"Tux, of Math Command"
An educational math tutorial game starring Tux, the Linux Penguin
-----------------------------------------------------------------
September 2, 2001
Objective
---------
In "Tux, of Math Command," you play the part of Commander Tux, as he
defends his cities from an attack of math equations.
Comets are crashing towards your cities, and you must destroy
them by solving their equations.
Installation
------------
For instructions on installing the game on your system,
please read the "INSTALL.txt" file.
Running The Program
-------------------
Linux/Unix
----------
Simply type the command "tuxmath" at a command prompt (eg, in an xterm).
Depending on your graphical interface or window manager, you can
probably also create a clickable icon which will launch the game.
See your interface's documentation or help screens for details.
Windows
-------
[ UNDER CONSTRUCTION ] Just double-click the "tuxmath.exe" icon. ???
To be prompted for command line options (see below), invoke the game
from the "Run" dialog, which you can get by selecting the "Run Program"
item from Windows' "Start" menu. [ IS THIS CORRECT? ]
MacOS
-----
[ UNDER CONSTRUCTION ] Just double-click the "tuxmath" icon. ???
To be prompted for command line options (see below), hold the [OPTION] key
as you double-click the icon.
Command Line Options
--------------------
The following command-line options can be sent to the program.
--fullscreen - Run the game in full screen, instead of in a window,
-f if possible.
--nosound - Do not play any sounds or music.
-s
--quiet
-q
--nobackground - Do not display photographic backgrounds in game.
-b (Useful on slower systems.)
--keypad - Display an on-screen numeric keypad. (Useful
-k for touch screens or in place of a physical keyboard.)
--operator OP - Add an operator to the game (will cause the program
-o OP to ignore saved option screen settings). You can
use this switch multiple times to run the game
with multiple operators.
Valid values for "OP" are:
add
subtract
multiply
divide
--demo - Demo mode. The game will cycle back and forth
-d between the title and the game, and it will
auto-play the game. The only user interaction
can be for quitting or pausing.
These command-line options display useful information, but the program
does not attempt to start up in interactive mode.
--help - Display a short help message, explaining how to
-h play the game.
--usage - Display the available command-line options.
-u
--version - Display the version of "tuxmath" you're running.
-v
--copyright - Display copyright information
-c
Program Navigation
------------------
Title Screen
------------
On this screen, you can choose to play the game, change the gameplay
options, view the credits, or quit.
Use the [UP] and [DOWN] arrow keys to select what you wish to do,
and then press [ENTER / RETURN]. Or, use the mouse to click the
menu item.
Pressing [ESCAPE] will quit the program.
Options Screen
--------------
[ UNDER CONSTRUCTION ]
Credits Screen
--------------
This screen displays the credits. You can press [ESCAPE] to return
to the title screen.
How To Play
-----------
Destroying Comets
-----------------
As the comets fall towards your cities, you must solve their equations.
To destroy it:
--------------
First, figure out the answer to the equation.
For example, "3 x 4" would be "12"
Second, type in the answer. As you type numbers on the keyboard, they
will appear in the "LED"-style display at the top center of the screen.
Finally, press [ENTER / RETURN].
The comet that has the number you entered as its answer will
be shot down by Tux the penguin.
Note: Sometimes more than one comet will have the same answer.
In this case, the comet closest to your cities will be
destroyed first. [Perhaps all should be destroyed?]
Note: After typing [ENTER / RETURN], the "LED"-style display will
automatically reset to "000" for you, so you can answer the
next equation!
Correcting Your Answer
----------------------
If you made a mistake as you typed in your answer, you can press
[BACKSPACE / DELETE] and the "LED"-style display at the top center
of the screen will reset to "000".
Using the On-Screen Keypad
--------------------------
If you launched the program with the "--keypad" (or "-k") option,
the game screen will also have an 11-key numeric keypad on the
center of the screen. (It has a similar layout to most keyboard
number pads and calculators.)
Using the mouse pointer to click on the on-screen buttons acts
just like typing numbers on the keyboard.
This feature could be useful for computers with touchscreens,
or for players who cannot use a keyboard.
Losing A City
-------------
If a comet crashes into one of your cities before you had the
chance to answer its equation, the city's shields will be
destroyed. If the city is hit by another comet, it will be
completely destroyed.
Once you lose all of your cities, the game will end.
Regaining Cities
----------------
[ Rules will go here ]
Advancing Waves
---------------
Setting Game Options
--------------------
[ UNDER CONSTRUCTION ]
Setting Administrative Options
------------------------------
"Tux, of Math Command" allows parents/teachers to adjust which parts
of the game options can be changed by the player.
For example, if you wish to, you can completely lock out all
"Division" questions. The students/children will still be able to enable
and disable "Addition," "Subtraction," and "Multiplication" as they
wish.
On the other hand, you may wish to lock-in the other three kinds
of equations, so that the players cannot disable any of them.
All games will always have addition, subtraction and multiplication
problems, but will never had division problems.
[ UNDER CONSTRUCTION ]
License
-------
"Tux, of Math Command" is Free Software, distributable under the
GNU General Public License (GPL). Please read COPYING.txt for more info.
Credits
-------
Designed by Sam "Criswell" Hart <criswell geekcomix.com>
Software by Bill Kendrick <billnewbreedsoftware.com>
Please see the game's "Credits" screen for a complete list of contributors.
Software Used
-------------
GNU C Compiler
http://www.gnu.org/
The GIMP
http://www.gimp.org/
rsynth
ftp://svr-ftp.eng.cam.ac.uk/pub/comp.speech/synthesis/
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