
                   README FILE 1.00 (revised 11/9/98) for

                          PAC-MAZE VERSION 1.00B 

                       Programmed by YAP CHING FATT

       Tel no. : 03-626-8172            Address : 5109, Jln Padang
       E-Mail  : Chingfat@tm.net.my               Jinjang Utara,
                                                  52000 Kuala Lumpur.
                                                  (Malaysia, Earth.)

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0. SYMPATHY NOTE(!)
        
        I don't know why I started programming at the first place, maybe it's
  a challenging way to test my logic skills. But somehow after creating this
  program, I know I must somehow show it to the world. I'm not coming from
  a rich family. to copy and use this program at no cost at all (Ok! Ok! Not exactly no cost
  but your cost of downloading this application). If any of you that really
  appreciate my hard work, you may send a Cheque or Money Order to the
  address stated above (RM5/RM10 or US$5/US$10 would be OK* for me) .

                * OK means 2/3 days of breakfast at the mamak** stall!
                ** for non-Malaysian users. In Malaysia, the cheapest place
                   to have a bite or two is in this so-called mamak stall

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1. WHAT IS PAC-MAZE

        This maze editor enables you to create a maze that can be played. The
   maze consists of tiles with enough variations to design a full fledged
   pac-man cum bomberman maze game.
        The gameplay is highly customizable such as bombs, speed, selection
   of characters and so on (see PLAY MENU). You can even design your own
   character!
        Since this game was designed back in 1995 (I was 16 then), the save
   routine is very indesirable! But somehow, hope you out there like it.

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1. HOW THIS PROGRAM WORKS

        Maze created using this program can be saved into a file with
  MZE extension. The character of the maze can also be designed, saved
  and loaded. This character file are saved into BLK extension.

        When saving or loading a file (MZE or BLK), you are asked to
  type in a filename (must be less or equal than 8 character and no
  extension is needed 'coz it will be automatically added). To cancel
  the saving or loading operation, just type in nothing and press ENTER.
        You must remember the filename in which your previous maze are
  saved 'coz the program may crash if:

  1) The filename specified for loading does not exist
  2) The filename contains invalid maze data.

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 2. RUNNING THIS PROGRAM

        Just load this program from QUICKBASIC and press F5 to run it. It's
  that easy! Well, after that, you'll be greeted by a high resolution screen
  showing a blank map (or maze). The default filename is shown on the upper
  right side of the screen. Menus are on the upper left.
        The available  tiles are shown on the center. The selected tile are
  boxed in white. You are now in editing mode and can start design your own
  maze. Editing hotkeys are shown below:

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 3. EDITING HOTKEYS

  Arrow keys - Used to navigate around the maze
    Space    - If the current cursor position is blank, then pressing
               space will put a tile on it. If there is a tile on it,
               then pressing space may blank that position. So pressing
               space repeatedly may toggle the tile on/off
     Tab     - Select the next tile to be used in editing
   F,E,B,O   - Opens the File, Edit, Block and Play menu respectively
      A      - Toggle autoblock ON/OFF. When autoblock is ON, as you move
               the cursor, a tile will be put on it's path.
      C      - Same function as above BUT instead of putting on it's path,
               it will clear the path (hence autoClear)
      W      - Fill the whole maze with selected block. Highly dangerous!
               Could wipe your `artwork' in seconds!
      G      - Fill the maze with random tiles (hence autoGenerate).
               highly dangerous and impractical! On par with above!

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 4. FILE MENU

    NEW          - Clear the maze and for creation of new maze.
                   No warning prompt will be given.
    LOAD         - Loads a saved maze file. You will be prompted for
                   a filename on the upper left corner of the screen.
    SAVE         - Save the maze into the previously specified file.
    SAVE AS      - Save the maze to a file. You will be prompted for
                   a filename on the upper left corner of the screen.
    LOAD SIDEWAY - Same as LOAD but the maze will be loaded sideway!
    EXIT         - Exits this programs

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 5. EDIT MENU

    Please refer to EDITING HOTKEYS for these menuitems: BLOCK ALL WITH,
    AUTO GENERATE, NEXT BLOCK, AUTO CLEAR and AUTO BLOCK.

    SWAP BLOCK    - Swap the tile displayed in the maze with another tile
    REPLACE BLOCK - Replace the tile displayed in the maze with another tile

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 6. BLOCK MENU

    LOAD BLOCK - Loads a new custom picture block. A prompt will ask you for
                 the filename for the filename
    SAVE BLOCK - Save the current loaded block after it is edited
    EDIT BLOCK - Opens a small window to edit the block. See EDIT BLOCK for
                 more details

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 7. PLAY MENU

    This menu actually list out the game preferences for yout to change. To
    change the attributes just press ENTER, or press the highlighted letter
    in the menu item. (eg. Press S to change speed)

    LIVES       - Select from 1 to 10 lives
    TIME        - Ranges from 1 to 20 minutes
    SPEED       - Can be from 1 to 6. The smaller the number, the slower the
                  pac-man will be as it determines the number of animated
                  frames of the pac-man. Use a smaller number for Pentium and
                  above.
    PLAY        - Press ENTER here to start entering to play the game. The
                  timer will start and you (the player) must gobble up all
                  the dots before the time runs out. To quit playing and
                  return to editing, press ESC
    WALKTHROUGH - Same as PLAY but the different here is that the timer will
                  not start and you can play the game until you press ESC to
                  return to editing.
 PICK CHARACTER - You can pick from 3 different characters to be the `star'
                  of the maze. Select from PAC-MAN, PAC-MONSTER or your
                  custom loaded character (block) as the `star'.
    STATIC      - Setting it ON means that while you play,pressing the arrow
                  keys once, the charater will only move once. OFF means when
                  you press the arrow key once, the character will continue
                  to move until it encounters a blocking.
    DOTS        - Enable and disable dots. If disabled, then the maze are
                  played just for the sheer fun of it.
    POINTS      - Define the points for each dots `eaten'.
    BIG DOTS    - Set the percentage of all the dots generated on the screen
                  to be BIG, which has more points than normal ones.
    BOMB        - Setting it ON will enable you to set bombs during the
                  gameplay. the bombs can only clear the path of trees. And
                  if the bomb exploded in front of you, you will lose a life.
    BOMB TYPE   - MANUAL means during gameplay, you can press space to set the
                  bomb and press it again to detonate the bomb. AUTO means
                  that the bomb will automatically explode in a few seconds
                  after it had been put. To enable MANUAL and AUTO bomb mode,
                  select the AUTO function.

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 8. DURING GAMEPLAY

    During the gameplay, arrow keys are used to navigate. If BOMBs are
    enabled, then pressing space will put a bomb on the position you are
    on and you will be put next to the bomb. The bomb can be used to clear
    the path of trees.

                          
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 9. BYE BYE NOTES!

        Whew! Finished at last! If you have any question you can contact me
  through the address/e-mail at the top of this document. Opps! I've forgot-
  ten that there are some charitable and lazy people out there who are too
  lazy to scroll up to the top of this document! Never mind. Here it is:

       Tel no. : 03-626-8172            Address : 5109, Jln Padang
       E-Mail  : Chingfat@tm.net.my               Jinjang Utara,
                                                  52000 Kuala Lumpur.
                                                  (Malaysia, Earth.)

