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Text File | 1992-12-30 | 16KB | 468 lines

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      --|       |    |-------------------
    |   ____|__  |  Association of
    |  |       |_|  Shareware
    |__|   o   |    Professionals
      -----|   |   |---------------------
       |___|___|    MEMBER



                Dollars and Dinosaurs
                   =======================

Copyright 1992: Right to Left Software, Toronto, Ontario Canada.




                REGISTRATION

This copy of "Dollars and Dinosaurs" is provided to you for evaluation
purpose only. If you decide to keep it at the end of the evaluation period
(of up to 21 days) you should register by sending a cheque for
$29 USD (or $35 CDN) to:

Right to Left Software
3332 Yonge Street P.O. Box 94034
Toronto, Ontario M4N-3R1 CANADA

along with the registration form (at the end of this file).



                BENEFITS OF REGISTRATION

As a registered user you will receive:

    1. The latest version of Dollars and Dinosaurs with more words,
       more animation, more languages, higher resolution dollar bills
       and of course - without the "nagging" messages.
    2. Printed and bound instruction manual.
    3. Technical support through CompuServe, phone, fax or mail.


For more information, contact:

    Right to Left Software,
    Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]
    CompuServe id: 71542,3631



            Chapter 1



            Introduction
            ============


Dollars and Dinosaurs offers four language and spelling
activities for young computer users, divided into eleven levels.
The activities are: flash cards, spelling, matching written
words to a picture and recognition of moving letters. Each of
these activities helps develope skills which are necessary for
reading and writing.

The program comes with a vocabulary of over 50 words in all available
Languages (the shareware version contains only one word for each
letter of the English alphabet).
Each word is illustrated by a high resolution
graphic picture that is guaranteed to please the mind of the
child (and the parent too). As the word is spelled, the picture
gradually takes on full vivid colors, until finally, it starts
moving. The animation "movie" continues until the next key is
pressed (or the mouse is clicked).

Every 10 words the program takes a musical intermission, and
plays a tune. When the child graduates to the
higher levels, a surprise is waiting - Dinosaur Dollars. The
dollar bills may be printed (cashed) on the spot or saved for
later. The Dinosaur Dollars provide a tangible reward for the
child, beyond the "on screen" rewards.

Dollars and Dinosaurs uses large graphical icons (or buttons)
for the various program activities, so that children who cannot
read yet will find their way easily. When selecting the level of
the game, for example, the current level is illustrated by a
growing dinosaur (Tyranosaurus Rex). At level 0 all you can see
is an egg. At level 1 it's a baby dinosaur, just hatching from
the egg. At level 10 it's a full screen dinosaur which... lays a
new egg herself...

Dollars and Dinosaurs will give your children hours of fun at
the computer. At the same time they will become familiar with
the alphabet of each supported language, with a good number of words
in these languages and with the way they are spelled. Last
but not least - they will become more comfortable with using the
computer.





                Chapter 2



                Installation
                ============


2.1 Minimum System Requirements

In order to run Dollars and Dinosaurs you must have the
following components:

    1. An IBM-PC compatible computer.
    2. Hard disk drive.
    3. 640K bytes of RAM (memory) or more.
    4. MS-DOS version 3.3 or higher.
    5. VGA graphics card and monitor.

In order to print Dinosaur Dollars you will require a printer
which is compatible with one of the following:

    1. HP LaserJet or DeskJet.
    2. Epson 24 pin dot matrix.
    3. Epson 9 pin dot matrix.
    4. IBM 24 pin Proprinter (not supported by shareware version).

2.2 Installing on the Hard Drive

Insert the diskette in drive A: (or B:) and type:

     A:
     A> INSTALL

Read the instructions printed on the screen by the installation
procedure. You will be asked to confirm (by pressing the Enter
key) the disk directory where Dollars and Dinosaurs is to be
installed. The installation procedure creates subdirectories and
copies the appropriate files into them.

Note: Dollars and Dinosaurs cannot be run from the diskette. It
      must be installed on the hard disk first.

After installing Dollars and Dinosaurs, type "DD" to start the program.
Enter the setup screen and select the printer type (see section 3.1).


            chapter 3

            The Control Screen
            ==================


The control screen contains four "buttons". Each button can be
activated by "clicking" on it with the mouse or by pressing the
keyboard key which is indicated on the button.

The following sections discuss the buttons in counter clockwise
order.

3.1 The Setup button

Click on the button (or press 'S') to enter the Setup screen.
The Setup screen allows you, the parent or the teacher, to
change a few parameters of the game according to the specific
needs of your child.

Since the setup screen is not part of the game and is not meant
for the child to change, you will be required to solve a simple
arithmetic test before you can change any parameter.

After providing the correct answer to the arithmetic test, you
will be presented with a table of all the parameters with their
current values. You can select any parameter by using the Up and
Down arrow keys. The currently selected parameter is
highlighted, and a brief explanation about the parameter
(including the possible values) appears below the table. To
change the current value - press the space key.

After changing all the parameters to your satisfaction, press
the Enter key to accept the changes, or press the Esc key to
cancel all of them.

The following parameters are controlled by the Setup screen:

1. Play Music - determines whether or not to play a tune every 10
        pictures.

2. Make Sound - determines whether or not to make a "success" sound
        when a word is successfully spelled (or matched)
        and an "error" sound when the wrong key is pressed.

3. All Capitals - determines whether English words should appear as
        "ALL CAPITALS" (ALL UPPER CASE) or in Mixed Case.

4. Falling Letters Speed - the speed in which the letters in game
        levels 9 and 10 fall from the top of the screen.

5. First Level Dino-Dollars (English) - sets the first level of the
        game for which the child gets a Dinosaur Dollar for each 10
        words spelled (or matched) correctly in English.

6. Words per Dollar - sets the number of words the child has to
        spell (or match) correctly to get a Dinosaur Dollar.
        The initial value of this parameter is 10. This
        parameter also determines the number of pictures
        displayed between tunes.

7. Printer Kind - selects the printer kind. The initial value is
        "Unknown". You MUST set this parameter to a known
        printer kind in order to allow the child to print
        the Dinosaur Dollars that he/she earns from the game.

8. Printer Port - selects the port to which the printer is
        connected. In most cases this port is "LPT1:", which is
        also the initial value, so it need not be changed.



3.2 The Escape button

Click on this button (or press the Escape key) to exit the game.


3.3 The Arrows button

Click on the upper half of this button (or press the Up Arrow
key) to increase the difficulty level. Click on the lower half
of this button (or press the Down Arrow key) to decease the
difficulty level.


3.4 The Play button

Click on this button (or press the Enter key) to start playing.



            Chapter 4

            Dinosaur Dollars
            ================

In "Dollars and Dinosaurs", each word comes with a short
animation "movie". The high resolution animated graphics provide
an attraction and an immediate reward to the child for
performing the "chores" of spelling and matching words.

However, in order to sustain the child's interest in the
program, an external reward (i.e. outside of the screen) is
needed. This is given in the form of Dinosaur Dollars. For each
10 words spelled (or matched) correctly, the child earns a
Dinosaur Dollar. This dollar may be printed immediately by
clicking on the "Print" button (or pressing 'P' or the Enter key)
or saved for later. If ten or more dollars are saved, then 10
dollar bills will be printed (the shareware version prints
1 dollar bills only). It is your (the parent's)
responsibility to assign "real value" to Dinosaur Dollars,
depending on the age and the character of your child. You may
choose to exchange the Dinosaur Dollars with real dollars, or
you may give the child a present after a certain number of
Dinosaur Dollars is accumulated, or you may just encourage the
child to collect them and exchange them with friends.

There are several ways by which you can prevent an "inflation"
process (i.e. too many dollar bills around...). Read section 3.2
to become familiar with the Setup parameters. By tuning these
parameters to your child's knowledge of the language you can
control the number of Dinosaur Dollars being printed. For
example, you can set the "First Level Dino-Dollars (English)"
to your child's level. As your child advances, you can increase
the "Words per Dollar" parameter. Finally, you can simply modify
the "exchange rate" of Dinosaur Dollars to "real value" (or, in
other words, devaluate the Dinosaur Dollar).

Note: in order to save space, Dinosaur Dollars printed by the shareware
version are limited in the following ways:
    1. It prints only 1 dollar bills (no 10 dollar bills).
    2. LaserJet/DeskJet printer resolution used is 150x150 DPI
       (rather than 300x300 DPI).
    3. Epson compatible 24 pin dot matrix resolution used is 120x72 DPI
       (rather than 360x180 DPI).
    4. IBM Proprinter is not supported.


            Chapter 5

            The Levels of the Game
            ======================


Level 0 - Flash Cards
=====================

Each picture is accompanied by the English word.

Press any alphabetical key on the keyboard, and a word that
starts with that letter will show up on the screen, with an
animated picture. Press any other key (such as Space or Enter)
and the words appear in alphabetical order.

Young children (2 or 3 year olds) will be delighted to see the
animated graphics. Soon they will notice that certain keys bring
up certain pictures. They may even learn which key to press in
order to bring up their favorite picture. Slightly older users
may notice that when they press the Space key, the pictures
always show up in the same order - the alphabetical order.


Level 1 - Paint the Picture
===========================

As the young child presses keys at random, the words turn from
dull gray to bright yellow, one letter at a time.
Simultaneously, the colors of the picture turn from shades of
gray ("black and white") to full color. When the picture is
fully colored, it starts moving too!!


Level 2 - Fill in the First Letter
==================================

The picture is accompanied by the word written in the selected
language but the first letter is missing!
If your child started with the lower levels first, he or she may
notice that the pictures appear on this level in the same order
as they did on the previous levels. This past experience may
help them guess the missing first letter. After a few seconds of
hesitation, a hint is given by blinking the correct key on the
keyboard. Can your child press the right key BEFORE it starts
blinking?


Level 3 - Fill in the Missing Letter
====================================

This is similar to level 2 but this time it's not the first
letter.  Instead - any letter may be missing. Can your child
guess which one?


Level 4 - Multiple Choices
==========================

After seeing the correct answer many times, it's time to guess
it from a number of choices. A wrong guess - and the word turns
RED. Guess right - and the word turns bright yellow, the picture
takes on full colors and starts moving!!


Level 5 - Multiple Choices with First Letter Missing
====================================================

This level combines the skills acquired in levels 2, 3 and 4.


Level 6 - Multiple Choices with two Missing Letters
===================================================

The challenge increases. Can your child guess the correct word
with TWO letters missing? (in order not to make it TOO
difficult, short words like "JUG" have only one letter
missing).


Level 7 - Spell the Whole Word
==============================

It's time for some serious spelling now. The whole word has to
be spelled by typing on the keyboard or by clicking with the
mouse. As each letter is typed, it changes color from gray to
yellow. Finally, the picture takes on full colors and starts
moving. To ease the task, the next key to be typed always blinks.


Level 8 - Spell the Word with No Help
=====================================

Same as before, but this time the word is not spelled out in
advance, and the blinking hint appears only after 5 seconds of
hesitation.


Level 9 - Falling Letters
=========================

Letters are falling from the sky at random. Your child has to
distinguish the good ones from the bad, i.e., take the letters
that can help him or her spell the word, and throw the rest into
the trash can.


Level 10 - Falling Letters with No Help
=======================================

Same as before, except that now the word is not spelled out on
the screen!





            Association of shareware Professionals

Uri Postavsky 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 nto provied 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.


            REGISTRATION FORM


To:

Right to Left Software
3332 Yonge Street, P.O. Box 93034
Toronto, Ontario M4N-3R1
CANADA.




My $29 USD (or $35 CDN) cheque is enclosed. I understand that this entitle me
to immediately receive:

    1. The latest version of Dollars and Dinosaurs with more words,
       more animation, more languages, higher resolution dollar bills
       and of course - without the "nagging" messages.
    2. Printed and bound instruction manual.
    3. Technical support through CompuServe, phone, fax or mail.


Please send a   ___ 5.25" HD diskette        ___ 3.5" HD diskette

Name:  ___________________________________________

(Title): _________________________________________

(Company): _______________________________________

Address: _________________________________________

City, State (Prov.) ______________________________

Zip/Postal Code ___________________

Country ___________________________

Phone/fax ________________________________________


Date: ______________________________


Signature: ______________________________