Time Treks

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Magic Quest Inc. A Sanctuary Woods Company Technical Support: (415) 286-6110 TIME TREKS (R) README.DOC PLEASE... READ THIS FIRST, EVEN IF YOU HATE TO READ README FILES!! This document includes the latest and greatest TIME TREKS information. If you are not familiar with DOS commands and conventions, see your DOS manual or third party references for further assistances. If you have a printer connected to your computer, you may want to print this file for quicker reference. Refer to your DOS manual for information on how to use the DOS PRINT command to do this. The TIME TREKS program functions like a state-of-the-art database, requiring at least 530K of free RAM within the 640K conventional memory area, as well as intensive hard disk accessing. TIME TREKS requires the following system configuration to function properly: 1) IBM, Tandy or 100% compatible computer. 2) AT level or above recommended. At least 10 MHz clock speed is recommended. 3) VGA graphics board and monitor. 4) Hard drive with at least 5.5 megabytes of free space. 5) DOS version 3.30 or higher. 6) To access digitized sound requires a Sound Blaster or 100% compatible. 7) Microsoft or Logitech mouse, or 100% compatible 8) TIME TREKS supports Epson and HP LaserJet compatible printers. TIME TREKS, like many other DOS programs, does not support extended or expanded memory at this time. The program does require that a mouse be both installed and loaded into DOS. 1) If you don't know how much free conventional memory you have available, check for it by running the DOS program CHKDSK (checkdisk) from your C:\. On the last line of the information will be the amount of free memory in bytes. (Divide this number by 1024 to get the number of bytes in K units.) Remember, you will need at least 530K free to run TIME TREKS. ************************ Installation ************************ 1) Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive and at the DOS prompt (not from within Windows) type D:INSTALL (assuming your CD-ROM drive is drive D, if not substitute the correct drive letter). 2) After you have finished the installation, the install program will run the TIME TREKS SETUP program. You may manually run this program by by typing SETUP from the TIMETREK directory. Choose the correct settings according to your hardware configuration. You can change these settings at any time by running SETUP again. 3) If you have insufficient free RAM and do not wish to change your system configuration, you can create a boot floppy diskette from which to run TIME TREKS. - See your DOS or computer system documentation for instructions on formatting a system floppy disk. - Copy the CONFIG.SYS file from the C:\TIMETREK directory on your hard drive to the newly formatted diskette. - Copy the COMMAND.COM file from your own copy of DOS to the system floppy disk. - If your AUTOEXEC.BAT file does not load TSR's, shells, or other memory resident programs, you may wish to copy it to the new system disk. It is not necessary, however, to include an AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the system floppy disk. Another option is to edit a copy of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file so that it loads only your mouse driver and no other memory-using files, and use that copy on the system disk. - To boot your computer from the new system disk, insert the disk into drive A, close the drive door, then reboot your computer. - Go to the C:\ and type TT to run TIME TREKS. If you want to free up conventional memory 1) If you are a Windows user, be sure that your Windows installation provides at least 530K free RAM for the DOS window. See your installation manuals or your dealer if you need help to do this. 2) TSR's (Terminate and Stay Resident applications) often reside in the 640K area of conventional memory. This may leave insufficient free RAM remaining to run other programs. Some TSR applications may not function properly with the TIME TREKS program, especially if they modify the screen. Earthquest does not recommend using TSR applications with the TIME TREKS program. 3) If you are using DOS 4.x, upgrading to 5.0 will allow you to utilize the newest DOS memory management options, which provides more free RAM in the conventional memory area. 4) There are several third party memory management utilities available, such as QEMM386, 386MAX, and many others. These provide options for moving more of the operating system plus certain other programs into the memory areas above 640K (high memory). Using one of these may allow you to free up some conventional memory. 5) Edit your CONFIG.SYS file and decrease the number of BUFFERS. Each BUFFER occupies about .5K of RAM, so 40 BUFFERS would occupy about 20K. Read your DOS manual or reference books or consult your dealer before you select the number of BUFFERS to determine an optimum setting for your system configuration. BUFFERS=20 is usually a good starting point. If you have extended memory available on your computer, the following tips may improve program performance. 1) If you have 1 megabyte or more of RAM in your computer and are using DOS 5.0 or Windows 3.x, you can install SMARTDRIVE.SYS into your CONFIG.SYS file to improve your hard disk performance. See your DOS or Windows manual or third party references for information and instructions. ********** Mouse Tips ********** 1) The TIME TREKS program requires that a mouse device and driver be installed and loaded into DOS. TIME TREKS is compatible with the Microsoft mouse driver and the Logitech mouse driver or 100% compatibles. - NOTE: If you purchased Windows bundled with a Microsoft mouse, the Windows Installation program may install the mouse files into Windows, but it may not place the mouse files where other DOS programs will find them. - See your Windows installation manuals or contact your dealer of Microsoft Tech Support for assistance in locating and loading your mouse driver into DOS. 2) If you are using a compatible mouse and driver and it does not work properly, contact the manufacturer, try updating your mouse driver (software), or use a mouse driver published by Microsoft. Be sure to run TIME TREKS SETUP again. ********** Sound Tips ********** In order to use the digitized sounds in TIME TREKS, you must have a Sound Blaster card, or 100% compatible installed in your computer. If you install your sound card after installing TIME TREKS, be sure to run the TIME TREKS SETUP program again. To do this, go to the TIME TREK directory and type SETUP. Choose the correct sound card option. *************** TROUBLESHOOTING *************** 1. Problem: When I type TT to open Time Treks, some lines of text appear, then I am returned to the C:\. I do not see a blue screen. What's probably wrong: a) There is not enough free RAM available to open Time Treks. At least 530K free RAM is needed to run the program. b) See above for suggestions on checking and managing memory. 2. Problem: When I type TT to open Time Treks, I see a blue screen briefly, then I am returned to the C:\. What's probably wrong: a) There is no mouse connected. - A mouse is required to run Time Treks. b) The mouse driver is not installed or is installed into Windows but not DOS. - See above for information on mouse installations. 3. Problem: When I open TIME TREKS, I see a blue screen with a cursor. Then everything freezes. What's probably wrong: a) TIME TREKS is not able to open all the files it needs to run. b) There is no CONFIG.SYS file on your system. - Magic Quest Inc. has provided a minimal CONFIG.SYS file for your convenience. Copy it from the TIMETREK directory to your root directory using the following command at your C:\ prompt: COPY C:\TIMETREK\CONFIG.SYS C: *** CAUTION: Be very sure your system does not have a CONFIG.SYS file before you copy this one. Your system may have other hardware or software requirements that must also be included in a CONFIG.SYS file for your system to function properly. c) The FILES= line in the CONFIG.SYS file is set at a number below 20. - This line must read FILES=20 (or higher). - You can open and edit your CONFIG.SYS file using your DOS editor or a Windows text editor. See your documentation for further assistance. 4. Problem: While playing the game, part of the screen disappeared. When I clicked again, it reappeared and the game resumed. What's probably wrong: Same as Problem #1 See Problem #1 for solutions. ************************* User Guide ************************* Game or Archives From the Main Screen, you can choose to play the Time Treks game or explore the Archives. Just click on your choice. You can also start playing the game from the Archive main screen by clicking on the door icon marked "Game." Starting the Game Each time you start Time Treks, you choose to play either a new game (never the same as the last) or resume a saved game. The Story An eccentric archaeologist has been conducting a series of time experiments trying to see directly into the past. Unfortunately, the archaeologist has opened a number of time doors but neglected to close them. In all the confusion, tyrants have slipped through the time continuum. They threaten to destroy the past and control the future. The Play Your task is to stop these tyrants by controlling more time doors than they do. Each Time Door is covered by a Time Tile. The Tile represents one of nine types of challenges you must face in order to earn the hidden Time Door. By clicking on one of the Time Tiles, you will be faced with a challenge. If you successfully complete the challenge, you control the door. If not, the tyrant gets it. Almost all of the challenges are timed, and must be solved before time runs out. At the end of each challenge, the game will pause until you click the next tile you want to try. There are 30 doors in all. To defeat a tyrant, you have to control at least sixteen of the thirty doors. Some challenges will close more than one door. Time Tile Challenges TROUBLE (Time bomb): Booby trapped! You might have a bomb to defuse, poison to avoid, or antidotes to locate. Closing this door is often a matter of guesswork, but knowing your way around the archaeologist's lab will help. (Worth 1 door) TIME MATCH (Airplane): Answer questions based on the Theme section of the Archives. Search for information you're not sure about. If you miss, the correct answer is highlighted. (Worth up to 3 doors) MOUSEMAZE (Mouse): You only get one chance per level to try this challenge. Explore the maze that begins with the mousehole in the archaelogist's laboratory. (Find the book "Of Mice" for valuable hints.) Note: If you are asked to type a response, do not punctuate your sentences. (Worth up to 6 doors) THE UNDERGROUND (Flashlight): Read the clue and descend to the underground rooms of the eccentric archaeologist. You must find the name of a famous person or an icon representing an invention. Use the arrows at the left or right to move through the rooms. Note: As you search, click on various objects. Some areas will show a "close up" view. To go back to the normal view, click on the arrow at the top edge of the screen. (Worth 1 door) TIME CHALLENGES (Running clock): Journey into the Archives to solve a question or puzzle. (Worth 1 door) TIME GALLERY (Puzzle pieces): You will be presented with a question and icons representing three possible answers. Click on the correct icon. (Worth 1 door) TIME FACTS (Hourglass): The answers to these trivia questions are somewhere in the Archives. If you want to score high on these questions, you will have to know the Archives very well. If you miss, the correct answer is highlighted. (Worth 1 door) TIME CLUES (Pocket watch): Use the Time Machine to find answers in the Timelines section of the Archives. Move the slide until a year close to the one you want appears in the box. Click on the "launch" button and the Time Voyager will take you to that part of the Timeline. Watch for the Time Voyager; it will mark the correct screen. However, you must click on the answer itself. (Worth 1 door) TREASURE HUNT (Treasure chest): Follow clues from one place to another in the Archives, until you find the treasure. Watch for rainbows, and remember "X" marks the spot. (Worth up to 5 doors) TIME TRICKSTER (Jester): Clicking here can get you a free door, or hand a door to the time tyrant. You just never know. Points and Levels Each new game starts at level one. Finishing the board and jailing a tyrant will move you to the next level, which also means you have a new tyrant to stop. With each new level, you get more points for controlling a door, but you have less time in which to do it. Some questions get more difficult. You can only move to a higher level by capturing at least sixteen of the doors. Bonus points: If you get five doors all in a horizontal row, or six in a vertical column, you earn extra points. One word of warning! There may be times when the screen appears "frozen", leading you to believe that the program isn't working. Not so. You simply have not clicked in the right place to move ahead. Be persistent and curious, and you will find your way along. Hints 1. Read the directions for each clue very carefully. 2. This game is very "click" intensive. For example, if you are asked to "cut" a wire, you would click on the wire. If you are asked to "pick up" something, click on it or try dragging it. 3. Some of the bookshelves in the Underground have books that you can open and read. Some contain answers to questions in the game. Others have hints to help you play. Explore the Underground (accessible from the Archives main screen) to get acquainted with the books. Searching from the Game A small navigator labeled "Search" will appear with certain clues or questions. Clicking on this navigator will take you to the general menu of the Archives to look for the answer. Once you get into the Archives, the navigator will change to "Return." When you have the answer to your question, click on the Return navigator to go back into the game. Strategy 1. Spend time in the Archives. The more time you spend learning your way around, the better you will be in the game. 2. Try to do the types of questions that you are the most comfortable with first. You may gain control of the tougher doors by successfully completing a nearby multiple door challenge. 3. Keep a piece of paper and a pencil handy. Some clues require going into the Archives where you no longer see the exact question. Jot down a note or two so that you remember just what you need to find out. 4. Explore the Underground by entering the mouse hole located on the Archives front screen. Hints and clues you uncover will help you later to outwit the Time Tyrants. 5. Try to close doors so that when you complete a row, you also complete a column. This techniques gives you a double bonus for one door. Luck Once in a great while, your first click on a game tile will give you the Jackpot. . . and all the Time Doors. Then it's on to the next level! Game Buttons There are four buttons located in the lower left corner of the Game Board. Help: Click here to go to the game's help screen. High Scores: Click here to see the competition, play a saved game or save a game. Color: Keep clicking to find the screen colors you like. Quit: Click to leave the game or save a game in progress. The Archives The Archives include two sections: Timelines and Themes. Click on a picture or a book to open a certain subject or timeline. Navigator Move through the Archives by using the Navigator palette found in the upper right corner of the screen. The left and right arrows will take you to other screens containing related material. Use the up-arrow to backtrack through different levels of the Archives or to go up a level. (Try it--you'll understand.) The "menus" button shows or hides the menu bar at the top of your monitor. Finally, click on the wagon to go directly to the Archives main screen, from any level. Underground Here is your chance to explore the archaelogist's surprise-filled underground without time pressure. Be sure to look for hints (check the books) that will help you play the game. Timelines This section features over 170 timelines displaying a wide range of historical information. They are extensively cross-linked to other sections of the program and many contain quotes and perspectives on a particular period or event. The timelines are divided into seven historical sections: Early Civilizations, Classical, Middle Ages, Renaissance, The Age of Revolutions (17th/18th Century), The Age of Inventions (19th Century), and The 20th Century. The Timeline section has an additional navigator of its own. Clicking on these icons will take you to topical sections within each time period. Click on the magnifying lens next to the Timeline navigator to hide or show this topical navigator. Themes This section contains more detailed information on a variety of subjects. The wealth of information behind each heading will help users get a feel for important changes throughout history. Click on one of the books on the shelf to choose a subject. The subject areas include: Wars, Science, Maps, Continents, Religion, Empires, History, Explorers, Communications, Time, and Daily Life. Hidden Information Tidbits of information are hidden throughout the program. To find them, we encourage you to poke around and play with everything you see! Archive buttons Underlined dates (Timelines only): Click here and you will see a short quotation that relates to the person or event cited. Small Ship button (Timelines only): Click here and take a short "trip" to a relevant portion of the Themes section. Eye button: Click here an read a contemporary perspective on the displayed time period. Small Chart button: Click here and see additional information from a chart or graph. Small Document icon: Click here and read an overview or questions about what you see or read on the screen. Sound button (Requires sound card): Click here and hear musical motifs. Turning off the button keeps the music from playing, but does not silence the "feedback sounds" that you hear when you click on buttons or when fields open, etc. Help! From the Archives main screen, click on the "help" button at the bottom of the screen to see a labeled illustration of the Archives screen. "More help" explains the navigator and identifies buttons you will see in the Archives. Click on anything you don't understand and read about it. The "main help" button will return you to the first help screen. How do you get back to the main Archives Screen? Click on the navigator wagon. From the Game, click on the help button in the bottom left corner. Click on the demonstration button for the general rules of the game. Click on any of the time tiles to read more about a specific challenge. Copyright 1991-1994 Magic Quest, Inc. Time Treks is a registered trademark, Bit-Bot, and Magic Quest are trademarks of Magic Quest, Inc., A Sanctuary Woods Company. Sanctuary Woods is a trademark of Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corp. All other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.