Copyright: Go-Moku Help. Copyright © 1996 by StaS Drapkin   Sat Aug 31 20:18:52 1996


History of Go-Moku
Brief History of Go-Moku

Go-Moku is a simpler version of the ancient Japanese game of Go, and it also closely resembles the contemporary game of Pente.

Go-Moku is played on the intersections of a go board (which is equivalent to playing on the cells of a 19x19 grid). The game became popular in England in the 1880s under the name of "go-bang". It was sometimes played on an ordinary draughts board, each player using 12 or 15 draughtsmen. Moves were permitted in any direction if no one had won by the time all the draughtsmen were placed.


Objective and Rules
Game Objective and Rules

The object of the game is to line up five stones of Your color in a row. Watch out - this game is deceptively simple.

The two players (or human player and the computer) take turns placing their stones (of black and white color) on the cells of a 19x19 grid.

The board consists of 361 cells (19x19). When Your turn comes, You can place stone in any of the unoccupied cells on board by dragging mouse cursor over selected cell and clicking left mouse button. Click with right mouse button on any unoccupied cell will bring up comment for that cell. Pressing “H” during the game will blink hint in red.


Change stone color
How To Change Your Stone Color

Go to “Options” window. Select “Players” tab and click the color of stones You want for the corresponding players.


Select who moves first
How To Select Who Moves First

Go to “Options” window. Select “Players” tab and click on the button “1st (2nd) Player is First” in order to toggle its caption.


Adjust the behavior of Go-Moku Master
How To Adjust The Behavior of Computer

Go to “Options” window. Select “A.I.E” tab. You can make Go-Moku Master more defensive or aggressive and You can change randomness of its moves.

Note: Randomness values which are bigger than one are available in Registered Version only.


Registration of Go-Moku
Registering Go-Moku

Go-Moku is being distributed using the shareware concept. If You have been using Go-Moku for more than 21 days - You must register. Registration is very easy and fully automated. All You have to do is fill out the registration form.

After completing the form print it by clicking the print button and send it with the registration fee to the author. The author’s address and the total registration fee can be found on the form itself.

After the author receives Your registration You will be sent a unique registration number which You will be able to enter into the Registration Code dialog.

After verifying the code Go-Moku will register itself and all the features will be fully enabled. The same registration number can also be used in all future versions which can be obtained for free via the Internet (see Getting the latest version).


Getting The Latest Version

The following FTP sites always carry the latest version of Go-Moku:

ftp.cdrom.com /pub/win95/games/gomokuxx.zip - Walnut Creek CD-ROM Archive®

ftp.winsite.com /pub/pc/win95/games/gomokuxx.zip  - WinSite Archive®

xx is the version number, for example gomoku12.zip stands for Go-Moku Version 1.2


Contacting The Author

You can contact the author at the following addresses:

Internet e-mail: doleg@idirect.com

Regular mail:

StaS Drapkin

6020 Bathurst st. , Apt. 905

North York, Ontario

M2R 1Z8

Canada

Suggestions, bug reports and any other comments are always welcomed.


DISCLAIMER

STAS DRAPKIN, THE AUTHOR OF THIS PROGRAM, HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS PROGRAM, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE AUTHOR WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT OR SIMILAR DAMAGES DUE TO LOSS OF DATA OR ANY OTHER REASON. IN NO CASE OR EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR'S LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES EVER EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE LICENSE TO USE THIS SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE CLAIM. THE PERSON USING THIS SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE. USE OF THIS SOFTWARE CONSTITUTES AGREEMENT ON THE PART OF THE USER TO THIS DISCLAIMER.


LICENSE AGREEMENT

Go-Moku Version 1.2 is a shareware program and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with Your friends, but please don’t give it away altered or as a part of another package. The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer owners with quality software without paying a lot of money for it, and yet to provide incentive for the software authors to continue developing new and better products. If You like this program and You want to continue using it after the trial period (21 days), You must make a registration payment of $5 US to the author. This registration fee will license one copy for use on one computer only at any time. You must treat this software just like a book. One registered copy of this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, as long as it is not being used simultaneously on two or more computers, just like a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time.

You are encouraged to pass evaluation version of this program along to Your friends for evaluation. If they like this program and want to use it after the trial period they must also register their copy.


SHAREWARE CONCEPT

Shareware (also known as user supported software and other names) is a concept not understood by everyone. The authors of Shareware retain all rights to the software under the copyright laws while still allowing free distribution. This gives the user the chance to freely obtain and try out software to see if it fits his needs. Shareware should not be confused with Public Domain software even though they are often obtained from the same sources.

Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If You continue to use Shareware after trying it out, You are expected to register Your use with the author and pay a registration fee. Only by paying for the Shareware You use do You enable the Shareware author to continue to support his software and create new programs. Considering that the Shareware registration fees are almost always far less than the purchase price of comparable commercial software it's obvious that Shareware is a good deal for everyone.

There are real advantages to You in the Shareware system. You get to try out software to make sure it is compatible with Your hardware and that it fits Your needs before You "buy" it with Your registration. The author saves the expense of advertising, packaging and distribution and passes the savings on to You. Plus, most Shareware authors are much more accessible than commercial software sources so that Your questions and suggestions are much more likely to be responded to.

Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if You don't use the product, You don't pay for it.


Toolbar

Toolbar consists of four buttons which activate four main menu items: “New Game”, “Load Game”, “Save Game” and “Options”.

• “New Game” starts new game and ends current game.

• “Load Game” loads game from saved file and ends current game.

• “Save Game” saves current game to file.

• “Options” shows “Options” dialog with various options. Changed options will take effect after You start a new game.


Comment

When You click with right mouse button on any unoccupied cell during the game - a small panel will pop up showing in percentage what computer thinks about Your move to that cell.

• If the computer thinks it’s the most logical move - You’ll see “100%”.

• If the computer thinks it’s the least logical move - You’ll see “0%”.

• During the “Human vs. Human” game comments are shown for the player whose move is next.

• Comments are unlimited.


New Game

“New Game” starts new game and cancels current game.

First button from the left on the toolbar does the same thing.


Load Game

“Load Game” loads saved game from file and cancels current game.

Second button from the left on the toolbar does the same thing.


Save Game

“Save Game” saves current game to file.

Third button from the left on the toolbar does the same thing.


Autoplay

“Autoplay” plays “Go-Moku Master vs. Go-Moku Master” game.


Replay

“Replay” replays last finished game with the speed set in “Options” dialog.


Switch sides

“Switch Sides” forces computer to make move for the player whose move is next. If Human’s move is next then computer will make next move for him. If computer’s move is next then computer will make a move like it was supposed to (nothing changes).


Options

“Options” displays “Options” dialog where You can change various options.

Fourth button from the left on the toolbar does the same thing.


Hint

“Hint” blinks red square on the board. The cell it blinks in is where computer suggests You move.


Register Go-Moku
Register

“Register” will open a registration dialog.

“Register Now” opens a registration form which can be printed upon completion.

“Enter Registration Key” opens registration key dialog.

“Register Later” will close the dialog and start evaluation version of Go-Moku.


Exit Go-Moku
Exit

“Exit” quits the game.


Undo

“Undo” takes Your move back so that You can correct any mistakes made.

• If You are playing “Human vs. Go-Moku Master” then last two moves are undone: Yours and computer’s.

• If You are playing “Human vs. Human” then only one move is undone at a time.

Note: Undo is limited to 5 uses in evaluation version. In registered version undo is unlimited.


Redo

“Redo” does “Undo” for “Undo”. In other words it cancels last “Undo” command and puts on the board last stone taken away by “Undo”.

• If You are playing “Human vs. Go-Moku Master” then last two moves are redone: Yours and computer’s.

• If You are playing “Human vs. Human” then only one move is redone at a time.


Implementation

The algorithm used in this version belongs to Borland International. Source code, interface, graphics, help and everything else is created by StaS Drapkin.

If You have any ideas, suggestions, comments or You think You have found a bug - please contact me via regular mail (click here for an address) or via e-mail at doleg@idirect.com. Your feedback will be appreciated and if Your suggestion will be significant - You will get FREE Registration Key and Your name will be on this page in the “Thanks Go To:” list.

Thanks Go To:

Vitaly Livshits	For general help with implementation


Players tab
Options Dialog - “Players” Tab

Click on the region You need help on.


Your mouse cursor will have a question mark in it after clicking here. Then You can click on any item and the help about that item will pop up.


Clicking here will close the options dialog. Clicking “Cancel” button below or pressing “Esc” is equivalent.


Clicking here will bring up players options.


Clicking here will bring up general options.


Clicking here will bring up artificial intelligence engine options.


Clicking here will set a game for two players.


Clicking here will set a game for one player and computer.


Clicking here will toggle which player will make the first move.


Clicking here will give 1st player black stones. The other player will have white stones correspondingly.


Clicking here will give 1st player white stones. The other player will have black stones correspondingly.


Clicking here will give 2nd player white stones. The other player will have black stones correspondingly.


Clicking here will give 2nd player black stones. The other player will have white stones correspondingly.


The name of the first player is shown here.


The name of the second player is shown here.


First player should type his/her name here


For two players game the second player should type his/her name here.


Click here to save all changes and close options dialog.


Click here to cancel all changes and close options dialog.


Clicking here will bring up this help page.


General tab
Options Dialog - “General” Tab

Click on the region You need help on.


Put a checkmark here to display Timer.


Put a checkmark here to play Music in the background.


Put a checkmark here to enable Sound effects.


Use trackbar to set the right speed for Replaying last game.


Use trackbar to set the right speed for Autoplay.


Artificial Intelligence Engine
Options Dialog - “A.I.E.” Tab

Click on the region You need help on.


Use trackbar to make computer more defensive or aggressive.


This number represents position of trackbar above.


Any value of Randomness except 0 makes computer play differently each game. The bigger the value - the more interesting computer plays.


Change Replay and Autoplay Speed

Go to “Options” window. Select “General” tab and adjust the corresponding trackbar.


What's new in version 1.1
What’s New in Version 1.1

• Hints and Comments added

• Added “A.I.E” tab in “Options” dialog

• Replay added

• Autoplay added

• Sound effects added


What's new in version 1.2
What’s New in Version 1.2

• Save Game / Load Game added

• Undo / Redo added

• Interface was improved

• Context-sensitive Help was added

• Music added

• Now Go-Moku makes full use of Registry