New Horizons Shareware Collection/HORIZONS1.BIN/BIGMATH.DOC

Text File | 1995-02-13 | 13KB | 302 lines

                BIG MATH ATTACK!

                                  Version 2.2

    DESCRIPTION:

    BIG MATH ATTACK! tests  your math, spelling, typing  and metric
    conversions skills in a fun arcade environment.  Several  skill
    levels are available that makes this program suitable for  both
    children and adults.   Top scores are  recorded to track  one's
    progress.

    The  objective of the game is to protect your city from falling
    meteorites.   The  only  defense that  you  have  is to  launch
    missiles at the descending meteorites before it is too late.


    SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

    DOS Version: 3.0 or greater
    Video: EGA, VGA or greater
    Hard disk: Yes.  Even though the program will run  on a  floppy
    disk, a hard disk drive is still a requirement.  Although  this
    may sound contradictory, temporary  files are accessed on  your
    hard drive and if  Big Math Attack! does  not find a hard  disk
    C:, the program will not function.


    GETTING STARTED:

    Insert the BIG MATH ATTACK!   diskette into a drive.  Set  your
    working  drive  to  the  same  drive  at  which the diskette is
    located.   Then to  load the  program simply  type ---> BIGMATH
    then  press  <ENTER>.   The  program  will  load automatically.
    You will  first be  greeted with  a title  screen.  After this,
    enter the name of the player (maximum 13 characters long).


    PLAY OPTIONS:

    You  can  configure  the  program  to  suit your preferences by
    using the "OPTIONS" sub-menu.  From the "OPTIONS" sub-menu  you
    will can toggle the following options:

        FREEZE ON/OFF: Toggle on or off whether the  meteorites
        descend out  of the  sky or  just pop-up  on the screen
        and remain motionless (frozen).

        SPEED  ON/OFF:  Toggles  the  rate  of  descent  of the
        falling meteorites.   If SPEED is  ON, you will  notice
        that  the  meteorites  begin  to  fall  at a faster and
        faster rate the longer you play.


                SOUND ON/OFF: Toggle the exploding noises on or off.

                X+Y= ON/OFF:   This  toggle  determines   whether   the
                mathematic  problems  that  are  presented  appear   in
                "X+Y=" format (side by side), or as "X over Y".

    Your  "OPTIONS"  selections  will  be   saved  to  disk  in   a
    BIGMATH.CFG configuration file, and will be used next time  you
    start the program.

        Although the  user  can  modify some   of the  playing  options
        within the  program,  there  are a   few options  that  must be
        activated from the  command  line  when starting the   program.
        The following are how to use these options...


        ERROR TRACKING FILE:

        If you wish  to keep track  of the errors  (incorrect  answers)
        of the user, then start the program -> BIGMATH ERR=ON

        What this will  do is create  an error tracking  file.  At  the
        close of  the program,  an .ERR  file will  be written to disk.
        In this ".ERR" file you  will find all the incorrect  responses
        the user entered, and the questions that were presented.   This
        is a good way to review  what questions gave the user the  most
        difficulty.  The  error file will  be named after  the player's
        name and will have the extension ".ERR".


        RIGHT TO LEFT INPUT:

        When the "X+Y="  toggle is OFF,  all mathemathic problems  will
        descend as:

                                386
                               +288

        If  you  have  ever  balanced  your checkbook, or subtracted or
        added  two  large  numbers,  you  have more than likely started
        from  the  right  column  and  added  each  column  of  numbers
        progressing towards  the left.   If this  is the  way that  you
        wish for the  answer to be  input by the  user (right to  left)
        then you must start the program -> BIGMATH R2L

        When the above parameter is  used, it will take affect  ONLY if
        the  "X+Y="  option  is  OFF  and  an  addition  or subtraction
        problem  appears.   During  multiplication/division  exercises,
        the right to left input is always ignored.



    SLOW IT DOWN!:

    Since  Big  Math  Attack!   can  be  used  and  enjoyed by both
    children and adults  alike, the "fall  rate" of the  meteorites
    may need to be changed to suit the user.  To decrease the  rate
    at  which  the  letters  and  numbers  fall,  use  one  of  the
    following command line parameters when you begin the program.

        BIGMATH SLOWER

        BIGMATH SLOWEST

        BIGMATH SLOWX=n

    The first two examples above  will slow down the rate  at which
    the meteorites fall  from the sky.   If using the  "SLOWER" and
    "SLOWEST" commands  are too  slow or  not slow  enough, you can
    use  the  last  example  to  fine  tune  the  rate  even  more.
    "SLOWX=n"  can  be  used  where  "n"  is replaced with a number
    between 1.01  and 10  -  the higher the number,  the slower the
    rate of descent.  As a guide to the numbering system,  "SLOWER"
    is  equivalent  to  "SLOWX=2"  and  "SLOWEST"  is equivalent to
    "SLOWX=4".

    Another command line parameter that  can be used is to  force a
    particular name by using the NAME= parameter at the DOS prompt.
    For instance, starting the program at the DOS prompt with  this
    C:>BIGMATH NAME=FRANKLIN   will  bypass  the  "Enter your name"
    prompt, and will use "Franklin" as the player's name.

    For teachers  and parents  who wish to  restrict  your children
    from accessing the "Options" selection from the Main Menu,  you
    can accomplish this by starting the program from the DOS prompt
    in the following manner --> BIGMATH NOOPTS    <press ENTER>

    If you would  like to restrict  the type of  problems and skill
    level to just one  type and level, you  can do this at  the DOS
    command line.  For instance, if you want to have your  children
    work with  subtraction problems  at skill  level 4,  then start
    the program --> BIGMATH SUBTRACT SKILL=4   <press ENTER>  Other
    variations on this would be:

    BIGMATH ADD SKILL=x        For addition
    BIGMATH PLUS SKILL=x        For addition
    BIGMATH MINUS SKILL=x        For subtraction
    BIGMATH DIVIDE SKILL=x        For division
    BIGMATH MULTIPLY SKILL=x    For multiplication
    BIGMATH MATH SKILL=x        For all the above

    ...where "x" in SKILL=x is replaced with the skill level
    (valid range: 0-9)

    You  may  also  start  the  program  for  spelling  and  typing
    exercises in the same manner:

    BIGMATH SPELL SKILL=x        For spelling words
    BIGMATH TYPE SKILL=x        For typing drills

    Another command line option would be "BRACKET" which displays a
    division bracket in all division problems --> BIGMATH BRACKET


    SCORE CHART:

    The ten top scores for each category are recorded and saved  to
    disk after each round of play.   If your score did not make  it
    to the "top 10", then the scoreboard will not display.  If  you
    did indeed record a score worthy of honor, the scoreboard  will
    display  your  score  and  save  it  to  disk.   PLEASE  DO NOT
    WRITE-PROTECT your disk  (if using a  floppy), for the  program
    needs access to write the "top 10" scores to the disk.  If  you
    receive the BIG  MATH ATTACK! disk  and find that  the names in
    the scoreboard are those who you  do not know, and do not  want
    to know,  you can  wipe the  scoreboard clean  by deleting  the
    scoreboard  file  from  the   DOS  prompt.   Delete  the   file
    "BIGMATH.SCR" and next  time you use  the program, you  will no
    longer see names that are unfamiliar  to you.  Since I have  no
    control  over  who  uses  this  program before you received it,
    silly or uncommon names, or very high unbeatable scores may  be
    in  the  scoreboard  that  you  wish  to  eliminate.  Just type
    "DEL BIGMATH.SCR" (without  quotes) at the  DOS prompt and  you
    will have  a new  clean scoreboard  the next  time you  use the
    program.


    SPELLING LISTS:

    For  parents  who  would  like  to  add,  delete, or modify the
    existing spelling  lists, Big  Math Attack! allows the  user to
    make these modifications  from the "Options" selection from the
    "Main Menu".  Once "Options" has been selected, select  "Modify
    spell list".   Then select a  skill level corresponding  to the
    spelling  list  you  wish  to  modify  (0-9).  You will then be
    given the opportunity to review all the current spelling  words
    and phrases.  Use the cursor control keys (arrow keys) to  move
    the cursor  to the  appropriate line  you wish  to modify.  You
    can enter  up to  a maximum  of 512  spelling words/phrases  in
    each skill level spelling list.   Use the PG UP and PG  DN keys

    to  move  from  one  page   to  another.   Don't  worry   about
    maintaining an alphabetical order in the list, for the  program
    will alphabetize the list when you are finished automatically.

    You must maintain the same structure of the word as you see in
    the word list.  An example...

                SPELLIN_ WORD,G

    ...where 1) an  underscore character (shifted  dash) represents
    the  missing  letter  or  letters;  2)  a  comma  separates the
    spelling word from  the missing letter(s);  3) followed by  the
    actual  missing  letter(s).   The  program  will  check for any
    errors and violations  to these 3  requirements before the  new
    word list is  saved to disk  as a safety  precaution and prompt
    you to fix your mistakes.


    DISCLAIMER:

    We shall not assume  any direct or indirect  responsibility for
    losses  incurred  from  the  use  of  BIG  MATH  ATTACK!.  This
    program  is  offered  "as-is"  with  no  guarantees   attached.
    Unless the  user obtained  this copy  of BIG  MATH ATTACK! from
    the  author  direct,  we  will  not  be  responsible  for   the
    performance of this program.  Considering the methods by  which
    shareware/public  domain  software  is  distributed, any number
    of things can happen to  the integrity of the program  or files
    on this disk.  If your  copy of BIG MATH ATTACK! does  not work
    and you  obtained it  from a  source other  than the author, we
    are not obligated to provide you with a working copy.   Contact
    the  source  where  you  obtained  this  disk,  or  submit  the
    registration form to us for a fully working copy.


    DISTRIBUTION GUIDELINES:

    BIG  MATH  ATTACK!  is  copyrighted  shareware software.  It is
    NOT public domain.   If you find  this program useful,  you are
    obligated to register  your copy with  the program author.   If
    you do not find this program useful, then pass this disk on  to
    a friend.   INDIVIDUAL users  are permitted  to make  copies of
    this  disk  and  pass  them  on  ONLY  IF  ALL of the following
    conditions are met:

    1) No  changes or  alterations   are  to  be  made to  BIG MATH
    ATTACK! - this includes ALL related files on this disk.

    2) No one may sell BIG MATH ATTACK!

    Shareware/public  domain  vendors  can   only  distribute  this
    program  under  the  following  condition.   We  simply want to
    make sure that you distribute the latest version:

    1) Written  permission  must be  received by the program author
        BEFORE public  distribution of this program  IF  the  date/time
        stamp on the BIGMATH.EXE file is more than 2 years old.


    AUTHOR:

    Philip P. Kapusta
    P.O. Box 5423
    Falmouth, Va. 22403  U.S.A.


    BY THE WAY...

    Oh, about  the title  "BIG MATH ATTACK!"...  Why  did I give it
    this  title  when  the  program  includes  SPELLING  and TYPING
    drills?   Well, if  you can  think of  a better  title for  the
    program,  let  me  hear  your  suggestions.   Sorry, but "SPACE
    INVADERS" has already been used!  :)


    OTHER PROGRAMS:

    If you like  Big Math Attack!  you may be  interested in trying
    some of  the author's  other programs.   Most of  our  programs
    are  family,  educational,  or  Bible  related.   For shareware
    evaluation copies, you can obtain the latest versions from:

    The Mustard Seed BBS
    Falmouth, VA
    1200-14.4k N81
    BBS phone number: 703-372-9680

    If you do not own a  modem, or you wish to avoid  long distance
    phone charges, a printed  catalog of our software  is available
    by  submitting  5  first  class  U.S.A.  postage  stamps to the
    author along with a note of interest.  For those  of you living
    outside  the  U.S.A.,  include 5 international  postal  coupons
    instead of U.S. postage stamps  (ask your postmaster for coupon
    details).