This documentation is text without graphics to save download time. Please read it carefully as it contains a wealth of valuable information about Uz 3.0. First, the legal stuff:
THE AUTHORS OF THIS SOFTWARE DISCLAIM ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSSES WHETHER TANGIBLE OR INTANGIBLE RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE (Uz 3.0 and all associated files). USE OF THE SOFTWARE CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO HOLD HARMLESS THE AUTHORS FROM ALL CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES.
THIS SOFTWARE MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED, DISASSEMBLED, REVERSE-ENGINEERED, ALTERED, DAMAGED, OR SOLD WITH WITHOUT THE AUTHOR'S EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION. MASTERWORKS GRANTS THE RIGHT TO DISTRIBUTE THE SHAREWARE VERSION OF THIS SOFTWARE IN ITS UNALTERED, ORIGINAL ARCHIVE (uz30sw.zip) PROVIDED THAT NO FEE IS CHARGED FOR THE SOFTWARE, EXCEPT A SMALL FEE TO COVER MEDIA AND DUPLICATION. DISTRIBUTION OF THE REGISTERED VERSION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
Shareware CD-ROM vendors: please feel free to distribute shareware Uz 3.0 on CD-ROM. MasterWorks would appreciate notification of your doing so via the e-mail address at top.
Seeing that you've already downloaded or copied Uz 3.0, there's no reason not to give it a try, right? Uz 3.0 is a painstakingly designed puzzle game for Windows, and, quite simply, IT ROCKS. Featuring crisp sound effects, colorful pieces, beautiful backgrounds, pleasant music, and a whole lot of fun, you won't be able to tear yourself away from the challenge. Basically, the idea is to start off on level one and make your way to level sixty. To clear a level, all you've got to do is destroy all of the pieces. (As with most puzzle games -- easier said than done!) Every bit as enchanting for adults as for children, Uz 3.0 contains no objectionable material and is suitable for all ages (although children below the age of eight or so may find it difficult to understand). The controls are easy to master, the visuals will blow you away. . . so what are you waiting for? Go give it a try!
These requirements are not absolute but instead are guidelines for an enjoyable experience. Yes, you may be able to coax your old EGA 286 into running Uz, but it sure won't be pretty. . . :)
YOU WILL NEED:
-An IBM (or 100% compatible) 80486 or faster
-VBRUN300.DLL -- Visual Basic 3.0 runtime, available from any major online service
-A video driver which supports 65,536 (high-color) or more colors (true-color) at 640x480 resolution
-A mouse or other pointing device
-Free time... preferably in vast quantities
YOU WILL ENJOY UZ 3.0 MORE WITH:
-800x600 or higher desktop resolution, if you want to use the Uz 3.0 Level Editor
-A sound card that supports digital sound effects (i.e., WAV files) and MIDI music (preferably wavetable synthesis)
We know, we know!! You just got your copy of Uz and you can't wait to see what all the fuss is about! So, without further ado, here are the steps you should take to get going:
1.) Extract the necessary files from the Uz archive. Obviously, you've already done that or you couldn't be reading this. So, on to step 2. . .
2.) Run SETUP.EXE. Windows '95 users should click START, then press RUN. Windows 3.1x users should go to FILE MANAGER then select RUN from the FILE menu. In the box provided, enter the path where the Uz files are located and then SETUP.EXE. You can BROWSE to look for this file if you can't remember where you put it.
3.) SETUP is the program which will put Uz icons on your START MENU or PROGRAM MANAGER. Simply click the install button and everything should proceed smoothly. Locate your new folder (either on the Start Menu or Program Manager) and you will notice several icons. They are:
Uz 3.0 -- click on this to start the program!
Uz 3.0 Documentation -- opens Write/Wordpad and lets you look at this file
Uz 3.0 Order Form -- if you see this, it means you've got the shareware version of Uz. Click here to get more information on purchasing a full copy.
Uz 3.0 Level Editor -- use this to make your own puzzles! Registered version only.
4.) Of course, you want to play! Just click on the icon that says Uz 3.0 (or Uz 3.0 Shareware) to start it up.
5.) You'll see the titlescreen pop up, some neat graphics, etc. Click on the uppermost button -- Start Uz 3.0!
6.) The login screen appears. Click "New", then enter a name for the account. Each account has its own level, score, and preferences, all of which are saved automatically. Press "Create Account", then press start when you're back on the login screen.
7.) You're ready to roll! The first introductory level appears. Follow the onscreen directions and have fun! If you need more help, consult either the tutorial (which can be selected from the Title Screen) or this documentation.
IV.) MECHANICS OF UZ 3.0 -- How to play the game!!
If you haven't already read so, Uz is a puzzle game that consists of sixty levels of gameplay (plus five introductory levels.) Although they increase in difficulty to some degree, Uz levels are greatly varied and each requires thinking in a unique way. The object of the game is to destroy all of the pieces on each level. Images of the pieces that you need to destroy always appear on the main screen, followed by the quantity of the piece. Although the pieces can take almost any shape and size, the more common ones are:
-Gray Ball, Cube, Purple Ball, Torus, Pyramid, Cylinder -- can be moved in any direction
-Blue Arrow, Pink Arrow -- can only be moved left and right. Will fall downwards (i.e., succumb to gravity) if there is a gap below them. NOTE: no Uz piece can "push" another one, downwards or in any direction.
-Balloons: can also only be moved left and right. Will rise upwards if given the opportunity. The opposite of arrow pieces.
Uz levels are generally composed of FAR more elements than just the destructible pieces, however. They include:
Obstacles: sit there. Do nothing. Get in the way. Can't be moved. Can take the form of bricks, steel, wood, pipes, marble, and almost anything else.
Animals: rarely serve a useful purpose except to sit there and look stupid. Can often be destroyed in some form or fashion.
"!" Blocks: blow up when they touch another, identical "!" block. Although useful for bridge building, can be difficult because of their tendency to self-destruct.
Bombs: blow up, period. Don't get them near anything you want to live. Detonate whenever they come in contact with anything else that can be destroyed, including other bomb
