SNAKE(6) | Games Manual | SNAKE(6)

# NAME

`snake` — display chase game

# SYNOPSIS

`snake` | [`-st`] [`-l` length] [`-w` width]

# DESCRIPTION

`snake` is a display-based game. The object of the game is to make as much money as possible without getting eaten by the snake. The `-l` and `-w` options allow you to specify the length and width of the field. By default the entire screen (except for the last column) is used. The `-s` option shows all scores. The `-t` option makes the game assume you are on a slow terminal.

You are represented on the screen by an I. The snake is 6 squares long and is represented by s's with an S at the head. The money is $, and an exit is #. Your score is posted in the upper left hand corner.

You can move around using the same conventions as vi(1): that is, the `h`, `j`, `k`, and `l` keys work, as do the arrow keys. Other possibilities include:

`sefc`
  These keys are like hjkl but form a directed pad around the d key.
`HJKL`
  These keys move you all the way in the indicated direction to the same row or column as the money. This does not let you jump away from the snake, but rather saves you from having to type a key repeatedly. The snake still gets all its turns.
`SEFC`
  Likewise for the upper case versions on the left.
`ATPB`
  These keys move you to the four edges of the screen. Their position on the keyboard is mnemonic, e.g. P is at the far right of the keyboard.
`x`
  This lets you quit the game at any time.
`p`
  Sometimes points in a direction you might want to go.
`w`
  Space warp to get out of tight squeezes, at a price.

To earn money, move to the same square the money is on. A new $ will appear when you earn the current one. As you get richer, the snake gets hungrier. To leave the game, move to the exit (#).

A record is kept of the personal best score of each player. Scores are only counted if you leave at the exit. Getting eaten by the snake is worth nothing.

As in pinball, matching the last digit of your score to the number which appears after the game is worth a bonus.

To see who wastes time playing snake, run `snake` `-s`.

# ENVIRONMENT

`LOGNAME`
  Name displayed in high score file.

# FILES

$HOME/.snake.scores
  Database of personal bests.

# BUGS

When playing on a small screen, it's hard to tell when you hit the edge of the screen.

The scoring function takes into account the size of the screen. A perfect function to do this equitably has not been devised.

February 18, 2022 | Debian