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BASSTOUR
Version 4.55
The Ultimate fishing tournament game
By Dick Olsen
Table of Contents
A Few Words About Shareware.............................2
BassTour Support........................................3
Introduction............................................4
The Scenario............................................4
What You Need To Run BassTour...........................4
Running BassTour From A Floppy Disk.....................5
Running BassTour From A Hard Disk.......................5
The Program.............................................6
The Boat................................................6
The Fishing Areas.......................................7
The Fish................................................7
The Opponents...........................................8
The Equipment...........................................8
The Trolling Motor....................................8
The Outboard Motor....................................8
The LCD Chart Recorder................................9
Rod Box...............................................9
Tackle Box...........................................10
Live Well............................................10
Life Jacket..........................................11
Anchor...............................................11
Paddle...............................................11
Moving The Boat........................................12
Rotating The Boat......................................12
Scrolling The Screen...................................12
Casting................................................13
Weighing In Your Fish..................................14
Contour Map............................................14
Sound ON/OFF...........................................15
List Status............................................15
Add Fish Formula.......................................15
Weather Report.........................................15
Quit The Game..........................................15
View Record Catches....................................16
The '-' (MINUS) Key....................................16
Saving A Game..........................................16
List Fish In Live Well.................................16
BOSS Mode..............................................17
Changing Lakes.........................................17
A Few Choice Words.....................................18
Credits................................................19
Disclaimer.............................................20
Association Of Shareware Professionals.................20
Problem Report Form....................................21
Registration Form......................................22
BassTour 4.55 2
A Few Words About ShareWare....
BASSTOUR is made available to the general public under the
concept of ShareWare. As such, you are free to copy it and
distribute it to others provided that all accompanying files are
distributed intact and unmodified, and that no fee is charged.
The author retains ALL rights to the program. You are encouraged
try the program for a reasonable period of time to see if you
like it. If it proves to be enjoyable, please support the efforts
of the author by registering your copy of the program.
Once you have done so, you can expect a prompt reply to any
correspondence regarding BassTour and you will also receive the
latest version of the game if the version you have is not the
newest. In all correspondence regarding BASSTOUR, please be SURE to
specify the following information:
* What version of BASSTOUR you have
* What brand and model computer you have
* How much memory your machine has
* The disks your machine has (hard, 2 floppies etc.)
* What kind of video card your machine has
* Any other type of cards your machine has
REGISTRATION BENEFITS:
Registering BassTour has lots of benefits, some tangible, some not.
Registered users are entitled to the newest version of the game. If
the version you are registering is not the newest, the current
version will be sent to you automatically unpon receipt of your
registration. If the version you are registering IS the newest
available, your name will be added to my list of users who will
receive the next new release of the game if one becomes available.
Additionally, registered users can obtain an updated version at any
time for only $5.00 ($7.00 outside North America).
As a registered BassTour user, you will also be eligible for two
SPECIAL offers. First, you can obtain a FREE CompuServe IntroPak.
The Intropak includes a $15.00 usage credit for new CompuServe
members. Second, you can subscribe to Shareware Magazine for a full
year at the special price of only $12.95 instead of the normal rate
of $20.00. What a deal!
To register your copy of BASSTOUR, send $15.00 for 5.25 inch disk
or $17.00 for 3.5 inch disk along with the registration form at the
end of this document to the author:
Richard Olsen
68 Hartwell Ave.
Littleton, MA. 01460
Thank you for supporting my efforts!
BassTour 4.55 3
BassTour Support:
BassTour, like all of my other programs, is well supported. This
support is available whether or not you are a registered user. If
you have a problem or a question regarding BassTour, you can
obtain assistance in one of the four ways listed below. Many of
the most common questions and problems are addressed in the file
called Q&A.TXT on your disk. Be sure to read that file before
seeking help since your question may be answered there, saving
additional time and expense.
1. TELEPHONE. I do not publish my telephone number for lots of
reasons. It is listed, and you can obtain it by calling the
telephone company information service. If you must call, please
be considerate by not calling after 10:00 PM Eastern Standard
Time. If I'm available, I answer all calls personally. If I'm
not there, please leave a message stating (clearly please) what
your name is and the phone number where you can be reached.
It's also helpful if you specify the best time for me to call.
Since the registration fees for my programs are low, expect any
return calls to be COLLECT.
2. MAIL. This is the slowest but most reliable way to obtain support.
In any correspondence, please specify what program you have a
question about, and include the information about your machine
configuration as requested on the previous page. I answer all mail
personally, but tend to reply to registered users first since I
feel they deserve preferential treatment. I suggest using the
Problem Report Form near the end of this document.
3. COMPUSERVE. Leave messages on CompuServe via CMAIL to my PPN,
70031,534. I check in there almost daily and answer messages as
soon as I get them.
4. XEVIOUS BBS. My 'home BBS' is Xevious in Framingham, MA. The
phone number is (508) 875-3618. Leave messages to DICK OLSEN. I
check into Xevious several times a week, so allow a day or two
for a reply to appear.
BassTour 4.55 4
Introduction
BASSTOUR is a fishing tournament game in which you have
complete control of a fully rigged bass boat. You control where it
goes, and how it gets there. Your bass boat has all of the latest
accessories, including a trolling motor, LCD chart recorder, a
rod box containing six different fishing rods, and a fully stocked
tackle box we would all be proud to own. The object of the game is to
catch the heaviest five fish limit on each of three days of the
tournament. The fisherman with the highest total weight wins
the tournament. As in real fishing, it's not always easy! Each day of
the tournament allows you to fish for six hours. Just about
everything you do takes time. Changing lures consumes time. So does
turning on your LCD recorder. Moving your boat takes longer if you use
the trolling motor than if you use the outboard motor. On the
other hand, the outboard motor consumes gasoline while the trolling
motor uses battery power. You make the trade offs. You must
bring your boat back to the weigh in area before the six hour fishing
day has elapsed and have your fish weighed in.
Here is a brief explanation of the situation:
You are a professional bass tournament fisherman. You have
complete control of a fully rigged bass boat. You control every
aspect of the boat, just as if it were real. You face the same
problems a real fisherman encounters during a bass tournament. If
you're not careful, accidents can occur that cost you time,
possibly some cash, and if severe enough, the tournament. You
decide where you will fish, what type rod you'll use and what kind
of bait. Fish the open water with a crankbait or work the stumps with
a plastic worm. Locate a drop off with your LCD graph and rip a
Rat-L-Trap if you want. Maybe you'll win the daily lunker award or
set a new record for the lake!
What You Need To Run BASSTOUR
BASSTOUR requires an IBM PC or compatible computer with at least
512k of memory. BASSTOUR will run with either an EGA, CGA or
Hercules compatible video system. You can run BASSTOUR from a
floppy disk or from a hard disk. If you are lucky enough to have a VGA
card and monitor, BASSTOUR will run fine on it also. If you have a
mouse on your computer, you can use it to play BASSTOUR, although it
is not necessary. It is highly recommended that you make a backup copy
of your BASSTOUR diskette. Use the backup copy, and store the
original diskette in a safe place. Beginning with version 2.0 of
BASSTOUR, one command line option is supported. This command line
option allows you to force BASSTOUR to run in one of the four
video modes: VGA, EGA, CGA, or Hercules. In most instances, you will
not need to specify which video mode since BASSTOUR can detect
what kind of video system your computer has. There are a few types
of EGA cards that BASSTOUR cannot detect however. If your computer
has an EGA card, but BASSTOUR will not detect it, you can force it to
run in EGA mode anyway. To do this, use the command line shown below
when you want to run BASSTOUR:
BassTour 4.55 5
BASSTOUR -e
You can also use a -h for Hercules or a -c for CGA. If you simply type
BASSTOUR, the program will choose the best mode it can. If you have a
VGA display, BASSTOUR can be forced to use the 256 color 320 x
200 MCGA mode. Running the program in MCGA mode requires the use of
a -m command line option. For example, to run in the 256 color 320 x
200 mode of your VGA, type BASSTOUR -m when you start the
program. Simply typing BASSTOUR will cause your VGA display to run in
the 640 x 350 16 color EGA mode.
Since BASSTOUR requires a large amount of FREE memory, be sure that
you do not have memory resident programs loaded before running
BASSTOUR. Ramdisks, printer buffers, menu programs and other TSR's
occupy large amounts of memory in your system, making it unusable by
BASSTOUR. BASSTOUR may appear to run normally, but if there is not
enough available memory, the program may halt. If this happens, a
message will inform you of the fact that there is insufficient memory
available for BASSTOUR. In this situation, BASSTOUR will not run
properly on your system until you remove the offending software from
memory.
How To Run BASSTOUR From A Floppy Disk
If your computer does not have a hard disk, at the DOS prompt,
insert the distribution diskette into drive A: and simply type
BASSTOUR <enter>. After a few seconds, the title screen will
appear. You will be asked to answer a few questions before the game
starts. If your computer does have a hard disk, but you still want
to run BASSTOUR from your floppy disk, insert the distribution
diskette into drive A: and type A:<enter> at the DOS prompt, then
type BASSTOUR <enter>. Be sure that you leave the diskette in the
drive while you are playing, and that it is NOT write protected. If
you get real lucky, and catch a record sized fish, BASSTOUR will try to
save your record catch on the disk. If the disk isn't there, or if it's
write protected, BASSTOUR may halt, waiting for the disk to be
available. BASSTOUR will allow you to save a game so that you can
finish playing it at a later time. If you are running BASSTOUR from
your floppy disk, there may not be enough disk space to save a game.
To avoid "insufficient disk space" errors, it is suggested that you
delete this file (BT.DOC) from the disk you are using. BE SURE THAT
YOU HAVE MADE A COPY FIRST!!! If you attempt to save a game on a disk
with insufficient space, a message will appear to notify you that the
game was not saved due to lack of disk space.
How To Run BASSTOUR From A Hard Disk
To run BASSTOUR from your hard disk, first it must be installed. The
distribution diskette has a batch file on it called
"BTINSTAL.BAT" that will do this for you. To run this
installation file, first insert the distribution diskette into drive
A:. Then type A:BTINSTAL. The installation file will create a directory
on your hard disk called BTOUR. Then it will copy all of the files from
the floppy disk to the hard disk. After all of the files have
BassTour 4.55 6
been copied, the message "installation completed..." will
appear on your screen, and BASSTOUR will automatically run.
BASSTOUR can be run at any time thereafter by just typing BT<enter>.
The Program
BASSTOUR has four levels of play; Novice, Intermediate, Pro and
Practice. In the first three levels, you are a professional bass
fisherman participating in a three day tournament. Each of the days
represents six hours of fishing, and you must weigh in your fish at the
designated weigh in area before the end of the day's fishing. If
you fail to weigh in before the six hours have elapsed, all of the
fish in your live well are released, and you receive no credit for
them. The total weight of your fish is accumulated at the end of each
day of the tournament, and the current standings are posted. At
the end of the third day, the final standings and the winnings are
posted. In Novice level, the fish are very easy to catch, and it's
easy to finish in the money. Intermediate level requires a bit
more searching and lure experimenting to fill your live well with
decent sized fish. Pro level is just plain tough! The fish are more
selective and harder to locate. In Pro mode, just as in reality, it can
be pretty hard to catch your limit. In fact, it's not unusual to fish
an entire day of the tournament without catching a legal fish. You'll
need to be more alert to your current situation. The weather is
important. Your boat may drift if it's windy, and you may end up stuck
somewhere preventing you from making the weigh in time. Each fishing
area has a record for the largest fish caught at that area. If,
during the course of the tournament, you catch a fish that is larger
than the current record, a small ceremony will ensue and you will
be established as the new record holder for that particular lake or
river. The records are kept in a file called LAKERECS.TXT on your disk,
and the current record fish for each of the fishing areas can be
viewed at any time. In another file on your distribution diskette,
STRINGER.TXT, BASSTOUR keeps records of the 10 heaviest stringers. A
stringer is considered to be the accumulated tournament weight for
the three days of the tournament.
The fourth mode is Practice. This mode was added at the request of
users. In Practice mode, there is no time limit, gasoline is assumed
to be unlimited, and battery power lasts forever. Practice mode
forces the Pro skill level. In Practice mode, you can fish to your
hearts content, and you can still weigh in your fish just as if it were
a tournament. Lake records can still be set in Practice mode, but
heavy stringer records cannot.
The Boat
Your boat is equipped with a trolling motor, an LCD chart
recorder, 20 gallons of gasoline, batteries, a rod box, a tackle box,
various emergency and safety devices, a live well, an anchor and of
course a powerful outboard motor. As with a real bass boat, you need
to exercise care and good judgment in the use of this equipment.
Time is your biggest enemy, with the constant threat of obstacles such
as stumps and rocks, running out of gasoline or killing your
batteries contributing to your problems. As if all of these things
BassTour 4.55 7
weren't enough, there are other boats in the area to contend with. As
in a real fishing situation, these other boats sometimes seem to
be piloted by inconsiderate people; they hog fishing areas or crowd
you. Sometimes they spook fish or even cause accidents!
The Fishing Areas
Included on your BASSTOUR disk are six different bodies of water that
you can fish. When the title screen appears, the names of the six
fishing areas will be listed. To pick an area, just enter the
corresponding area number. Once you have selected the area, it
remains selected throughout the three day tournament. Each fishing
area is unique in itself. Every time you start a new day of fishing,
the location of the fish will be different, and their sizes will vary
greatly. Additionally, every time the game is started, the depths on a
particular lake will vary. When fishing, it is wise to keep a check on
the time remaining, the charge level of your batteries, and how
much gasoline you have left. You must weigh in your fish before the
time has expired. In order to weigh in your fish, you must be close to
the weigh in area. The weigh in area on each lake is signified by a
yellow flag, usually near where your boat is placed when the
tournament begins. If your computer has a CGA or Hercules video system,
the weigh in area will be signified by a flag with a black X in
it. On EGA systems, your boat is the light blue (cyan) colored boat,
while in Hercules or CGA systems, your boat is the solid colored one.
If you are running in the MCGA mode of your VGA display, your boat
is the bright pink one. In all cases, your boat starts each day of the
tournament adjacent to the weigh in flag.
The Fish
After the lake has been drawn on the screen, the program decides where
fish should be placed. As in real fishing, bass seem to like to be
in or near some sort of cover. Stumps, rocks, lily pads etc. will
usually hold the most fish. Fish also seem to congregate along humps
or drop offs elsewhere on the lake. Boat docks, moored boats and
weeds are also good places to look. Fish can also be caught in the
middle of the lake. Each fish has its own unique personality, which
determines how easy the fish is to catch. Fish have an aggression
factor assigned to them, as well as lure type and color preferences.
If a fish is very aggressive, it will usually strike almost any type
or color of bait. Mildly aggressive fish are more selective. Sometimes
fish will cluster in an area, so it's a good idea to cover an
area of the lake thoroughly because several fish can be caught in the
same place at times. If you catch a decent fish in an area, it's
wise to make several casts to the same general area since fish of
similar size often stick together. In Intermediate and especially
Pro modes, lure choice and color are important. You can cover an area
completely without catching any fish, then change bait types or
colors and catch fish after fish in the area you just covered. The
program typically places about 2000 in a lake. If your computer
is an XT type, it may take several seconds for the fish to be
placed. When the small timer window appears, you're ready to start. The
potential exists to catch an 18 lb. plus fish on each lake.
BassTour 4.55 8
In each lake, there lurks a GIANT bass called Lulu. She is very
finicky, and will only strike a bait if it is the exact type and color
she wants. To catch Lulu is truly a magnificent feat. If you catch
her, you will be given the opportunity to print a special
certificate (assuming you have a printer connected) which, if
sent to the author together with the exact weight of Lulu, will earn
you a nice surprise.
The Opponents
In any of the skill levels, you are fishing against 30 of the top names
in bass tournament fishing. Although it's quite easy to win the
tournament if you are fishing in Novice or even Intermediate mode,
Pro mode is quite another story. These guys you're fishing against are
the best. They got to be the best by being consistent. In
Pro mode, it's not unusual to weigh in 18 or 20 pounds of fish, and
not make the top ten!
The Equipment
* Trolling Motor ( F2 or T )
The trolling motor is raised or lowered by pressing the F2 key or by
pressing 'T'. If the trolling motor is down, pressing F2 (or T) will
raise it. If the trolling motor is up, pressing F2 (or T) will lower
it. Starting the outboard motor will automatically raise the
trolling motor if it is down. Likewise, lowering the trolling motor
automatically stops the outboard motor. If you are using a mouse, first
bring up the command list by pressing the left mouse button. Then
point to the trolling motor command in the list and press the left
button again. The command list can only be displayed if you are
not in the cast mode. The trolling motor uses more time than the
outboard motor to move your boat, and it also consumes battery
power. Once you have fished a few tournaments with BASSTOUR, you will
begin to remember what keys to press and find that you rely on the
command list much less. Mouse users can always use the keys if they
wish. The trolling motor can be raised or lowered while in the cast
mode.
* The Outboard Motor (alt-F9 or O)
Pressing ALT-F9 (hold down the ALT key while you press F9) will start
the outboard motor. Pressing 'O' will do the same thing. The outboard
will NOT run if you are out of gas. If you have the sound enabled, you
will hear a buzz that indicates that the motor is running. Remember
that any time the outboard is running, you are consuming gasoline. The
outboard motor can also be started by first bringing up the command
window (by pressing the LEFT mouse button or by pressing F1) then
pointing at the RUN/STOP OUTBOARD command with your mouse. Remember
that you cannot bring up the command window if you are in cast
mode. There are two other things to be aware of when using the
outboard motor. First, tournament rules state that when moving your
boat under power of the outboard motor, you must wear a life jacket.
Failure to wear your life jacket may cost you a fine or even
BassTour 4.55 9
cause you to be disqualified. The life jacket usage is discussed later
in this document. The second thing to be aware of when using
your outboard motor are zones designated "NO WAKE". These areas are
found on most lakes, and are indicated by the presence of a
floating sign. Sometimes, you will be given a citation if you pass
through these areas with your outboard motor running at a faster than
allowed speed. If you pass through a NO WAKE ZONE at idle speed, you
will not get a citation, nor will you if you are using the trolling
motor. Receiving a citation not only costs you money, it costs time as
well. You cannot start the outboard if you are in cast mode.
The outboard motor has five speeds. To increase the speed, press the
INS key. To slow down, press the DEL key. The faster you run
the outboard, the more gas you consume. On the other hand, moving the
boat at a fast speed uses less time to travel long distances. As you
increase or decrease the speed of the outboard motor, the sound will
vary in pitch and a short note will appear to verify the change in
speed. Each time you press the INS key, your outboard speed is
increased until you are at maximum RPM's. Likewise, each press of the
DEL key slows down your motor until it is at idle speed. If
you run your outboard motor at the highest speed, be careful. If you
hit an obstacle, your outboard may be damaged and out of service
for that day of the tournament.
* LCD Chart Recorder (alt-F1 or G)
Pressing ALT-F1 (hold down the ALT key while you press F1) will turn
on the LCD recorder if it is off, or turn it off if it is on.
Pressing 'G' will do the same thing. If your boat is in the left half
of the screen, the LCD recorder will appear in the upper right
corner of the screen. If your boat is in the right half of the screen,
it will appear in the upper left corner. If you have the LCD
recorder on, it will move to the opposite side of the screen from where
your boat is. The LCD works almost like a real one. It's screen will
show fish directly under the boat in the center of it's screen, fish
to the port side of the boat are on the left of it's screen, and fish
to the starboard side of the boat appear on the right side of it's
screen. To select the LCD when using a mouse, first bring up the
command window by pressing the left mouse button. The command window
will only be displayed while you are not in the cast mode. Point the
mouse cursor at the LCD command then click the left mouse button to
turn on or off the LCD recorder. The LCD recorder is continuously
updated as you move the boat around the screen. It uses battery power,
so use it sparingly. As with other commands, mouse users can also use
the keyboard to control the LCD.
* Rod Box (F9 or R)
Your bass boat has a rod box containing six different types of rods.
Each of these rods has certain advantages or disadvantages. For
example, a spinning rod with 6 pound test line will allow you to cast
your lure farther than a flippin rod (saving excessive boat moving)
but the light line may cause you to lose a few fish. Some of the
differences are obvious, others are not. You start each day of
fishing with no rod selected. Before you can begin casting, you must
select a rod. You can change rod types at any time. The F9 (or 'R')
BassTour 4.55 10
key allows you to select a rod. You cannot select a rod while in cast
mode. Once you have the rod box window on the screen, the up and down
arrow keys will cause the hilite bar to move up or down highlighting
the rod selection. After you have the hilite bar positioned over
the rod you'd like to use, press the ESC key to return to the move
mode. If you have a mouse, first bring up the command window,
then point at the SELECT ROD command. Point the mouse cursor at the rod
you would like to use, then press the left mouse button which will
cause the hilite bar to move to the rod you have selected. If you are
satisfied with your selection, press the right mouse button to
resume the game. If you change your mind after clicking on a rod type,
just point to the rod you want and click again.
You can "load up" all six rods with different baits, then change rods
thus changing baits quickly, just like in real fishing.
* Tackle Box (F10 or B)
At your disposal is a six drawer tackle box containing a
selection of lures we all wish we had. Many lure types and colors are
there for your use. You can select lures from the tackle box at any
time except when you are in cast mode. Pressing F10 (or 'B') will give
you access to the tackle box. If you are using a mouse, select the
tackle box from the command list by pointing to the tackle box command
and pressing the left button on the mouse. If you are in cast mode
(you'll see the cast instruction line at the bottom of your screen),
you will have to exit cast mode before you can access the tackle
box. The Tackle Box consists of three windows. The first window
allows you to choose which drawer to look in. Each drawer is
neatly organized (I wish MY tackle box was this neat) into bait
types. For example, crankbaits are in one drawer, spinnerbaits in
another, plastic worms in another etc. Use the mouse to point at and
click on which drawer you want, or use the UP or DOWN arrow keys to
move the highlight bar to where you want it. After that, the drawer
contents will appear in another window next to the first. In this
window, you select the specific bait you want to use. Once you
choose your bait, a third window will appear that lists the
available colors for that particular lure. After you select the
color, the tackle box windows will disappear. If you forget what bait
you are fishing with, the STATUS command will tell you. Use of the LIST
STATUS command is discussed later. Over 2300 lure type and color
combinations are possible with BASSTOUR.
* Live Well (F3 or L)
Your boat contains an aerated live well that holds all of your legal
(12 inches or better) fish. You can examine the contents of your live
well at any time, including while in cast mode. While examining the
live well contents, you also have the option of turning on or off
the aeration system. The aerator will save your fish if you run it
enough, but it does use battery power. Failure to use your aerator
enough may cause some of your fish to die, costing you a one pound
penalty for each dead fish weighed in. On the other hand, the live well
aerator consumes battery power. The live well will hold a maximum of
five fish. Every legal fish you catch will be added to the live well
BassTour 4.55 11
until it contains five fish. After that, if you catch a fish that is
larger than the smallest fish currently in the live well, the
smallest fish will be released, and the fish you just caught
will replace it in the live well. This way, the live well always
contains the five largest fish you have caught. To examine the live
well or to turn on or off the aerator, just press F3 (or 'L')on the
keyboard. If you are using a mouse, first bring up the command
window by pressing F1, then point the mouse cursor at and click on the
LIVE WELL command. Then press the left button on the mouse. A window
will appear on your screen that shows how many fish are currently in
the live well, what the total weight of those fish is, and gives you
the option of turning the aerator on or off. If you are using a mouse,
simply click on the ON or OFF command in the live well window. If
you are using the keyboard, press the F7 or F8 key to control the
aerator. To resume fishing, press the ESC key or the right mouse
button. Examining the contents of your live well uses time, but no
energy is consumed.
See the ALT-F command listed under Miscellaneous Commands.
* Life Jacket (alt-F2 or J)
You must wear a life jacket any time you are moving the boat with the
outboard motor. Failure to do so may cost you time and a citation
with an associated fine. It may also cause you to be disqualified
from the tournament on that day. Wearing your life jacket is a bit of
a nuisance since it restricts your casting distance a little. The
life jacket is selected by pressing ALT-F2 or by selecting the
appropriate item with the mouse. Taking off your life jacket uses a
little time, as does putting it on. If you are wearing your life
jacket when you make this selection, it will be removed. If you are
not wearing it, it will be put on. Pressing 'J' will also execute this
command.
* Anchor
The anchor is of no use unless you are fishing in Pro mode. In Pro
mode, the anchor will prevent your boat from drifting. Don't forget
to raise the anchor before trying to move the boat. Pressing F7
lowers the anchor, pressing F8 raises it. If you are using a mouse,
just select the item from the command list by pointing the mouse
cursor at the command you want to execute and then click the left
button of the mouse. As with most things in fishing, raising or
lowering the anchor takes time. There are no alternate keys assigned
to this command.
* Paddle (alt-F3 or P)
Although the paddle can be used to move the boat at any time, most
of us think of it as a last resort. The paddle uses quite a bit of
time, but could be used to get you to the weigh in area before the
allotted time has elapsed if both your battery was dead and you
were out of gas. ALT-F3 selects the paddle from the keyboard, and you
can select it with the mouse also. As with the trolling motor or the
BassTour 4.55 12
outboard motor, selecting the paddle turns off any other form of
propulsion that may be active. Pressing 'P' will also cause you to
start paddling.
The next section explains how to move the boat, scroll the screen and
make casts:
* Moving the boat
Boat positioning is crucial to fishing success both in reality and
while playing BASSTOUR. Beginning with version 2.1, you can move your
boat at any time. Previous versions only allowed the boat to be
moved if you were not in cast mode. If you are in cast mode, the Q, W,
E, A, D, Z, X, and C keys will move the boat. The Q key will move the
boat to the upper left, the W key moves the boat straight up, the E key
moves toward the upper right, the A key moves to the left, the D
key moves to the right, the Z key moves to the lower left, the X key
moves straight down, and the C key moves the boat toward the lower
right. This change allows to move the boat along a shore line and
cast at the same time. If you are NOT in cast mode, eight keys on
the numeric keypad control boat movement. The left, right, up, and
down arrow keys cause the boat to move in the direction indicated by
the arrow on the key. Additionally, you can move diagonally by
pressing the HOME key to move the boat toward the upper left, the PG
UP key to move the boat to the upper right, the END key to move
diagonally toward the lower left, and the PG DN key to move toward the
lower right. The arrow keys will not move the boat while you are in
cast mode. Instead, they are used to position the cast if you are
not using a mouse. Conversely, the Q, W, E, A, D, Z, X, and C keys will
not move the boat if you are not in cast mode. Instead, they are used
to execute various commands. Each time you move the boat, time is
consumed. There are two other keys you should know about when it
comes to moving the boat. The '-' key will cause the boat to back up,
and the '+' key will cause it move ahead in the direction in which it
is pointing. If you are using the trolling motor, battery power is also
used. The outboard motor uses less time to move your boat, but also
consumes gasoline. The paddle uses the most time of all, but obviously
uses neither battery power or gasoline. The boat cannot be moved
off the screen. It should be noted here that the arrow keys will not
work if the NUM LOCK light on your keyboard is ON.
* Rotating the boat
The left and right arrow keys, if pressed while holding down the CTRL
key will cause your boat to rotate either clockwise or
counter-clockwise while maintaining it's current location on the
screen. Rotating the boat allows for optimum cast positioning and also
uses less battery power, gas and time. The boat may be rotated
whether you are in cast mode or not. Obviously, to either move or
rotate your boat you must have the outboard motor running, the
trolling motor running, or be using the paddle.
* Scrolling the screen
When BASSTOUR first draws the lake on your screen, what you see is
BassTour 4.55 13
really only about one fourth of the lake. The initial screen
represents the upper left corner of the lake. You can scroll the
screen (the 'lake') to the right, left up or down to give you
access to the whole lake. Press SHIFT-LEFT ARROW to move the
screen to the left, SHIFT-RIGHT ARROW to move the screen to the
right, SHIFT-UP ARROW to move the screen up, and SHIFT-DOWN ARROW to
move the screen down. Scrolling the screen does not uses any battery
power, gas or time. The arrow keys on the NUMERIC KEYPAD are the
ones you should use to scroll. Make sure too, that your NUM LOCK is not
on.
NOTE: Some computers only have the four cursor (ARROW) keys.
Others have these keys plus a numeric key pad with cursor (ARROW) keys.
If you have one of these computers (i.e. PS-2 model 25), pressing
SHFT and one of the four separate cursor keys will not cause the
screen to scroll. To scroll the screen on one of these computers, use
the 2, 4, 6, and 8 keys. Pressing 2 will scroll the screen down, 4
will scroll it left, 6 will scroll it right, and 8 will scroll it up.
When scrolling in this manner, it is NOT necessary to use the SHFT key.
Some models of Tandy computers also exhibit scrolling problems.
If you have trouble scrolling the screen, using the 2,4,6, and 8 keys
on the main keyboard will usually work.
* Casting (F5 or C)
To make a cast, first you need to have a rod selected. Once a rod has
been selected, each cast you make will assume the same rod is being
used. Once you have selected a rod to use, you will not need to
select another unless you want to. Cast mode is entered by pressing
F5 ('C' will also work) or by selecting the 'start casting' command
with the mouse. You can easily determine if you are in cast mode
because the bottom line of screen will contain some brief casting
instructions, and will disappear when you exit cast mode. If you are
using the mouse, move the mouse cursor (the white arrow on the screen)
to the place you want the cast to go. Then, press the left button on
the mouse. A line will appear on your screen between the boat and where
the arrow is pointing. If the sound is turned on, a squirt noise will
accompany the line on the screen. The distance that you can cast will
vary depending on the type of rod you have selected, and whether or
not you are wearing a life jacket. The skill level you are playing
at also helps to determine the maximum cast distance. A novice
cannot cast as far as a pro. You cannot cast toward the rear of
the boat. If you are not using a mouse, a small, + symbol will
appear somewhere near your boat when you enter cast mode. Use the up,
down left and right arrow keys to then position your cast. You can
also move the cast marker diagonally by using the HOME, PgUp, END, and
PgDn keys. Once you have positioned the cast marker (the +
symbol) where you want it, press either the space bar or the F10 key.
If a fish strikes, the message FISH ON! will pop onto your screen,
followed by other information windows about the fish. These messages
will stay on the screen for short time, then disappear. They will
disappear immediately if you move the mouse or press a key while they
are displayed. This is to speed up the game if you desire.
Casting too close to land will sometimes cause your bait to snag.
BassTour 4.55 14
Casting at stumps, docks, other boats, lily pads, rocks, etc. will
normally not cause you to snag. While you are in cast mode, you can
move the boat using the Q, W, E, A, D, Z, X, or C keys as described
under the MOVE BOAT instructions.
* Weighing In Your Fish (alt-F8 or W)
Weighing in your fish is almost as important as catching them in the
first place. If you don't weigh in some fish, you can't win the
tournament. Each lake has a weigh in area signified by a bright
yellow flag (or a flag with an X on monochrome systems). In order
to weigh in, you must proceed to the weigh in area and dock your boat
as close to the flag as possible before for the six hour time
limit has expired. When you think your boat is close enough to the
flag, press ALT- F8 (or 'W') to begin the weigh in procedure. If
you are not close enough to the weigh in area, a message will appear to
let you know. If you are within the weigh in area, the message "Are
you sure you want to weigh in now?" will appear. A "Yes" reply
will start the weigh in procedure, any other reply will abort the
weigh in process. You cannot weigh in if you are in the cast mode.
Fish can be weighed in at any time, but once you do, you are done
fishing for that day of the tournament. A message will appear on
your screen that say's "Beginning weigh in...". After a few
seconds, your statistics for the day will pop onto the screen.
Once you have looked at your statistics for the day, press any key to
view the current tournament standings. If you are one of the top
ten fisherman, your name will appear in red. After you have examined
the tournament standings, press any key to start the next day of the
tournament. The tournament is over after you weigh in for the third
day. It is a good idea to allow yourself plenty of time to get to the
weigh in area. You never know what might happen on your way back! If
you are weighing in on the last day of the tournament, before
the game ends, you will have the option of listing the standings for
the entire field of competition.
If you have a printer connected, you can make a listing of the day's
fishing results, the daily tournament standings, the final tournament
standings and the standings for the entire field. Just press P when so
instructed to get your print out.
Miscellaneous Commands
* Contour Map (M or m)
Pressing 'm' will display a small contour map of the lake you are
fishing. The contour map can only be displayed if you are not in the
cast mode. The map consists of shaded areas that represent the
various depths in the lake. Shallow areas are indicated by the
lighter colors while deeper areas are indicated by the darker colors.
The weigh in area is shown as a bright yellow square and the current
location of your boat is represented by a blinking black/blue
square. On monochrome displays, both the block indicating the
weigh in area and the block indicating your boat position will
blink. Consulting the contour map does not use any time or energy. The
contour map can also be displayed by making the proper selection
BassTour 4.55 15
with the mouse when the command list is displayed.
* Sound ON/OFF ( F4 )
This command is executed by pressing F4 while the command list is
displayed, or by clicking on it with your mouse. There are no
messages announcing whether or not the sound is on or off. If the sound
is on (the default at the start of the tournament), selecting
this command will turn it off. If the sound has been turned off, this
command will turn it back on. It can be changed any time during the
tournament, and will remain in effect throughout the three days of
the tournament unless you change it. When the sound is on, a 'squirt'
noise will be heard as you make each cast, and a buzzing sound will
be heard when the outboard motor is running. When you hook a fish,
another distinct sound will be heard.
* List Status (alt-F10 or S)
This command is executed by pressing ALT-F10 (hold down the ALT key
while you press F10), or by clicking on it with the mouse while the
command list is displayed. A window will pop up on your screen with
lots of information pertaining to the rod you have selected, the lure
type and color, time remaining etc.. It costs you no time, battery
power or gasoline to execute this command. Pressing 'S' will also cause
the status to be displayed.
* Add Fish Formula to bait ( F )
When you are in cast mode, you can add Fish Formula to your bait by
pressing the F key. A short message will appear on the screen to
notify you that Fish Formula was used. Each time you add a shot of
Fish Formula, it costs you ten seconds in time. Sometimes,
adding Fish Formula seems to have a great deal to do with your
success. You'll have to be the judge! Each shot of Fish Formula lasts
for about 6 or 7 casts.
* Weather Report
This command causes a weather report to appear on your screen. It is
executed by pressing ALT-F4 while the command list is displayed
or by clicking on it with the mouse. The weather is of little interest
unless you are fishing at the Pro level. Wind speed and direction
are important in that your boat may drift if the wind is strong enough.
The boat will drift in the direction that the wind is blowing. Be
aware that it is possible to drift into rocks or other obstacles that
can cost you some kind of penalty. It is also possible that your
boat can become stuck as a result of drifting. If you get stuck, it
is sometimes (but not always) possible to run your boat in the opposite
direction from that which is was moving when it became stuck. If
you become stuck, and cannot get out, keep trying. There is no
alternate key to access this command.
* Quitting the Game
BassTour 4.55 16
Pressing "Q" will give you the option of ending the game,
continuing the game, or starting the tournament over from the
beginning. You cannot quit the game while in cast mode. If you start
the tournament over from the beginning, the same lake will be used.
In order to change lakes, you must exit from the game, and then run it
again.
* View Record Catches ( V )
Pressing the V key will display the current record sized fish for each
of the fishing areas. A total of 20 fishing areas exist for BASSTOUR,
and the biggest fish caught at each of these areas will be listed along
with who the angler was, and the date the fish was caught. The
standard BASSTOUR distribution disk is supplied with six different
areas to fish, although an additional 14 areas are available (see
order form at the end of this document). BASSTOUR will also work
with lakes created with Nels Anderson's program, BassMap (see the
credits at the end of this document). Up to a maximum of 50 fishing
areas can be used with BASSTOUR. The listing of the record fish
will remain on your screen until you press the V key again, which will
display the 10 heaviest stringers (the most weight weighed in) on
record. When you have finished viewing the heaviest stringers,
press any key to continue what you were doing. If, during the
weigh in, it is determined that your total weight qualifies you for one
of the 10 heaviest stringers, your name, total weight, date, and the
name of the lake or river will be saved, and your record will become
one of those to beat! The big fish records and the heavy stringer
records can be printed when you see them displayed on the screen. To do
this, first make sure your printer is ready, then press P.
* The - (minus) Key
Pressing the '-' key will cause the boat to go backwards.
* The + (plus) Key
Pressing this key will cause the boat to move ahead in the direction in
which it is facing.
* ALT-S Saving a Game
You can save a game and continue playing it at a later time. This can
be done at any time by holding down the ALT key while you press the
"S" key. The current status of the game will be saved on your disk in
a file called BTOUR.SAV. This file occupies about 60k of disk space
so be sure that your disk has enough room for the file. If you have
saved a game, it can be restored by selecting "R" when you are
asked what area you would like to fish on the title screen.
Do not try to save a game in a particular video mode and later try
to restore it in a different video mode than what you were playing
when you saved it. This will cause your computer to hang, and may
require that you turn the machine off and then back on to recover. For
example, if you save the game while in EGA mode, then attempt to
restore it by forcing CGA mode (with the -c option) your computer
will probably hang up.
* List Fish in Livewell (ALT-F)
This command will display a list of the fish currently in your
BassTour 4.55 17
livewell. Up to five fish are listed, showing their weights.
* BOSS Mode (ALT-Z)
This was not my idea! Many people requested it so here it is. You know
what to use it for. When you press ALT-Z, the lake map disappears
and is replaced with a dummy disk directory listing. The lake map will
reappear and the game will continue when you press any key.
NOTE: If you ARE a boss, you cannot use this command!
* Change Lakes (ALT-L)
Pressing ALT-L will give you the option of selecting another lake to
fish. If you are in CAST MODE when you press ALT-L, a message will
appear asking you to first exit the CAST MODE.
A window will appear on your screen listing the available fishing
areas. Make your selection by pressing the number associated with the
area you want, then press ENTER. BassTour will then re-start with the
newly selected fishing area. If you change your mind, and want to
continue fishing the same lake, just press ENTER without selecting a
new area.
SUPPORT CATCH AND RELEASE!
BassTour 4.55 18
A Few Choice Words....
* Wear your life jacket at all times. Put it on at the start of
each day of fishing. (good advice in real fishing too!)
* Start the live well aerator as soon as the first fish is
added to it. This will usually save you a penalty at weigh
in time.
* Work a likely spot thoroughly. Make several casts to the
same area. Applying Fish Formula sometimes helps.
* If you're not catching fish, try another bait or change
colors. Often, a totally different type of bait will produce
results.
* Allow plenty of time to return to the weigh in area.
* Use the ROTATE keys. They use less time and energy than
moving the boat.
* If you run into rocks, stumps etc. back your boat out in the
opposite direction.
* Learn to recognize areas that might cause you to snag. Lost
lures cost you time and money.
* Use the contour map. It will help you find the deep holes,
and make it easier to get back to the weigh in area.
BassTour 4.55 19
Credits:
* Nels Anderson for allowing me to use some of his marvelous
programming tools. Without him, BASSTOUR could not have been
written. Nels is the wizard that brought us MAHJONGG and EGA
TREK. You haven't seen an EGA program until you've seen one of
his! Nels has a program available called BassMap, which allows
you to create your own lakes for use with BASSTOUR. His address
is: Nels Anderson 92 Bishop Drive Framingham, MA 01701
BassMap costs $15 plus $2 for postage. It can also be
downloaded from the Xevious BBS mentioned below.
* J.R. Mead, my 8 year old nephew for his tireless play
testing of BASSTOUR. At the age of eight, J.R. has caught
more and bigger real bass the most fisherman ever will.
* Jodi Mead, my 11 year old niece for her play testing of
BASSTOUR. She holds the big fish record in BASSTOUR with a
10.4 pound lunker.
* John Mead, my brother-in-law and dedicated fishing partner.
They don't come much better!
* Bob Lovelace, my tournament partner and valued friend. He
has been a play tester for the whole six months of
development.
* My brother, Pete Olsen. He created 'Pete's Pond', one of the
lakes on the distribution disk. He also did plenty of play
testing and had lots of suggestions.
* My sister, Pinki (Mrs John Mead) for putting up with all of us
throughout the test period and during the fishing season.
Good Fishing!
Dick Olsen
Be sure to try the )(evious BBS system in Framingham, MA. The
newest version of BASSTOUR is always available there first! You
can also leave me messages there. Leave notes to Dick Olsen,
then check again in a day or two for a reply. The number for
)(evious is : (508)-875-3618.
BassTour 4.55 20
*********************************************************************
* DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY *
*********************************************************************
This software is sold "as is", without any warranty as to
performance or any other warranties whether expressed or implied.
Because of the many hardware and software environments into which this
program may be used, no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is
offered. The user must assume the entire risk of using the program. Any
liability of the seller will be limited exclusively to product
replacement or the refund of the registration fee.
*********************************************************************
* ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS *
*********************************************************************
This software is produced by Richard Olsen who is a member of the
Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure
that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to
resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting
the member directly, ASP may be able to help.
The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP
member, but does not provide technical support for members' products.
Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road Muskegon, MI
49442-9427, USA or send a CompuServe message via easyplex to ASP
Ombudsman 70007,3536.
_______
____|__ | (R)
--| | |-------------------
| ____|__ | Association of
| | |_| Shareware
|__| o | Professionals
-----| | |---------------------
|___|___| MEMBER
BassTour 4.55 21
PROBLEM REPORT FORM
If you encounter a problem with BASSTOUR, I'd like to know about
it. Please take a few minutes to fill out the following form, then
mail it to me. I will do my best to correct the problem. If a new
version of BASSTOUR is created as a result of the problem you have
reported, I will send you the new version with the problem
corrected.
Your Name_______________________________________________________
Street Address__________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP________________________________________________
Day time Phone #________________________________________________
Evening Phone #_________________________________________________
Best time to call_______________________________________________
What version of BASSTOUR do you have?___________________________
Where did you get it?___________________________________________
What brand of computer are you using?___________________________
What Model of computer__________________________________________
How much memory does your computer have?________________________
What brand of video card does your computer have?_______________
If EGA, how much memory is on the EGA card?_____________________
What other cards are in your computer?
___________________________________________________________________
Are you using a mouse?___________________
Does your computer have a hard disk?__________More than one?_______
Describe the problem. What were you doing when it happened? What
mode were you operating in? Were you out of gas or was the battery
dead? Was the LCD recorder on? Was the sound on?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
BassTour 4.55 22
BASSTOUR REGISTRATION FORM v4.55
Dear Dick,
Enclosed please find my check or money order for $15.00 for a
5.25 inch disk or $17.00 for a 3.5 inch disk. Please register
me as a BASSTOUR user and send me the latest version if the
version I currently have is not the latest.
Thanks!
YOUR NAME________________________________________________
STREET ADDRESS___________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP_________________________________________
COUNTRY__________________________________________________
BASSTOUR Version you have________________________________
COMMENTS_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
DICK: I need ______ 5.25 inch disk ______ 3.5 inch disk
(please check which disk size you need)
Mail TO:
Richard Olsen
Olsen Outdoors
68 Hartwell Ave.
Littleton, MA. 01460
