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PROFESSIONAL VIDEO POKER FOR WINDOWS (tm) SHAREWARE VERSION ***************** Copyright (c) 1993-97, All Rights Reserved Bitwise Software International, Inc. 21620 N. 19th Ave, #A-11 Phoenix, Arizona 85027 Voice: (602) 582-4468 Fax: (602) 516-8697 BBS: (602) 492-9747 Internet: JayBSI@aol.com Or: Jay@Qhost.com CIS: 72074,2677 AOL: JayBSI Our New Internet WWW Home Page: =============================== http://www.Qhost.com/bitwise/index.htm NEW TOLL FREE ORDER LINE: ========================= Customers in the USA can now call 1-888-83-VEGAS to order products toll free. Customers outside the USA must call the regular toll line 1-602-582-4468. ON-LINE INTERNET ORDER FORM: =========================== Our new internet site now includes the latest versions of our games as well as an on-line SECURE order form for placing credit card orders. IMPORTANT: ========== If you are upgrading to Professional Video Poker for Windows V2.0a or higher from a lower version (1.5, 1.1, or 1.0), the program will NOT run correctly if you try to use the previous version's save, defaults, or the payoff/stat files. Be sure to answer "Y" to all file replace prompts when installing this version. -- The save files are those with the extension .SAV. -- The defaults file is PVPOKER.DEF. -- The payoff/stat files are those with the extension .P01 thru .P14. REQUIREMENTS: ============= Windows 3.1, windows compatible PC computer, windows compatible VGA display with 640x480 resolution or higher, 6 Meg RAM, 5 Meg free on hard disk. YOU MUST BE RUNNING WINDOWS IN 386 ENHANCED MODE. Do not start Windows with the /S or /R switches. See your Windows Manual for more information on startup memory modes. Recommended: Windows 3.1, windows compatible 486+ computer running at 25Mhz+, windows compatible SVGA display with 640x480 resolution or higher, 16+ colors, 8+ Meg RAM, 5+ Meg free on hard disk, Mouse. GAME SPEED: =========== This game has been designed to run on newer, faster computers with accelerated video cards. If you experience slow game play, you can adjust the speed to maximum by changing a few settings. You should start by setting the GAME SPEED to VERY FAST. If still too slow, TURN OFF card dealing special effects (effect = none). If still too slow, you should TURN OFF sound effects. INSTALLATION: ============= To install this game from the distribution diskette, simply copy the file "PVPOKE.EXE" to the desired directory ("\PVPOKER" suggested) on your hard disk and run the program. This is a self-installing packed file and running it will unpack and install all the needed files and programs. Once self-install process is complete, this file (PVPOKE.EXE) can be removed. However, you should always retain a copy of this file on diskette or tape just in case you need to reinstall it in the future. If a message appears asking you whether or not you wish to replace an existing file in the PVPOKER directory, answer with a "Y". DO NOT USE OLD FILES WITH A NEW VERSION - FATAL ERRORS WILL RESULT. NOTE: After the installation process is complete, the install program will try to run the game program automatically. This should be successful providing the install process was completed successfully and Windows could find a valid copy of the VBRUN300.DLL file in the PVPOKER directory or in the common WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. To start the game manually, run the file PVPOKER.EXE from Windows File Manager or click on the PVPOKER icon installed into the GAMES Program Group (or the program group you selected). The icon file PVPOKER.ICO contains the icon for you to use if you wish to manually add this game to your Games Program Group or set up new Program Group just for this game. Please see the Windows Users Manual for instructions on adding Program Items and setting up Program Groups from the Windows Program Manager. NOTE: Be sure you are running Windows Version 3.1 or higher and your are running Windows in "386 Enhanced Mode" (not Standard Mode). Check your \WINDOWS directory and see if you have a WIN.BAT file. Be sure the WIN.COM or WIN command in the batch file DOES NOT include the /S switch. This causes Windows to start in Standard Mode. Be sure the command is followed by blanks or /E to insure you start in Enhanced Mode. Otherwise, this game may not operate correctly. If you cannot see the 386 Enhanced Program Item (icon = computer chip) on the Windows Control Panel, then you are not running Windows in the Enhanced Mode. Please see your Windows Users Manual for more information. Also, once you are running Windows in 386 Enhanced Mode, you should set up as large a Permanent Swap File (not Temporary) as Windows will allow. This allows Windows to use free disk space as computer memory and it will allow you to run bigger programs. This is done from Windows Control Panel with the 386 Enhanced Icon. This program was written in Visual Basic V3.0 and REQUIRES the Visual Basic V 3.0 Runtime Library file called VBRUN300.DLL (included). Be sure this file is located in the same directory where you loaded and unzipped PVPOKE.EXE. NOTE: Occasionally, Microsoft will release an updated VBRUN300.DLL file which will correct some bugs in their runtime modules. You should periodically compare the date/time/size of this file to the latest one available on CompuServe in the Microsoft MBASIC+ Forum. If a later one is released, please download it and place it in the PVPOKER directory. This game will use it automatically from then on. FILES: ====== *.VBX - Licensed VB Controls. VBRUN300.DLL - Microsoft's Visual Basic Runtime Library (Licensed). *.DLL - Other Licensed Routines. READ.ME - This file. PVPOKE.EXE - Self-installing packed distribution file. PVPOKER.EXE - Unpacked game program file. PVPOKER.HLP - Help File for this program. PVPOKER.ICO - Icon for adding to Window's Program Manager. PVPAYOFF.Pxx - Payoffs and Cumulative Stats for Games #1-20. PVPOKER.DEF - Game default settings file. PVPOKER.SAV - Saved Game(s). *.WAV - Various Windows sound files for this Game. BASIC OPERATION: =============== This game program is a true windows application which can be run and controlled by you just like any other windows application. When first loaded, the game will display its opening window while it initializes itself. Next a the main playing table will be displayed. When the game starts, it will load a file called "PVPOKER.DEF" as the default rules and other game settings. If it cannot find this file, it will use its own pre-programmed default settings. See the next section for more information regarding saving/restoring games and the default settings. Next, the game will attempt to load the default payoffs and cummulative stats for all 20 of the games available for play. These are found in the files PVPAYOFF.P01...P20. If any of these files are not found, the game program will automatically create them up based on its own pre-programmed settings. When the main playing window is first displayed, you will notice several buttons at the bottom of the screen. Some of which will be disabled (grayed out) and some of which will be enabled. At the start of a new hand, the DEAL button will be the default button and should be used to deal the next hand. To deal, move the mouse pointer to the DEAL button and press the left mouse button. The other buttons will be enabled/disabled depending on what is happening during the game. For example, once the initial cards are dealt for a new hand, the DEAL button will be grayed out and the DRAW button will be active. DEAL BUTTON: =========== The DEAL button will deal the initial 5 cards for a new hand. Note: you must bet at least 1 credit before this button will work. Once you play your first hand, pressing the DEAL button before selecting a new bet will cause the LAST BET to be used automatically. This way, you do not have to enter the same bet each-and-every time a hand is played. Only the very first hand's bet is required to be selected by you. When the DEAL button is pressed, the game will shuffle the single deck of 52 cards (53 or 54 when the Joker Wild games are being played) and deal out 5 initial cards. If you are dealt any of the current game's winning hands (shown above the cards), the game will highlight the highest winning hand it finds. This will help insure you do not "throw away" a winning hand by mistake. Once dealt, select the cards you wish to hold with the mouse by clicking the left mouse button while the mouse pointer is over the card. Then press the DRAW button to replace any cards NOT HELD. Directly below each card is a status label which shows the HOLD/DISCARD status of that card. When you first click a card, it will show HOLD as the status. Clicking it again will show a status of DISCARD. Any cards which DO NOT show a HOLD status, will be replaced when the DRAW button is pressed. NOTE: you can select cards as HOLD/DISCARD without the mouse. This is done by pressing the numbers "1" through "5" on your keyboard. Pressing the "1" will toggle the HOLD status of the first card and "2" will toggle card #2, and so on. This is true for selecting a card on the "Double or Nothing Window" as well (explained later). Another way to DEAL cards is to click on the card deck. This will deal the initial cards just like pressing the DEAL button. BET MAX BUTTON: =============== The BET MAX button will deposit either the maximum coins (5) or your bank balance (credits) - whichever is less. Then the initial 5 cards will be automatically dealt for the next hand. BET +1 BUTTON: ============== The BET +1 button will increase the current bet by one credit. This can be done until your bank runs out of credits or until you increase your bet to the max allowed (5). Note: if you press this button just after the previous hand has been completed, this will not cause the bet to be 1. Instead, the previous hand's bet will be increased by 1 credit. Also, you can increase the current bet by one credit by clicking on the "Insert Coins" coin-slot area in the upper right corner of the screen. OTHER WAYS TO ENTER A BET: ========================== You can also use the mouse and click on one of the five payoff columns for the current game. If you click on the second column, the column will highlighted in Green and your bet will be 2 coins. Click again on column 4, and your bet will be changed to 4 coins. Another way to select a bet is to press the "1", "2", "3", "4", or "5" on your keyboard. When starting a new hand, these keys will allow you to select 1 coin thru 5 coins as the bet. NOTE: if the hand has already started, these keys will toggle the Hold/Discard status for cards 1 thru 5. Please note that as you change your bet, your bank balance is adjusted (up or down) accordingly. DRAW BUTTON: ============ The DRAW button will complete a hand by replacing any or all of the initial five cards that have NOT BEEN SELECTED as HOLD. Be sure to correctly click on the cards you wish to HOLD with the mouse. If you have not selected any cards to hold, then all 5 cards are replaced by new ones. If you have selected all 5 to be held, then no new cards are dealt. Another way to DRAW cards is to click on the card deck. This will complete the hand just like pressing the DRAW button. HOLD ALL BUTTON: ================ In addition to holding cards by clicking on them individually, you can quickly mark all of them as "HOLD" by pressing this button. This does not automatically deal out the rest of the hand -- you must still press the DRAW button when you are ready. DISCARD ALL BUTTON: =================== This button works just the opposite of the HOLD ALL button. This marks all 5 cards as DISCARD. EXIT BUTTON: ============ This button allows you to quit playing and exit back to Window's Program Manager. Be sure to SAVE the game before exiting if you wish to resume it at a later time. Note: If you press the EXIT button by accident, you can cancel the request by pressing the CANCEL button on the "Are You Sure" (you wish to exit) Window. SAVE BUTTON: ============ Pressing the SAVE button will store the current game in progress to a disk file called PVPOKER.SAV. Once a game is saved, you can resume it at a later time by using the RESUME A SAVED GAME on the FILE Menu. PRINT BUTTON: ============= Pressing the PRINT button will print a copy of the current hand and payoffs for you keep or to send in to us. SAVING & USING THE GAMES DEFAULT SETTINGS: ======================================== This game program allows you to customize the various card dealing effects, game type, game speed, jackpot balance, bank balance, etc.... When any of these settings are changed, the game automatically records them into a default settings file called PVPOKER.DEF. This allows the game to "remember" how you like to play. The next time you start this game from Window's Program Manager, the settings stored in this file will automatically be used. This eliminates the need to set up all the game settings "your way" each time you want to play. If the game cannot find this file, it will automatically revert back to the pre-programmed default settings and store them in this file. Note: in order forthis game to locate and load this file automatically, it must reside in the same directory as the game program's main file PVPOKER.EXE. If the program cannot find this file, it will revert back to its "factory" settings and re-create this file in the program's startup directory on your hard disk. ERRORS AT STARTUP ================= If you encounter either of the following two errors at startup: 1) "OVERFLOW" 2) "Invalid Control Index" then the startup files (PVPOKER.DEF, PVPOKER.Pxx, & PVPOKER.SAV) may be corrupted or may be the wrong version. Try renaming these files to something else and restarting the program. The game will then use its own internal game settings since it will not be able to find these files. You should first try renaming the PVPOKER.DEF and restarting the game. 99% of the time this file is causing the problem. If you still have problems after trying this procedure, please contact the Author by e-mail on Compuserve or by phone. SAVING AND RESUMING A GAME =========================== This game program allows you to save and restore MULTIPLE games. This should not be confused with the saving of default settings explained above. A game is saved to a file with the extension ".SAV". The default save file name is "PVPOKER.SAV" and this file is normally located in the same directory as the game program (PVPOKER.EXE). When saving and restoring games, you have the option to select the save file name and directory. NOTE: Even though you can specify a different directory other than the one containing PVPOKER.EXE, we do not recommend it. Keep all of this Game's related files in the same directory for easy backup and removal. To save a game, click on the FILE menu and select the SAVE option. This works the same as clicking the SAVE Button on the main screen. At any time, you may resume a previously saved game by clicking on the FILE menu and selecting the RESUME GAME option. CHANGING PLAYING OPTIONS ======================== The game's menu system (located at the top of the playing table) allows you to change every aspect about the game and it's playing options. FILE MENU: ========== a) Save a game for later play (discussed above). b) Resume a previously saved game (discussed above). c) Exit the game (discussed above). SPEED MENU: =========== This allows you to control how fast the game operates. The options are SLOW, MEDIUM, FAST, and VERY FAST. The type of computer and video card will determine how you wish the game speed to be set. Try the different settings to find the one that gives you the desired card dealing speed and special effect speed (discussed below) you like. NOTE: when the game speed is set to VERY FAST, the exploding forms special effect is turned off. SPECIAL EFFECTS MENU: ===================== Type of Effect Option: ====================== One of the most unique features of this game is to allow you to control what type of card dealing special effect you would like to the game to use. They range from "no effect" to "cards dripping" into place on your computer screen. There are 50 impressive special effects to choose from. The default is to "push up" the card once it is dealt but you can select any one of them. The only way to see the type of effects is to try each one while keeping in mind that the "Effect Speed" and "Effect Grain Size" will also control how fast the special effect occurs on your computer. Effect Speed Option: ==================== You can control how fast the card dealing special effect is performed for each card. The settings available are SLOW, MEDIUM, FAST, and VERY FAST. If you have a very fast computer and video card, you may need to change the Effect Speed setting to SLOW in order to "see" some of the effects actually perform on your screen. If you have a slower computer system, you may need to select the VERY FAST effect speed to keep the special effect from being "too slow" for game play. Effect Grain Size Option: ========================= When the game performs a special effect, the grain size selected here determines how much of the card is drawn at one time. The larger the grain size, the more of the card is drawn at one time (using the special effect you selected) and this results is faster card dealing. The smaller the grain size, the less of the card is drawn at one time (using the special effect you selected) and this results is slower card dealing. The Effect Grain settings are: Small (slowest), MEDIUM, LARGE, and VERY LARGE (fastest). Performance Issues: ------------------- Each computer system and video card's performance are different when running Windows Programs. We offer the Game Speed and Special Effect settings to allow each user to adjust the settings to receive maximum performance as well as maximum pleasure from this Windows casino game. If you need help, please contact the Author after trying the different settings yourself to see what their effects on the game's operational speed and card dealing effects are. You should be able to find a combination that suits you and your computer system. But if not, we will certainly help you. NOTE: when the game speed is set to VERY FAST, the exploding forms special effect is turned off. CHANGE MENU: ============ Game Type: ---------- There are 20 different game types you can select from. These games were built from the 20 most popular games found in the Las Vegas Casinos. When you combine these 20 games with the ability to turn on and off the Double-or-Nothing Feature for each game, you can play 40 different video poker Games! Progressive Games: ------------------ The term "progressive" refers to the ever-increasing jackpot balance for a Royal Flush. To "hit the jackpot", the player needs to build a Royal Flush (Ace high straight flush) and have a 5 coin bet. If you do not play 5 coins and you get a Royal Flush, the progressive jackpot WILL NOT BE PAID. As in the real Casinos, progressive jackpots are paid for from a percentage of the bets you make each hand and a Progressive Game's payoffs are slightly lower than those of a Regular Game. Regular Games: -------------- Regular Games a very much like their Progressive game counterparts except there is NO INCREASING JACKPOT and the payoffs are slightly higher. When you receive a natural royal flush with 5 coins bet, the fixed amount in column 5 is paid instead of an increasing jackpot. Wild Card Games: ---------------- There are a few wild card games available in this video poker game. Note: the progressive jackpot is NOT PAID on Royal Flushes that include wild cards -- the progressive jackpot is only paid when the Royal Flush contains only "natural" (non-wild) cards. DEUCES WILD: ------------ This game uses the four "twos" in the deck as wild cards. This allows for many more "high" hands than does non-wild card games. Therefore, you will notice the payoffs are lower for each winning hand and the lowest minimum hand is Three-of-a-Kind. JOKER WILD ---------- There are two versions of this game. One is played with a single Joker and the other is played with 2 Jokers. Both types of Joker games use the Joker as a wild card. Just like in the DEUCES WILD game, the payoffs are lower in this game and the minimum hand is either two-pair or a pair of Aces or Kings depending on what type of Joker game is being played. Customizing the Payoffs: ------------------------ The payoff amounts can be changed for each winning hand in each type of game. Complete control is given to the user to insure maximum flexibility. Payoffs for each game, whether customized or not, are stored in the "PVPAYOFF.Pnn" files on your hard disk. The "Pnn" extension refers to games "P01" thru "P20" and each game payoff file contains the winning hand descriptions and types, their payoffs, and any wild card information. In addition, these files contain the cumulative stats for each game. Stats are cummulative until you reset them and will keep running stats for every hand played ever with this game program. Change Bank Balance ------------------- This option allows you to select a new bank balance (of credits). The default is $100 and whatever bank balance you select with this option will become the default starting balance for new games. You will need to select this option whenever your bank runs out of credits. This option allows you to replenish the bank and continue to play video poker. Change Jackpot Balance ---------------------- This option allows you to reset the jackpot balance for all Progressive Games. The jackpot balance is automatically increased during game play. The jackpot balance is the same for all types of progressive games available with this game program. Once reset, the jackpot will continue to grow until someone hits a "natural" Royal Flush. This game program always "remembers" the progressive jackpot from game-to-game even when you do not use the "save/restore game" features. Remember, the progressive jackpot is only paid when: you are playing a "progressive" game, the Royal Flush is natural (no wild cards), and you have bet 5 coins. If someone wins a progressive jackpot, the amount will be paid to the player and then the jackpot will be reset back the amount selected here. Set Card Back ------------- There are many different "deck styles" or card backs to choose from. Use this option to change to a different card back. Whichever card back you choose with this option will become the default card back for all new games. Set Double-or-Nothing Feature ----------------------------- For each game type available for play, you have the option to turn on or off the Double-or-Nothing feature. This feature is on or off across games so you only have to turn it on or off one time -- not each time you switch games. When active, this feature will allow you to double your winnings each time a winning hand appears. If you win your double-or-nothing attempt, you winnings are doubled and you will be given the chance to double them again. If you lose, you win nothing and the game continues on to the next hand. When attempting the double-or-nothing feature, the game will deal out 1 card face-up and 4 cards face down. You must then pick 1 of the face-down cards and attempt to beat the face-up or Dealer's card. Note: Aces are considered the highest card. If the card you pick beats the Dealer's card, then you double your winnings. If it is less than the Dealer's, you lose your winnings. If the card is the same (tie), you will lose nothing and you will be given the chance to attempt the double once again. EXAMPLE: If you build a full house that pays 25, a double-or- nothing window will appear asking you if you wish to risk the 25 credits to win 50 credits. If you choose NO, you will simply collect the 25 credits and proceed to the next hand like normal. If you choose YES, a window will appear and deal out 5 total cards (1 face-up and 4 face-down). The first card is the Dealer's card and you must attempt to beat it by picking one of the four face-down cards. If you beat it, you will double your winnings from 25 credits to 50. The game will then give you the option to attempt to double the 50 and win 100. This continues until you lose or select NO on the "double again" window. Pick Cards in Hand ------------------ This option allows you to select from 1 to 5 cards to appear in the hand or hands to follow. This feature allows you to set the position (card #1,2,3,4,or 5), the card's value (Ace thru King), and the suit of the card. You can set from 1 to 5 cards to appear in the next hand only or every hand from then on. This way you can practice certain hand combinations in order to perfect your own video poker playing strategy. STATS MENU OPTION ================= This option will display the current stats for the game in progress. These stats are cummulative from the time you first loaded this game program on your computer until the end of time. They DO NOT reset each time you start this game program. Each of the various games available for play, has its own set of cummulative stats and these stats are automatically stored in its independent PVPOKER.Pnn files. Therefore, if you play 5 hands of Deuces Wild and 10 hands of Jokers Wild, the two games will have their own independent stats files. The Deuces Wild stats will be for first 5 hands and the Jokers Wild stats will be for next 10 hands. The stats will show the total number of hands won, the number of times each type of winning hand has appeared, average bets, average return on your bets, and so on. SOUND MENU OPTION ================= This option will allows you to turn on and off Sound Effects. There are several sound effects included with this Game and they require a Windows compatible Sound Card. The Windows sound files all end with the extension ".WAV". When the Game first starts, the default is for all sound effects to be OFF. If you encounter problems with the sound effects ON, use the SOUND menu and turn the Sound OFF. If you cannot access the Game after turning on sound effects, just delete the file PVPOKER.DEF from the \PVPOKER directory and restart the game. This will cause the game to use its own internal defaults which starts with Sound OFF. This should allow you access to the Game once again. Some Sound Cards and Drivers may not work properly with this program. If you experience problems, please contact us immediately. Since all WAV sound files must be read from your hard disk each time they are played, a slow hard disk will cause the game to slow noticably during sound file reading and playback. Be sure you have a disk caching program like Smart Drive loading and running. All Windows program will benefit from disk caching. AUTHOR'S COMMENTS ================= THERE IS NO OTHER GAME AVAILABLE for DOS or WINDOWS that provides you with such flexibility as far as game types go. Combine this with the 50 card dealing special effects and the other impressive features and you should agree this is the most sophisticated video poker game ever created! NOTE: if you cannot find your favorite version of video poker, please let us know so we can incorporate it into a future version of this game. This game program was written to easily handle any type of 5 card draw poker game. You input will help make this game even better. SPECIAL THANKS ============== Special thanks goes to Stephen Murphy, author of the FREEWARE card drawing routines (can be found on Compuserve). His outstanding work and support helped make this product's card drawing faster and more colorful. Some of the sounds and music were licensed by agreement with Cambium Development, Inc. in NY. Also, we would like to thank the dozen or so excellent beta testers who have taken the time to completely test and evaluate this program. Their many bug reports, suggestions, and general comments were, in no small way, of great help to us. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUTHOR'S NOTES ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4/30/94 KNOWN PROBLEMS: =============== S3 Video Drivers: ----------------- Microsoft Visual Basic Versions 2.0 and 3.0 are not fully compatible with certain third party S3 Video Drivers (Windows Video Drivers for the S3 Graphics Chip soldered onto your accelerated video card). You may experience "out of memory or resources" problems, "Object Was Unloaded" problems, as well as other unexpected application errors while using ANY Graphic Intensive Visual Basic program with these type of S3 video drivers. These problems are NOT under the control of our program, Visual Basic, or Windows. ONLY the video driver Company can correct the problem. Please contact your video driver Company to get the latest copy of their Windows video drivers. Most Companies will update their drivers every few months to fix bugs and add enhancements. If you use the super or regular VGA Video Drivers supplied with Windows 3.1, these types of problems will most likely go away. To test your driver, install one of Microsoft's standard VGA Drivers that comes with Windows and see if your problem(s) go away. If so, then the other Company's Video Driver is the problem. Contact the driver Company and report the problem. Tell them you tested it against Microsoft's standard VGA Windows driver and it has to be their driver (since the problem went away). Windows 95 Alert! ================= If you are using an S3 video board with Windows 95 and are running your computer with LARGE FONTS ON, you may experience strange problems with our games. These problems will cause certain items on the screen to NOT line up correctly. Change your system back to the normal SMALL FONTS mode. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION ===================== This Windows video poker game is protected by the copyright laws of the United States and by the copyright laws of many other countries pursuant to international treaties. Copyright (c) 1993-96, All Rights Reserved, Bitwise Software International, Inc., Phoenix, AZ, USA. No portion of the Software, documentation or examples may be copied, stored, or transmitted except as provided for by the License. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. TRADEMARK INFORMATION ===================== This game's trademarked name is held by Bitwise Software International, Inc. under the approval of Jay J. Falconer of Phoenix Arizona (the program's Author).