Blockbusters

INSTRUCTIONS

Blockbusters Game and Editor
 
Copyright Mr K.A. Tait 
Exclusive to Goodman Enterprises 
   
 
FILE NAME  'BLOCK.PRG' Blockbusters game is a replica of the TV 
series game, with a few  changes to make it more compatible for 
use on a computer.   Changes being that if both players are 
unable to try and answer  the question, the computer will choose 
one of the contestants at random.  If either contestant get a 
question wrong, then the  question cell go's to your opponent. 
When the program is loaded you will be presented with a file  
display box, simply choose the file you wish to load in. 
Question  files end in the letters .DAT.  Only one question file 
is supplied with the program, but you are able to construct more 
question data  files using the BLOCKBUSTERS EDITOR. STAN-
DARD.DAT, the file supplied with the program, follows the  follo-
wing format, the answers to each of the questions start with  a 
capital letter, thereafter all the letters are in lower case.   
The program automatically changes the first letter of the answer  
you input, into upper case, therefore you may enter the answer 
all  in lower case.  This may seem strange, especially as some 
answers  may be something like, O'Connor, and answering with 
O'connor or  o'connor looks funny, but I think in the long run 
it is better to  only use lower case, as this allows for faster 
input, especially  as you are under a time limit.  I cannot of 
course comment on the  format of any question data, constructed 
by someone else.  All  data blocks consist of 20 pages, each 
with 20 questions and  answers.    
   
FILE NAME 'BLOCK_ED.PRG Blockbusters program started life with 
all the questions and  answers supplied within the main program, 
after I had keyed in 20  pages, (400 questions and answers), I 
started asking myself, where  do I stop?  To stop at that point, 
or even after I had inserted  many more questions, would mean 
that that program would only have  a limited life, anyone using 
the program regularly would soon  begin to remember the answers.  
The idea to make the program  modular was born, this in turn 
gave birth to Blockbusters Editor. The program (Blockbuster 
Editor), was never meant to be anything  else than a very basic 
editor, I ask you to keep this in mind  should you use it.  The 
program is nothing fancy, but is equal to  the task.   

When loaded the program will present you with 5 options  1/ LOAD 
FILE 2/ SAVE FILE  3/ CHANGE FILE 4/ WRITE FILE 5/ DELETE FILE
All the options speak for themself's.  If while  using WRITE 
FILE, you decide to use another option, or if you load  in a 
partly written file, and then go into WRITE FILE mode, the  
computer will automatically take you back to the point where you  
left off. All data files for use with BLOCKBUSTERS PROGRAM 
should conform to  the following format. 1/ The completed data 
file should be 20 pages long. 2/ There must be an answer 
starting with 'B' in every page. 3/ There must not be more than 
4 lines of text for the question, (low res) this is 160 
characters, so it should be enough. 4/ The question must end in 
a blank space. 5/ The first letter of each answer must start 
with a capital  letter Apart from the above you are free to 
choose your own format, however it is a good idea to start each 
question with. 'What 'letter'' and end with a question mark.  
Also to keep all  letter in the answer, after the first in lower 
case. So come on, I expect it see Blockbuster data blocks on 
different  subjects, like Chess, Maths, Music etc.   

Above all, have FUN with the programs.