player makes moves. The first six characters of the current players' name is listed directly below the score. The space above the command line displays messages from the computer. The first message that appears is "Select the card that you wish to move". This is the computer asking for a card selection or menu command. Choose a card to move by moving the cursor to its row and column location and pressing <Enter>. The display will propose a location to move the card to and will prompt with the message "Select where to move to". Press <Enter> to select the proposed location, move the cursor (aces only) if you want a different location or press X to cancel the move. Pressing <Enter> will cause the computer to move the card if it is to a legal position or will display an error message if not. Continue playing until no more cards can be moved. The computer will display your score automatically and prompt for the next player or to show the score sheet.
Using A Microsoft Compatible Mouse
All commands except for entering the number of players and their names are supported by the mouse. Just position the cursor over the menu or highlighted item and click the left mouse button. Moving the cards is as simple as pointing the mouse at the card to move, pressing the left button to select the card, and pressing the left button again to accept the computers proposed move. Cancel a move in progress by positioning the cursor over the "X = Cancel" portion of the menu bar and pressing the left mouse button. Move a selected ace to a different column 'A' location by positioning the mouse cursor in the desired position and clicking the left mouse button.
The options menu can also be controlled with the mouse. Select the help command by pressing F1 or clicking on the "Help" command to get the help screen. Click on the highlighted words to toggle those functions.
Scoring
The maximum possible score is 100 points per round. One point is awarded for each card found in series with another card in its suit (i.e one point is scored if the 9 of clubs is lined up on the right side of the 8 of clubs). The first card in the row does not score a point, it takes at least two cards to score. An ace moved to column "A" scores one point. Any card placed after the ace in order will score double. This means that if an ace of diamonds is placed in column "A" and the player manages to line up the 2, 3, and 4 of diamonds directly behind it, seven points are scored (one point for the ace and two points for each of the three cards lined up behind).
Tips on Strategy
It pays to try to get the aces to column "A". Try to plan several moves ahead to see what the consequences are for moving a particular card. Try to manipulate the cards into positions that will work to your advantage. Avoid stacking all of the face cards up in one area.
How Smart Is The Computer Anyway?
The computer is not really that smart. It will typically score around 30 points on the average. It just looks to see which move has the best long term benefits. It is not smart with the face cards.
Diskette Availability
Update diskettes are provided in 5.25", 360KB format. 3.5", 720KB diskettes can be provided by letting us know in writing and including an extra $2.00 to cover the costs of the diskettes and extra postage.
Disclaimer/ Warranty
The author of this software cannot assume any liability for damages or lost files caused by the use or misuse of this product. The recommended registration/ contribution entitles the user to free support including one year of updates from the date of registration. For a period of 30 days, any update disk received by the user that proves defective will be replaced free of charge. Please include full description of the problem with your correspondence. Any suggestions, comments, and criticisms are welcome. Please direct all correspondence to the address on page one. Please let us know so that we may improve this product in the future.
A note to Windows 286/386 users: The file KC.PIF has been included for use on a hard disk from within the Windows environment. Create the directory C:\GAMES\KINGSCOL and copy A:*.* to it. The program will run directly out of windows. Windows 386 users may wish to select the "Exclusive" box in the PIF editor to improve the performance of Kings Columns.
Copyright Notice
This product including the software and manual are copyrighted material. Any unauthorized mass reproduction and/or distribution is prohibited without written consent from the author. Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation, IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
