> The current weird scoring system is a remnant from the early daysof
> LaserTank , which began as a fusion of the games Sokoban , in whichthe
> objective was help a cellarman push beer barrels into a cellar ,and
> CTF(Capture The Flag) , in which the objective was to reach theflag as
> quickly as possible. In both of these games , using number of movesas a
> measure of performance was entirely logical and fair , for obviousreasons.
Vic,
This not true at all !! I had never heard of sokoban when I wrote the
original lasertank. The first time I learned of it was when someone
sent me the first sokoban levels. As for CTF, I still don't know that
game. I had always liked puzzle games and adventure games, so I made
a puzzle game where the goal was to get to the flag ( in many
adventure games, the goal is to get to an exit or flag ). I also
rember a logic/puzzle game called laser. In this game you had to
position mirrors so that when you fired the laser it would hit the
target. Almost every adventure type game of the early 90's had water,
bridges, Bricks & conveyor belts ( one way areas ) so I added them to
the game.
As for scoring, The object of the game is to MOVE to the flag so
Moves are of the most importance. The laser is just a tool to help
you get to the Flag.
The original Lasertank game didn't have High scores because the
score wasn't important ( and it still isn't ), but then I got ton's
of e-mails from people wanting to have a High Score list. I added the
High Scores because I realized that it made the game more fun to try
to beat YOUR own score and see if you could finish the level in less
moves than you did before.
Have Fun Playing LaserTank All,
Jim