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Posted By

orac81
on 2024-11-02
11:26:45

Re: CONNEX (1982) (PCW)

Thanks for adding it to the db luca.

Expanding a bit on what the basic code does, the routine at line 500 scans 4 direction pairs (510 for d=0 to 3) counting the number in a row playing either side that square would make (n=1..4) and how many "open" ends there are (o=0,1,2) to create a look up into array e(), (read from data in 9600) which is added to eval (e). So 4 in a line scores 1000, 3 in a line with open ends 16, blocking an opponent 4line is 120, etc. So for the data in 9600:


n:  0  1  2  (#open ends)
---------------
1:  0  2  3
2:  0  4  6
3:  1 12 16
4: 1000..

as i said before, this is quite effective. I will post a C version which is stronger, at the moment i need to work out how to get VBCc to target C16..

Posted By

Luca
on 2024-10-31
03:49:11

Re: CONNEX (1982) (PCW)

Title:	Connex
Category:	Game/Logic
Release Date:	2024-10-30
Language:	English
Size:	16K
Machine:	PAL & NTSC
Code Type:	AustroSpeed
Distribution:	Freeware

Posted By

orac81
on 2024-10-30
19:55:41

CONNEX (1982) (PCW)

CONNEX is a version of the well known "4-in-a-line" game (Connect-4), for any Commodore computer (C64, C16, PET, VIC, etc).

download with source:
https://github.com/orac81/miniapples/raw/refs/heads/main/connex8.zip

(C16, 10 Column wide board)

Contents of zip file:


 "connex8bas.prg"       - Basic source version to run on any Commodore.
     NOTE: load with ",8" not ",8,1" (its located at $0401 so PETs can load.)
 "connex8c64.prg"       - Compiled c64 version.
 "connex8c16.prg"       - Compiled c16/+4 version.
 "connex8vic8k.prg"     - Compiled Vic20 8k+ version.
 "connex-zen-vic5k.prg" - Original Basic Vic20 1982 version. (named ZEN)
 "connexg7ansi.txt"     - Generic portable ANSI/MS BASIC text version.
    (Should run on any old computer - BBC, Apple, PC, etc)

The game is quite simple. Two players (White and Black) takes turns to drop a piece down a column on a 7x6 board. The first player that makes 4 in a line horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins.

When you first run CONNEX, you can type "X" to change the board width (from 4 to 10 columns), or "C" to change screen colour.
Then select "1" to play against the computer, or "2" to play another human.

During play, use these keys:

1-9 - Play the column you want. (0 for column 10)
G - Make the computer take your go.
A - Make the computer auto-play.
I - Change the IQ play level.
Q - Quit game.

CONNEX started life as a PET program in 1980, then was ported to the VIC20 in 1982, and published.

The "connex-zen-vic5k.prg" VIC20 version of CONNEX was first published in Personal Computer World Magazine, Jan 1983.
PCW Magazines

This original VIC version was widely copied to software libraries around the world, and was re-published (unknown to me!) by Artic software, and many others. They even made cassette inlay art for it! There are also Plus-4 versions published in 1986, ie:
Connect

CONNEX only uses a simple 1 ply search, but the evaluation is surprisingly effective. It assigns an evaluation in each direction based on how many pieces in a row a move makes (or blocks), and whether the ends are "open".
The IQ=2 mode then subtracts the evaluation (divided by 4) for the square above the played piece, since playing a position enables access to that square for your opponent. This simple idea is suprisingly effective for a BASIC program that cannot really otherwise do deep searches. The ec() array adds a center bias - central moves are best.
I resisted the idea to add hires GFX, and left it as a "PETSCII" program.
(Note that the older versions do not have all the commands listed above.)

I have a more modern C version of CONNEX which will do deep searches on PCs, to be ported/ released later.

Anyway I hope someone enjoys this little bit of BASIC history!

=============================================
The source code is released as free software under the GNU GPL3 licence, see GNU website: www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html