SYNOPSIS

       /usr/games/xmball                                            [-geometry
       [{width}][x{height}][{+-}{xoff}[{+-}{yoff}]]]                 [-display
       [{host}]:[{vs}]]   [-[no]mono]   [-[no]{reverse|rv}]  [-{foreground|fg}
       {color}] [-{background|bg} {color}]  [-wedge{0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11}
       {color}] [-{border|bd} {color}] [-{font|fn} {fontname}] [-wedges {int}]
       [-rings {int}] [-[no]orient] [-[no]practice] [-base  {int}]  [-userName
       {string}] [-scoreFile {filename}] [-scores] [-version]


DESCRIPTION

       The original puzzle has 8 sectors on a sphere (longitudinal cuts), with
       each sector divided into 4  segments  (latitudinal  cuts).   There  are
       essentially  3 varieties: Geomaster 8 colors (beachball, default colors
       in this puzzle), Duomaster 2 colors (black and white beachball), and  a
       variety  of picture Masterballs.  For some reason, they say the Geomas-
       ter is easier than the Duomaster.   The  picture  Masterballs  are  the
       hardest  since  all  the pieces have a set solved position.  On the Duo
       and Geo Masterballs pieces could be swapped or in a different order and
       still be in a solved position.  Zurick University's Mathematics faculty
       has calculated  that  Masterball's  32  segments  can  be  arranged  in
       355,682,548,566,633,480,192,000,000  different  possible  combinations.
       Masterball was invented by Dr. Geza Gyovai Hungarian Engineer, manufac-
       tured by Whole Systems Design, Inc..


FEATURES

       Press  "mouse-left" button to move a sector.  Release "mouse-left" but-
       ton on another piece and the pieces will turn towards where  the  mouse
       button  is released.  Usually, a click and release on the same wedge is
       ambiguous and the puzzle will not turn.

       Click "mouse-center", or press "P" or "p" keys to toggle  the  practice
       mode (in practice mode the record should say "practice").  This is good
       for learning moves and experimenting.

       Click "mouse-right", or press "R" or "r" keys to randomize  the  puzzle
       (this must be done first to set a new record).

       Press "I" or "i" keys to increase the number of rings.

       Press "D" or "d" keys to decrease the number of rings.

       Press "O" or "o" keys to toggle the orient mode.  One has to orient the
       wedges in orient mode, besides getting all the wedges to  be  the  same
       color.  To do this one has to get the numbers to be on the same side of
       the ball in clockwise order.

       Press "2", "4", "6", "8", "0", or "=" keys (not the keypad 2, 4, 6,  8,
       0)  to  change to 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 wedges, respectively.  Note: if
       there were odd number of wedges, there would be no 180 degree turn  and
       therefore the puzzle would be inoperable.

       "S" or "s" keys reserved for the auto-solver (not implemented).
       Key pad is defined for Masterball as:
       N / *   Upper Upper Left, Counterclockwise, Upper Upper Right

       7 8 9   Upper Left, Up, Upper Right
         ^
       4<5>6   Left, Clockwise, Right
         v
       1 2 3   Lower Left, Down, Lower Right

        0  .   Lower Lower Left, Lower Lower Right

       Use the control key and the left mouse button, keypad, or arrow keys to
       move the whole Masterball.  This is not recorded as a turn.

       The title is in the following format (non-motif version):
              xmball.{2|4|6|8|10|12<wedges>}: <number of sectors per wedge>  @
              (<Number  of moves>/{<Record number of moves> <user name>|"NEVER
              noaccess"|"practice"}) - <Comment>
       If there is no record of the current puzzle, it displays  "NEVER  noac-
       cess".


OPTIONS

       -geometry {+|-}X{+|-}Y
               This  option sets the initial position of the masterball window
               (resource name "geometry").

       -display host:dpy
               This option specifies the X server to contact.

       -[no]mono
               This option allows you to display the masterball  window  on  a
               color screen as if it were monochrome (resource name "mono").

       -[no]{reverse|rv}
               This  option allows you to see the masterball window in reverse
               video (resource name "reverse").

       -{foreground|fg} color
               This option specifies the foreground of the  masterball  window
               (resource name "foreground").

       -{background|bg} color
               This  option  specifies the background of the masterball window
               (resource name "background").

       -wedge{0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11} <color>
               This option allows you to change the color of a wedge (resource
               name  "wedgeColorN"). In mono-mode, color is represented as the
               first letter of the color name. The wedges are  ordered  clock-
               wise.   If  you have two colors that begin with the same letter
               you should have one in uppercase and one in lowercase  to  dis-
               tinguish  them  in  mono-mode. You can change the colors of the

       -wedges <int>
               This option allows you to change the number of wedges (resource
               name "wedges").

       -rings <int>
               This  option allows you to change the number of rings (resource
               name "rings").

       -[no]orient
               This option allows you to access the orient mode (resource name
               "orient").

       -[no]practice
               This  option  allows  you to access the practice mode (resource
               name "practice").

       -base int
               This option specifies  the  base  used  (default  is  base  16)
               (resource  name "base").  When there are 12 wedges there is not
               much room, so base 10 was not used as the default.

       -userName string
               This option specifies the user name for  any  records  made  or
               else it will get your login name (resource name "userName").

       -scoreFile filename
               Specify  an alternative score file (resource name "scoreFile").

       -scores This option lists all the recorded scores and then exits.

       -version
               This option tells you what version of xmball you have.


RECORDS

       You must randomize the puzzle before a  record  is  set,  otherwise  an
       assumption of cheating is made if it is solved after a get.


SAVE FORMAT

       The format is not standard.  The reason for this is that this is simple
       and I do not know what the standard is.

       Masterball numbered clockwise, with default colors, not randomized:
           0            Y       Yellow
       10     2      D     B    Dark Green, Blue

       9       3    C       R   Cyan, Red

        8     4      O     M    Orange, Magenta
           6            G       Green

       Extra colors: Pink, Saddle Brown, Light Steel Blue, Indian Red

       Direction is represented as 0 up, 1 upper upper right, 2 upper right, 3
       right, 4 lower right, 5 lower lower right, 6 down, 7 lower lower  left,
       8 lower left, 9 left, 10 upper left, 11 upper upper left, 13 clockwise,
       and 23 counterclockwise.
       Control is represented as 0 or 1, 1 if the whole ball is moved at once,
       0  if not.  The xmball record keeper does not count a control move as a
       move, but here we do.


REFERENCES

       http://wsd.com/masterball


SEE ALSO

       X(1), xrubik(6), xskewb(6), xdino(6), xpyraminx(6), xoct(6), xmlink(6),
       xpanex(6), xcubes(6), xtriangles(6), xhexagons(6), xabacus(6)


COPYRIGHTS

       (R) Copyright 1994-2006, David Albert Bagley


BUG REPORTS AND PROGRAM UPDATES

       Send bugs (or their reports, or fixes) to the author:
              David Albert Bagley, <bagleyd@tux.org>

       The latest version is currently at:
              ftp://ftp.tux.org/pub/tux/bagleyd/xpuzzles
              ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/games/strategy



V7.2                              01 Apr 2006                    MASTERBALL(6)