DEMOLITION MAN 2.0
by Clayton Walnum
COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
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This program and its accompanying documentation are copyright
1991 by Clayton Walnum. All Rights Reserved. DEMOLITION MAN 2.0
is shareware, and while it may be distributed freely, if you
enjoy the program, you should send a $10 registration fee to the
author at the address below. Your support of shareware programs
is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
This program and documentation may be distributed only as an
ARCed file containing all four of the game files (DMLTN_2.PRG,
DMLOWDAT.DAT, DMHIDAT.DAT, and DMLTN_2.TXT) in unmodified form!
The ARC file must be named DMLTN_2.ARC.
LOADING THE GAME:
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Place the four files included (DMLTN_2.PRG, DMLOWDAT.DAT,
DMHIDAT.DAT, and DMLTN_2.TXT) into the same directory, and then
double-click the DMLTN_2.PRG file. The program will load and
run. Note that DEMOLITION MAN 2.0 must be run in low or high
resolution.
CHOOSING A LEVEL:
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DEMOLITION MAN 2.0 can be played in one of three levels. The
higher the level, the larger the playing board and the more bombs
you must find. When set to the EASY level, the playing board is
10x10 squares, and you must find 15 bombs. When set to the HARD
level, the playing board is 10x14 squares, and you must find 21
bombs. Finally, when set to the AGONY level, the playing board
is 10x18 squares, and you must find 28 bombs.
THE OBJECT OF THE GAME:
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When you load DEMOLITION MAN 2.0, you'll see the level-selection
box. Click on the level you want to play. The playing board
will appear. Depending on the level, 15, 21, or 28 bombs are
hidden somewhere in the board. It's your task to locate them
all--without blasting yourself into gooey gobs.
HOW TO PLAY:
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Place the mouse pointer on one of the squares that make up the
playing board, and click the left mouse button. The square will
disappear, and whatever is beneath it--either a bomb, a number, a
blank space, or an x-ray button--will be revealed.
A number tells you how many bombs there are in the eight squares
surrounding that location. By using the numbers as clues, you
can figure out where many bombs are.
If you expose a blank space, all connected blank squares and
their bordering number squares will be uncovered. Sometimes, as
much as half the game board may be revealed with a single move.
If you happen to uncover a bomb, your game ends immediately, and
the locations of all the other bombs are revealed. When you're
through examining the board, click the mouse button. A dialog
box will appear, asking if you want to play again or quit. Click
the appropriate button.
MARKING BOMBS:
--------------
When you think you know the location of a bomb, click its square
once with the right mouse button. A small flag will appear on
the square, marking it for your reference and locking it from
accidental clicking. If you should change your mind about a
flag, click it twice with the right button, and the square will
return to normal. If you explode a bomb while you have incorrect
markers on the board, the bad markers will appear as bombs with
X's through them.
If you suspect that a square hides a bomb but are not sure, you
can place a question mark on the square by clicking it twice with
the right mouse button. Note that question mark squares are not
locked from clicking. They can be exposed just like any other
square, by clicking them with the left mouse button. To change a
question mark to a flag, click it twice with the right mouse
button. To remove a question mark, click it once with the right
mouse button.
X-RAY BUTTONS:
--------------
In the HARD and AGONY levels, a single x-ray button is hidden
somewhere on the board. Before you can use this button (which
looks like a smaller button with an X on it), you must reveal it
by clicking the square under which it is hidden. Once you reveal
the x-ray button, you can click it to get a brief look at
everything hidden on the board. The board is revealed for only a
couple of seconds, so don't blink!
ENDING THE GAME:
----------------
The game is over either when you hit a bomb or when you've
revealed all the non-bomb squares on the board. If you manage to
win the game, you'll get a congratulatory message. In either
case, a dialog box will give you a chance to play again or exit
to the desktop.
STRATEGY:
---------
The first time you play DEMOLITION MAN, you may find the game
overly difficult and perplexing. But trust me, once you get the
hang of it, you'll be able to beat even the AGONY level often.
The trick is to learn to recognize the patterns formed by the
exposed numbers on the board. The simplest pattern is the one
formed by a single bomb, which is identified by a "1" in the
center of the eight squares in which the bomb is located. That
pattern looks something like this:
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| B | | |
-------------
| | 1 | |
-------------
| | | |
-------------
In the above illustration, the "B" represents an unpushed button,
and the blank squares represent pushed buttons that have revealed
no bombs beneath (they are numbers or blanks). The unpushed
button must hide a bomb, since the "1" tells you there is one
bomb hidden somewhere in the square. (Note that the illustration
above represents only a small section of the playing board. The
squares shown above are surrounded by other squares that may be
buttons, numbers, or bombs.)
The numbers you reveal tell you not only where bombs are, but
also where they are not. Look at this example:
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| X | | |
-------------
| | 1 | B |
-------------
| B | B | B |
-------------
Here, the "X" represents a square that hides a bomb--in other
words, a square that you've already marked with a red flag. The
"1" tells you that there is only one bomb in the eight squares
surrounding the number. Because you've already marked one bomb
in this area, you know that all the unpushed buttons (represented
in the illustration by "B") in this square cannot be bombs.
These buttons, therefore, are safe to push in order to reveal
more of the game board.
The same strategy can be applied to the numbers "2," "3," and
"4." For example, in the illustration below, all the unpushed
buttons (B) are safe to push, since both bombs (X) have already
been marked:
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| B | X | B |
-------------
| B | 2 | B |
-------------
| | | X |
-------------
Of course, nothing can protect you from hitting a bomb in your
first couple of moves. If you do, just start again and hope for
better luck!
SHAREWARE:
----------
If you enjoy this program, please do your part to support the
shareware concept. The required $10 fee is very reasonable for
the hours of enjoyment you can get from a game. Simply print out
the following form, fill it in, and drop it in the mail with your
check or money order. (If you don't have a printer, just send a
check along with your name and address.) You may also use your
Visa or MasterCard.
Note that the C source code for this game, shipped via first
class mail on a single-sided disk, is available for an additional
$9.
The author will respond to all contributors.
C-MANSHIP COMPLETE:
-------------------
Also, don't forget Clayton Walnum's book, C-MANSHIP COMPLETE, the
only programming manual for the Atari ST that teaches both basic
C programming and GEM applications programming. John Jainschigg
of ATARI EXPLORER said of C-MANSHIP "Within its genre, it has all
the earmarks of a classic text." And according to Charles F.
Johnson of CodeHead software, "C-manship is a terrific way to
learn the C language in general and ST programming in particular.
Highly recommended!"
MASTER POPULOUS:
----------------
Check your favorite bookstore for Clayton Walnum's new book,
MASTER POPULOUS, published by Howard W. Sams & Co. This complete
guide to Bullfrog's phenomenal game includes full strategies for
improving game play, as well as an interview with Peter
Molyneaux, the creator of POPULOUS, and an in-depth preview of
the forthcoming POPULOUS II. MASTER POPULOUS is also available
from Taylor Ridge Books, at the address shown below.
THE ST ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE WORKSHOP, VOLUME 1
-------------------------------------------
In January '92, Clayton Walnum's newest programming book will be
available from Taylor Ridge Books. THE ST ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE
WORKSHOP, VOLUME 1 covers the basics of 68000 assembly language
programming, including the 68000 instruction set, disk files,
printer output, picture loading, and more. The book and its
accompanying disk are priced at $24.95 plus $3 P&H ($4 outside
U.S.)
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| Mail to: Clayton Walnum |
| c/o Taylor Ridge Books |
| P.O. Box 78 |
| Manchester, CT 06045 |
| |
| Name: ______________________________________________ |
| Address: ______________________________________________ |
| ______________________________________________ |
| ______________________________________________ |
| |
| Visa/MC #_____________________________ Exp. __________ |
| Signature: ______________________________________ |
| |
| __ Demolition Man Registration -- $10 |
| __ Demolition Man C source code -- $9 (Free shipping) |
| |
| __ C-manship Complete with DS disk -- $29.95 + $3 P&H |
| (SS disks are $5 extra. Postage outside U.S. is $4.) |
| |
| __ Master Populous -- $16.95 + $3 P&H ($4 outside U.S.) |
| |
| __ The ST Assembly Language Workshop, Volume 1 -- $24.95 |
| + $3 P&H ($4 outside U.S.) |
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