This is a quick-n-dirty port to Rhapsody. Expect future versions which will be more refined! When you unpack the game, it is possible (and likely) that tar will change the permissions of the high score file. If you want multiple users to be able to save their high scores (and not just the user that installs/unpacked the game), then you need to change the file permissions to allow this. Run these two commands to do what is needed: chmod 777 [path_to_app]/Balling.app/.Ball chmod 666 [path_to_app]/Balling.app/.Ball/.Ball.score This game has been built tri-fat under OPENSTEP 4.2. The biggest change is the port from NEXTSTEP to OPENSTEP, but I did fix a few minor bugs along the way. I still have a "TO-DO" list of things to add and fix; most such changes will probably only happen to the Rhapsody version as I don't plan to make another OPENSTEP release unless I find a very, very good reason to do so. The other change is that this version is no longer shareware; it is freeware. Of course, that also means you get no support. If you don't like it, don't play it. If you do like it and want to send me money to show your appreciation, that is certainly welcome but by no means required. Any money that is sent on behalf of Balling will be used to support further development of the game. I'll keep tweaking it anyway, but if people like it enough to support the development, the tweaks will happen sooner than later. I'm using this policy with other games I'll be releasing in the future to determine which are the most popular--and use that to prioritize the order in which they get time slices from me. So if you really, really like a particular game, let me know! :-) This version is released without source code; this will be the case for the forseeable future, though I may change that policy in the future. Right now the source code is such a mess that I promise you, you do NOT want to see it! The README files for previous versions are appended below. This game is (c) 1995-1996 Dimitri Plotnikov and (c) 1998 Don Yacktman. --- Later, -Don Yacktman 4279 N. Ivy Lane Provo, UT, 84604 (801)221-0344 don@misckit.com don@iserver.com My home page ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- This game has been built Quad-fat under NEXTSTEP 3.3 and several bug fixes and enhancements have been made to it. Here is a list of changes I have made to the game so far: * Now works on ADB keyboards and should work on ALL keyboards * New main menu options to mirror those on game window * Fixed bug that caused "Pause/Resume" menu cells to have the wrong title sometimes * Which balls come next is now more random (the seeds used to be the same every time for every level). * There is now a "paused" graphic when the game is paused * A rudimentary preferences panel has been added * There are seven backgrounds to choose from, thanks to Allan Noordvyk for sending them in; many of them were "borrowed" from BoinkOut * The GUI has been cleaned up a little bit * Highscore file permissions set properly for shared use * More levels This app has been tested on Motorola, Intel, HPPA, and Sparc architectures. It has been tested on machines with and without ADB keyboards. As far as I know, it works fine. If you do happen to find any problems, please let me know about them so I can fix them! I do have a to-do list, and there are some things I didn't get done for this release. There will be more releases, including an OPENSTEP compatible release as soon as I can get it out. The to-do list currently includes these items: * try to make the response less sluggish * add a "what's coming next" visual (which can be turned off) * be more liberal about allowing movement If you think I should add something to that list, please let me know! The original README is appended to this document. --- Later, -Don Yacktman don@misckit.com My home page ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- I built this tiny program under NeXTSTEP 3.2 for both m68k and 80x86. Hopefully it will run on your machine. The idea of the game is very simple: you are supposed to arrange the balls so that they make rows or triangles of the same color. If you succeed the rows and triangles vanish to free room for other balls. The game ends when there is no more room available. You can use left and right arrow keys to move the falling balls to the left or right, the up and down arrows to change the order of the balls and the space key to drop them. Command-n starts a new game. Command-p will pause the game, then any key will resume it. Hiding the application automatically pauses it. If first levels are too boring for you, hit Command-2 or Command-3 to leap directly to the second or third level. If you want to share the same score table with other people, just launch the application from the same file Balling.app, located on a file server in your local area network. The score table is located inside Balling.app and the application will accurately synchronize your score table. Have fun! The program is shareware: if you enjoy balling, send a check or money order to: Dimitri Plotnikov 10910 Harpers Square Ct. Reston, VA 22091 Thanks, Dimitri Plotnikov Home phone: (703) 860-9260