ioccc/1992/kivinen

To build:

If your machine support the X Window System, Version 11:

    make alt

NOTE: this entry requires the X11/Xlib.h header file and the X11 library to compile. See the FAQ on "X11" if you need help.

We recommend that you try the alt version first so you can get a better idea of what this looked like back in 1992. See original code for the original should you wish to see what we mean.

Bugs and (Mis)features:

The current status of this entry is:

STATUS: known bug - please help us fix

For more detailed information see 1992/kivinen in bugs.html.

To use:

    ./kivinen.alt

    ./kivinen.alt a

    ./kivinen.alt a b

See also the author's remarks for other variations.

Try:

Also try changing the speed that the game moves. For instance if you wish to change the usleep(3) value to 30000 from 20000, try:

    make clobber SLEEP=30000 alt # make it slower

    make clobber SLEEP=10000 alt # make it faster

Then use the same syntax as above and described by the author.

Original code:

As noted above, the alt version is recommended because the code goes too fast in modern systems. If you wish to see the original you may do so with the original code.

Original build:

    make all

Original use:

Use kivinen as you would kivinen.alt.

Judges' remarks:

The type of entertainment depends on number of arguments you have with the program. :-)

NOTE: Some systems do not need (or have) -lsocket -lresolv -lnsl. Such systems should compile using -lX11.

NOTE: The original winning source kivinen.orig.c assumed that exit(3) returned a value which cause problems for some systems where exit(3) returns void. The file kivinen.c avoids this problem.

Author's remarks:

X Entertainment Kit

This kit includes three games from the early era of video games designed for the X Window System Version 11 Release 5. It should work with earlier releases, though.

Space Invaders

The classic game of shooting aliens from outer space, trying to exterminate all life on earth. The game ends when the first line of aliens touches the ground, or destroy you. To win the game you must destroy all the aliens. If you evade out from the screen you lose.

Controls

• Button 1 = Move left
• Button 2 = Fire missile
• Button 3 = Move right

Breakout

Break all the bricks with the ball, using your paddle. If you miss the ball the game ends.

Controls

• Button 1 = Move left
• Button 3 = Move right

Dropout

Catch all the falling pieces, before they reach the ground. If you miss it, game ends. To win you must catch all 30 pieces.

Controls

• Button 1 = Move left
• Button 3 = Move right

Starting a game

The type of the game is determined by the number of arguments given to the program.

• no arguments = Space Invaders
• 1 argument = Breakout
• 2 arguments = Dropout
• 3 arguments = double sized Breakout
• 4 arguments = triple sized Space Invaders
• 5 arguments = triple sized Breakout
• 6 arguments = double sized Dropout
• 7 arguments = quadruple sized Breakout

...and so on...

Scores

The exit value of the game is your score. The smaller the score the better it is. The exit value of zero means you have won.

Features

The game has a cheat system, which can be found after examining the event loop at the end of program. It is not a bug, it's a feature!