| ★ AMSTRAD CPC ★ GAMESLIST ★ QUARTERS (c) COMPUTING WITH THE AMSTRAD ★ |
Computing with the Amstrad |
QUARTERS is a micro-simulation of a well known table-top board game. Played on a 9 x 8 grid using square dominoes, it demands both skill and strategy in order to achieve a high score. The tiles are split into quarters across their diagonals - hence the name of the game. Each quarter is randomly picked out in one of four colours. Ordinary dominoes, which use the seven numbers 0 to 6, produce 28 different tiles. With the new design we get 70 possibilities using only the numbers 1 to 4! We could draw these dominoes on the screen showing spots or numbers - but there is an alternative. Instead of printing the number on each quarter we can use it to produce a colour. This gives us squares which can show upto four different colours. The tile in play is displayed above the board and can be rotated about its centre using the R key while you decide the most valuable location to place it. When positioning the tile, just as with ordinary dominoes when like numbers must match, so in Quarters, colours should match on touching edges. To select the tile's location you move a flashing cursor around the grid using the arrow keys. Pressing P will place the tile at the selected location and you are then awarded points. You score every time you can place a tile on the board, gaining more points if you can match more than one edge with neighbouring tiles. If it is impossible to play, abandon your turn using the Del key. The are three different ways to play - solo patience, against a human, or against the computer and the game ends when all 70 dominoes have been used. Whichever game you choose. Quarters will keep you entranced for hours. CWTA |
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