Readmefile for Matrem - An experiment in Artificial life.

Jan. 5 2000, Version 1.0

Author (The Highest Creator): Mathijs Romans,  m.w.j.romans@phys.uu.nl

This file contains information about how to use the program, more information about Matrem and how to join and create new species is available at 

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* www.phys.uu.nl/~romans *
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Project includes the files:

config.h     : Configuration and #defines for all cpp-files
config.cpp   : Implementation
creature.h   : Creature class, base class for all creatures
creature.cpp : Implementation
crpic.bmp    : Bitmap of pictures of the creatures
graphics.h   : Graphics and interface
graphics.cpp : Implementation
itempic.bmp  : Bitmap of pictures of landscapeitems
logo.bmp     : Matrem-logo
map.bmp      : Bitmap of the map at startup of the game
readme.txt   : This file
 
Specified for platforms:
A. DOS/Windows:
 matrem.exe  : Dos executable
 matrem.gpr  : Project file for djgpp's Rhide
 matrem.gdt  : Rhide file.

B. Linux:
 matrem      : Linux executable
 Makefile    : Compiles and links to a new executable

Plus a bunch of creatures, most likely the milkacow is one of them:
milkacow.h   : milkacow class
milkacow.cpp : Implementation
And the yourcreature files, for easy creating:
yourcreature.h   : yourcreature class
yourcreature.cpp : Implementation

Matrem can be compiled on Dos, Windows, Linux and Unix, with a 32-bit compiler and the allegro-library. More information is on the webpage.

Start the program
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Yes you can do it! Type 'matrem' and press enter, very good!
The program uses a randseed for each game. This means you can repeat a game exactly if you didn't do any interventions with God-mode. To run the game with for example randseed 12345 type:

matrem 12345

Keyboard shortcuts
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'm' brings up the menu
'q' do you want to quit?
'p' take possession of a creature
'arrow up' turn creature and run north
'arrow down' turn creature and run south
'arrow left' turn creature and run west
'arrow right' turn creature and run east
'a' attack with creature
't' take item with creature
'e' eat taken item with creature
'n' multiply, create new creature

In addition, creatures have a shortcut, for example 'c' for milkacow.

The Menus
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1. Matrem
It sais that you should read the readmefile

2. Speed
Adjust speed and controls:
 a) Fixed speed
If this is turned on, the game does not run at maximum speed, but at a more constant and adjustable speed.
 b) Smooth scroll
Makes scrolling smooth and neat, but not advisable for slow computers, like mine.
 c) Always draw screen
If this is turned off, the screen will only be updated every 32 turns, thus increasing speed.
 d) Set fixed speed
Adjust the speed in fixed speed mode.
 e) Super speed
Fastest mode, stops drawing the screen entirely.
 f) Pause
Duh

3. Windows
Regulates what is displayed.
 a) Populations
Turns a little window on the left of the screen on and off, with extra information about the quantities of the populations, general information, or more specific information about a creature.
 b) Binoculars 
Standard mode: See pictures of all the tiles, mouse scrolls screen.
 c) Binoculars x2
As Binoculars, but pictures are of double size.
 d) Satellite
See whole field, with one pixel per tile.
 e) Satellite x2
See whole field, with 2x2 pixels per tile.
 f) Graph
A graph of the quantities of populations in the past.

4. Find
Follow an animal around, the 'X' button escapes, 'P' means possession: now you can control the animal that you were following yourself with the keyboard, go get some food and watch out for the lions! Then there are the pictures of the animals, select one to follow an animal of that species, select the same species to get another creature of that species. Note: all species also have a keyboard-shortcut to follow them.

5. God 
Do some divine intervention, place a new item or creature on the world. You cannot put an item on the outside border of the field, and creatures have to be put on the landscape that they can live on, so no fish outside the water. 'X' escapes.

6. Info
General information about the particular game you're running.
 a) Randseed
Show the randseed number that defines the game, memorize (you may write it down) to start another game of exactly the same kind.
 b) Results
The score! This is an average over the populations of the last 1024 turns. How is everybody doing?

7. Resolution
Adjust the screen resolution in:
 a)  640x480
 b)  800x600
 c) 1024x768

8. Resume
Resume the game, get rid of the menu.

9. Quit
Do you want to annihilate this world?

Please check out the webpage. It has all the rules of the game, updates and general information about the hows and whys of the game. Plus it explains how to create new animals and get into competition! 

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disclaimer
I would like to point out that this is just a hobby-project
and that I cannot be held responsible for all the damage
that this program is going to do to your computer, you,
your free time and your world perspective.