                  -= M E G A M A Z E =-
                      
             - (C)1994 DIGICRAFT SOFTWARE -

                      
                      INSTRUCTIONS

                (C)1994 By Stuart Cameron
                Written by Stuart Cameron
        Graphics and Level Design by Andrew Leigh

    SHAREWARE VERSION - PLEASE DISTRIBUTE EVERYWHERE

About MegaMaze
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          MegaMaze is a multi-player game for up to four
     players. Each player controls their own space ship
     using the keyboard, and travels through the many
     different mazes included, collecting gems, new
     weapons, and trying to annihilate all other
     opponents.
     
          THIS GAME IS SHAREWARE. PLEASE REGISTER IT. In
     the registered version you will get:
     
         40 levels (including the 10 supplied in the
          shareware version)
         The Maze Editor utility to make you own levels
         A high score facility
         The latest version of MegaMaze
     
          We aren't asking much for this game
     considering the work we've both put into it, so
     please print out the registration form called
     REGFORM.TXT. You may only use this game for a
     period of 14 days before registering. You can
     still, however, distribute it after this time (and
     we would appreciate it if you did!)

License Agreement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          THE UNMODIFIED SHAREWARE VERSION OF THIS GAME
     MAY BE DISTRIBUTED IN ANY WAY AT ALL AS LONG AS
     THERE IS NO CHARGE OTHER THAN A SMALL DISTRIBUTION
     FEE IF NECESSARY.
     
          THE SHAREWARE VERSION OF THIS GAME MAY _NOT_
     BE MODIFIED IN _ANY_ WAY WITHOUT THE WRITTEN
     PERMISSION OF STUART CAMERON (ME)! THIS ALSO MEANS
     THAT HOME-MADE LEVELS OR THE REGISTERED ONES MUST
     NOT BE DISTRIBUTED. THE LEVELS INCLUDED IN THE
     SHAREWARE VERSION OF THIS GAME MAY NOT BE MODIFIED
     IN ANY WAY, NOR MAY OTHER LEVEL EDITORS BE MADE FOR
     THIS PURPOSE.
     
          THE REGISTERED VERSION OF THIS GAME IS NOT TO
     BE DISTRIBUTED. THOSE WHO DISTRIBUTE IT WILL BE
     TRACKED DOWN AS EACH GAME HAS ITS OWN ENCODED
     SERIAL NUMBER. ANY ATTEMPT TO MODIFY THIS WILL
     RESULT IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS PROGRAM.
     
          WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE
     CAUSED THROUGH THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM, HOWEVER
     UNLIKELY.

Requirements:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
         286 CPU or above
         VGA Graphics
         Mouse
         Hard Disk

Supports:
~~~~~~~~~     
         SoundBlaster
         Optional 386 32-bit mode

Installation
~~~~~~~~~~~~     
          To install MegaMaze, decompress the archive
     it came in (probably MEGAM11A.ZIP or MEGAM11A.ARJ)
     into a MegaMaze directory. Once finished, run the
     SETUP.EXE program.
          You will see a menu on the screen with options
     on it, each option with a number before it. By
     typing in the number corresponding to the menu
     option required you can change the information on
     your computer's setup. The first menu option is
     your sound card's configuration. Type 1 and press
     enter. You will now be asked whether or not your
     have a SoundBlaster or compatible card. If you do,
     choose this option. If not, or if you are unsure,
     select PC Speaker. If you chose SoundBlaster, you
     will be asked to choose the address and interrupt
     of your card. The default value is shown in each
     case.
          Menu item 2 is the computer slow-down option.
     This is the number of milliseconds that your
     computer will pause between frames. The larger the
     number, the slower the game. Generally a good
     number is about 3. This menu option is optional and
     the setting is only used if you run MegaMaze with
     the -slowdown parameter or by running the MEGASLOW.BAT
     file.
          Menu item 3 toggles whether or not the program
     will use 32-bit graphics routines. Enable this if
     you have a 386 or better.
          When finished, choose menu item 4 to save your
     configuration details. You are now ready to play
     the game!

Starting MegaMaze
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          Change to the megamaze directory with the CD
     command, and then type MEGAMAZE to start the game.

          New to version 1.1a is a manual slowdown option.
     If you would like to run MegaMaze at a different speed,
     you can start it by running the MEGASLOW.BAT file. The
     speed can be adjusted in the SETUP program by putting
     in a number under the slowdown option. The larger the
     number, the slower the game runs. Try 3 to begin with.

The Main Menu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     The main menu consists of six options. There are:
  
     Start Game    This button starts the game
     
     Players       Chooses the number of players (displayed
                   at the bottom of the screen)
     
     Instructions  Displays a number of screens filled
                   with instructions on playing the game,
                   including what various weapons do etc.
     
     Maze Editor   Clicking on this will take you to
                   the maze editing screen (* registered
                   version only - SO REGISTER NOW!)
     
     About         Displays information on who made the game
                   and how to register if you haven't
                   already done so. The registration form
                   can be printed from this screen.
     
     Exit to Dos   This exits MegaMaze and returns you
                   to the DOS prompt.

          After approximately 10 seconds, the high score
     table will appear. If you can't be bothered waiting,
     press the 'H' key on the keyboard.

          Each of the menu options can also be chosen using
     the keyboard. 'S' starts the game, 'P' adjusts the number
     of players, 'I' displays the instructions, 'E'
     activates the maze editor in the registered version,
     'A' displays the about screen, and 'X' exits to DOS.

Playing the Game
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Format:
        FIRE  UP     
        LEFT  DOWN   RIGHT
          
          Each person has four keys on the keyboard that
     they use to control their ship. Here are these
     keys:

       Q W        O P        SP UP        7 8
         |          |            |          |
       A-S-D      L-;-'      LF-DN-RT     4-5-6
                           (arrow keys
                               + space)
      Player 1   Player 2    Player 3    Player 4

          As you move around though the maze you will
     come across and pick up a number of useful items.
     Gems are the most important, as not only do you get
     the most points for collecting them (200 points
     each), but you must collect all of them before
     moving onto the next level. Be quick, because
     there's a time limit for each level which is
     displayed at the bottom right of the game screen.
          There are six different types of weapons which
     can be collected, each having its own properties.
     Everyone starts off each level with nothing more
     than bullets. There is an unlimited supply of
     these, so you can shoot as many as you want at the
     other players. They will cause 5% damage to anyone
     they hit. All other weapons must be collected.
     These include Lasers, Super Lasers, Missiles,
     Stuns, and NUKES. Lasers and Super Lasers behave in
     a similar way to bullets, in that they will hit
     walls etc but will not damage them. They will
     damage other players though, so watch out! Lasers
     cause 10% damage, and Super Lasers cause 20%. Be
     warned though, you only get 10 lasers or 5 super
     lasers.
          Missiles are rather nice weapons in that they
     will cause 45% damage to anyone caught in the blast
     when they hit something, so make sure you're not
     too close to your target when shooting. Missiles
     will actually blast away sections of the maze
     walls, making them a handy asset if you want to
     make a quick get-away. However, you only get three
     for each set that you pick up, so use them wisely!
          Stuns can be rather deadly when used
     correctly. When you pick up a stun, you only get
     one shot at hitting your opponent, so aim
     carefully! Anyone who is hit by a stun will not be
     able to move or shoot for approximately 5 seconds,
     making them defenceless.
          Nukes are the ultimate weapon in MegaMaze.
     They are similar to missiles in that they will
     destroy walls, but the blast radius is much larger
     and it will cause 100% damage to anyone nearby. You
     get one shot for each nuke collected.
          Health can be collected throughout the game.
     This gives you 50% more health (with a limit of
     100%).
          Shields can be collected on some levels, which
     make you invincible for approximately 10 seconds.
     Not even a nuke can harm you! So it's a good idea
     to get out of there if you see someone with a
     shield heading in your direction. When using a
     shield, the player's score box will turn blue.
          When landed on, warps will teleport you from
     one warp to another. This can be much faster than
     travelling from one side of the screen to the
     other, and can be a quick way to escape from an
     incoming nuke!
     
          For more detail on each of these, look at the
     in-built help in MegaMaze.
     
The Maze Editor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~     

          REGISTERED VERSION ONLY!!

