KaPooka

Introduction

KaPooka is a logic game, written in SDL. It was written on linux, but should run on any OS that can compile an SDL application.

The object of the game is to guide your red blobby to the exit, pushing the green blobbies out of the way. You can only push a green blobby if there is an empty space behind it.

History

The game idea comes from Sokoban and Pengo. It was originally written as a text-mode demo in Basic when I was in school; I later rewrote it as a KDE app for KDE1 (called "KPooka"), and thereafter ported it to KDE2. I never got round to porting it to KDE3, but after making the "Exobius 0" project (http://exobius0.sourceforge.net) I had a pretty decent SDL based library, so I rewrote KPooka in SDL, and renamed it KaPooka (as it is no longer a KDE specific application).

Controls

You can use either the keyboard or joystick to control your red blobby. The basic keys are as follows :

Arrows / joystick       : Move the main red blobby around.
Esc                                     : Restart the current level.
Q                                       : Save and quit.

There are corresponding buttons for most of these which can be clicked with the mouse.

Saving and loading

The game will automatically save a file called ~/.kapookarc when it exits, containing the level number you are currently on. If you delete this file, the game restarts from level 1. (I plan on making a more user-friendly interface for new game, continue old game, and moving back & forward between levels, hopefully for the next version).

Creating new levels

The levels are stored in a file level.dat. The format of a level is as follows:

Level name
w h
<level data - multiple lines>
<blank line>

w and h are the width and height (in blocks) of that level. <level data> is as follows:

        0 = blank
        2 = start (red block)
        5 = teleport
        9 = exit
        10 = normal (green) block
        11 = unmovable (grey/cement) block

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy the game and if you have any questions, comments, problems, or have made your own levels please contact me.

-Mr. Bogus (paulrahme@yahoo.com)