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switch.txt
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1992-09-03
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10KB
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232 lines
*Please Maximize this window
to see the full text.*
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º Jon Persky Games Presents º
º SWITCH v. 2.0 º
ºººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººº
PACKING LIST
SWITCH.EXE - The executable program file.
SWITCH.TXT - This text file
BLUEDOT.ICO
REDDOT.ICO }Icon files
BLANK.ICO
All these files MUST be in the same directory on your disk.
If any of these files are missing or look altered please let me know!
REQUIREMENTS
Windows 3.x, mouse, VGA. I'm not sure if you can get by without at
least a 386, you're free to try.
IMPORTANT: This program needs the file VBRUN100.DLL to work. Please refer to
the Technical Notes section further in this file for more details.
INSTALLATION
First, copy the files that came with Switch to your C:\WINDOWS
directory by using File Manager. (If you get a message indicating
overwriting the file VBRUN100.DLL, click OK; you only need one copy of this
file.) Close File Manager and open your Games group in Program Manager.
Select File...New and click on Program Item. In the Description box, type
"Switch". In the Command Line box, type "\windows\switch.exe". You don't
need to worry about the rest; just click OK. The icon will be there and
you're ready to go!
OVERVIEW
SWITCH is a game of logic. When you load the program, you will see
nine boxes. Four blue balls will be in the four left boxes, four red balls
will be in the four right boxes, and the middle box will be left empty. The
goal of Switch is to reverse the order of the colored balls so that the blue
balls are on the right, and vice versa.
Starting position: B B B B R R R R
Winning position: R R R R B B B B
HOW TO PLAY
To move a ball, simply click on it. Legal moves are as follows: You
can move a ball one space into an empty space, or you can jump over another
ball of the opposite color. For example, if the order looks like this:
B B B B R R R R
then you can move a red ball over one space to the left:
B B B B R R R R
or you can jump over a red ball with a blue ball.
B B B R B R R R
You cannot move backwards (i.e., blue balls must move right and red
balls must move left.) You can only jump over one ball at a time, and you
cannot jump over a ball of the same color.
Each move you make is counted as a turn. Illegal moves (followed by
a beep) are also counted as turns to make sure you learn how to move. There
are only two solutions to the puzzle, and it will take you at least 24 turns
to solve it. It's very difficult, so good luck!
COMMANDS
Game Menu
New (F2): Starts a new game.
Exit (^X): Quits Switch.
About Switch: Shareware info and other stuff.
Options Menu
Show How to Do It (^S): Watch the ultimate solution to the puzzle
flash before your eyes! Puts an end to frustration, if only
you can memorize the pattern!
Background Color - Customize your Switch window with a palette
of 7 colors.
Help Menu - a dialog box that tells you to open this file.
STRATEGY & HINTS
Switch takes a great deal of logic and brainwork to master. If you
are still stumped and continuously get stuck, here are some hints:
1) Never leave two balls of the same color next to each other, except for
the starting and ending positions, since you cannot jump over two balls
at once. Try to alternate blue-red while you play.
2) Take your time and be careful! Remember that you can not undo your move
if you mess up. Time and patience is the key to a good score.
3) There are not many solutions to the puzzle, but once you solve it, you'll
recognize the pattern and be able to solve it again and again.
Remember the solution is just a key press away! (But it would be CHEATING!)
(But nobody's WATCHING!) <g>
TECHNICAL NOTES
Switch was made on Microsoft Visual Basic v. 1.0. To work
effectively, the program MUST be accompanied by the file VBRUN100.DLL. You
should either receive the file with this program or separately from the
person or board you received this from. If not, please contact me via
CompuServe [70661,700] or by mail (see below for address) and I will upload or
or mail a disk (to minimize costs, I will send a low-density 5.25" disk,
please tell me if this is a problem) to you at no charge. Note:
VBRUN100.DLL is a large (270+ KB) file. You only need one copy of this file.
So if you have previously downloaded a Visual Basic application or have the
Visual Basic program, you can delete this file. However, you should have a
copy of this file in the same directory as the Switch program.
NEW IN VERSION 2.0
Because NONE of the 40+ people who downloaded v.1.2 told me about
it, v.1.2 stayed online with a fatal bug! I had dumb-brainedly left the icon
files out of the zipfile, AND listed in the source code this line, many
times over:
dots1.picture = LoadPicture ("c:\vb\jongames\switch\bluedot.ico")
Chances are you don't have a \vb\jongames\switch subdirectory!!! If you try
to run 1.2, you will get a "File Not Found" error message. I changed it to:
dots1.picture = LoadPicture ("bluedot.ico")
Now it won't work on my disk (for some reason) when executing it from VB,
but I copied the files to another directory on my hard disk and the .EXE
file worked fine. Sorry about the mess, and I hope you will tell me about
these bugs in the future!!!
So that was the EMERGENCY reason I updated it. The other new feature in
Switch is the Show How To Do It feature, because I know you are dying to
know how the puzzle is solved!
SHAREWARE INFO
Switch is Shareware. If you enjoy it, you should register
by sending $5 to:
Jonathan D. Persky
5 Oak Lane
Weston, CT 06883
Please include your name, address, and where you got your copy of Switch.
If you register, you will receive a disk (please specify 3.5" or 5.25") of
the latest versions of all completed Jon Persky Games so far. The disk will
only contain one copy of the file VBRUN100.DLL.
You can also register electronically if you subscribe to CompuServe. Simply
type GO SWREG and search for registration #254. The registration fee will
appear on your CompuServe bill. If you register by this method, the fee will
be $6 instead of $5. This additional charge covers CompuServe's 15%
processing fee. However, you may find this method more convenient, as you
can include the fee on your CompuServe account and you don't have to bother
with sending cash or checks.
Please remember that the only way I receive compensation for my time and
effort is by your registration payment. Remember that you'll receive a disk
with the complete set of Jon Persky Games in exchange for your registration.
At the current time, the disk will include 6 games (see the "Won't You
Please Check Out" section below.) With shareware, disk, and postage costs,
this is a $32 value for your $5 registration! The good thing about shareware
is that the author and the user both benefit from it a great deal. And, if
you don't like the game, simply remove it from your hard disk and your only
cost is any charges associated with downloading the program. Also, you are
not required to pay registration for the games you receive upon registering
this game.
You may upload Switch to bulletin boards in condensed or uncondensed format
or pass it to your friends provided you do so at no cost and you keep the
files SWITCH.EXE, SWITCH.TXT, BLUEDOT.ICO, REDDOT.ICO, and BLANK.ICO intact
and unaltered. (Check with your bulletin board to make sure it has a copy of
the file VBRUN100.DLL, and if it doesn't, please upload that separately.)
AND WON'T YOU PLEASE CHECK OUT...
As of September 1, 1992, these are all completed Jon Persky Games, with
the latest version number in parentheses and the program name in brackets.
1. What's My Number? (3.0) [WHATSMY#.EXE] Can you guess the computer's
secret number in as few turns as possible?
2. Switch (2.0) [SWITCH.EXE] 100's of combinations, only 2 solutions to
this challenging logic puzzle!
3. 23 Pickup (2.1) [23PICKUP.EXE] The game where you get to prove the
mechanical brain is not always smarter than the natural variety.
4. Target (2.1) [TARGET.EXE] Shoot for the bullseye in this fun
dart-shooting game. Which type of throw is best for you?
5. Number Crunch (2.0) [NOCRUNCH.EXE] Can your trigger finger beat the clock
and uncover the numbers in order? Based on the board game Numbers Up.
6. Jeopardy Scorekeeper (1.1) [JEOPKEEP.EXE] An accessory program that lets
you play along with the contestants on TV!
FEEDBACK
I'd love to chat. If you subscribe to CompuServe, E-Mail me at ID#
[70661,700]. Questions, comments, ideas, suggestions, criticism, or ideas
for new games would be appreciated. If you don't use CompuServe, you can
use the traditional mailbox method and send it to the address above. I'll be
sure to get back to you personally. I am 14 years old, a novice computer
programmer, and would like to learn all I can!
NOTE: I can also be reached at The Fine Blue Line BBS at (203) 226-3565.
P.S. PLEASE SPREAD THIS AROUND!!! Public domain software is the most popular
kind out there, and its essential purpose is to provide you with quality
entertainment for a low cost. Please do your best to upload this game to
all the bulletin boards you subscribe to, and pass it around to your
friends. It will make us all very happy <grin>! If enough people let me know
what they think, I'll feel motivated so I just might decide to put that
little world peace plan I've been conjuring up into action. :-)
Switch is #2 in the Jon Persky Games series.
⌐Copyright 1992, Jonathan D. Persky. All rights reserved.