4 In line

4 In line

The objective of 4-In-Line is to get four peg in a line, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

4-In-Line Copyright (c) 1997-98 Tan Kok Mun

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the shareware version of 4-In-Line 1.6 for Pilot.

Please read REGISTER.TXT for more information.

The latest version of this software can be found at :

http://home.pacific.net.sg/~kokmun/

CONTENTS

========

0. WHAT'S NEW

1. GAME FEATURES

2. THE GAME

3. TO PLAY

4. INSTALLATION

5. DISCLAIMER

6. REGISTERATION INFORMATION

7. DISTRIBUTION

8. SHAREWARE AGREEMENT

9. LICENSING AGREEMENT

10. HISTORY

11. PROBLEM ?

0. WHAT'S NEW

==========

Version 1.6 - Fix screen update problem when command shortcut is used.

- When playing with the computer, you will now be referred

as "YOU" instead of Player 1/Player 2.

- The statistics now contains individual information on game

won by making the first move.

1. GAME FEATURES

=============

- Full UNDO ability.

- HELP ME OUT ability.

- Real time "pilot thinking" progress indicator.

- 3-D look.

- 6 Level of skills with selectable auto mode for level 4, 5 and 6.

- Full game status is saved between session.

This includes UNDO ability.

- Ability to switch pilot skill level in the mid of game.

- Game statistics.

- "Show last move".

- Support two different board size, 6x7 and the standard 7x6.

2. THE GAME

========

The objective of 4-In-Line is to get four peg in a line, either

horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Each player takes turn in dropping a peg down any one of the 7

vertical columns. The peg will end up at the lowest empty square

for that column.

The side that moves first has a better advantage.

3. TO PLAY

=======

The MENU commands are as follows :

COMMANDS

~~~~~~~~

- New Game : Start a new game.

- Preferences : Set the game preferences.

PILOT LEVEL:

Select the skill level of the pilot. Level 4 and 5

are auto level mode. In this mode the skill level

of the pilot changes as the game progress. The

starting level of the auto mode is controlled by

the AUTO 4 & 5 START LEVEL.

For example, if you select Level 4 and auto start

level of 2, the pilot skill level will start at 2

and as the game progress it will change to 3 and

eventually 4. This changes are indicated by the

main screen pilot skill indicator.

- Help Me Out : The pilot will made a move for you.

- Undo Move : Undo moves that you have done.

You can undo all moves. Each undo will undo the last

step of each player. You can UNDO an ended game.

The UNDO will still work even after you have run

other application and come back to the game at a

later time.

- Show last move : Visually show the last move that was made.

- Resume Game : Resume a pause game.

- Statistics : Show game statistics.

HELP

~~~~

- Rules : Game rules and how to play.

- About : Author information.

4. INSTALLATION

============

Install finline.prc using the standard pilot application installer.

5. DISCLAIMER

==========

The author will not take responsibility for any form of damage or loss

that occurs when/by using this program. By using the program, you have

agreed on all the conditions stated here.

6. REGISTERATION INFORMATION

=========================

For registration information, please read the REGISTER.TXT file.

7. DISTRIBUTION

============

This manual and all accompanying files may be distributed freely,

provided that:

- Neither text nor any other file is modified in any way. No file

may be omitted nor added in the distribution.

- No money may be charged for the program nor for any accompanying

files, other than the usual downloading time fees charged by

commercial BBSes and online services.

- I want to know where my program will be distributed. Please notify me

if it will be included in printed matter, floppy, or CD-ROM before its

publication. No matter what the circumstance, I would strongly

appreciate a copy of whatever collection in which it is included.

8. SHAREWARE AGREEMENT

===================

4-In-Line is a ShareWare. After registeration, you are licence to use

it. All ownership and Copyright of the software belongs to Tan Kok Mun.

Please read LICENSING AGREEMENT below. Each registered copy can only

be used in a single machine.

9. LICENSING AGREEMENT

===================

The software accompanying this document (the Software) and the related

documentation are licensed to you by Tan Kok Mun (the author) after the

registeration or during the trial period of the first 30 usage from the

date of installation.

The software contains copyrighted material and other proprietary material.

10.HISTORY

=======

27/06/1998 - Version 1.6

03/07/1997 - Version 1.5.

- Code optimization and New improved algorithm.

Speed improvement of 30% to 70%.

- Expanded pilot Skill Level to 6.

- New "Cool" Progress Indicator.

- New game statistics.

- Show last move.

- Support two different board size, 6x7 and the standard 7x6.

- Can select any MENU item even while the Pilot

is "thinking".

- Rearrange game preferences. Game preferences

that will not require a restart of a new game is

now in PREFERENCES.

Prefences that require a start of new game is

now under the NEW GAME OPTIONS.

05/04/1997 - Version 1.1.

- Fix the inability to access the MENU when using with

PalmOS 2.0.

- Help/Tips for PREFERENCES.

- Major revision of the documentation.

08/03/1997 - Version 1.0.

- Change software status to US$15 ShareWare.

- Major User Interface revision.

- Auto skill tweak.

- Added UNDO command. Able to undo all steps. Each undo

undo the last step of each player.

Can UNDO an ended game. The UNDO will still work even

after you have run other application and come back to

the game at a later time.

- New About Screen.

- Real time "pilot thinking" progress.

- Larger "PEG" size and 3-D look. New board layout.

- Selectable auto mode for level 4 and 5.

- You can now pause the game when the pilot is "thinking".

This will allowed you to change your preferences if

required. Use resume to resume a pause game.

- Minor bug fixed.

- Full game board status is saved when you exit the game and

restored when you enter the game. This includes UNDO ability.

- With all these new features, the program size is now 19K.

1K less than the previous version.

22/02/1997 - Version 0.9 beta 1.

- New and better peg value calculation algorithm.

Better game play.

- Removed game status restoration to reduce memory

usage. If you think this is useful, let me know.

- Better performance.

- Two auto level. The skill level will start at level 2 and

increase gradually to the maximum of the auto level.

- Able to control how pilot makes it's first move.

This is for those who want a real challenge.

- New icon. Is this better than the last one ???

- Pilot Skill Level 1 is for beginners who's learning to

play the game. Not much look ahead.

Pilot Skill Level 2 provides some challenge but still

beatable with some strategy play.

Pilot Skill Level 3 and beyond provides real challenge.

- This maybe the last beta version before Version 1.0, as

I'm satisfied with it. This beta is for a field test to

catch any unknown bug that I'm not aware of. So far it

has been very stable, no nasty Fatal Exception or data

lost.

14/02/1997 - Version 0.8 beta 2. (Unreleased beta).

- Full game status is saved between session.

- Minor UI changes.

- Minor code fixed.

12/02/1997 - Version 0.8 beta 1.

- AI tweak is almost done. (Much smarter now ...I hope)

- Completed all user interface that is planned for.

- Able to switch pilot skill level in the mid of game.

- Auto skill level. Pilot starts at Level 2 and gradually

increase in skill level to a maximum of 4.

- Can switch out of 4-In-Line even when pilot is "thinking".

- Larger peg size.

04/02/1997 - Version 0.5 beta 3. (Unreleased beta).

- Simplified calculation.

- Bugs fixed.

- AI tweak.

31/01/1997 - Version 0.5 beta 2. (Unreleased beta).

- Fix Fatal Exception when silk screen/hardware key is pressed

when "pilot" is thinking.

30/01/1997 - Version 0.5 beta 1.

- Interface touch-up.

- Better AI.

29/01/1997 - Version 0.3 beta 1. (Unreleased beta).

- Fix pilot hung problem that may cause total data lost.

- Create some randomness in pilot game.

27/01/1997 - Version 0.2 beta 1 (Unreleased beta).

- New preference interface.

- Added show 4-In-Line at end of game.

- New AI algorithm (improve speed).

26/01/1997 - Version 0.1 beta 1.

11.PROBLEM ?

=========

If you wish to contact me, I can be reached at:

E-Mail : [email protected]

Web Page : http://home.pacific.net.sg/~kokmun/