++ DIGITAL DOWNS ++ COPYRIGHT (C) 1994 ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE "If it's good, it's ACCIDENTAL" NOTICE ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE DOES NOT PROMOTE OR CONDONE USING DIGITAL DOWNS FOR GAMBLING PURPOSES AND IS NOT LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT OR CONSE- QUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF DIGITAL DOWNS. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Game features 2. System requirements 3. Registration 4. Registration benefits 5. Set up 6. Installation 7. Game start up 8. Command line switches 9. Making Selections 10. Menu Bar 11. Daily Racing Form 12. Race Types 13. Tote Board 14. Video 15. Utilities 16. Race 17. Tips 18. Trouble shooting 19. Other Accidental Software GAME FEATURES 1. An exciting and action packed horse racing simulation. 2. Easy to use mouse interface. Point and click your way through the entire game. 3. Large data base of available horses, each with predetermined abilities. (1000 horses and 10 stables in the unregistered edition, 3000 horses and 30 stables in the registered edition). 4. Each stable has it's own set of jockeys, each jockey has a dif- ferent ability that may add to or detract from the horses ability. 5. Each stable has it's own trainers, each horse is assigned a trainer. The trainer may have a bearing on how well the horse performs. 6. Each racing day has an associated track condition. Each horse will perform differently depending on the track condition it encounters. 7. A daily double bet is available on the first race of the day, it covers the first and second races of the day. 8. Nine race lengths are provided. The race lengths vary from the shortest straight away race (4 Furlongs) to the longest full track race (1 1/2 miles). 9. The first race of the day features the daily double bet, the following bets are available in all races. 1. Win bet 2. Place bet 3. Show bet 4. Quenella bet 5. Exacta bet 10. Each race is recorded on simulated video tape. This video is shown after each race. The video can be run as many times as you like simply by pushing the video button. The speed of the video play back can be adjusted with the mouse buttons or the keyboard. 11. Sound blaster sound effects and voice files. Note: due to the size of these files, only two sound effects are provided as a sample in the unregistered edition of the game. The registered edition has many additional sound blaster sound effects. These sound effects require a sound blaster or 100% compatible sound system to function. 12. The registered edition of this game will allow up to 8 people to play simultaneously. The unregistered edition only allows one player to play at a time. 13. The registered edition of this game will save the stake and default bet amount for each player so that he or she may continue the game in the future. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 1. IBM or 100% compatible computer 2. EGA/VGA Video adapter with 256K RAM on video card 3. Hard disk with at least 3 megs of free disk space 4. 540K free RAM required 5. Mouse 6. 80386 processor of better RECOMMENDED: 1. 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 game. 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, I will supply you with the most recent version of this game on disk when you register. The registered version has several game enhancements not available in the unregistered copy. These features are listed below. REGISTRATION BENEFITS 1. Your registered version will no longer have registration reminders on screen. 2. Your registered version will allow you to play with up to a 8 other players at the same time. 3. Your registered version will save your stake and default bet amount so you can continue the game at a future time. 4. Sound Blaster support is provided. Registered users will receive many additional sound blaster sound effects and voice files that the game will use to make a more interesting simulation. This feature requires a Sound Blaster or 100% compatible sound system. 6. Registered users can order additional ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE games at a discount. The registered version of the following games can be purchased for an additional $10.00 each. Note: These games include a sound blaster voice pack along with the game. Each game normally sells for $15.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. If you purchase one or more of these games with your registration for Digital Downs, I will ship the game(s) with your order for $10.00 each and you need only pay one shipping and handling charge. 1. Ultimate Blackjack -- A complete animated blackjack simulation. 2. Ultimate Baccarat -- A complete animated Baccarat simulation. 3. Ultimate Gin -- A complete animated gin rummy simulation. PRICE LIST Digital Downs (registration) --- $15.00 Ultimate Gin (reduced) --------- $10.00 Ultimate Baccarat (reduced) ---- $10.00 Ultimate Blackjack (reduced) --- $10.00 Shipping, handling & disks ------ $3.00 (U.S. & CANADA) - $5.00 Others REGISTRATION / ORDER FORM (Digital Downs SW) 07/07/94 ============================================================================ (Digital Downs SW-1.20) (Shipping and handling is $3.00 for U.S. and Canada. All other destinations must add an additional $2.00 for postage) ___ Digital Downs -------------------------- ($15.00) Disk type..... ___ Ultimate Gin --------------------------- ($10.00) ___ Ultimate Blackjack --------------------- ($10.00) ___ 1.44 (3.50 DD) ___ Ultimate Baccarat ---------------------- ($10.00) Shipping and Handling ---- ($ 3.00) ___ 1.20 (5.25 HD) Sub Total $__________ Ca. Sales tax @ 7.75% $__________ (California only) Grand Total $__________ Send check or money order Your Name:_________________________ to...... ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE Address:_________________________ 13245 SKIOMAH RD. APPLE VALLEY, CA. 92308 Address:_________________________ Phone Orders (619) 247-2804 City,State,Zip:_________________________ FOREIGN ORDERS: Send International money order (U.S. currency) or check drawn on a U.S. bank or MasterCard / VISA information. For your convenience, we accept MasterCard or Visa. You may charge the amount of your purchase. If you decide to charge, call 619-247-2804 or send this order form to ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE with the following information. Check one.... __ VISA or MasterCard number __________________________ |__| VISA Expiration date ____________________________________ __ |__| MasterCard Card holders name __________________________________ Signature __________________________________________ Phone orders accepted between 8AM and 5PM Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday. (619) 247-2804 Orders are shipped via U.S. mail. Fax available if you call first to alert us of the incoming FAX. California residents only, add 7.75% sales tax. PRINTING A REGISTRATION FORM A registration / order form can be printed by pushing "P" when reading this manual. The form is ASCII text and should print on most printers. If you can't print out of copy of the registration / order form, just send us the information above. The file name for the order form is "ORDERFRM.TXT", you can load this file into your word processor to print if desired. Please include the type of disk desired. Better yet, give us a call at 619-247-2804 and charge it. Foreign orders please use a check drawn on a U.S. bank, an International Money Order (specify U.S. currency) or supply the credit card information listed above. SET UP The game must be installed to your hard disk with the install program provided. All required game files are compressed on your distribution diskette(s). A listing of all required files can be found in the text file "PACKLIST.TXT". The compression and extraction routines used for diskette data is LHA and is copyrighted by Haruyasu Yoshizaki. LHA is used as per the terms of Mr. Yoshizaki's documentation. INSTALLATION 1. Place the disk you have received in the proper drive. 2. Switch to the drive the disk is in. Example -- if the disk is in B: drive type "B:" then "ENTER". 3. Type "INSTALL" followed by the drive you want to install the game to. Omit the ":" after the drive letter. 4. This game cannot be run until it is installed since all files on the distribution disk are compressed and must be decompressed before use. The install utility completes this process for you. Example: To install the game to C DRIVE, type "INSTALL C" This will install the game to C DRIVE in the directory "DDOWNS". If you want to install the game to a different directory, specify the directory after the drive letter. Example. To install the game to C DRIVE in the directory "GAMES" you would type "INSTALL C GAMES". GAME START UP 1. The executable file is DD.EXE. Type DD then push Enter to start. It will be necessary to change to the directory "DDOWNS" then type "DD" to play this game at a future time. 2. Sign in with the name you will play under. Saved game information will reference this name (Registered version only). 3. Additional players can only be added in the registered edition of this game. COMMAND LINE SWITCHES The following command line switches may be set to provide the results shown. 1. /S -- This switch turns off the sound blaster interface. 2. /D -- This switch starts the game in the "DEMO" mode. The demo can be terminated from the bet placement screen by pressing and holding the ESCAPE key. 3. /F -- This switch works with the DEMO mode to provide a faster demonstration speed. 4. /+ -- This switch runs the game in the accelerated mode. 5. /- -- This switch runs the game at normal speed. Example command line switch usage to start the game without the sound blaster interface being loaded. Type "DD /S" then press enter. Command line switches can be combined if desired. If the "+" and "-" switches are both present, the "-" switch will have priority. The game auto detects your processor's relative speed. If the game decides your processor is too slow for the normal speed mode, it will automatically set the "/+" command line switch. You can override the accelerated game mode by using the "/-" command line switch. Most 80386 processors will require that the accelerated mode be used. MAKING SELECTIONS All menu or game selections can be made with the mouse. Move the hand pointer to the item if your choice. Push the left mouse button to activate the item. The rate of change of some items such as the bet amount can be can be increased by pressing the right mouse button. Items on the main menu bar as well as video play back can be selected by pressing the key that corresponds to the first letter of the item desired. MENU BAR BETS UTILITIES RACE BETS: This menu bar choice opens the bet placement window. Move the hand pointer to the BETS selection with your mouse, then press the left mouse button or press "B" on your keyboard. BETTER BET HORSE AMOUNT BETTER: If more than one person is playing, each player's name will be listed under BETTER. The person currently placing bets is shown in RED, others are in black. The current better is also identified just below the divider line on the bet placement window. BET: The bet categories available are shown under BET. Win, place, and show bets are self explanatory. The quenella bet: You are betting on win and place horses for this race. The order of finish for these 2 horses is not important as long as one comes in first and one comes in second. The Exacta bet: You are betting that you will pick the win and show horse for this race in exact order. The Exacta bet pay off is better than the Quenella bet. The Daily Double bet: You betting that you can choose the winner of race one and race two. This bet is only available on the first race of the day. The results of this bet are shown after the second race of the day. HORSE: The horse number(s) you want to bet on are input here. Select the + or - boxes with the hand pointer to change the horse (by number) that you want to use for this bet. AMOUNT: The amount of the bet you are placing will be shown here after a horse number has been selected. When the game starts the default bet amount for each player is $2.00. The default bet amount can be adjusted for each player from $2.00 up to $100 with the Utility menu. If you decide not to wager on a bet category, you need only cycle through the horse selection for that category until the horse number disappears. If no horse number is selected for a bet category, no money will appear in the amount box. The minimum bet is $2.00 and bets can be increase or decreased by $2.00 increments. OTHER INFORMATION: The RACE # (shown in red) displays the race number for the day that you are currently betting on. An explanation of the remaining information can be seen by selecting the HELP button found at the bottom of this window. DAILY RACING FORM FORM: Select the FORM button at the bottom of the bet window to see the DAILY RACING FORM. The form for the race you are currently betting on will show. You may change the form to a different race (there are 8 races each day) by moving the hand pointer to the LARGE RACE NUMBER at the top center of the racing form. Push the left mouse button to increase the race number of the form by one or the right mouse button to decrease it. The ODDS shown on the form are established each morning by the track odds maker. The odds shown on the Tote Board (above the daily racing form) are current and reflect the betting that has taken place on the horses since the track opened. Large differences in the odds between the daily racing form and the odds shown on the Tote Board indicate that the betting public has a different perception of how the horse will perform than does the track odds maker. RACE TYPES Each new racing day at Digital Down consists of 8 races. These races are organized as follows. Race 1 & 2: Maiden Races. A maiden race is for 2 or 3 year old horses who have not yet won a race. Race 3,4,&5: Claiming Races. A claiming race is for 2 or 3 year old horses who are not yet of good enough caliber to enter an allowance race. These horses may have won up to 3 races in the past. Race 6: Allowance Race. This race is for higher caliber horses that have won at least 3 races in the past. This race can be for either 2 or 3 year old horses. Race 7: Handicap Race. This race is for 2 or 3 year old horses that have won at least 4 races in the past. Race 8: Stakes Race. This race is for 2 or 3 year old horses that have won at least 5 races in the past. TOTE BOARD The tote board sits above the teller cage on the wall. When the current betting race is selected, the ODDS will continually change to reflect the betting taking place on this race. A brief racing history for each horse on the tote board can be seen by clicking on that horse's name. VIDEO This button is available after the first race of the day has been run. You can push this button (before you place a bet on the next race) to see a video play back of the previous race. The speed of the play back can be increased or decreased by pushing a mouse button or keyboard key. The left mouse button or the "-" key on the keyboard decreases the video play back speed. The right mouse button or "+" on the keyboard increases the video play back speed. You can push both mouse buttons simultaneously or "ESC" on the keyboard to set the play back speed to the normal range. Tap the space bar on the keyboard to toggle video freeze on and off. You can adjust the video play back speed while the the picture is frozen. The red lines visible to the right of the video button show the relative play back speed. As the play back speed is adjusted, this trail of lines gets longer as the play back speed increases and shorter as the play back speed is reduced. NOTE: If you are using a 80386 processor, you may need to set need to set the play back speed to the fastest range for satisfactory results. UTILITIES STANDARD BETS: Click on the OK button next to STANDARD BETS to set the standard bet amount (default bet amount) that each player wants to use. Example: If in most cases you want to place a bet on the horse of your choice for $20.00. In this case set the Standard Bet amount for yourself to $20.00. When you select a horse on which to bet, the amount of the bet will initially be set to $20.00. Each better can set his or her own standard bet amount. The registered edition of the game will save the standard bet amount for each player so that it will automatically be set when you play at a future time. SOUND BLASTER: Click on the OK button next to SOUND BLASTER. This will toggle sound blaster sound effects on an off. END PROGRAM: Click on the OK button next to END PROGRAM to quit the game. If you have the registered edition of the game, your stake and standard bet amounts will be saved. REGISTER: Not available in the registered edition of the game. Click on the OK button next to REGISTER. A screen of registration information will be displayed. A registration / order form can be printed out using this utility. DONE: Click on the OK button next to DONE to exit the Utility routine. NOTE: When in the UTILITIES window, the BETS and RACE menu bar selections can not be activated. RACE You may select RACE without placing any bets if you so desire. The RACE selection takes you to an overhead view of the Digital Downs race track. Once the starting gate is moved into position, the bottom of the screen will change to show race information. The top of the screen shows the names of all players and any bets they have made for Win, Place, or Show on this race. The horse number that has been bet on as well as the amount of the bet is shown. When the race has finished, the information at the top of the screen expands to show all bets made, results of the bets, and the overall results of all bet wins and losses. Any bet that results in a win will show the pay off amount in green, any losses are shown in red. The overall total will be either green (overall plus) or red (overall minus). This overall total is the last entry on each players column and is opposite the "R:esults". All bet categories show the horse number bet on as well as the applicable money for that bet category. "Q"uenella bets, "X:"acta bets, and "D"aily Double bets show both horses bet on. When the race has finished and all players have completed reviewing the results, PUSH ANY KEY (mouse or keyboard) to continue the game. After each race has been run, the video play back of the race will be shown. See VIDEO above for details concerning play back of the race video. The race video can be reviewed as many times as desired by clicking on the VIDEO button. TIPS The two characters in the bet placement scene will both talk to you if you click on their body. The small character "SHORTY" is a self proclaimed track expert and will give you a hot tip on the upcomming race if you click on his head. Take this tip with a grain of salt since shorty's record isn't all that sterling. TROUBLE SHOOTING If this game causes your system to lock up, the most likely cause is the sound blaster interface. Attempt to start the game with the command line switch "/S" set. If the game successfully functions after starting it with the "/S" command line switch, do not select the SOUND BLASTER through the utility menu. If the command line If you have used the command line switch "/S" to turn off the sound blaster interface, selecting the sound blaster button on the UTILITY menu will attempt to reinstate the sound blaster interface (if a sound blaster or compatible card is found on your system). If you quit digital downs with the sound blaster turned off either by deselecting it through the UTILITY menu or by using the command line switch "/S", the sound blaster will automatically be deselected the next time you start the game. OTHER ACCIDENTAL SOFTWARE Go where no card player has gone before, into the ULTIMATE ZONE. These 3 exciting and addictive games will provide hours of entertainment and excitement. Each game has been designed to provide a realistic simulation of the game it emulates. These games use keyboard or mouse and require 550K, EGA or VGA, DOS 3.1 or above, and a hard disk. A sound blaster voice pack is shipped with all three games. ULTIMATE GIN Pull up a seat and get ready for a great game of GIN RUMMY with one of 8 computer players. Choose the game variation you like to play (Standard Gin or one of 2 forms of Oklahoma Gin). Hollywood scoring is an option you can choose to spice up the game. How about the game score? You can set the game score and all bonus points to the way you want them. Play up to 40 games in a match with any of the 8 players. Continue the match at a later time, or start a new match if desired. Check out the player's biographies and see which one (playing skill for each is different) you want to challenge. Set the game speed, check the score book at any time and much more. ULTIMATE BLACKJACK Enter a fully animated casino card game and gambling school where you play solo against the dealer or with any of 12 computer characters, each with a different style of play (biographies included!). Set the number of decks, change the rules to match any casino, and monitor stats as the game progresses. See how the other player's strategies and bets fare in the long run. Want more, how about this -- a simulation feature lets you test custom strategies! You can even use 2 different card counting systems. Novices will also appreciate the slick online tutor that suggests the best moves. Even more features are included, but be prepared! If you take a seat at this table you may never get up! ULTIMATE BACCARAT Have you always wondered how to play BACCARAT but were afraid to ask? Relax and pull up a chair at this friendly baccarat table. You can play with 3 computer generated characters, or if you prefer real human companionship, you can play with up to 5 other "human" players. A Tutor is provided to take you through the game step by step. Once you have learned the game you can turn the tutor off and go it on your own. You can check the game stats of any player at the table, change game speed, set your own bet amounts, repeat your last bet, push your last win, or lay a new bet. All bets are implemented. The dealer talks you through the game. Many more features. Be prepared for the best baccarat game in town and you don't even have to learn with real money. ASP STATEMENT _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | | ---------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |------------------------- |___|___| MEMBER "This program is produced by 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 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. MEMBER ASAD