Chinese Checkers (<1Mb)
Here’s an old favourite of mine Chinese Checkers. I used to have a full version copy of this game many years ago. I don’t know where it went, but I suspect I got rid of it when I threw out all my old DOS games and older stuff from the Amiga and a BBC (tapes and floppies). The great thing about this game which was released in the days of DOS and Win 3.1 it will play on my XP system but has no sound (which if you remember early 90’s sounds, is probably a blessing, lol. It doesn’t play on Win 7 64 bit systems but will on 32 bit systems.
Game play:
You start with the player selection screen. Choose which colour pegs you want to play with, and then decide on your opponents. The game needs between 2 and 5 players, and you can choose to play against the computer or play against friends, though you all have to use the same computer.
Options are shown down the right (Help, Hint, New, Load, Save, Undo, Quit), and you can either click on these buttons or press the relevant Function Key. 'Hint' shows you a possible move, and 'Undo' will undo your last move. The bottom right shows the peg color that is currently playing.
Each player/Computer AI takes their turn. Choose which coloured ball you would like to move and then click on it (a small 'x' appears on that ball). You can move the ball to an empty adjacent space by clicking on that empty space, or you can jump over other balls (like leapfrog) that are in your way. It doesn't matter if these balls are a different colour to yours. If you are skillful enough (or lucky), you can make several leaps in one shot.
Graphics:
The graphics are dated by todays standards but are not that old that you'd find them difficult to play with. The boards look quite stylized with Chinese art and is very playable. Each peg is animated, and moves when it is their turn.
Sounds and Music:
If you play via DOSBox you'll be able to hear the games music which is typical early 90's sounds that are lacking in depth, but are better than the earlier beeps and pops that you used to get with most computer games way back in the dark ages of computer gaming.
The sound effects are okay. You can hear the balls 'clink' into place as you move them. If you accidentally click in the wrong place, you will hear some Chinese music, and your host will tell you what you have done wrong (assuming you use DOSBox instead of directly through Win XP)
Compatibility:
The game works fine under DosBox or VDM Sound. It also works under Windows XP and all previous Windows versions, but with no sound.
Installation:
The game comes as a self-extracting file. Double-click to open, and use the password ****** (capital * is important) when prompted. I’ve deleted the password which you will find by following the links provided in the download section. You can select where to install the game via the games self extractor.
Download
You can download Chinese Checkers via Imagesofts (the developer) web site HERE, or from Reloaded (it’s the same file) HERE. There are two more free games that can be downloaded from Imagesofts site called Wari (an African game that a friend from the Ivory Coast showed me many years ago) and Redhooks Revenge. (A game that combines the classic novel Treasure Island with the best elements of Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit). I'll post these later this week, but feel free to download them now. :)
