Xr0w - a simple and challenging board game.

 


J2me Edition

(for J2ME-compatible mobile phones and handhelds)

User Manual

 
 





(C) 2002, Michael Glickman <palmcrust@yahoo.com>

Content:

About this release.

How to Play

Objective

Playing the game

Play Options

Rules

Support.

 

About this release.

Originally the game was released for Palm  handheld computers and available from  Xr0w PalmOS site.

This manual refers a J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition) release designed mainly for J2ME - compatible mobile phones (Motorola i85 series, Nokia 6310, Siemens SL), and can be also be used on any  J2ME-compatible handheld.

 

How to Play

Objective'

One plays X, another Y.  A player who succeeds in making a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row of consecutive pieces wins. The game ends with a draw, if the board is nearly full, so that neither of players can complete a row.

The application keeps complete move history for the current game, therefor you can take back unlimited number of moves and replay previously taken back moves, however once you've made a move you can't replay.

The application saves and restores the last game. It  provides a range of options to suit your preferences.
 

Playing the game.

Use numeric keys or joystick to locate the marker (a black or dark-green spot) at the place where you want to put your next piece and press
GO. the following diagrams:
 

Numeric keys:
 1
Marker Up-Left
 2
 Marker Up
3
Marker Up-Right
4
Marker Left
5
Go
6
Marker Right
7
Marker Down-Left
8
Marker Down
9
Marker Down-Right
*
Take back move
0
Modifier (see below)
#
Replay move

'Joystick':
 
LEFT Marker Left
UP Marker Up
RIGHT Marker Right
DOWN Marker Down
FIRE Go


Key 0 (modifier) is used for changing the action of the following key. In particular you can make a long (5-step) move  instead of a single step one. The modified key actions are shown below.
 

Modified keys:
 01
Marker Up-Left
5 steps
 02
 Marker Up
5 steps
03
Marker Up-Right
5 steps
04
Marker Left
5 steps
05
Switch Sides(*)
06
Marker Right
5 steps
07
Marker Down-Left
5 steps
08
Marker Down
5 steps
09
Marker Down-Right
5 steps
0*
Change Computer skill (*)
00
Unused 
0#
Toggle Auto-Feed(*)

.

(*) Another way to implement  Switch Sides,  Toggle AutoFeed and  Change Computer Skill  is provided by Play Options section
 

Play Options.

To invoke Play Options screen, select Play Options menu item.

The following play options can be set:

Players:  Computer vs Human or vise versa.  You can switch sides, so that computer will move for you, while you will move for the computer by pressing  either 0 or  5 key, or by choosing Swap   menu item.

Skill:  The skill of your computer opponent.: Novice , Average(default) or Bright .  During the game,  the computer skill is displayed by its initial letter ('N', 'A' or 'B') on the status bar. By pressing * key,   or selecting Change Skill  menu item, you can change computer player skill   from Novice to Average,  from Average to Bright, or from Bright back to Novice.

Toggle Auto-feed:  If auto-feed is ON (default), take back and replay actions apply to both players. In case auto-feed is OFF, only single ply is taken back each time, that, as a matter of fact, allows you forcing a particular move for the computer.  There could be other reasons why you may dislike auto-feed.

Press FIRE or select OK menu item to leave Play Options screen.,
 

Rules.

The rules apply to a game, and can't be changed in the middle of it.

The Rules form appears when you select New or Rules menu option ( Rules option is available between games).

The Rules form allows to modify board size, whether status bar is visible (this affects maximum board width) and which token (X or 0) goes first.

To change rules, use  menu options or buttons as given by the following diagrams:

Numeric keys:
 1
Width-1, Heigh-1
 2
Height-1
3
Width+1,Height-1
4
Width-1
5
Unused
6
Width+1
7
Width-1, Height+1
8
 Height+1
9
Width+1, Height+1
*
Toggle status bar visibility
0
  Unused
#
Toggle first move

'Joystick':
 
LEFT Width-1
UP Height+1
RIGHT Width+1
DOWN Height-1
FIRE Accept settings



Press FIRE or select OK menu item to accept new rules and start new game if applicable, or select CANCEL menu option to leave rules unmodified.

Support

The latest release of is available from https://palmcrust.tripod.com/Xr0w/Xr0w_j2me.html 
The author can be contacted at palmcrust@yahoo.com  (Michael Glickman)