KOLLUMS 2.0 - A Columns clone for the TI-86

By: Alan Bailey <bailela@charlie.cns.iit.edu>


If you have ever played Columns for the TI-85 (ZShell, by Mel Tsai), this game is very 
similar.  It is a semi-addictive game where sets of three blocks drop, and you have to 
line them up.  Sounds like tetris?, not really.  You can switch the order of the set 
of three blocks.  That is how you line up common blocks and then they disappear up, 
down, or diagonally.  If it sounds confusing, once you start playing, it will make 
sense.  Some people like turning the calc to the side so the blocks fall down.

Usage -=-

The intro screen is displayed first.  From here, you can use the following keys:
    [LEFT],[RIGHT] - Change the difficulty level (3 blocks is the easiest)
    [ENTER] - Start the game
    [2nd] - Start the game
	[F1] - Resume a game you halted previously
    [EXIT] - You don't want to use this button, just press ENTER, okay?

During the game, the following keys are used:
    [UP],[DOWN] - Move the set of three left and right
    [2nd] - Rotate the three blocks order
    [EXIT] - You don't want to use this button, just keep playing, okay?
    [MORE] - Pause the game, any key to resume
	[F1] - Save the game to be resumed later with F1, like a teacher key

That seems pretty easy, right? - Well, if you get a high score, it will show your score
and wait for you to enter your initials.  Just enter your first initial, then it will
move to the second initial, and then third.  Use the keypad, you don't have to press
ALPHA though.  It will then go straight back to the intro screen.

During the game, you might notice lots of numbers at the bottom of the screen.  This is
what they all mean:

----------------------------------------------------------
    3       High: 00068    BOX            1       00435  
----------------------------------------------------------
    |              |         |            |          |
    |         High Score     |       Speed Level     |
    |                        |                       |
Difficulty Level        High Score Initials      Your Score


The Difficulty level is the number of blocks you designated from the intro screen.
The High Score is the highest score for that difficulty level
The Initials are the initials of the person with that high score
The Speed Level is from 1-8. As your score increases, the speed will increase.  When
	it reaches the highest level, your game will end.
The Score is your score, equals block deleted


Legal Crap -=-
This program, its source,  and its documentation are both Copyright (C) 1997 Alan 
Bailey.  The only piece of code from Mel Tsai's Columns (TI-85) is the random number 
routine.  Even though I used other methods in his source, I didn't copy it.  Please 
don't redistribute this program without this important file.  Besides that restriction, 
post it anywhere you want.  Use the source for anything besides redistributing the 
program.

Version History -=-

	July 26, 1997 - 1.0 - First version
	July 29, 1997 - 1.1 - Second version, fixed a bug in the high scores
	July 30, 1997 - 1.2 - Fixed a bug in exiting.  Worked in Iridus, but not TI-OS
	Aug. 9, 1997 -  1.5 - New Version, stopped after eight levels, better code, source
						- included
	Aug. 31, 1997 - 2.0 - Fixed a bug in loading the high scores, it was 4 bytes off
						- also added the possibility to save a game


Give me suggestions, Give me Flames, Tell me what you think about this program!!!
Even if you hate my guts, tell me!

If you want to make your own programs, download Asm86 from ticalc.org

http://www.ticalc.org
http://ti-files.home.ml.org

Alan Bailey
bailela@charlie.cns.iit.edu
IRC: Abalone
Web: http://www.iit.edu/~bailela/







