The Best of Select: Games 12/SPCD12.bin/wingames/balloons/readme.txt

Text File | 1995-11-06 | 11.2 KB | 276 lines

Balloons Phrase Game

Program Description:
Balloons is a phrase game that has it's basis in the venerable favorite
"Hangman". What sets this game apart is the interface is MUCH more
entertaining. 3-D Buttons, text, menus and screens, bright balloons and
stereo sounds replace the old stick figures. You start out with six
balloons. If you get a letter wrong, it pops one of the balloons. If you
get the phrase before all the balloons pop, then you win!

You can play against a friend using your own phrases that you decide as you
go, or let the computer generate random phrases from a category you choose.
There is an endless number of catalogs that can be created and traded. This
original file contains one catalog. This catalog has several categories to
choose from, and each one has one hundred entries already entered.

You can play against time if you choose to. There is an included timer that
will time-out in the time you choose from several ways. You can set it to
time-out if the phrase was not completed in time, if a correct letter is not
guessed in time, or if any letter has not been picked.

If you want to add, edit or even delete a phrase, you can through the included
phrase editor, so you can customize the game to be phrases you want. You can
set up easy lists for kids or complex lists for adults, each one with it's own
title. There is no limit to the number of lists that can be made or used.


Special Notes:

Sound use requires sound driver.

This program requires VBRUN300.DLL. This distribution file MAY NOT contain
this file, it is available free of charge from many on-line services. It is
intentionally left out of releases sent to on-line services to decrease the
download time. It is NOT compatible with VBRUN100.DLL or VBRUN200.DLL. The
original ZIP file does contain THREED.VBX and VBCTL3D.VBX. These files are
also required to run this program. All of these files should be placed in the
Windows\System directory, although they may be anywhere in your system's path
or in the directory that holds Balloons.EXE The included install program will
put the files in the best directories, but it is NOT required for you to run
the program, it is included to make installation easier.

The no-repeat feature on this version works only if the categorie is not
changed. When the user changes the categorie, the list will most likely reset
itself.

NOTE TO VERSION 1 USERS:

1: The Version 1 list files are NOT compatible with this version. Included is
a utility  which will allow your lists to be imported into this version file
formats. The Main List if left un-altered has already been done and is included
with this as Mainlist.CAT. To import a list, copy the IMPORT.EXE file to the
directory which holds the original lists and run IMPORT.EXE. Select the files to
import, and click the IMPORT button. Then move the *.CAT Files to your new
Balloons directory if needed.

2: The Ballloon.CGF may not be compatible with this version. If the
configuration will not change then delete the Balloon.CGF file form your
Balloons directory.
It will created again for you, but you may need to reset your options.


Support:

For Internet and E-Mail support of this product.

Internet: [e-mail]
AOL: Moodie Blu

WWW Page: http://www.why.net/home/sfricke

FTP: ftp.why.net
ftp/pub/users/sfricke

or by US Mail at:
Steven T. Fricke
807 Sandalwood Lane
Arlington, Texas 76017-6051


Version history:

Ver 3.0:
Added Scoring
Added ability to use pictures other htan the deafult balloons
Removed ability to change directories. This ability caused some
    big problems for some useres.
Re-sculpted screen to make it more attractive
Made Icons drop when clicked; like buttons
Added aditional pictures files
Changed all colors to default 3D colors.
Changed most text to not bold. Most users find this more attractive.
Regardless of where the game is on the screen, the child widows are
    centered to the game, not the screen. The one exception to this
    is the Show Phrase window. That is displayed in a Windows message
    window, and Windows deafults messages to the center.
Now requires PICCLIP.VBX
Compiled outside of VB for cleaner exe

Ver 2.2:
(Became molded into version 3 during test stage)
Modified screens to make better use of the Windows 95 3D interface.
Changed Button bar to Icons rather that command buttons.

Ver 2.1e:
Maintenance version to correct instalation problem

Ver 2.1d:
Fixed a problem that caused some users to hang the system when the game was won.

Ver 2.1c:
New VBCTL3D.VBX. Slightly enhanced
New instalation program. Much more user freindly. Enhancements include:
    * Self developed, not pre-packaged.
    * No longer prompts for the install from directory
    * Checks files time and date stamps for version checking.
    * Allows me to use the better Icons for the group's files.
    * Only creates a Program Manager group if the user wants it to.
    * More attractive background for the install.


Ver 2.1b:
Reduced EXE files size
Minor Maintenance

Ver 2.1a:
Corrected timer restart of the game displaying a new item.
Corrected help file to reflect new menu styles.

Ver 2.1:
Game immediatley starts new phrase. No more having to push New Game and
   selecting the catalog/categorie unless you want to change. (this only works
   in one player mode)
Phrases no longer repeat wihin a categorie.
Phrase is no longer displayed if not correct. You can select whether or not to
   see it in a message box.
Decreased the size of the button bar by adding Help balloons and the button name
   from the control.
Made the help system easier to access though the help menu and [F1]
Re-optimized the Random number generator to make the random selection even more
   random.
Help screens close if they are open when the game ends.
Minor fixes:
   Phrase is highlighted when list selected in edit screen.
   Help moved to right sode of the screen
   Close removed from control box to insure that the game closes all files
      correctly before ending.
   Fixed bug which caused the sound to be turned of if the timer was turned of
      by the menu.
   Minimize, Maximise and control box functions removed from "About"
   All screens (forms in VB lingo) automaticly centered.

Ver 2.01a:
Re-release of version 2.01 with spell corrected lists.

Ver 2.01:
Corrected reported problems with users using the Hot-Dog-Stand Window's color
   scheme.
Made the 1st 8 characters of the title of a catalog the default name of a
   catalog file (helps people who have a hard time with DOS' cryptic filenames).

Ver 2.0
Button bar added.
Catalogs added. This also changes the fact that multiple lists can be created
   and stored in their own catalog. A catalog may have a theme, with 6
   categories in each catalog. Each category can have an unlimited number
   of entries.
Catalog creation utility included.
While maintaining the original look and feel, the interface has been optimized
   and now has a more appealing look including 3D menus.
Edit Phrase List boxes now sorted alpha-numeric.
Import utility for 1.x users created.
EGA Interface removed (This can be re-installed if there is a demand. It was
   removed to decrease the executable file size).

Ver 1.4
Multiple lists can be given their own titles instead of Alternate Lists
   Completely re-designed configuration system from a window instead of from
   the menu.
Installation program included again in many releases which does NOT use
   compressed files.

Ver 1.3
Configurable timed game.
Multiple lists configuration added
EGA interface added
Keyboard letter selection added in addition to point and click
Better Error control

Ver 1.2
Help now on-line using Winhelp.exe
Sound files may be changed (registered users only)

Ver 1.1
Maintenance ver. (Limited release for debugging info)

Ver 1.0
Original release

License:
Balloons phrase game is shareware. It may be used free of charge for a thirty
day evaluation. After a thirty (30) day trial, you must either  register the
game or discontinue use. After the thirty day trial you may retain the game in
a compressed un-playable format such as the original "ZIP" file. This game may
be distributed freely as long as no charge is made for the distribution of
this program or the associated files except for the cost of access to an
on-line service during a download or the cost of a diskette containing the
file not to exceed $5.00 except under written permission of the author.

The registration fee is for one person only. In other words if you register
this and you have a computer at home and at work that you want to play this
game on, then you may use the registration key on both systems as long as the
registered user is the actual user. You may not register this and use the
registration for a friend's system. Your friend must pay their own
registration fee.


Many Thanks!
I would like to thank everyone who helped me in the development of this product
and in particular for this version. I truly appreciate all the E-Mail I have
gotten in response to this game, and appreciate the support of all the BETA
testers. Your input made all the difference in the world. Some VERY serious
errors were avoided being put into release.

In particular I would like to thank the following people:

Evan Freed for his attention to detail. I am glad people like you are out there
letting me know when I slip.

Daniel Trimble for his relentless pursuit for perfection. One pixel off is still
one pixel off.

Many more thanks!:
Included with this program are several sound bites which were entered into
public domain by the authors.  I would like to acknowledge them and their work.

File:   CAMCLICK.WAV
AUTHOR: [e-mail]
Type:   Public Domain
CAMCLICK.WAV is a 0.19 second sound bite of the click of a camera shutter.

File:   OH-YEAH.WAV
AUTHOR: Unknown
Type:   Public Domain
OH-YEAH.WAV is a sound bite from the song, "Oh Yeah", by the not well-known
   group, Yello. It was very popular a few years ago, and has been used in
   scores of movies such as the ending credits in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".

File:   POP.WAV
AUTHOR: Dave Serra
Type:   Public Domain
POP.WAV is a 0.05 second sound bite of a "popping" noise.

File:   UH-OH!.WAV
AUTHOR: [e-mail]
Type:   Public Domain
UH-OH!.WAV is a 0.89 second sound bite of a sexy girl going, "Uh-oh!"


* If you do not have a sound card or an internal speaker driver, I suggest you
check your local BBS or other on-line service such as America Online, Delphi or
CompuServe for the file Speak.EXE. This is a self expanding internal speaker
driver.
NOTE: Although an internal speaker can be used, the sound quality is limited,
and usually stops your system while the WAV file plays.


DISCLAIMER:
This program was written for entertainment. No guaranties or warranties or
promises either written or spoken are implied or granted. At no time is the
author of this product or the persons or service where this program was
provided liable in any way, form or fashion for any problems, damage, data loss,
or computer failure caused by this program in excess of the cost of replacing
the registered product if the product was registered at the time it failed to
operate.