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Text File | 1994-01-09 | 18KB | 459 lines

FreeCell V1.00 Copyright © 1994 by Perry Rosenboom Box 333 Wantirna South Victoria, 3152 Australia Documentation Version - January, 1994 ***************************************************************************** Introduction Welcome to FreeCell. Some of you may know the game as FreeCell, or may have seen one of the variations of FreeCell (such as "SeaHaven Towers"). This version came about because I wanted to put some card games together in one package which are of a high quality and presentation, and which are easy to play. FreeCell is the sixth in the package of card games, the first being 'Classic Solitaire' (released 1992), the second being "Tut's Tomb" (released early 1993), the third being "Aces Up" (released mid 1993), the fourth being "Golf" (released towards the end of 1993), and the fifth being "Cruel" (released January, 1994), and the sixth being "FreeCell" (released January, 1994). I'm confident that I have achieved my goals, and that you will enjoy FreeCell. More games may be added to the package as (or should I say, "if") I get motivated to write new ones (see the section titled "The Complete Package"). Registered users have special privileges - see the information about Registration near the end of this documentation file. A Note about this documentation This file accompanies both the Shareware version and Registered version of FreeCell. Differences between the two versions will be specified wherever appropriate. This means that I only need to maintain one version of the documentation (mainly because I hate writing documentation). Having only one version of the documentation will also show Shareware Users what you are missing by not registering!!!! Systems Supported This game was developed and compiled using AMOS and AMOS Compiler (Copyright Europress) version 1.36, which supports Workbench 1.3, 2, and 3. This means that this game should work on A500, A600, A1200, A2000, A3000 and A4000 machines. I do my best to support machines available at the time of writing the game, however I obviously cannot test every aspect of the game on every machine. If for some reason the game doesn't work, check the 'Troubles?' section below, and send me a polite letter, and I'll see if I can help. Obviously, registered user get priority. Abusive letters will get no response. People who write shareware and public domain software do so because they enjoy it - abuse will only result in LESS software being developed for public release. We can't hope to make our shareware profitable, but we do hope that we are respected for our efforts. End of sermon. FreeCell Object of the game The object of FreeCell is to remove all of the cards which are dealt face up at the start of the game. This is done by moving cards in sequential order to the suit stacks which are located at the top right of the screen. When the dealt cards are gone - you win! There are four number of "Free Cells" available to help you manipulate the cards. It sounds easier than it actually is.... Rules When the cards are dealt, you will see either 8 columns of cards dealt face face up onto the playing area. All 52 cards in the deck are dealt out, and so the first 4 columns have one more card than the other columns. There are four suit stacks located at the top right of the screen. These are empty when the cards are dealt. At the top left of the screen are four additional card holders, which may be used during the game play. These are the "Free Cells". Cards may be moved in one of ways: 1. You can move any card from the bottom of a column in the playing area to a Free Cell. 2. The bottom card of a column, or a card which is located in a "Free Cell" may be moved to the bottom of another column, providing the card being moved is one less in value, and a different colour to the bottom card in the column you are moving to. For example, a nine (9) of clubs can be moved onto either a ten (10) of hearts or diamonds. 3. A card may be moved to a suit stack providing it is of the same suit any one higher in value to the card already face up on the suit stack. Only Aces may be moved to empty suit stacks. 4. Depending on the setting, either a King, or any card can be moved to an empty column (see "Settings" later in this documentation). In the Shareware version, only a King can be moved to an empty column. The game is over when all cards have been removed from the playing area and "Free Cells" onto the suit stacks, or when you give up and select the "End Game" option from the menu. How to Play Only mouse clicks are required to play FreeCell. To move a card from one column to another column, a "Free Cell", or a suit stack, click on the card to be moved, and then click on the destination. The card will then move to the destination (providing it is a valid move), exposing the next card in the source column. If you double click on the bottom card in a column, FreeCell will move the card to a suit stack (if possible) or to the first available Free Cell. If you double click on a card in a Free Cell, it will be moved to a suit stack (if possible). Once cards are located on a suit stack, they cannot be moved. Tips on playing FreeCell Winning at FreeCell requires patience. A common mistake is to make a move just because it is possible, and then to realise that it cuts off another move. Spend the first few games becoming familiar with all the moves. Be sure you understand how the moving of cards works, and what the limitations are. Study the deck carefully before your first move. Look for trouble spots like Aces hidden at the tops of columns, or both red sevens stacked behind three Kings. Use your Free Cells carefully. There are only four, so you need to keep them as unoccupied as possible. Menus A number of menu items are available with FreeCell. Clicking on the right mouse button will make the menus appear. The menus have been programmed to appear wherever the mouse pointer is currently located. Available menu items are coloured dark green and will change colour to light green when they are selected. A grey menu item means that the item is not available The Menu Bar available is: ------------------------ | FreeCell | Options | ------------------------ Under the "FreeCell" menu bar item, the following submenu items are available: ---------------- | FreeCell | ---------------- | End Game | | New Game | | About | | Credits | | Quit | ------------ End Game Select this to End the current game. New Game Select this menu item to begin a new game (when the previous game has been ended). This menu item is not available when playing a current game. About Displays information about FreeCell Credits My credits screen - I've got people to thank! Quit What can I say? Quit means exit, scram, Outahere, vamoose, goodbye, or "Ausgang" for my German speaking friends. The "Options" menu item looks something like this: ------------- | Options | --------------- | Sound | | Settings | ---------- Sound (On, Off) Selecting "Sound" will pop up a sub menu to allow you to turn the sound on or off. The current status is marked by a tick. Settings Use this menu item to change the settings for FreeCell. This menu item is not available until the current game is completed. The Settings Screen Items which can be altered from the settings screen are: Sound Buttons are available to turn the sound on or off (this will alter the sound menu items described above). The pitch of the bell which sounds when a card is selected but not moved to the discard row (Bell 1) and the pitch of the bell which sounds when a card is matched and moved to the discard row (Bell 2) can be adjusted using slider bars. The volume of the sound can also be adjusted using a slider bar. Title On or Off - if this option is set "On", the title screen will be shown when starting FreeCell. When set to "Off" the title will be skipped (Disabled in the Shareware Version - I'm going to make you sit through the title unless you register!!). Backs Clicking on the "Backs" button allows you to select which of the 13 card backs you wish to display during your game. Once selected, this back will be used until you "Quit" (in the case where you don't save your settings), or until you select another card back. To select a card back, just click on the back you want. To use random card backs (ie, have FreeCell choose one at random for you) click on the box marked "Random". (The ability to select card backs is disabled in the Shareware Version - the "Random" option applies). Empty Column You have a choice of being able to play "Any" card onto an empty column, or only a "King". (Disabled in Shareware Version - only "King"is available). Menu This option allows you to set the menu bar to "Float" (follow the mouse pointer) or be "Fixed" at the top left hand corner of the screen. (Disabled in Shareware Version - set to "Float"). Default Clicking on this button resets everything back to the default values. Defaults are: Sound - On Bell1 - 50 Bell2 - 60 Volume - 32 Title - On Backs - Random Empty Column - King Menu - Float Save This button saves your FreeCell settings to disk. They are automatically loaded and used next time. (Disabled in the Shareware Version). Use This button allows you to use your settings, without saving them to disk. They will be lost when you "Quit" from FreeCell. The Shareware version If you have already registered, then ignore this section. The shareware version of FreeCell differs from the Registered Version in a number of ways: 1. Some features have been disabled in the shareware version. Registered users have: - the option to choose the card back which they would like displayed (the shareware version chooses them at random); - the ability to skip the title screen (although it's such a good title screen, I don't know why anyone would want to skip over it...); - the ability to move any card to an empty column; and - the ability to "Fix" the menu to the top left hand corner of the screen. 2. The shareware version has a message which flashes up at random while playing the game, to remind you (just in case you need reminding) that the version of the game you are playing is Shareware. This does not come up on the registered version. 3. Registered versions of FreeCell contain the name of the person who registers in the title screen, and the "About" screen (so everyone who registers has their own personal copy of the game). 4. The Shareware version of FreeCell is not supported. In other words, if there is a problem, I'll attempt to fix it in the Registered version, and registered users will receive the fix. Troubles? Most problems seem to be caused by low memory. If you notice that the screen is not refreshing correctly, or that the menu bar doesn't disappear, you've got memory problems. Most games these days are designed to work in 1Mb minimum, and this game is no different. If you have 1Mb or more and the game is still presenting problems (especially after you have been playing the same game for some time), then the memory may be fragmented. Try closing down some other programs, or closing down the game and restarting it. The other problem which I have heard of can occur on Workbench 2 and Workbench 3 systems. On these systems, it is possible to change the default font to something other than 'Topaz 8'. This game was written using the default Topaz 8 font, so if you notice that text does not fit properly in boxes or on the screen, you may need to alter your Workbench setting and restore 'Topaz 8' as the default font. If you are experiencing an error "Bank not reserved", then you are missing a file called "Cards.ABK". If you have copied the game to a hard drive, ensure that you also copy "Cards.ABK" to the same directory. Registration Details If you have already registered, then ignore this section. This must be the best value in Amiga card games of all time! Users who register for the complete package will receive registered versions of all of the card games in the set, any changes or bug fixes for all games in the set, and the next major upgrade for each game in the set. In addition, I'll also send you registered versions of any new card games I add to the set. This means that you will receive all version 1.xx and version 2.00 (if and when they are written) for all games currently in the set, and registered versions of any new games which I add to the set. For details on which card games are currently supplied with the set, see the section below titled "The complete package". The price.... To register for send the appropriate amount (listed below) to: Perry Rosenboom Box 333 Wantirna South Victoria, 3152 AUSTRALIA To make registration easier, you can send local currency (cash please) in the following amounts: Complete Package Australia $20.00 New Zealand $30.00 England £10.00 United States $20.00 Germany Dm 20,00 Canada $20.00 Please send cash only, as our banks act like robbers and can charge us $6.00 to change a cheque! Cheques in Aus$ drawn on an Australian Bank are also acceptable. Prices for each individual country are based mainly on the current exchange rate that the country has with Australia, at the time I wrote the first game. Why so inexpensive for the complete package? Because the high price of quality Amiga games prevents many Amiga owners from buying games. I plan to make my millions by asking for a fair registration fee from fellow Amiga Users, and registering thousands of users, instead of ripping off a few people. Also, I've tried to make the whole process as painless as possible by putting in local currency values for countries where I know some of my previous games have been. I understand that not everyone happens to have a few Australian dollars sitting in their cookie jar! Well, that's the plan, and those are the reasons - The rest is up to you! Distribution of FreeCell and other boring terms and conditions The SHAREWARE Version of FreeCell may be freely distributed, providing this documentation file accompanies the game. Neither the Game or this documentation may be altered in any way without the Author's written permission. No more than a reasonable fee for copying and distribution should be charged for the Shareware Version of FreeCell. Registered Versions of FreeCell are provided only to the registered user and are not to be copied or distributed under any circumstances, unless prior permission has been provided in writing by the Author (after all, a great deal of time has gone into writing this game). The title screen and the "About" screen clearly states whether the game you are playing is the shareware version or registered version. The Complete Package At the time of writing this documentation, six games have been fully completed. I intended to produce a package with a minimum of SIX games, however there is now the possibility of additional games. If you have some thoughts on particular games which you would like to see included in the package, then please write to me! Thanks and Credits My sincere thanks go to the following people: Therese and James (my wife and son). Without them, these games would not be possible. Andrew Kreibich for his ideas, suggestions, testing, and for some of the code (such as the button routine). Some of Andrew's creations include AMASTERMIND, EXPELLO, PARATROOPER, LANDSCAPE, IFSGEN, and more. Andrew can be contacted at the above address. Phil Bonner for his encouragement, suggestions, testing and icons. FreeCell is written using AMOS and compiled with the AMOS Compiler, both of which are Copyright © Europress. Perhaps I'll be able to upgrade to AMOS Pro soon? Thank you to all who register. Hello A special hello goes to the following people (in no particular order!): Rene & Ulla Katoll Stan Kendall Glenn Beare and Nic Wilson Richard Evans Copyright FreeCell is Copyright © 1994 by Perry Rosenboom, as are the card backs and the cards themselves (you wouldn't believe how long it took to draw them!). If you program in AMOS and would like to use the cards that I've designed for your own games, then please let me know when you register. I'm especially open to people who are prepared to send me some of their own code! (Thanks Phil B!)