robots(6) - NetBSD Manual Pages

ROBOTS(6)                     NetBSD Games Manual                    ROBOTS(6)


NAME

     robots -- fight off villainous robots


SYNOPSIS

     robots [-Aajnrst] [maximum] [scorefile]


DESCRIPTION

     robots pits you against evil robots, who are trying to kill you (which is
     why they are evil).  Fortunately for you, even though they are evil, they
     are not very bright and have a habit of bumping into each other, thus
     destroying themselves.  In order to survive, you must get them to kill
     each other off, since you have no offensive weaponry.

     Since you are stuck without offensive weaponry, you are endowed with one
     piece of defensive weaponry: a teleportation device.  When two robots run
     into each other or a junk pile, they die.  If a robot runs into you, you
     die.  When a robot dies, you get 10 points, and when all the robots die,
     you start on the next field.  This keeps up until they finally get you.

     Robots are represented on the screen by a `+', the junk heaps from their
     collisions by a `*', and you (the good guy) by a `@'.

     The commands are:
     h       move one square left
     l       move one square right
     k       move one square up
     j       move one square down
     y       move one square up and left
     u       move one square up and right
     b       move one square down and left
     n       move one square down and right
     .       (also space) do nothing for one turn
     HJKLBNYU
             run as far as possible in the given direction
     >       do nothing for as long as possible
     t       teleport to a random location
     w       wait until you die or they all do
     q       quit
     ^L      redraw the screen

     All commands can be preceded by a count.

     If you use the `w' command and survive to the next level, you will get a
     bonus of 10% for each robot which died after you decided to wait.  If you
     die, however, you get nothing.  For all other commands, the program will
     save you from typos by stopping short of being eaten.  However, with `w'
     you take the risk of dying by miscalculation.

     Only five scores are allowed per user on the score file.  If you make it
     into the score file, you will be shown the list at the end of the game.
     If an alternative score file is named on the command line, that file will
     be used instead of the standard file for scores.  The score file must be
     created empty beforehand, e.g. with touch(1).  If the argument maximum,
     which must be a number, is provided when a score file is first used, the
     value given will be used as the maximum number of scores to keep per user
     instead of the default five.  This value is a property of the score file
     and cannot be changed later.

     The options are

     -A      Auto-bot mode.  Lets the game play itself.

     -a      Advance into the higher levels directly, skipping the lower, eas-
             ier levels.

     -j      Jump, i.e., when you run, don't show any intermediate positions;
             only show things at the end.  This is useful on slow terminals.

     -n      Increase the number of games played by one; that is, automati-
             cally choose to play again one time per usage of this option.

     -r      Play in real time; that is, if you do nothing for a few seconds
             the game will assume you meant to do nothing and move the robots.

     -s      Don't play, just show the score file.

     -t      Teleport automatically when you have no other option.  This is a
             little disconcerting until you get used to it, and then it is
             very nice.


FILES

     /var/games/robots_roll  The score file.


AUTHORS

     Ken Arnold
     Christos Zoulas (autobot mode)


BUGS

     Bugs?  You crazy, man?!?

NetBSD 10.99                    August 4, 2009                    NetBSD 10.99