Channel Island Game

A game combining skill, logic and luck from Rog Frost

Dice pastimes are always popular and here's one - the Channel Island Game - that involves logical and deductive thinking along with the luck of the throw. It is a simple, fun game which you can enjoy alone or can be played by up to six people.

The aim is to cover as many of the numbers 1 to 9 as possible. Two dice are thrown and their values are added.

This sum is then used to cover any digits which add up to the dice total and haven't already been covered.

To cover one or more digits, just key in the numbers followed by RETURN. Note that no comma or space is needed.

The dice are then thrown again, and further numbers covered. If the remaining numbers add up to less than six only one die is thrown, and this continues until there is no way to match the dice value with any of the remaining digits.

The numbers left then become the game score.

For example, if the digits remaining are 3 and 7 the score for that game is 37. Low scores are the best and a score of zero is obtained if all of the digits are covered.

An alternative scoring system is to have the score being the sum of the remaining digits.

Again, lowest wins. To do this, just change line 1470 to:

1470 EG$="":FORu%=1TO9'IF N%(u%)=100 EG$_STR$(vAL(EG$)+u$)

The program contains comprehensive checking routines and will only allow legal moves. It will also tell you when no move is possible so the game is over.

This means you will know if it is possible somehow to use your current throw - a big advantage over using real dice.

The program keeps a check on the scores and adds them up after each round.

Example Throws:

The procedures have been given meaningful names so it's easy to see how the program works and even tailor it to your own rules. Variables are of the integer type where possible, as these are dealt with most quickly by the micro.

So key it in and start playing. And, once you've learnt the rules with your micro checking for legal moves, you can even play it with two dice and a piece of paper.

Got It!

Try this fun, yet very easy to type in, game by Rog Frost

The idea of Got It! is to hit as many of the moving targets as you can in just one minute. You steer the flying arrow which has Up, Down, Left and Right controls and when you think you are directly above the target you blast away using the Fire key. A direct hit will score 1,000 points but the score is reduced by 100 each time you press Fire.

Life would be simple if that was all, but there are a couple of problems. Although you can steer the flying arrow, it always keeps moving - and diagonally at that. If it reaches the edge of the screen it bounces and, of course, if can't fire when pointing upwards.

Another snag is that the target moves faster than the arrow, which makes it doubly difficult to score a hit. Apart from losing points, firing also takes time and with only a minute, each second is a precious commodity that mustn't be wasted.

Got It! is designed to be a quick, fun game where lots of people can have a turn without a long wait. Also, it's so short that typing it in isn't too much of a bind.

The program structure is fairly simple. FX calls are used to set up the bounce sounds, ensure CAPS LK is on and disable the joystick port. Using the *FX16,0 call can really speed up games on the Electron.

Next come procedures to print the instructions, to create the various shapes used in the game and to set up a number of variables. Then there is the main action of the game.

Perhaps the most important line is 640, which controls the speed and is set to suit an average player.

If things move too fast - or you want to play it on a different Acorn micro - line 640 can be altered to slow it down.

This is done by listing the line and then copying it all but using a higher number than the 2 which is in the line. Remember to save any altered version of the program.

A useful facility is the ability to select your favoured keys - any of the number, letter or symbol ones. RETURN and the SPACE bar are also options for the Fire key.

While the program is short, it is designed to be personalised. Why not addan extra routine to allow players to select the game speed from within the program?

Also, a different scoring system could easily be used - perhaps with points scored for near misses. The graphics and the sound could be altered as well.

Whether you stick to the original version or make adjustments, happy firing. Got it?

Radium

Can you become an ace pilot in this super-fast arcade blockbuster from Lyn Davies?

Radium is a fast-scrolling arcade game set in the far future. Your peaceful world is under attack from the warlike Gort Empire and you have been chosen to pilot the only remaining ships.

Gort rockets will destroy your city if you let them past. Not only is your home at risk, but the remote energy beam generators that power your ship will be damaged - too many hits and your ship will disintegrate.

Among the hail of missiles are occasional radium bombs and if these are shot a radium pod is released. If you collect ten, a Gort skullship will investigate. These are powerful craft and must be disabled quickly. Not an easy task.

They usually spit radium bombs and are heavily armoured. Only an accurate shot into their rocket tubes will give them grief. If you are a good enough marksman and get ten shots on target, the skullship will then be disabled and you can move on to defend another sector.

When you lose a life or beat a level your skill rating will be displayed on the aceo meter. If you manage a maximum rating you are either an ace pilot or a cheat.

The game loads in two parts, and if you are using tape it's best to save them on separate ones until they're working. They can then be combined onto one tape. Note that the second listing must be saved as RADIUM1 as it is CHAINed by the first.

Remember to save the programs before trying to run them as they put data all over memory, and if you've made a mistake you could lose the copy in memory.

So type in the listings, strap yourself in - and prepare for action.

Radium Game Controls

Z - Left, X - Right, * - Up, ? - Down, RETURN - Fire