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Text File | 1992-10-29 | 21KB | 452 lines

BBBBBB SSSSS X X B B S X X BBBBBB SSSS X B B S X X BBBBBB SSSSS X X I n t e r n a t i o n a l presents... AAA OO TTTTTTTT EEEEEE A A O O TT E AAAAA O O TT EEEE A A O O TT E A A OO TT EEEEEE Aces of the Eno Version 1.0 A Shareware Solitaire Game For Lonely Nights. (It's pronounced A-*O*-T. In case you didn't know...) 1.0 - Welcome. Welcome to AOTE 1.0. The enormous success of games like BSX's DARNIT has made us wonder about some of you people. Here we spend all (well, some) of our time trying to come up with clever, fancy new solitare card games, and all you want are simple, understandable ones. Well, here you are: a game where all you have to do is get all the aces to the tops of four seperate columns of cards by moving some cards around and discarding others. Honestly!... Truth is, AOTE isn't all THAT easy. You gotta stay on yer toes. So stay on em! 2.0 - Legal Stuff. PLEASE READ!!! AOTE 1.0 (C) 1992 BSX International AOTE 1.0 was developed and compiled using Borland's Turbo Pascal 5.5. This software is provided "as is" with no guarantees of any kind. The developers assume no responsibilities other than those indicated below. You may use and distribute this product as you wish, but only under the following conditions: 1) You may sell this program without permission from BSX International, but you MUST NOT alter the program or its documentation. You MUST NOT charge any fees other than fees for copying and MUST clearly state that this fee is NOT a substitute for registration with BSX. 2) Do not distribute this product if it has been reduced in any way. You may add files, but you may not remove any of the originals. 3) Under no circumstances remove the copyright notices from the code or documentation. 4) Shareware distributors are free to include ALL shareware BSX International products in their libraries and catalogs without our permission, provided they adhere to rules 1 thru 3. You need not ask our permission. 2.1 - Shareware. This product is SHAREWARE and is distributed in good faith for your enjoyment. You may play it for a short period to become familiar with it. If you decide you like it and want to keep playing it, you should send a $10 registration fee to BSX, otherwise you should stop using it. If only all software folks let you use their product before you paid for it the world would be a much better place. We've bought so much BAD software that we don't use, and we're sure you have too, that we feel GOOD programs should be rewarded. If you don't like AOTE, we're not hurt; if you do like our stuff, thank us, register, and we'll keep making it. This program is not "protected" in any way and is not altered so that non-registrants will suffer. The authors don't believe in denying anyone a chance to use our stuff. We are programmers, dammit, not businessmen. Or at least, not COMPETENT businessmen. We trust that anyone who likes AOTE and wants more of it will register. We're not naive, just a little idealistic. If you do not register you may still distribute this game provided you follow the rules above. Also, even if you have paid a distributor for the disk this game was on, YOU ARE STILL NOT REGISTERED. We do not receive payments from distributors. They just help us advertise our stuff and get it to people. We receive no money from them. 2.2 - Registration. To register AOTE 1.0 with BSX send a check/cash/MO for $10 (US) or $12 (Canadian) PAYABLE TO ROBERT ROBERDS to: Robert Roberds BSX International 806 Park Ridge Road Apt. A8 Durham, NC 27713 ****************************************************************** *** PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: ROBERT ROBERDS *** *** DO NOT MAKE THEM PAYABLE TO BSX INTERNATIONAL! *** *** WE TRY SO HARD TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT IN SIMPLE, *** *** ENTERTAINING SOLITARE GAMES, THE LEAST YOU COULD DO IS *** *** LEARN HOW TO SPELL BOB'S NAME ON A CHECK. WE'RE NOT A *** *** BIG, FANCY COMPANY WITH ACCOUNTS AT MAJOR BANKS. IN FACT, *** *** MOST BANK EMPLOYEES DREAD JUST LOOKING AT US, NEVER MIND *** *** CASHING CHECKS FOR US. *** ****************************************************************** For registering, not only will you encourage us to keep writing shareware, you will also receive: 1) Our Gratitude. 2) 1/2 Priced discounts on upgrades to this product. 3) A really cool BSX designer watch. There's this guy in New York who distributes them for us. Just get off at Grand Central Station and wander around for a while wearing a big sign that says "BSX" on it and chant the lyrics to any song by Public Enemy. You'll be dealt with shortly. Your support and comments are appreciated! 3.0 - Setup. A complete copy of AOTE 1.0 has the following files: 1) AOTE.DOC - Documentation file you are now reading. 2) AOTE.EXE - The actual compiled program. 3) AOTE.DAT - "Data" file needed for program execution. 4) AOTE.ICO - Windows 3+ icon file for users who want to install AOTE under MS Windows. AOTE is NOT a Windows program, but will run fine under Windows. Allow lots of memory for it in the PIF file. Don't say we didn't warn you. Cuz we DID. 5) BSXCAT.DOC - BSX's latest catalog of stuff! 6) ORDER.DOC - E Z 2 UZE BSX order and registration form. To run AOTE 1.0 from a hard drive, make a directory for this game. (We don't care what you call it, but AOTE isn't a bad idea.) Or use an existing directory. Copy the AOTE.EXE and AOTE.DAT files into this directory. Change your default directory to the one you just put AOTE in (with the "CD" command) and type "AOTE". It's as simple as that. If the directory is in your path, you may run AOTE from anywhere. To run AOTE 1.0 from a floppy, ensure that the files AOTE.EXE AOTE.DAT are on the floppy (use the "DIR" command). Change your default drive to the drive the floppy is in (Say "A:" or "B:", whichever applies ) and type "AOTE". Refer to your DOS manual for help. If you must. If you're still having trouble, make sure you machine meets the minimum requirements below: 1) IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or compatible (any 80x88/80x86 machine, from 8088/8086 clear on up through 80486 and beyond). 2) 256K RAM minimum. 3) EGA or VGA video adaptor with at least 256K of video RAM. 4) DOS 2.1 or higher or the DOS Compatability Box of OS/2. 5) Microsoft compatible mouse is supported, but NOT required. AOTE 1.0 WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT A EGA OR VGA CARD! This game has been playtested on many, many systems. We cannot say it will work on every possible configuration, but it does work on any system we have used. We cannot guarantee that this program will run on any operating system other than DOS or that it will work with any TSR's (Terminate and Stay Resident programs) or memory management devices. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you put files=20, buffers=40, and device=ansi.sys in your config.sys file. These shouldn't be necessary for AOTE, but it's best not to take chances. So many problems are caused by the omission of these lines that you'd be a fool not to put them in. IT IS ALSO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, if you do have problems with AOTE, that you unload and reload any TSRs before playing. This often helps clean up problems that other programs have left behind. Please try to recreate any problem on another, similar computer before assuming we have screwed up. If any of the above is confusing to you, we strongly recommend finding something better to do than using a computer. Like drinking heavily. Seems to work for us. You can always contact BSX, unless we're out on a date or something. (In other words, always.) Before beefing, though, please re-read our docs to make sure you aren't missing something. You may get in touch with BSX International at (919) 493-4875, just about any time, or you can send a message on Prodigy to JBVC54A or on GEnie to R.ROBERDS1, or on VNet to 5 @9198, or on WWIVNet to 5 @9979 Drop us a line! If you call, you may get our answering service. Leave a message for Bob. He needs things to keep him busy. 4.0 - Rules of the Game. (or, You need to read this to play this game?!?) At the start of each game, the first four cards are dealt automatically. After that you click on the "deal" button to deal yourself four cards. One is placed in each of the four columns you have in front of you. If the column already has cards in it, the ones just dealt will overlap the card(s) already there. The object is to get all four of the aces to the top of the columns using the following rules: 1) You can discard any card that is not under another card if there is a card of the same suit with a higher value that is also uncovered. (Long winded, I know.) All is means is that, if the two of spades is on the bottom of one column and the jack of spades is on the bottom of another column, then you can discard the two. Just click on its column, then on the waste pile. Since aces count high, they obviously can't be discarded. They CAN be moved to empty columns, though, just like everything else. Example: Say the columns are like this: ----------------------------------------- |A HEARTS |K CLUBS |A CLUBS |K HEARTS | |10 DIAMS | |3 DIAMS |J CLUBS | | | | | | Well, you may discard the 3 DIAMS by clicking on column 3, then clicking on the waste pile. This is because the 10 DIAMS is at the bottom of a column (column 1). This exposes the A CLUBS, so now you may discard the K CLUBS. You may also discard the J CLUBS. 2) You can move any uncovered card to another column if that column is empty. This will often reveal MORE elimination and moving plays. That's the whole point. Example: After the moves described above, the grid is like this: ----------------------------------------- |A HEARTS | |A CLUBS |K HEARTS | |10 DIAMS | | | | | | | | | Well, now you may move the 10 DIAMS to column 2 by clicking on column 1, then on column 2. This exposes the A HEARTS, so now you may discard the K HEARTS. 3) When done moving and discarding, click DEAL again for the NEXT four cards. Example: After the moves described above, the grid is like this: ----------------------------------------- |A HEARTS |10 DIAMS |A CLUBS | | | | | | | | | | | | Now, if you hit DEAL, four more cards will show up, like: ----------------------------------------- |A HEARTS |10 DIAMS |A CLUBS |6 DIAMS | |2 SPADES |4 HEARTS |7 HEARTS | | | | | | | Now you may discard the 4 HEARTS, then the 6 DIAMS; move the 2 SPADES to the now-empty column 4, and discard the 7 HEARTS. Etc. Get it? You win if all the aces get to the top of the columns. (One in each column.) You lose if you get into a situation where you cannot hope to do that. There are many such situations, and AOTE knows them. If you lose suddenly, you can bet yer situation was hopeless. Final note: There's STRATEGY involved. It's not ALWAYS a good idea to move an ace to an empty column. SOMETIMES you should wait a bit. Just play and you'll catch on. Unless yer some kinda MORON. 5.0 - Using AOTE. - The Basics Just type: aote at the DOS prompt. You'll see the opening screen and cruise on to an all-nighter of solitare thrills. - Mousing Around The game is very easy to use with a mouse. The left mouse button is used to "click" or "do" things. The right mouse button will undo something that can legally be reversed. The center mouse button, if you have one, acts like the right button. The speed of the mouse cursor can be adjusted by using the mouse adjust feature. Just click on the MOUSE button on the main playscreen. *** Special note - Mousers can force the game to ignore the mouse by invoking the game as follows: aote -n *** Another special note - Do NOT NOT NOT try to drag cards around. It don't work that way. You could really damage yer computer if you try. Just kidding. Still, don't do it. There's no point. - Keyboard Play If you don't have a mouse, the game will detect this and use the keyboard instead. Move the cursor around with the arrow keys, and with the PgUp, PgDn, Home and End keys. (The Num Lock key should be "off".) Select things with the RETURN or ENTER key or undo them with BACKSPACE or ESCAPE. Also, "hot" keys are provided. To use them, just type the first letter of the button you want to select. ("H" for help, for example.) - Selecting Cards Click on a column to select a card you wish to play. The top card is now the selected card, and that will be moved or discarded. Click on the waste pile to remove it or on an empty column to move it there. A light will come on above the column with the selected card to confirm your choice. Undo your selection with the right or middle mouse button (or BACKSPACE or ESCAPE for keyboard users) if you make a mistake. 5.1 - Features. - BOSS Selecting this button brings up a cool, fake DOS screen. If you find yourself playing at work or at home and you're waylaid by a boss/spouse/roommate/significant other, this is the way to go. Type "exit" to return to your game or "abort" to exit the game immediately. Be sure to hit RETURN or ENTER after typing this. This is not a DOS "shell" and you won't be able to issue any other commands from here. Jeez, waddaya want from a ten dollar card game? A pop-up spreadsheet with a command set that exceeds both 1-2-3 and Excel? A digitized voice that picks winners at the dog track? Or *I* know: A full-featured ST:TNG-type holodeck wherein you and a computer-generated simulacrum of Kim Basinger recreate the "food scene" from "9 1/2 Weeks"? Well, *T.S.!* - MOUSE Use this to adjust the rate at which your cursor moves around. The setting you choose will be remembered even if you leave the game. The controls for this are just like a VCR, and like a VCR, you have to figure out how to use them yourself. Waddaya, STUPID? Actually, it's real simple. - PLAYERS Since everyone you know will want to play AOTE with you, this is a way for each of you to have his/her/its own name and stats stored. Should be self-explanatory. You can USE a player, or NEW a player (erase his/and/or/her stats and give him/and/or/her a new name). Note our use of the "he/and/or/she" family of politically correct pronouns, which not only apply to males and females but to hermaphrodites as well. - SOUND Toggle the sounds on and off. Useful at work or if your living quarters are shared with potential psychotics, like Bruce Dern in "Black Sunday". This is also "remembered" next time you play. To be SURE to begin the game silent, invoke AOTE with: aote -s. This is useful for the first time you install AOTE on yer computer at work...you LAZY BUM! - HELP A rules summary will appear. This is the best way to learn the game. Not that it's real difficult to begin with, but we felt obligated. - QUIT Leave the game. You will be prompted to see if you really meant "quit" or if you'd like to start another game. 6.0 - Technical and Version Notes. AOTE is the offspring of the fertile mind of Bob, based on a solitare game he swiped out of a book. It's based on games variously known as Aces Up, Firing Squad, and (appropriately) Idiot's Delight. It was written in a combo of Turbo Pascal 5.5 and Turbo Assembler, on a bizarre 386-16 computer held together with bubble gum and baling wire, with a Logitech bus mouse and VGA graphics. It was tested on a fistful of systems, including Dave's Gateway 33-Mhz 386 system. Note: The reson Bob is stuck with a bizarre 386-16 computer held together with bubble gum and baling wire is because NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE REGISTER BSX STUFF!!! Get the message? 6.1 - Version Summary. Version 1.0 released 26 Sept. 1992 - Initial release. 7.0 - About BSX International. BSX is the combined efforts of a bunch of folks, two of whom are Bob and Dave. (There may be others, but we don't remember them just now. Let them write the Dox if they want to see their names.) We are supported in our efforts by registrants and computer nerds in general who give us money, advice and direction. (We like money. We'd comment on the advice and direction but most of it is not printable.) We keep making computer games mostly just because we like to, but the input that shareware users have given (mostly the money, again) gives us a lot of incentive. Keep supporting us and shareware in general. It's the only real way to test stuff before you buy it and to ensure that the things you really want to see make it to your computer. 8.0 - Acknowledgements. Bob would like to thank all the (pitifully few) people who've registered BSX stuff. Kudos to Dave for the usual preternatual dox. Megadittoes to the folks who, willingly or unwillingly, have tested AOTE and other BSX products. Congrats to LRG for once again displaying perfect prowess in the Silent Treatment (tm). Still more acknoledgement must goto JCG for similar skills. Dave would like to thank Bob, Debbie, Alexei and John for good times and stuff. A brief nod to Chip, Karen and Will is also in order. I don't get to spend much time playing games anymore, but when I do, and when it's not BSX stuff, it's Sid Meier's Civilization. We had thought about doing exactly the same thing, but I don't have the time to play it, let alone write it. Next time, Sid, give us a call. We'd love to help. BSX International - Bob "The So-Called Mao Tse-Tung" Roberds - Development & Design & Dox David "Dr K" Kotomski - Playtesting & Dox & Design So round, so firm, so fully packed... It must be from __ ___ | \ / \ \ / |__/ \___ \/ | \ \ /\ |__/ \___/ / \ International "Where the Future is Tommorrow" Rootin Tootin Computin for the 90s and Beyond Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! We're fierce, we're BSX International, and we're *IN YER FACE!* Serving your shareware needs for over a fiftieth of a century! Talk About AOTE and BSX - "A Warrior's Game." - Lt. Worf "A fascinating blend of herbs and spices. With a lemon-fresh scent!" - Some blonde girl in a TV commercial. "Sometimes I worry about Dave and Bob. Like the time they..." - A blonde ex-girlfriend. "Why is it called 'BSX' anyway?" - My girlfriend. Who is, in fact, not blonde. Shut up and eat yer pine cone! Peace.