Dots Square››                             Atari User Vol.1 No.9››The Atari can be used as a very good teaching tool, but it can also remove the›drudgery of playing games.››A very good paper and pencil game of logic is called Dots, where the object is›to teach the ability to look ahead at moves.››The game is quite simple. A grid of dots is placed on a piece of paper and each›person in turn draws a line from one dot to a neighbouring dot. The lines must›be in horizontal or vertical direction - no diagonal lines allowed.››The person who draws the last line of a square is allowed to put his initial›into it and rake another turn. The person with the most squares is the winner.››This version is very similar. Instead of paper and pencil we now have a screen›and two joysticks. The program starts by asking if instructions are wanted. A Y›or N answer is needed.››It then asks the names of the two players. The names are entered into the micro›and Return is pressed. The first initial will be used to fill the squares as›they are won. The two players can have the same first initial since they will›have different colours for the squares. Two joysticks are needed - slot 1 for›player 1 and slot 2 for player 2. Each player will know when it is his turn›because his name will be seen on the bottom of the screen with the score.››Using the joystick each player moves a circle on the screen from one dot to›another. The circle cursor will not wrap around the screen nor will it move over›the edge. When the cursor is over the dot for the first part of the line, the›player presses the trigger and a beep is heard. The joystick is then moved to›the spot for the other end of the line and again the trigger is pressed. Again a›beep.››If it is a legal move a line is drawn on the screen. If the ends of the line are›not neighbouring dots, or are not vertical or horizontal, there's a beep. If the›line has already been drawn again a beep is heard. If the line completes a›square, the person's initial is put on the screen.››There is an option for one player versus the Atari. At the start the names of›two players are entered. If one of the names is COMPUTER then the computer will›play. A question about the level of play is then asked.››The micro will play at five different levels of difficulty from 1 to 5. At level›1 most young children will be able to beat the computer, but at level 5 it will›play a very good game.››When the computer plays, the human uses joystick 1. While the computer thinks of›a move, it makes sounds to annoy its opponent.››A demonstration mode is also available. Since the system checks only the first›seven letters in the name, COMPUTER1 can play COMPUTER2. The C initial will be a›different colour for each of the players. The computer will then play itself at›any level desired.››The demo mode game lasts less than five minutes. Each of the players will move›the circle cursor to where it wants to make its move and then a line will be›drawn on one side of that square. It is very interesting to see the two›computers battle it out.›