Aquatomic 1.0.0
	Aquatomic is a game where the objective is to build molecules by moving atoms. Requires: Mac OS X 10.2

Introduction

Aquatomic is a logic game. The goal is to arrange atoms into structures on a game board in order to advance to the next level. It is similar to the Sokoban game, but the player isn't represented by a piece in the game.

This version includes 82 different levels (each featuring a different, named, chemical compound).

Aquatomic is a port of the K Desktop Environment (Linux) game KAtomic, by Andreas Wuest, Stephan Kulow, Cristian Tibirna and other contributors. It is, like the original, licensed under the GNU General Public License.

Version changes (detailed)

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Initial release. Changes compared to the original game include a native Aqua interface, the ability to share scores online and new graphics.

Detailed information

Atoms can be moved in four directions, and will continue to move until they hit an obstacle, such as a wall or another atom. Ideally, the molecule should be put together using as few atom moves as possible.

Click on the atom that you want to move. You will see a number of arrows beneath the atom. Click on the arrow to move the atom in the given direction. Atoms always move until they hit a wall or another atom.

The level completed when all connectors on the side of the atoms match the neighbour atom and the right molecule is built.

  

Select the level using the slider at the top of the window, or click the Scores and Levels button and browse the levels there. To display the hall of fame for a level single-click it. To go to a level, double-click it. The state of the level you left will remain the same if you choose to return to it - although not after you quit the program.

Sharing Your Hall of Fame

To allow you to compare your Aquatomic efforts with others, I have created an online hall of fame. You can submit your own scores to that database. It is done automatically from within the application - just select Share Hall of Fame from the Game menu and follow the instructions.

View the Hall of Fame

The only information that is sent over the Internet is the following:

• Up to five scores per level:
  • Name
  • Score
  • Date and Time
  • Move data to allow the web server to verify that the solution is valid

The whole high score data file is sent. /Users/Shared/.Aquatomic High Scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is the Aquatomic window brushed metal?

A: Apple's guidelines for a human interface, dictates that only "programs in the digital hub" should have the metal interface. However, Apple does not seem to follow those rules themselves (see for example Safari). Aquatomic looks better in brushed metal, because it puts the play field forward better.

If you don't like it, simply change it with Interface Builder (included with Apple's developer tools).

Q: How faithful is the port to the original KAtomic?

KAtomic was made for the Qt widget set. Aquatomic is made for Aqua. While I tried to keep as big chunks as possible the same in the port as in the original, I had to change quite a lot to make it work in Cocoa. For example, the coordinate system in Cocoa is flipped vertically compared to Qt's. Aquatomic is not a very faithful port, as it also includes new features that are not in the original. Incorporating future updates of KAtomic will take some, though not a lot, of work.

Q: Is Aquatomic localizable?

A: Yes, Aquatomic is localizable, currently with the exception of molecule names. The fact that there is no Localizable.strings file, is that all items that require localization are available in the nib files and other resource files. Duplicate the English.lproj folder and translate its contents. Complete translations may be submittet do the developer of this program ([email protected]).

Q: Why is the graphics so slow?

A: If you ever use the XWindow (Qt) version of KAtomic, either on Linux, or in X11 on Mac OS X, you will notice that the graphics redraw speed is blazingly fast. Scrolling through all of the levels takes almost no time at all. Aquatomic is not that fast for a few different reasons; Quartz is not as fast, but is a lot better. It provides automatic double buffering, transparency, and scales in real time. A lot more info is updated when the level is changed. The drawer showing the current level, for example. Also, drawing could not as easily be optimized in Aquatomic as it could in KAtomic. Any modifications that enhance the program's performance are highly appreciated!

Q: Does the original game run in Mac OS X?

A: Yes, it does. You can install an X11 server (for example from Apple) and KDE on your machine and play the original KAtomic. Fink can be very helpful during the installation, as it has a patched version of KAtomic in its tree.

Q: What is the optimal number of moves that a particular level can be done in?

A: This is a very interresting question. It has been shown that it is almost impossible to computationally find optimal solutions for some levels. Here is an interresting scientific report on the issue: http ://www-fs.informatik.uni-tuebingen.de/~hueffner/ . Fascinating! You may check out the global hall of fame if you want to compare yourself to other human players :-).

Q: How do I reset the Hall of Fame?

A: You need to get rid of the following file (it is invisible, so you will either need to use the Terminal, or a third party tool): Harddrive -> Users -> Shared -> .Aquatomic High Scores (note the leading '.')

Q: Do all users share the same Hall of Fame?

A: Yes. It is even possible for two players to play at the same time. Their hall of fames will be consolidated when the programs quit.