File menu commands
Game menu commands

The Game menu offers the following commands:

Change Player...	Allows you to choose a new player and starts a new game.
New	Creates a new game.
Load	Loads a saved game.
Save	Saves a game.
Statistics	Shows win/loss statistics.
Undo	Undoes the last move.
Exit	Exits the game.


Settings menu commands

The Settings menu offers the following commands:

Modem	Allows you to change your modem settings including speed and port.
Board	Allows you to change the appearance of the checkers board.
Pieces	Allows you to change the appearance of the checkers pieces.
Sound	Allows you to turn the game sounds on or off.
Music	Allows you to change the background music.


View menu commands

The View menu offers the following commands:

Toolbar	Shows or hides the toolbar.
Status Bar	Shows or hides the status bar.
Chat	Show or hides the char window. The char window allows you to send messages to your network opponents.


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Help Topics	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
About	Displays the version number of this application.


File New command
New command (Game menu)

Use this command to start a new game.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	F2


Change Player command (Game menu)

Use this command to change players.

MVP Checkers keeps track of how well each player does compared to other players (see Statistics for more information).

Name

Choose the name you’d like to be known as.  You can type in new names or press the arrow at the right to select names that have already been entered.

Always sign on as this player

If you always want to sign in as the same player, select this to prevent this dialog.

Appearance

Use the scroll bar below the face to choose your appearance.

Color Preference

Choose what color you’d prefer to play.  If you and your opponent both prefer to play the same color, random colors will be assigned.

Remove Player

Press this button to remove this player.  All statistics about this player will be removed.


File Exit command
Exit command (Game menu)

Use this command to end your game.  You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu.  You are prompted to save games with unsaved changes.

Shortcuts

Mouse:	Double-click the application's Control menu button.

Keys:	ALT+F4


View Toolbar command
Toolbar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands, such as File Open.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar.


Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar.  The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools,

To hide or display the Toolbar, choose Toolbar from the View menu (ALT, V, T).

Click	To

Open a new game.

Undoes the last move.

Changes settings for this and future games.

Displays win/loss statistics.

Displays the version number of this application.

Displays help for clicked on buttons, menus and windows.


View Status Bar Command
Status Bar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button, and keyboard latch state. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar.


Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the window.  To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus.  This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them.  If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.

The right areas of the status bar indicate which of the following keys are latched down:

Indicator	Description

CAP	The Caps Lock key is latched down.

NUM	The Num Lock key is latched down.

SCRL	The Scroll Lock key is latched down.


Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.  From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using the game and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


Using Help command (Help menu)

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


About command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of the game.


Help Using Help Command
Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of the game.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Title Bar

<< Show your application's title bar here. >>

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application and game.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.

A title bar contains the following elements:

Application Control-menu button

Maximize button

Minimize button

Name of the application

Name of the game

Restore button


Size command (System menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Move command (Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F7


System Minimize Command
Minimize command (application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the game window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.

Keys:	ALT+F9


Maximize command (System menu)

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon [image] on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.

Keys:	CTRL+F10 enlarges a game window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.


Undo command (Game menu)

Use this command to undo the last move.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+Z


Statistics command (Game menu)

Use this command to show win/loss statistics.  The Statistics dialog box is diaplayed.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	F4


Chat command (View menu)

Use this command to display the Chat window. The Chat window allowsyou to send messages to your network opponents. The Chat window is only available in network games.

Shortcuts

Keys:	F8


Chat window

The Chat window allows you to send message to your network opponents. The Chat window is only available in network games.

Type your message in the To Opponent field, then press the Send button.  Your message will be sent to your opponent.

Tip

Press F8, or select Chat in the View menu, to hide or show the Chat window.


Game Over dialog

The Game Over dialog tells you the results of the game, allows you to change the skill level of your computer opponent, and offers to play another game.


Statistics dialog
Statistics dialog box

The table shows win/loss statistics the game, sorted by overall performance.

The Overall column displays the player’s percentage and their number of wins, losses and ties versus all types of opponents.

The vs. Human column displays the player’s statistics versus all human opponents.

The vs. Beginner Computer, vs. Intermediate Computer, and vs. Expert Computer displays the player’s statistics versus beginner, intermediate and expert computer opponents.

Close

Closes the Statistics dialog box.

Clear

Deletes statistics for the selected player.

Help

Displays this help screen.


Choose Opponent dialog

The Choose Opponent dialog is the quickest way to start a new game. It is intended for experts only. If you’re having trouble with this complex dialog, select Walk Me Thru to try the New Game Wizard.

Opponent Type

Walk Me Thru	Select to start the New Game Wizard, a simplified way to start a new game. It’s especially good at helping out setting up Network or Internet games.
Human	Select to play against a friend on this machine.
Computer	Select to play against a computer opponent.
Network	Select to play over a Modem, a Network, or the Internet.

Human Opponents

Select the player, or type in a new name to create a new player. The player’s appearance can be changed by clicking on the arrows below the face.

This area is only available when Human is selected in the Opponent Type area.

Computer Opponents

Select the player you would like to play against. The Beginner players are at the far left, the Intermediate in the middle, and the Expert players at the far right.

This area is only available when Computer is selected in the Opponent Type area.

Network Type

Select the type of network you would like to use.

A modem comes with most computers sold today. It allows two computers to “talk” over telephone lines.

A Local Area Network is a connection between two or more computers. Special hardware is required.

Internet allows you to play against anyone in the world. To use this option, you must already be connected to the Internet.

This area is only available when Network is selected in the Opponent Type area.

Call Or Answer

Select whether you want your computer to call or answer. Network connections are very similar to telephone calls in that one person must call, and the other must answer. There is, however, one important difference: when making a network connection, the person answering must tell his computer to answer before taking any calls.

This area is only available when Network is selected in the Opponent Type area.

Who To Call

Select who you would like to call.  For Local Area Networks, the list is filled in with the names of players who are Answering.  For other network types, press the New button to enter information about who you would like to call.


Modem Settings

The Modem Settings dialog allows you to change the settings for your modem.

Port

Use this setting to tell MVP Checkers what port your modem is connected to.  See your computer’s documentation if you’re unsure of what to set this to.

Baud Rate

Use this setting to tell MVP Checkers what speed your modem is capable of.  Most modems today are capable of connecting at greater than 14400.  Checkers does not send a great deal of information over the modem, so don’t be too concerned with setting this as high as you can.

Advanced

Allows you to set advanced information about your modem, such as special dialing or response strings.  Please don’t play with these settings unless you know what you’re doing.


New Game Wizard

The New Game Wizard walks you through setting up a game, including setting up network games.

The first step in setting up a game is to choose your Opponent Type.  Your choices are:

Human	Play against a friend (or enemy).
Computer	Play against a computer opponent.
Network	Play against someone over your Modem, Local Area Network, or the Internet.
Same as last time	Play a game just like you did last time.
Use Expert Mode	If you’ve had enough of this hand-holding, you can use Expert Mode to start games more quickly.


New Game Wizard - Human

Name

Choose a name for who you want to play against.  You can select an existing player by pressing on the arrow to the right.

Appearance

Choose an appearance for the player.

Press Next when you’re ready to go on.


New Game Wizard - Summary

This screen shows the choices you’ve made so far.  If you want to change your mind, press Back.  If you’re ready to play, press Finish.


New Game Wizard - Computer

Choose the computer player you’d like to play against by clicking on them.  The players on the left are beginner players.  The players in the middle are intermediate, and the players on the right are advanced.

Press Next when you’re ready to go on.


New Game Wizard - Network

Select which type of network you want to use:

Modem	Play across your telephone line using a modem.
Local Area Network	Play across your Local Area Network.  Your computer needs special hardware, called a Network Adapter, to use this network type.  More information
Internet or TCP/IP	Play across the Internet.  You need to have an Internet connection up and running before using this network type.


Local Area Network

In order to use the Local Area Network setting, your computer must have a network adapter card.  Most home computers do not have such hardware.

Your network must be using a NetBIOS compatible protocol.  If you’re unsure, try playing.  If Checkers complains that this is missing, install it using the following directions.  Make sure you have your Windows disks or CD handy, Windows will probably ask for them to get additional files not already installed on your computer.

1. 	Press the Start button in the lower left corner.

2. 	Select Settings.

3. 	Select Control Panel.

4. 	Double click on Network.

5. 	Press the Add button.

6. 	Select Protocol and press the Add button.

7. 	Select Microsoft in the Manufacturers box.

8. 	Select NetBEUI in the Network Protocols box.

9. 	Press OK.


New Game Wizard - Call or Answer

Press Call if you want to call your opponent, or press Answer if you want to wait for your opponent to call you.

Press Next when you’re ready to go on.


New Game Wizard - Who To Call

Select the person you want to call.  If the player doesn’t exist, press the New button to add the player to your list.

Press Next when you’re ready to go on.


New Opponent

Name

Enter the name of the player here.

Phone (only available for modem opponents)

Enter the phone number of the player you’re going to call.

Address (only available for Internet play)

Enter your opponent’s Internet Address.  Your opponent can give this to you by answering an Internet game.  Checkers will report his Internet Address to him.


Game Over

This dialog tells you the result of the game, and offers to play another game.

Press Yes is you’d like to play another game of the same type, or press No if you’ve been beaten into submission.


Choose Opponent Dialog

Use choose opponent dialog to tell MVP Checkers what type of opponent you’d like to play against.

Opponent Type

Walk Me Thru	Choose this if you’d like some help or more information about the choices you’re making.
Human	Play against a friend.
Computer	Play against a computer opponent.
Network	Play against someone over your Modem, Local Area Network, or the Internet.

Once you choose an opponent type, you’ll be asked for more information about the game you want to play.  If you have any questions about these options, select Walk Me Thru and press OK.


Connect Dialog

This dialog displays when you’re waiting to connect to a network opponent.  Press Cancel to stop trying to connect or wait until the connection is established.


Digital Storm

Digital Storm has also created Vicious Circle, a multi-player personal combat simulator with economic and strategic planning.  Look for it at your local software retailer.


 Checkers Help Index

How To Play Checkers

Commands

Game menu

View menu

Settings menu

Help menu

About

Digital Storm


How To Play Checkers

Objective:  Capture all your opponent’s pieces or block them so they are unable to move.

Rules:

Black always moves first.

Pieces move diagonally forward.  Black starts at the bottom of the board and moves up towards Red; Red starts at the top of the board and moves down towards Black.

Captures are compulsory.  If you can capture a piece, you must do so.  If you have more then one possible capture, you may choose which to make.

To capture an opponent he must be in one of the squares diagonally in front of you, and the square beyond him must be empty.  The captured pieces is removed from the game.  If the piece can make another capture in its new location, it must continue to jump until it either reaches the last row or has no more possible jumps.

When a piece reaches the last row, it is promoted to a King.  Kings can move and capture backward as well as forward

The game is over when a player can no longer make a move either because he has no more pieces, or his opponent has him totally blocked and he has no valid moves.

To Play:

Select the piece to move.

Select the square to move the piece to.

If the moved piece can continue jumping, it will remain selected.  Select the next square to move the piece to.