Welcome to Word Munchers

The Word Munchers software program is an exciting, popular educational
game designed to help children practice their skill at recognizing the
vowel sounds in words.  Players move a Word Muncher through a grid,
instructing it to eat words containing a target vowel sound.

To begin playing Word Munchers, simply follow these steps:

Step 1: The Word Munchers package contains one CD-ROM.

	Start your computer using DOS 2.1 or later.

        Insert the CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.

Step 2: From a C:\> prompt, type in "D:\SETUP" (where "D" is the letter
        of your CD-ROM drive.  Simply follow the on-screen directions. 


Step 3: To switch to the Word Munchers directory, type CD C:\MUNCH.  To
        start the game, type WM at the C:\MUNCH DOS prompt.


Step 4: At the Word Munchers menu, select "Play Word Munchers" and press
        the Enter key (or the right-mouse button).  Read the on-screen
        instructions.

Step 5: You're now ready to play the game.  Keep in mind these important
        points and rules:

•       The object of the game is to "munch" as many words as you can
        that contain the target vowel sound listed at the top of the
        screen.  The more correct words you munch, the more points you
        earn.  Can you earn enough points to enter the Word Munchers Hall
        of Fame?

•	Use the arrow keys, mouse, or joystick to move the Muncher into
        the cell containing the word you want munched.  Note: The
        joystick must be turned on before using.  See below for
        instructions on enabling and using the joystick.

•	To munch the word in a cell, press the Space Bar or Button 1 on
        the joystick.  If you munch an incorrect word, you lose a Muncher.

•	You must avoid the Troggles when they appear.  Troggles eat
        Munchers.  If you run out of Munchers, the game ends.

•       When you're ready to end the game, press the Escape key and
        answer "yes" to the question "Do you want to quit?"

•       You'll want to read the rest of this User's Guide for more
        detailed information about playing Word Munchers and
        "customizing" the game to meet your child's individual abilities
        and needs.

Millions of children across the country have enjoyed learning with the
arcade-like game format of Word Munchers.  Not only is Word Munchers a
best-seller, but it’s also a multiple award-winner, having received both
the Parents Choice Gold Award and InCider Magazine's People's Choice
Award.  MECC is now pleased to bring this educational game to MS-DOS
compatible computers.

Word Munchers is an exciting, challenging game that helps children ages
6-12 (grades 1-5) learn vowel sounds.  Players move a Word Muncher
through a grid, instructing it to eat words containing a target vowel
sound.  They earn points every time they munch a correct word.  But if
they munch an incorrect word, they lose a Muncher.  Meanwhile, they must
also avoid Troggles, who love to eat Munchers.

One of the best things about Word Munchers is its replayability.  Children
can play it again and again, literally thousands of times, without ever
seeing the exact same game screen twice.  And because you can customize
the game to your child’s individual abilities and needs, it can grow with
your child, continuing to provide hours of fun for years to come!



SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Word Munchers requires an MS-DOS-compatible  computer with at least 512K
is not required.  Word Munchers comes on a CD-ROM. You must use DOS
2.1 or later.

Your video display must have CGA, EGA, MCGA, or VGA graphics capability.
A color monitor is recommended.



WHAT YOUR CHILD WILL NEED TO KNOW

Children using Word Munchers should already have beginning reading skills,
including a knowledge of vowels.  They should be able to read simple,
single-syllable words and “sound them out” to distinguish their vowel
sounds.  For example, they should be able to read words like "hat" and
"hit" and recognize the difference between their vowels.  They should
also know the difference between "long" and "short" vowel sounds, as
in "bite" and "bit."

In order to play Word Munchers, children also need sufficient familiarity
with the computer keyboard to use the arrow keys, Enter key, and other
functional keys.

If your children aren't yet able to do these things, they probably
aren't ready for Word Munchers.  But if they are ready, then your kids
are in for a treat!



OBJECT OF THE GAME

The object of the Word Munchers game is to munch as many correct words
as possible, thereby scoring points.  Children are provided with the
incentive of trying to earn enough points to make it into the Word
Munchers Hall of Fame.

From a child's perspective, Word Munchers is just plain fun.  But it
also has a very serious educational objective.  Word Munchers is
designed to help children develop their skill at identifying vowel
sounds in single-syllable words appropriate to their grade level.  In
doing so, it provides children with a powerful tool for helping them
practice and improve their all-important reading skills.

Word Munchers is not copy-protected, but it is copyrighted!  This means
that you may legally make one copy of the disk for archival purposes.
As a matter of fact, we encourage you to write-protect the original disk
and to install and play Word Munchers using your backup copy, while
storing the original disk in a safe place.  Then, should you ever have
a problem with the disk, you can make another copy from your original.

You may not use your copy or the original disk with more than one computer
at a time.  See pages for more detailed information about the conditions
for using Word Munchers.

Like the disk, this User's Guide is also copyrighted and should not be
duplicated.



GETTING STARTED

After the title screen appears, a demo of the program will appear.
Pressing any key during the demo displays the Word Munchers menu.  If no
selection is made from the menu, the program again provides a demonstration
of the game.

Selecting "Play Word Munchers" from the Main menu offers a chance to
review the instructions for playing the game.  Doing so provides you
with a brief series of screens that tell you the function of specific keys.

The following illustration points out the various parts of the game
screen.  The Word Munchers game has six different characters - one
Muncher and five types of Troggles.

You start with four Word Munchers (of the species Munchicus scripticus)
- one in the game grid and three in reserve.  You earn an extra Muncher
if your score reaches 1,000 points, another at 10,000 points, and another
at every 10,000 points thereafter.  Munchers are under your control.
You choose where they move; you decide when they will eat a word.  If
the word eaten has the correct vowel sound, you earn points.  But if the
word has an incorrect vowel sound, you lose that Muncher and must call
upon one of your reserve Munchers to continue the game.  You also lose
Munchers when they're caught by Troggles.



CHARACTERS OF THE GAME

Reggies (Trogglus normalus) are the most common species of Troggle.
This creature travels in straight lines.  When it enters a cell
containing a word, it removes that word and leaves another one - either
a target or a distractor—in its place.

Helpers (Trogglus assistus) behave a little differently.  If they enter
a cell containing a word, they will remove that word without leaving a
word in its place.  Unlike Reggies, Helpers move in random directions.

Workers (Trogglus laborus) behave like Helpers, except they always leave
a word behind, no matter whether or not the cell originally contained a
word.  Like Helpers, their movements are random.

Bashfuls (Trogglus timidus) behave in a manner similar to Reggies, except
they tend to avoid contact with Munchers.  Their movements are also
random.

Smarties (Trogglus smarticus) travel in an unpredictable pattern until
they get close to the Muncher.  Then they "home in" on the Muncher and
chase after it.  They have no effect on words.



USING A JOYSTICK

You can move the Muncher using a joystick, a mouse, or the computer
keyboard.

If you have a joystick attached to your computer, you may use it to
control the movement of the Muncher (although the Muncher will not
move diagonally from cell to cell).  Choose Options from the Main menu
to turn the joystick on.  Use Button 1 to munch words.

To enable the joystick option, choose "Turn Joystick ON" from the Options
menu.  The item will be re-named "Turn Joystick OFF" and you must select
it again to disable the joystick.

To adjust Word Munchers to work correctly with your particular joystick,
select Item 5, Calibrate Joystick, from the Options menu.  The procedure
consists of moving the joystick, which defines the top, bottom, left,
right, and center positions.

While playing Word Munchers, you may find that the Muncher responds
sluggishly to your joystick movement.  You can increase the sensitivity
of the joystick by pressing the Plus (+) key.  Repeatedly pressing the
+ key will continue to increase the Munchers sensitivity to the joystick.
Conversely, if you find that the Muncher responds too quickly to slight
movements of the joystick, you can decrease the joystick sensitivity by
repeatedly pressing the Minus (-) key.





USING A MOUSE

If you have a mouse attached to your computer, you may use it to control
the movement of the Muncher.

	•	Click the left-mouse button once to select a cell.
	•	Click the left-mouse button in a selected cell to 				munch the word.
        •       Click the right-mouse button to “call a time out 
		and to resume the game.

You earn points whenever the Muncher eats a correct word - that is,
a word containing the target vowel sound.  The point value of the word
depends upon the level of the game.

The current score appears in the lower left corner of the
game screen.


When a game screen has been cleared of all of the words that contain
the target vowel sound, the screen is erased and a new level of play
begins.  The current level of play is indicated in the upper left corner
of the screen.  Each level of play is progressively more difficult than
the one before.  As noted above, word values increase with higher levels.
Other factors that change between levels include:

•	the maximum number of Troggles that can appear on the screen at
        one time;

•	the types of Troggles;

•	the speed of the Troggles; and

•       the number of safe zones - cells that a Muncher can enter safely
        but a Troggle cannot.

Once Level 12 is reached, these factors remain constant until the end of
the game.

Each level of play presents a new vowel sound and a new set of words
to munch.  If all vowel sounds have been selected in the Options as
eligible for presentation, then a different vowel sound will appear at
the top of the screen for the first 20 levels of play.  Beginning with
Level 21, the same vowel sounds will be used again, but many of the words
on the game screen will be new.

Vowel sounds are presented in random order.



PAUSING THE GAME

You can pause at any time within the game by pressing the Enter key (or
the right-mouse button).  To resume the game, press the Enter key again.



ENDING THE GAME

Play ends whenever the last Muncher is lost or when you press the Escape
key.  You will be given a choice between starting a new game or returning
to the Main menu.



THE HALL OF FAME

Word Munchers maintains a "Hall of Fame" - a list of the ten highest
scores (with a minimum qualifying score of 50) and the names of those who
achieved them.  If your score is greater than the lowest score on the Hall
of Fame, you can add your name to the list.  Names and scores in the Hall
of Fame can be erased through use of the Options.



SOUND ON AND OFF

Word Munchers has sound effects and, if your computer has an Ad Lib®
or Sound Blaster-compatible sound card, Word Munchers plays music.

	•	Press Alt-S (hold down the Alt key and press the
		S key) to turn the sound effects on and off.
	•	Press Alt-M to turn the music on and off.


After you successfully complete three levels of play, a brief cartoon
-like "graphic interlude" appears.  Other interludes appear after every
three additional levels of play.  There are six different interludes.



MORE OPTIONS

In Word Munchers, special options allow you to select the vowel sounds
that children will work with in playing the game and to set their
difficulty level.  You can also perform other tasks, such as erasing
the "Hall of Fame" names and scores, setting a password, and turning
the joystick option on and off.  In short, the Word Munchers Options
enable you to customize Word Munchers to your particular educational
needs.


Because of the types of control these special options offer, access to
them can be restricted.  The first time you select "Options" from the
Main menu, no password will have been set.  You may opt to define a
password to limit access to the options.  Defining a password prevents
children who are using Word Munchers from simply modifying the program
whenever they wish.

To gain access to the program options, select "Options" from the Main
menu.  If a password has been defined, you'll see a screen that asks for
the password.



SETTING GAME CONTENT

The first item on the Options menu is "Set Content," which gives you
control over the content of the Word Munchers game.

When you select the "Set Content" option from the Options menu, the
Set Content menu appears.  This screen provides an overview of the
current settings and displays a sub-menu that enables you to set the
Difficulty level, select specific vowel sounds, and preview those words
that will be used in the game under the current content settings.

When Word Munchers is first used, the content is set to its broadest
level:  the potential difficulty of the words used is at its highest
setting and all vowel sounds are permitted.  If you wish, you can
change this.

Let's say you have a very young child who is able to work with only a
few vowel sounds and a few simple words, e.g., an average First Grader.
You can quickly limit the type and number of vowel sounds that the child
will encounter while playing Word Munchers by choosing the "Select Word
Difficulty" option from the Set Content menu.  Then choose between "1st
Grade Easy" and "1st Grade Advanced" from the Word Difficulty menu.
Pressing the Enter key to make your selection will re-display the Set
Content menu, with the overview showing the effect of your choice.  For
example, if you changed from a harder difficulty level to an easier one,
you will notice a reduction in the number of vowel sounds that will be
used in the game.

You would use the "Select Vowel Sounds" option to restrict the vowels to
the ones your child is comfortable with - for instance, long A and
short A.  Simply "de-select" all of the other vowels by highlighting each
vowel and pressing the Space Bar.  Only the upper left box, the one for
long and short A, should remain filled in.  Press the Enter key to return
to the Options menu.

And that's all you have to do to customize Word Munchers for your child.
When it appears that your child has mastered a certain level and the game
has become too easy, simply raise the difficulty level to provide a new
challenge.  Or if the game should ever prove too difficult, simply use
the Content Options to make it a little easier.


There are some things you need to keep in mind when modifying game content:

•       At the "1st Grade Easy" difficulty level, only the vowels in
        Group 1 can be selected.  The vowels in Groups 2 and 3 are not
        available for use, indicated by the patterned box.  At the "1st
        Grade Advanced" level, all of the vowel sounds are available
        except the OI/OY diphthong.  At both first-grade levels, if long
        and short U is selected, long U words will appear only as
        distractors for short U target words.  At all other levels, all
        vowel sounds are fully functional.

•	In Groups 2 and 3, the program will not let you set just one
        vowel sound as active.  If any vowel sounds are active in either
        group, then at least two must be active in order to provide
        distractor sounds as well as targets.

The "Content Settings" menu provides an additional feature that you may
find helpful; when you select the "Preview Words" option, you'll see a
series of screens listing all of the words that can appear in the Word
Munchers game, given the current vowel and difficulty settings.  If you
feel that the list of words is too difficult for your child or isn't
challenging enough, go back to either the "Select Word Difficulty" or
"Select Vowel Sounds" screens and make appropriate changes.


To summarize, the "Set Content" option on the Options menu allows you to
"individualize" Word Munchers so that it meets the educational needs of
your child.  As your child grows and learns, Word Munchers can grow,
too, as you modify the game to keep up with your child's ever-developing
reading and phonics skills.


CLEARING THE HALL OF FAME

Another item available on the Options menu allows you to clear all or
part of the Hall of Fame.  You may, for example, wish to clear the entire
list at the end of a unit or a school year, or you may wish occasionally
to give children a "fresh start."  On the other hand, children may
sometimes make entries on the Hall of Fame that you'd just as soon see
erased!  To do any of these things, select "Erase Hall of Fame" from
the Options menu.

The screen that now appears allows you to remove entries in the Hall of
Fame.  To remove an entry, simply move to that item using the arrow keys
and then press the Space Bar to delete it.  That entry is removed.  You
can continue this process to remove all names on the list.  Pressing the
Enter key will make the changes permanent and return you to the Options
menu.

Before you delete items from the Hall of Fame, be very sure that you
really want to do this.  Once an item is deleted from the Hall of Fame
and you've pressed the Enter key, it’s gone for good.  There's no way
to restore a deleted entry.



SETTING A PASSWORD

Because of the nature of the items on the Options menu, you may wish to
restrict access or use of the Options.  You can do so by defining a
password which users must enter after selecting "Options" from the
Main menu.

To define a password, choose "Set Password" from the Options menu.
When the Set Password screen appears, you may enter up to ten characters
(letters, numbers, and punctuation marks).

When you enter your password, check to be sure you haven't made any
typographical errors before pressing the Enter key.  It would be terrible
to want to enter, say, "Washington" as your new password, but to have
actually typed "WashingtoB" and pressed Enter before noticing your error.
Later, when you try to use WASHINGTON as your password, the program would
refuse to accept it, leaving you frustrated and confused.

Note that it doesn’t matter whether or not you use capital letters.
Also, any letter, number, or punctuation mark is allowed in passwords.
Spaces, tabs, and "function keys," however, are not.


PASSWORD "HINTS"

Do you sometimes forget your password - even one that you created
yourself?  Word Munchers allows you to enter a hint when you create your
new password.  The purpose of the hint feature is to provide you with a
"clue" that would help you to remember your password.  You could enter
as your hint "Mother's maiden name," "Birthday," or "Social security number"
depending, of course, on your actual password.  Then, if you select "Options
from the Main menu and are required to enter a password but can't remember
it, all you have to do is look at the hint that you've provided for
yourself.  When you see the hint, you - but probably not most other
people - should know your password.


DELETING PASSWORDS

What if you don't want to have a password; that is, you want to remove
an existing password without replacing it with another one?  Simply select
"Set Password" from the Options menu, press the Backspace key repeatedly
to delete all of the characters in the current password, and press the
Enter key.

What if - gasp! - you've forgotten your password and the hint you so
thoughtfully provided for yourself doesn't help?  You may delete the
WM.CFG file (or whatever program configuration file you are currently
using) from the Word Munchers disk or subdirectory.  The next time you
run Word Munchers using the default settings (typing WM without a config
file specified), a new WM.CFG file will be created, without any password.
Removing the password in this way also has another, possibly undesirable,
effect: the current content settings and the Hall of Fame will be returned
to their default settings as well; the content will be set to its broadest
level and any names listed on the Hall of Fame will be erased.

See also the discussion on "Putting Config files to Work."


WORKING WITH CONFIG FILES

One of the files on your Word Munchers disk is called WM.CFG.  "CFG" is
short for "config" and "config" is short for "configurations," which
refers to information relevant to your use of the program.  You can put
"config" files to work for you in a very powerful way.

When you type WM to begin Word Munchers, you enter the program with a
certain set of configurations—Hall of Fame, content settings, and so on.
Those settings are stored in the WM.CFG file.  Note:  If the file WM.CFG
is not found, one is created with all of the original settings: the
broadest difficulty level, all vowel sounds selected, an empty Hall of
Fame, no password, and the joystick turned off.

You may use the DOS COPY command to make a copy of the default config
file (WM.CFG) and give the copy another name.  For example, if you type

COPY WM.CFG RICHARD.CFG

at the DOS command line (a space is required between WM.CFG and
RICHARD.CFG), you will create a config file identical to WM.CFG.

To start Word Munchers using the new config file, type

WM RICHARD

at the DOS prompt.  If you then go to the Options menu and make changes
to the content settings and other options, those changes will be stored
in the RICHARD.CFG file.

You now have two config files, not only with different names but also
with different contents.  If you begin Word Munchers specifying one
config file, you'll get Word Munchers with one set of configurations.


CUSTOMIZING WORD MUNCHERS FOR INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN/STUDENTS

If you begin Word Munchers specifying the other config file, you'll get
Word Munchers with another, different set of configurations.  This offers
tremendous advantages, especially if you’re using Word Munchers with two
or more children with different learning needs.  Let’s say Anna’s in the
first grade.  Create a config file named "ANNA.CFG."   Start Word Munchers
by typing WM ANNA and customize the program specifically for her.

Next, Ben is in the third grade, so create a config file named "BEN.CFG"
and customize the program for his needs.  And Leslie's in the fifth grade,
so copy WM.CFG a third time, naming the copy "LESLIE.CFG," start the
program with WM LESLIE, and customize the program a third time to meet
Leslie's needs.

Now, all each child has to do is to type his or her name after WM to play
Word Munchers at an appropriate level of difficulty.  And whenever the
child is ready to advance to a more difficult level, simply enter the
program with the appropriate configuration and use Options to modify it.

Whether you're using Word Munchers with two kids at home or 32 in a
computer lab, modified config files can save you a great deal of work
and make the game more enjoyable and beneficial to children.


TROUBLESHOOTING

As you use Word Munchers, you may encounter error messages or other signs
of technical problems.  For instance, if you have trouble just starting
up the Word Munchers program, check to be sure you’re using DOS 2.1 or
greater.  Word Munchers won’t work with a DOS previous to version 2.1.
Also, make sure that you have at least 512K of memory.


Although this product will work on MS-DOS-compatible computers with at
least 512K of memory, you may have some difficulty running it if you're
using a mouse on a computer with low memory.

To improve product performance, you can simply avoid using your mouse
and use the keyboard or a joystick instead.  If that doesn’t help, you
can remove the mouse driver (typically called MOUSE.COM) from your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file and then reboot your computer. Alternatively, you can
try booting from a DOS start-up floppy disk. In either case, you can then
run the program using the keyboard or a joystick.

If the program fails to function properly or provides an error I.D.
number, you should write that number down and record the steps you
had taken. Then you can call MECC and perhaps find a solution to your
problem.

If you have a question about using MECC software:

        •       Note the name, product number, and version                             number of the software
        •       Note the brand and model of the equipment                              involved
        •       Please be in front of your computer when calling 

Call MECCTECH Line (Automated Support System) at 612/569-1678 to
receive answers to the most commonly asked technical questions about
MECC products 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The Automated Support
System offers convenient fax-back capability for technical tips.

Contact MECCTECH OnLine (First Class® Bulletin Board System) at
612/569-1769 to receive an answer to your question(s) about MECC
products or to receive product information.  You will need a modem
to use this service.

You can speak with a Technical Support representative by calling
612/569-1678 Monday-Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. Central Time.

You can write MECC Technical Support at 6160 Summit Drive North,
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55430-4003.



We are continually enhancing and updating our products.  Any changes or
enhancements are noted in a README file.  To read about our changes, type
TYPE README at the DOS prompt.

