
ConNet-4 - A network version of Connect 4


The game can only be played with another player across a Lan Manager/2 or
Lan Server network. Currently the game does not support user against machine.


To start the game type

 CON4

This will start the ConNet4 game in the default grid size and position. Only
one instance of the game can be started on a workstation.

To selcet a user to play against, use the 'Select Player' menu. This will
display a list of all users that currently have ConNet4 active.
Select a player from the list box, and then 'Call' them, their response
will be displayed. If they accept the game then press 'Ok'.

Any player can go first, so it's the quickest on the draw!, after the first
move all moves are forced to be alternate.

To tell if it's your go, the 'Beep' can be set on to cause a shot single beep
when it's your turn. The title bar text will be surrounded by an asterisk '*'
even in iconized form.

The game cannot be played iconized, but can be viewed.

To make a move simply click the mouse on the column desired, as in the real
game, all counters/tiles will drop to the bottom.

If you missed where your opponent has just moved, selecting 'Last Move'
will cause the last tile to be placed to flash!


The 'Clear' option will clear both your and your opponents grids, the game
can then start again.


The 'Stop Play' option will break the session/game with your opponent. To
play again you must 'Select Player' again.

When the game starts, it is in a not playing state, so you will be able to
make the tiles appear on the grid until it is full. However, once play starts
both your grid and your opponents will be cleared.

When the game is over you will be informed who has won, and then prompted to
play again, if you accept, then your opponents grid will be cleared. It is
not until your opponent accepts that your grid will be cleared.

The game can be started with any grid dimensions! That said it should be
noted that smaller grids would be almost always be a draw i.e. tic-tac-toe,
and much larger grids may take forever to play. Also each tile is a window
and has to be created and managed re painted etc. A grid of 20 17 takes
about 10 seconds to initialize, and about 3 seconds to re paint/size if it is
moved.

The screen position of the application can be saved. This was built in to
allow the game to be started very small, and the resize it when your manager
isn't looking. As I assume anybody that attempts to play ConNet-4 will do so
at work!


Future.
-------

Possible enhancements would be to allow multiple users on a large grid! could
be fun.

Make it possible to play the PC, if I can get my mind around the algorithm.





Mark Davies

CompuServe : 100016,675
CIX        : DAVIESM


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