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`` BLACK BOX DOC.....( SAY THAT FAST 10 TIMES ) ``
`` CONVERTED FROM A TEXT QUASI GRAPHIC PROGRAM FOUND IN ``
`` AN OLD BOOK I HAD FROM THE 8 BIT DAYS.... ``
`` WRITTEN IN GFA BASIC..(Until I learn 'C' GFA will do the ``
`` trick ) ``
`` By Jeff Bateman 1988 Public Domain ( not to be sold ) ``
`` Donations may be sent but not spent ``
`` Can you tell I hate regular docs.. I was frightened by a ``
`` Technical writing instructor in my crib..sigh ``
`` Ok Ok Ok for those who need structure in their lives the ``
`` rest of the doc will follow traditional format.. Hmm ``
`` sorta.. ``
`` ``
`` Black Box is a game where you hide Atoms in a sealed box ``
`` and a partner tries to find them without opening the box.``
`` It is best suited for a computer because through my ``
`` experience the one who hides the atoms screws up on ``
`` feedback about the ray paths. It is also true about ``
`` mastermind. Don't you hate an opponent that gives you ``
`` bad feedback info.. Any way ( This rambling used to make ``
`` my Tech writing instructor`s hair turn whiter , hehheh) ``
`` ``
`` Ray paths are the paths of rays shot into the sides of ``
`` the Black box. They do funny things when striking or ``
`` coming near the hidden Atoms. The results of strikes ``
`` and near misses are illustrated and explained in the ``
`` program in detail. Just choose the help option after you ``
`` boot up. Pictures are more fun than typed words at times.``
`` ``
`` Sketchpad mode allows you to jot notes while playing the ``
`` game. For instance you shoot a ray in to position 2 on ``
`` the grid and the feedback at the bottom of the screen ``
`` tells you that that particular ray was absorbed, the ``
`` idea would be to draw an 'A' next to the 2 or any kind ``
`` of symbol you desire. Cheeze that was a bullshit ``
`` description.. The sketchpad mode is really just a ``
`` reminder pad for your own use during the game so you ``
`` don't have to get a separate piece of paper to take ``
`` notes on. ``
`` ``
`` Life ain`t perfect and this game mirrors life. ``
`` _______________________________________________________________ ``
`` | TAKE NOTE : | ``
`` | ONLY SELECT THE GUESS ATOMS OPTION WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW | ``
`` | WHERE ALL THE ATOMS ARE. | ``
`` | WHEN GUESS ATOMS OPTION IS CHOSEN CLIKING THE LEFT MOUSE | ``
`` | IN THE SMALL GREEN BOXES ACTIVATES THAT OPTION. | ``
`` | MAKE SURE YOU CONFIRM EACH FINAL GUESS ! | ``
`` | DUE TO AN OVER SIGHT IT IS POSSIBLE TO ACCIDENTLY CHOOSE | ``
`` | THE SAME ATOM SQUARE TWICE WHEN MAKING FINAL GUESSES, | ``
`` | IF YOU SUSPECT YOU MAY HAVE CLIKED ON A SQUARE THAT HAS | ``
`` | ALREADY BEEN CHOSE PLEASE USE THE 'I AM NOT SURE OPTION' | ``
`` | ASIDE FROM MINOR PAINS MENTIONED IN THIS BLOCKED WARNING | ``
`` | I HAVE SAFEGAURDED THE PROGRAM TOTALLY. | ``
`` |_____________________________________________________________| ``
`` ``
`` The game works faithfully and is great when you want to ``
`` hone your black box skills. It gives a score at the end ``
`` that tends to be lower with less guess's taken ( less ``
`` rays shot into the box. ) . Low score = big smiles ``
`` ``
`` Please call TURKS BBS indicated in the title screen. ``
`` R.A.C.E. is a suburban based Rochester club that works ``
`` very hard to have fun and inform it's members. The ``
`` letters found on the BBS swing from hilarious to tech ``
`` talk. It's also the homebase of fledgling but growing to ``
`` high importance in the Atari world,Bob Puff. Bob has ``
`` written the bulletin board you will be using when you ``
`` call that number. His software is a cross between Carina ``
`` and Forem with a few new surprises. You may already know ``
`` him through his compression software for the 8 bit ``
`` Atari. ``
`` ``
`` As for myself , my main interest lay in developing ``
`` complex war games or comparable efforts. If you have ``
`` any ideas about a game you would like to see for the ST ``
`` Drop a modemline to Turks and join the merry bunch. ``
`` __________________________________ ``
`` | The number is 1-716-392-5528 | ``
`` ------------------------------------ ``
`` ``
`` ``
`` Hey wait a minute this my chance to be long winded ! ``
`` There is one thing I would like to mention . This game ``
`` works on a 512K ST . It could have been written a ``
`` little cleaner , a little tighter but hey what the heck ``
`` Pd is Pd. My next project is a modem linked game with ``
`` great graphics at both ends. You know the forem based ``
`` games are great but sigh...alas..no grafix..I figure ``
`` what the Hobby needs is someone to release a PD fantastic``
`` modem game to get the industry off its ass to develop ``
`` us a professional effort.. ``
`` ``
`` In closing ( yup finally ) If Black box gives 30 minutes ``
`` of fun before you reformat the disk I did my job. If I ``
`` really impressed you ( Who gets impressed by anything ``
`` these days ) donations will be accepted ( who would be ``
`` crazy not to accept donations) You may send them to ``
`` _______________________________ ``
`` | Jeff Bateman | ``
`` | 67 Briggs st. | ``
`` | Rochester, New York , 14611 | ``
`` ------------------------------- ``
`` ``
`` Footnote ( will it ever end ) ``
`` Depending on the size of the donation I could use it ``
`` for various hobby related expenses such as: ``
`` New car ``
`` Get this dam hard drive running ( the prog was written ``
`` on a single drive system ) ``
`` Alcoholic beverages ( used to increase dimensional ``
`` creativity needed to obtain new game concepts, ok ok so ``
`` the 'Parachute and Machetes' thing didn't work. ) ``
`` ``
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