Factor Software - Shareware games for the Mac OS™
MacPipes FAQ
Dear MacPipes user,
the page you are about to read is intended to be the primary source of information about MacPipes and its purpose is to answer to common questions about the game (FAQ stays for “Frequently Asked Questions”). If you have any questions about MacPipes, please check if it's not already answered in this FAQ or in the Read Me file enclosed in the game package before contacting me. Thank you.
Contents
This FAQ page currently answers the following questions:
- How many built-in levels are there in MacPipes?
- How's the scoring in MacPipes?
- What's the meaning of all those “?” marks?
- Why doesn't the game take advantage of large monitors?
- How can I turn off the MacPipes demo?
- I'd like to be able to continue placing pipe parts on the grid while the water is flowing in the pipeline. Can you add this feature?
- How can I connect or use those cross-shaped pipes with a hole in the middle?
- I cannot pass level 18, although I'm sure I have connected the required number of pipe segments. What I'm supposed to do?
- Pipe segments with an arrow in them: how do they work exactly?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q - How many built-in levels are there in MacPipes?
A - There are 32 “different” levels (96 counting the
three difficulty settings), but the game in fact never ends; starting from
level 33 the difficulty (represented by the increased number of obstacles
and the reduced completion time) increases constantly reaching a maximum
at level 38; from that point on, you will play with the same level layout.
Q - How's the scoring in MacPipes?
A - You start earning points when the water start flowing in the pipeline.
The “start” and the “end” pipe segments give you 50 points.
The
other pipes give you (100 + 10 * P) points, where P is the pipeline length,
i.e. the number of pipe segments already filled with water, including the
one for which the score is being computed.
In other words, if the
water filled 5 pipe segments, the 6th give you (100 + 10 * 6 = 160) points.
The pipes marked with “+5000” give you 5,000 points (easy enough).
Bonuses (those marked with a “?”) can give you a score bonus between
500 and 5,000 points.
Unused pipe segments subtract 100 points each.
When you complete a level, the remaining time is converted in bonus
points (100 points for each second left).
If you connect more pipes
than the minimum required for passing a level, you are then rewarded with
an extra 500 points for each additional pipe.
Loops (those made using
the “cross” shaped pipe segments) are worth 1,000 points each.
Finally,
you get a level bonus of (1,000 * N) points, where N is the number of the
level you passed.
The maximum score achievable in MacPipes is 9,999,999.
Q - What's the meaning of all those “?” marks?
A - They are bonuses. Just bomb them to reveal their
content (but be careful, you may also be disappointed ;-).
Q - Why doesn't the game take advantage of large monitors?
A - Well, I know it can be quite ridiculous to see a stamp-like game
window lost in the middle of a 19" monitor screen but you always have the
option to play the game in full screen mode (640x480).
There is in
fact a historical reason that somehow justifies the reduced game window.
MacPipes was originally designed on a Macintosh SE in times when color
Mac owners were still an elite. When adding color graphics I left the window
size untouched.
Another reason is that enlarging the playing grid
would have altered the basic gameplay.
Q - How can I turn off the MacPipes demo?
A - The demo starts automatically every time the scrolling message ends,
but it can be stopped by clicking the mouse. In addition, it can be launched
at any time by selecting “Start Demo” (command-D) from the Game menu.
In the current release of MacPipes there is no option for preventing
the demo to start.
Q - I'd like to be able to continue placing pipe parts
on the grid while the water is flowing in the pipeline. Can you add this
feature?
A - No. I know that's how the game Pipe Dream works but, you know, that's
just another game.
In fact, MacPipes was not inspired by the Lucas
game. The idea behind it is much older. See the read me file for the whole
story.
In general, no changes to the basic gameplay are in my plans.
Q - How can I connect or use those cross-shaped pipes
with a hole in the middle?
A - They are just obstacles. They stop the water flow
if connected to your pipeline. Avoid them or destroy them with bombs.
Q - I cannot pass level 18, although I'm sure I have
connected the required number of pipe segments. What I'm supposed to do?
A - Level 18 introduces the “end” pipe segment. It
is placed in a random position at the start of the level. You must connect
your pipeline to this segment, if present, in order to pass the level.
Q - Pipe segments with an arrow in them: how do they
work exactly?
A - Pipe segments marked with an arrow start appearing
on level 8. They are “one-way” pipes, i.e., the water can flow through them
only in the direction pointed by the arrow. You should connect to the pipeline
only those segments whose arrow points towards the normal direction of the
water flow. When the flow encounters a wrongly placed “one-way” segment,
it just stops as if there is no pipe at all in that place.
Thank you for reading this FAQ.
If you have further questions
that you'd like to see answered here, please contact me.
Content © 1998-2008 Federico
Filipponi
Mac and the Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered
in the U.S. and other countries.
The Made on a Mac Badge is a trademark
of Apple Computer, Inc., used with permission.
All other trademarks
are the property of their respective owners.
Last revised: Sun 23 Mar 2008 04:35:21 PM CET
