Software of the Month Club 1998 May/Software of the Month Club 1998 May.iso/pc/dos/child/seaschl/sea.doc

Text File | 1998-03-03 | 22.0 KB | 517 lines

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|                     SEA SCHOOL  - VOLUME ONE                     |
|                            MATH WAVES                            |
|              Copyright 1994-1996 Pod Bay Enterprises             |
|                            version 1.3                           |
|                                                                  |
|                    an MVP Software Production                    |
|                                                                  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Sea School is shareware.  You are free to evaluate this software.
If you enjoy the game you must register with MVP Software, which
means you must purchase the complete Sea School trilogy.  When you
register you'll receive the Sea School trilogy, which includes all
three Sea School episodes, including over 15 meg of new animations
in the CD-ROM version.  (This evaluation version has only about 1/3
of the complete Sea School trilogy).  See the Previews section in
the software for more information and a sneek peak at what you get
when you register.  Thanks for evaluating Sea School and for
supporting shareware.  Your honesty pays.

To order the Sea School trilogy, call 800-968-9684 toll-free 24
hours a day.  Please have your Master Card or Visa ready when you
call.  Or fill out the order form at the end of this manual and fax
it to: 616-245-3204.  Make sure your credit card number and
expiration date are legible.  Or if you prefer mail the order form
and your check to: MVP Software, 1035 Dallas SE, Grand Rapids, MI
49507-1407.

For overseas orders or technical support call 616-245-8376.

Credits
-------
Programming: David Johndrow
Content & Design: Nancy Johndrow
Art: David Johndrow, Dwight Sharpe, Jana Carey
Music: John B. Davis, Kirk Stallings
Voice: Emily Humphrey

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------
     IBM PC Compatible Computer
     1.44M Floppy Drive or Hard Drive
     VGA Graphics card & Monitor
     MS-Compatible Mouse
     512k Free RAM (Memory)

SYSTEM RECOMMENDATIONS
----------------------
     286-12MHz (without sound & music)
     386Dx-16MHz (with sound & music)
     Hard Drive

ABOUT SEA SCHOOL & MATH WAVES
-----------------------------
The Sea School Series consists of 3 volumes of software designed to
teach and exercise basic early childhood education skills.  This
volume, called Math Waves, introduces and drills math skills.
Within this program, there are 5 major content areas covering these
skills.  Later in this document, descriptions and directions for
each of the 5 areas are discussed.

              How to Register Online and Receive
              the Sea School trilogy Immediately!

MVP is pleased that all MVP shareware products can now be registered
online, with immediate download of the registered version.  This
service is available to anyone in the world who has a Master Card or
Visa and can call from a modem.  To register Sea School or any other
MVP shareware game online, call InterComm at 1-310-858-6200.  Once
you are connected, go to the MVP section.  There you may download
any MVP shareware program free of charge, or you may order and
immediately download any MVP non-shareware title or registered
title.  It's easy and it's fun, so call today.

         Download All the Latest MVP Shareware Games FREE

If your favorite BBS doesn't have an MVP file section, then you may
be missing some great shareware.  To get all the latest and greatest
MVP shareware releases, call one of the leading boards listed below,
and check out the FREE MVP file area.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan -- Ryan's Bar [phone]
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- Exec-PC [phone]
In New York, New York -- The Invention Factory [phone]
In Boston, Massachusetts -- Channel 1 [phone]
In Kansas City, Missouri -- Sound Advice [phone]
In Palo Alto, California -- Space BBS [phone]
In Reston, Virginia -- World Data Network [phone]

Or call Intercomm Online at [phone], the new source for
all of MVP's shareware and registered software.

Even better, tell your favorite sysop about the MVP Distribution
Network and how he can be assured of getting all of the latest MVP
shareware hits as soon as they are released.  See the SYSOP.DOC file
for details.

                      MVP is Now on CompuServe!

You can get all of the latest MVP shareware releases, and discuss
MVP titles directly with the authors on MVP's new section on the
world's largest online information network, CompuServe.  Just type
GO MVPSOFT to get to our section!  If you are not a CompuServe
member you are eligible to receive a FREE trial membership,
including software and online time worth almost $55!  That's right,
you get the CompuServe Information Manager software for DOS or
Windows, which normally costs $29.95.  Plus you get a free first
month of online access, worth $9.95.  And to top it off, you get a
usage credit of $15 of additional online time.

To take advantage of this free trial membership to the largest
online service in the world, call 800-848-8199.  Ask for rep 671.
And then GO MVPSOFT and talk to the MVP team on CompuServe.

       MVP is Now on the Internet and the World Wide Web!

You can get all of the latest MVP shareware releases, find out news
of future activities, and give feedback to MVP on the Internet.  To
visit our new home page, just set your WWW browser to this URL:

                  http://www.mvpsoft.com

While there, you can see descriptions of all our releases, download
the shareware versions with a click of your mouse button, and check
out full color screen shots for all of our games.  Be sure to leave
feedback telling us how you like our page!

If you prefer using direct ftp to get our files, you can find them
at the following sites:

                 ftp.mvpsoft.com/pub/mvpsoft
                 ftp.uwp.edu/pub/msdos/games/mvp
                 archive.uwp.edu/pub/msdos/games/mvp
                 ftp.he.net/pub/mvpsoft

These sites also have many mirrors, so just look for a game site
with an MVP directory, and you'll be assured of getting the best
games around!

INSTALLATION
------------
If you downloaded this file from a BBS, you don't need to install
the software.  Simply unzip the zip file into a directory and start
the game by typing SEA, and press ENTER.  If you purchased an
evaluation disk from a shareware vendor or the store, you can just
copy the files to a directory on your hard disk, or you can install
the software under Windows.

To run Sea School as a DOS application, spawned under Windows, run
the included Setup program.  Note that you must install the game to
a directory other than the one in which you have unzipped it.  The
Setup program will create an icon on your Windows Program Manager.
If you do not wish to run Setup, you can still run the game from
Windows.  To do so, from Program Manager, first click on File, then
on Run.  Then enter the directory in which you have installed Sea
School, followed by \SEA.  Then click on OK.

To begin the game type SEA.

SEA SCHOOL AND THE SOUND BLASTER 16
-----------------------------------
The Sound Blaster 16 sound card causes special problems, especially
in 486 DX2 systems.  If the game locks up, try running it without
digitized sound effects.  Another option is to include the following
command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT:

    SET SB=SET FM:9,9

This command may also make the music louder if it is too soft on
your SB 16.

TROUBLESHOOTING
---------------
If Sea School refuses to run on your computer, the most likely cause
is insufficient free conventional RAM.  You can solve this problem
by running MEMMAKER from the DOS prompt.  From your C:> prompt,
type: MEMMAKER and press ENTER.  Run Memmaker in "Express Setup,"
and tell it that you DO NOT need EMS (Expanded Memory).  Both of
these options are defaults.  Once Memmaker is finished optimizing
your system memory, Sea School should run.

If Sea School still does not run, it may be because you do not have
a mouse driver loaded.  From the C:> prompt, type MOUSE and press
ENTER.  If the system responds with "Bad command or file name," then
you need to locate the mouse.exe or mouse.com file that came with
your system.  If you cannot find that file, contact the company from
whom you purchased your computer.  A computer that is properly setup
will load the mouse drive automatically upon bootup, and if yours
does not, the folks who sold you the computer should be able to help
you.

Note: Windows has its own built-in mouse driver.  However, this WILL
NOT work with DOS programs such as Sea School.

                       Ordering Information

The Sea School trilogy is available from the following authorized
distributors:

In the United States:
--------------------
MVP Software
1035 Dallas SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507-1407
phone: [phone]-hour order line only
       [phone] information, technical support, or orders.
fax: [phone]

order price: $29.95 plus $4.00 shipping in the US, $5.00 shipping to
Canada, $6.00 shipping everywhere else.  Michigan residents please
add appropriate sales tax.

In Australia:
------------
Budgetware
9 Albermarle St
Newtown NSW 2042
phone: [phone]          Fax: [phone]
order price: $A45.00 (includes shipping)

In the United Kingdom:
---------------------
Atlantic Coast Plc.
Station Rd.
Colyton, Devon, EX13 6HA
phone: [phone]            Fax: [phone]
order price: L30 (includes shipping and taxes)
Dealers please enquire.

In Denmark and all of Scandanavia:
---------------------------------
Pro-Soft
Benloese Skel 4 G
DK 4100 Ringsted

phone: [phone]            fax: [phone]
order price: 210,00 kr. + VAT 25% + s/h 25,00

In Japan:
--------
P. & A. Company Ltd
302 Bellwins, 1367-23
Nakagami, Akishima, Tokyo 196

phone: [phone]             fax: [phone]
BBS: 425-46-9143
order price: 4500 yen includes shipping and taxes

Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
---------------------------------
JDS -- Software Vertrieb
Jens Driese
Postfach 1269
D-26302

phone: [phone]             fax: [phone]
CIS: 100273,2252               BTX: DRIESE#
order price: 49 DM (includes taxes) plus 6 DM shipping

The Netherlands and Belgium
---------------------------
CSD -- Computer Solutions Dorth
Postbus 59
NL-7213 ZH Gorssel
THE NETHERLANDS
phone: [phone]       Fax: [phone]
order price: fl. 65,00 (includes VAT and shipping)

Italy
-----
Systems Comunicazioni srl
via Olanda
6 - 20083 Gaggiano

phone: [phone]               fax: [phone]
BBS: [phone]
order price: Lire 62.000 IVA inclusa

Spain
-----
Friendware S.L.
Rafael Calvo, 40
28010 Madrid

phone: [phone]            Fax: [phone]
CIS: 100413,1667
order price: 4.000 Pts

                  Sea School Trilogy Order Form

Name ______________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________

City _______________________________ State ______ ZIP _____________

Country (if outside USA) __________________________________________

IMPORTANT:    3.5" disks          CD-ROM      (circle one)

Price of Sea School Trilogy                                  $29.95
Shipping and Handling (US)                                     4.00
Shipping and Handling (Canada)                                 5.00
Shipping and Handling (all other countries)                    6.00
Michigan residents add sales tax                               2.04
                                                              -----
Make check payable to "MVP Software"        Total enclosed:  $
Master Card/Visa information (credit card orders only)

Card number __________________________________________

Expiration date ______________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------
VOLUNTARY QUESTIONS:  Please help us determine what features you
====================  would like in future products.

Circle what type of equipment you have:  386  486SX  486DX  Pentium
Circle the speed of your computer(Mhz):  25  33  40  50  66  90  ___
Circle any that apply:   Joystick   Mouse   Modem_______   SVGA card
                                                 (speed)

Sound Capability:   Adlib   Sound Blaster   SB Pro   SB AWE32
    PC speaker only  Other ____________________________________

Where did you get Sea School?
Friend   CompuServe   AOL   Prodigy   Channel 1   Invention Factory
World Data Network   Ryan's Bar   Exec-PC   Space BBS   Sound Advice

BBS (name): _______________________  phone # _______________________
    address ________________________________________________________

Shareware Distributor (name): ______________________________________

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Send this order form and your check to:

MVP Software, 1035 Dallas S.E., Grand Rapids, MI  49507-1407
Checks must be in US funds and drawn on a US or Canadian bank.

US or Canada 24-hour order line: 800-968-9684.  Fax: [phone].
Tech support, information, or overseas order line: 616-245-8376.

USING THIS PROGRAM
------------------
All 3 volumes of Sea School, including Math Waves, are accessed
through one program called SEA.  (In this shareware version only
volume one, Math Waves, is available.)  You must first change to the
Sea School sub-directory.  If you installed Math Waves directly
under the main directory, in DOS you would type "CD \<directory
name>" and press return.  Then all you have to do is type "SEA", hit
ENTER, and you are ready to go!

The first thing that you will see is the Sea School main menu
screen.  From this screen, you can call each of the 3 volumes in the
series if you have ordered them.  For now, you can only access Math
Waves.  After you experiment with Math Waves, try returning to this
screen and looking at some previews of the other 2 volumes.  Or,
locate the previews section within the Math Waves program itself.

The first time you run Math Waves, you will be asked an important
question that will customize the program to your child's name.  Use
this feature if and only if the same child will be the only child
using this copy of Sea School.  Otherwise, each time Sea School is
run, it will prompt the child for their first name.  This can be
irritating if you use Sea School at home and your child is the only
one to use it.

Once you start Sea School, the program will go into demonstration
mode after periods of idleness.  Demonstration mode simply gives you
glimpses of some of the areas in this program.  To quit
demonstration mode and reach the Math Waves main menu, click the
mouse button.  Having done so, you will see the main menu.  The main
menu consists of 6 choice panels and a quit button.  Use the quit
button to leave the program and return to DOS.  The 6 choice panels
represent the 5 major content areas as well as an options area
labelled "SEE ME FIRST." To choose any of these areas, simply click
the mouse button when the cursor is pointing to the desired icon.

ABOUT THE "SEE ME FIRST" OPTIONS AREA
-------------------------------------
When you click on the "See me first!" panel, you will see the
following screen:

(1) INFORMATION: This section steps you through all kinds of
information that pertains to this program and the Sea School series
as a whole.  Much of the information in this document is repeated in
this section.

(2) SOUND & MUSIC: This section allows you to control the sound &
music volume settings.  When you enter this section, you will see
two bars that can be changed to set the volume for the musical
scores and the sound effects & spoken words.  Setting these options
to 0 will effectively turn them off.  Music is available to those of

you who have an Adlib or Sound Blaster compatible card.  Sound
effects and spoken words are available for those of you who have a
Sound Blaster compatible card.  If you do not have a Sound Blaster
compatible card, you can get PC speaker sound effects.  You turn PC
Speaker sound off by setting the volume to 0 just as you would if
you had digitized effects.

IMPORTANT!!!  If you experience sluggish behavior while running this
program, try turning off the music feature to free up processor
time.

IMPORTANT!!!  Some of you with Sound Blaster 16's may experience
lockups.  If this is the case, you should turn the sound volume off.
If you want to have PC Speaker sound, call the program with the this
parameter: "SEA1 1".

(3) SASSY'S SCOREBOARD: This section will review the progress of the
child using the program.  For each of the 5 content areas, the most
recent and best performance is detailed.  For each, the number of
correct guesses on the first opportunity as well as the number of
attempts made are reported.  In the Sea School Series, you will
notice that when incorrect choices are made, the number of remaining
options is narrowed and the child must try again.  Eventually, the
child has to choose the correct answer because eventually it will be
the only remaining choice.  For this reason, the coin scoring
mechanism only rewards a coin if the child chooses the correct
response on the first try.  Also, even though they can miss it
several times within any given round, the number of attempts made
refers to the number of rounds played.

CONTENT AREA DESCRIPTIONS
-------------------------
The following sections will describe each of the 5 content areas and
how they operate.  Keep in mind that the coins mentioned below refer
to correct guesses made on 1st attempts.

AREA 1: WAVES (Counting)
------------------------
In this section, a wave will wash items up on a shore.  When the
wave recedes, four puddles at the top of the screen fill with water.
Each puddle has a number in it as well.  The goal is to count the
number of items that washed up on shore, and choose the correct
puddle reflecting that number of items.  When a correct answer is
chosen, a sunglass bespectacled Sassy sticks her head out and smiles
at you, then another wave washes up leaving the next round of items.
When an incorrect response is chosen, that puddle drains and you are
left with fewer choices.

AREA 2: SEA HORSES (Number Sequencing)
--------------------------------------
In this section, you will see five seahorses swimming in the water.
Each seahorse has a number on its side.  The goal is to choose the
numbers in sequence, starting with the number one.  When you choose
the appropriate seahorse, he will swim to the bottom of the screen
and place the number in sequence.  Meanwhile, keep an eye on the
cave.  Sassy will make an appearance in her submarine.  Incorrect
choices result in the disappearance of the number, thus yielding
fewer choices.

AREA 3: PENGUINS (Addition)
---------------------------
This section begins with six penguins marching out onto the screen.
Once the penguins are on the screen, an addition problem will appear
in the sky.  Each penguin will face you with a number on its chest.

The goal is to choose the penguin with the number that is the answer
to the addition problem above.  When a correct choice is made, the
penguin will reward you by turning around, walking to the water, and
jumping in.  Be sure to watch for the penguin to resurface with a
TA-DA while the other penguins clap.  When an incorrect choice is
made, the penguins shake their heads in unison and the number
disappears, leaving you with fewer choices.

AREA 4: ICE FISHING (Subtraction)
---------------------------------
In this section, you will be fishing for the answers to subtraction
problems.  The section begins with the subtraction problem appearing
in the sky.  You are on the screen holding a fishing pole above four
holes in the ice.  You must move the hook to the hole you want to
select.  When you answer correctly, you begin to fight the fish and
eventually you'll reel him in.  At that time, the fish is added to
your fish rack and a winter-clothed Sassy appears to let you know
you were right.  When an incorrect choice is made, you will fight
for a fish, but the fish will get off the hook.  In fact, he'll
steal your worm!

AREA 5: SAND BRUSHING (Number Words)
------------------------------------
This unique section will enable the child to uncover debris that
washes up on shore.  Like the first section, a wave will wash up on
shore.  When the wave recedes, it leaves some items on the beach
that are covered by sand.  Each "shadowed" item has a number word on
top of it.  You must move the brush to the bottom of the screen and
choose the number that matches the number word, then move to the
item, click the button and then begin brushing away sand.  Once you
have uncovered the whole item, you will be rewarded a gold coin.
Once you have uncovered all of the items, a new wave will bring you
yet another round.

REWARDS SCREEN
--------------
When either an area is completed or your child decides to return to
the main menu by hitting the ESCAPE key, if any coins were earned,
the child is rewarded with a screen that counts up the number of
coins earned.  As the coins fall into a chest, the number of total
coins earned is displayed on the treasure chest.  If the number of
coins earned meets or exceeds three-fourths of the attempts made, a
firework display lets your child know they are doing well.

Once all of the coins have fallen and the fireworks display is over,
the view will shift over to the scoreboard.  This scoreboard, unlike
the one intended for parents or teacher in the SASSY'S SCORE-BOARD
section, reports how many total coins have been earned as well as
the child's current rank.  There are eight different ranks, each is
acquired after a certain threshold of coins is exceeded.  Once the
highest rank is achieved, your child can continue to progress by
collecting starfish.

We hope you enjoy Math Waves.  If you do, please support shareware
and register the Sea School trilogy.  Your children will thank you.