		Welcome To "FOUR IN A LINE" !

Name: 4 in a line
Version: 2.0
Date : 20.10.1999
Language : QB45
Programmer: Christian Pervoelz

This is the first really good Try-out version of "4 in a line". It includes 
all basic elements of the game, such as a computercontrolled player, or the
automatic control for lines. But there are just some things that could be
better in the next version. Ok, read this and play and enjoy the game.


Features of the game:
 
 - complete mousehandling
 - VGA-graphics
 - Tournamentmode
 - play against computer or a friend
 - Computer in different Stages
 - many Options

		












Page 1

The Menu

1. Startmenu

In this menu you can choose between some things. For you the most interesting
menupoint is O P T I O N S  see at down.
Following the explanation of the Startmenu-contents.

1.1 START
   
Starts then game with the bottom-written settings.

1.2 OPTIONS
     
Changing of the used settings.

1.3 LOAD
     
Loads the last saved game.

1.4 HELP
 
Shows this file.

1.5 END

Ends and closes "FOUR IN A LINE".











Page 2

2. OPTIONS



2.1 Beginner
    
Here you can change which player will do the first move.
Therefore you have to click on the player's name. The Program will jump auto-
matically to the OPTIONS-Menu.
If you do not want to change this setting, just click on "Back To Menu"


2.2 Colors 	
    
This Option allows you to change the color of stones for each player.
To do this, just click on the name of the player. After that the new color 
of the player will be shown behind the name.
If there is a color-draw the program will say you that.
Going back without change is occured by clicking on "Back To Menu"

2.3 Names
     
Herein you are able to change the names of the players. Just click on the 
name you want to change and the name will appear beneath the menu.
With the help of the BACKSPACE (<-) -Key you can kill letters. To use the 
name, press RETURN.
To leave without changes, click on "Back To Menu".







Page 3

2.4 Level
  
Changes the heaviness of the computer. In the mode Human v Human this will
not be allowed. 
Just gonna click on the level to change and the program will jump back auto-
matically to the OPTION-menu.

2.5 Tour

This is the Tournamentmode. You can play tournaments against the computer
or another human.
To play a tournament you have to click on "Tournament". So the setting "Tour-
nament : ON " will appear on the screen. If you repeat this action, the tour- 
nament will be switched off.
After getting the ON you will be abled to change the number of games you
want to play. Therefore click on + or -.
If all settings are OK, click on "Back to Menu"
Method of counting: Victory = 3 Points
                    Draw    = 1 Point 

2.6 Mode
 
Sets your gamepale
Human v Computer : Pale is a computer.
Human v Human    : selfexplanating      
 
2.7 Back
  
Go back to the START-menu.







Page 4

Object of the game:

The object of the game is, what the name says. You have to put four stones of
your color in one line. Either horizontal or vertical or diagonal .
But look on your pale. He wants the same. 


Computerpale:

The computerpale can play in three levels:
1. Rookie : stones will be set randomly
2. Medium : it just tries to disturb your line-building
3. Heavy  : Computer only wants to win.
























Page 5

Features in progress 	

 - Backgroundpicture       
 - MIDI-Player 
 - Mousesettings changeble
 - playing-level improvement
 - more Savefiles
 - Savemode for tournament



Thanks to:

 - Nadine Borgwardt and Michael Graening for testing
 - David Berger for mouseroutine 

Known Bugs: None, but not completely tested

To use the source-code in Q-BASIC the following files have to be in the QBASIC-Folder: 4help.dat,
4helpeng.dat,language.dat.dataca.dat,datafile.dat,save.lin

Send me your wishes/coments/found bugs: qbchris@gmx.de











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