BENNETT FODDY'S SPEED CHESS
Version 0.2, September 15, 2014
Copyright 2013-14 Bennett Foddy
Contact: support@foddy.net or @bfod on twitter

Bennett Foddy's Speed Chess is the fastest game of chess in the world. Designed for sixteen players to play simultaneously, it lets players move their piece instantly, without waiting for their turn. The game proceeds at the speed of thought.

This game was built for public festivals. It doesn't have a UI and it definitely has bugs, and it might even fail to work on your computer. You can let me know: support@foddy.net - but I can't guarantee I'll get around to fixing it soon, or ever. I hope you enjoy it anyway!!

**** System Requirements ****

Speed Chess is a 3D game, and it requires a modern Windows PC running Windows XP or later. It needs at least 2 USB game controllers, it gets fun when you have at least 6 controllers, but to be enjoyed to the fullest it needs 16.

Speed Chess works best with a 16:9 or 16:10 screen resolution.

***** Installation Instructions: *****
1) Download the file, extract into a directory.

2) Plug in as many controllers as you can find. The game supports Xbox 360 controllers using the left stick or D-Pad, and it also supports generic USB SNES pads, but your mileage may vary with other devices. I strongly recommend marking the controllers with the player and team colours. For example, use a white sticker and a red sticker for the white team's red player. 

3) For a full complement of 16 players, I recommend using two powered USB hubs with 8+ ports each. This allows two teams of 8 enough room to stand around a screen. The game is best with 12+ players but it works ok with as few as 2.

4) Start the game. Select the highest 16:9 or 16:10 resolution supported by your monitor.

***** Gameplay Instructions: ***** 
1) IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC PLAY: Before beginning the game, press C to assign controllers to colours. Press a face button on the desired controller while the corresponding coloured disc is flashing. If you mess up or don't want to use a certain color, you can use the bumpers to move the selector forward and backward. The white team's colours are on the left, the black team is on the right. To finish, either assign all 16 controllers or press R on the keyboard to exit calibration restart the game. Make sure to assign at least one controller to each side.

Note: The game doesn't save the controller assignments, since Windows controller numbering can change every time the game starts. So you need to do this every time.

2) Press a button to join the game. A countdown starts if there is at least one player active on each team.

3) On the go signal, you are free to move at will. Move the selector by repeatedly tapping the D-pad on your controller - note that holding down in a direction is not allowed. Then press any of the face buttons to move. Note that you can only highlight valid moves, according to the rules of chess. (Castling and en passant are not allowed)

4) If you press your button without aiming at a square, your piece spins and flashes, so you can easily find yourself, even if your controller isn't labeled.

5) You can move your coloured disc to a vacant piece on your team using the shoulder bumpers. It is a good idea to move your king if there is a vacant enemy piece nearby (for example, if a pawn has been promoted). 

6) The game ends if a king is captured. There is no check or checkmate in the traditional sense. 

7) If a pawn reaches the 8th rank it is converted to a queen, but you will be forcibly ejected from the piece if there are other pieces available.

8) If anything goes wrong, press R to reset the game.

9) Exit the game by hitting ALT-F4

10) If you press A on the keyboard at any time, the game will randomly apply button presses to all the unused pieces.

11) If everyone hammers on their buttons during the endgame sequence, the game will restart. Don't be a jerk about it if you lost!

***** LEGAL STUFF *****

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Mainly this means: you may not use the material for commercial purposes. If you show it at a party or event, that's ok by me but please obtain my permission (support@foddy.net) if you are charging for tickets.

No warranty, expressed or implied, is made that the information provided in this readme (readme.txt) is accurate. 

No warranty, expressed or implied, is made that the game will function as described or that it won't blow up your computer or lead to some other catastrophe I have not predicted.

The user bears full responsibility for any consequences from the use or misuse of these files. 

Players are permitted to use and commercialize footage of the game, for example in 'Let's Play' videos on Youtube or twitch.
