Fujiology Archive/fujiology_archive_v1_0.iso/!FALCON/!BONUS/GAMES/TETR141.ZIP/HELP/MINIHELP.ENG

Text File | 1996-01-29 | 6KB | 109 lines

TETRHEX 1.40, mini-help
***********************

  This file is a TETRHEX mini-help. Read it entirely before running TETRHEX.
If you want to know more,  read the parts of TETRHELP.ENG that interest you.
The unregistered version has some limitations, which are given at the end of
the file TETRHELP.ENG (in particular, games limited to about 5 minutes).


  Before starting TETRHEX,  you have to be  in a suitable graphic resolution
(TETRHEX can automatically change the resolution, but some AUTO programs may
prevent this).  Switch to 256-color mode,  to a resolution 640x480 at least.
If you have a RGB screen, you must switch to interlaced overscan mode. There
is no problem for the interlaced mode, but concerning the overscan it's more
difficult: you need a program like SET_OVER.PRG, that is found in the public
domain. Execute it, save the desktop and reboot. Note: the screen may be not
centered.  It isn't very important,  but if you want  to center it  and your
screen  doesn't have a button  for that,  there exists  an accessory  in the
public domain allowing to center the screen.

  You can start TETRHEX by double-clicking on the icon TETRHEX.GTP; a dialog
box  appears  so that  you can  possibly enter options  one after the other,
separated by spaces. Here are the main options:

  -n <number>  This option allows you  to choose the size of the game board.
    <number> must be equal to 6, 7, 8 or 9. 9 is the default value.

  -r <file.RUL>  TETRHEX can load various games. The definition of a game is
    contained in a file with the "RUL" extension.  This option allows you to
    choose your game (the default game is TETRHEX.RUL).

  -ww  This option allows you to play in a GEM window, instead of playing on
    the whole screen (option -ws).  The default option is -ws,  except under
    MultiTOS, where -ww is the default option (hence useless). If you have a
    non-accelerated Falcon, you'd better play on the whole screen.

  -f+ 5000  You have  to enter  this option  with the most recent SpeedoGDOS
    versions.  If you want to use outline fonts  (it's recommended,  because
    it's nicer) and you don't know whether you need this option or not, then
    try starting TETRHEX with and without this option...  you'll see what is
    the best.  If neither possibility works, check that SpeedoGDOS is active
    and  correctly configured.  You can choose  your own fonts  (cf complete
    documentation).

  -gdos  This option allows to use outline fonts with NVDI 3.

Example of a sequence of options: -n 8 -r tetlight.rul -ww -gdos

  Once the options have been entered, hit RETURN to start TETRHEX. If you've
chosen to play on the whole screen, a short presentation starts; hit any key
to go to the main menu. If you've chosen to play in a GEM window, the window
is immediately displayed.

  Now you have a menu that indicates what you can do. Note that the UNDO key
(to change the rule)  is disactivated in the unregistered version.  From the
menu,  you can have help:  either  the complete documentation  about TETRHEX
(HELP), or the documentation about the current rule (Shift-HELP), which only
gives that is specific to the rule  (all the other things are in the TETRHEX
documentation).

  Here are the keys used by the rules provided with TETRHEX (the keys can be
changed by modifying the rule file):

  $01 : DOWN : A.............. a cell downwards.
  $02 : LFDN : Insert......... a cell downwards to the left.
  $03 : RGDN : Clr-Home....... a cell downwards to the right.
  $04 : ROTL : Down arrow..... left rotation.
  $05 : ROTR : Up arrow....... right rotation.
  $06 : LEFT : <--............ a cell to the left.
  $07 : RGHT : -->............ a cell to the right.
  $08 : DROP : Space bar...... drop.
  $09 : STOP : Ctrl-Esc....... abort.
  $0A : PAUS : Undo........... pause mode.
  $0B : CONT : Return......... end of pause mode.
  $0C : NEXT : + (numpad)..... next level.
  $0D : PREV : - (numpad)..... previous level (not used!).
  $0E : RDAR : Help........... radar on / off.
  $0F : BOMB : Backspace...... make all explode (Tetrhex / Tet'light).

  It is normal that you find Tetrhex difficult at the beginning and that you
don't manage  to fill  a line.  But  it is interesting  for that.  There are
many tricks to find,  and you will improve  as you play.  You may start with
Tet'light, which is easier.


To go further
*************

  If you always use the same options, you can put them in a file TETRHEX.CFG
placed  in the same folder  as TETRHEX.GTP's one.  In this way,  when you'll
double-click on TETRHEX.GTP,  these options will automatically be taken into
account, and you'll be able to add other options via the dialog box.  If you
don't want a dialog box any more,  rename TETRHEX.GTP to TETRHEX.PRG (useful
if you have created  a file TETRHEX.CFG).  You can also drag a .RUL file  to
the icon of TETRHEX;  this corresponds to the option -r.  In this case,  you
won't have a dialog box,  but the options in TETRHEX.CFG  will be taken into
account.  For more information,  read the part of TETRHELP.ENG  dealing with
options.

  If you get registered,  you'll be able  to play with the joypad  (the keys
can entirely be configured),  to modify the existing rules  (the sources are
provided with the registered version) and to create new rules.


Vincent Lefèvre

email: [e-mail]
WWW: http://www.ens-lyon.fr/~vlefevre/tetrhex/index_eng.html