101 OnLy ThE BeSt GaMeS 7/101onlythebestgames7techexpresssoftware1996.iso/card/sp113/sp.hlp

INI File | 1996-01-27 | 11KB | 303 lines

[SP]
                   Simple Pleasures Help
=================================================================

Simple Pleasures, as the name implies, is comprised of games that
are both easy to learn and fun to play.  The eight games all
share a common interface and similar rules of play.  The game can
keep track of up to ten players, each with separate statistics
and preferences.

This game is almost completely mouse-driven.  In general, the
left mouse button is used to select something (such as a button
or a card), and the right button is used as an 'Escape' key.

The screen can be blanked at any time by pressing the middle
mouse button (or the left and right buttons simultaneously).  Any
key or button restores the screen.


                    Player Selection Menu
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In this menu you can:

  - Select a different player by pointing and clicking on a name
    (which will then be highlighted), then clicking the 'OK'
    button.
  - Display stats for various players by clicking on the names,
    which updates the stats box below the menu.
  - Add a new player (if there is room).  This will bring up a
    dialog box where a new name can be entered.
  - Delete a player by clicking on the 'Delete' button, then
    selecting the name of the player to delete.
  - Display an abbreviated help message.
  - The 'Cancel' button exits the menu without selecting a new
    player.


                         Options Menu
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This menu allows you to set your preferences for:

  - Sound Effects: You can disable all sounds, enable some
    sounds, or enable both sounds and tunes.  Experiment with
    this to see what you prefer.
  - Session Statistics (a summary of how you did while playing a
    particular game) can either be turned off or set to display
    automatically when you exit each game.  Whether or not
    session stats are enabled, you can still display them by
    clicking on the score box in each game.
  - The Move Alert feature, if enabled, will let you know if any
    more moves are possible.
  - Enable Quick Deal for slightly-faster dealing.
  - Card Back: Clicking here brings up another menu from which
    you can select the card back of your choice.
  - Click on the Background Color and Border Color arrows until
    the colors are to your liking.
  - Click on the 'OK' button to save your changes.
  - Click on the 'Cancel' button to exit without saving.


                      'Clear Scores' Menu
-----------------------------------------------------------------
  - The 'Clear Scores' button brings up another menu from which
    you can clear the scores for any game and any or all players.
    Select the game(s) in which you want the scores to be
    cleared, then select whether to clear the scores for only the
    current player or for all players.  The 'Help' button brings
    up a short help message, the 'OK' button clears the scores,
    and the 'Cancel' button exits without modifying the scores.
    Note that this menu only modifies the statistics -- each
    player's preferences are unaffected.  If you want to clear
    both the stats and the preferences, use the Player Selection
    Menu to delete the player, then re-enter the name.


                       Keyboard Shortcuts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
While this program is primarily mouse-driven, there are also some
keys that may come in handy during the course of the game:

  B ......... Blank the screen
  D ......... Deal (in 14's only)
  H ......... Hint
  M ......... Exit to main menu
  N ......... Deal a new hand
  S ......... Redeal same hand
  U ......... Undo
  X ......... Exit to DOS
  F1 or ? ... Help
  F2 or O ... Options
  F10 ....... Abort (Exit to DOS without saving the data file)


                           Shareware
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Simple Pleasures is shareware, otherwise known as try-before-you-
buy software.  You may evaluate this program for a limited time,
and pass it along to your friends and associates for them to try.
If you enjoy this game, you should support it.  Registration gets
you the following:

   1. The latest version of the program on the diskette of your
      choice.

   2. A registration code that will allow you to convert any
      future versions of Simple Pleasures from shareware to
      registered versions.

   3. Substantial discounts on other shareware solitaires.

In addition to Simple Pleasures, other solitaire games are also
available at a special discount.  Refer to the registration form
or the SP.DOC file for details.
[10's]

                           10's Help
=================================================================

This is a slightly-modified version of a standard solitaire known
as "Take Ten".

The layout is three rows of five cards each, and the object is to
discard pairs of cards that total ten.  Discard kings, queens,
jacks, and tens in quartets of the same rank.  Spaces are filled
immediately from the deck.

These are the valid moves:

     9-A     8-2     7-3     6-4     5-5

  10-10-10-10   J-J-J-J   Q-Q-Q-Q   K-K-K-K

The game is won if you discard all the cards.

[11's]

                           11's Help
=================================================================

This is a standard solitaire, with a chance of winning of about
one game in five.

The layout is three rows by three columns, and the object is to
discard pairs of cards totaling eleven.  Face cards are discarded
in triplets -- one Jack, one Queen, and one King, of any suits.
Spaces are filled immediately from the deck.

These are the valid moves:

  10-A   9-2   8-3   7-4   6-5   J-Q-K

The game is won if you discard all the cards.

[12's]

                           12's Help
=================================================================

This is an original game, somewhat remeniscent of a solitaire
called "Fourteen Puzzle".  This game is winnable, but requires
a good deal of skill and forethought.

The cards are dealt into eight piles of six cards each, with the
remaining four cards going into a column on the right.  The
object is to remove pairs of cards totalling twelve (with a Jack
counting as 11).  Queens and Kings are removed in pairs.  Only
the top card of each pile is available for play, and once a
space is created, it may not be filled.

These are the valid moves:

  K-Q   J-A   10-2   9-3   8-4   7-5   6-6

The game is won if you discard all the cards.

[13's]

                           13's Help
=================================================================

You might want to think of this original game as a "Tetris"
solitaire, with cards falling instead of odd-shaped blocks.

The cards are arranged as three columns of five cards each, and
as cards are removed from the layout, cards 'fall' into the
holes, and new cards are dealt in from the top.  Cards are
discarded in pairs that total thirteen, with Jacks counting as
11, and Queens as 12.  Kings are removed singly.  In order for
pairs to be removed, the cards must be adjacent, either
vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

When the entire deck has been dealt, and one of the columns
becomes empty, you may move a card from the top of one of the
remaining columns into the empty space.  To do so, simply select
the card to move, then click where you want to move it.

These are the valid moves:

  K   Q-A   J-2   10-3   9-4   8-5   7-6

The game is won if you discard all the cards.

[14's]

                           14's Help
=================================================================

This is an original game, similar in some ways to "Ace's Up".
Your chances of winning are fairly good, though success is by
no means assured.

The initial layout is five cards at the top of the screen (which
expand into columns as more cards are dealt) and two at the
bottom.  The top card of each column, and the two cards at the
bottom, are available for play.  Remove pairs totaling fourteen,
with Jacks counting as 11, Queens as 12, and Kings as 13.  When
all possible moves have been made, click on the deck to deal
another five cards.  If a space is created, the top of any other
pile may be moved into the opening.  The two cards at the bottom
may only be used once.

These are the valid moves:

  K-A   Q-2   J-3   10-4   9-5   8-6   7-7

The game is won if you discard all the cards.

[15's]

                           15's Help
=================================================================

This is a slightly-modified version of a standard solitaire, and
differs from the other games in Simple Pleasures in that the
number of cards totaling fifteen is not fixed, but can be
anything from 2 to 9 cards.  This creates a lot more
possibilities in terms of how cards may be removed.  Your chances
of winning are rather poor, perhaps one in seven.

The layout is three rows of four cards, and the object is to
remove groups of cards that total fifteen.  Only the lower cards
are available to be grouped into fifteens.  10s, Jacks, Queens,
and Kings are removed in quartets of the same suit.

The number of valid combinations in this game is too great to
enumerate in this limited space ... experiment for yourself!

The game is won if you discard all the cards.

[16's]

                           16's Help
=================================================================

This is an original game, very similar to "Monte Carlo", though
the strategy is a bit different.  Since the tableau consolidates
itself after each move, it requires a good deal of foresight to
visualize how the layout will change.

The layout is four rows of five cards each, and the object is to
discard pairs of cards that total sixteen (except for aces and
twos, which are discarded in pairs -- that is, one ace and one
two).  In addition to adding up to sixteen (or three), the two
cards must also be adjacent, either horizontally, vertically, or
diagonally.

When a pair has been removed, the layout is immediately
consolidated by shifting cards to the left and up to fill the
empty spaces.  Two new cards are then drawn to fill the spaces at
the lower right of the layout.

These are the valid moves:

  K-3   Q-4   J-5   10-6   9-7   8-8   2-A

The game is won if all cards can be discarded.

[17's]

                           17's Help
=================================================================

This is an original game, sharing elements of a number of
familiar solitaires, but with a unique flavor all its own.

The cards are dealt into ten piles of three cards each,
surrounding a row of three cards in the center of the layout.
Remove pairs of cards that total seventeen, or a group of 1-2-3,
regardless of suit.  Only the top card of each of the piles is
available for play.

The three single cards in the center are replaced from the deck
as soon as they are used.  The cards in the three-card piles,
once used, are not replaced.

These are the valid moves:

  K-4   Q-5   J-6   10-7   9-8   A-2-3

The game is won if all cards can be discarded.

[THE END]