Hangman Patientline
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Publisher : JPM International
Platform : Patientline T2 OS : Windows CE, Windows XPe Game Engine : Maiden Language : C Resolution : 800 x 600 Year : 2003 |
Hangman Patientline
Hangman Patientline is the hospital bedside entertainment system version of JPM's hit SWP pub quiz game Hangman 2. It is a multiple choice question and answer video game. The game is based loosely on the traditional paper and pencil Hangman word game.
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At the start of each game, the player is shown three WANTED posters. Each poster has a clue to a different Hangman phrase. The player must select one of the three posters.
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The player is then shown the main Hangman game screen. At the start of the game, the player's Hangman character has all six body parts missing.
The clue to the Hangman phrase is shown in green above the phrase itself. Each letter of the phrase is represented by a purple tile. Initially all the tiles are blank. At the bottom of the screen is a selection of three letters to choose from. Each letter has a different question category associated with it. The game has a total of seven question categories.
The player must choose one of the letters that they think is present in the Hangman phrase. There is a time limit for the selection, which is shown graphically by a shrinking red bar on the undertaker's tape measure at the bottom of the screen. If the player fails to make a selection within the time limit, one of the three letters is chosen at random.
If the player's Hangman accumulates all six body parts, the Hangman is complete; the player is 'hanged', and the game ends.
The clue to the Hangman phrase is shown in green above the phrase itself. Each letter of the phrase is represented by a purple tile. Initially all the tiles are blank. At the bottom of the screen is a selection of three letters to choose from. Each letter has a different question category associated with it. The game has a total of seven question categories.
- A TO Z
- ENTERTAINMENT
- POP MUSIC
- POT LUCK
- PEOPLE & PLACES
- SPORT
- SCIENCE & NATURE
The player must choose one of the letters that they think is present in the Hangman phrase. There is a time limit for the selection, which is shown graphically by a shrinking red bar on the undertaker's tape measure at the bottom of the screen. If the player fails to make a selection within the time limit, one of the three letters is chosen at random.
- If the selected letter is NOT in the phrase, the chosen letter drops through the trap door beneath it, and a limb, or other body part, is added to the Hangman character. The player must then choose again from a fresh set of letters.
- If the selected letter is in the phrase, the game progresses to the question screen.
- If the selected letter is a question mark (?), a mystery bonus round is awarded.
If the player's Hangman accumulates all six body parts, the Hangman is complete; the player is 'hanged', and the game ends.
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The player is shown a question from their chosen category together with three alternative answers, only one of which is correct. The player must choose the answer that they think is correct. There is a time limit for the selection, which is shown graphically by a shrinking red bar on the undertaker's tape measure at the bottom of the screen. There is also a points value on the tape measure, which counts down as the question time runs out.
The game ends if:
- If the player selects the CORRECT answer, the player is awarded the current points value on the timer, the game returns to the main game screen, and all occurrences of the previously selected letter are revealed in the phrase.
- If the player selects an INCORRECT answer, and has one or more try again bullets remaining, they must try again.
The game ends if:
- the player selects a wrong answer, and has no try again bullets remaining
- the player fails to select an answer within the time limit
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In the MYSTERY BONUS round, the player is briefly shown four WANTED posters, each with a different bonus prize. The bonuses on offer can be positive or negative, but there is always at least one positive bonus available for the player to choose.
The wanted posters are turned over, and their bonus prizes hidden from view. The player must then watch closely as the four posters are shuffled. The player is asked to select one of the posters. The prize on the chosen poster is then revealed, and awarded to the player.
The possible POSITIVE bonuses are:
The possible NEGATIVE bonuses are:
The wanted posters are turned over, and their bonus prizes hidden from view. The player must then watch closely as the four posters are shuffled. The player is asked to select one of the posters. The prize on the chosen poster is then revealed, and awarded to the player.
The possible POSITIVE bonuses are:
- BONUS POINTS - a spot prize ranging from 100 to 1000 bonus points
- TRY AGAIN - a try again bullet is added to the player's try again total (up to a maximum of three)
- SUPER TRY AGAIN - two try again bullets are added to the player's try again total (up to a maximum of three)
- ADD A LETTER - a letter in the phrase is revealed without the need for the player to answer a question
- ADD LETTERS - up to three letters in the phrase are revealed without the need for the player to answer a question
- COMPLETE PHRASE - the current phrase is automatically completed and the points for the phrase are awarded.
The possible NEGATIVE bonuses are:
- LOSE TRY AGAIN - if the player has one or more try again bullets, one of them is removed
- ADD A LIMB - a body part is added to the player's hangman character
- HANGED - all remaining missing body parts are added to the player's Hangman character, and the game ends
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After successfully answering a question, the game returns to the main game screen. If at this point the Hangman phrase is complete, the letter tiles turn over, one after an other, each revealing 100 points. The points for each tile are added to the player's total score. The game then returns to the phrase selection screen, and the player chooses a new Hangman phrase.
The game ends either when the player's Hangman is complete, or when the player fails to answer a question correctly within the time allowed.
The game ends either when the player's Hangman is complete, or when the player fails to answer a question correctly within the time allowed.
Development
Martin's Hangman Patientline was the first JPM game to be developed for Patientline's T2 entertainment terminal. At the time of development, in 2003, Patientline had only one version of their T2 terminal. This was their Windows CE embedded device. The Win CE embedded T2 terminal has a restricted memory of only about 4 MiB of RAM, and utilises 8-bit graphics.
Hangman Patientline was compiled as a Windows CE dll using Microsoft's Visual Studio CE compiler. The DirectX graphics calls of Martin's original standard Windows-based Hangman 2 game were all accessed via a wrapper interface that Martin had developed. Martin developed a similar wrapper for the T2 custom hardware graphics functions of Patientline's Win CE device. This enabled much of the Hangman 2 game's original C source code to be used with little modification.
All graphics were developed for a 16-bit graphics target, and were then quantised for the Win CE T2 platform, using an optimised 8-bit palette. A points-based prize system, similar to Martin's earlier Hangman Tournament game, was used to replace the original Hangman 2 cash prizes. However, in the Patientline game, cash rewards for top-scoring games were not available to the player.
In 2005, when Patientline launched their improved XP embedded T2 terminal, Martin developed a 16-bit graphics version of the game. This version was again compiled as a dll, but in this instance, using Microsoft's standard Visual Studio.
Hangman Patientline was compiled as a Windows CE dll using Microsoft's Visual Studio CE compiler. The DirectX graphics calls of Martin's original standard Windows-based Hangman 2 game were all accessed via a wrapper interface that Martin had developed. Martin developed a similar wrapper for the T2 custom hardware graphics functions of Patientline's Win CE device. This enabled much of the Hangman 2 game's original C source code to be used with little modification.
All graphics were developed for a 16-bit graphics target, and were then quantised for the Win CE T2 platform, using an optimised 8-bit palette. A points-based prize system, similar to Martin's earlier Hangman Tournament game, was used to replace the original Hangman 2 cash prizes. However, in the Patientline game, cash rewards for top-scoring games were not available to the player.
In 2005, when Patientline launched their improved XP embedded T2 terminal, Martin developed a 16-bit graphics version of the game. This version was again compiled as a dll, but in this instance, using Microsoft's standard Visual Studio.
Release
The 8-bit graphics Win CE version of Hangman Patientline was released to Patientline's T2 bedside entertainment terminal in October 2003.
In August 2005, the 16-bit graphics Windows XPe version of the game was launched on Patientline's revamped T2 bedside entertainment terminal.
In August 2005, the 16-bit graphics Windows XPe version of the game was launched on Patientline's revamped T2 bedside entertainment terminal.