************************************* * * * TETRHEX 1.15 (27/11/1994) * * * ************************************* Last modification: November 28, 1994. TETRHEX is a game, or rather a group of Tetris-like or Columns-like games, being played on a hexagonal board, with hexagonal cells. One of the main features is the possibility of creating one's own rules. This version is distributed with only one rule file (TETRHEX.RUL), but other rule files will be supplied later. This demo version may be freely copied and distributed provided that no file (among TETRHEX.PRG, TETRHEX.RUL, README.TXT and LISEZMOI.TXT) is modified or removed, and no extra fee is charged, except mailing and duplication fees. You may add one or several ASCII files. On the other hand, you MUSTN'T modify the program TETRHEX.PRG, even if it isn't distributed. TETRHEX is SHAREWARE. This means that if you want to use it and receive the complete version, you have to get registered by sending 50 FF (or more if you want to) to: Vincent LEFEVRE 24 rue Louis Blanc 31400 Toulouse France Don't forget to give me your name and address! If you have Internet access, I recommend that you contact me first by email. My address is: vlefevre@ens.ens-lyon.fr The unregistered version has the following limitations: . The rule can be changed (the UNDO key is disabled). . The scores are not saved. . A game ends after about 5 minutes. . At most 10 games. . No external routine. As I haven't had time to write the help file, I give the README file of the version 0.43; some parts have been modified. 1. System Requirements """"""""""""""""""" TETRHEX has been written for Falcon, but should be able to run on any Atari (or other TOS-based computer) having a 68030 (at least) and a Falcon compatible (i.e. interlaced planes) graphic mode 256 colors >= 640 * 480, possibly with a substitute operating system (TOS/GEM compatible). TETRHEX needs about 300 KB free RAM (ST RAM or TT RAM). One of the timers A and D is required (cf "Starting TETRHEX"); the default timer is D. 2. Compatbility """""""""""" TETRHEX can generaly run with AUTO programs, but sometimes there may be some problems. The compatibility list is given below. _ SpeedoGDOS (tests done with version 4.0): . If SpeedoGDOS is installed, outline fonts can be used; this is recommended. . It is impossible to change the graphic resolution (cf "Starting TETRHEX"), but the computer doesn't bomb. _ NVDI (tests done with version 2.5): . It is impossible to change the graphic resolution (cf "Starting TETRHEX"), but the computer doesn't bomb. _ Screen Blaster card: . There's no attempt to change the resolution, otherwise the computer bombs. In order to know whether the Screen Blaster card is active, the OSBL cookie is searched for. Note: this cookie can be removed only after a complete reboot (Ctrl-Alt-Rshift-Delete); therefore the resolution change may be refused whereas the card is unactive (after a partial reboot). _ MiNT/MultiTOS: . I haven't done tests with the demo version, but in any case you should avoid running the demo version under MultiTOS (it wasn't written to run under MultiTOS). . The version 1.10 can run under MultiTOS (in a window). . You have to remove the memory protection under MiNT, because TETRHEX accedes directly to the video memory in order to display faster. _ Outside (virtual memory): . No problem (note: TETRHDEM.PRG flags concerning the TT RAM may be activated). _ Idle (screen saver): . When the protection activates, TETRHEX memory blocks are sometimes altered. 3. Starting TETRHEX """""""""""""""" TETRHEX can be started either by double-clicking on its icon from the desktop, or from a shell (e.g. Gemini shell). It accepts Unix-like options, which can be given by different ways. TETRHEX creates a string composed of the file TETRHEX.CFG (if it exists), followed by the command line options. Note: to have the possibility to enter options after double-clicking on the icon, you must replace the extension .PRG by the extension .GTP (.TTP equivalent for a GEM program). All the options start with the character '-' and are separated by blanks (space and control characters). The command line mustn't have more than 125 characters. If the syntax of the whole string isn't correct, the program immediately ends (and returns an non-zero error code). Here are the options (the options that are already recognized but that are useful for non available functions aren't given): -fg number [Font Game] Identifier of the Speedo font used in the game itself. -fm number [Font Menu] Identifier of the Speedo font used in the menus. -fn number [Font Name] Identifier of the Speedo font used for the rule name. -ft number [Font Tetrhex] Identifier of the Speedo font used for "TETRHEX 0.43". -l param Language preferences. There are as many parameters as you want (possibly none). Each parameter is either a non-negative number, giving the language absolutely, or the character '?', i.e. the language given by the cookie _AKP (language used by the system), or the character '*', giving one or several languages close to the language used by the system. The default parameters are "* 0 3". -n number Default length of an edge of the hexagonal board (between 6 and 9). -o file The list of the remaining options is replaced by the file (extension .CFG). -r file Rule file (extension .RUL) to be loaded (this option is useless in the demo version since there's only one rule file for this version). -ta [Timer A] The timer A will be used. -td [Timer D] The timer D will be used. -vr[+/-] [Video Resolution] Forbid/allow a resolution change. -vs[+/-] [Video Synchro] Synchronization with the VBL interruption for some displays. The numbers are in the decimal form, except if they are preceded by a '$'; in this case, they are in the hexadecimal form. Instead of giving the options in the command line, it is possible to drag an option (or configuration) file or a rule file onto the TETRHEX icon. This operation corresponds to the options "-o" and "-r". Note: some options have opposite effects (ta/td, -vr+/-vr-, -vs+/-vs-); only the last one in the string is taken into account. At the start, if the Lshift key is pressed, the timer A is chosen (except if the option "-td" is given) instead of the timer D (particularly useful in the shareware version, if the serial port is used during the game). With a module player accessory, modules can be played; the timer D must be chosen (default timer). But (on a Falcon 030 without an accelerater board) one has interferences on the screen when the palette is changed, i.e. during the presentation and the screen changes. If the graphic resolution in which TETRHEX is launched isn't correct (i.e. 256 colors, >= 640 * 480), then TETRHEX tries to change the resolution, but may fail because of some programs (cf "Compatibility"). N.B.: the rule file TETRHEX.RUL must be in the same folder as the application TETRHEX.PRG. 4. Using TETRHEX """"""""""""" Start TETRHEX (cf "Starting TETRHEX"). Hit any key to quit the presentation. A menu appears: . Help: help (unavailable in the demo version). . Undo: load a rule (unavailable in the demo version). . Return: play. . F1-F10: high scores (unavailable in the demo version). . Ctrl-Q: quit. Hit Return to play. When the game is over, hit Ctrl-Escape to come back to the menu. 5. Rule TETRHEX.RUL """""""""""""""" Keys: . A (Q on the French keyboards): down (the piece stops for a while). . Insert: left-down. . Clr-Home: right-down. . Down-arrow: left rotation (counter clockwise). . Up-arrow: right rotation (clockwise). . Left-arrow: left (same height in relation to the lowest cell --> V-moving). . Right-arrow: right (same height in relation to the lowest cell --> V-moving). . Space bar: drop. . Escape: abandon. . Undo: pause. . Return: end of pause. . + (num pad): next level. . - (num pad): previous level (forbidden by the rule! thus here this key is useless). . Help: radar on/off. . Backspace: destroy all the hexagons, under the condition that you have a bomb (you have one when you reach 1000 bomb points) and that the current piece has bombs. The hexagons are destroyed in the following two cases: _ Formation of a line of hexagons: these hexagons are destroyed. N.B.: the lines are V's. _ If the current piece has bombs: contact between this piece and a connected (considering the color) component having a bomb. The two connected components are destroyed. Advise: _ It may be interesting to join the pieces of the same color so that more hexagons are destroyed by direct contact of two bombs. _ The keys A, Insert and Clr-Home may be very useful to drag pieces under other pieces (to fill in holes). Note 1: it is natural that at the beginning you don't make a line. You'll improve as you play. Moreover the demo version is more difficult than the shareware version. Note 2: this rule file has a little bug that is noticed only in some rare cases (which have never happened with me). A corrected version will be supplied later. 6. Differences from the registered version 1.10 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" They are many. Here is what else you can do with the registered version: _ Other rule files (easier): already exist: Tetrhex (more interesting and easier version), Hexcolumns; planned: Tetrhex light (much easier); and maybe another rule... _ You can modify existing rule files and create your own rules: the whole documentation will be supplied with the registered version, but you should rather be a good programmer to create your own rules. The rules are written in a specific language (interpreted language), close to both functional languages (expression computing in prefix notation) and assembly language (low-level language). The format of the rule files of the shareware version are different from the one of the demo version. _ You can load other rule files (Undo key). _ Scores are saved. _ Help on Tetrhex and on the loaded rule file (Help key). _ Radar (i.e. you can see the following piece). _ Pause (configurable in the rule files). _ You can play in a GEM window (particularly under MultiTOS). TETRHEX supports the AES 4.1: you can iconify the window. _ You can choose the intensity of the hexagons and the board (with options). _ Better default display (pieces and patterns on the hexagons are more visible). _ An option allows you to give TETRHEX a group of relocatables routines enabling TETRHEX to communicate with the outside. For instance, one can write routines to allow playing with the Joypad, or even playing using your voice (a small vocal recognition with the DSP should be possible), to make the computer play, to have modules played at given moments, to put your own images at the background... These routines don't exist yet, but they can be written without having to modify the application TETRHEX.PRG (the documentation necessary to write routines will be supplied in the registered version). The routines consisting in displaying images at the background and in playing modules will normally be supplied. _ Better menu. "game over" is displayed when the game is over. Escape key to come back to the menu (instead of Ctrl-Escape). _ The registered version works with versions of SpeedoGDOS in which the font identifiers are translated. 7. Used software """"""""""""" The source of TETRHEX has been written with the following text editors: Edith 1.0 (Annius V. Groenink), Edith Pro (Annius V. Groenink) and Everest (Oliver Schmidt). TETRHEX has been assembled and debugged with Assemble and Adebug (Brainstorm). Vincent LefŠvre. (email: vlefevre@ens.ens-lyon.fr) -- End of file --