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Text File | 1999-07-24 | 51.5 KB | 1,120 lines

Note: this text file was created with a DOS text editor and contains ASCII characters that most Windows viewers and editors don't support. It is meant to be read from inside the CyberBox program itself. T H E C O N T I N U I N G A D V E N T U R E S O F . . . . . ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓. ▓▓. ▓▓ ∙ ▓▓▓▓▓▓. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓∙ .▓▓▓▓▓▓. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓. ▓▓ . ▓▓ ▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒ .▓▓ . ▓▓▒. ▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒. ▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒. ▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒. ▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒ .▓▓▒▓▓▒. ▓▓▒. ▒▒▒ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒ ▓▓▒. ▓▓▒ .▓▓▒∙ . ▓▓▒ .▓▓▒ ▓▓▒ .▓▓▒ ∙▓▓▒ ▓▓▒. .▓▓▓▒. ▓▓▒. . . ▒▒▓▓▒▒▒ .▓▓▓▓▓▓▒. ▓▓▓▓▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒ .▓▓▓▓▓▓▒. ▓▓▒. ▓▓▒ . ▓▒. ▓▓▒ . .▓▓▒. . ▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒ ▓▓▒▒▒▒▒. ▓▓▓▓▓▒. ▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒. ▓▓▒ ▓▓▒ ▓▓▓▒. ▓▓▒. ▓▓ ∙ ▓▓▒ .▓▓▒ .▓▓▒. ▓▓▒ .▓▓▒▒▓▓▒ ▓▓▒. ▓▓▒ .▓▓▒ .▓▓▒ .▓▓▒▓▓▒. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒. ∙. ▓▓▒ . .▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒ .▓▓▓▓▓▓▓. ▓▓▒.▒▓▓▒ .▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒ .▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒. ▓▓▒.▒▓▓▒ ∙▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ . ..▒▒. ▒▒▒▒▒▒. ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒. ▒. ▒▒ .▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒ .▒▒▒ . . . ∙ . ∙ ∙ . . ∙ . ∙ . ∙ ∙ ∙. ∙ ∙ ∙ version 7.31 Copyright (c) 1994-1999 by Edward D. Collins (original concept by Doug Beeferman) ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ INTRODUCTION ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Welcome to THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES of CYBERBOX - a game of planning, strategy, and thinking ahead! Your objective is simple: Escape from each of the 15 rooms using as few moves as possible ! Note that The Continuing Adventures of CyberBox is not an "arcade" game. No manual dexterity is required. You are not timed in any way nor is the "speed" in which you act important. So slow down! You can afford to relax! ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ REQUIREMENTS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ■ An IBM 286 (or better) with approximately 386K of conventional memory. (The deluxe version only requires about 380k) Note: If you do not have this much conventional memory available, or if you are having simple problems in loading the program, try running the program with the "no-doc" command-line switch. For more information, see the COMMAND- LINE PARAMETERS section below. ■ A VGA graphics card and a color monitor. ■ A little bit of patience and a sharp mind! ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ PROGRAM FILES ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Files that CA-CYBER.EXE requires ──────────────────────────────── ■ CA-CYBER.TXT - this documentation text file ■ V-EDC-01.DAT - the data file for the 1st set of rooms ■ V-EDC-01.SOL - the solution file for the 1st set of rooms ■ BOXES-01.DAT - the data file for the box-images ■ CURSR-01.DAT - the data file for the cursor-images 1 thru 9 Other Files Used Or Included ──────────────────────────── ■ CA-CYBER.CFG - the configuration file (this file will be created by the program if it doesn't already exist) ■ CYBERICN.ICO - an icon for those who may wish to launch this program from Microsoft's WINDOWS ■ FILE_ID.DIZ - the customary description file for BBS's ■ REVISION.TXT - a list of the revisions the program has gone through ■ REVIEWS.TXT - A few comments from others who've enjoyed the game ■ ROOMLIST.TXT - A list of all CyberBox rooms created so far ■ CA-EDIT.EXE - my Room Editor program ■ CA-EDIT.TXT - the Room Editor's documentation file If you've purchased the deluxe version, then your disk or directory will have additional... room-volume data files (for example, v-edc-02.dat) solution files (for example, v-edc-02.sol) box-image data files (for example, boxes-02.dat) cursor-image data files (for example, cursr-02.dat) For those of you who may wish to launch this game from Microsoft's WINDOWS, I've included a custom icon for it. Within Windows, when setting up the program's properties, click on "change icon" and then simply point to the CYBERICN.ICO file wherever it may reside on your hard disk. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ HOW TO PLAY ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ You are represented in this game by your choice of several different cursors (a tree, a flag, a snake, a man, etc.). You will be placed at a predetermined spot inside of a carefully constructed room. Your objective is simply to get to the EXIT of each room, ideally using as few moves as possible! The exit is always located in the same spot; at the top of the screen in the middle of the room. Once you reach this exit, you will immediately find yourself in the next room. Each room-volume contains 15 rooms to escape from. Note that each room is a separate puzzle all its own. You will never have to "pick up an object in one room", for example, to help you exit from another. You can move your cursor in any of four possible directions: ■ up (the UP arrow key or the HOME key) ■ down (the DOWN arrow key or the END key) ■ left (the LEFT arrow key or the DELETE key) ■ right (the RIGHT arrow key or the PAGE DOWN key) (You may also use the numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8 on the numeric keypad which will move you down, left, right, and up, respectively. If you DO wish to use this keypad, note that your NUMLOCK key may be either on OR off.) Moving diagonally is not possible. To hinder your attempt to escape, "boxes" have been strategically placed throughout each room. There are several different types of boxes, which are all described below. Every room has a solution! However if you're not careful you may trap yourself and may not be able to get to the exit or may render the exit inaccessible. In either case, you must hit the "R" key to retry this room from the beginning. If you currently don't have the program loaded, do so now! This entire documentation file is available to read from inside the program! The remaining documentation will probably make much more sense to you if you've already seen the game. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ BOX DESCRIPTIONS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ PUSHERS ─────── PUSHERS are probably the easiest type of box to understand. They are capable of being pushed in the direction of their arrowheads. These boxes can be pushed if there is nothing in their path to prevent this from happening. All together, there are 11 different types of PUSHERS. Some PUSHERS can only be pushed "left", some can only be pushed "right", some only "left" or "down" etc. PUSHERS not only can be pushed by you, they can also be pushed by MOVERS. (see MOVERS, below.) PUSHERS are represented by arrows which point in the direction that they can be pushed. BLOCKERS ──────── Ok, so I was wrong. BLOCKERS have got to be the easiest type of box to understand. BLOCKERS never move at all. Period. They act as a "blocker" or wall, since they cannot be pushed and nothing can ever be pushed into them. ZAPPERS ─────── Since we've just mentioned BLOCKERS, let's next describe ZAPPERS, since these two boxes have one thing in common: ZAPPERS also never move at all. Ever. What these boxes do though, is "zap" you forward when you "push" these from behind. There must be an empty space in the front of the ZAPPER to be zapped. (Or a non-closed SELECTOR. See SELECTORS below.) You must be careful with ZAPPERS because they act like a one-way street. Once you are zapped forward, you can't retreat the same way. ZAPPERS are represented by a solid purple triangle with a hole in the middle, pointing in the direction that one is "zapped". MOVERS ────── These boxes are great. MOVERS are always exerting a constant force in the direction that they point. These boxes are the only boxes that can move themselves. As soon as a situation exists in which a MOVER can move, it will do so. There are four different types of MOVERS: MOVERS which move up, down, left, or right. MOVERS are able to move PUSHERS or SELECTORS but never PULLERS (which can only be pulled) nor BLOCKERS or ZAPPERS (which never move at all). Note also that MOVERS can never move "you." (You're too heavy!) So you don't ever have to worry about getting squashed by a MOVER. MOVERS are represented by a solid blue triangle, which points in the direction that they exert force and move. Note that now, with version 6.0, you have the option of "animating" these MOVERS. With this option turned on, the little blue arrow "moves" back and forth. (Since this box is just dying to "move!") PULLERS ─────── Unlike PUSHERS, these boxes cannot be "pushed" at all. However they are capable of being "pulled" but only in the direction of their "handles." Just like PUSHERS, there are 11 different types of PULLERS, some which can be pulled just to the right, some just to the left, etc. PULLERS may be annoying because, at times, you may not wish to pull them! For example, let's say that you've just walked up to a PULLER. If you now reverse your direction and walk back the way you came, this PULLER will in effect, follow you! Without possibly realizing it, you are now "pulling it!" To quit pulling this box, you will have to either... change your direction by 90 degrees, get zapped forward by a ZAPPER, or walk through a non-closed SELECTOR The only way EVER for a PULLER to move is for you to pull it. PUSHERS cannot move these boxes nor can a MOVER move it. PULLERS are represented simply by a rather funny shaped box (you'll see what I mean) with the rectangular "handle" on the side of the box in which it can be pulled. SELECTORS ───────── And last but certainly not least are the SELECTORS. These boxes cannot be pushed directly by you. They can only be pushed by other boxes. So if you wish to move a SELECTOR, you will have to either push a PUSHER against it or force a MOVER to move it. It should be obvious that you can't push SELECTORS because, if you look at them, this type of box does not have a full, solid wall for your cursor to push up against. However, it does have a partial wall at the edges which the PUSHERS and MOVERS use to push it. There are 4 different types of SELECTORS. The first type is "open" on all four sides and you can walk right through it. (Pretend you're just small enough to squeeze through!) The second type is only open from the north and south end. The third type is only open from the east and west end. The fourth and final type, represented by an "X", is closed, and walking through it is not possible at all. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Note that more than one box can be moved at the same time ONLY IF EVERY OTHER BOX IN THAT SERIES OF BOXES CAN BE LEGALLY MOVED. As Doug in his original game said, "Experiment. You'll get the idea." No boxes can ever be pushed through the exit passageway. It's just a tiny bit too small! ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ MENU KEYS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ <H>elp ────── This key displays a little sub-menu screen revealing the following four options: <A>bout CyberBox <B>ox Review Read <D>oc File <?> Show Keys <A>bout CyberBox ──────────────── This screen gives you some general information about the game, which data files are currently loaded, etc. <B>ox Review ──────────── This screen is really just to help you get going the first couple of times that you play. It is just a quick review of each box, its name and how it moves. Read <D>ocumentation ──────────────────── You can, now with version 4.15, read the documentation file from right inside the program. While reading the documentation file, you can change the foreground or background color to suit your individual taste. Hit F1 for a list of the keys that are available. <?> Show Keys ───────────── This will display a list of all of the available keystrokes. <I>nstant Replay ──────────────── Every valid move that you make is saved and recorded in memory. At any time while inside a room, hit this key to see a "replay" of all the moves you've currently made for this room, in the order that you've made them! After hitting this key, the room will be temporarily set back to the way it originally was when you first entered. You will then be prompted to hit any other key to begin the "replay animation." You can then sit back and watch the program replay all the moves that you made for this room! When finished, you will be right back where you were a moment ago, both in terms of the way the room looked and number of moves made! The speed at which the cursor moves is set by you, in the Option Screen. For convenience, you can also change the speed while the animation is in progress. The "+" key will speed up the animation while the "-" key will slow it down. For a good chuckle, set the speed on "very fast" and watch the cursor fly! While the animation is in progress, if you wish to pause it, simply hit the spacebar. The program will pause until another key is pressed and then the animation will resume. <J>ump Screen ───────────── This option, allows you to "skip" a room if you so desire. If you're having problems with a certain room, you can "jump" to another and come back to this room later. For your convenience, when inside the Jump Screen, the rooms that you have already completed during this session will be highlighted. In addition to the title of each room, note that this Jump Screen also displays the number of moves that it took you in your shortest solution, as well as what "I" believe to be the shortest solution. You may find a shorter one!! If you do, I'd like to know about it! If you enter this Jump Screen and decide you do not wish to jump anywhere, just hit the ESCAPE key to exit back to the room that you were currently in. <M>enu Toggle ───────────── This toggle will display your choice of... 1) all of these menu key options or 2) the number of moves you've made for the room you're in the least number of moves it took you to solve it the least number of moves that I can solve the room in For convenience, the spacebar or ENTER key will also toggle the two menus. <O>ptions ───────── This screen allows you to set your own game colors, animation speed, cursor appearance and other options. You can also load additional data files (room-volumes, box-images and cursor-images etc.) from within this screen. These settings are saved to disk in the CA-CYBER.CFG file which is read when the program is first loaded. All of the options inside the Option Screen should be self-explanatory. <R>etry ─────── You will probably be using this key often! When you find that you've trapped yourself, made the exit inaccessible, or simply wish to start over the room that you are currently in, hit the "R" key. You will find yourself in the same room, the way it looked when you first started. As mentioned above, when you use this key, the number of moves that you used before you "screwed up" is reset to zero - you are starting this room over from scratch. Because you probably WILL be using this key more than any other, it doesn't make any sense to have a prompt come up each time to confirm that you really DO wish to start over. So don't hit this key unnecessarily! <S>ee the Solution ────────────────── Every single time you exit a room, the program logic checks to see if the number of moves you made is lower than the previous known solution for that room! If so, THIS solution immediately becomes "the one to beat." Once a room has been solved, you can "see" the solution again by hitting the "S" key. This will display a little sub-menu, giving you the choice of seeing either YOUR shortest solution or the shortest known solution. Upon choosing either, the room will be temporarily set back to its starting arrangement, and you will be prompted to hit a key to begin. You will then see your cursor do what is necessary to exit this room. The speed that the cursor moves is set in the Option Screen. However, you can also change the animation speed simply by hitting the "+" and "-" keys. To pause the animation while it is progress, hit the spacebar just like you would while "<i>nstant replaying." When the animation is finished, you are again prompted to hit a key. The room is THEN set back to what it was before you saw the solution. I included this feature for a couple of reasons. One, because I myself enjoy not only simply EXITING each room but trying to do so IN THE FEWEST MOVES POSSIBLE. Now my efforts are rewarded by recording my "record solutions" for posterity! Two, if anyone is able to BETTER any of MY solutions, you would be able to prove it by simply sending me your solution file. This would sure beat proving it by recording each of your moves by hand. ("I went left - left - up - then right - then up - left - left," etc.) IMPORTANT NOTE! If you decide to purchase additional rooms (remember, the deluxe game is required to load these) I will send you, free of charge, MY solution file to all room volumes!! So if you simply cannot figure out how to exit a particular room, the answer IS available. When you exit the program, the solution file will be re-written if any rooms have new record-lows. <T>ake Back ─────────── This option allows you to take back a move if you so desire. Upon hitting the "T" key, the room is set back to the way it looked prior to your last move. One move is then also subtracted from your move total. In every sense, it's as though you never made the move at all. However you are only allowed to take back one move in succession. (In other words, you can't take back two moves in a row. If you try it no harm will result. You'll simply see an error message.) After taking back a move, you must then make at least one more valid move before you are able to use this take back feature again. This option often comes in handy if you happen to fumble with your keyboard keys and didn't mean to move your man in the first place. If you feel that in a game of this type that taking back a move is "cheating" then my suggestion is simply not to use it! e<X>it to DOS ───────────── This (along with the ESCAPE key) will exit the program. The customary "Do you really want to quit?" message will appear, in case you hit this key without actually wishing to. ALT-R ───── This key combination will <R>ecall the last saved position. Your move total will be set back to the number of you moves that you had when you initiated your save. As with ALT-S there is no confirmation so be careful, since recalling your last position wipes out your CURRENT position. ALT-S ───── This feature allows you to save the current position in memory. It can be VERY handy and should be used often! You are only allowed to save one position. Each time you hit ALT-S, any previously saved positions are overwritten. There currently is no confirmation, so do not hit this key combination unnecessarily. Note that if you decide to exit this room, the position is then lost, even if you decide to re-enter the same room later. Use ALT-R (see ALT-R above) to recall this position. ALT-D ───── Although not listed on any of the menus, the key combination ALT-D will temporarily exit the program and shell out to DOS. This can be useful if you are playing this game at work and see or hear your boss approaching! (Or if YOU are the boss and don't want your employees to see YOU playing games!) After shelling, simply type EXIT to re-enter the program. You will find yourself back in the room, the way that you left it just a moment ago. The amount of memory that you will have available after shelling will depend upon your own system configuration. Before typing EXIT and returning to the game, make sure that you are back in the directory that the program is launched from. (Assuming that you happened to change directories in the first place.) ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ DIFFERENCES FROM THE ORIGINAL CYBERBOX ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ■ The most noticeable difference is probably the room itself. The original CyberBox game consisted of a room with an area only 15 by 10 in size. I chose to increase this playing area slightly, from 15 by 10 to 19 by 13. To do this, I made the boxes slightly smaller and used a little bit more of the video screen. This increase in area, from 150 "square feet" to 247 "square feet", allows for much more intricate and complex room designs! ■ I've introduced a brand new type of box - PULLERS which can only be "pulled". ■ I added a couple of different types of PUSHERS. (Note: In Doug's game and in my earlier versions these boxes were called SLIDERS.) ■ Your original starting point in each room is not necessarily in the same spot. In the original game you always started at the bottom of the screen directly in the middle of the room. In this game, you might start anywhere! ■ In the original CyberBox game, if you accidentally walked into a wall or attempted to move a box incorrectly, this was considered a "move" even though your man didn't actually "move" anywhere. I didn't care for this feature only because, to me a move should be "a move." At times I found myself fumbling with the cursor keys and didn't even mean to move my man anywhere in the first place! BOOM! Points deducted! Remember, this is a STRATEGY/PUZZLE type game, not one of manual dexterity! In "The Continuing Adventures of CyberBox" only if your man MOVES is this considered a move. ■ The original game did not have a "Jump Screen" or an "Instant Replay" feature. ■ The original program only offered two types of SELECTORS. ■ The original program did not have a Take Back feature. ■ The original game did not allow you to set your own animation speed, text and background colors, sound pitch, etc. ■ The original game did not save your solution to each room. ■ The original game did not give one the option of animating the MOVERS. ■ This game allows you to view, at any time, the number of moves that you've currently made for each particular room that you're in. ■ The data for my rooms are read in from a data file and are not hard-coded in the program. This ensures that this program will always have "replay" value. This also means that others can create rooms for ME to solve. I like playing CyberBox too! ■ The data for the boxes are also read in from a file. One can edit this box data file to change the appearance of each and every box to suit themselves. ■ The MOVERS are represented as a SOLID blue triangle. (I think it looks better.) ■ The ZAPPERS are represented as a SOLID purple triangle. (Ditto.) ■ The original program did not allow you to read the documentation file from inside the program. In a nutshell, any enhancement or improvement that I felt was needed, I incorporated! ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ COMMAND-LINE PARAMETERS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ With some of these later versions, as I've continued to add features, some people have reported having problems loading the program into memory. If you are having such difficulties, try loading the program WITHOUT the documentation file by using the "no-doc" command-line switch. For example... ca-cyber no-doc will bypass loading the entire documentation file and free up about 60K of conventional memory. ─────────────────────────────────────────── If you're having problems when you go into either the JUMP or the OPTION Screen, try loading the program with the "no-interrupt" command-line switch. For example... ca-cyber no-interrupt (or simply ca-cyber no-inter) will bypass the CALL INTERRUPT logic which is being to display text characters in a smaller font in those screens. ─────────────────────────────────────────── If you've purchased the deluxe version, you can, if you wish, specify which room-volume data file, which cursor-image data file, and which box-image data that you wish to use, right on the command-line! (You can also load these within the program in the OPTION Screen.) The format is... ca-cyber "room filename" "cursor filename" "box filename" Note that if you don't specify any parameters on the command-line, the program will automatically load the files that you were using the last time you played. The order of the above three files is irrelevant. The program logic is "smart enough" to know which is which. Just be sure to include one or more spaces between each filename. A few examples: To load the third set of 15 rooms (v-edc-03.dat) using the cursor images from the third set (cursr-03.dat) you could type either... ca-cyber v-edc-03.dat cursr-03.dat or ca-cyber cursr-03.dat v-edc-03.dat If you wanted to load this same third set of rooms using the cursor images from the first set along with the box-images from the second set all WITHOUT the documentation file you could type... ca-cyber v-edc-03.dat cursr-01.dat boxes-02.dat no-doc or ca-cyber no-doc boxes-02.dat v-edc-03.dat cursr-01.dat or even ca-cyber no-doc boxes-02 v-edc-03 cursr-01 etc. ─────────────────────────────────────────── By default, your cursor will automatically travel across the length of the screen if you continuously hold the appropriate cursor key down. If you wish, you can disable this option with the "no-auto" switch. For example... ca-cyber no-auto will require you to release each key after every move before your cursor will be able to move again. This feature is most beneficial to people with cerebral palsy and similar conditions. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ CREATING YOUR OWN ROOMS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Starting with version 6.00, my Room Editor program now comes included with the non-deluxe version. This is the program that I currently use to create all of my rooms. This editor will allow you to create, test and play a room that you yourself create. However, if you wish to actually load a room in the game, you will have to purchase, from me, the deluxe version. The Room Editor program comes with its own documentation file, so I won't bother describing it here. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ BUG REPORTS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If you feel that the game can use improvements in any area, or more importantly, if you find any programming bugs, I would appreciate it very much if you would let me know. With a program of this size and complexity, there is always the possibility for a bug or two. I apologize in advance if there ARE any. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ REGISTRATION ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ None! This game is free. There is no registration fee or "trial period" whatsoever. Keep it for as long as you want. Feel free to make copies for friends, upload it to computer bulletin boards, etc. However, when archiving the game or when giving it away, PLEASE make sure that the following thirteen files are all included: ■ ca-cyber.exe (the EXEcutable file) ■ ca-cyber.txt (this documentation TeXT file) ■ v-edc-01.dat (the DATa file for my 1st set of rooms) ■ v-edc-01.sol (the SOLution file for these rooms) ■ boxes-01.dat (the DATa file for the boxes) ■ cursr-01.dat (the DATa file for the cursor-images 1 thru 9) ■ ca-edit.exe (the EXEcutable file for the room editor) ■ ca-edit.txt (the editor's documentation TeXT file) ■ cybericn.ico (the ICOn for those who wish to launch this game under Microsoft's WINDOWS) ■ revision.txt (the list of revisions the program has seen) ■ reviews.txt (a few comments from others) ■ roomlist.txt (a list of all of the exisiting rooms) ■ file_id.diz (the customary description file used by BBS's) The configuration file will be created when the program first runs and does not need to be included. Note that the non-deluxe version will only load the room-volume data file "v-edc-01.dat" (my first set of rooms) and the cursor-image data file "cursr-01.dat". If you wish to attempt to solve additional rooms, or load additional cursor-images, you will have to purchase, from me, the deluxe version. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ THE DELUXE VERSION ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ╔══╝ ╚══╗ ║ The deluxe version will allow you to... ║ ║ ║ ║ ■ load and play all my other volumes (edc-02 thru edc-04) ║ ║ ■ load and play volumes db-01, mbm-01, var-01, and wcc-01 ║ ║ ■ load any and all ADDITIONAL rooms that become available! ║ ║ ■ load different cursor-image data files that I've created ║ ║ ■ load different box-image data files that I've created ║ ║ ■ avoid the annoying delay screens which appear at the end ║ ║ of the program ║ ║ ■ view the solution to all rooms ║ ║ ║ ╚══╗ ╔══╝ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Note that the deluxe version and any room-volumes other than v-edc-01.dat are NOT free, and may not be distributed, uploaded to computer bulletin boards or any Internet site etc., or sold in any way. If you enjoy the game, I'd like you to become part of the CyberBox Team! There are many more rooms to escape from! And with the CyberBox Room Editor, many more rooms will be created by others all the time. The cost of the deluxe game is $5.00. This is very inexpensive compared to the cost of many "store bought" or commercial games. And because the data for the rooms are read in from a data file, this game will always have "replay" value, which is not the case with many commercial games. (With many commercial games once you find the solution or "win", the game is no longer fun to play. That's why these rooms are read in from a data file and not "hard-coded" in the program. There can ALWAYS be more rooms to solve.) Each room-volume contains 15 rooms and are currently only $1.00 each. cost to receive the deluxe game................ $ 4.00 v-db-01.dat (Doug's first set of rooms)....... free v-edc-02.dat (my 2nd set of rooms)............ $ 1.00 v-edc-03.dat (my 3rd set of rooms)............ $ 1.00 v-edc-04.dat (my 4th set of rooms)............ $ 1.00 v-mbm-01.dat (Mike McKee's 1st set of rooms).. $ 1.00 v-var-01.dat (rooms by various authors).........$ 1.00 v-wcc-01.dat (Bill Collins' 1st set of rooms)...$ 1.00 postage and materials ........................ $ 2.50 (diskette, mailing envelope, etc.) ─────── total......................................... $ 12.50 The postage and materials fee can be waived if you wish me to simply e-mail the game to you. Please be sure to include your e-mail address. Please mail all checks or money orders to the following address: ╔══════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Edward D. Collins ║ ║ 1427-B Prospect Avenue ║ ║ Placentia, CA ║ ║ USA 92870-3807 ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════╝ All disks sent will be 3½ inch in size unless you specify otherwise. And be sure to include your return address!!! You can also e-mail me at ecollins@inficad.com or at ecollins@freechess.org to verify that I'm still here! I'd also enjoy hearing where you got the game from and what version you currently have. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ HOW THIS GAME CAME TO BE ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ When I first played the original CyberBox by Doug Beeferman, I quickly fell in love with it. I thought it was a lot of fun. It was original, it was simple and yet at the same time, challenging, etc. It didn't require fast reflexes, and was the type of game that could appeal to both male & female as well as the young and the old. At the same time, I HATED it because it was over too quickly!!! I easily solved all 17 of Doug's rooms within the first DAY and wished that there were more. Even then, I thought that it wouldn't be too hard to write my OWN CyberBox game (being the master programmer that I am! <grin>) but I was probably working on some other program or project at the time and never followed up on it. Several months later I noticed a note on one of the bulletin boards on PRODIGY, (which I was a member of for a year or so) from a member who was looking for some strategy type games. He mentioned that he enjoyed playing CyberBox II. CyberBox II ??? I wasn't even aware that a sequel existed! I quickly made arrangements to get a copy of it. However after receiving it, I was very disappointed. Granted, the game was well done but the format had changed from the original version and I kinda preferred it the way that it was. That right there gave me the incentive to write my OWN CyberBox game... and to go back to something closer to the original format. So, the finished product of my endeavors is what you now see before you. I started writing this game during the fall of '92. I worked on it for almost 4 months straight... every single day, night, weekends, etc. Many weekends I found myself working on it all night long. In fact, around January of '93 I was so BURNED OUT over this project that I just had to put it up for a while. Well, that turned out to be a mistake because after putting it away I didn't pick it up again for more than six months! Also, once I finally did pick it up again, it took me a few days just to figure out what some of my coded modules were doing! Granted, I try to write well documented, structured code, but most programmers do tend to get a little "sloppy" in their coding from time to time. Then I moved from Royal Oak, Michigan to Mesa, Arizona. Well, that took time (packing, renting and loading my U-Haul Truck, moving, unpacking, etc.) so I was once again forced to put the program on hold for a while. I started working on it a few weeks later and once again found myself working on it for several months straight. Well, the same thing happened again! I got so burned out over this silly game that I just had to put it away. And again, once I put it up, I didn't pick it up again for almost another 6 months. I finally started working on it again and then finally, as I saw that the program was nearing its completion, I was able to finish it. I've estimated the number of hours that I've spent on this game and there is no point in even mentioning it since no one would believe me anyhow. I had a tough time deciding on what to call this game. Ed's CyberBox? Deluxe CyberBox? MORE CyberBox? A friend suggested the games actual title and although it's a bit long, the more I thought about it the more I liked it. Especially after I wrote the Room Editor Program so that new rooms can now be created with ease. So it really will be... ...The CONTINUING Adventures! ────────── ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ WHAT IS A 'CYBERBOX?' ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Is CyberBox the name of the game? Is it the name of your little man? Wait! It's gotta be the name of the boxes that you push and pull, right? Or is it the name of the ROOM that you are trapped in? What the heck is a "CyberBox?" I've decided that it is... all of the above! And more! In a game of logic, planning, and strategy, this may be the only "illogical" thing about it! AAGGHH! Mr. Spock would have a fit if he heard this! (Actually, since Vulcans don't have "fits", maybe he wouldn't!) CyberBox can be used as a noun... "Let's play CyberBox!" or... "I hope CyberBox can make it out of this room safely!" Or as an adjective... "That is one CyberBox of a room!" Or as a verb......... "Ahhh! I've been CyberBoxed!" or......... "Don't CyberBox me!" or... well, you get the idea!! Please note that CyberBox is always spelled as one word, with the letter "B" in "box" capitalized. This is the way that Doug spelled it on his opening screen in HIS CyberBox game and... well, I kinda liked it that way. So now it's official! ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ HINTS AND TIPS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Generally, in each volume of rooms, the LOWER the room number the EASIER it should be to solve. Of course, what one might consider easy, another may consider quite difficult, so don't take this too literally. But in general you should find this to be true. Also note that the number or moves required to exit does not in any way reflect the difficulty of the room. Several rooms are rather easy to solve...it just takes awhile to do it. Usually when first presented with a room, it's often easier to solve if you mentally work BACKWARD. Figure out what needs to be done around the EXIT and then work your way backward from there. Note that when traveling across the entire screen, you can hold your cursor keys continuously down if you so desire. This can be faster than making each move one "square" at a time. Don't forget to read the name of each room in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Sometimes the name of the room will actually provide a small clue to help you in your goal of exiting it. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ MISCELLANEOUS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ You will note that the authors name whose designed each room is displayed vertically on the right hand side of the screen. If you send me a room that YOU yourself design, please let me know how you want YOUR name to be displayed. If it's good enough I'll include it in my next room-volume. The program now takes up a rather large amount of memory (this wasn't always the case, but with each subsequent version, I added more and more code) but it's still not too bad. Remember, I'm keeping in memory such things as: ■ the data for all 15 rooms ■ the graphic image for all 9 cursor-images ■ the graphic image for all 35 boxes ■ the solution to every room (a possible 3000 keystrokes x 15 rooms x 2!) ■ this entire documentation file If you do not have enough memory to load and run the program, try removing such things as your mouse driver, any TSR programs that you may be installed (such as DOSKEY, SMARTDRIVE.EXE, etc.), Also you may wish to see if you can load anything in the upper memory area thereby freeing up more conventional memory. A complete list of all rooms created so far, along with the number of moves for the shortest known solution, can now be found in the enclosed ROOMLIST.TXT file. This program was written and compiled using Spectra Publishing's PowerBASIC version 3.00c. Doug wrote his program in "C" but I don't know C (yet) so I decided writing it in BASIC was better than COBOL, since COBOL and BASIC are the only two languages that I'm currently proficient in. A friend of mine (a non-programmer) couldn't believe that I could create and write this game without ever looking at the original source code. Well Craig, believe it! Even if I HAD seen the code, it wouldn't have helped me much anyway since I don't know "C". Nope, the entire code, every line, is all my own. For those of you who are curious, the source code for this program contains 6,420 lines of code and 5,939 statements! To print out the entire listing, at 60 lines per page, would require over 107 pages! When I compiled the program, I generated code to specifically check for the presence of the 80286 (or better) CPU. I'm sorry to the few of you remaining who may still have an old 8086/8088 processor since the program won't run (it shouldn't run!) but it would probably run too slowly to be enjoyable anyway. I've been writing and testing it on my 486 (with 33 MHz) and when I first saw it on a 286 (with only 12 MHz) I was surprised and disappointed on how slowly it ran (i.e. some of the screen writes). In fact, I decided that I just HAD to go back into the program and re-write the portions of my code that ran too slowly. I can't even IMAGINE what it would look like on an old XT! And since it requires a VGA graphics card and monitor anyway, I don't think I'm keeping too many people from seeing it by compiling it with the "286 code generation." I mean, how many people have a color VGA monitor hooked up to an XT?? I've tested this program on several different types of systems and I've experienced no problems. If it doesn't work on YOUR system, I'd be interested in knowing what type of setup you have. (The name of the VGA graphics card & monitor, computer brand, operating system, version number, amount of conventional memory you have available, etc.) ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ THANKS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ I'd like to thank the following people for helping me test the following versions of the game: Version 6.51 - Martin Kirlow of Yorkshire, England Ken & Peggy Miller of Covington, Georgia Version 6.0 / 6.16 / 6.25 Petr Simon of the Czech Republic Mike McKee of Webster City, Iowa Version 4.35 - Lyle Engle of Mesa, Arizona Brent Bowers of Phoenix, Arizona Version 4.23 - Brian Kurth of Gilbert, Arizona "PJ" Salley of Phoenix, Arizona Jerry Giacinto of Mesa, Arizona Version 1.0 thru 3.0 - Kelly Collins of Santa Ana, California Judy Collins of Placentia, California Bill Collins of Durango, Colorado Thanks to Terry Donn of Detroit, Michigan for coming up with the name of this program. A special thanks goes out to William G. Hall of Springfield, Illinois for being the first person to purchase the deluxe game. A hearty "Congratulations" goes out to Ernie Longway of Parker, Colorado who discovered shorter solutions to more than 27 of my rooms in the first four volumes! More than 27 SHORTER SOLUTIONS! Good work, Ernie! Thanks to Petr Simon of the Czech Republic for his own "CyberBox Forever" game. Several of the ideas that he had in this game influenced a few of the changes that I made in version 6.0. And his ideas on the way the MOVERS should move, has been invaluable. Thanks for Mike McKee of Webster City, Iowa for his CYBER-02.ICO icon, as well as for the 15 rooms that he created which you can find in Volume V-MBM-01.DAT. Thanks to Michael Donn of Lakebay, Washington for several shorter solutions to many of the rooms as well as for pointing out a couple of bugs. And last but certainly not least, I'd also like to give a big "thank you" to Doug Beeferman, who wrote the original CyberBox game. Obviously, if it weren't for him I would never have written this program in the first place. Thanks Doug, wherever you are! Happy CyberBoxing to you all! And drop me a line! I really would like to hear your comments. Edward D. Collins ecollins@inficad.com edwardcollins@yahoo.com July 24, 1999 ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ REVISIONS ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Starting with Version 6.25, the list of revisions is being kept in its own file, appropriately called REVISIONS.TXT. This means that the documentation file is considerably shorter and allows the program to run on systems where the amount of memory available is a factor. T H E C O N T I N U I N G A D V E N T U R E S O F ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒▒▒▓▓▒ ▒▓▓░░░▓▓░▒▒▓▓▒▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░░░▓▓░▒▒▓▓░░░░░░▒▒▓▓░░░▓▓░▒▒▓▓░░░▓▓░▒▒▓▓░░░▓▓░▒▒▒▓▓░▓▓░▒ ▒▓▓░▒▒░░░▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▓▓▓░▒▒ ▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▓▓░░░▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓░▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓░▒▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▒▓░▒▒▒ ▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▓▓░░░▓▓░▒▒▓▓░░░░░▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓░▒▒▒▒▓▓░░░▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▓▓▓░▒▒ ▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓░░▓▓░▒▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒▒▒▓▓░▓▓░▒ ▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░▒▒▒▒▒▓▓░▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓░░▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▓▓░▒░▓▓░▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓░░▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░▒▒▓▓░▒░▓▓░ ▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒▒░▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒░░░░░░▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒▒░▒▒▒░░░ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ is Copyright (c) 1994-1999 by Edward D. Collins All Rights Reserved ( Documentation Version 7.31b ) ──── end of file ────