DRACHEN
A Public Domain Game (Version 2.0)
Drachen is derived from an old game from China. 144 tiles are
built up on 5 levels on the playing surface. The goal is to
remove all the tiles. To that end, one may remove any two
matching tiles, as long as each of them is free to move either to
its left or to its right [that is, there is no other tile "in the
way" of the movement of each matching tile].
34 different tile types are available in sets of 4. An exception
is provided by BAM(boo), MUM, ORC(hid), and PLUM and in the same
way by SPR(ing), SUM(mer), AUT(umn), and WIN(ter). Tiles in
these sets can be matched with another tile from the same set and
removed. The only permitted Help is "Show Move". Following all
other kinds of Help, it is no longer possible to achieve a Best
Time in the current game.
This game is public domain and may be copied by anyone. If you
enjoy this game, you can express your gratitude with $5. If you
send $10, you'll receive the sourcecode in GFA Basic and some
additional PD programs.
Dirk Woitha
Hebbelstrasse 11
5630 Remscheid 11
GERMANY
[The above is a loose translation of the title screen to the
color version of DRACHEN. Most of the program's alert boxes,
menus, etc. are provided in English, but some text (including,
obviously, the title screen) remains in the original German. You
will need to know the meaning of the following German terms:
Abbruch = Cancel
Weiter = Continue
Das war's = That's all
n„chster Zug = next move
If you are unfamiliar with gameplay in DRACHEN (also known as
Shanghai, a variant of Mah Jongh), choose one of the DEMO options
and watch the computer play a game the first time through.]
Translated by D.A. Brumleve