XPIPEMAN(6)XPIPEMAN(6)NAMExpipeman - connect the pipes to stop the leaks (X Windows)
SYNOPSIS
/usr/games/xpipeman
DESCRIPTION
Xpipeman is a game of skill requiring the user to connect together
pieces of a pipe to allow a liquid to flow through without leaking out.
The liquid flows out of the block marked with an "S". The aim of the
game is to connect as many pieces of pipe to the start block as possi‐
ble.
A random sequence of blocks is generated and displayed down the right
hand side of the screen. The next pipe block that has to be placed is
under the arrow marked "next". After a block has been placed a new
block is displayed on the end of the sequence and the next block
appears under the arrow.
After a period of time the liquid starts to flow. It first fills up the
"flow start" meter at the right of the screen. When this is full it
then begins to flow out of the start block and into any pipe blocks
connected to it.
To finish successfully each level a certain number of blocks have to
be connected to the start. This is indicated by the "Remaining" count.
This count is decremented as the liquid flows through the blocks. This
is the minimum number of blocks that must be connected, any further
blocks connected generate extra points. The number of blocks that must
be connected increases with each level.
To make life more difficult there are also object blocks where pieces
of pipe cannot be placed. The number of object blocks also increases
with each level.
Blocks can be moved and placed either by using the mouse and its but‐
tons or by using the keyboard. For the mouse, button 1 (left) moves the
next pipe block to the position pointed to by the mouse. Button 2 (mid‐
dle) places a piece of pipe. Pipes may not be placed on the start
block, objects, or any filled/partially filled pipe sections. Once a
block has been placed it may NOT be moved.
At higher levels some pieces of pipe only let the liquid flow one
direction. These pipe sections have an arrow within them indicating the
allowed flow direction. Successful connection of one of these sections
earns extra bonus points.
The game is over when the required number of blocks have not been con‐
nected or there are no more levels (I doubt the latter will happen
before the first!).
The default keyboard setup is as follows:
z move one square left
x move one square right
´ move one square up
/ move one square down
spc place a piece of pipe
tab speed up the flow
If no more blocks can be placed then pressing the tab key will cause
the flow to speed up.
RESOURCES
xpipeman.scorefile
Set this to the path of your personal score file. The file will
be created if it does not exist. The default: ./xpipescores
OPTIONS
In addition to the normal XToolkit options, xpipeman accepts command
line options for the following resource:scorefile
For example: xpipeman-scorefile myscorefile
SCORING
Each pipe connected to the flow scores 10 points. Any pipe placed on
top of another piece of empty pipe incurs a penalty of 20 points. Any
pipe not connected to the flow also incurs a penalty, but this time of
only 10 points. A bonus 40 points is awarded each time there is a flow
crossover and a bonus of 10 points is awarded for each one way pipe
used (later levels). The name for the high score list comes from the
USER environment variable.
FILES
./xpipescores -- the score file
BUGS
Type ahead may be a problem on some slower machines. To reduce the
problem try to use the mouse instead of the keyboard. (I have a SPARC‐
station which seems to work fine!). Other tips to reduce type ahead:
plan the flow by looking at the sequence down the right hand side of
the screen and most of all don't panic as the flow approaches!.
AUTHOR
This was written by Nigel Paver
JANET: pavern@uk.ac.man.cs
INER: pavern%uk.ac.man.cs@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk
with acknowledgements to Brian Warkentine (brianw@Sun.COM).
7 July 1991 XPIPEMAN(6)
