				  Matrix    
				Version 1.0

		 Copyright(c) 1994 Nocturnal Creations ,Inc.
			    Documentation 1994
	   
			    Nocturnal Creations 
			      P.O. Box  913
			 Springfield,  MA   01151
			    FAX (413) 543-9181
			   Voice (413) 543-3237  
			  Compuserve  74734,2203
			 United States of America


Table of contents :

System Requirements.....................
Instructions............................ 
Running Under Windows...................
Files List..............................
How Come ...............................
Trouble Shooting........................

  
 ------------------------- System Requirements ----------------------------
     
   An IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or a 100% compatible with at least 512K of
   system ram, a VGA graphics card and at least 500,000 bytes of free 
   hard disk Space. Recommend a 286 or higher processor with 
   enhanced keyboard.
  
 ---------------------------- Instructions --------------------------------

    Starting  
    --------
      To start Matrix, move to the directory matrix was installed to 
      (Default is "Matrix") and at the DOS prompt type "Matrix" and 
      press enter. 

      Command line options -
      
       e = expert mode 
       g = (use) gamepad
       m = disable mouse
       q = Quiet (night mode), no sound
       ? = help

       Use the '?' switch for a brief reminder of what you 
       have read here.   

       Example :    matrix /g/e    (use gamepad and enable expert mode)
		    matrix /?      (help) 

       Note on 'e' switch :

	If you find the bonus rest periods bothersome using the
	'e' switch will disable them. Even though the rest periods 
	are absent bonus points are still added to the score. 


       Using The Gamepad 
       -----------------
       Use the 'g' switch if you have a gamepad. After the gamepad
       is calibrated almost all functions can be controlled using
       the directional pad or buttons. Because the gamepad can give
       very accurate control over gameplay we recommend it over using
       the keyboard.

       Here is list of the functions :
     
       A button - rotates piece counter clockwise / presses buttons
       B button - rotates piece counter clockwise / presses buttons
       C button - pauses game
       D button - escape / menu

       Use the directional pad to move play pieces , make menu  
       selections, or move pointers.


     Keyboard usage 
     ----------------
       Here is a list of the available functions through the keyboard.

       Esc   = Escape / menu
       F1    = help screen
       F2    = pause
       F3    = Toggle sound
       F4    = Shell to dos
       F6    = Load Palette
       F7    = Calibrate joystick method 1 
       F8    = Calibrate joystick method 2 (May work better than method 1)
       F10   = Awesome screen saver
       F12   = Radical quit to Dos (Use this to get out Quick!)

       Insert     =  Toggle slam mode
       Arrow keys =  Move play pieces ,pointers, and menu selections 
		     in their corresponding directions.
       Spacebar   =  Presses buttons , Rotates play pieces clockwise.
       Ctrl       =  Rotates play pieces counter clockwise 
       Alt        =  Rotates play pieces Clockwise


     Using the mouse
     ---------------
       Matrix automatically detects the mouse and enables for use during 
       the game. 

       Moving the mouse will move pointers or play pieces.

       The mouse buttons provide the following services:

       Button 1 (left)   = Presses buttons / Rotates play pieces clockwise
       Button 2 (right)  = Drops play piece
       Button 3 (middle) = Rotates pieces Counterclockwise 
			   (3 button mice only)

       Pressing left and right buttons together brings up the menu.
  
  Option Screen      
  --------------
       Use the arrow keys to move the cursor around over the selections 
       you wish to change. Use the spacebar to make the selection. 
       If you have a gamepad use the appropriate buttons.
       
       SelfPlay  = Pressing this button gives you a little lesson in
		   how to play matrix ! But don't follow its example 
		   to closely , it's programed to do stupid things.
       LoadGame  = Start a game that you saved earlier.(look under Menu) 
       Palette   = Load a palette of your choice. Use the arrow keys to        

		   highlight the selection and spacebar to load it.
       Senerio   = Load a preconfigured game. The object of these games
		   are to clear the pit of blocks labeled "s" in as few
		   pieces as possible. The lowest score wins! Use arrow
		   keys to highlight the selection in the menu and spacebar
		   to play your selection.
       Level     = Select the level you wish to start playing at.
       Handicap  = Fills the play pit up with selected amount of rows using
		   a random pattern.
       Piece Type= Carved or block type pieces can be played with.
       Pit Type  = Select Multicolor and pieces wont change color when
		   they hit bottom.
       Sound     = Too loud ? Turn off the sound !

       Play Matrix = Start the game with the options selected.
 
  Playing The Game
  ----------------

      Basically try to get the falling pieces to fit as best as you 
      possibly can to form complete rows in the pit.

      The gamescore is calculated from a combination of several
      variables. The level , what row the piece lands in ,and 
      how lines are cleared.

      Points are given every time a piece lands in the pit. The 
      higher the level and the higher it lands the more points
      received. The score received is indicated to the right of the 
      pit at the row the piece landed.

      Every 30 lines that are cleared increment the level by 1 thus
      decreasing the amount of time it takes for the pieces to hit 
      bottom. If expert mode is not enabled (the g switch) a bonus
      screen is shown. Bonus points are added to your score which
      are dependant on the amount of lines cleared at one time. For 
      instance; 4 lines cleared at once gives you a MATRIX which is
      worth 2500 bonus points.  
      
      When you can no longer stack pieces within the confines of 
      the pit the game is over. If you have beaten a highscore you
      will be able to enter your name in the Matrix Hall Of Fame.

      Can you make it to Level 15 ?

      To leave matrix at most anyplace within the game press the 
      escape button and make the appropriate choice on the menu.

  Menu     
  ----
     Pressing the escape key brings up a menu. From this menu you
     can :

     Escape to dos
     Save the current game ( During game play only)
     Restart Matrix
     Cancel ( leave menu with no action )

     The one of most interest here is the "Save Game" option. During
     game play press the "esc" key and the menu will appear. Select
     the "Save Game" option and you will be asked to enter a name 
     to save the game under. Using your name is easiest. When finished
     you will be returned to your game . Press any key to get it  
     started again ( it will have been paused so you don't get 
     caught off guard). From the options screen you can load the game
     and play from where it was saved.

  ----------------------  Running Under Windows 3.xx  ----------------------

    Although we don't reccomend doing so we have included configured pif
    files to run Matrix as smoothly as possible. There are icons for
    each of the programs included also.
   
  ------------------------------ Files List --------------------------------
    
    Matrix.exe   : Main program
    Matrix.pic   : Title Screen logo
    Matrix.fnt   : Fonts 
    Matrix.pal   : Palette file
    Matrix.rak   : Small Matrix logo
    Matrix.blk   : Bitmaps for play pieces
    Matrix.scr   : High Scores
    Matrix.dt1   : Bit masks for object manipulation
    Matrix.dt2   : Bit masks for runalone
    Matrix.dt3   : Possible senerios for run alone
    Matrix.dt4   : Misc data
    Matrix.dt5   : Bitmaps for random meter pieces
    Matrix.dt6   : PCX Picture
    Matrix.dt7   : More misc data
    Matrix.dt8   : Image file
    Matrix.dt9   : Options initialize data
    Setvmode.com : Reads info in video.dat and restores video mode
    Paltrix.exe  : Matrix's own palette editor
    Senedit.exe  : Matrix's own senerio editor
    View.exe     : Read all the great text files
    Order.com    : A painless way to order the source code.
    Matrix.ico   : For windows users.
    Paltrix.ico  : ditto
    Senedit.ico  : ditto
    View.ico     : ditto
    Matrix.pif   : ditto
    Paltrix.pif  : ditto
    Senedit.pif  : ditto
    View.pif     : ditto
    Matrix.txt   : Documentation for Matrix 
    Paltrix.txt  : Documentation for Paltrix
    Senerio.txt  : Documentation for Senerio editor
    Info.txt     : Order information
    Vendor.txt   : Distribution Information
    Legal.txt    : Disclaimer

  ---------------------------     How Come   ------------------------------

    The first few lines of conversation that started 
    matrix went something like this :

    I think a game would be a good way to learn Qbasic.
    (sip, the coffee goes down)
    Lets make a tetris variation. 
    (sip , some thought by both )
    Sure! Just manipulate an array ; easy !

    Before Dave and I started this Program we could hardly
    imagine what we were getting into. But we quickly learned. 
     
    Several hundred coffees (close), couple dozen or so moon lit nights 
    later wualla , Qbasic for Dos is maxed out ; all its memory
    reserves sucked dry. Mmm we thought ; I remember doing this
    to GW-Basic . 

    The program look pretty good at this point , better than either
    of us had expected, and most of the ground work was done and 
    worked well. We wanted to continue with what we had started.     

    Out of environment resources , we treked the local software outlets
    for possible options to our problem . C++ oop ? noooo not this year.

    Then behind a dusty collection of half read game mags appeared
    QuickBasic 4.5 , a beacon of hope .(scoop!) Hey, this makes EXE's! 
    Alright!
    
    For weeks we were in executable heaven. Couldn't stop making 
    the things. But it was not long before we were back to the task 
    at hand . With more breathing room came more ideas and fancier 
    ways to do things. A special graphics editor was made to
    draw the Matrix title logo, A font editor for nice text displays.
    We packed every thing QuickBasic would let us stuff into this
    Program, and some things it wouldn't. (There's a touch of c.)

    Programs are the things of change; and this program has seen a lot
    of it. 
     
    We were good for a few months anyway. Then we were being told that 
    string space is depleted and QuickBasic has refused to let us
    shell to dos for some time now , warning us how we were sucking
    it's will to live. But we refused to give in to those messages and we
    have managed to fit most every idea that has popped up into this
    program and get it to run within the qb environment.  

    Early on ,the idea to release this program as shareware never
    occurred to us. We authored this game just because we love to
    program. Seeing the end result of our work inspired us to let
    it be seen.

		    We hope you enjoy the game .

			    Good Luck !


  -------------------------  Trouble Shooting  -------------------------

  P = problem    S= Possible solution
  
  P. Any of the problems below or otherwise.
  S. Try quiting WINDOWS and starting Matrix from DOS. 

  P. Gamepad buttons don't seem to act correctly. 
  S. Make sure controler switches are set correctly. For right hand operation
     top switch should be set away from cable and the bottom switch should
     be towards the colored buttons. Lefties set the buttons opposite of 
     the right hand operation.

  P. Gamepad is connected but does not work.
  S. Make sure you specify the 'g' switch when starting Matrix.

  P. Gamepad acts erradically.
  S. Hit the F7 or F8 during the options screen or during gameplay 
     to recalibrate the gamepad.

  P. Screens disapear before they can be read.
  S. (1) Recalibrate gamepad. If this dosn't work quit the game and delete 
	 the Gravis.dat file. Then restart Matrix. 
     (2) Disable the mouse with the 'm' switch.

  P. Problems with mouse.
  S. (1) Try an different or updated mouse driver. (2) Use the 'm' switch
     to disable the mouse.

  P. Matrix appears to hang 
  S. Mouseports can cause this problem, try disabling the mouse. 

  P. Snow appears during fading and restoring of screens.
  S. The limitations of the QuickBasic language do not allow us to 
     correct this problem.

  
  IBM is  a registered trademark of International Business Machines.
  Microsoft QuickBasic and Qbasic are registered trademarks of Microsoft 
  corporation.
