QUADREL USER'S MANUAL Home of the Underdogs - http://www.theunderdogs.org/ The greatest games are usually the ones with rules easy to understand. Inspired by the theorem of the four colors, QUADREL is a perfect example of this adage. Played by only one player against the computer or by two players, the game looks quite simple: you have to paint on the screen spaces of different shapes. The difficulty consists in the fact that each player has a limited number of colors at his disposal, and that two shapes touching one another cannot be of the same color. With QUADREL, we can promise you one thing: you are going to make use of all your neurones... I/ LOADING THE GAME ATARI ST Insert the disk in the internal drive and switch on your computer. AMIGA 500 & 2000 Insert the disk in the internal drive and switch on your computer. AMIGA 1000 Insert the Kickstart disk in the internal drive and switch on your computer. When the Workbench screen appears, insert the QUADREL disk in the internal drive. AMSTRAD CPC DISK Switch on your computer. Insert the disk in the internal drive. Type 'RUN "QUADREL"' and press the key. AMSTRAD CPC TAPE Switch on your computer. Re-wind the tape. Press the key on the tape recorder. Type 'RUN' then press the key. IBM PC & COMPATIBLES Start up your PC with your DOS disk. Insert the "QUADREL A" disk in drive A. Switch to drive A by typing 'A:', and by pressing the key. Type 'QUADREL', then press the key to start the game. If you wish to load 'QUADREL' on drive B: Insert the "QUADREL A" disk in drive B. Switch to drive B by typing 'B:' and by pressing the key. Type 'SWAPAB' then press . Type 'QUADREL', then press to start the game. You must then select the option corresponding to the graphic card you are using, this by pressing: for the CGA mode (4 colors). for the EGA mode (16 colors). for the VGA mode (16 colors). for the TGA mode (Tandy 16 colors). II/ CONTROLS To control the game you can use the mouse, the joystick or the keyboard (depending on the computer you have). All selections are made by clicking on the screens or by using drop-down menus. III/ THE THEOREM OF THE FOUR COLORS What about a short mathematics lesson before playing ? The theorem of the four colors demonstrates that you can fill any type of map with only four colors without ever having two contiguous colors. This is true for any type of map: geographical, geometrical, or a map with the most crooked outlines you could think of. This theorem was recently demonstrated, but do not worry, we are not going to do it here. Lots of people tried to contradict this theorem but failed. QUADREL is actually a fun way to apply the theorem and you will soon understand why its demonstration could fill the pages of a dictionary. IV/ OPTIONS QUADREL gives you the possibility to choose between three different types of game with three different possible levels each (they modify the number of colors you have at the beginning of a game). You can play against the watch and be in the scoring board, or play without limited time. Just click to see the drop-down menus. THE FREE ONE-PLAYER MODE This is the easiest type of game. The computer asks you to select amongst different maps the one you are going to play with. Then, you will have to fill it with the assigned number of colors, according to the theorem and as fast as you can. THE CONTROLLED ONE-PLAYER MODE The sole difference with the free One-Player mode is that the computer tells you what shape you must fill. Maybe you think it is easier... THE TWO PLAYERS MODE You can play against the computer or against a human opponent. When you have selected one of these two options, the computer asks you to choose the map you want to play with. This type of game is different from the two others. Here, you have to keep your opponent from painting the shapes of the map. The colors are not evenly distributed between the two players: the color player #1 possesses in large quantity is the color player #2 will have in minimum quantity, and vice versa. Now, you have to find the right strategy to defeat your opponent. All right, one example to give you a clue... Player #1 has a lot of blue. So, player #2 will try to block him by filling as many shapes as he can with the blue he has so that player #1 will not be able to place all the blue he has on the map. But be careful, do not let him block you... The game is over when one of the two players cannot paint any more shape. When you play the One-Player mode, you have access to the Help menu which allows you to erase a shape you just filled, or to ask the computer what would be the best way to play. Still, each time you ask for help you get a penalty of 30 seconds. V/ THE TEAM PROJECT MANAGER: Christophe GOMEZ DESIGNER: Najib CHELLY PROGRAMMERS: AMIGA ST version: Benoist ARON PC version: Clement IYEYEMI CPC version: Christophe DELMAERE GRAPHICS: Emmanuel VASSE MUSIC: Michel WINOGRADOFF THANKS TO: Bernard AURE Olivier RICHEZ Dominique TRIANA Laurent WEILL