I N S T R U C T I O N S ----------------------- "HOUSE OF CARDS" contains six of the most commonly played card parlor games. Two of these (cribbage and gin rummy) are traditionally 2-player games while the other four (spades, hearts, bridge, and pinochle) are 2-player versions of the normal games. One of the two players is always the computer. The other player can be the computer (in demo mode) but is usually a human player. THE OPTIONS: Each game has a series of optionswith which the player can customize the play. These options are such itemsas the game limit and the points givenfor different actions. Prior to the start of any game, the Option Menu for that game is pre- sented. While the options will vary from game to game, the method of pick-ing an option is the same. Use the up/down arrow keys (or up/down direct-ion on the joystick) to move from one option to another. Use the left/right arrow keys (or left/right direction ofthe joystick) to change the setting ofan option. Pressing the enter key (or the firebutton) starts the game using all the options as set at that time. Two exceptions to this are the final two options for any given game. 1) The win log option allows the player to see his current Win-Log 2) The House Rules option allows the player to read the house rules governing that particular game. It is STRONGLY suggested that the player read these house rules to avoid misunderstandings. Remember that rules vary greatly depending on where you are and with whom you are playing. THE PLAY: During the play of the game, it will be necessary to select cards, areas to move to, areas to move from, and other options. HOUSE OF CARDS waswritten to simplify the whole proce- dure through the use of the joystick or the arrow keys/enter key. If the player is to choose a cardto play, an indicator will appear beneath on of the cards. Moving the indicator left or right will allow theplayer to choose among any or all of the legal choices. Pressing the fire-button/enter key makes the selection. If the player has to choose an option (such as continue or quit), a small window will appear on the screenwith the choices inside. Use the up/ down keys/joystick positions to move the hilighted area. Use the fire- button/enter key to select the currenthilighted option. THE PRACTICE MODE: To help beginner players or thosewho might be a bit rusty in a game, HOUSE OF CARDS has a practice mode wherein the cards of the opponent are always visible during play. This is strictly intended to help you learn. THE DEMO MODE: If you wish to simply watch a game being played, you can select the demo mode in any game. While in this mode, the hands of both sides are readable and the computer handles the actions of both the COMPUTER and the PLAYER. THE WIN LOG: At the beginning of each play session, the game asks for a 3-initialname of the player. These initials are used to keep on disk a record of the last menu options selected and, more importantly, the win/loss status of the player. The win log is displayed at the end of any game (if selected) and at the beginning of the first game (if selected). It shows the total number of games played, how many each side has won, the total number of points won by each side, and the current leader. The leader is chosen by use of the number of games won. It is pos- sible, though unlikely, that one side could have more overall points but less wins. There can be many different win logs, each for a different set of initials. The win logs are saved on the disk (or hard drive) with the filename "win_log" and the extension name equaling the specified initials. For example, the win log of the author (Randall Don Masteller) would be saved as "WIN_LOG.RDM". The win log is modified at the end of every game. Note that the win log is NOT up- dated with either the demo or practicemodes are selected. THE REPLAY: At the end of each hand after the winner of the hand has been deter-mined and shown, the player is given the option of continuing play or of seeing a replay of the hand which was just finished. During the replay, the computer handles both sides and shows how the hand was handled by both parties. The replay feature is given to let the player study a completed hand.It is not intended to, nor will it let, a player play a finished hand differently. GAME OVER: When the preset game limit has been reached and one side has won, the winner will be largely and clearlyshown on the screen. Press the fire- button/enter key to continue. After a game, the player is giventhe choice of playing another game, reviewing the win log, or returning tothe main game menu to choose a differ-ent game to play.
