Bombrn-e Ahib (a.k.a. AhiBombers) v1.0b
Copyright (c) 1999-2005 Pc72


Brief background --------------------------------------------------------------

This game is intended to entertain.  It's not designed to be very professional
nor good-looking.  It's made for the sole purpose of literally having a blast
and generally a good time.  It is nowhere near finished yet, but at least now
it is at a stage where it is playable!  You might want to fiddle around with
the constants in it a bit, but it is as working as it could be.  Bombs do blow
away more than just themselves, and the bad dudes are actually bad.  And, of
course, you earn high scores by incinerating them and collecting treasures!
The latter can give you special bonuses like more bombs and bigger explosions.

Basically, it's all like Bomberman, if you've ever played it which am more than
sure that you have.

The code is not commented.  I never actually gave any comments a single
thought.  I just wrote the code.  Don't expect it to look tidy, as it's all
basically written from scratch in the course of 10 hours non-stop programming.

The graphics I drew before I started out and altered the original graphics more
than ten times since I began this.


Playing the game --------------------------------------------------------------

The game automatically assumes that there are level files present in its
directory, with file names corresponding to level numbers, i.e. level 1 is
1.LEV and level 65 is 65.LEV.  If a level file is not detected, the notorius
internal (or should I rather say infernal) level generator is used.

The level generator functions quite well (if I may say so), but nonetheless
people tend to become tired of automated levels all the time.  If that's the
case with you as well, you can use the internal map editor to edit levels and
save them for later use.

When you get past level 100, the game is over.  That is to be expected, because
if you ever get past level 100, then you've played the game for a damn long
time.  Although I see it as very flattering, there still must be a limit.  At
least for the sake of your own sanity :)

If you die or the time runs out, you're fried.  In order to complete a level,
kill all the idiots.

Controls in play mode:

Arrows....Move around
S.........Save state
L.........Load state
M.........Load external level
Tab.......Edit level (invoke Edit mode)
Ctrl......Set bomb
Alt.......Detonate a remote controlled bomb
Esc.......Terminate

Controls in edit mode:

Arrows....Move cursor
S.........Save level
L.........Load level
A.........Place Ahib
D.........Place an idiot
C.........Demolish entire level
Tab.......Select block type and draw it
Enter.....Select treasure to hide in brick and draw brick
Space.....Draw object/block
Backspace.Erase
Esc.......Save map and exit edit mode

Well...enjoy!  And remember: ASSES TO ASHES!

 -- Pc72


Version history ---------------------------------------------------------------

v1.0b
---
- Beta release
- Put all sprites in one file
- Killed cheat codes  (hey, if you want to cheat so badly, it's not very hard
to alter the game!  In fact, just add a "Game.TimerTick=0" line anyhere in the
main loop to become absolutely invincible.  Additionally, all bomb-related
parameters can easily be altered where they are defined)

v0.4
---
- Completely rewrote base movement engine.  Game now runs far more stable, and
one can move around freely in open areas
- Bombs can not be walked through any longer, not even by means of cheat codes
- All kinds of accidents are now considered "time up"s.  If you get blown up or
walk into a dude, the timer is zeroed out and you are a loser - yet with
everybody dying around you as well

v0.3
---
- Level editor added.  Levels can now be edited, and the internal map generator
will only be used if a level file isn't found for a certain level number.
- Added an Exist fundtion.  Thus fixed "File not found" glitch.
- Killed the bug that caused the game to go "Subscript out of range" in
certain detection routines
- Map element bits 3 and 4 swap meanings

v0.2
---
- The internal level generator is fixed.  In the last version, bit 4 was
occasionally set on stone blocks.  This resulted in enemy armies suddenly
emerging from blocks that were touched by blasts.  Bit 4 is no longer set on
stone blocks, which prevents enemies from emerging from the walls
- Bit 3 reaction fuse removed.  Bombs now react faster to nearby explosions

v0.1
---
- Initial release.  There is NO WAY in the freaking universe you are going to
make me sum up what I would refer to as THE LONGEST FREAKING 10 HOURS IN MY
ENTIRE LIFE, that it took to write this initial release (all graphics and data
included)
