CD Ware Multimedia 1994 November

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tm JumbleSquares ------------- Fun Software From ComputerEase *** PROGRAM DESCRIPTION JumbleSquares is a new word puzzle for the IBM PC and compatible computers. It's a word game with a twist - combining the knowledge required for crossword puzzles with the skill necessary for building magic squares. You are given ten word definitions, the answers to which ALL contain exactly five letters. As you answer a definition, you transfer each of the five letters of the answer onto a five-by- five grid, forming a perfect "magic square". Here's the twist: the letters of the words must be "jumbled" in order to fit...if the answer to the THREE ACROSS word definition is YOUTH, for instance, when the letters are placed onto the square they may have to be in the order UOHYT! For added fun, compete with your family and friends! As you solve each puzzle you are scored on your accuracy and speed. If you answer the definitions and move the letters onto the grid correctly, points are added - if you guess wrong, points are deducted. If you get stumped on a word, you can ask for help - but it costs you points! You may also guess at grid square letters - for a price! *** FILES REQUIRED An evaluation copy of JumbleSquares contains the following files: JSQ.EXE The JumbleSquare program. JSQ.DOC This documentation file. README Quick load-and-go instructions. FILE_ID.DIZ The standard shareware description file. PACKING.LST A file listing the JumbleSquare files. VENDOR.DOC Distribution information for vendors, BBS sysops, etc. VOL01.PZL A volume of ten JumbleSquare puzzles. When executed, the program may generate the following files: SCOREBD.DAT Contains the names of players and their scores. REGISTER.FRM A blank form to be used by evaluating users for registering their copy of JumbleSquares and receiving Volume 1 of the puzzle set. ORDER.FRM A blank form to be used by registered users for ordering new volumes. *** INSTALLATION RUNNING FROM A FLOPPY. Insert the floppy containing the Jumblesquare files into a drive, ensure that the floppy is the DOS working directory, and type JSQ to execute the program. HARD DRIVE INSTALLATION. Create a DOS subdirectory (i.e. C:\JSQ), and copy all files into it. From this point, you ensure that the subdirectory is the DOS working directory (i.e. CD C:\JSQ), then type JSQ to execute the program. RUNNING UNDER WINDOWS. This version of JumbleSquares is not a Windows version (a compatible Windows version is forthcoming!), but it will run perfectly well as a DOS application under Windows. The only thing to understand and remember is that Windows has its own mouse driver which will NOT work with JumbleSquares. You must load the mouse software (MOUSE.COM, MOUSE.SYS, etc.) that came with your mouse. *** HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS JumbleSquares will run on any IBM PC compatible system which has, as a minimum, EGA color graphics and a mouse. *** RUNNING THE PROGRAM The DOS command is JSQ. There are a couple of command-line parameters which you may want to use: /ng No graphics. Bypasses the opening copyright screen. /ns No scores. If two or more players are playing in competition, they may wish to hide the scores on the scoreboard. This parameter inserts, in place of the player's score for a puzzle, the word "OKAY", if the player has NOT worked this puzzle, or "DONE", if he has. /nd No diagonal letters. When the puzzle is first displayed, it "gives" you the grid squares on one diagonal for a start. If you prefer, this parameter will inhibit the free letters. Here are examples of entering any or all of these parameters on the command line: JSQ /ng JSQ /ns /nd /nd *** FIRST EXECUTION OF THE PROGRAM The first time the program is run, the operator will be asked to enter his or her name. From this point, new players may be added at any time on the SCOREBOARD (see below). *** THE SCOREBOARD The scoreboard keeps track of players, puzzles, and scores. MOUSE OR KEYBOARD Either the mouse or the keyboard may be used to negotiate this screen. If you're using a mouse, simply click on the buttons or player name. If you prefer using the keyboard on this screen, you may use the LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to scroll through puzzle numbers, the UP and DOWN arrow keys to select a player, and the highlighted first character of the command for any of the buttons. SELECTING THE PUZZLE On the upper left center of the screen is a box labeled "PUZZLE NUMBER". Use the mouse to scroll forward and backward through the available puzzle numbers. The evaluation copy provides VOLUME 1, with puzzles numbered 1 through 10; subsequent volumes, each containing 30 puzzles, are numbered consecutively. See the section entitled "PURCHASING ADDITIONAL VOLUMES" for information. SELECTING THE PLAYER Current players are listed in an array in the center of the screen, with their scores for the selected puzzle. A yellow marker appears at the beginning and end of the CURRENT PLAYER (the person who will solve the puzzle when the button "PROCEED TO PUZZLE!" is selected). Notice that, if a different player is selected, the program goes automatically to the first puzzle in the available puzzle set which that player has not solved. SCOREBOARD BUTTONS PROCEED TO PUZZLE! - Once the player and puzzle have been selected, click this button (or press the letter P or ENTER) to begin working on the puzzle. Note that the program will not allow a player to work on a puzzle he has previously solved. The reason for this restriction is to ensure that players who are competing against one another are not tempted to cheat - by reworking a puzzle for a higher score! ADD PLAYER - New players (up to a maximum of 12) may be added on this screen by selecting the "ADD PLAYER" button. Type the name of the new player in the space provided. HOW TO REGISTER (Evaluation copy only) - Clicking this button displays a screen showing how to register. It also creates a file named REGISTER.FRM, a registration form which the user may direct to his printer. MORE PUZZLES (Registered version only) - Once registered, the user may click this button to learn how to receive more puzzles. It also creates a file named ORDER.FRM, an order form which the user may direct to his printer. EXIT - Clicking this button unloads the JumbleSquare program. *** SOLVING JUMBLESQUARE PUZZLES The JumbleSquare puzzle screen shows five ACROSS and five DOWN WORD DEFINITIONs in boxes on the left of the screen. Adjoining each of these boxes is an ANSWER BOX, wherein the word answers will be typed. These boxes are colored WHITE when play begins. On the right of the screen is the five-by-five grid where the jumbled letters of the answers to those clues must go in order to complete the puzzle. These boxes are also WHITE when play begins. At the top center of the screen, the player's name, the puzzle number, and the score are displayed. SOLVING THE WORD DEFINITIONS Play must begin by successfully answering a word definition. Word definitions may be answered in any order you choose. To do so, move the mouse cursor to the box containing the definition and click. At that point, the mouse cursor will disappear, a text cursor will appear in the ANSWER BOX, and control is transferred to the keyboard. Type the word that you think is correct in the box. If the word you enter is incorrect, the ANSWER BOX turns black. Points are deducted for an incorrect word. You may make as many attempts as you like, but it costs you points? If the word you enter is correct, the ANSWER BOX turns blue and points are added to your score. If you're at the point where you need help (don't do this unless you are stumped on all remaining word definitions!) you may simply type a question mark (?) in the ANSWER BOX. You will be given the word, but points will be deducted. For more information about how your score is determined, see the section entitled "SCORING" below. FILLING OUT THE GRID When a word definition is correctly answered, the five grid boxes for that word will turn from WHITE to RED. This means that you may now begin assigning letters to the squares. *** YOU MAY CLICK ON ONLY THE RED SQUARES !!! *** If you click on one of the red squares a vertical box appears on the left of the screen with the letters that may possibly fit in that grid square. There may be as few as one (if the two intersecting words have only one letter in common - such as WORLD and CREAM), or five (if the two intersecting words have ALL letters in common - such as TRACE and CRATE). Your objective is to select the correct one. This is a moot point, of course, if there is only one choice. If there are more than one and you guess wrong, however, you lose points from your score! If you answer two intersecting word definitions correctly, creating a JUNCTION, you are rewarded by having the common letters displayed in the red square. COMMON LETTERS EXPLAINED If the answer to THREE ACROSS is the word MUSIC, and the answers to ONE thru FIVE DOWN are: then the common letters are: WIRES I, S OPENS S OPIUM I, M, U SCREW C, S LUNGS S, U When you are sure of a letter, use the mouse to "plug it" into the grid. To do this, simply select the grid square by clicking the mouse button on it. A "PICK A LETTER" box will be displayed on the screen from which you may select the letter for the square. Simply click the mouse button on the letter of your choice. If you choose, you may click on the "ESC" button and escape with no penalty. Note that in the example above, the grid square at coordinates THREE ACROSS and TWO DOWN contains only the letter S! This means that the S is the only common letter between the two words, and therefore MUST belong in that grid square. While these freebies occasionally occur, you will find that they are limited to no more than one per puzzle! If you select an INCORRECT letter, a message will appear on the screen to that effect. The program will then place the CORRECT letter in the square, and deduct some points from your score. Usually, the process of elimination will indicate the correct letter for a grid square. Occasionally, however, you may be forced to guess from two or more letters. Smart, logical play will reduce the number of these occurrences. STRATEGY The best strategy is to answer as many of the word definitions as possible before moving to the grid. When you have a JUNCTION on the grid (with the possible letters displayed in a red square), don't be too quick to select a letter for that square - having the letters displayed may help eliminate possibilities for other squares. SCORING Each puzzle begins with a score of 200. Points are then awarded or deducted as follows. CORRECTLY ANSWERING WORD DEFINITION PLUS 50 POINTS INCORRECTLY ANSWERING WORD DEFINITION MINUS 30 POINTS LETTING JUMBLESQUARES PROVIDE A WORD MINUS 50 POINTS CORRECTLY ASSIGNING A LETTER TO THE GRID PLUS 20 POINTS INCORRECTLY ASSIGNING A LETTER TO THE GRID MINUS 20 POINTS EVERY SECOND IT TAKES TO FINISH MINUS 1 POINT COMPLETING THE PUZZLE When all word definition ANSWER BOXes and GRID SQUARES have been entered (all are colored BLUE!), the score is recorded and from this point will be displayed on the scoreboard for the player. ---- OR ----- QUITTING THE PUZZLE If a player chooses to quit the puzzle (clicking the QUIT button) before he has completed it, he will be asked if he really intends to do this, and if the score he has at this point is sufficient. If he clicks on the "N" (for NO) button, control is returned to the puzzle; if he clicks on the "Y" (for YES) button, the puzzle is considered complete, the score recorded for the player, and control is returned to the SCOREBOARD. COMPETITION AMONG PLAYERS Family members and friends may compete with one another by comparing scores on the same puzzles. Of course, this means that opponents should not be allowed to watch as puzzles are being solved! Some system should be derived for scoring which will make it fair for all contestants. The player going last has a small advantage because of the way JumbleSquares allows quitting an incomplete puzzle (see above "Quitting the Puzzle"). For example, if player A attempts puzzle 3 and records a score of 252, then player B, knowing that he has to score only 253 to win, may elect to QUIT the puzzle before completion when he sees that his score is that high. One solution for this would be to have someone select puzzle number 3 from the scoreboard for player B so that he cannot see his opponent's score. If desired, the program can be run with scores hidden so that competitors cannot see his opponents' scores. Use the /ns parameter on the DOS command line. (See the section "RUNNING THE PROGRAM" above.) *** REGISTRATION Please read the section on shareware ("Some Words About Shareware") elsewhere in this manual, to find out what shareware is and why you should register. To register, select the "HOW TO REGISTER" button on the SCOREBOARD screen. A registration form will be generated on your computer, in the subdirectory from which JumbleSquares was executed, with the name REGISTER.FRM. We have chosen a very low registration fee for JumbleSquares in order to encourage as much use as possible. When you submit the $8.00 registration fee, you will immediately be sent Volume 1 of the puzzle set. You may also want to order additional volumes at $4.00 apiece, at the same time. Be sure to read the section below entitled "Method of Payment and Delivery". *** PURCHASING ADDITIONAL VOLUMES Once registered, users may purchase additional fifty-puzzle volumes for the low price of $4.00. This price includes free first class postage in the U.S. Priority mail may be chosen if expeditious service is desired. To order more puzzles, select the "MORE PUZZLES" button on the SCOREBOARD screen. An order form will be generated on your computer, in the subdirectory from which JumbleSquares was executed, with the name ORDER.FRM. THE FOLLOWING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: New volumes must be consecutive in order for program puzzle selection to work properly!!! In other words, you may not have Volume 3 loaded, but not Volume 2. When the order form is generated, the program examines your computer to see what volume numbers you have previously ordered. For example, if you have purchased and loaded volumes 2 and 3, this will be stated on your order form, along with the instruction "I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER ____ VOLUMES, BEGINNING WITH VOLUME 4". For this reason, NEVER DELETE A PUZZLE VOLUME! *** METHOD OF PAYMENT AND DELIVERY You may use an editor to edit the REGISTER.FRM or ORDER.FRM file prior to printing on your printer, or print first and complete in pen or pencil. Then simply remit with the registration fee to the address on the form. Please remit a personal check or money order. Do not send cash through the mail. We regret that credit card registrations for this product cannot be accepted, due to the low price. While ComputerEase does accept credit cards for purchase of other, more expensive software, the flat rate presently being paid to a third party credit card agency would make it prohibitive for this product. The registration and order fees include free first class postage in the U.S. Priority mail may be chosen, if expeditious service is desired. All orders are mailed the following day. Note on the registration and order forms that an option is available for direct transmittal of JumbleSquare volumes via CompuServe file transfer, at no cost! These transfers will normally take place the day the payments are received; no later than the following day, in any event. *** TECHNICAL SUPPORT Technical support is provided for both registered and evaluation copies of this program. MAIL: ComputerEase 7204 John Elizabeth Place Prince George, VA 23875 TELEPHONE: (804) 458-2212 This phone is normally manned only between 5 and 10 p.m. Monday-Friday. At other times, an answering machine will take your message. Leave your name, phone number where you may be reached between 5-10 p.m., and as much detail as possible as to the problem you are having. CompuServe: Address e-mail message to DOUG PATRICK, 71221,2766. PRODIGY: Address e-mail message to FFMV24A. *** ASP OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT This program is produced by ComputerEase, a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). The 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 member's 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. *** SOME WORDS ABOUT SHAREWARE Shareware, or user-supported software, is a means for the computing community to receive quality software while directly supporting software authors. It is based on the ideas that: (1) The value and utility of software is best assessed by the user on his or her own system. Only after using a program can one really determine whether it serves personal applications, needs and tastes. (2) The creation of independent personal computer software can and should be supported by the computing community. Copying of programs is encouraged, rather than restricted. The ease with which software can be distributed outside traditional commercial channels reflects the strength, rather than the weakness, of electronic information. Under the user-supported concept, anyone may request a copy of a user-supported program by sending a blank, formatted disk to the program author together with an addressed, postage-paid return mailer and a nominal fee to cover shipping and handling costs. A copy of the program, along with documentation on disk, will be sent by return mail on the user's disk. This program carries a notice suggesting registration for the program. You should register if you are going to use the program on a regular basis. Regardless of whether you register and use the program, you are encouraged to copy and distribute the program for the private, non-commercial, trial use of others. User-supported software is generally not public domain material; most programs of this nature carry a copyright notice. Rather, the author has licensed you to copy and use the program under certain conditions. Likewise, user-supported software is not intended to be free software; it is an experiment in economics, not altruism. It is intended to provide quality software at a low price, while directly supporting the author, without the overhead of distributors, dealers and advertising that produces $200-500 software packages. User-supported software is having a hard time. More and more packages are being taken out of this market, and offered as more traditional, and expensive, products. The reason for this is simple: lots of people are using the packages but very few are paying for them. Software authors go to considerable expense to make their programs available to the public; consider the cost of postage and/or telephone charges to get a software product up on the thousands of bulletin boards! Bottom line: without user support, there is absolutely no incentive for software authors to provide their programs in this fashion. There are many good reasons to register. Besides supporting the author (that is, paying for the software you use), you generally get better support and receive mailed notification of updates and other products. In conclusion, if you regularly use a user-supported program and have not sent in a registration to the author, please do so now. Only through the financial support of users will this kind of inexpensive software continue to be available. ** Thanks for using shareware...and for trying JumbleSquares! ** *** WARRANTY DISCLAIMER ComputerEase makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including without limitation any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, other than to guarantee that this product, at the time of its creation, was delivered in good faith with no subversive motives such as computer viruses. ComputerEase shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, special or consequential arising from a failure of this program to operate in the manner desired by the user. ComputerEase shall not be liable for any damage to data or property which may be caused directly or indirectly by use of the program. IN NO EVENT WILL COMPUTEREASE BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY.