Readme for Larry Vales:  Traffic Division
Final release v 3.0 (absoultely positively bug free...I mean it this time.)
An epic tale of love, adventure, robots, sideburns, and peepee jokes
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(c) 2000 Philip J Reed, VSc

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Since v 2.0:

* Removed bug which removed gravel from inventory before it's needed.
* Corrected dialogue about Commissioner during the phone conversation.
* Updated readme file to reflect:
  - Information on the upcoming Larry Vales II:  Dead Girls Are Easy
  - Information on game interface, no longer assuming experience with older Sierra games.
  - Expanded information on song titles to include those used in the preview files.
* Included another couple of files in vales.zip:
  - ac.exe; because my previous addition of setup.bat was useless without it.
  - lvii.exe; a brief interactive demo of Larry Vales II:  Dead Girls Are Easy
  - lv2.txt; small explanatory note for the interactive demo.
* Removed readme2.txt from zip file, relocated information to this file.
* Removed cinematic trailer in favor of playable demo.  Cinematic trailer available if desired.    Contact Sparkles042@hotmail.com
* Coughed up something rather hideous.

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Since v 1.0:

* Removed errors from this readme file (jeez, don't I ever spellcheck?)
* Fixed bugs:  
  - Slowed down speed of end credits (thanks Ben Croshaw)
  - Corrected strange message problem in janitor's closet (thanks Captain Mostly)
  - Corrected error where leaving breakroom sitcks Larry in place (thanks Captain Mostly)
  - Moved Larry to a move convenient spot when final puzzle is solved (all together now, Thanks     Captain Mostly!)
* Included several additional files in vales.zip:
  - setup.bat for people who...need it...I guess...
  - deadgirl.exe; a cinematic trailer for Larry Vales II:  Dead Girls Are Easy.  Utilizes vocal     technology, so you likely have to run setup before this will work properly.
  - readme2.txt; a quick plea on behalf of Larry Vales II.
* Changed name of exe file from attempt.exe to larryvtd.exe
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A couple quick notes on the game...cuz I wanna.

INTERFACE:
In case you're not familiar with the interface used in this game, I recommend running out a buying a whole lotta great early nineties adventure games from Sierra.  Seriously.  I recommend Space Quest 5 and Freddy Pharkas:  Frontier Pharmacist.  But if you'd rather have me explain it to you, I'll try.

The interface in this game is one of "icons" (say it with me.)  The mouse cursor will change as you command it to reflect the active icon.  Left clicking will make use of it over whatever area of the screen you have placed it.  For example, if the cursor is an eye (which means look), and you drag it over Larry, left click and you'll get a message about looking at Larry.

You can view the available icon choices by moving your cursor to the very top of the screen, triggering a drop-down menu of your choices.  Right clicking can cycle through the available icons as well.  You will always have the hand (interact with/take), the eye (look at/examine), and the mouth (talk to/eat/drink).  Most of the time you will also have a shoe (move to) which allows you to relocate Larry on the screen.  This won't trigger any action other than making him walk.  This option will disappear in close-up views.

Close-up views will appear when talking to certain characters or when using certain items in the game.  The close-up allows you to see things in greater detail (I suppose...).  To exit a close-up, click any icon on the background.

A crucial aspect of the game is the inventory.  When you interact with certain objects on the screen, you will collect them in your inventory.  Move your cursor to the top of the screen and click on the suitcase icon to view your inventory.  From here, you can click the eye on your objects to examine them, or you can click the arrow on them.  If you do this, click OK next, and you have the item in your hand.  The cursor will change to reflect the item you have ready.  Now you can click this new icon on areas of the screen to use your object WITH something else.

You can also save and restore your place in the game so you won't have to start over or watch the introduction next time (the disk with the arrow pointing at it saves, the disk with the arrow pointing away restores).  The question mark gives you notably less information about the game than this readme does, and the c:\> button will exit the program.  Whew!

Of course, the best way to learn is by playing yourself.  Fool around in the first couple of rooms of the hotel and see what sort of messages you get.  Try everything, it's the best way to familiarize yourself with the controls.

HINTS:
Trouble getting started?  Here's a quick way to get the game rolling.  Head inside the hotel and converse with the receptionist.  Check the bulletin board for hints.  Go one screen right and enter your room.  Once there, address your partner in the shower.  Looks like you'll have to get him out before the game can go much further.  Running the water may help...

If you need hints, email me at Sparkles042@hotmail.com.  This will allow me to know which puzzles REALLY stump players.  Of course, I won't give you answers...just hints.  Of course, a general hint to solving the entire game is this:  if you have no idea what to do next, try to expand your playing area.  For example, at first you can't get past the large man in the pool area.  Make that your goal.  Next you'll need to make it to the shed.  And so on and so on until the game is over.  Each time you'll get a little bit closer to having full access to everything in the game.

BUGS:
If you find them, tell me.  Otherwise you are all freeloading whoremasters and are thus doomed to an eternity of brimstone.

MUSIC:
In case you're wondering, the songs featured in Traffic Division are:
Commissioner sequence--"Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits
Title card--"Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman Turner Overdrive (Bee Tee Oh)
Hotel muzak--"Gimme Some Lovin'" by Spencer Davis Group
Room theme--"Stuck in the Middle With You" by Steeler's Wheel
Outside shed--"Summer Breeze" by Seals and Crofts
Shed theme 1--"Paint it Black" by The Rolling Bears
Shed theme 2--"Chicago" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Loggins, Messina, Hall, Oates, Tenneille, and Garfunkle
Casino--"Baby, You're a Rich Man" by The Bea'les
Telephone pole--"I Don't Want To Know" by Fleetwood Mac N Cheese
Lightsaber battle (not quite)--"Kashmir" by Led Zepplin

Also, the songs featured in the demo for Larry Vales II:  Dead Girls Are Easy:
Opening interactive scene--"Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers
Ulcer King--"19th Nervous Breakdown" by The Rolling Bears

LARRY VALES:
Not actually a reference to Leisure Suit Larry.  Larry Vales has been a running character in probably EVERY ONE of my attempts at a book.  He's always been some sort of inept police officer who ends up muddling up an important event in the story somehow, but he's never been NEARLY a main character.  In the one book I did manage to finish, Vales was a traffic cop.  I stuck him here because I thought it would be funny to explore a traffic patrolman in a situation that might actually require some sense.  If you don't think it's funny, feel free to lob yourself off the nearest pier.

THE VOICE:
The voice that personally misreads the title cards belongs to myself.  And no, it's not an imitation of the Monty Python "Gumby" character.  I actually came up with this voice on my own to ridicule a deep-timbred friend of mine who was really a smart kid with no common sense.  So it's not stolen from Monty Python (but don't worry, fans, plenty else IS!).  And Eric Idle better drop that lawsuit if he knows what's good for him.

Keep a running diary of what you like, don't like, don't understand, can't do, etc.  I want this to be a player-friendly, yet challenging adventure.  And most of all, I want people to laugh!  And have sex with me.  But mostly laugh!  (Yeah.  Laugh.)

THE SEQUEL:
As of right now, Larry Vales II:  Dead Girls Are Easy is under full construction.  Two demos (one interactive, one theatrical) are included with this zip file.  Download them, and feel free to contact me at Sparkles042@hotmail.com should you wish to help me playtest, or would like any more information about the coming sequel.