Alchemist Game's Help
Contents
Welcome to the enigmatic world of Alchemy - mysterious and luring science! The Alchemist will take you there choosing an easy and exciting way. You will get to his eerie laboratory full of various vials filled with multi-colored liquids. Try to match vials of the same color and find the only figure leading to success. The apt combination of medieval interface and easy-to-learn gameplay is to draw you to the computer screen for a long time, regardless of your age.
The distributable version has limit on number of items, while the registered one will let you master the game with no limits.
The full version of this exciting game is available for US$19.99 on Alchemist's site:
www.aha.com.ua/Alchemist/Shop/
The game concept is quite simple. The crystal sphere in the bottom right corner of the game window contains a set of colored vials. By clicking the sphere pick up the figure. Another click will deploy it over the game board. Rotating the figure, try to recreate the pattern, given on the right of the board with the vials of the same color. If you do it successfully, they will evaporate, reacting with the whole set of the same color nearby. You will get a few precious points, and clear the place for coming sets. By skillfully removing a large number of vials you increase your score progressively. No space for coming set means the end of the game.
Press the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON directly over the
board.
Press the MOUSE BUTTON holding down CTRL right
over the board.Use the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON to rotate the
figure clockwise and adjust it on the board. Press the MOUSE BUTTON holding CTRL down to
rotate the figure clockwise and adjust it on the board.The game is over, when there is no space for placing the next piece on the board.
To start a new game click the Bellows in the top left corner of your window.
You can save your games to continue playing later. To save the game,
call the LOAD/SAVE dialog by clicking the BOOK, input the name of your game in
the entry field, and click the SAVE button.
To load a previously saved game, click BOOK and call the LOAD/SAVE dialog. Using the ARROW
buttons choose your game on the list and click the LOAD bulb.
To exit the game click the red button in the top left corner.
All game's options and controls can be easily accessed using the visual symbols on the screen. You can recognize their function when they get highlighted as you move the pointer over an active symbol. Tips in the score windows help identify what each symbol stands for.
PATTERN shows the design you need to recreate with vials of the same color. By clicking this symbol you access the Options dialog box, and may configure the board.
From the CRYSTAL SPHERE you pick up the game piece.
BELLOWS starts a new game.
Use BOOK for saving and loading the previously saved games.
Click RED BUTTON in the top left corner to exit a game.
? BUTTON in the bottom right corner brings up Help.
Click the score figure right under the board to call Score Dialog.
Click SCROLL to submit your results for international competition. For details, please refer to Wordwide High Score Tables section of this Help.
By clicking WWW over SCROLL you can go to the game's site and see the Wordwide Highscore Tables. For details, please refer to Wordwide High Score Tables section of this Help.
VIOLIN enables/disables sound effects. The test-tube sets music volume and the bar below controls the music tracks.
COMPANY LOGO in the top right corner of the screen sends you to the developer's site.
Click the MINIMIZE BUTTON in the top right corner or ESC to collapse the window.
To vary your game you can choose between various layouts that differ in difficulty level and can make your game even more challenging. The Alchemist comes with pre-configured layouts. You may also enable and disable animation to change the way the vials disappear, and to make the figures float higher or lower over the board for your convenience while playing The Alchemist.
To select a new layout:
The left tap in the bottom of the dialog allows you to enable animation and make vials disappear in the fabulous way, or disable animation.
Use the right tap to control elevation of figure over the board.
To apply all changes, click OK bulb.
You can listen to background music while you are playing. The controls are positioned on the vertical bar near the violin and are similar to those on a CD player. The game comes with a set of medieval tunes, played sequentially. When one finishes, the next track is played. When the last one is over, the first track starts again. To turn the music off, simply press the "Stop" button on the panel. You can change music volume using the test-tube near the violin. The level of the liquid indicates current volume. By clicking above or below the level and holding down the mouse button you can increase or decrease the music volume.
The provided music files are in MIDI format and are located in the Music folder of the program’s root directory. If you want, you may add your own music *.MID files to this folder.
Sound effects can't be modified. Click the violin to turn sound effects on/off.
The game awards the player progressively. The more vials you eliminate at one click, the higher score you get. If the pattern you recreated coincides in number of vials with that on your right, you get only one score. If one more item is affected, you are handed four scores, if two - nine and so on.
The scores are calculated according to the formula: ((X-Y)+1)^2. X here is the number of items you actually eliminate. Y - the number required by the pattern.
To see the best scores of this layout, click on the figure of the scores right under the board:
The scores dialog appears.
The High Score Contest gives you the unique opportunity to compete with Alchemist's players worldwide. Right from the game you can submit your best results to The Alchemist's site and they will be automatically added to Top Lists.
Visit the Worldwide Top Lists at www.aha.com.ua/Alchemist/TopLists
Each layout has a separate Top List on the site.
Submitting your results is simple. Click the SCROLL at the bottom of the game window.
If you do it for the first time you will be asked to manually enter your preferances. The following dialog will appear:
You can switch to the MAPI and press OK. Then the results will be sent according to the
system preferences. If you chose MAPI you will need to click scroll holding
down Ctrl to call up the dialog next time if you need to change it. But
sometimes this way fails to work. Then you need to switch to SMTP and set the e-mail preferences manually. You need to set the preferances manually:Click OK to apply the changes. Click the Scroll to mail your scores.
In case it doesn't work there is one more possibility to submit your score.
Don't modify anything in the message, because your results won't be accepted if the message is altered somehow. The program sends your highest result for each layout it can find.
You can get to The Alchemist's site right from the game and and check your position among other players at Wordwide High Score Tables. Click WWW over the SCROLL in the bottom of the window, to launch your default Internet browser . If the program is unable to find your default browser, repeat this operation holding CTRL key down to bring up the dialog allowing you to set the path to your browser manually.
The unregistered version of The Alchemist is free for distribution and has limit on number of items in play. You can not exceed 70 gaming pieces in it. To have REAL fun, you will have to register the game. It will cost you only US$19.99
You can purchase the registration code on The Alchemist's site at www.aha.com.ua/Alchemist/Shop/. On this page, click BUY NOW and follow the instructions. You'll be directed to a secure order page. After your order is processed, you'll receive a registration code via e-mail.
There are two ways to register The Alchemist with your registration code:
1). If you have already installed The Alchemist, you can register from within the game. Run the game and click the large REGISTRATION inscription at the bottom of your game window. The regitration dialog will come up. Enter your registration key and click OK.
If registration was successful, the Registration button will disappear from its place, and the score limit will be removed.
2). If you first purchased the registration code and then downloaded the game, you can register during the installation. When installing the game, in the screen named User Information in the Serial field input your registration code instead of Demo. Complete the installation. Congratulations! Your game has already been registered.
The Alchemist is from the same team of developers who brought us the rather excellent Aha!Game (see www.aha.com.ua/home.html).
Computer Systems Odessa has been in the software business since 1993.
Corporate History includes working with third-party publishers as well as publishing our own titles. CS-Odessa focuses on software development for both local and international markets, development of customized software, web design solutions and other branches related to the worldwide growth of computer industry.
The headquarters office is located in ODESSA , Ukraine, situated in Eastern Europe on a beautiful coast of the Black Sea.
You can find more information about the existing products and in-progress developments on the company's web site at www.cs-odessa.com.ua
Comprehensive information about version updates, Worldwide Contest and other can be
found on Alchemist! site. Here we are:
We strive to meet the needs of our customers, so if you have any suggestions about the game design or other proposals related to the game, feel free to write to us at support-al@aha.com.ua
To order and purchase the game send your e-mail to order-al@aha.com.ua