=======
GetFour
=======

This is the README file of the project GetFour. GetFour is a game also known as
Connect Four. This project is maintained by Oliver Kranz, 
kranzler@user.sourceforge.net.

The project is hosted by SouceForge.net on: 

getfour.sf.net

I once developed this game during a project at the University of Hamburg,
Germany. I now decided to release it under the GPL 2 license or later as Open 
Source Software.

I hope you have at least fun with the game or you can benefit in any sense of 
the source code.

Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org):

    "Connect Four (also known as Plot Four, Find Four, Four in a Row, and Four 
    in a Line) is a two-player game in which the players take turns in dropping 
    alternating colored discs into a seven-column, six-row vertically-suspended 
    grid. The object of the game is to connect four singly-colored discs in a 
    row—vertically, horizontally, or diagonally—before one's opponent can do
    so."

Help
----

If you need help have a look at the project web site at:

getfour.sf.net

Requirements
------------

Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.6.0
Internet: java.sun.com

This project has been tested on the JRE 1.6.0 but should run on JRE 1.5.0 as
well.

Installation and Start
----------------------

There is no installation required. Just download the game JAR file but not the 
source code JAR file. The file is named getfour_VERSION.jar where VERSION is the
version of the game. You can start the game on the command line with::

    java -jar getfour_VERSION.jar

If you are MS Windows user a double click should work as well.

Nonetheless, if you decide to unpack the JAR archive a directory named getfour/
will be created and the project files will be stored in it. You can then start
the game on the command line with::

    java getfour.GetFour
    
The application will start and you will see the user interface which is easy 
and intuitively to use.

Technical details
-----------------

The algorithm used for the artificial intelligence of the computer opponent is
called Minmax algorithm. You can find information about it in the internet.

Contribution
------------

If you want to contribute anything to the project have a look at the project
website getfour.sf.net. Suggestions and contributions are welcome.
