java-gnucleon: e8f22b797ac8f0f177822828f2be6a73d5d5b044

     1: Gnucleon version 0.1
     2: ---------------------
     3: 
     4: Legal crap
     5: -----------
     6: 
     7: The code for this game (the file "Gnucleon.java") is released into the
     8: Public Domain because I can't be botherered to run around answering
     9: questions about licensing for a little experiment I spent a couple of
    10: hours on.
    11: 
    12: How to get it to work
    13: ----------------------
    14: 
    15: Gnucleon is made in Java, which I know I know, is not yet Free, but it
    16: is the language taught throughout Sheffield University so it is what I
    17: know. If the already compiled version doesn't work for you (running
    18: the file "Gnucleon" should do it) then you may have to compile it
    19: yourself. The ways of doing this vary, but the (not Free yet) Sun
    20: way of doing it is to have the Java Software Development Kit (SDK) and
    21: run "javac Gnucleon.java". Then you can try running the "Gnucleon"
    22: file again. If that doesn't work... Well, I am a complete n00b and
    23: that is why it is version 0.1. Feel Free to improve it if you want, it
    24: is in the Public Domain so therefore it is yours :)
    25: 
    26: How to play
    27: ------------
    28: 
    29: The current setup has 2 human players and a board of 12x10 squares.
    30: These can be changed by editing the Gnucleon.java file.
    31: 
    32: Playing is relatively simple:
    33: 
    34: The squares on the board represent atoms. The atoms start off with no
    35: nucleons (the bits in the middle, surrounded by the spinny bits),
    36: hence the number zero on them.
    37: 
    38: Players take turns adding nucleons to the atoms, which is done by
    39: clicking on a square (atom).
    40: 
    41: Any atoms a player adds to become owned by them.
    42: 
    43: Players can only add to their own atoms, or empty ones.
    44: 
    45: Once atoms reach a critical mass they explode.
    46: 
    47: The critical mass of an atom depends on the number of neighbours it
    48: has. Atoms in the corners only have 2 neighbours, so their critical
    49: mass is 2. Atoms around the edges have 3 neighbours, so their critical
    50: mass is 3. The rest of the atoms have 4 neighbours so their critical
    51: mass is 4.
    52: 
    53: When an atom explodes it sends one nucleon to each of its neighbours.
    54: 
    55: These neighbours become owned by player who caused the explosion.
    56: 
    57: If the neighbours become critical due to receiving this new nucleon
    58: then they explode, causing chain reactions.
    59: 
    60: If a player loses all of their atoms then they lose the game. (This
    61: is not yet detected, so you'll have to look for it yourself)
    62: 
    63: Known bugs
    64: -----------
    65: 
    66: If extremely huge chain reactions happen then some errors appear on
    67: the command line and the reaction quits early without switching to
    68: the next player.
    69: 
    70: There is no visual feedback when large chain reactions are being
    71: calculated.
    72: 
    73: A decent GUI is being worked on. Honest.
    74: 
    75: The end
    76: --------
    77: 
    78: I hope that this at least doesn't detract from your happiness at all,
    79: even if it doesn't add to it :)
    80: 
    81: Thanks for reading, hope you have fun
    82: Warbo