PILE-UP Version 4.0
Written in C by J.R.Mitchell.    1995.

The files that should accompany the pile-up game are :-
	
               	pileup-4.exe   	executable
              	readme.wri   	this document  (Windows Write version)
		readme.txt	this document  (Notepad version)
               	pile-up.dat    	hi-score tables  
               	pu1-4.dat    	resource files
		pile-up.cfg	system configuration file
		pu_optns.dat	options configuration file
		pu_spr.dat	resource file
		pu-sys.dat	resource file
		install.exe	installation program (May not be
 				present on this Ver).

NOTE: The configuration file, 'pile-up.cfg' will probably not be present on
the disk, as it will be added, when the game is initially configured.
IF YOU PASS THIS GAME ON, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT 'PILE-UP.CFG' DOES NOT GO
WITH IT.

Introduction:
This document should acompany the program file, and gives instructions on
how to play this simple but addictive game. Firstly I would like to mention
that, as many of you will no doubt realise, this game bears a remarkable
similarity to a famous game of years gone by.
This version takes the basic ideas involved and improves them.

Instalation:
If this disk does not include an install program then you should copy all 
the files to your hard disk, preferably to a directory called pileup, (or 
something similar). If on the other hand there is an install program or 
batch file, then please use it.
NOTE: if there is a file called 'pile-up.cfg',  please do not copy it to 
your Hard Drive, or at least remove from the hard drive before running the 
game. To run the install program, type a: or b: at the DOS prompt to log on
to whichever drive the disk is in, then type install and follow the on
screen prompts.

Loading the game:
To run the program from the DOS prompt, make sure you are in the correct 
directory, (ie:- the one containging the game), and enter pileup-4 at the 
dos prompt.

Configuration:
Upon running the program for the first time, it will set up a configuration
file, called pile-up.cfg. This file will contain data relevent to your 
machines speed, and will help the program maintain a standard speed, no 
matter how fast or slow the machine.
(the time taken for the configuration will vary depending on the speed of 
the machine. Please follow on screen prompts).
NOTE: It is important for the program to be allowed to run the configuration
,especially when the program and its asociated files are transfered to a new
mahine. (If not, the game may act unreliably).
The program will run the configuration routine, providing the file, pile-up.
cfg, is not present. The program can be forced to re-configure, by using the
/c switch. ie:-
	pileup /c

WARNING!   Pileup is a DOS based game, and as such it may have problems
configuring itself if windows is running.  In particular the calibration 
may suffer. As a guide you can check to see how long it takes for a block to
drop from the top of the play area to the bottom.
The approximate times are as follows :-
	level		time (secs)
	   1		   13 - 17
	   2		    8 - 12
	   3		    4 - 6
If the configuration procedure takes upto a minute and beyond, to complete,
then something about the system setup is creating havoc with the program. 

In conclusion, it is best to run this game without windows running.

REMEMBER :  you can re-calibrate pileup-4 at any time, simply by adding the 
/c switch

Other switches:
These are the alternative ways to run Pileup-4 :-
	pileup-4 /c	- (re-)calibrate game
	pileup-4 /jrm	- reset hi-score tables
	pileup-4 /?	- gives switch info
Please only use one switch at a time;  if you run the game with the 
following command line :-
	pileup-4 /c /jrm
only the /c will be activated.

The /c switch provides a way to re-calibrate the game, if moved to another 
system, or the current system's hardware is modified.
The /jrm switch allows you to clear the hiscore tables if the current scores
are too high to reach.

Playing the game:
The rules are simple. Use you skill to rotate, move and drop the blocks, 
trying to make complete horizontal lines at the bottom of the play area. 
Each full line created drops from the play area. The higher they pile the 
harder it gets. Play continues untill no more blocks can be placed into the
play area. It pays to create as many full lines at once, (Max 4), as this 
will greatly increase you score.

Options:
The main option screen has options that are selected using the arrow keys; 
up and down to traverse the list, left and right to alter the changeable
options, and RETURN to select an option
	
	Option		Description
        ------------------------------------------------------
	Play		Play the game, with the selected settings
	Level		Speed of play, ( 4 = timer game, and is played
                         at the same speed as 2 )
	Height		Selects how many lines to randomly fill with
                         blocks
	Sound		Turns the sound on and off
	Keys		Allows the player to configure the playing keys
	Crazy		Adds a new element to the game, (Registered
                         version only)
	Hi-Scores	Shows the Hi-Score tables, (Only saved with
    	   		 registered verion)
	Quit		Quit the game

Level :
The level option has 4 settings, which vary the games speed, and thus 
difficulty. 1- slow, 3 fast.
Level four will play the 3 minute time game, and the speed will be the same
as level 2. 
The level affects the points scored for lines made during play. So level 3 
will give higher scores, but will be harder to play.
The game will gradually speed up as more blocks are used.
Level 4 : (3 minute game)
This game is a race against the clock. The timer will slowly get eaten away
and the game ends when you either run out of time or run out of room for 
blocks. This level has a separate Hi-Score table.

Note:	the level that  is set when the game is quit, will be saved so that
it is the same the next time you play.

Height
The height option has 16 settings 0-15.  Each height adds a random line of 
blocks to the play area, thus adding a further difficulty setting. A 
selection of 0 adds no lines.
There are advantages to adding height lines.  For each of these lines that 
you successfully remove from the play area, an additional score is added 
when the game is complete.
Each height line removed adds 100 more points than the last line. So if you
played at height 10 and managed to remove 5 lines, the score that gets added
at the end of the game is worked out thus :-
	1st line		=	100
	2nd line		= 	200
	3rd line		=	300
	4th line		=	400
	5th line		= 	500
	total			=	1,500 pts

The maximum score for all 15 lines is  12,000 points.
So you can obviously score alot more, the higher you make the height setting
, but the harder it gets.
Different strategies of level and height, make for slight differences in 
obtainable scores, and I will leave you to discover the relationship. 
As with the level option, the height is saved to disk.

Sound
This option just selects sound or no sound, whichever you prefer. Some 
systems may not be able to reproduce the sounds to a satisfiyng degree, 
from the internal speaker, and you may prefer to leave the sound off.
As with the level and height options, the sound setting is saved to disk.

Keys
Use this option to configure the playing keys. some keys are not selectable,
like control keys and function keys, but this should not be a problem. Also
the chosen keys should not be Capital letters and the numeric pad keys 
should not be set to arrows. Do not worry about this, as the Num Lock and 
Caps Lock keys are forced on and off respectively.
Once you have selected the keys you wish to use, you will be asked if your 
choice is correct; choose 'y' to return to the main option screen and 'n' 
to reconfigure.

There are 3 special keys that cannot be selected. They are :-
	Space	-	used elswhere in the program
	p	-	used for pausing the game
	q	-	used for quiting a game in progress

As with the level, height and sound options, the keys you choose will be 
saved for future games.
If for some reason the above options cannot be loaded when the game is run,
a set of default values will be assigned to them as follows :-
	key ( left )	4
	key ( right )	6
	key ( rotate )	8
	key ( drop )	5

These are the defualts for the other options, ( if the file fails to load).
	Level 		2
	Height		0
	Sound		on
	Crazy		off

Hi-Scores
selecting this option will show the high score tables. If the main option 
screen is left long enough, the hi-score screen will appear anyway. Hit any
key to leave this screen.
If at the end of the game a game you have scored enough points to be 
included on the Hi-score table, then you will be given a chance to enter 
your initials, (Max 3), and the score will be saved on the disk.
Enter your three initials carefully.  You won't get a second chance !
There are 2 Hi-Score tables, one for the standard type of games, (level 1-3)
, and one for the 3 minute game, (level 4).
NOTE: The Hi-score tables are only saved to disk on the registered version 
of the game.

Pausing the game
While playing a game at levels 1-3, you can pause the game by pressing 'p'
This option is NOT available on level 4, the timer game.

Quitting a game
You can quit a game in progress by hitting q 
The game will end as it would had you lost the game. If youre score 
qualifies for the Hi-Score table, you will get to enter your initials.

				
			SHAREWARE NOTICE

If This program reports that it is a shareware product, it may be freely 
distributed. Providing all the related files, listed at the start of this 
document, are passed on with it. Feel free to upload the complete package 
onto any BBS's or pass it on to your friends.
As with all shareware programs, you are requested, if you have not already 
done so, to pay a small registration fee, that entitles you to the full
registered version, and any future versions of the the game that I may write
If on the other hand, this program does not issue the Sharware notice at the
start, then you have a registered version, which MUST NOT be distributed


NOTE: If you have access to the Internet or CIX , could you please send me 
some e-mail, giving your opinions of the game              
E-mail code:      julesm@cix.compulink.co.uk


(Shareware version only)
REGISTRATION FEE:     5.00 UK Pounds 
Please make your cheque payable to:

        MR J.R.MITCHELL

and send it to the following address:

       	2 SALISBURY WAY
 	THETFORD
       	NORFOLK
       	IP24 1EP
	ENGLAND

I would appreciate any comments or criticisms regarding this game, that may
help me improve it further. I would particulary like to hear about any bugs
I may have missed.

WARNING !!.  This software may have passed through many hands before 
reaching you, and could have picked up a virus on the way. As such you are 
advised to check this disk for viruses.

Oh well, you knew it was coming, but I really do have to mention the 
following, so lets get it over with.....
I, J.R.Mitchell, can, and shall not be held liable for any damaged caused 
directly or indirectly through the use or missuse or this software.


Thanks go to the following people for their efforts, in making this software
a success:
Sharon, my wife, for her patience while waiting for the game to be completed
, and for her uncanny ability to find new and wonderfull bugs....
Pat Kelly, Mick Holland, Irek Kalisz and Martin Green for thouroughly 
playtesting it and giving their ideas and much needed criticism, and finaly,
Thetford Micro's, who graciously allowed me to use their various machines 
for compatiblity testing.......

Enjoy

Jules..
