Dynamite v0.92 (BETA)
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Welcome to Dynamite, a bomberman style game for PC compatible computers. All graphics and programming was created by Richard Phipps using C/C++ (compiled using the freeware DJGPP compiler and the Allegro library.

This is a BETA Version which has been released to give people the chance to play one of the best multiplayer ideas ever made, and also to find bugs. Positive feedback and nice E-mails are also a good thing too! (Dynamite_feedback@Hotmail.com)


=History:
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=Version 0.92.

Opps! The walking through walls bug seems to have been fixed, but v0.91 created a new bug in which you could plant a bomb and walk over that one and all adjacent ones! I think this SHOULD be fixed in this version.. if not then PLEASE let me know..

* Added a one line fix to a graphic bug to this patch (not worthy of a v0.93)

=Version 0.91 - released.

2 Bugs reported. A no-sound bug (working on this one..) and a walking through walls bug.

This version should hopefully fix a bug to stop players being able to walk through walls. If it doesn't stop the problem then PLEASE MAIL ME and let me know!

=Version 0.92 - First BETA Release (with patches) for feedback and testing.


=Requirements:
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SVGA monitor and graphics board.
8 megabytes of memory (only an estimate).
Pentium computer (again, only an estimate).
Win 95/98 (or an operating system with a virtual memory module?)

=Features:
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High-resolution 256 colour graphics,
Full stereo sound,
Upto 4 players at once, using joysticks and keys,
Currently 16 different icons to collect,
Upto 4 monsters on screen, or none at all,
High level of customization, players and icons can be turned on/off,
Skull mode, infect other players with different effects!
Different game options.
Different size maps.
Random Maze Generator with different 'mirror' modes and options.


Quick guide to the menu features:
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From the main menu, the 'About' option tells you about this game and gives you more details about myself, and a e-mail contact address.

The 'Start Game' option starts the game ;-)

The 'Player Options' menu allows you to turn on/off the players or change the control method for each player. Note: You will not be able to exit this menu option if there is less than two players selected to play, or if there are any keyboard clashes (which the program will tell you about).

The 'Powerup Options' menu allows you to turn each icon on/off, as well as giving you a short description of each icon's effect.

The 'Game Options' menu allows you to change the style of play during the game, each option in this menu does the following:


* GFX Update Rate: Fast / Slow.

  
Default option is FAST.

Dynamite allows you to alter the speed of updating the screen. Fast is the default and is   smoother but may be a little jerky on slower machines. If this is the case try Slow and see if that helps the game play better.


* First Player to: 1-5 or NO LIMIT.


Default option is NO LIMIT.

Allows the player to select the number of games to play to (i.e. the first to 2, or 4, etc...) When this target has been reached, a player becomes the champion and the game goes back to the main menu. NO LIMIT allows you to play without stopping (Escape to exit back to the main menu).


* Monsters:


Default option is 2 Fire Monsters. 

This option allows you to play alongside some simple monsters, who wander around the screen in a random manner. There are two kinds of monsters: The Fire Monster like you can only walk on empty ground or over icons, it moves at the same speed as you. The second monster is the Ghost, it can move though destroyable walls as well as over empty ground and icons, but it can not move over the grey metal blocks (which can't be destroyed). Because of it's greater danger to players the Ghost only moves at half the speed of a Flame monster (the same speed as when a player has the skull effect, Slow Mo). Both types of monsters kill on contact, but can be killed themselves if they get caught in a bomb blast.


* Time to Play:


Default option is NO LIMIT. 

Amount of time to play for each game. If a time limit is selected (100-500) then a timer in the top right hand corner of the screen gradually counts down to 0. At a time of 20, a hurry up message flashes 4 times in the middle of the screen (as well as a warning sound).

If the timer reaches zero then the game enters a special shrinking screen mode where the map will gradually shrink in size until every block is covered with solidwalls. The new appearing solidwall bricks are a light blue colour and will kill on contact (Note: A bomb touched by an appearing square will be removed and not ignited). The appearing bricks will always start in the top-left corner and slowly appear in a clockwise manner along the edge of the map.


* Sound:


Default option is YES. 

Allows you to turn the sound on, off or on (reversed). Some soundboards seem to reverse the output for the left and right speakers, use the reverse option if you have stereo speakers to synchronise the sound with the action.


* Map Type:


Default option is Medium Maze. 

Dynamite includes a random maze generator to keep the game interesting. You can set the amount of bricks to use in the maze in this option. Options include Light (few maze bricks), Medium (Default), Heavy (not many bricks to move onto), Random (a random amount of maze bricks added) and Classic Grid (which is the standard grid pattern seen in many bomberman games).


* Mirror Mode:


Default option is Full. 

This mode is for use with the random map generator. It allows you to select the way the maze is mirrored horizontally and vertically. Full mirrors the map both horizontally and vertically making a symetrical and attractive looking map which is the fairest option for 3 or 4 players. Horizontal applies horizontal mirroring (symmetry) only and Vertical applies only vertical mirroring. The None option allows you to turn off all mirroring and to make the most random maps.


* Map Size:


Default options is Normal. 

This mode allows you to select a map size to play on. Normal is the smallest of all the maps (being slightly wider than it is high). Square is slightly bigger than 'Normal' and is equally wide as it is high and the fairest option for 3/4 players. Large is the largest map available (filling nearly all the screen).


The Final option from the main menu, Quit simply quits the game and exits to Dos/Windows (but you don't really want to do that do you... ;>)


Handy tip:
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The Escape key can be used any time in the game to declare it a draw, if the Escape key is pressed during a 'Drawn Game' or 'Winner!' screen then the game will exit back to the main menu. From the main menu the Escape key can be used as the quit option and exit the game.

Future: (these are things I would like to add)
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* Eliminate as many bugs as I can find!
* Add many more powerup icons. (send me ideas!)
* Include manual options for recognising sound and joysticks (including calibration and support for analogue devices).
* Include custom maps, (in the same style as Blitzbombers).
* Different graphic styles (ice, forest, etc..)
* Different level features (tunnels, wrapable edges, etc..)
* Weapons (such as the famous Boxing glove of the bombermen games)
* More player and monster animations.
* More polish to everything!
* More monster types.
* Attempt to include AI controlled players.
 

Feedback:
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I am very interested in hearing any feedback about the game, any comments, criticisms or suggestions. Please feel free to e-mail me with any ideas, money (;>), bugs you find or just general feelings about Dynamite.

mail me at: Dynamite_feedback@hotmail.com

The End:
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Finally, please enjoy this game! The game concept is one of the very best for multiplayer games and for fun, enjoyable game playing. I've had a great deal of enjoyment out of creating and playing this game and I am interested in hearing peoples feedback, ideas and criticisms too. So.. enjoy playing the game.

-Richard Phipps-

November, 2001