Pipe Dream
Typed out by Joan Class
Pipe Dream
Instruction Manual
NES-4P-USA
[Text included in square brackets indicates my own comments.]
-------
Official Nintendo Seal
Bullet-Proof Software, Inc.
8337 154th Avenue NE
Redmond, Washington 98052
TM & Copyright 1990 LucasArts Entertainment Company
All rights reserved. Used under authorization.
[More legal junk here but I'm not going to type it all.]
--------
Game Credits
[No, I won't type this either]
-------
Warning: DO NOT USE WITH FRONT OR REAR PROJECTION TV
[Most everyone knows about all the rest of this so I won't type this
junk.]
-------
Introduction
Can you think under pressure? How about under flooz pressure? You'll
find out when you play Pipe Dream, the fast moving game of speed,
strategy and plumbing. Make your pipeline as long as you can, but
always stay ahead of the flow or your score will go down the drain.
Pipe Dream has 16 increasingly cunning levels with up to 16 speeds per
level and almost infinite variations in each. There are three playing
modes for one or two players. What are you waiting for? Take the
plunge!
Getting Started
To start Pipe Dream on your Nintendo Entertainment System, turn off
your control deck and insert the cartridge as described in your
owner's manual. Turn your game system on and press any button until
you reach the Menu Selection Screen. Use the directional keypad to
select the options that you want, then press START when you are ready
to play.
-------
How To Play Pipe Dream
Pipe Dream starts on an almost empty playfield, with only a starting
piece. The object is to score as many points as possible by
constructing a continuous pipe from the starting piece.
As you play, pipe pieces appear in a dispenser to the left of the
playfield. The next piece to be played appears on the bottom of the
dispenser and over the playfield. You must play the pipes in the order
that they come. You can place a pipe anywhere you like, whether or not
it connects with other pipe sections. In fact, you'll learn to place
pieces in a pattern that anticipates connections many moves in
advance.
The timer on the right side of the playfield shows the time left until
the flooz starts flowing from the start piece through the pipeline
you've made. Lay down as many pieces as possible before the flooz
starts. Once it starts flowing, keep placing pipe pieces and adding to
the pipeline before the flooz catches up to the end of the pipe. When
it reaches the end of the pipe, the round is over. When the flooz
nears the end of the pipeline. When the flooz nears the end of the
pipeline, the "Danger!" music will play. It will stop playing as you
add more pipe.
You can "blast" a previously played piece by placing a new piece on
top of it. The old piece will explode and the new piece will be put in
it's place. There is a short time delay for replacing pieces; it also
costs you 50 points for each piece replaced. Once a pipe fills with
flooz, you can no longer replace it. Special pipe pieces (like the
starting piece) may not be "blasted."
You may pause the game by pushing START after the game round has
begun. Press START again to resume play.
Once you have placed all the pieces you can, you may press the SELECT
key and the flooz will speed up and end the round quickly. You will
score double points for each pipe piece the flooz flows through while
in FAST mode.
-------
Advancing to the Next Round/Level
There are 16 levels in the basic game, each with four rounds. In order
to advance to the next round, the flooz must flow through a minimum
number of pipe pieces. The DISTance counter in the upper right of the
screen shows the remaining number of pipe pieces to be filled to reach
minimum distance. As the flooz enters a pipe piece, the counter drops
by one. When the counter reaches zero, you are assured of advancing to
the next round.
If you do not reach minimum distance, you will lose a WRENCH [Life]
and will have to play the same round over again. You have a total of
three WRENCHES. When they are gone, the game is over.
At higher levels, many things change:
The minimum distance increases.
The flooz flows faster.
One-way pipe pieces appear in your pipe dispenser. The flooz will only
flow in one direction through these.
Reservoir pieces appear. The flooz takes a little longer to fill these
up, so they gain you some valuable time, as well as add to your score.
Pump pieces show up. These speed up the flooz for a few pipe sections.
They will also earn more points.
Tunnels allow the flooz to flow off one side of the playfield and
reappear on the other side.
End pieces show up. If you connect the pipeline to this piece, your
bonus points are doubled. Remember to reach minimum distance first, or
else you will lose a WRENCH.
-------
Scoring
You will receive points for the following when the flooz flows through
the pipe sections:
TYPE BASE SCORE
__________________________________________________________
Normal Pipe 50
One-way Pipe 100
Reservoir 200
Pump 1000
Tunnel 800
End Piece 0
Blasted Piece -50
Unused Piece -100
________________________________________________________
You will lose 50 points for each pipe piece you "blast."
At the end of each round, you will lose 100 points for each pipe piece
on the playfield that the flooz did not pass through.
Whenever the flooz crosses over itself (loops), a bonus is awarded.
The first loop is worth 100 points multiplied by the level you are on,
the second and later loops are worth the first loop value plus 100
multiplied by the number of special pieces on the playfield (Start
Piece, End Piece, Reservoir and Pump).
Example 1: There is one special piece on level one: the Start Piece.
The first loop on level one is worth 100 points, the second and
subsequent loops are worth an additional 100 + 100 X 1 = 200 points.
Level two has two special pieces; the Start Piece and a Reservoir. The
first loop on level two is worth 200 points. The second and subsequent
loops are worth 400 points (200 points for the first loop plus 100
multiplied by 2 pieces = 400 points).
If a special piece is used in a loop, then the loop bonus is increased
by the Loop Bonus Multiplier (see below). Loop Bonus Multipliers are
additive. If you are able to include several special pieces in a loop,
their multipliers are added together.
TYPE LOOP BONUS MULTIPLIER
_____________________________________________________________________
Normal Pipe no effect
One-way Pipe no effect
Reservoir X2
Pump X4
Tunnel X8
End Piece X2 Bonus Total
Blasted Piece no effect
Unused Piece no effect
____________________________________________________________________
Example 2: If a reservoir on level two is included in the first loop,
the loop bonus is
200 X 2 = 400 points. If the reservoir is in the second loop the loop
bonus is
400 X 2 = 800 points.
You receive double points for all pipe pieces and bonuses while the
flooz is in FAST mode, either after passing through a pump, or after
you push SELECT.
At the end of each round, if you fill the entire playfield with a
continuous pipeline, you are awarded a bonus of 10,000 points
multiplied by the level you just played.
In two-player mode, the player that lays the piece gets the basic
points for it when the flooz passes through it. The players split any
points for crossovers. The player who lays the piece that directs the
flooz into a special piece gets the points for the special piece. The
player who placed an unused piece receives the penalty. Also, the
player who "blasts" a piece loses points no matter whose piece is
replaced. Both players receive the full screen bonus.
-------
Playing Modes
There are three modes of play, each of which can be played by one or
two players:
A Game: Standard Play
You may select your starting level. You will then play four rounds per
level. Each round is faster than the last. If you complete four
rounds, you will proceed to the next level. We recommend this mode for
beginners and for practice. It gives you four chances to master a
level before proceeding to the next. This is also the best mode to
score lots of points. If you progress beyond level 16/round 4, you
will find yet more challenges.
B Game: Tournament Play
You may select your starting speed (round). You play one round per
level, then progress to the same round on the next level. This is a
good mode to see how many levels you can complete.
C Game: One Shot Play
You may select your starting level and speed. You play that round
only. This mode is good for competitive play, when you have a limited
amount of time. Each player tries to make the best score for that
level/round.
-------
Plumbing Parts
You'll encounter a variety of pipes and specialty pieces as you
progress through the levels of Pipe Dream. Here's a preview:
Basic Pipes:
The seven basic pieces conduct the flooz straight, around corners, and
back across itself in a cross. Remember, the flooz always flows
straight through cross pieces.
Player-Two Pipes:
These appear in the bottom dispenser. They are just like Player-One
Pipes, except that they are controlled by Player Two.
One-Way Pipes: The flooz can only flow in the direction of the arrow,
so be careful how you use One-Way Pipes.
Start Pieces: Soon after the round begins, the flooz oozes out of the
Start Piece, identified by an "S".
End Pieces:
On higher levels, you'll find an End Piece, identified by an "E". If
you connect the end of your pipeline to the End Piece, your bonus
score will be doubled. Remember, you still need to reach minimum
distance, or else you will lose a WRENCH.
Reservoirs: Reservoirs are your friends, because they briefly slow
down the flooz, buying you a little time. The flooz has to fill the
entire Reservoir before it continues out the other side. Using a
Reservoir earns you 200 points and including it in a loop doubles the
loop bonus.
Pumps: Pumps speed up the flooz briefly. They are tricky to use, so
try to have lots of pipe laid on the other side to handle the coming
surge. All points earned during the surge are doubled. Also you earn
1000 points when the flooz flows through a Pump and your loop bonus is
quadrupled (x4) if you use one in a loop.
Tunnels: Tunnels allow you to connect your pipes to the opposite side
of the playfield. You earn 800 points when the flooz passes through a
Tunnel, and your loop bonus is X8 if you include the tunnel in a loop.
(It's possible, you'll see.)
-------
Playing Tips:
[Some or all of this is already posted, but since it is part of the
manual I am including it.]
Watch the demonstration (by doing nothing after turning on the game)
to get a feel for the game. This does not necessarily show a great
opening move, it is simply an example of a round of play.
Plan ahead. Learn to visualize the completed pipeline and place pieces
accordingly. If you don't need a piece right away, put it where you
can use it later. Needlessly "blasting" pieces wastes points and, more
importantly, time.
If you want a big score, don't be too eager to advance to the next
level. Earn as many points as you can on each level.
Use cross pieces wisely. Each one can deliver bonus points. Make sure
you place them where there is room enough to loop back through.
Even if you are way ahead of the flooz, work fast. That way you'll
have time to figure out how to fill as much of the playfield as
possible.
Remember, as soon as you're satisfied with your pipeline, press SELECT
to double your score from that point.
It is possible to stop the flooz indefinitely. This will allow you to
experiment with different playfield layouts and setting up full
playfields. To enter CHEAT mode, hold down START after the round has
begun and press A B B A. Then press START again to resume play. Press
B to stop the counter or the flooz if it is already flowing. Press
SELECT to start it flowing again. To exit CHEAT mode you must turn off
your machine and restart.
-------
Compliance with FCC Regulations
[Legal stuff again.]
-------
Limited Warranty
Bullet-Proof Software, INC
[I hope no one really expected me to type this junk.]