
 Holy dogsmuck! It's another monumental waste of time from

     U N S A T I S F A C T O R Y   S O F T W A R E


====================================================================================


Title    : Advanced Lawnmower Simulator
Version  : 1.0
Compiled : 6th Feb '98 with Turbo Pascal v6.0(Dos)
By       : Duncan MacDonald (Spectrum Version, late 1980s - main inspiration for this)
           Chris Young (Acorn, Amiga Library and others)
           Phillip Lake (Dos/Windows versions)
Email    : PLStouffer@aol.com		- Phill
	   unsatisfactory@bigfoot.com	- Chris

This text file last updated 13th May '98 .


====================================================================================


Well, here it is. Gardensoft's acclaimed Advanced Lawnmower Simulator finally makes it to
Dos 6.22 / Windows '95 .  Sorry it's late, but I've spent most of my free time either
watching BlackAdder videos or writing weird scripts about talking woodpeckers or
something.

You should have recieved the follwing files in the archive ALS_DOS.ZIP :

\ALS\ALS.EXE			Main program EXE
\ALS\DEFAULT.CFG		Config file
\ALS\_ICON.ICO			Icon
\ALS\ADVANC~1.PIF		Windows 95 shortcut
\ALS\README.TXT			This file
\ALS\SPECCODE.TXT		Spectrum version listing!

If any of these files are missing, you have an incomplete version.  Email me
to get a full copy.

Getting Up And (Sort of) Running (in Win 95) for the uninitiated
----------------------------------------------------------------
Open up the folder in which you installed ALS.
Run the 'Advanced Lawnmower Simulator' shortcut.

Dos Users
---------
Change to the directory to which you installed ALS (probably \ALS ) and just type 
ALS 	[Enter] .

"Open Architecture!"
--------------------
Yes, ALS features Open Architecture (almost) allowing you to change all sorts of
gameplay elements!  Well, you can change the lawnmower names and ending messages.
And turn off that irritating message at the start.  Just merely open up DEFAULT.CFG
in your favourite text editor and edit away (just don't edit the headers, 'cause it 
won't work then).
Oh, and for that irritating message, use 1 for on and 0 for off.


====================================================================================


The Law of the Land (Legal Stuff)
---------------------------------
This program, Advanced Lawnmower Simulator ("The Software") is provided "as is"
without any promise of technical support.
The Software remains the property of Unsatisfactory Software ("The Authors") who
accept no liability for matters arising from your use of The Software.  The Authors
have ensured that during distribution The Software was free of viral infection and
similarly accept no responsibility for any virus problems that arise from your use
of The Software, because we checked it with two virus checkers, so there.
The Software may be freely distributed within the public domain, and must not be
exchanged for any monies or sexual favours.


====================================================================================


History  : Summer '88 : First Spectrum version, released free on cover tape of
-------                 Your Sinclair magazine.  By Duncan MacDonald.
           Oct. '96   : Acorn, version 1.0
                        Mainly a BASIC conversion of the Speccy version.
           Jan. '97   : Acorn, version 1.2
                        Several features added, including  exclusive extra hidden
                        mower.
           March '97  : Acorn v1.21
                        Random night time mode added.
           Mar-Apr '97: Acorn v1.21r 
                        Finished version.  Bug fix. Probably.
           Dec '97    : version 0.7a
                        First PC conversion of spectrum original. Never Released.
			Millions of bugs, no features.
	   Jan '98    : version 0.99
		        Limited Test release version.  Only an algorithm test.
	   Feb '98    : version 1.0 .  This version.
	   May '98    : Windows '95 version.  Features full graphics and actual
			gameplay!!


====================================================================================


Known Bugs : 
----------	
	
      * Quite a complicated one this.  First, if you're still holding 'm' just after
	the actual mowing, it will for some reason cycle through the end messages a
	couple of times relative to how long afterwards you held 'm' down.
	And even then it will *occasionally* show garbage instead of a message.  
	And you have to press ENTER to leave the message.
	That's all.  Quite a major issue, but I've tried and tried to remedy the
	situation, but that just seems to make things worse.  Something to do with
	the 'm' key loop.


====================================================================================


Source Code :
----------
It was planned to include the pascal source with the game, but there have been
several problem-causing issues preventing this, including attempts to remove
bugs (see above)....Never fear, however, it WILL be included with the next,
bug-free version (out probably sometime in late june).


====================================================================================


            ~~~~~~~~~		"Hello there.  That's right, it's me, Ginger Spice
          //  @   @  \\		 out of the chart-topping band the Spice Girls."
          //    j    \\
         //          \\		"Ho Ho! I just thought, Wouldn't it be funny if we were 
         //   \===/   \\	 called the Rice Girls? Ha Ha Ha."
				 
				"Anyway, if you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with
				 my friends.  And since my friends are those nice
				 chaps at Unsatisfactory Software, you might want to
				 take a look at these forthcoming software products..."

DownHill Racer    - A superb skiing simulator for the Acorn.  Take control of up to
		    one comedy skiing character as you take to the slopes of somewhere
		    or other that has lots of snow and many trees.  Yes.  PC Version soon.

The YS Theme      - Customize your Windows '95 desktop with a series of excellent icons,
		    cursors and stuff based on the Popular 1980s compupor mag Your 
		    Sinclair, and some other general Spectrum stuff.

Calculator games  - A Collection of program listings for the Casio FX 7300G Graphics
		    Calculator.  Games include the fabulous Advanced LawnMower 
		    Simulator, a conversion of Skinflintsoft's unofficial sequel
		    Advanced Ninja Simulator plus two brand new Unsatisfactory
		    Software originals, Biscuit Factory and Adventure.
		    Probably already floating around Chris' web site somewhere.

Sonething to do with Sir Clive -
		    Sir Clive Sinclair, he of Spectrum and plastic motorized
		    trike fame, is one of the best blokes in the world.  So we'll
		    probably make a Sir Clive Screen Saver or a C5 Simulator or
		    something stupid like that to commemorate him.
		    (Did I spell "commemorate" correctly?)

 "All of these fine products should be available at the end of the year. Possibly.
  Except the Acorn Downhill Racer, which is done already."


====================================================================================


Unsatisfactory Software is :
--------------------------

Chris Young  - Acorn / Amiga Stuff
	       General Programming
	       Artwork and that

Phillip Lake - PC Stuff
	       Pascal Programming
	       Quake things
	       Sounds etc

	
	" Chiswick! Fresh Horses! "

