


                                COLUMNS CLONE

                               Created in 1997
                     by WC LEUNG - lwchk2001@yahoo.com.hk

                                PUBLIC DOMAIN



==============================================================================
Contents
==============================================================================

1 - Running the game
  1.1 Instructions
  1.2 Requirements
  1.3 Controls

2 - Gameplay
  2.1 Objective
  2.2 Scoring
  2.3 Level and Difficulty
  2.4 High Score


==============================================================================
1 - Running the game
==============================================================================


1.1 Instructions
----------------

Run COLUMNS.EXE to start the game.
Remember to TURN OFF NUMBER LOCK when you are playing the game.


1.2 Requirements
----------------

The game needs a 80386 or above with VESA support. Nowadays most computers
will be able to run this game without any problem.


1.3 Controls
------------

Quit Game: ESC

Outside Game_______________________________
                 Left Player  Right Player
Level                  A           4
Difficulty             D           6
Start Game             S           5
High Score             X           2


Playing____________________________________
                 Left Player  Right Player
Move Left              A           4
Move Right             D           6
Cycle Jewels           S           5
Drop                   X           2


Entering Score______________________________
                 Left Player  Right Player
Previous Letter        A           4
Next Letter            D           6
A->B->C...             S           5
C->B->A...             X           2



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2 - Gameplay
==============================================================================

2.1 Objective
-------------

Jewels drop to the well three at a time (vertically aligned). You are going to
prevent the well from filling up by making the jewels disappear.

You can move the jewels left or right, and also to cycle their positions.

When three or more jewels of the same color are connected to a straight line
horizontally, vertically or diagonally, these jewels will disappear. The
jewels above then settle by gravity. If this cause another three or more
jewels of the same color connected to a straight line, they also disappear.
This process can be repeated more than five times.

You sometimes get a white special jewel. You may drop it on another jewel, and
then all jewels of that color will disappear.


2.2 Scoring
-----------

You score each time when you drop a jewel or make jewels disappear.

Event                   Score
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drop jewels by X/2      Distance Dropped x (Level + 1)
Making lines            30 x No of Lines x (Level + 1) x Combo Counter
Dropping white jewels   10 x No of jewels disappearing (excluding white block)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The combo counter will start at 1 when you drop a jewel block. After jewels
disappear (including the use of white block), the counter will increase by 1.
If the process of disappearing continue without dropping another jewel block,
the counter will then increase to 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on.

A line with 4 jewels is treated as 2 lines, 5 jewels is 3 lines, and so on.

It is possible to get a high score by starting at a high level, drop blocks by
pressing X/2 frequently, and to make combos.


2.3 Level and Difficulty
------------------------

The level is about the natural dropping speed of the jewel. The higher the
level, the higher the speed of dropping. The level will be increased each time
you make 30 jewels disappear (excluding white jewels), to a maximum of 9.

If you start at a level higher than 0, then the level will only increase if
the number of disappeared jewels reaches 30 x (Level + 1)

The difficulty will affect the game in the ways below:
Novice: 4 colors
Middle: 5 colors
Advanced: 6 colors
Professional: 6 colors + bad surprises

This clone's speciality is the professional level. Make sure you try it.


2.4 High Score
--------------

High scores will be kepy for each difficulty. You may consider yourself
getting a good score if your score is above:
Novice: 110000
Middle: 80000
Advanced: 65000
Professional: 50000