Senso

Try to repeat a sequence of button presses. This sequence increases every round for a new item. There are 4 buttons to choose from - a wrong button

pressed aborts the game. Otherwise, if you reach the maximal length of the sequence, you win.

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PilotSenso v0.95 for PalmPilot

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(c) 1998 by Hans-Rudolf Graf

[email protected] (sorry: [email protected] became obsolete)

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Introduction

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Welcome to the second release of PilotSenso! This is the adaptation of the

Senso or Mini-Senso game from MB. Now play it on your Pilot. Due to various

request, I added a setup option, which eliminates the need of the 'Done

button'.

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General Game Description

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Try to repeat a sequence of button presses. This sequence increases every

round for a new item. There are 4 buttons to choose from - a wrong button

pressed aborts the game. Otherwise, if you reach the maximal length of the

sequence, you win.

The button sequence is composed by the Pilot (in the "1 player" game), or by

the alternating players (in the "2 player" game).

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Game Setup

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First, set up the game options. The "level" defines the length and playback

speed of the button sequence. The according sequence length is 10, 20 or 30

items.

The "sequence end" option lets you choose between "manual" or "automatic"

mode. In the former mode, you have to indicate the end of a sequence by

selecting the "Done button". In the latter case, there is no need to indicate

that, since it is automatically detected. It makes it easier to play - but

might be used for a little bit of cheating, since you don't need to remember

the length of the game sequence. It is sure more comfortable that way, but not

exactly how the original Senso works.

Selecting "sound" helps to remember the sequence because of the acoustic

feedback of the buttons.

Choose the standard game (1 player) or alternatively the extended game (2

player). In the second case, Pilot is not composing the button sequence

itself, which is up to you then. (It is also fun to play the "2 player" game

alone, even if not that challenging!)

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Playing PilotSenso

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There are 4 buttons to playback the game sequence, labeled "A", "B", "C" and

"D". Furthermore, there exists a "Done" button in the manual game mode, which

you have to select to finish the round (i.e. a "end-of-sequence" item). Take

your time to repeat the sequence - there is no time-out. But if you press a

wrong button the game ends immediately.

There are several ways to select the buttons:

* tap on the screen (with the pencil or bare finger)

* use the hardware buttons:

"page up" is equal to "A"

"to-do list" is equal to "B"

"page down" is equal to "C"

"phone book" is equal to "D"

"date book" or "note pad" is equal to "Done"

* graffiti input (or connected Newton keyboard):

"a", "b", "c", "d" for the game buttons

space or "." for "Done"

Switching to another application aborts the game, while power on/off freezes

the game.

P.S. Hardware button input works also during "Game Setup", "Game Over" and

Copyright display. In "Game Setup", left side buttons select "1 player" and

right side buttons select "2 player" mode (alternative graffiti input is "1"

or "2").

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Menu

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To start a new game, access the menu and select "new game" (or write "n").

This command is available even during a running game and enables you to abort

it. Additional, you may view the copyright disclaimer by choosing the "about"

command from the menu (or write "i", since "a" is already occupied).

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Original Senso (MB)

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Unfortunately, it is long past since I used to play the original Mini-Senso

from MB, which was really fun and a big runner for that time. So I do not

remember very well the details. I think there was a time-out during game play.

Furthermore I do not remember the original sequence length in each level. If

you know better and want me write a closer adaptation of the game, please

contact me.

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Copyright Disclaimer (Postcard-Ware)

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I call this program "Postcard-Ware" which means:

You may copy this program free of any charge together with this documentation.

Since I do program the Pilot as a hobby, I do not need to get money for it.

But it is not released into public domain, i.e. I still own the copyright for

it.

However, if you like this program, please contribute by sending a postcard to:

Hans-Rudolf Graf

Kosakenweg 8

8052 Zurich

Switzerland

See, I like to get old-fashioned mail! Don't you think this program is great

and is worth this little favor? Furthermore, a good feedback motivates me to

improve this program or to create additional programs for the Pilot.

I built this program with gcc for Pilot. I like the idea, that Pilot users

help each other in making Pilot an even better system, by providing free

software for everyone. Even I spent some time in creating this program, it was

fun and I do not ask for money. If everybody does the same, we will enjoy

Pilot even more. I do not like shareware so much, where you should pay for

even little use or get serious limitations in functionality. Postcard-Ware

also means: There are no disturbing copyright messages, nor annoying delays,

and no limitations in functionality neither.

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Standard Legal Disclaimer

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PilotSenso is provided as-is with no warranties expressed or implied. You use

this software at your own risk.

This release of PilotSenso has been tested, and is stable and functional, on a

PalmPilot Professional running PalmOS 2.0.4 Pro.

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History

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second public release (v0.95) with

* optional automatic sequence-end detection (eliminates the Done button)

first public release (v0.9) with

* easy user interface

* 1 or 2 player mode, 3 levels

* optional sound

* touchscreen, hardware button and graffiti input

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Future Enhancements

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I have some ideas, but do not know if anybody wants/needs/likes them:

* What do you think of a graphics user interface (2bpp gray scale instead of

black-and-white)?

* Would you like an extended game with more than just 4 different sequence

items? For example, 8 buttons could build a whole music octave and enable

c-major melodies. Or do you prefer a blues-scale ? ;-)

On the other hand, it is a convenient small application right now, and any

feature is increasing the needed memory.

Also, report any error or further suggestion. Feel free to contact me!

(But do not forget about the requested postcard...)

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Enjoy!