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-
- VGA SHUFFLE
- ver. 1.01
- by Nikolai Soumarokov
-
-
- This program is Public Domain.
- Users are encouraged to make as many copies of this
- program as they like and to give this program to other
- people; however, under no circumstances is this program
- to be sold.
-
- When distributing the program, please make sure that you
- distribute all five program files (SHUFFLE.EXE, SHUFFLE.DOC,
- UFP.LBM, SHTITLE.LBM, and GORBI,LBM) together.
-
-
- REQUIREMENTS
-
- This program requires VGA card and monitor (it uses 256-color
- 320x200 graphic mode) and mouse to work. As for speed, SHUFFLE
- works very well on my 16MHz 386SX and on 12MHz computers.
- For slower computers, use JUMP mode instead of SCROLL mode
- (see GAME OPTIONS for more details).
-
- PLAYING THE GAME
-
- VGA SHUFFLE is an attempt to computerize an old "Game of 15."
- The rules of the "Game of 15" were very simple: the player
- had to move 15 numbered squares in the 4x4 playfield in order
- to arrange them in the increasing order, that is
-
- ╔════╤════╤════╤════╗
- ║ 1 │ 2 │ 3 │ 4 ║
- ╟────┼────┼────┼────╢
- ║ 5 │ 6 │ 7 │ 8 ║
- ╟────┼────┼────┼────╢
- ║ 9 │ 10 │ 11 │ 12 ║
- ╟────┼────┼────┼────╢
- ║ 13 │ 14 │ 15 │ ║
- ╚════╧════╧════╧════╝
-
- In fact, SHUFFLE is not just the computer version of the "Game
- of 15"; it is an ENHANCED version -- the original "Game of 15"
- is only one option in SHUFFLE. In SHUFFLE, the player is able
- to choose the size of playfield from 4x4 to 10x10 and to
- arrange parts of colorful picture instead of numbered squares.
- At the same time, the simple rules of the "Game of 15" remained
- the same.
-
- To start the game, type SHUFFLE at the DOS prompt. After
- introductory screens, a mixed-up picture will appear. Your aim
- is to restore the picture by moving its pieces. To move a piece,
- click on it with the left mouse button. Obviously, you can
- move only pieces located next to an empty square.
-
- GAME OPTIONS
-
- Game options menu is accessed by pressing right mouse button.
- The options include:
- - VIEW GOAL -- shows the picture you need to restore.
- - PICTURE -- changes the picture. The program comes with only
- three pictures: UFP, SHTITLE, and GORBI; however,
- you can add your own ones (see ADDING PICTURES).
- <EMPTY> means no picture at all: just white
- numbered squares.
- - SIZE -- changes the size of the playfield.
- - NUMBERS -- toggles between numbered and not numbered pieces.
- - GRID -- toggles grid on and off. When grid is off, the picture
- looks better, but the gameplay is a little bit harder.
- - MODE -- toggles between SCROLL and JUMP modes. When SCROLL mode
- is on, pieces move smoothly from an old position to a
- new one. When JUMP mode is on, pieces simply dissapear
- at one place and appear at the other. JUMP mode works
- faster so is recommended for slow machines.
- - SHUFFLE -- Moves some pieces randomly. Really not the most
- useful option, however may help is some dead-end-
- looking situations.
- To return to game from the menu, press right mouse button.
-
- ADDING PICTURES
-
- VGA SHUFFLE comes with only 3 pictures -- two title screens
- and a portrait of Gorbachev. I haven't added more pictures
- for two reasons: first, I am not a good artist, and second,
- pictures take too much disk space for such a simple game.
- However, if you want, you can play with any pictures you
- want, if these pictures
- a) are in LBM format (format of Deluxe Paint II) and
- b) are drawn in 256 colors 320x200 resolution.
-
- To use a picture in the game, simply copy the .LBM file to
- the directory in which the game is located and select the
- name of the picture in the game options menu.
-
- NOTE: If your picture looks OK in the graphics editing
- program but is loaded into SHUFFLE with errors,
- check if the picture was really drawn in 320x200
- 256 colors mode. If you use Deluxe Paint's CAMERA
- utility to "steal" a picture from other programs,
- try loading it into graphics editor and saving it
- again before running SHUFFLE.
-
-
- That's all. Enjoy SHUFFLE and send your comments and
- suggestions to:
-
- Nikolai Soumarokov
- Zschokkegasse 91/2/5/25
- 1220 Vienna, Austria.
-