First Dominoes

     o-o-O FIRST DOMINOES O-o-o
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As far as we know, the first real game
of dominoes on any computer!

Uses a double nine set of dominoes.

Plays a nine domino per player game.

Plays matchplay type singles games.

Uses standard legal move techniques,
i.e. does not cheat.

Up to five players allowed.

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I often enjoy playing dominoes in the
pub for ten pence a game. I thought
how nice it would be to have a game at
home, trouble was, with two or three
players, the game is not so good. Also
there are times when no-one wants to
play, the computer version solves all
of these problems and more.

With First Dominoes you can have from
two to five players... one human and 1
to 4 computer controlled players, or,
you can let computerised players play
on their own. Good for learners.

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PLAYERS NAMES:
To make full use of FD you will need
to edit the players names 1-5 on the
menu screen, point the mouse (arrow)
at one of the five names and click the
left button, the > symbol will appear
if you don't want that player to be in
the game, just press return.

If you want to rename the player just
type the new name and press Return.

If you make a mistake, such as a wrong
spelling then press return and start
again.

You can alter all five player names
and if you leave any blank then that
player won't be playing in the game.

Obviously, at least 2 MUST be in.

selecting the SAVE INF by pointing and
clicking the mouse will save all the
names you enter, then, whenever you 
load first dominoes in the future the
names will be as you typed them, as
will the colours and speed settings.

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SPEED:
You are also able to change the speed
at which the players play, point and
click on the SPEED: box, left button
will decrease the speed, right will
increase it. (saved in SAVE INF)
I usually have the speed set quite 
slow-70 so I can see what's going on.
Speed can be adjusted either on the
menu screen or from 'YOUR WINDOW'.
Speeds are from 0 (slow) to 128 (fast)
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COLOURS:
The sixteen colours can be altered by 
dragging the three sliders at screen
bottom. 
First point at the colour you want to
alter and click, the tick should move
to that colour.  
The numbers on the three sliders will
show you the current red-green & blue
setting for that colour, you are able
to drag the sliders and change the 
settings.

Care must be taken or you might end
up not being able to see anything!

If that does happen move the mouse
fully down and right and click to
restore the default palette.

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THE GAME AND YOUR WINDOW:
Your window (your control panel) will
appear each time it's your play.
If you want to see the table then point
and click on the little box, top left
of your window, your window now disap-
-pears, allowing you to see what has
been put down. Click either button to
make it reappear.

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ENDS:
Top left of your window is the ENDS:
icon, showing the two current values
in play.

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KNOCK:
Below this is the all important KNOCK
icon, if you don't have a domino that
matches either of the ends, in other
words, if you can't go, you click on
this icon.
Be careful with this because once you
have 'knocked' you can't change your
mind, and in a real game you could be
penalised, or deemed to have cheated.
FD does not check to see if you are
'false knocking' as this would be a
little silly I think.

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PLAYER STATUSES:
To the right of your window are the
names of all current players and the
number of dominoes they have left.

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PLAYING A DOMINO:
At the bottom of your window your
'hand' is shown. You can point at any
domino which matches one of the
current ends, click on and play it.

Here arises a situation where if the
current ends were 5-6 and the domino
you were playing was 6-5, then you
would be able to, either, make both 
ends=6 or both ends=5, by playing to
one end or the other.

This is catered for by being able to
click on the top or bottom half of
the domino in your window you are
about to play....

...E.G.
Currently the 'top end' is a six.
Currently the 'bot end' is a five.

You are about to play the 6-5 domino.
Click to the top of it to play it to
the top. Now both ends=5

Click the bottom of the domino to play
it to the bottom, now both ends=6

In normal situations it doesn't matter
where you click on the domino, so long
as it's a legal move it will be played.

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QUIT GAME, GOTO MENU:

Clicking in this box means you give up
playing and return to the title screen
when you do this all the scores for
player wins will be reset.

Pressing the 'ESC' key will also allow
you to quit playing.

Clicking the mouse in the top left
corner of the title screen allows you
leave the game altogether and return
to the desktop, isn't it?

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All proceeds from this game are to go
to Camy Maertens, founder member of
BUDGIE U.K. 

If you want to register with the author
and recieve any future upgrades, which
might not be on general release, or if
you just think we deserve a couple of
pints, then send 5 pounds to...

    Camy Maertens.
    5 Minster Close
    Rayleigh
    Essex SS6 8SF


G. WHEATON. JULY, 1992.