                            YABOG
                 Yet Another Break-Out Game
                              
                    Written by Kevin Peck
                              

Overview:

Many remember Breakout on the atari.  The simple game to
bounce the ball off the paddle and hit the blocks to remove
them.  A simple idea, but yet addicting.  Now, in the world
of fast action, high speed super VGA graphics, huge hard
drives, and fast processors, Break Out has become a thing of
the past.  Many have copied this simple idea, and yes even I
have done so.  Thus comes to you, YABOG, Yet Another Break-
Out Game.

YABOG comes to you complete with Yedit, the ever faithful
level editor, so you can create your own highly addicting
levels of excitement.

Let Me Explain YABOG.

To run YABOG type 'YABOG'.  Note that ystuff.dat and
ylevel.dat must be in the same directory as YABOG.  If they
are not, the appropriate error message will be issued.
Also, a mouse driver must be running and the computer must
support 640 by 480 16-color VGA graphics.  It will run on a
486 computer best, but will run on a faster 386 computer,
due to ineffecient programming. I apologize for this, but
did not have the experiency neccessary to do it better.
Besides, it was only worth 3 measly credits and I only had a
semester to do it in, so if you don't like it there is
always the 'DEL' command.

After typing YABOG (and pressing <ENTER> of course) the
title screen will appear.  If this does not happen, this
something has happened that should not have happened and I
have no clue what it is.  It does take a couple of seconds
for everything to initialize and all.

There are now 6 functions which may be performed.  They are
as follows.

Start the awesome action
     This starts the game running.
     Use the mouse to direct the paddle right and left or
     left and right as you prefer.

Player Number
     Click this to change the number of players that will
     be joining the exciting action.  1 to 4 players may do
     so.  Players alternate playing until the last player
     loses his last ball, then the game is over and the game
     summary is displayed.

See ya later
     Select this option to leave the game and return to the
     "real" world.

HELP
     Click this icon to display a list of the blocks and
     their function.

LOAD
     Load a new exciting Level Set.  Be sure to have the
     correct name of the level memorized because it doesn't
     give a list of filenames.  (grumble, grumble)  If the
     the name is left blank, the default level set is
     loaded.  (Ylevel.dat)

Okay, so now you are playing the game.  When the level fades
in, the ball is held the paddle by a massive magnetic bond.
This magnetic bond may be released by pressing a mouse
button.  The ball will release and the action will begin.
The action will terminate when the ball is not hit by the
paddle.  The game is over when all the allotted balls are
depleted.  The starting number of balls is 5, but extra
balls are earned by hitting an "E-Ball" brick (extra ball)
or by completing 7 levels.

Functions that may be executed while playing the game.  Note
that if the ball is held by the magnetic field, it
interferes with telekinetic waves which the keyboard issues
to the CPU, therefore no functions will activate until the
ball is released.  All functions that were attempted to be
executed will then be performed upon the release of the
magnetic field.

<SPACE> - Terminates the current ball.  This is useful if an
         Undesireable endless loop occurs.  Beware:  Some
         loops that appear to be endless may only be a
         figment of the imagination.

<S>     - Toggles that wonderful digitized (not) sound off
         or on.

<Q>     - Terminate the game of the current player.  If the
         player currently has a highscore, he may enter his
         name into the highscore list.  It will also drop
         an individual out of a multiplayer game.

<ESC>   - Unconditionally terminates any game in session.
         No highscores will be saved.

Just What do the Blocks do...

Normal -  Does nothing.  Takes one hit to eliminate this
     menace.

Double -  Does nothing.  Takes two hits to eliminate this
     menace.  After one hit it becomes a Normal Block.

Triple -  Does nothing.  Takes three hits to eliminate this
     menace.  After one hit it becomes a Double Block.

Quadruple - Does nothing.  Takes for hits to eliminate this
     menace. (boy is this a pain)  After one hit it becomes
     a Triple Block.

Indestructible - This block can not be destroyed, execept
     possibly by heaving the monitor from a window.  This is
     an untested feature and may not work.

Ball Slow Down - This block decreases the ball speed by one.
     It also cancels the wierd ball effect.

Ball Speed Up - This block increases the speed of the ball.
     It does not cancel the wierd ball effect.  If a lot of
     these are hit in a row, it greatly increases the
     chances that the ball will be missed.

Warp Ball - This will warp the ball to another location on
     the screen.  Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.

Bomb Block - This will set off all adjacent blocks making
     each as if the ball hit them.

Exit Block - Hit this block to go to the next level.

Level Warp - Warps to another level.  Either two or three
     levels above the current level.

Tail Block - Leaves a trail of blocks behind the ball.  The
     length of the tail depends upon the level.

Auto-Control Block - The ball now moves in sync with the
     paddle.

Control Block - The ball now moves in sync with the paddle
     when the mouse button is held down.

No Control Block - This block will cancel directional
     control of the ball by hitting different sections of
     the paddle.  The ball will continue going the direction
     that is was going when it hit the paddle.

Ha Block - Adds additional blocks to the play area.  The
     number of blocks added is dependant upon the level.

Magno-Paddle - Creates a magnetic field around the paddle
     that will hold the ball in position.  The magnetic
     field may be temporarily disabled by pressing a mouse
     button.

Extra Ball - Adds one ball to the total number of balls
     left.  (Note that this "gift" is taxable by the
     government.

Wierd Ball - Causes the ball to change speed and direction
     at random intervals.  This may be cancelled by hitting
     a Ball Slow down block.

Invisible Block - Do not be deceived by what you see.  This
     block does not appear, but is actually there.  Once hit
     by the ball, it becomes a Normal block.

Multiplier Block - Increments the Bonus Multiplier by one.
     The multiplier multiplies the value of the scores that
     are received by 2x, 3x, 4x, ect.

Score Block - Gives a bonus score based on the level.

Special Feature Block - This Block is not defined in the
     level editor.  It is randomly placed on the screen.  It
     is an invisible block that may or may not go away.  It
     adds excitement, daring, and luck into the game.  Do
     not be surprised if the ball suddenly changes
     directions.  It is the Special Feature Block making its
     appearance, or non-appearance as the case may be.

HIGHSCORES

     If you are skillful enough (with a little luck) you may
be fortunate enough to get your name in the highscore list.
Type your name and press enter.

The CHEAT mode

     The following information is classified and if you read
it you will be hunted done by YABOG mercenaries <g>.
Anyway, I have provided a cheat mode to test the levels to
make sure they are playable.  A general rule of the thumb is
that if you can't get by a level in less than 10 balls it is
probably to difficult.

     To enter the cheat mode type "jobob" (case sensitive)
at the main menu of YABOG.  The game should register by
displaying "Cheat Mode On".  To disable the cheat mode type
"jobob" again (still case sensitive).

The Cheat Commands

     While playing YABOG after the cheat mode is enabled,
you may at your liberty enter the following key commands.
Note that they all are case sensitive.

'-'  (negative)  Slows the ball down.
'='  (equals sign)  Speeds the ball up.
','  (comma)  Loads the previous level.
'.'  (period)  Loads the next level.
'b'  ('b')  Gives an extra ball.
'l'  ('l')  Inquires for the level number to load.

How Do I use YEDIT?????????

     YEdit is used to create and edit LevelSets.  To run
this little jewel, type "YEDIT" and press <RETURN>.  Yedit
is now ready for use.

     To add blocks to the level by clicking on the block
that you wish to add and clicking on the playing area to add
the block.  The grid is 20 by 20 blocks.  To remove a block
from the play area, click on the delete icon and click on
the blocks that are to be removed.  They will be obliberated
into nothingness.

     A LevelSet can contain up to 40 levels and it is
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EACH LEVEL MUST HAVE AN EXIT
BLOCK!!!!  If there is no Exit block, there is no way to go
to the next level (unless of course there is a level warp).

DESCRIPTION OF ICONS AND THERE FUNCTIONS

NEW       Creates a brand new LevelSet completely destroying
          the one currently loaded into Yedit.  Yedit will
          verify this action.

Clear     Clears the current Level sending the current level
          displayed into oblivion.  Yedit will verify this
          action.

<         Clicking the left button on this icon will select
          the previous level.  Clicking the right button
          will select ten levels before the current level.

>         Clicking the left button on this icon will select
          the next level.  Clicking the right button will
          select ten levels after the current level.

DEL       Puts the block edit mode to Delete.  Clicking on
          blocks will delete them now.

LOAD      Prompts for a LevelSet Name.  Note that these must
          follow the normal DOS conventions for naming
          files.  It will load the LevelSet if it exists.
          If entry is left blank, the default LevelSet will
          be loaded.  Yedit will verify this action before
          loading the new LevelSet.

SAVE      Prompts for a LevelSet name to save the current
          LevelSet as.  Note that the name must follow
          normal DOS file naming conventions.  If the name
          is left blank, it will save under the default
          LevelSet name. Yedit will verify this action
          before actually saving the LevelSet.

Quit      Exits from Yedit.  Yedit will verify this action.

<MORE>    Selects alternate Control Panels.

Level Name     This Icon allows the entry of a Level
          Description.  Click the right button and it will
          display the current description.  Click the left
          button and it will prompt for entry of the
          description.  Press <RETURN> without entering
          anything to keep the current description.

Number of Levels    This Allows the entry of the Maximum
          number of levels in the LevelSet.  Press the right
          mouse button to get the current number defined.
          Press the left button to change the number of
          levels in the LevelSet.

COPY      Copies the current level into the buffer.

CUT       Cuts the current level into the buffer.

PASTE     Pastes the level from the buffer into the current
          level overwriting the existing level.

Clear High Score    Clears the High Score List for the
          LevelSet.


Ye Ole Disclaimer:

     I make no guarantees about this program, the way that
it runs, looks, acts, or doesn't.  I have tested it to the
best of my ability and have no ill effects.  At the time of
construction this program is VIRUS FREE.  If it does become
infected it is due to the negligence of someone else.  I do
not take responsibility for any thing that may go wrong with
and computer system that is running this program, has it
installed, or the disk that it is on is in the same room.  I
have done my best to make this program bug free and I hope
you enjoy using it.  If you decide to heave your computer
out the window when you lose a ball, it is your perogative
and I do not take responsiblity for this either.

Known Bugs....
*If you have the MAGNOPADDLE enabled and catch the ball on
the very edge of the paddle and when you go to the edge of
the screen the ball disappears, do not release it in this
state.  You will lose the ball.

*Ball Chunks are left on the screen every once and a while.
(hopefully close to never)



If you find any bugs please contact me and tell me.

I can be reached at:

                Kevin Peck
                882 East Jackson Street              
                Millersburg, OHIO  44654

or,
                kevinp@ontario.com

REGISTRATION FEE:

               $0.29 for a stamp to send me a postcard
               to tell me where you live and if you think
               the game is okay, yucky, cool, dumb, knarly,
               awesome, I wouldn't give it to my dying
               hamster, it's alright, etc.

               or, just email me... or don't.  Just enjoy the game.


