ROBOTS(6) BSD ROBOTS(6)
NAME
robots - fight off villainous robots
SYNOPSIS
/usr/games/robots [ -sjta ] [ scorefile ]
DESCRIPTION
robots pits you against evil robots who are trying to kill you (which is
why they are evil). Fortunately for you, although they are evil they are
not very bright. The robots have a habit of bumping into each other,
thus turning themselves into junkpiles. In order to survive, you must
get them to kill each other off, since you have no offensive weaponry.
You are endowed with one defensive measure: a teleportation device.
When two robots run into each other or a junk pile, they die. If a robot
runs into you, you die. When a robot dies, you get 10 points, and when
all the robots die, you start on the next field. This keeps up until
they finally get you.
Robots are represented on the screen by plus signs (+), the junk heaps
resulting from their collisions by asterisks (*), and you (the good guy)
by an at sign (@).
Only five scores are allowed per user on the score file. If you make it
into the score file, you will be shown the list at the end of the game.
If an alternate score file is specified, that will be used instead of the
standard file for scores.
COMMANDS
All commands can be preceded by a count. For all commands except w, the
program saves you from typos by stopping you short of being eaten.
However, with w you take the risk of dying by miscalculation.
h Move one square left
l Move one square right
k Move one square up
j Move one square down
y Move one square up and left
u Move one square up and right
b Move one square down and left
n Move one square down and right
. or <SPACE> Do nothing for one turn
HJKLBNYU Run as far as possible in the given direction
> Do nothing for as long as possible
t Teleport to a random location
w Wait until they all die (or you do). If you use the w
command and survive to the next level, you will get a bonus
of 10% for each robot which died after you decided to wait.
If you die, however, you get nothing.
q Quit
^L Redraw the screen
OPTIONS
-s Don't play, just show the score file
-j Jump, i.e., when you run, don't show any intermediate positions;
only show things at the end. This is useful on slow terminals.
-t Teleport automatically when you have no other option. This is a
little disconcerting until you get used to it, and then it is very
nice.
-a Advance into the higher levels directly, skipping the lower, easier
levels. You receive a 600-point bonus for successful completion of
the first field.
FILES
/usr/games/lib/robots_roll the score file