------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Counter Copyright 1995 by Peter Händel ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Counter is a Freeware game. It may be freely copied as no money is charged for it. Modification of the program, of the accompanying text or the icons is forbidden. The author keeps the full copyright. Commercial usage (e. g. on a cover disc etc.) only if permitted by the author. The author cannot be made responsible for noncorrect work with certain computer configurations or damage caused by using this software. The allowed selling price raised by German PD-distributors is up to 5 DM per disc. This includes that the sold disc must be filled nearly up to 100 per cent. 4 or 5 DM for a 30 per cent filled disc containing this game is really an extortionate price and should not be supported. There are enough reliable PD-distributors with fair pricing. The buyer should realize that the 5 DM per disc normally go to the distributor - the author of the program does not see any money. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The game ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The idea behind Counter is to remove all numeric blocks from the field by clicking them with the mouse. There is no limit in time or number of tries. Having started Counter you enter the title screen. On the left you might see saved games and on the right we have the highscore. In order to start a new game select an entry on the left with the left mouse button. You may enter a name by moving the mouse to the left and to the right. When the first letter is chosen hit the left button again to proceed with the second letter. Another click on the left button starts the game. Whenever you quit the game or finish a level the current score and level are saved automatically (make sure to unprotect the disc). When you want to load a saved game select the particular entry in the title screen with the right mouse button. You can then continue to play the level which you were at when you left the game last. The rules are quite simple. The first block marks the beginning position and is of yellow colour. Supposing it shows a 5 you can move 5 steps and select the next block. Each time you select a block the previous one disappears and your score is increased. Note that there cannot be stones between the two blocks and only 90 degree turns are possible. When you have removed all blocks from the field the next level will be loaded. In case you make a mistake so that some of the blocks cannot be removed any more the level must be restarted ("New"). In order to show you if a move is possible a small LED is installed in the bottom right corner. If you move the mousecursor over a block which can be removed the LED shows green light (i. e. the move is o.k.). If the block cannot be removed the LED is red. In addition to the normal numeric blocks there are two variations. First, a block showing a question mark. The number of the block will be shown to you just when you jump to this block. Second, a star represents a joker. When you select this block the player may move to any block he/she likes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The editor ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Counter comes along with an editor which allows you to create your own levels. It is possible to create additional levels or to overwrite existing ones with others. The number of levels is limited to 200. As the game already comes with 100 levels (1-100) the user should use the levels 101 to 200 for own stages. The usage of the editor is very simple. Select the levelnumber by clicking the +/- gadgets with the left mouse button. A click with the right button increases/decreases the levelnumber by 10. "Load" reads the selected level from the disc. "Save" writes the level to the disc. "Clear" clears the whole playfield which is necessary for the creation of a new level. Afterwards click on the playfield with the left button to place new blocks. When you place the second block the first one will be automatically given the correct number. If the distance is 10 steps or more the previous block will be given a star. That means that the player may jump as far as he/she wants. Such fields should not be used in large amounts because they would make the level very easy. By the way, you always have to place one additional block (at the tail) as the last block in the game will not be used as a jump. When you have created a trail you can still add special blocks. Select these by clicking on them with the left mouse button and place them on the playfield by clicking with the right button. The star and the question mark can only be put on numeric blocks. The stone can only be put in places where it would not interrupt the numeric trail. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Well, that's it after all. Have much fun with this game. In case you have ideas, donations and small presents - you're welcome to write to: Peter Händel Bismarckstr. 7a 33615 Bielefeld Germany Many thanks to Hanns Holger Rutz (Holgi) for the English translation of the manual. (*translator's note*: I do anything for you, Peter, to see the betaversions of your new games ;-)