








FOURmation

for

The Major BBS by Galacticomm, Inc.


Copyright (C) 1994
All Rights Reserved

DataSafe Publications, Inc.
3301 Juan Tabo NE, Suite 113
Albuquerque, NM 87111

505-294-4980 Voice
505-294-1575 BBS
505-294-8225 FAX


I. Introduction

FOURmation is a game written for the Major BBS.
FOURmation is a game of vertical checkers where the player
attempts to place 4 tiles in a row either vertically, diagonally,
or horizontally before their opponent.


II. Features

         Users can challenge other players

         Users can enter the game as watchers only to watch
        games in progress

         Watchers can jump between games via special
        command

         Players are rated on a ranking system according to
        their stats

         Players stats include wins, loses, ties, total games and
        points

         Point value of games change depending on rank of
        players

         Complete online help facility

         Full access control using locks/keys

As shipped, FOURmation allows up to ten (10) games to be
played simultaneously although this can be adjusted by the
individual sysops to meet your memory requirements in the
level 4 configuration. Please remember that the higher you put
this number, the greater the memory constraints on your
system. An unlimited number of game watchers can be in the
FOURmation module simultaneously without concern.

III. Installation

To install FOURmation, insert the FOURmation distribution
disk into one of your disk drives and run the Install program.
The FOURmation files will be installed to your BBSV6
subdirectory.

Next, enter your activation code (found on the distribution
diskette label) in the level 3 configuration (Security &
Accounting).


IV. Configuration of FOURmation

FOURmation Level 3 configuration allows the following
configuration options to be modified.

CODE             Activation Code

KEYFOUR          Determines key needed to access the
                 FOURmation module.

TLKFOUR          Key required to allow users to talk in
                 FOURmation.

WHPFOUR          Key required to allow users to whisper inside
                 FOURmation.


FOURmation Level 4 configuration allows the following
configuration options to be modified:

MAXGAME          Maximum number of simultaneous games that
                 can be in play

MSFOUR           Determines if "*** message sent ***" is
                 displayed after each message sent.

WSFOUR           Determines if "-- whisper sent --" is displayed
                 after each whisper sent.


V. Playing FOURmation

Upon entering the FOURmation module, users are presented
with the FOURmation main menu with the following options:

1 =>  Play a game of FOURmation
2 =>  Watch or list game(s) in progress
3 =>  FOURmation Information Center

Selection 1 "Play a game of FOURmation" will list out all
users on the system that are available to play a game of
FOURmation. Once a list of users is displayed, the user must
enter one of the displayed names at the prompt in order to
"challenge" that user.

Selection 2 "Watch or list game(s) in progress" will display a
list of all games currently underway which can be selected for
viewing.

Selection 3 "FOURmation Information Center" displays the
Information Center Sub Menu.

1 ==> Your statistics
2 ==> Ranking list of players
3 ==> Helpful hints
4 ==> How the help functions work

These selections are self-explanatory. Pressing "X" will return
back to the FOURmation main menu.

Once a game of FOURmation game begins, it becomes a fight
to the finish. Players must complete the game before they will
be allowed to exit or face defeat. Players must make a move
every 80 seconds or also face defeat due to automatic forfeit.
Before any action is taken against any player, an elaborate
barrage of messages are broadcast to the player in question.
The following commands are available during game play.

Commands                 Description
--------                 -----------
help                     display main help screen
help <topic>             display help on a specific topic
x or exit                leave FOURmation module or exit to
                         previous menu
score or points          display your current score
display                  redisplay the FOURmation playing board
rank, top or best        display the top ten FOURmation players
check /c <user-id>       check a certain users statistics
s or status              check your current statistics
/s or scan               scan users in FOURmation module
v or value               show point yield of current game
games                    display all games currently in progress
?                        display a list of available commands
/j or jump               jump to a specific game number
/<user-id> <msg>         whisper a message to a specific user-id
1-7                      place your tile in columns 1 through 7
<message>                send a message to other users in current
                         game


Additional commands and topics can be accessed by typing
HELP COMMANDS.


VI. Playing Board

The FOURmation playing board is 8 rows high and 7 columns
wide. Players stack there tiles by column number (1 through 7)
on their move. The first player to get four (4) tiles in a row
either horizontally, vertically or diagonally is declared the
winner.


VII. Warranty & License

You may use the program on a single machine. You may copy the program
into any machine-readable form of backup in support of your use of the
program on the single machine.

You may NOT transfer the license and program to any other party.

DataSafe warrants that the computer media on which the software Product
is furnished shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a
period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase by any end-user.
DataSafe shall provide a replacement Product of any such defective Product,
if the defective Product, including all documentation and magnetic media, is
returned to DataSafe within thirty(30) days of the discovery of such defect.
The sole remedy for any breach of the foregoing warranty shall be a
replacement of such defective Product.        

DATASAFE DOES NOT WARRANT, REPRESENT, OR GUARANTEE
THAT ALL PROBLEMS WILL BE CORRECTED OR THAT ANY
UPDATES WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF
THE PRODUCTS. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSED ABOVE, DATASAFE
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED AND IMPLIED, TO
THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
AND DATASAFE DISCLAIMS ALL OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITY
ON DATASAFE'S PART FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
IN CONNECTION WITH USE OF THE PRODUCT, WHETHER OR NOT
DATASAFE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.