Bangkok - An unusual dice game Ralph Nolte Frankfurt, Germany CompuServe 100143,3576 (Feel free to email comments) 1. What is it? Bangkok is a dice game played a lot in the pubs in Germany and known under a wide variety of different names. With this Psion 3a program the user can play against the computer, making it more interesting and providing a sort of solitaire. 2. What's unusual about Bangkok? One thing that is unusual about the game is that a LOSER is chosen, not a winner. The loser then generally buys a round of beer. 3. What is in the BANGKOK.ZIP file? BANGKOK.ZIP contains: - BANGKOK.TXT This text file - BANGKOK.OPA The application program - BANGKOK.OPL The application program source code (sorry for the sometimes inadequate program structure) - BANGKOK.PIC The pointing finger graphic - DICE.WVE, DIE.WVE, Sound files used when rolling dice WOODY.WVE Sound file used at end of game 4. How do I install BANGKOK? Simply copy The file(s) to ----------- -- BANGKOK.OPA Any \APP\ subdirectory BANGKOK.PIC \OPD\ subdirectory on standard disk (normally m:) DICE.WVE,DIE.WVE, Any \WVE\ subdirectory WOODY.WVE Then install BANGKOK.OPA via Psion/I (or the menu command "Application/Install") as desired in the system screen. 5. How do I play Bangkok? Simple. Six dice are used. The object of each player round is to reach or exceed thirty (30) points with the six dice. So you roll the six dice and can pick out as many as you like (but at least one, the highest, of course) and place them on the side in the scoring area. Then you roll again and repeat. This goes on until all 6 dice are "on the side." Now you add uo the total, and: - If you have less than 30 points, you receive the difference added to your name; for example, if the total is 28, you receive 2 points. If the total is 22, you receive 8 points (remember, points are BAD..we're finding a LOSER, not a winner!). - If you have exactly 30 points, nothing happens. - If you exceed 30 points, you get to play a "Bonus" round in which the resulting score is ADDED to ALL your opponents (described below). The Bonus: Assume you have reached a total of 33. You 'remember' the value 3 by which you exceeded 30 (it's shown as an extra die on the S3a screen to the left of the scoring area) and roll again. Any dice which show a 3 are again moved to the side and you roll again. This is repeated until you either run out of dice or until you roll and no dice contain a 3. The total of the dice on the side, including the extra die, are then added to the scores of ALL your opponents. REMEMBER: The object is to keep your score LOW. This is done, however, by reaching or exceeding 30 in each round. The first player to reach the end score (usually 51), LOSES and has to pay for a round of beer. 31 is a good end score for a short game. 6. How do I play Bangkok on the Psion S3a? Start the program. In the first dialog box, define the number of players (up to 5), whether or not the S3a is to play too (if the S3a plays, it is always last and has the name "S3a"), whether or not you want to use sound, and what End Score is to define the end of the game. If you use sound but turn the Psion sound off in the system menu, the game will play rather hectically because the .WAV files are not played, leaving out pauses. You can delete or rename the .WVE files to save space if (when) you get tired of hearing the sound. In the second dialog box you enter the names of the players and press Enter. The screen is then set up and the dice are rolled for the first player. On the right you see the scoring area, where the dice are moved to. The current acccumulated score is shown in the black box at the bottom of the scoring area. The name of the player currently playing is show in bold italics, while the other players' names are shown in normal print. Now you use the left-arrow, right-arrow, space (to re-roll the dice) and Enter (to move a die to the scoring area) keys to play. You must pick at least one die after rolling; if no 6s are shown, pick the highest and roll again. If 6s are shown, take them all (one after another via arrow keys and Enter) and then re-roll. When only one or two dice remain, you will have to risk other choices. When you move the last die to the scoring area, the program examines the score and either: - Adds the difference to 30 to your score, if you are below or equal to thirty, or - Plays the bonus for you with the value you exceeded 30 by. At the end of the bonus round, your bonus value will be added to the scores of all other players. The bonus is played automatically by the program, as well as is the entire playing operation when it is the S3a's turn. When the S3a loses, he doesn't pay for the beer, so someone else will have to cover for him. Have Fun. The program is Freeware and intended to be enjoyed by all. PS Just realised there is a bug in the program when Esc is pressed to abort during playing..it asks about twenty times. Will try to fix as soon as possible.