-------------------------------------------------------------------------->  T I C - T A C - T W O    Version 1.10   Copyright 1990, DataQue Software>-------------------------------------------------------------------------->>

This documentation file is for the program "Tic-Tac-Two" (also refered to>as "TT2" for short).  TT2 was written in 100% assembly language, for the>Atari 8-bit computer systems.  What makes TT2 unique, is that it is the>first game which uses the GameLink interface to allow two Atari 8-bit>computers to be connected together, and each person playing the game sits>in front of his own monitor/TV with his own joystick.>>>

The game play is quite simple, and to my knowledge conforms to the standard>rules for Tic-Tac-Toe.  The game is played on a grid, with dimensions of>three units wide, by three units high.  There are two playing pieces, an>"X" and an "O".  Players will choose which piece they want to use, and>they will use that piece throughout the game.  Players will get to place>one of their pieces each turn, hoping to be able to place them eventually>in either a vertical, horizontal, or diaganal line of three.  The first>person to place three in a row, wins the game, and another game begins>automatically.  A current total of all games won in a game series will>be indicated on the screen.>>>

To make things fair, TT2 will alternate who starts first after each game.>A cursor can be moved about the playing grid, by using a joystick, and>moving the handle in the desired direction.  Visual, and Audio feedback>will reflect any movement.  If it is a player's turn, and the fire button>of the joystick is pressed, the player's piece will be placed on the>playfield, IF the selected position was unoccupied.  When one player is>taking his turn, his actions are reflected in the opponents screen also.>>>

There is a status screen which includes:>>  1) Version number and name of the game.>>  2) A flashing cursor, to indicate the playfield position selected.>>  3) The number of wins for each player.>>  4) Who's turn it is currently, or "game over" if applicable.>>  5) Which piece you will be playing with.>>  6) A GameLink communications status line, showing:>>     a) [T], If you are transmitting information or receiving it.>     b) [P], If there was a communications prefix header transmit failure.>     c) [C], If the last character transmit was successful.>     d) [H], If there was a communications prefix header receive failure.>     e) [R], If the last character received had errors.>     f) [S], If the sum check of the last data block was successful.>>

The console switches have the following functions:>>   1) START = to start a new game series.  This will zero the scores>      of both players.>   2) SELECT = show the information & help screen while pressed.>   3) OPTION = exit to DOS via the DOSVEC entry point.>>TT2 was assembled at $3000, to allow it to work on even 16k systems.>Since the program itself only needs 3k of code space, there is enough>room left above the program for the display list and screen buffer>on those systems, and plenty of room beneath for most DOS's.>>

The source files for TT2 are in the listed format of MAC/65, so>they can be fairly easily edited to work with other assemblers. If>you are using MAC/65, you will need to ENTER each file and SAVE it>back to disk before you can assemble the program.>  >If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or dontations, please>feel free to contact me via one of the following:>>   Chuck Steinman            DQS Support BBS      GEnie Telecom Service>   DataQue Software          (419) 529-5197       UID: DataQue>   Post Office Box 134       300/1200 Baud        or the BB CAT-4/TOP-23 >   Ontario, OH  44862        24Hrs                on page 665,1>   USA>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------->

