Columns

Columns v1.00 ------------- Contents 1. Introduction 2. Installation 3. Usage 4. Deletion 5. History 6. Details 1. INTRODUCTION Thanyou for trying Columns, the latest and (In my opinion) best arcade-puzzle game available for the EPOC-32 based system (Psion Series 5 + GeoFox 1). Columns is (surprisingly) a version of the classic game "Columns" which has been previously released on the Sega Master System / Game Gear. 2. INSTALLATION A folder called "Columns" should be created within the "\System\Apps" folder on the Series 5. It should be possible to install to a compact flash disk (Drive "D") instead, but this hasn't been tested. All of the files from this archive should then be copied to this folder, with the sound effects remaining in the "SFX" directory. The Control file "Columns.ctl" is also included for use on the PC if you are using PSISETUP (PSISETUP is a PC-based auto-installation program, available from http://www.rmrsoft.com/) 3. USAGE Once installed, the icon for Columns should appear on the extras bar. Just click on this to run the program. Once the program has started, you can start a game by either: o pressing "Ctrl+N" o Selecting "New Game" from the "Game" menu o Clicking on the "New" button on the toolbar You will then be presented with the warp-screen menu. This appears once every 5 waves (levels), letting you choose how much further in the game you want to go. After selecting a wave, the game starts. A message appears at the beginning of each level in the top-right hand corner of the screen, giving you a hint at how to become better at Columns. By default, the paddle that you control uses the following keys: Left Arrow - Move the piece to the left Right Arrow - Move the piece to the right Down Arrow - Move the piece down faster A - Rotate the piece upwards Z - Rotate the piece downwards These keys can all be redefined on the Configuration screen, which can be accessed from the toolbar / menu system. PLAYING Columns: The idea of the game is similar to Tetris - to stop the grid becoming full of blocks. To do this, you must get three or more alike pieces pin a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The game is over when either the grid is full, or after level 9 is completed (a certain number of points is required to do this). To the right of the screen, the high-score, your score, and what level you are on are displayed. Depending on what level you are on, the pieces fall at different (increasing) speeds. Once playing, the game can be paused from either the toolbar or menu system. 4. DELETION To delete Columns, just delete the Columns folder from where it is installed to ("\System\Apps"). 5. HISTORY v1.00 - First release: 11/04/98 o No known bugs 6. DETAILS Columns is shareware. This means that if you like it, and play it beyond a trial period (a couple of weeks or so), that you should register it. To do this, either fill in the form included in the "Register.Frm" file included, or send a cheque for £10 sterling to the address at the end of this file. Please also include your name (as the registration code you are given depends on it), and your e-mail address to send the registration code to. If you do not have e-mail access, please include your home address. If you like this program, why not see if I've written anything new since at: http://www.york.ac.uk/~jsg102/ Please send any comments / ideas to: jsg102@york.ac.uk or to: JS Greenwood, 113 Crosland Road, Oakes, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD3 3PW England 11/04/98