manual/plugins/wormlet.tex

   1 \subsection{Wormlet}
   2 \screenshot{plugins/images/ss-wormlet}{Wormlet game}{img:wormlet}
   3 Wormlet is a \opt{RECORDER_PAD}{multi{}-user }multi{}-worm game on a multi{}-threaded
   4 multi{}-functional Rockbox console. You navigate a hungry little worm.
   5 Help your worm to find food and to avoid poisoned argh{}-tiles. The
   6 goal is to turn your tiny worm into a big worm for as long as possible.
   7
   8 \opt{RECORDER_PAD}{
   9 For 2{}-player games a remote control is not necessary but recommended.
  10 If you try to hold the \dap\ in the four hands of two players
  11 you'll find out why. Games with three players are only
  12 possible using a remote control.\\}
  13
  14
  15 %The following table is only for the recorder version of the game, since the
  16 %other versions do not support either multi player or different control modes.
  17 %It is however prepared for the other targets should they ever support these
  18 %features. Also some other parts of the text is "opted" out for these targets.
  19
  20 {\bfseries
  21 Game controls:}
  22
  23 \opt{RECORDER_PAD}{
  24 \renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.8}
  25 \begin{rbtabular}{\textwidth}{c X p{3cm} p{3cm} p{3cm}}%
  26 {\textbf{Players} & \textbf{Modes} & \textbf{Player 1} & \textbf{Player 2}
  27                         & \textbf{Player 3}}{}{}
  28 %
  29 0 & Out of control & \multicolumn{3}{p{9cm}}{With no player taking part in the
  30     game all worms are out of control and steered by artificial stupidity.}\\
  31 %
  32 \multirow{2}{*}{1} & 2 key control & on \dap\ \ButtonLeft: turn left
  33                         \ButtonRight: turn right & {}- & {}-\\
  34                     & 4 key control & on \dap\ \ButtonLeft: turn  left
  35                         \opt{RECORDER_PAD,ONDIO_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD,IAUDIO_X5_PAD}
  36                             {\ButtonUp}\opt{IPOD_4G_PAD}{\ButtonMenu}: turn up
  37                             \ButtonRight: turn right
  38                             \opt{RECORDER_PAD,ONDIO_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD,IAUDIO_X5_PAD}
  39                             {\ButtonDown}\opt{IPOD_4G_PAD}{\ButtonPlay}: turn down & {}- & {}- \\
  40 %
  41 \multirow{2}{*}{2} & Remote control & on \dap\ \ButtonLeft: turn left
  42                         \ButtonRight: turn right & on remote control VOL DOWN:
  43                         turn left VOL UP: turn right & {}- \\
  44                     & No remote control & on \dap\ \ButtonLeft: turn left
  45                         \ButtonRight: turn right & on \dap\ \ButtonFTwo: turn
  46                         left \ButtonFThree: turn right & {}- \\
  47 3 & Remote control & on \dap\ \ButtonLeft: turn left \ButtonRight: turn right
  48                         & on remote control VOL DOWN: turn left VOL UP: turn
  49                         right & on \dap\ \ButtonFTwo: turn left \ButtonFThree:
  50                         turn right \\
  51 \end{rbtabular}
  52 \renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.0}
  53 }
  54
  55 \nopt{RECORDER_PAD}{
  56 \begin{table}
  57     \begin{btnmap}{}{}
  58         \opt{ONDIO_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD,IAUDIO_X5_PAD%
  59             ,SANSA_E200_PAD,SANSA_FUZE_PAD,SANSA_C200_PAD,GIGABEAT_PAD%
  60             ,GIGABEAT_S_PAD,MROBE100_PAD,IPOD_3G_PAD,IPOD_4G_PAD%
  61             ,IRIVER_H10_PAD,PBELL_VIBE500_PAD}
  62         {\ButtonLeft}
  63         \opt{COWON_D2_PAD}{\TouchMidLeft}
  64        \opt{HAVEREMOTEKEYMAP}{& }
  65         & Turn left\\
  66         \opt{ONDIO_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD,IAUDIO_X5_PAD%
  67             ,SANSA_E200_PAD,SANSA_FUZE_PAD,SANSA_C200_PAD,GIGABEAT_PAD%
  68             ,GIGABEAT_S_PAD,MROBE100_PAD,IPOD_3G_PAD,IPOD_4G_PAD%
  69             ,IRIVER_H10_PAD,PBELL_VIBE500_PAD}
  70         {\ButtonRight}
  71         \opt{COWON_D2_PAD}{\TouchMidRight}
  72              \opt{HAVEREMOTEKEYMAP}{& }
  73         & Turn right\\
  74         \opt{ONDIO_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD,IAUDIO_X5_PAD%
  75             ,SANSA_E200_PAD,SANSA_FUZE_PAD,SANSA_C200_PAD,GIGABEAT_PAD%
  76             ,GIGABEAT_S_PAD,MROBE100_PAD,PBELL_VIBE500_PAD}{\ButtonUp}
  77         \opt{IPOD_3G_PAD,IPOD_4G_PAD}{\ButtonMenu}
  78         \opt{IRIVER_H10_PAD}{\ButtonScrollUp}
  79         \opt{COWON_D2_PAD}{\TouchTopMiddle}
  80             \opt{HAVEREMOTEKEYMAP}{& }
  81         & Turn Up\\
  82         \opt{ONDIO_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD,IAUDIO_X5_PAD%
  83             ,SANSA_E200_PAD,SANSA_FUZE_PAD,SANSA_C200_PAD,GIGABEAT_PAD%
  84             ,GIGABEAT_S_PAD,MROBE100_PAD,PBELL_VIBE500_PAD}{\ButtonDown}
  85         \opt{IPOD_3G_PAD,IPOD_4G_PAD}{\ButtonPlay}
  86         \opt{IRIVER_H10_PAD}{\ButtonScrollDown}
  87         \opt{COWON_D2_PAD}{\TouchBottomMiddle}
  88            \opt{HAVEREMOTEKEYMAP}{& }
  89         & Turn Down\\
  90     \end{btnmap}
  91 \end{table}
  92 }
  93
  94 \subsubsection{The game}
  95 Use the control keys of your worm to navigate around obstacles and find
  96 food. Worms do not stop moving except when dead. Dead worms are no fun.
  97 Be careful as your worm will try to eat anything that you steer it
  98 across. It won't distinguish whether it is edible or not.
  99
 100 \begin{description}
 101 \item[Food.]
 102 The small square hollow pieces are food. Move the worm over a food tile
 103 to eat it. After eating the worm grows. Each time a piece of food has
 104 been eaten a new piece of food will pop up somewhere. Unfortunately for
 105 each new piece of food that appears two new ``argh'' pieces will
 106 appear, too.
 107 \item[Argh.]
 108 An ``argh'' is a black square poisoned piece {}- slightly bigger than
 109 food {}- that makes a worm say ``Argh!'' when
 110 run into.  A worm that eats an ``argh'' is dead. Thus eating an
 111 ``argh'' must be avoided under any circumstances. ``Arghs'' have the
 112 annoying tendency to accumulate.
 113 \item[Worms.]
 114 Thou shall not eat worms. Neither other worms nor thyself. Eating worms
 115 is blasphemous cannibalism, not healthy and causes instant
 116 death. And it doesn't help anyway: the other worm
 117 isn't hurt by the bite. It will go on creeping happily
 118 and eat all the food you left on the table.
 119 \item[Walls.]
 120 Don't crash into the walls. Walls are not edible.
 121 Crashing a worm against a wall causes it a headache it
 122 doesn't survive.
 123 \item[Game over.]
 124 The game is over when all worms are dead. The longest worm wins the
 125 game.
 126 \item [Pause the game.]
 127 Press
 128 \opt{RECORDER_PAD,IAUDIO_X5_PAD,PBELL_VIBE500_PAD}{\ButtonPlay}%
 129 \opt{ONDIO_PAD}{\ButtonMenu}%
 130 \opt{IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD,IPOD_4G_PAD,SANSA_E200_PAD,SANSA_FUZE_PAD%
 131   ,GIGABEAT_PAD,GIGABEAT_S_PAD}{\ButtonSelect}
 132 \opt{COWON_D2_PAD}{\TouchCenter}
 133 to pause the game. Press it again to resume the game.
 134
 135 \item[Stop the game.]
 136 There are two ways to stop a running game.
 137
 138 \begin{itemize}
 139 \item If you want to quit Wormlet entirely simply hit
 140 \opt{RECORDER_PAD,ONDIO_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD}{\ButtonOff}%
 141 \opt{IPOD_4G_PAD}{\ButtonMenu+\ButtonSelect}%
 142 \opt{IAUDIO_X5_PAD,SANSA_E200_PAD,GIGABEAT_PAD}{\ButtonPower}%
 143 \opt{SANSA_FUZE_PAD}{Long \ButtonHome}
 144 \opt{PBELL_VIBE500_PAD}{\ButtonRec}%
 145 \opt{GIGABEAT_S_PAD}{\ButtonBack}.
 146 The game will stop immediately and you will return to the game menu.
 147 \item If you want to stop the game and still see the screen hit
 148 \opt{RECORDER_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD}{\ButtonOn}%
 149 \opt{ONDIO_PAD}{\ButtonOff+\ButtonMenu}%
 150 \opt{IPOD_4G_PAD}{\ButtonSelect+\ButtonPlay}%
 151 \opt{IAUDIO_X5_PAD,SANSA_E200_PAD}{\ButtonRec}%
 152 \opt{SANSA_FUZE_PAD}{\ButtonSelect+\ButtonUp}%
 153 \opt{GIGABEAT_PAD}{\ButtonA}%
 154 \opt{PBELL_VIBE500_PAD}{\ButtonCancel}%
 155 \opt{GIGABEAT_S_PAD}{\ButtonMenu}.
 156 This freezes the game. If you hit
 157 \opt{RECORDER_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD}{\ButtonOn}%
 158 \opt{ONDIO_PAD}{\ButtonOff+\ButtonMenu}%
 159 \opt{IPOD_4G_PAD}{\ButtonSelect+\ButtonPlay}%
 160 \opt{IAUDIO_X5_PAD,SANSA_E200_PAD}{\ButtonRec}%
 161 \opt{SANSA_FUZE_PAD}{\ButtonSelect+\ButtonUp}%
 162 \opt{GIGABEAT_PAD}{\ButtonA}%
 163 \opt{PBELL_VIBE500_PAD}{\ButtonCancel}%
 164 \opt{GIGABEAT_S_PAD}{\ButtonMenu}
 165 button again a new game starts with the same configuration. To return to the
 166 games menu you can hit
 167 \opt{RECORDER_PAD,ONDIO_PAD,IRIVER_H100_PAD,IRIVER_H300_PAD}{\ButtonOff}%
 168 \opt{IPOD_4G_PAD}{\ButtonMenu+\ButtonSelect}%
 169 \opt{IAUDIO_X5_PAD,SANSA_E200_PAD,GIGABEAT_PAD}{\ButtonPower}%
 170 \opt{SANSA_FUZE_PAD}{Long \ButtonHome}
 171 \opt{PBELL_VIBE500_PAD}{\ButtonRec}%
 172 \opt{GIGABEAT_S_PAD}{\ButtonBack}. A stopped game can not be resumed.
 173 \end{itemize}
 174 \end{description}
 175
 176 \subsubsection{The scoreboard}
 177 On the right side of the game field is the score board. For each worm it
 178 displays its status and its length. The top most entry displays the
 179 state of worm 1, the second worm 2 and the third worm 3. When a worm
 180 dies its entry on the score board turns black.
 181
 182 \begin{description}
 183 \item[Len:]
 184 Here the current length of the worm is displayed. When a worm is eating
 185 food it grows by one pixel for each step it moves.
 186
 187 \item[Hungry:]
 188 That's the normal state of a worm. Worms are always
 189 hungry and want to eat. It is good to have a hungry
 190 worm since it means that your worm is alive. But it is
 191 better to get your worm growing.
 192
 193 \item[Growing:]
 194 When a worm has eaten a piece of food it starts growing. For each step
 195 it moves over food it can grow by one pixel. One piece of food lasts
 196 for 7 steps. After your worm has moved 7 steps the food is used up. If
 197 another piece of food is eaten while growing it will increase the size
 198 of the worm for another 7 steps.
 199
 200 \item[Crashed:]
 201 This indicates that a worm has crashed against a wall.
 202
 203 \item[Argh:]
 204 If the score board entry displays ``Argh!'' it
 205 means the worm is dead because it tried to eat an ``argh''. Until we
 206 can make the worm say ``Argh!'' it is your job to say ``Argh!'' aloud.
 207
 208 \item[Wormed:]
 209 The worm tried to eat another worm or even itself.
 210 That's why it is dead now.  Making traps for other players with a worm
 211 is a good way to get them out of the game.
 212 \end{description}
 213
 214 \subsubsection{Hints}
 215
 216 \begin{itemize}
 217
 218 \item Initially you will be busy with controlling your worm. Try to
 219 avoid other worms and crawl far away from them. Wait until they curl up
 220 themselves and collect the food afterwards. Don't worry if the other
 221 worms grow longer than yours {}- you can catch up after they've died.
 222
 223 \item When you are more experienced watch the tactics of other worms.
 224 Those worms controlled by artificial stupidity head straight for the
 225 nearest piece of food. Let the other worm have its next piece of food
 226 and head for the food it would probably want next. Try to put yourself
 227 between the opponent and that food. From now on you can 'control' the
 228 other worm by blocking it. You could trap it by making a 1 pixel wide
 229 U{}-turn. You also could move from food to food and make sure you keep
 230 between your opponent and the food. So you can always reach it before
 231 your opponent.
 232
 233 \opt{RECORDER_PAD}{
 234 \item While playing the game the \dap\ can still play music. For
 235 single player game use any music you like. For berserk games with 2 players use
 236 hard rock and for 3 player games use heavy metal or X{}-Phobie
 237 (\url{http://www.x-phobie.de/}).
 238 Play fair and don't kick your opponent in the toe or
 239 poke him in the eye. That would be bad manners.
 240 }
 241 \end{itemize}