A Readme for
Lookoutnow Mancala (registered version), version 3.7
(August 23, 2002)

THANKS
Many thanks for registering the game!! I think the registered version with its extra stones looks fantastic. If you'd like to be informed by email about changes and updates, please let me know; otherwise, updates will be mentioned at the URLs given in the Notes section.

HISTORY
July 27, 2008
I added two new options: (1) faster stone speed and (2) fantasy mancala. The fantasy is that at the outset of a game the 24 stones (of each side) are randomly distributed to the cups; the end result could give either you or the computer a significant advantage.

August 23, 2002
Finished!


SHAREWARE

If you play the game beyond 30 days (or find yourself enjoying it immeasurably), please register the game ($5). The About box has ordering information. Or send the $5 by

(1) Paypal, via the link at http://www.lookoutnow.com/game/man_reg.htm
(2) Sending some form of money to Chet Gottfried, 619 Cricklewood Dr., State College, PA 16803

Use either method, and I'll email you a URL and password for downloading the registered version.

Otherwise, please just delete the game (lon_mancala.exe), this readme, and the zip, and your computer will be completely free of it.


NOTES

The zip file will expand to its own directory, cg_game, with this readme and the Flash *.exe file (lon_mancala.exe).

The most up-to-date version of the shareware is at http://www.lookoutnow.com/game/man_down.htm and the general notes are at http://www.lookoutnow.com/game/rules.htm

(Why "rules.htm"? Well, back in 1997, having the rules seemed enough. By the by the page became my online source for notes about the game.)

The shareware and online versions of my mancala sampler have the same logic, but the shareware version includes text boxes covering the rules and a very brief history of the game. The registered version includes an extra option ("learning": decide whether to have totals shown for individual boxes) and a stone selection from 26 types (rather than the shareware's 13 types).

My preferred game style is to allow the person who goes out first to receive the remaining stones: it seems to me to be a more dynamic game. However, enough people prefer it otherwise that it's the player's option to decide. Mancala has enough rule variants to allow this.

The options in the game are persistent: What you choose is what you'll automatically have during any one session with the game.

The stones appear by random; if you don't like a color selection of the present game, click Play again, and you'll have a different arrangement of stones.

For the opening distribution, the stones are somewhat in "proper" places. After that I let the stones go to a position at random within its proper cup. Consequently, one stone can obscure another, especially in a cup having many stones. That's the nature of the game. In real life, it's also difficult to count stones in a full cup.

About those text boxes: Clicking on the same button which opens a box also closes the box.

The game has been written in Flash 5 (and tested successfully in MX too). The game does not create new files; it does not write anything to anyone anywhere. It is computer-safe.


HINTS

The player who goes first has a distinct advantage. If you feel that the computer player George is too easy, let him go first. The first two IQ levels should be easy wins. The third level becomes more interesting, and George has an okay chance at his best level--when he goes first.

Another alternative is to play against yourself (in the two-player option). It's easy going through a number of variations that way to develop your own opening (or closing) strategy.

 
EXPERIENCES

I wrote my first mancala in javascript back in 1997. The first Flash version was written early in 2002, but it mirrored the javascript more than anything else. Also, the first Flash version just wasn't as pretty as the javascript one.

The third (and present) version goes its own way with many new features. The primary one was in my deciding to animate the 48 stones. Also, I'm happy with my method of stone design, so that the stones are brightly colored and easy to track.

Thanks for trying out the game--and good luck!

--Chet Gottfried

cg@lookoutnow.com

