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Text File | 1996-08-25 | 13.2 KB | 354 lines

GGGGGGG AAAAAAA M M BBBBBBBB IIIIIIIII TTTTTTTTT G G A A MM MM B B I T G A A M M M M B B I T G GGGG AAAAAAAAA M MMM M BBBBBBBB I T G G A A M M B B I T G G A A M M B B I T GGGGGGG A A M M BBBBBBBB IIIIIIIII T Gambit Modem Chess Copyright (c) 1994, Stanley Design Team [All Rights Reserved] Programming, John Stanley Design Assistant, Warren Rice Legal Stuff =========== This program is provided "AS IS" and it is without warranty. No liability shall be assumed for direct or consequential damage caused by the use of this software. The only claim that is made is that there are no intentional bugs or fatal errors in any original copy of the program that you receive directly from the author. Introduction ============ Why modem chess you ask? Well, for about a year I've been spending around $3.00 per hour to play multi-player chess on the commercial gaming networks. I don't know about you, but I'm not rich and the cost of playing a couple of games each night was putting me in the poor house. So, I decided to tryout as many modem chess programs as I could find... What can I say... They were real junk! I gave them all an "A" for effort and an "F" for usefulness. The people who programmed them must be great chess experts because they sure weren't programming experts. That's when I decided to write GAMBIT. I've been making modem games for a number of years so I decided to put my talent to good use. I hope you enjoy playing GAMBIT as much as I do. Required Hardware ================= In order to use GAMBIT you must have a 386 or faster processor. You must be equipped with a Microsoft compatible Mouse, a Hayes compatible Modem and a VGA card. You need a minimum of 550K or free ram for the game to run. Quick Start =========== If you are experienced with PC's and chess programs in general then you may be comfortable starting play right away. If you encounter any difficulties then I suggest you refer to the manual as necessary. To start the game just type GAMBIT at the DOS prompt. All game functions are access from the title-bar (main menu) by clicking on their name with your mouse. The Main Display ================ The row of words across the top of the screen (Game, File, Display, Modem) is called the "Main Menu." The large chess diagram on the left half of the screen is called the "Board." The two wide rectangular boxes directly below the board are called the "Message Windows." The large box on the right side of the screen is called the "Game Score Window." The small box in the lower right corner of the screen contains the program name and version number. GAMBIT is designed to be used with a Microsoft compatible mouse. If you have a three-button mouse, use only the left and right buttons. You should ignore the center mouse button. Using The Mouse =============== To make moves on the chessboard with the mouse: 1. Point the mouse arrow to the "origination" square, i.e. the square containing the piece that you wish to move, and then click the LEFT mouse button. 2. Now point the mouse arrow at the "target" square, i.e. the square to which you wish to move, and then click the LEFT mouse button. You should now see the intended piece make the move you selected. If you click on the wrong origination square, then click a second time on the same square to clear the selection. To select a menu with the mouse: 1. Move the mouse arrow so that its tip is touching (on the main menu) any part of the name of the menu you wish to access. 2. Click once with the LEFT mouse button. The selected drop-down menu will then open on the screen. To access an option on this drop-down menu: 1. Point to the intended menu option with the tip of the mouse arrow. 2. Click once with the LEFT mouse button. The menu option that you have selected is now activated. To make the drop down menu disappear without choosing any options, click a second time on the name of the menu (on the main menu) you are accessing. The Main Menu ============= When you are playing GAMBIT, the top line of your video display will look something like this: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Game File Display Modem ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is called the "Main Menu." Each word (Game, File, Display, Modem) is itself a menu. Each menu contains a number of "menu options", and together they allow you to access all of GAMBITS' features and functions. The Game Menu ============= ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Game File Display Modem -+------------+-------------------------------------------------------------- | New Game | | Set Clock | | Undo Move | +------------+ | Play White | | Play Black | +------------+ | Quit | +------------+ New Game -------- Choosing "New Game" tells GAMBIT to start a new game. Both you and your opponents chess board are reset to the initial chess positions. Set Clock --------- Choosing "Set Clock" allows you to set and clear the countdown clock. Both you and your opponents clocks are set to the value you select. Undo Move --------- Choosing "Undo Move" tells GAMBIT to undo the last move made. Both you and your opponents chess board are restored to the previous move positions. Play White ---------- You select the WHITE side of the board to play. Your opponent is automatically assigned the BLACK side of the board. Play Black ---------- You select the BLACK side of the board to play. Your opponent is automatically assigned the WHITE side of the board. Quit ---- Choosing this option will end the program and return you to DOS. GAMBIT will offer you a chance to cancel in case you have changed your mind or have chosen this option accidentally. The File Menu ============= ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Game File Display Modem --------------+-----------+-------------------------------------------------- | Load Game | | Save Game | | Print Game | +------------+ Load Game --------- To "load" a game that you have previously saved (that is, to make it the active game on the screen), choose "Load Game." GAMBIT will load the game into it's memory and automatically transmit the game to your opponents computer so you can finish playing the game. The amount of time it takes to transmit the game to your opponents computer will vary between 5 - 25 seconds depending on the speed of the modems. So please be patient... Save Game --------- If you wish to save the game that you are playing with your opponent, choose "Save Game." The game will be stored and can be accessed again by choosing the "Load Game" option. Print Game ---------- This option lets you print a trascript of your game in PGN format. Enter the name of a transcript file through your keyboard in the window that appears follow by the ENTER key. GAMBIT will then create the file. The Display Menu ================ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Game File Display Modem -----------------------------+--------------+-------------------------------- | Rotate Board | | Coordinates | | Sound F/X | +--------------+ Rotate Board ------------ This option reverses the orientation of the board as it appears on the screen, so that the black pieces are at the bottom and the white pieces at the top (also use to reset the view to normal). Coordinates ----------- This option displays a visual reminder of the algebraic notation system used to represent chess moves. Use this option to display the coordinates along the edge of the board. Sound F/X --------- GAMBIT normally beeps after every move made. If you perfer silence, clicking on the option will allow you to toggle the sound off or on. The Modem Menu ============== ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Game File Display Modem -----------------------------------------------+---------------+------------- | Dial Modem | | Answer Modem | | Hang-Up Modem | +---------------+ | Setup Modem | +---------------+ Dial Modem ---------- This option lets you enter the phone number of your opponents computer. Enter the number through your keyboard in the window that appears follow by the ENTER key. GAMBIT will then dial the number and establish a modem link. If you need to cancel this option select the CANCEL option with your mouse. Every time you use the "Dial Modem" option the last number dialed is automatically entered for you. If you want to change the number, use the BACKSPACE key on you keyboard to erase it. Answer Modem ------------ This option lets GAMBIT answer the phone when the modem rings. If you need to cancel this option select the CANCEL option with your mouse. Hang-Up Modem ------------- This option instructs GAMBIT to reset the modem thereby hanging it up. Use this option when you need to disconnect your computer from the phone line. Setup Modem ----------- Use this option to tell GAMBIT which COM port, interrupt (IRQ) and baud rate to use with your modem. Use the mouse to select the appreciate setting and the save them by selecting the SAVE option. If you need to cancel this option select the CANCEL option with your mouse. The Board ========= The chessboard is a standard 8x8 design. Both the board and the chess pieces have been designed to be easy on the eye. The Score Window ================ This window contains both the chess clocks and a record of the moves make thus far. Towards the bottom of this window are two areas of interest. At the bottom is a small display that is used to display information about the modem connection. Directly above this area is were messages relating to the game are displayed, i.e. IN-CHECK, CHECKMATE, STALEMATE and DRAW GAME messages are displayed here. The Message Windows =================== Through the message windows you can easily communicate with your opponent. Once a connection is established between computers, anything you type is instantly transmitted to your opponent as you type it in. The top window displays everything you type to your opponent. The bottom window displays everything your opponent types to you. Modem Initialization Files ========================== GAMBIT reads it's modem initialization string from an external file. The name of the file is MODEMS.INI and it contains Hayes compatible modem commands. Here is a transcript of that file. AT E1 L3 M1 Q0 V1 X1 &C1 &D2 S0=1 S7=60 S11=155 AT DT /* this line must be present */ If your experience problems using your modem you may need to modify this file. Please refer to your modem handbook if you do not have a Hayes compatible modem or if you want to use different dialing or answering parameters. I have supplied a simplified version of the this file the game (SIMPLE.INI) that works well with every modem I've tried thus far. Chess Logic =========== GAMBIT uses advanced chess logic to determine the validity of the moves you make. It is therefor able to detect and the following conditions: Pawn Promotion En Passant Castling King Side Castling Queen Side King In-Check Checkmate Stalemate Draw Game (Not Enough Material For Mate) Draw Game (3 Duplicate Board Positions) Draw Game (21 Forced Moves By King) Castling ======== GAMBIT supports both King and Queen side castling. When you want to caslte your King, select it with the mouse pointer. Then select the square two to the right of left of your King to indicate the direction to castle. As long as your King can legally castle in the direction you have indicated GAMBIT will perform the operation for you. User Feedback ============= If you would like to get in-touch with me regarding GAMBIT, I can be reached by EMAIL at the following Internet address: Dracus@Aol.Com Please feel free to send me your comments about the game.