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- Sidewalk Software presents
-
-
- Zeek the Geek
-
-
- A Game by
- Paul H. Smith
-
-
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- -----------------
-
- The Story
- Game Controls
- The Zeek Family of Programs
- Zeek the Geek Copyright Notice
- System Requirements
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Order
-
-
- THE STORY
- ---------
-
- On a small planet in a large solar system on the far side of the galaxy,
- there is intelligent life. The dominant life form is the Geek, not to be
- confused with the geeks we know here on earth. Geeks have extremely high
- IQ's, but they lack common sense. (OK, so there is some resemblance to
- earthly geeks.) A Geek could out-perform any scientific calculator without
- blinking an eye, but would have trouble solving even simple puzzles.
-
- Zeek is a typical Geek. He has a large head with a very large brain, and
- he can solve complex mathematical formulas in a flash. But, he is easily
- confused by everyday challenges. Unfortunately, this is quite a problem
- where Zeek lives. Everyday challenges can be fatal if he makes a mistake,
- and he needs help deciding how to get around. This is where you come in.
- You can help him get to the mushrooms that he and his family like so much.
-
-
- GAME CONTROLS
- -------------
-
- The primary goal of each level is to guide Zeek to a mushroom. It is the
- favorite food of the Geeks, and Zeek must gather them for his family.
- Along the way, you will collect points for flowers that Zeek picks, for
- gates that he opens, for finding a treasure chest, and for matching up
- magic crystals. You will also collect bonus points for completing a level
- quickly. The faster you can get through the level, the more bonus points
- you collect. Thus, to maximize your score, you must move Zeek quickly to
- the mushroom, and collect the extra treasures along the way.
-
- You can control Zeek's movement with the arrow keys on the keyboard or
- with the mouse. Press an arrow key for the direction that you want Zeek
- to move, and he will respond as long as you hold the key down. Using the
- mouse, just click on the spot that you want Zeek to move to, and he
- responds. However, Zeek may not move exactly the way you wish unless you
- click on a spot that is a horizontal or vertical move for him. If Zeek
- has a fatal encounter with one of the local hazards, or if he is otherwise
- trapped in a hopeless situation, you can restart the same level by
- pressing the "Esc" key on the keyboard or by clicking the mouse on the
- Zeek button on the scorepad. After restarting a level with a new Zeek,
- no score will accumulate until you have once again collected the same
- (or equivalent) treasures that you collected on the previous attempt at
- the level.
-
- You can save or restore a game in progress, load a puzzle pack (in part
- two), skip a level, exit the game, or perform any of several other
- functions by selecting the Disk Functions button on the scorepad. Also,
- you can view the high scores at any time by selecting the Star Performers
- button.
-
- The four push buttons on the scorepad are:
-
- New Zeek Button (Restart the same level)
- Disk Functions and Controls, including:
- Save Game (Save current state of game to disk)
- Restore Game (Retrieve a previously saved game)
- Load Puzzle Pack (Not available in Part One)
- New Game (Start the game over again)
- Resume Game (Continue with the game in progress)
- Turn Music On/Off (With multimedia sound board)
- Turn Sounds On/Off (With multimedia sound board)
- Skip Level (Abandon current level and go to next)
- Exit Program
- All About Zeek (this window)
- Star Performers (high scores)
-
-
- THE ZEEK FAMILY OF PROGRAMS
- ---------------------------
-
- Zeek the Geek Part One
- ----------------------
-
- Zeek the Geek Part One is an introduction to Zeek and the puzzling situations
- that he finds himself in. Zeek needs to collect mushrooms for his family,
- and you can help him figure out how to get them. You will guide him through
- fifteen levels of play, and encounter a number of obstacles along the way.
- There are block walls that can't be moved and locked gates that can only be
- opened if you find the key. There are boulders to push out of the way,
- flowers that eat Geeks, and many other things that may help or hinder Zeek in
- getting to the mushrooms. You will have to figure out how to use or avoid the
- things you find while you guide Zeek on his way.
-
- The complete list of things that Zeek will meet in Part One is:
-
- Walls that do not move.
- Yellow barrels that do not move.
- Mushrooms that Zeek collects for his family.
- Toadstools that are fatal if eaten.
- Round yellow boulders that Zeek can push.
- Giant apples that Zeek can push.
- Yellow flowers that Zeek can pick.
- Locked gates.
- Keys to the gates. (Zeek can carry only one at a time.)
- Purple flower buds that open when a Geek is near.
- Purple flowers that eat apples and nearby Geeks.
- Magic crystals that disintegrate when brought together.
- Dynamite that Zeek can push to destroy most obstacles.
-
- Although other members of the Zeek family of programs must be purchased,
- Zeek the Geek Part One is provided free of charge, and it may be freely
- copied and distributed. You are encouraged to pass copies along to your
- friends, to share it at work or at school, and to upload a copy to your
- favorite bulletin board or internet site. The only restrictions to such
- distribution are that all files must be included in their original
- unmodified form, and that no profit shall be made from the distribution
- (other than a nominal disk copying charge).
-
-
- Zeek the Geek Part Two
- ----------------------
-
- Zeek the Geek Part Two is a continuation of the adventures of Zeek with
- thirty all new puzzling situations for you to help Zeek through. Zeek
- still needs to collect mushrooms for his family, he will meet all the
- same hazards that he found in Zeek the Geek Part One, and he will meet
- many new ones, including Piclasops and Atomic Eyes. A Piclasop looks
- something like an earthly triceratops, but it is strictly vegetarian.
- It can inflict a fatal byte if you get in its way, but it ignores Geeks
- when left alone. Atomic Eyes were placed on Zeek's planet by an alien
- race that is trying to eliminate the Geeks and eventually take over the
- planet. They watch the Geeks, and zap them with a laser blast if they
- can get a clear shot at them.
-
- The complete list of things that Zeek will meet in Part Two is:
-
- Everything encountered in Part One.
- Piclasops that graze on the local vegetation.
- Atomic Eyes that zap Geeks when they can.
- Blue flowers that are fatal if picked.
- Attitude Eggs that change the colors of flowers.
- Rotten Apples that are digested slowly by the purple flowers.
- Invisibility pills that last for a short time.
-
- Zeek the Geek Part Two also includes the ability to read in Zeek the Geek
- Puzzle Packs. Each Puzzle Pack contains many more puzzles and challenges
- for you to help Zeek with.
-
-
- Zeek the Geek Puzzle Packs
- --------------------------
-
- Zeek the Geek Puzzle Packs provide an inexpensive way for you to continue the
- fun of Zeek the Geek Part Two by adding new puzzles for Zeek to solve. The
- Puzzle Packs currently offered by Sidewalk Software each contain a collection
- of all new puzzles which can be read into Zeek the Geek Part Two. Once
- loaded, the Puzzle Pack becomes a whole new game. Choose a simple Puzzle
- Pack if you don't want to think too hard, or choose a more difficult Puzzle
- Pack if you really want to be challenged. A number of Zeek the Geek Puzzle
- Packs are available from Sidewalk Software, and you may be able to find third
- party puzzle packs available elsewhere.
-
- The following Puzzle Packs are currently available from Sidewalk Software:
-
- Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack One, "Nice 'n Easy"
- 30 puzzles for those who want to be lightly challenged.
-
- Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Two, "Challenge Pack"
- 30 very challenging puzzles for the experienced player.
-
- Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Three, "Puzzles Galore"
- 60 puzzles, easy to difficult, but most somewhere between.
-
- Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Four, "Challenge Pack II"
- 30 very challenging puzzles for the experienced player.
-
- Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Five, "Kid's Stuff"
- 30 very simple puzzles designed for the very young.
-
- Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Six, "Zeek 1 Puzzles"
- The 15 puzzles of Zeek the Geek Part One in a puzzle pack.
-
- Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Seven, "Zeek 2 Puzzles"
- The 30 puzzles of Zeek the Geek Part Two in a puzzle pack.
-
- Zeek the Geek Designer
- ----------------------
-
- Zeek the Geek Designer is a user friendly tool that lets you design and save
- your own puzzle packs for use with Zeek the Geek Part Two. It provides
- point-and-click building of up to sixty levels of play, and immediate
- testing of each level. No programming experience is necessary or even
- helpful in creating your puzzles, and you should be able to learn to use the
- simple controls in just a few minutes. You can build your puzzles with
- all the features and functionality of Zeek the Geek Part Two, and you can
- save your work in a puzzle pack that can be played on Zeek the Geek Part
- Two. Then you can use, sell, or otherwise distribute your puzzle pack without
- paying royalty fees to Sidewalk Software. Additionally, Sidewalk Software
- will offer to sell high quality puzzle packs for you and pay you royalties
- for each copy sold.
-
-
- Zeek the Geek Combination One
- -----------------------------
-
- This package includes the latest versions of Zeek the Geek Part One, Zeek the
- Geek Part Two, Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack One, and Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack
- Two. That's a total of 105 puzzles and a great value!
-
-
- Zeek the Geek Combination Two
- -----------------------------
-
- This package includes everything in Zeek the Geek Combination One plus Zeek
- the Geek Puzzle Pack Three and Zeek the Geek Designer. That's a total of 165
- puzzles, plus the ability to create more puzzles of your own!
-
-
- Solutions
- ---------
- Solutions are available for all puzzles in the Zeek the Geek Family of
- Products. Send $3.00 and a stamped self-addressed envelope to Sidewalk
- Software for each game or puzzle pack (Zeek the Geek Part One, Puzzle Pack
- Two, etc.) for which you wish to have solutions. The solution sheet for each
- product contains solutions to all puzzles in the product. For example, the
- solution sheet for Zeek the Geek Part Two contains solutions to all 30 puzzles
- in that game.
-
-
- ZEEK THE GEEK COPYRIGHT NOTICE
- ------------------------------
-
- All members of the Zeek the Geek family of products are copyrighted by
- Sidewalk Software. Permission is granted to copy and distribute only Zeek the
- Geek Part One, and that distribution is subject to the restrictions stated
- above. For other members of the Zeek the Geek family of products, permission
- is granted only for the original purchaser to make backup or hard disk copies
- for his/her own use. Otherwise, the products may not be copied or distributed
- in any form without the express written permission of Sidewalk Software.
- Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of these products may result in
- severe civil or criminal penalties and will be prosecuted to the fullest
- extent of the law.
-
-
- SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
- -------------------
-
- The Zeek family of programs each requires a '386 or better processor running
- Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or later. A VGA or better display and a mouse
- are also required. A sound card with Windows drivers is required for the
- music and sound effects. Without a sound card, the game has no music, and
- it has very limited sound effects.
-
-
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- --------------------------
-
- 1) Q. Is it possible for Zeek to collect all the flowers and treasure chests,
- and to detonate all the bombs on every level?
- A. It is possible for Zeek to collect all treasure chests on all levels in
- both Part One and Part Two, but he can't always get all the flowers.
- Occasionally there are bombs, magic crystals, apples and other things
- that he doesn't need or can't get. This is also true in all of the
- puzzle packs offered by Sidewalk Software, but may not apply to third
- party puzzle packs.
-
- 2) Q. Is there an easy way to get to a desired level other than skipping one
- level at a time?
- A. The easiest way to get to a level is to save the game there, and then
- restore the game at that point the next time you want to try the level.
- You can save the game on each level if you wish, and then quickly get
- to any level by restoring the game there.
-
- 3) Q. After saving and restoring the game, I'm back at the beginning of the
- level. Is there a way to save and restore in the middle of a level?
- A. After restoring the game you will be at the start of the level that you
- were on when you saved the game.
-
- 4) Q. When you goof, is there a way to back up a step or two?
- A. When you have a fatal encounter with one of the local hazards or when
- you find yourself in a hopeless situation, you must restart the level
- or skip it.
-
- 5) Q. I have a sound card, and I get sound effects, but I don't get any
- music. Why?
- A. Even though you have a sound card that works well with DOS based games
- and applications, you probably don't have the proper drivers installed
- for the Microsoft Windows Multimedia System. Check that the proper
- drivers are installed. One driver must be installed for WAVE files
- (sound effects) and another driver must be installed for MIDI files
- (music). A simple test to determine if the drivers are installed and
- working is as follows: From the Microsoft Windows Program Manager,
- click on "File", then click on "Run". Type "MPLAYER TADA.WAV" in the
- command line box and click on "OK". The Microsoft Media Player should
- pop up on your screen. Press the right arrow key in the lower left
- corner of the Media Player window, and you should hear the "TADA"
- sound. If you don't, the WAVE driver is not installed or is not
- working. Next, repeat the process, but type "MPLAYER CANYON.MID" in
- the command line box. You should hear music. If you don't, the MIDI
- driver is not installed or is not working. Except for the drivers for
- your sound card, all programs and files used in this test are supplied
- with Microsoft Windows 3.1 as a part of the Microsoft Windows
- Multimedia System. Contact your sound card manufacturer if the proper
- drivers were not supplied with your card.
-
- 6) Q. I have tried everything on this level, and I give up. What can I do
- now, and how do you solve the puzzle?
- A. If you just can't figure out one particular puzzle, save the game at
- that spot and skip the level. You may be able to come back and solve it
- after working some of the later puzzles. If you need help, a solution
- sheet is available from Sidewalk Software. See "Solutions" under "The
- Zeek Family of Products" above.
-
- 7) Q. I saved a game in Zeek the Geek Part Two, and I tried to restore it
- after loading a puzzle pack. When I did this, I got an error message.
- Should the game have been restored?
- A. A saved game can only be restored into the game or puzzle pack from
- which it was saved. If you keep a lot of saved games on disk, you
- might try giving them names that indicate where you were at the time
- of each save. Thus, PP3-23.ZSG could be the file name of a saved game
- at level 23 in puzzle pack 3.
-
-
- HOW TO ORDER
- ------------
-
- To order, use a text editor such as Notepad to fill in and print the file
- ORDER.TXT, or simply include the information on a plain piece of paper.
- Just indicate which package(s) you wish to purchase, specify a "ship to" name
- and address, indicate the size of floppy disks that you prefer, and include
- a check or money order for the full purchase price. Remember to include sales
- tax for California orders. Send your order to:
-
- Sidewalk Software
- 10564 Limerick Ave.
- Chatsworth, CA 91311-2437
-
- Sorry, but at this time, Sidewalk Software cannot accept credit card or
- telephone orders. Please allow up to two weeks to receive your order.
-
- See the PRODUCTS.TXT file for a description of other professional quality
- software from Sidewalk Software.
-