Software of the Month Club 1998 June

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++ ULTIMATE GIN ++ COPYRIGHT (C) 1995, 1996, 1997 ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE "If it's good, it's ACCIDENTAL" TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Game features 2. System requirements 3. Registration 4. Registration Benefits 5. Code Registation 6. Installation 7. Game start up 8. Command line switch 9. Menu 10. Selecting an Opponent 11. Playing the Game 12. Game menu 13. Game play 14. Score Board 15. Trouble shooting windows LATEST GAME INFORMATION 1. Accidental Software has a new internet presence at http://www.accidental.com 2. Accidental Software's phone numbers have changed...... Order toll free -- 1 800 771 6746 Order International -- 1 760 247 2804 FAX -- 1 760 247 6819 Tech Support -- 1 760 247 2804 3. The installation procedure has been designed to streamline installation of this DOS game into the windows 95 environment. 4. Accidental Software now has a CD-ROM of all 8 of our DOS games available. The CD-ROM comes complete with a Windows installation as well as a DOS installation if that is desired. This CD-ROM contains the complete registered versions of our games (voice packs included) for a total price of $34.00 including shipping and handling. Call 1 800 771 6746 for the latest information and ordering details or drop us Email at Games@accidental.com. GAME FEATURES (Registered Version) 1. Play GIN RUMMY against one of 8 notorious characters. 2. Select the GIN RUMMY variation you like to play. a. STANDARD 10 KNOCK: The knock value is set to 10. b. OKLAHOMA GIN ACE = 1: (knock value based on the value of the first card to be turned face up, if it's an Ace then the knock value is 1). c. OKLAHOMA GIN ACE = GIN: (knock value based on the value of the first card to be turned face up, if it's an Ace then the knock value is GIN). d. HOLLYWOOD SCORING: A scoring device where 3 games are played at once. 3. Play up to 40 games per match against any one of the 8 computer generated players. 4. All completed matches against any of the opponents will be saved and recalled each time that opponent is played against. 5. Start a new match at any time (will delete all matches previously on file for that opponent and start with new data.) 6. The following items can be set to range of values noted below. 1. GAME SCORE: Range 100 - 300 (the point count that must be reached or exceeded to win the game.) 2. GAME BONUS: Range 100 - 300 (the amount of bonus points received for winning the game.) 3. SKUNK BONUS: Range 100 - 300 (the amount of bonus points received if a player wins the game and his or her opponent has not scored during the game.) 4. BOX BONUS: Range 0 - 50 (the amount of points received for each hand won by either player during the game.) 5. GIN BONUS: Range 0 - 50 (the amount of points received for winning a hand with GIN.) 6. UNDER KNOCK BONUS: Range 0 - 50 (the amount of points received for winning the hand by having fewer or equal points in deadwood to your opponent when he or she knocks.) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 1. IBM or 100% compatible computer 2. EGA/VGA Video adapter with 256K RAM on video card 3. Hard disk 4. 550K free RAM required RECOMMENDED: 1. Mouse 2. Sound Blaster REGISTRATION 1. The game supplied is an unregistered version. This version is provided as a demonstration of the game capabilities and provides a fully functioning GIN simulation. Some game enhancements are reserved for those users who find this game to be a worthwhile investment. Shareware is a try before you buy marketing method. If you make regular use of this software, you are expected to "purchase" it by paying the registration fee. As an additional incentive to register this program, all game features are activated immediately when the correct REGISTRATION CODE is obtained from Accidental Software is entered into the program. The total registration price is $14.95, no shipping or handling fees are encountered. The entire program with voice pack is available on diskette in a packette suitable as a gift. This product is available at a moderate additional price. Call 1 800 771 6746 for details. REGISTRATION BENEFITS NOTE: When you register, you receive a code number that is entered into your program to instantly convert it to the registered version. NO program diskettes will be sent. 1. Your registered version will no longer have registration reminders on screen. 2. Your registered version will allow you to play GIN with any of the 8 opponents. The non registered version only allows play with the 4 players at the top of the players screen. 3. Your registered version will allow you to save and recall the previous games against any and all computer players. This will allow you to continue a previously started match. 4. Sound Blaster voices are supported for all 8 computer generated players. The non-registered version plays the voices for TEX and NASTY only as a means of insuring the voice portion to this game is compatible with your system and to provide a demo of this feature. This feature requires a Sound Blaster or 100% compatible sound system. 5. Your registered version will keep your individual preferences (listed below) on file and will restore these as the game default when you sign in with this name at a future time. a. Game speed b. Fan on or off c. Talk on or off d. The type of Gin being played (Standard, Oklahoma, Hollywood score) e. The selected values for the Game Score and Bonus Values f. All game scores for all matches against all computer players. CODE REGISTRATION The CODE REGISTRATION (CR) feature of this software provides instant access to the full version of this game and saves the user $3.00 since no shipping and handling charges are incurred. For fastest registration, call our toll free order number (1-800-771-6746) with your Visa or Master Card information. Ultimate Gin (CR) is designed to allow users of the shareware version of this software to have instant access to the registered, full version. This program is registered by obtaining a REGISTRATION CODE number from Accidental Software. When the correct REGISTRATION CODE is entered into the program, it is instantly converted to the the registered, full version. Additional information concerning obtaining a REGISTRATION CODE and entering it into the program is available by selecting one of the MENU buttons from the game sign in page. Next, select the REGISTRATION INFO menu and the sub menu REGISTRATION CODE. NOTE: If you register this program, do not erase the gin game directory from your hard drive or your registration will be lost. Accidental Software will issue a new REGISTRATION CODE (no charge) to any registered user who has lost their game registration for any reason. INSTALLATION 1. From disk: Place disk #1 in your drive and from the run menu in Windows, type A:\Setup. If your disk is in a drive other than A:, substitute that drive for A:. 2. From a self extracting EXE (as in an internet download). Use My Computer or the explorer to locate the EXE file. Double click on the EXE to start the Winzip self extractor. The program will extract to a temporary directory on your hard drive and then start the install procedure. When installation is complete, the temporary directroy is erased. NOTE: The non registered version of this game will play the voice files for TEX and NASTY. This allows you to insure the Voice Pack for this game is compatible with your sound card and computer set up. The Voice Pack for this game requires a Sound Blaster or 100% compatible sound card to function properly. The registered version plays the voices for all players. ======================================================================= The following information applies to the registered version of this game. Some features are not available in the non-registered version. GAME START UP 1. The executable file is GIN.EXE. From DOS, type GIN then push Enter to start. From windows, double click on the gin icon the program installs. 2. Game credits will show. Shorten by pressing ESCAPE. 3. Sign in with the name you will play under. Saved game information will reference this name. The name may be changed by pushing ESCAPE if an opponent has not yet been selected. 4. Choose an opponent or select MENU for game options. COMMAND LINE SWITCHES 1. "/S" If you have a sound card in your system and you have installed the Sound Pack for this game. If this game locks up your computer, the most likely cause is an incompatiblity with your sound card. Use the command line switch "/S" to keep the game from initializing your sound card. If the game works without the sound blaster voices, you can be certain that the problem lies with your sound card. Reference your sound card manual to insure that your sound card is set up to work like a Sound Blaster. Once your sound card configuration has been corrected, you can start the game without the "/S" switch. To use the command line switch from windows, modify the Cmd Line paramater from the properties selection of the shortcut to Gin in the Accidental program group. MENU 1. Click on the [MENU] button or push the up arrow key on the keyboard to select. 2. "GAME VARIATIONS": This item will be selected. Choose one of the game variations offered. This will be the type game that you will play anytime you sign in with this name in the future (unless you change this selection at a later time). 3. "SCORE OPTIONS": Select new values for the game and other score/bonus amounts here. To do this, select the item you want to change, then click the + or - box with the hand pointer or use the + or - keys on the keyboard. Double clicking on the "DEFAULT VALUES" item will change all values back to the game default settings. (see help for a summary of these). If you want to play a new match against any opponent double click the "NEW MATCH" item. This will start a new match with all new games. "HOLLYWOOD" scoring may be selected by double clicking on this item. All of the last 3 items on this menu are selected by double clicking the item. When selected a double carat "< >" will show to the right of the item. To deselect one of these items simply double click on it again. Push the Enter key to produce the same results as double clicking an item. 4. "HELP": This item will show several screens of information about the game. Information concerning the playing capabilities of each "computer player" can be found under "PLAYER INFO". In general, the better players can be found toward the bottom of the sign on screen. "ESCAPE", push this item to exit the menu or click anywhere outside of the active menu that is pulled down. SELECTING AN OPPONENT 1. Push the square button above the player's head to select as an opponent. Alternately, you can push the key on the keyboard that corresponds to the underlined letter in the opponent's name or cycle through the players by pushing the left or right arrow keys. When an opponent is selected, the "PLAY GIN" button appears as does information about the number of games and scores from your previous match with this opponent. 2. You may change your selection as many times as you want. If you have not selected "NEW MATCH" from the Menu as explained in "SCORE OPTIONS" above, you will add games to the existing match games (if any). The game will store up to 40 games per match. 3. To play GIN, push the "PLAY GIN" button or the "A" key on the keyboard or push RETURN after a player has been selected. If you have not selected a gin variation from the Menu as explained above, you will play standard Gin with the default game scores and bonus values. PLAYING THE GAME 1. The GIN room appears. After your opponent appears, the hand pointer will point to the flashing "DEAL CARDS" button. Push this button or press "ENTER" or "Space Bar" on the keyboard to deal the cards. An item from the menu may be selected at any time. GAME MENU 1. GAMES HISTORY: Displays the results of previous games you have played against this opponent. 2. HANDS HISTORY: Displays the results of previous hands played against this opponent during the current game. The format displayed is (this hand points) -- (total hand points). Example: You won the first hand with a total of 10 points, the score will be recorded as follows 10 -- 10. This shows that your points for this hand were 10 and that you now have a total of 10 points. The Score board at the top right of the screen also displays information about the game and hand scores. 3. NEW DECK: Use this to request a new deck of cards for the next game. There are 3 card decks available that will be rotated with a new selection. 4. SPEED: Use this to change the game speed. Click on this button to bring up the speed adjustment window. To set a faster game speed, press and hold the left mouse button while the hand pointer is on the base of the speed indicator and move it towards the + sign. To slow the game down, move it towards the - sign. You may use the + or - keys or the arrow keys on the keyboard to accomplish the same result. Push the SPEED button again or push ESCAPE to exit the speed routine. 5. TALK: Use this button to open a sub menu with the following two items. To exit this sub menu push the TALK button again or push ESCAPE. a. Comments: This is used to turn on or off the comments made by the opponent when he or she picks up the card you just discarded. These comments will slow the game down, and some may consider them to be too much. When the button is up, these comments are eliminated. All other game information will be displayed and voices will be heard for talk balloons if the Sound Blaster is selected and the optional voice pack has been purchased. b. Sound Blaster: This is used to turn on or off the Sound Blaster voices if a Sound Blaster or 100% compatible card is found on the system. If no card is found the button cannot be activated. Down is Sound Blaster on, up is Sound Blaster deselected. 6. FAN: Use this to turn the fan off or on. Some opponents will not think quite as well when the fan is turned off. Those that the fan effects will say so if the Comments button is selected. The default selection is Fan on. The spider crawling on the window will hide when the fan is off. 7. MAIN MENU: Use this to return to the Main sign on screen to select a different opponent or game variation or possibly change the values for game scores, etc. NOTE: When this item is selected before a game is complete (if one has been started), the hands played so far in this game are lost. All completed games will be saved and added to those that may exist from a previous match. 8. QUIT: Self Explanatory. GAME PLAY 1. Push the button by the flashing Deal Cards message or push SPACE BAR or ENTER. 2. The cards will be dealt by your opponent first. Once the cards are dealt, You must either take the show card or pass. To pass, move the hand pointer to the pass button and push the left or right mouse key or push the "P" key on the keyboard. Move the hand pointer to the show card and push either mouse key if you want to add this card to your hand. Alternately you may use the keyboard left and right arrow keys to select the card. Once selected with the keyboard, you may move the card to your hand by pushing "ENTER". The card will automatically move to your hand. 3. After the initial card is played or passed, you may select a card from the STOCK pile or the DISCARD pile when it is your turn. This is done in the manner just explained in #2 above. 4. CHOOSING A DISCARD: Select a card in your hand to discard by moving the hand pointer to the card you want to discard then push the LEFT MOUSE BUTTON or move the hand pointer with the arrow keys. The card that is gray is selected as the potential discard. To perform the DISCARD, move the hand pointer to the discard stack (up turned cards or the position just to the right of the stock card pile) then push the left mouse key or Enter on the keyboard. 5. KNOCKING: You can request a KNOCK at any time after you have selected a card from the discard or stock pile and before you discard a card. Select the card you will be discarding (highlight it gray as indicated above) but do not discard it yet. Move the hand pointer to the KNOCK button or push "K" on the keyboard. Your cards will be separated into melds and deadwood at the bottom of the screen, with the discard you selected to the far left and colored gray. If your total deadwood count exceeds the KNOCK VALUE (usually 10 unless playing Oklahoma Gin) a panel with your deadwood count will appear with the following selections.... CURRENT DEADWOOD: (Number) 1. KNOCK AT: (Knock Value) OK 2. PICK MELDS OK Push the OK button next to selection number 1 to resume the game. If you want to manually select the melds for a different deadwood count, push the the button next to selection number 2. See PICK MELDS else where in this manual for details about using selection number 2. Items may be selected by using the appropriate number key on your keyboard. If your total deadwood count is less than or equal to the KNOCK VALUE (usually 10 unless playing Oklahoma Gin) the following panel will appear... KNOCKING WITH (value of your deadwood) 1. REJECT OK 2. ACCEPT OK 3. PICK MELDS OK Select REJECT if you want to continue playing without KNOCKING or ACCEPT to take the KNOCK and end the hand. Use PICK MELDS to manually select the melds you want to use. The computer will attempt to set up your hand with the least possible deadwood. If you have a hand with many overlapping meld possibilities, you may want to use a different set of melds than those the computer builds. In this case select number 3 to choose your own melds. See PICK MELDS else where in this manual for details about using this selection. 6. CARD LAYOFF: The non knocking player will layoff any cards he/she can against the knocker's melds (providing the knocker did not knock with gin). The cards laid off will be gray in color. 7. LAYOFF DECISION: If your opponent knocks first, the computer will arrange your hand into melds and layoff any cards it can based on the deadwood remaining in your hand. You have the opportunity to rearrange the way your hand melds are arranged if desired. You may see a way to reduce your hand points that the computer arrangement doesn't take advantage of. Select one of the items in the panel presented..... YOUR HAND POINTS (*Amount) 1. ACCEPT OK 2. PICK MELDS OK *Amount: Equals your deadwood value after layoff and after subtracting your opponent's deadwood. If this value is less than or equal to your opponents deadwood, you have under cut your opponent and the words "UNDER CUT" will appear here. If a number appears, this is the point value your opponent will gain on this hand. He or she will also be awarded bonus points if his or her hand is GIN. 1. ACCEPT -- Choose this item to accept the computer arrangement of your hand and take the points indicated. 2. PICK MELDS -- Choose this item to enter the SELECT MELD CARDS process. See pick melds below for details. NOTE: If you select at least one valid meld then select DONE from the PICK MELDS process, you will be presented with the following panel. YOUR HAND HAS CHANGED 1. ACCEPT OK 2. PICK MELDS OK 1. ACCEPT -- Choose this item to accept your meld arrangement. The hand will be layed out again with this new arrangement and your score will be recomputed based on the new melds you have built and susequent layoff. This will be you final card arrangement for this hand. 2. PICK MELDS -- Choose this item to re-enter the PICK MELDS process. NOTE: You can select DONE without any valid melds displayed or select NEW then DONE to return to the game with the original computer selected meld arrangement. If this is the case, you will be again presented with the first message explained under LAYOFF DECISION above. NOTE: You may select and reselect the PICK MELDS choice as many times as you desire. No action will be finalized until you choose ACCEPT from a game query. 8. SAVED GAME INFORMATION: The following game information is saved when the game is quit. 1. Game Speed 2. Fan on or off 3. Talk on or off 4. The type of Gin being played 5. Game score value and bonus values 6. All game scores for any match against a computer player. This information loaded for each game you play and will become the default settings for your gin matches. PICK MELDS This process is carried out on the game board where your hand cards are arranged in order by ranks. The SELECT MELD CARDS control panel will appear to the left and above the game board. Up to 3 melds may be selected, each will be identified by a different highlight color. When this process is entered or START OVER is selected, the initial meld color is yellow. The meld color you are currently working on is shown in the box below the BUILDING MELD caption. Select the cards you want to include in this meld by moving the hand pointer to each card with your mouse, then push either mouse button. If using the keyboard, the hand pointer will be "hot" for the current meld color. move the hand pointer with the arrow keys and drag it over the cards you want to include in this meld. [ ] NEXT MELD Select NEXT MELD by moving the hand pointer to the button next to this item on the SELECT MELD CARDS control panel, push either mouse button to activate the next meld. Up to three seperate melds can be selected in this manner. Each meld will be indicated by it's own highlight color. You will not be able to select the NEXT MELD function until your current meld is valid. I.E. if the current meld has less than three cards highlighted it is not a valid meld. [ ] START OVER Select the START OVER item by moving the hand pointer to the button next to this item on the SELECT MELD CARDS control panel, then push either mouse button to activate it. Use this fuction if you have made a mistake while selecting the cards for your meld or you want to rearrange the melds you have already highlighted. This will reinitialize all melds and return all cards to white (except the card you selected as a discard which will remain gray and cannot be included in any meld). You may now restart the meld building process or select DONE to re-enter the gin game with your hand as you left it. [ ] DONE Select DONE by moving the hand pointer to the button next to this item on the SELECT MELD CARDS control panel, then push either mouse button to activate it. Use this function to exit the SELECT MELD CARDS process. If the deadwood value on exit from this routine is less than or equal to the knock value, you will be presented with the following panel. (See 5. KNOCKING: above for details on using this panel.) KNOCKING WITH (value of your deadwood) 1. REJECT OK 2. ACCEPT OK 3. PICK MELDS OK If you want to leave the PICK MELD CARDS process and re-enter the game as you left it with your hand unaltered, you must first select START OVER so that no melds are highlighted (only required if the meld(s) you have highlighted are valid.) The melds you indicated with this process must be valid before the game will accept them. If your meld is not valid, you will be notified with a message in the message box at the bottom of the SELECT MELD CARDS panel. If you have selected done with an invalid meld the DEADWOOD amount will be recalculated before the this function returns you to the gin game. If you have attempted to select only one meld and it is invalid, you will be returned to the gin game with your hand unaltered. NOTE: Pushing the keyboard key corresponding to the underlined letter of the selection you desire will activate that function. Escape is equivalent to selecting DONE. SCORE BOARD The score board located on the top right side of the main game screen con- sists of the following areas. NAME NAME PREV | | | THIS | | | BONUS | | | TOTAL | | | WON | | | STANDARD GIN SCORING 1. PREV: Shows the previous total score accomplished by each player during this game. 2. THIS: Shows the score achieved by each player for this hand. 3. BONUS: Shows the bonus score awarded for this hand (if any). 4. TOTAL: Shows the total score (bonus + this + prev) awarded so far for the current game. 5. WON: Shows the number of hands won by each player during this game so far. HOLLYWOOD SCORING 1. PREV: This item is N/A for Hollywood since 3 games are played simultaneously. 2. THIS: Shows the score achieved by each player for this hand. 3. BONUS: Shows the bonus score awarded for this hand (if any). 4. TOTAL: Shows the total score (bonus + this) awarded for this hand only. Select HANDS SUMMARY for a review of each hand so far during the game. 5. WON: Shows the number of hands won by each player during this game so far. TROUBLE SHOOTING 2. Trouble shooting: If this game fails to run or provides an error message that there is unsuffecient RAM to run the program, proceed as follows. a. Right click the short cut to the gin game. b. Select Properties from the menu that presents. c. Select the Program Tab. d. Select the Advanced command button. e. Insure the [x] Suggest MS-DOS mode as necessary check box is selected. Some installations will provide a warning that the sound card is already in use when the game is run from windows. You will need to remove any sound that you have associated with clicking an Icon to open an application from windows. Since this is a DOS game, the DOS operating system attempts to use the sound card while it is still in use by windows as it plays the sound associated with opening an application. Removing the sound for opening an application in windows should solve the problem. If nothing seems to work, you may have to play the game from DOS.