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- SNAKEFIGHTER
- VERSION 1.0
-
-
- BY
-
- VIVID GAMES
-
- PROGRAMMED BY: MICHAEL AMMERLAAN
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- INTRODUCTION:
-
- Snakefighter is a modern version of the classic game Nibbles. I decided
- to rewrite this game because everyone at my high school was hooked on
- playing each other on the QBASIC version of it. I thought it would
- be cool if various options were added, including the capability of up
- to four people playing simultaneously.
-
- Strategy in this game can be very complex. The art of cutting
- another snake off is one of the most satisfying parts of this
- game. So enjoy, and I hope you like it.
-
- PLEASE REGISTER:
-
- SnakeFighter is shareware. This means you are free to try it
- out. If you like it, you should register. Registering not only
- gets you extra stuff, but also supports the author. This is
- especially true for me because soon I will have to get a job so
- that I can afford to go to college. But I would prefer to make
- writing games my job. So please register.
-
- MAP DESIGNER:
-
- A map designer is also included with the registered game. This
- allows you to edit any of the levels and add walls, oil, and rough.
- Build mazes, oil pits, or whatever. THE DESIGNER REQUIRES A MOUSE!
-
- DISCLAIMER:
-
- I have run SnakeFighter on many different computers, and it has run
- fine on all of them. But, unfortunately, I am required to give this
- disclaimer:
-
- The author makes no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied,
- with regard of this software or documentation. The author shall
- not be liable in any event for incidental or consequential
- damages in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing,
- performance, or use of the software.
-
- SUPPORT:
- I can be reached either through the RIME network at ->Oldtown,
- or on the Niteline BBS at (602) 329-0691.
-
- CHAPTER ONE: The Main Menu
- --------------------------
-
- There are many options in the main menu that you can customize to
- your liking before you start a game. A description of these
- options are contained in this chapter. They can be clicked on by
- a mouse, or by using a keyboard cursor that is controlled with the
- arrow keys and using the space key to click.
-
- The first thing you will notice are four boxes labeled Cobra,
- Viper, Copperhead, and Rattler. These are the four players in
- Snakefighter. Each of these boxes have two options: a button
- where you can change to control of a particular snake and a
- button where you can change the handicap.
-
- CONTROL
- -------
-
- As stated above, by clicking on the control button you can
- change the control of a particular snake. There are 8 options:
- a "none" option, four human options, and three computer options.
- The none button means that the particular snake will not play in
- the next game. If a snake is controlled by a human, there are
- four different ways it can be controlled. These include the "AS"
- set of buttons, the "JK" set of buttons, the "FG" set of buttons,
- and the keypad. A description of these keysets is in Appendix A.
- Therefore, it is theoretically possible that four humans could
- play, but more fighting would probably take place on the keyboard
- than on the screen. The three computer options are labeled "CPU
- (Stpd)", "CPU (Avrg)", and "CPU (Smrt)".
-
- The first option makes the snake a very stupid computer player.
- It will run into walls and other snakes very easily. The average
- player is less likely to run into walls or other snakes.
- The smart player never inadvertently runs into walls. The only
- way to kill a smart snake is to cut off all means of escape to it.
-
- HANDICAP
- --------
-
- The handicap option changes the starting speed of each snake.
-
- VARIANTS
- --------
-
- Below these player options are the game variants. These include 6
- adjustable game numbers and 9 buttons.
-
- The first adjustable number is speed. This is the base speed all
- snakes start at before handicap. The range is 0-100.
-
- The Add Length button determines how much a snake grows after
- eating a number. The range is 0-30.
-
- The Start Length button determines the length every snake starts
- at. The range is 1-30.
-
- The Lives number is the number of lives every snake has. The
- range is 1-100.
-
- The Level number is the level that the game starts at. This number
- has no effect when the level advance button is set to Random.
- The range is 1-20.
-
- The next adjustable number is the time limit. If the time limit
- button is on, it sets the number of seconds until new numbers will
- pop up on the screen. The range is 1-100.
-
- Next to the adjustable numbers are the buttons. The first button
- is the wrap-around button. When this button is on, snakes will be
- able to leave one edge of the screen and reenter on the other.
- When it is off there will be a brick wall around the screen.
-
- The button below that is the speed-up button. When this button
- is on, the game will speed up by 10 units after every level is
- completed.
-
- The button below that is the time limit button. This button will
- turn on a time limit on the amount of time you can take to get the
- next number. If you don't get the number before the time expires,
- the numbers will multiply, and you will have to get the rest of the
- other numbers in order to advance to the number.
-
- Below that button is the reset button. When this button is on,
- if any snake dies, all of the snakes will go back to their gates
- and the level will have to re-done. When it is off, only the
- offending snake will go back to his gate. If there is a collision,
- both snakes will go back to their gates.
-
- Next to these buttons are four other buttons. The top button is
- not a toggle button like the others. This is the level advance
- button. It determines what will happen after a level is
- completed and acts alot like a CD player. The first selection,
- Sequential, will load the next level after one level is
- completed. The second selection, Random, will randomly pick a
- new level. The final selection, Repeat, will play the same level
- over and over again.
-
- The next button is the Terrain button. When it is on, the oil
- and rough terrains will effect snakes.
-
- The button below that is the Random events button. When it is
- set to Oftn, random bonuses or detractors will appear on the game
- screen. With the Norm selection on, these bonuses or detractor
- will appear less frequently, and with the Rare selection, even
- less frequently. You can also turn these random effects completely
- off.
-
- The button below that is the waste button. This button determines
- whether snakes will be able to get rid of their waste.
-
- The button on the far right of the screen is the sound selection.
-
- The Adlib will allow music only to play. Since their is no music
- included in the game, you will not hear anything. But if you
- have any favorite MT-32 compatible midi songs, you can rename
- them SONG1.MID, SONG2.MID, SONG3.MID, or SONG4.MID and place them
- in the same directory as SnakeFighter. Then, during the game,
- you can hit 1,2,3 and 4 respectively to play these songs.
-
- The soundblaster option will play various nifty but crude sound
- effects during the game.
-
- CHAPTER TWO: Playing the game
- -----------------------------
-
- After selecting all your options, clicking on start will start
- the game.
-
- THE OBJECT
- ----------
-
- The object of the game is to collect all the numbers. When you
- run over a number with your snake, you will get it plus whatever
- its value is times 100. Your snake will also get longer based on
- the Add Length adjustable number. When the number nine is
- collected, a new level will be played based on the level advance
- button. Obviously, the snake with the most points wins.
-
- TERRAIN
- -------
-
- The main terrain feature is grass. This is normal terrain, and
- numbers will only appear in grass. The red brick walls are
- impenetrable to snakes, and running into them will kill a
- snake. When a snake runs over oil (the black splotches),
- it will go much faster. If a snake hits rough terrain (dark
- green splotches), it will go much slower.
-
- WASTE
- -----
-
- Waste is obtained by eating numbers and chili bowls. Waste can be
- discharged from the end of snake. Any snake that hits this waste
- is killed. Thus, waste is useful for eliminating any pesky snakes
- that are following you. Be aware that a snake will not discharge
- within two spaces of a snake's opening door.
-
- RANDOM EVENTS
- -------------
-
- If the random event button is on, random things will appear on
- the screen. A description of these things follows.
-
- Green Turtle: This will slow a snake down.
- Grey Rocket: This will speed up a snake.
- Red Flag: This will give a 200 point bonus.
- Black Mine: This will blow a snake up.
- Chili Bowl: This will give a snake extra waste.
- Yellow Potion: This will add length to a snake.
- Yellow Bottle: This bottle of alcohol will make a snake drunk,
- and it will randomly make direction turns. The
- more a snake drinks, the more drunk it gets.
-
- SNAKE DISPLAYS
- --------------
-
- At the top of the screen are displays for each snake. It will display
- the snakes name, if it is drunk, and four indicators. The
- "S" indicator is the snake's score. The "Sp" indicator is the snakes
- speed, where 0 is the slowest and 100 is the fastest. The "L"
- indicator is the number of lives left, and the "W" indicator is the
- amount of waste a snake has left.
-
- Also in on the top of the screen is the current level number and, if
- applicable, the time left until a number multiplies.
-
- TIPS
- ----
-
- Here are a few tips for game play:
-
- - Try to get a few rockets in the beginning if random events is
- on. It will give you the speed advantage to getting any numbers.
- Be careful, however, not to get too many rockets because you may
- loose control of yourself.
-
- - To kill a computer, try to surround him with your snake. Stupid
- or Average players will probably die, and if the noose is tight
- enough, Smart players will die, too.
-
- - Always try to go through oil. Sometimes it is beneficial to
- go a bit out of your way to go through oil. However, always
- be careful because snakes are hard to control in oil.
-
- APPENDIX A: KEYS
-
- │ LEFT │RIGHT │ UP │ DOWN │WASTE │
- ───────────────────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
- Human (AS) │ A │ D │ W │ S │ X │
- ───────────────────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
- Human (JK) │ J │ L │ I │ K │ , │
- ───────────────────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
- Human (FG) │ F │ H │ T │ G │ B │
- ───────────────────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┤
- Human (KP) │LT ARW│RT ARW│UP ARW│DN ARW│Insert│
- ───────────────────┴──────┴──────┴──────┴──────┴──────┘
-
- Other Keys:
-
- To speed up during a game: -, + buttons.
-
- To play SONG1.MID, or SONG2.MID, or SONG3.MID, or SONG4.MID
- respectively: 1,2,3,4
-
- To exit to DOS during a game, hit ALT-Q.
-
- To pause during a game, hit P.
-
- To exit to the main menu during a game, hit ALT-E.
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