Connect Four Gamevision(TM) Cartridge Instructions TI-99/4A ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [MB] Gamevision CARTRIDGE exclusively for the TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED Home Computer Connect Four Milton Bradley's CONNECT FOUR vertical checker game is a best seller game whose popularity grows each year. Now, with your Texas Instruments Home Computer you can play the original two-handed game and also the solo game where you can challenge the computer. In addition, there are two interesting and more advanced variations, DROP OUT and WILD SPOT for experienced players. BASIC GAME - TWO PLAYER Those who have not yet played CONNECT FOUR should play this version first to get familiar with it and its strategy. The "Demonstration Game" on the Cartridge illustrates this game and a typical sequence of play. Watch it while reading the directions. OBJECT: Be the first to place four of your markers in a row - across, up and down, or diagonally. RULES Player 1 uses RED markers and design. Player 2 uses BLUE markers and design. 1. Players alternate turns in dropping one marker. The starting player in one game should play second in the next. The computer alternates the starting player automatically. 2. Each player, in turn, "drops" a marker down ANY of the 7 slots. The marker will always go down the slot stopping at the bottom empty space of that slot. 3. Turns alternate until one player's markers form "four-in-a-row", horizontally, vertically or diagonally. The display will flash the winning markers and play a little tune. 4. The player who connected four in a row is the winner. 5. Occasionally, with well matched players, the entire board will be filled without a winner. This is a draw! SOLO GAME (One Player Game) 1. This plays like the basic game except that the computer controls the BLUE player who alternates the turns with you, the RED player. 2. You also will have a chance to pick the one of four levels of computer ability, from "Novice", the lowest computer skill, to "Master", where the computer play is very smart indeed. WILD SPOT (Two Player Game) This plays like the basic game except that at the start when the display comes up, a WILD marker appears at random in a space and does not move. This marker, a red and blue "MB", can be used by EITHER player to make a "four-in-a-row". Markers drop through the "MB" spot, stopping at the bottom empty space of that slot. For each new game, the wild spot "MB" will appear in another location. This makes for a different challenge each time. DROP OUT (Two Player Game) In addition to the basic rules, an additional option is open to the players. It is as follows: A. In a turn a player may choose to DROP OUT one of his bottom markers instead of adding one at the top. B. When a DROP OUT is performed, all markers above move down to fill the emptied space. C. A win, four-in-a-row, may result from the repositioning of the markers in that slot. If the four-in-a-row is for the opponent's markers, the opponent wins. Of course, a win may be formed by dropping in a marker as in the basic game. D. Sometimes a drop out results in a line-up of "four-in-a-row" for both players. In this case the win goes to the player who did not make the drop out. For example, if the RED player dropped out a marker and lined up a four-in-a-row but a BLUE four-in-a-row also resulted, BLUE would win. EXAMPLE OF A DROP OUT AND WIN Before RED player's turn ----------------------------- ----------------------------- | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ----------------------------- ----------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | B | | | | | | | | B | | | | | | | R | B | B | | | | | | | B | B | | | | | B | B | R | R | R | | | | B | R | R | R | R | | | | B | R | R | B | R | | | | B | B | R | B | R | | ----------------------------- ----------------------------- ^ ^ RED decides to drop RED wins with out this marker in four-in-a-row. slot 3. The DROP OUT option adds significantly to the strategy possibilities. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 1. Refer to your Users Reference Guide for Command Module start up. 2. Press key listed to start your game. 3. The Demonstration Game for CONNECT FOUR will be activated first. Press any key to go on further. DISPLAY PAGES SHOW OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS Page 1 of Instructions Key 1 for Solo Game Key 2 for Basic Game Key 3 for Drop Out Game Key 4 for Wild Spot Game If you push 1 (Solo Game) Screen shows: The four levels of computer skills are shown. Key 1 is for Novice, Key 2 for intermediate and so on. Master is the most challenging. ----------------------------- | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ----------------------------- Red | | | | | | | | Blue Player [1] | | | | | | | | [2] Player Number 1 | | | | | | | | Number 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------- Cursor Moves back and forth over slots. Starts in 4th slot. Note: Computer plays #2 so this "[2]" will not show on one player game mode. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR TWO PLAYER BASIC GAME (KEY 2) AND WILD SPOT (KEY 4) Controls Key "<-" moves Cursor Left Key "->" moves Cursor Right To drop marker (checker) push "Enter" Key Push Enter to go to play mode OPENING PLAY MODE FOR WILD SPOT (KEY 4) The "MB" spot was placed, randomly, by computer. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS AND OPENING PLAY MODE FOR DROP OUT (KEY 3) Top Cursor: Key "<-" for Left Key "->" for Right To Drop Checker - Push Enter Drop Out Cursor (goes to bottom of slots): Push "[Down Arrow]" key to activate Key "<-" for Left Key "->" for Right To drop out checker - push Enter ©1979 by Milton Bradley Co. under Berne & Universal Copyright Conventions.