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Text File | 1991-12-05 | 19KB | 529 lines

' Those who move among the Grid ' GridLock v 91.12.01 GridLock is a MODEM or NULL-MODEM two-player game. The game is won when you or your opponent is trapped, loses all health, or quits. GridLock - The Book ------------------- I will be writing a book, the story of GridLock. This will be a science fiction book detailing the life of ' Those who move among the Grid '. It will contain a complete description of the workings of the Grid, as well as hints and strategies from GridLock players. This will be available to anyone who writes me, at a minimal cost. If you wish to be one of those lucky few who will have their strategies included in the book, then write to me detailing strategy information and the history of your Grid player. Write to me for more information. Development and Testing ----------------------- GridLock was originally developed on an Amiga 1000 with 1.5 Meg, beginning in October of 1990. Now, over a year later, it is being developed on an Amiga 3000/25MHz with 6 Meg. GridLock has been tested on an A1000/512K, A1000/1.5Meg, A1000/2.5Meg, A500/5Meg, A2000HD/3Meg and on a A3000/4 Meg FAST/2 Meg CHIP memory. With success on all systems, though with SoundEffects ON, 512K may or may not be enough. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. GridLock has been modem tested with a Supra Modem 2400, USRobotics Courier HST and a ZyXEL 1496E modem. With success on all systems. No problems encountered with v32, v32bis, v42 or v42bis. Setting Up ---------- GridLock will not play properly if both players are not using the same version of GridLock. Most likely, GridLock will lock up if two different versions are being used. GridLock will now check if versions are compatible. This works as long as atleast one person is running this or a higher version. GridLock requires the IFF.library and the mathieeedoubbas.library in the LIBS: directory. The serial.device is required to be in the DEVS: directory. The following files should be contained in the same directory: GridLock 72616 bytes GridLock.info 3814 bytes GridLockData/GridLock.pic 16882 bytes GridLockData/GridLock.pic2 31554 bytes GridLockData/GridLock.RAW 8364 bytes GridLockData/Wall1.RAW 10724 bytes GridLockData/Wall2Wall.RAW 14984 bytes Note to 512K users ------------------ If you only have 512K of memory you will most likely encounter OUT OF MEMORY errors when beginning the game. If this is so, then put the SOUNDEFFECTS=NO option in your GridLock.cfg file. See below. For NULL-MODEM -------------- Connect both computers with a NULL-MODEM serial cable. WARNING! NEVER connect cables of any kind to your Amiga while the Amiga is turned on. To Run ------ From the SHELL type: GridLock OR Double-Click the GridLock icon from WorkBench. Starting -------- GridLock will detect if a modem is connected and will default to a baudrate of 2400. If no modem is connected a baudrate of 9600 will be the default. (See CONFIGURATION section for information on changing these default baudrates) The message window at the bottom of the title screen will read MODEM or NULL-MODEM, accordingly. If you have a modem connected but it is turned off the message window will display NULL-MODEM. If the default rate is not wanted then select the baudrate under the BAUD menu. Both computers must have the same baudrate for play. For MODEM use, - One player should select DIAL under the MODEM menu. This brings up a requestor in which the phone number should be entered. DIAL will automatically initiate the ATDT command. OR One player can select a phone number from the PHONE BOOK menu. These phone numbers can be stored in the configuration file. See the section regarding CONFIGURATION for more information. - The other player should select AUTO ANSWER ON under the MODEM menu. If this is already set on the modem, it need not be done again. AUTO ANSWER ON sends an ATS0=1 command to the modem by default. Auto Answer can be turned off by selecting AUTO ANSWER OFF under the MODEM menu. For NULL-MODEM use, - Ensure that the NULL-MODEM cable is connected and continue ... When both games are running at compatible baudrates and connection is detected, OPPONENT DETECTED will appear on the title screen. START may be selected from the GAME menu at this time. When one player selects START from the GAME menu, both games will begin. START may also be invoked through the keyboard equivalent 's'. Screen Areas ------------ View GridLock.doc.pic for locations of the different areas. Movement and Energy Beams ------------------------- All game play is controlled by mouse or joystick. To change the input device select the MOUSE/JOYSTICK menu from the PREFERENCES menu. Whatever is displayed is the selected input device. DEFAULT = JOYSTICK Use the direction controls (the blue arrows with no lines) to move your player. MOUSE: Clicking on the left mouse-button activates the selected direction. Holding the mouse button down and positioning the mouse pointer over any of the direction arrows will allow repeat movements, without having to click the mouse button for each movement. JOYSTICK: Push the joystick in the direction you wish to move. Holding the joystick in one direction will repeat movement in that direction. To the right of the direction controls are the energy beam generators, these are used to generate the walls in which to trap your opponent. These beams are not visible to your opponent unless he moves into them. You can not generate energy beams along the border of the grid. MOUSE: Select these gadgets in the same manner as above. JOYSTICK: Press fire and then push the joystick in the direction you wish to generate a low level beam. Opponent Activity Pulser ------------------------ At the top of the opponent health display is an activity pulser. This displays the activity level of your opponent. It has three different display methods. If your opponent is active this displays a three level sizing pulse (ie small / medium / large). After 9 seconds of inactivity this will change to a non-pulse display. When your opponent enters the health rejuvenation state (at 14 seconds) this will change to a 2 level pulse (ie dark / bright), and your opponents position will be displayed while remaining in this state. Health ------ A tone can be heard when your opponent moves into one of your energy beams. The energy beam will absorb energy from your opponent (decreasing his health) and will change from a low level energy beam to a high level beam. Indicated on the grid as a brighter beam. Watch for this, to determine where your opponent is. The last wall that your opponent has moved into will flash (on and off) for 15 seconds or until another wall is moved into. Generating a beam where an opponents beam is already located will cause a large health decrease. Health decreases work as follows: Move into opponents low-level beam: -2 health Move into opponents high-level beam: -0 health Generate beam over opponents low-level beam: -4 health + Generate beam over opponents high-level beam: -6 health + Health Rejuvenation ------------------- You may rejuvenate your health by stopping all movement for a period of 14 seconds. This will put you in the Rejuvenation state. Beware that, while in this state, your Grid position is shown on your opponent's display. This can have bad and good results. Health will rejuvenate at a rate of +4 health/second, to a maximum of 150. Teleportation Devices --------------------- Generating four low level beams around yourself in one grid sector will create a teleport, which will transport you to a random sector on the grid. Moving into one of these active teleports will have the same effect. These can be used to get you out of a tight spot, or to put you into one. You can not enter an opponent's teleport. A teleport is not created if you are not positioned inside the enclosed grid sector when you generate the fourth low level energy beam. MOUSE: Holding the left mouse button down and circling over the four energy beam direction arrows provides a quick way to make a teleport. JOYSTICK: Pressing the fire button and circling the four directions with the joystick provides a quick way to make a teleport. Pause Game ---------- To pause the game, select PAUSE from the GAME menu, this will signal the opponent's computer to pause as well. This option will display a message at the bottom of your screen, acknowledging that the game is paused. Press 'ESC' to return to the game. Your opponent cannot restart the game. The player who pauses the game must continue it as well. PAUSE may also be invoked through the keyboard equivalent 'p'. End Game -------- To leave the Grid, select END from the GAME menu, this will signal the opponent's computer to end as well. This option will display your opponent's position and his energy beams on your screen. Press any key to return to the title screen, where you may begin a new game. END may also be invoked through the keyboard equivalent 'e'. A new game can not begin until both players have returned to the title screen. If your opponent has not returned to the title screen the top message window will display OPPONENT BUSY. Start cannot be selected until this window reads OPPONENT READY. Quitting -------- From the title screen, select QUIT from the GRIDLOCK menu to quit the program. This will signal the opponent's computer that you have quit. Winning ------- If your opponent selects END GAME or loses all his health, the GridLock logo will appear in the center of your game board, press any key to display the opponent's position and energy beams on your screen. Sending Messages ---------------- At the title screen (after connection has been made) or during the game you can send messages to your opponent by pressing the SPACE-BAR. Doing so will bring up a message requestor. This message requestor supports left-right cursoring, auto insert, delete, and all characters except the quotation mark. Pressing RETURN terminates the message entry and sends the message to your opponent. Press 'ESC' to remove a message sent to you by your opponent. You can not continue play while entering a message, or when an opponent's message is displayed on your screen. Configuration ------------- A configuration file can be created with a text editor and stored with the name GridLock.cfg. A sample .cfg file has been included. If a configuration file can not be found or if any options are not used the stated defaults will be used. Configuration commands can be typed in upper or lower case or any combination of the two. Only characters with ASCII values from 32 to 122 will be accepted. Anything else will be ignored. A comment can be created in the configuration file by proceeding the line with an asterix symbol '*'. If an error is found in the configuration file. GridLock will display an error list. Giving the ERROR type and the line number it was found on. Any errors will be displayed but ignored by the game. In this case, the default values will be used. The following configuration commands are supported: BAUDMODEM= Description: this option allows the setting of the default baudrate for MODEM use. Valid values: 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 Default: 2400 Example: BAUDMODEM=2400 BAUDNULL= Description: this option allows the setting of the default baudrate for NULL-MODEM use. Valid values: 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 Default: 9600 Example: BAUDNULL=9600 PHONE= Description: this option allows the setting of up to 10 phone entries. Each time the option is used a new phone entry will be made. Syntax: PHONE=Text=PhoneNum Where: Text - is text to be displayed under the PHONE BOOK menu. PhoneNum - is a valid phone number to be dialed. Default: No phone entries. Example: PHONE=Johnny Who=555-1515 DIAL= Description: this option allows the setting of the modem code sent preceeding the entered phone number. Valid values: See your modem manual for valid entries. Default: ATDT Example: DIAL=ATDP AUTOANSWERON= Description: this option allows the setting of the modem code sent when AUTO ANSWER ON is selected from the MODEM menu. Valid values: See your modem manual for valid entries. Default: ATS0=1 Example: AUTOANSWERON=ATS0=1 AUTOANSWEROFF= Description: this option allows the setting of the modem code sent when AUTO ANSWER OFF is selected from the MODEM menu. Valid values: See your modem manual for valid entries. Default: ATS0=0 Example: AUTOANSWEROFF=ATS0=0 CONTROL= Description: this option allows the setting of the input device. This option is also available through the PREFERENCES menu. Valid values: JOYSTICK, MOUSE Default: JOYSTICK Example: CONTROL=MOUSE SOUNDEFFECTS= Description: this options allows the setting of the type of sound effects to use: YES (digitized sounds) or NO (tones). If you are experiencing OUT OF MEMORY ERRORS then set this to NO. Valid values: YES, NO Default: YES Example: SOUNDEFFECTS=NO BRIGHTNESS= Description: this option allows you to set the brightness level of the game screens. This option is also available through the PREFERENCES menu. Valid values: 0, 1, 2, 3 Default: 0 Example: BRIGHTNESS=3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legalness --------- GridLock is copyright c1990-1991 by Scotware\Software. The files included with this distribution may not be altered in any way. GridLock is released into the Public Domain for PLAY ONLY. The game concept and design remain the property of Scott Dhomas Trenn and Scotware\Software. Without written permission: This game may not be sold in any form, or be included on any disk with other programs being sold. It may not appear on any magazine disk. Permission is granted for this program to appear in the FRED FISH LIBRARY. Future Enhancements To Come --------------------------- - Configuration editor - Configurable colors - Default baudrates for phone book - Selectable grid designs - Grid design tool - End of game determination - Modem carrier drop detection - GridLock font - More Digitized sound effects - Music soundtrack - Demo mode - Save game - Energy levels - Transfer error checking - Playback of completed games (both players on one screen) - Explosives - Dead-spots - Energy failures - Option selection - and MORE... Known BUGS: ----------- - Weird things can happen if both players are at the same location and building beams and things. This will require changing some of the game method of play. Soon. - The game sometimes locks up upon first entering the Grid, requiring a reboot. Introduced this in this version. It does not happen often, infact it only seems to happen to me. Looking into it. - When using SOUNDEFFECTS=YES, the simple tones seem to disappear after awhile. Looking into this as well. Though it will not matter, soon, as all sounds will be replaced with digitized sound effects. - OPPONENT BUSY is sometimes not being displayed. Looking into this. - Available memory checks, when using SOUNDEFFECTS=YES, do not work all of the time. Looking into this. - Game decides to end all on its own. Happens rarely, but it has happened. PAL Users: ---------- I would be interested to hear from some PAL users. Is there anything I can do to make GridLock more presentable on PAL screens? Does GridLock even work on a PAL machine? Where to find me / Obtaining NEW VERSIONS ----------------------------------------- If you like this program and would like to reward me for my efforts, or for bug reports, program ideas, or questions, or just to tell me about where you live: I can be contacted on Northern Connection BBS (506)458-2651 under the USER ID 'Dhomas' or in writing at: Scott Dhomas Trenn Scotware\Software 24 Bradford Street Fredericton, NB CANADA E3B 5H7 For the latest version of GridLock, send me a disk and proper return postage, OR ... send me $2.00 (for a SONY BULK DISK) and proper return postage OR ... send me $2.00 plus enough money to cover return postage. Be sure to include the version number you are currently using, and the name of the program you want, so I do not send you a version you already have or a program you do not want. The version number can be found on the title screen just under the GridLock name, at the top of this .doc file just under the GridLock name, or by typing: Version GridLock at a shell prompt. It looks similar to v90.10.02 Do not send me NON-CANADIAN postage as it is no good to me. You would be surprised how many people think I can stick a Zimbabwee stamp on an envelope and send it from Canada. I may, or may not, respond to letters where proper return postage is not included. I am not a millionaire, yet, otherwise, I would pay it. When reporting bugs or errors generated when you run GridLock, please include any error numbers or line numbers given by GridLock and also the version number you are using. This will aid me in tracking down the problem. Thank-you. Thank Yous ---------- Thanks to the following people for their suggestions, bug reports and support: - Greg Patterson - Fredericton, NB CANADA - Nickey MacDonald - Fredericton, NB CANADA - The Shockwave Surfer - Fredericton, NB CANADA - Karl Hoyt - Saint John , NB CANADA - Todd Bailey - Fredericton, NB CANADA - - Dhomas Trenn.