Landmine Version 2.00 Copyright © 1990 - 1993 , Perry Rosenboom Documentation Version - June 1993 Perry Rosenboom Box 333, Wantirna South, Victoria, 3152 Australia Introduction Landmine is based on a game which has been floating around the place for a while. A few years ago I looked around for something on the Amiga, couldn't find it, and wrote my own. Of course, since I wrote my original version of Landmine (in 1990), many other similar games have been released. Nevertheless, I decided to produce this second version of the original game for the people who registered for version 1. The bug fixes (there are a couple) and changes (there are heaps) are listed below. I hope you like Landmine Version 2!. A Note about this documentation This file accompanies both the Shareware version and Registered version of Landmine 2.00. Differences between the two versions will be specified wherever appropriate. This means that I only need to maintain one version of the documentation (mainly because I hate writing documentation). Having only one version of the documentation will also show Shareware Users what you are missing by not registering!!!! Version History Version 1.00: Shareware version, released late 1990 via Fred Fish. Version 1.01: Registered version, released during 1991 and 1992 to registered users only. Version 2.00: Available in Shareware and Registered versions, released June 1993. Bug fixes from Version 1.00 and 1.01 Loading and Saving Various people iinformed me that sometimes when games were saved, they would not load correctly. As a result, I rewrote the loading and saving routines, and (hopefully!) fixed the bugs. The down side of this is that Landmine 2 will not read in saved games from Landmine Version 1. Previously, after you loaded an old game, it did not start immediately. That problem has now been fixed in this version. Changes from Version 1.00 and 1.01 There are many new things in Version 2 of Landmine. They include: Title screen: The title screen has been completely redone so that it uses less memory, and so that it doesn't take as long to run through. Registered users also have the option to skip the title screen (see Menu Settings). I'm going to make you sit through the title screen each time if you have the shareware version! Menus: The menus have been redone so that they look different, and are a little more interesting to use. There are also a few extra options in the menus which are detailed in the "Menu" section below. Playing Screen: The playing screen is now a little more elaborate. There are a number of setting which can be controlled through the menus, and the status of these setting is displayed on the playing screen. The board: The board now looks more interesting whenever you clear new squares. I'll let you take a look for yourself! Game play: You now have the option of having Lanmine 2 automatically clear the 'zero' squares (registered version only). This makes the game a little easier to play, and also a little quicker to finish each level. Also, you can select whether to display the positions of ALL of the mines, if you get blown up. This option was included to allow you to have another go at a saved game, without knowing where all the mines are. Thanks to John Ray for the suggestion! Systems Supported This game was developed and compiled using AMOS and AMOS Compiler (Copyright Euorpress) version 1.35, which supports Workbench 1.3, 2, and 3. This means that this game should work on A500, A600, A1200, A2000, A3000 and A4000 machines. I do my best to support machines available at the time of writing the game, however I obviously cannot test every aspect of the game on every machine. If for some reason the game doesn't work, check the 'Troubles?' section below, and send me a polite letter, and I'll see if I can help. Obviously, registered users get priority. Abusive letters (such as one I received from England) will get no response. People who write shareware and public domain software do so because they enjoy it - abuse will only result in LESS software being developed for public release. We can't hope to make our shareware profitable, but we do hope that we are respected for our efforts. End of sermon. Object of the game The object of Landmine is simple. You are presented with a grid which measures 15 squares by 10. At level 1, there are 20 mines buried somewhere within the grid. To complete the level, you need to reach the bottom right corner of the grid. If you do so without stepping on a mine, you go to the next level and the number of mines increases. You score one point for each square which is cleared, and you get bonus points at the end of each level (maximum bonus points are awarded for clearing every non-mined square). To help you reach your objective, the number of mines adjacent to your current location is displayed. With some thought, you can usually work out where the mines are buried. All movement is carried out using the mouse. Oh yeah - if you step on a mine, you're dead! There are much more comprehensive instructions built into the game - when you fire it up, take a look at the menus. Rules 1. You may only move to a square adjacent to the square you are currently in. 2. The only way to move to the next level is to move to the bottom right corner of the board. 3. There is no rule 3. How to Play Only mouse clicks are required to play Landmine. To move from one square to another, click on the square you wish to move to using the left mouse button. Remember that you can only move to an adjacent square. The current settings are displayed on the right hand side of the screen. To change the settings, use the appropriate items from the menu. Some items are disabled in the Shareware version of Landmine - these are described in detail below. Menus A number of menu items are available with Classic Solitaire. Clicking on the right mouse button will make the menus appear. Available menu items are coloured dark green and will change colour to yellow when they are selected. A grey menu item means that the item is not available Menu Items available are: ----------------------------------------------------- | Landmine | Settings | High Scores | Help! | ----------------------------------------------------- Under the "Landmine" option, you are presented with the following submenu: -------------- | Landmine | -------------- | Start Game | | Load Game | | Save Game | | About.. | | Credits | | Quit | -------------- Start Game: Selecting this options allows you to start a new game if you happen to step on a mine. This option is not available while you are playing an existing game. Load Game: Allows you to load a previously saved game. Choosing this option will present you with the AMOS file requester. You can use this to locate your saved game. After the game is loaded, the game is ready to be played. Save Game: Allows you to save a current game. Choosing this option will present you with the AMOS file requester. You can use this to locate the directory (drawer) that you wish to save your game in. The default directory is the directory in which Landmine is stored. Saved Landmine games automatically have an extension of '.LMSAVE' appended to the filename. About.. Provides some information about this version of Landmine. This screen will also contain the name of the registered user, if you are running a registered version. Credits Some people I need to thank. Unfortunately, I couldn't fit everyone's name on this screen - sorry! Quit Quit, Exit, Scram, Vamoose, Leave, Abort, Getoutahere...... Under the "Settings" option you are presented the the following submenu: ----------------- | Settings | ----------------- | Sound | | Settings | ------------ Sound: Allows you to turn the sound on or off. Notes that this setting has no effect on the title screen. Settings: This menu item presents a screen with many options on it. The options are: Sound Bell On / Bell Off This performs the same task as selecting the "Sound" submenu item directly from the menu. Menu Floating / Fixed Allow you to choose whether you want the menu to be displayed at the current mouse pointer position, or at the more traditional top left corner. Set to 'Floating' in Shareware version. Title Show / Skip Allows you to either skip or show the title screen the next time that Landmine is started. Set to 'Show' in Shareware version. Flash On / Off Set the flashing on the playing screen to either on or off. Set to 'On' in the Shareware version. Clear On / Off When this option is set to 'On' Landmine will automatically clear all squares which have a value of zero, and give the appropriate number of points. This option is set to 'Off' in the Shareware version. Display On / Off When set to 'Off' this option will display the position of all mines when you get blown up. Setting this to 'On' will only display the current mine. This allows you to load a saved game and give it another go! This option is set to 'On' in the shareware version. Use, Save and Cancel Buttons These buttons allow you to use the settiings for the remainder of the current session, save the setting to a file for use in future sessions, or forget about the changes you have just entered. Under the "High Scores" menu item you are not presented with a submenu. This menu item will display the list of high scores. Under the "Help!" option you are presented the following submenu: ------------ | Help! | ----------------- | Object | | Moving | | Scoring | | Load/Save | | High Scores | --------------- This menu and submenu provides some on-line help regarding the playing of Landmine Version 2.00. The Shareware version If you have already registered, then ignore this section. The shareware version of Landmine differs from the Registered Version in a number of ways: 1. Some features have been disabled in the shareware version. Registered users have: - the ability to fix of float the menu (the shareware version is set to 'Floating'); - the option to turn flashing on or off (set to 'On' in the Shareware version; - the ability to skip the title screen (although it's such a good title screen, I don't know why anyone would want to skip over it...); - the option to clear the board of all 'zero' squares at the start of a game; and - the option to turn the display of mines off when you get blown up. 2. The shareware version has a message which flashes up at random while playing the game, to remind you (just in case you need reminding) that the version of the game you are playing is Shareware. This does not come up on the registered version. 3. Registered versions of Landmine contain the name of the person who registers in the title screen, and the "About" screen (so everyone who registers has their own personal copy of the game). 4. The Shareware version of Landmine is not supported. In other words, if there is a problem, I'll attempt to fix it in the Registered version, and registered users will receive the fix. 5. The Shareware version of Landmine is 'crunched' on the disk, to reduce the amount of space required for coverdisks, PD libraries, Bulletin Boards and so on. The process of uncrunching causes the coloured lines on the screen when you start the game. Registered users will receive an 'uncrunched' version of the game. Troubles? Most problems seem to be caused by low memory. If you notice that the screen is not refreshing correctly, or that the menu bar doesn't disappear, you've got memory problems. Most games these days are designed to work in 1Mb minimum, and this game is no different. If you have 1Mb or more and the game is still presenting problems (especially after you have been playing the same game for some time), then the memory may be fragmented. Try closing down some other programs, or closing down the game and restarting it. The other problem which I have heard of can occur on Workbench 2 and Workbench 3 systems. On these systems, it is possble to change the default font to something other than 'Topaz 8'. This game was written using the default Topaz 8 font, so if you notice that text does not fit properly in boxes or on the screen, you may need to alter your Workbench setting and restore 'Topaz 8' as the default font. Registration Details If you have already registered, then ignore this section. Registering for Landmine V2.00 will provide you with the Registered version of the game, any changes or bug fixes, and the next major upgrade. This means you will receive all versions 2.xx and version 3.00, if I write it. I'm hoping that the game is so good that there will never be a need for version 3...... The price.... To register for Landmine V2.00, send the appropriate amount to: Perry Rosenboom Box 333 Wantirna South Victoria, 3152 AUSTRALIA To make registration easier, you can send local currency (cash please) in the following amounts: Australia $10.00 New Zealand $15.00 England £5.00 United States $10.00 Germany Dm 10,00 Canada $10.00 Please send cash only, as our banks act like robbers and can charge us $6.00 to change a cheque! Cheques in Aus$ drawn on an Australian Bank are also acceptable. Prices for each individual country are based mainly on the current exhange rate that the country has with Australia. Why so inexpensive for an Amiga game? Because the high price of quality Amiga games prevents many Amiga owners from buying games. I plan to make my millions by asking for a fair registration fee from fellow Amiga Users, and registering thousands of users, instead of ripping off a few people. Also, I've tried to make the whole process as painless as possible by putting in local currency values for countries where I know some of my previous games have been. I understand that not everyone happens to have a few Australian dollars sitting in their cookie jar! Well, that's the plan, and those are the reasons - The rest is up to you! Distribution of Landmine and other boring terms and conditions The SHAREWARE Version of Landmine Version 2.00 may be freely distributed, providing this documentation file accompanies the game. Neither the Game or this documentation may be altered in any way without the Author's written permission. No more than a reasonable fee for copying and distribution should be charged for the Shareware Version of Landmine Version 2.00. Registered Versions of Landmine are provided only to the registered user and are not to be copied or distributed under any circumstances, unless prior permission has been provided in writing by the Author (after all, a great deal of time has gone into writing this game). The title screen and the "About" screen clearly states whether the game you are playing is the shareware version or registered version. Thanks and Credits My sincere thanks go to the following people: Therese and James (my wife and son) for putting up with the amount of time I spend writing Amiga software. A three year old bashing the keyboard makes looking for bugs in a game an interesting exercise! I have a feeling that he will be writing better software than his dad soon.... Andrew Kreibich for finding bugs (not that I really want to thank people for finding bugs), and for his ideas and some of the code (such as the button routine). The music track used in the title screen were provided with early versions of AMOS, with a game called AMOSTEROIDS. Thanks Europress! Landmine 2.00 was written using AMOS 1.35 and compiled with the AMOS Compiler, version 1.35, both of which are Copyright © Europress. Thank you to all who register. As with my other games, I'll name you all in the next release of the game. Hello to the following people (in no particular order) Rene Ulla Katoll (Germany), Phillip Bonner (South Australia), Stanley Kendall (Barrington, IL), John Ray (Queensland), Peter Smith (Germany), The Humphries Family (Grand Rapid, MI), Jurgen Brenken (Germany). Copyright Landmine is Copyright © 1993 by Perry Rosenboom. If you would like a special version for a magazine coverdisk, please write to me. -------------