**************************************************
****** S T C O N C E N T R A T I O N ******
****** ******
****** A Public Domain Game ******
****** for the ATARI ST Computers ******
****** ******
****** written by HARRY KARAYIANNIS ******
****** in May 1990 ******
****** ******
**************************************************
o In the Beginning
==================
About two months ago Paul Makridakis (my partner) discovered, a game for the
MACINTOSH micro-computers, called MAC-CONCENTRATION. The idea of the gameplay
was really simple but for some reason we ended up playing it at least once a
day. Since neither I nor Paul own a MAC we had to go to Boston University
(we are students there) every time we wanted to play the game. It was rather
annoying, so one day Paul says:
"Hey, why don't we write CONCENTRATION for the ST, so we can play it at home.
After all, if MAC owners can enjoy it why shouldn't ST owners do?"
Fifteen days later, ST-CONCENTRATION was ready.
o The Game
==========
Although CONCENTRATION is really simple, it is rather addictive. The game
consists of a table which is filled with (at most 100) cards, face down, and
the purpose is to match pairs until all the cards are open (face up).
Each one of the four possible players, opens two cards; if the pictures on
these cards match then both cards stay opened, and the same player continues
by selecting another two cards. He stops when he doesn't make a match. Every
time a match occurs the player adds to his score one point and continues. At
the end of the game (all cards are face-up) the winner is the player with the
largest score.
o The Implementation
====================
The actual algorithm for the game itself is primitive, but the souce code
turned out to be a little less than 30K, because of the GEM interface. Any-
way, I used the C programming language because it's very popular among the
ST society and thus it would be easier for people to customize the game to
their personal taste. (I have written a lot of comments in order to make
your life easier).
ST-CONCENTRATION uses a main dialogue-box which consists of the table, and
on its right side you have all the possible commands:
* About Authors:
-------------
It displays a dialogue-box with our names and similar information
* Board Size:
----------
This option lets you change the size of the board (table). Possible
sizes are: 70, 80, 90 or 100 squares, and you may consider them as
different levels of difficulty (in combination with # of players).
N O T E:
Changing the board-size causes a "re-start game" operation, using
the same names for the current players. So, you shouldn't change
the size of the board while playing a game.
- PAGE #1 -
* Players:
-------
With this option you can specify the number of players,along with
their names. If no names are specified, the program uses default
strings. i.e. "Player #1", "Player #2", and so on.
N O T E:
Every time you change the number of players, the program displays
a dialogue-box asking for their names, and after that, it begins
a new game using those names to identify the players. As with the
"Board Size" option you shouldn't use it while playing a game.
H I N T:
You should always use this option the very fisrt time, in order
to specify each player's name or you end up with default names.
* Scores:
------
This one is not really an option because you cannot select it.
It is there in order to provide you information about your score
and it consists of 5 boxes:
- the top one displays the name of the current player
- the next four boxes, display the score for each player.
Current player's score is normal, while the others are
highlighted.
* High Scores:
-----------
Selecting this option diplays a dialogue-box, presenting a table of
all the high scores. Since the board-size and the number of players
affect essentially the difficulty of the game, I keep a different
entry for each possible case.
N O T E:
If you play the game alone you cannot make a high score, because
eventually you will come up with the maximum score.
H I N T:
You can use the "single player" mode for practicing.
* Save High Scores:
----------------
Yes, as you already guessed, this commands saves the most recent
high-scores. It saves them in the file CONCENTR.DAT; if the file
doesn't exist, the program creates a new one.
N O T E:
ST CONCENTRATION always saves the high-scores when you quit the game.
* New game:
--------
Begins a new game, using the same names & the same board-size.
- PAGE #2 -
* Quit:
----
Quit game and save high-scores.
To open a card, you simply click on it with the left button of your mouse.
It will immediately turn over,showing its picture, and the game will wait
until you click on a second (closed) card. As soon as you do so, the 2nd
card will also turn over allowing you to see its picture for a few moments.
If the two cards match they both stay open and you can play again, otherwise
the cards close again and the next players goes.
o The ...bugs
=============
We have played (and thus tested) the game for 10 days and we haven't
found any bug. In addition, Alex Volanis beta-tested it for a week and
he came up with a "no bugs found". But i cannot guarentee that the game
is totally bug-free; it's probable you guys will find something annoying
Well, that's why I distribute the source code of ST-CONCENTRATION...
you can always alert it and customize it to your own needs/preferences.
----------------------------------------------------------------
At this point I have to state that neither I (Harry karayiannis)
nor Paul Makridakis take any responsibility for any problems or
malfunctions on your sustem, the present piece of software may
cause. It is assumed that if something like that happens it is
your responsibility and no-one else's.
----------------------------------------------------------------
o Contributors
==============
I would like to thank....
> Paul Makridakis, who gave me the idea to write the game and also drew
the card-pictures for the color monitors. Paul also offered his color
monitor for testing the game in medium resolution.
> Alex Volanis, for advising and assisting me with the GEM peculiarities,
and for beta-testing the game.
> My girlfriend, who missed at least 2 parties and a movie because of
this game.
I would NOT like to thank....
> Paul Makridakis, for ALWAYS beating me in CONCENTRATION........
- PAGE #3 -
o At the end
=============
I would like to ask from anyone who may expand ST-CONCENTRATION, to
send me his version (preferably with source code), so we can all play the
same game.
That's all folks........have fun..........