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HP-48 Cheerio Documentation


Table of Contents

General Issues
Overview
Installation
Playing the Game
Cheerio Bug
Compatibility Issues
About the Author
Correspondence


General Issues

The Cheerio directory is freeware. It is not to be bought or sold. The programs, directory, and documentation may be copied freely provided that the programs, directory, and/or documentation are not altered in any way and that they are distributed as you received them (that is to say, in a single compressed file containing the programs, directory, and documentation, and any other accompanying files). A service fee may be charged only for the distribution process. You may alter the programs for your personal use but you may not distribute any altered version without prior written permission from the copyright owners.

The above privileges do not involve transfer of intellectual property rights such as copyright ownership. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 2000 by Junichi Steven Sato. All rights reserved.

THE PROGRAMS, DIRECTORY, AND DOCUMENTATION ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SHOULD THE PROGRAMS, DIRECTORY, AND/OR DOCUMENTATION PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OF THESE PROGRAMS, DIRECTORY, AND/OR DOCUMENTATION BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAMS, DIRECTORY, AND/OR DOCUMENTATION, EVEN IF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

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Overview

Cheerio is a dice game in which the player tries to score as many points as he or she can using five dice. There are 11 different scoring combinations which are described below:

Ones: Scores one point for each one-spot die.
Twos: Scores two points for each two-spot die.
Threes: Scores three points for each three-spot die.
Fours: Scores four points for each four-spot die.
Fives: Scores five points for each five-spot die.
Six: Scores six points for each six-spot die.
Little straight: A show of 1-2-3-4-5 scores 20 points.
Big straight: A show of 2-3-4-5-6 scores 25 points.
Full house: Three of a kind plus two of a kind scores the total spot value of the dice.
Big hand: Scores the total spot value of the dice.
Cheerio: Five of a kind scores 50 points.

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Installation

Download either the DICE1 or DICE2 directory to the HP-48 in binary format. The difference between these two directories is that DICE2 is in system RPL format and is smaller and slightly faster. Use DICE2 only if you are short on memory, and if you do, be extremely careful not to edit the programs and variables in the directory, for this may cause memory loss. The checksum for the directories will change every time Cheerio is played, but the size of the directories should not. The DICE1 directory should be 5538 bytes; the DICE2 directory should be 4588 bytes. Do not use the directory if the figure does not match.

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Playing the Game

Cheerio can be started by evaluating 'CHEERIO'. 'DICEGR' and 'TOPS' are variables used by CHEERIO. Do not alter these variables. CHEERIO affects PICT but not 'PPAR'.

The opening screen displays the top 5 scores as well as the score from the most recent game. QUIT exits the program; CLEAR resets the top 5 scores as well as the most recent game score to 0; PLAY allows you to play the game.

The user should be able to navigate through the program using only the menu keys. QUIT allows you to end the program anywhere without leaving garbage on the stack. OFF turns the calculator off anytime during the game. If you turn the calculator off like this, the game resumes when you turn the calculator back on.

The five dice are displayed at the left of the screen. After the initial roll, the user can STAY and declare a scoring combination or roll any or all the dice once more to improve his or her score. To roll a second time, use PICK and NEXT to choose the dice to be rolled again (the dice to be rolled again are marked with a check mark) and press ROLL.

When the program asks you to choose a scoring option, use NEXT to move the pointer to the combination you want and press ADD. Note that the possible points for each combination appears near the top.

Once a combination has been chosen, the user cannot choose that combination again during the same game. Sometimes, the user has no choice but to score a 0 under a remaining combination. When all the combinations are used, the game ends.

The most points possible is 258 and the least is 5. Generally, if you can get more than 150 points, you are an expert (a "lucky person" may describe it more accurately).

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Cheerio Bug

There is a bug in the program which, depending on how one looks at it, may add excitement to the game. The chances of getting a one or a six are half that of getting a two, three, four or five. There are no plans to correct this bug in the near future.

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Compatibility Issues

Because the Cheerio directory was developed for and only tested on the HP-48SX, compatibility issues may arise if you are trying to use the directory on anything other than the HP-48S series (the newer HP-48G series, for example). It is also possible that a library or add-on ROM card may cause conflicts with the directory.

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About the Author

Junichi Steven Sato holds a Bachelor of Music Degree with Honors in Piano Performance from DePaul University and a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance with a Cognate in Composition from Indiana University. Junichi has been the recipient of numerous musical awards and honors and is actively involved as a pianist, teacher, composer, arranger, and publisher.

Junichi's hobbies include computer and calculator programming. Some of his programs for the Hewlett-Packard HP-48S series are well-known and are widely distributed on the internet. The latest releases of these programs can be found at http://neecher.net/hp48/.

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Correspondence

Due to time limitations, not all submissions will be answered, but please feel free to submit correspondence regarding the Cheerio directory by sending an e-mail to Junichi Steven Sato at junichi@neecher.net.

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