## Windows 3.x Users ##

If you have a problem getting Jagtris to start in Windows 3.x
you can:

- play Jagtris v3.0 from the DOS prompt but you must have
your mouse driver installed in autoexec.bat

- I have included a .pif file that can be opened with the
.pif editor that comes with Windows 3.x.

	- first rename the jag30.pif to some other name
	  ( this pif is actually a Win 95 Shortcut file )
	- open Win3x.pif with the .pif editor
	- change the command line to: Jag30.exe
	- save the .pif using the name Jag30.pif

- I tested this .pif on a Windows 3.x system and it worked
fine. If this still doesn't work for you, you can try to modify
some of the settings for this .pif file and try to start
Jagtris again (consult the .pif editors help file).
- I could't modify it on my Windows 95 system without the
system trying to change it to a Windows Shortcut
- the file cwsdpmi.exe is a program written by Charles W. Sandman which allows Jagtris to run in DOS (I have received permission to include this program with SoftGun Products).

** Register  **
To activate the full version of Jagtris v3.0 allowing
unlimited play beyond level 2, please visit:


http://members.aol.com/softgun/

or write SoftGun at:

softgun@aol.com


Feel free to distribute the unregistered version
of Jagtris v3.0 to your friends and see License.txt
for other conditions and disclaimers.

** Information **
Jagtris v3.0
(c)1998 by SoftGun
Toronto, Canada

Programmer - Gunther Serrano
Beta Tester - Maria Fuensanta Serrano
Graphics Consultant - Jane M. Ronan

Other Products:
Double Jagtris v1.0 - two-player interactive Jagtris.
CyberPony v1.2 - horse racing and betting game.

Coming Soon:
Missile Type v1.0 - finger speed improvement game.
Steel Dreams v1.0 - strategy top-down war game.

Please feel free to e-mail Softgun with comments,
suggestions, criticisms, etc. at:  softgun@aol.com
or visit:  http://members.aol.com/softgun/


** General - How To Play  **
When you start the game, groups of colored squares
will fall from the top of the screen.  Move them to
places where same colors touch each other
horizontally or vertically (diagonally doesn't count).

When you have formed a large enough group of one color,
it will be removed and the remaining squares will fill the
empty spaces.  Any new groups formed automatically
as some of the squares fall down to fill the empty spaces,
will also be removed and the game will continue.

The game is over when the squares have piled up in the
middle and a new block can't be placed on the screen.

Jagtris will also speed up slightly after each round. This
increase will not be noticable from one round to the next.


**  Levels  **
Each level has four rounds.  The first round has
three colors, the second has four, the third has
five and the forth (bonus) round has six colors!

The first level requires groups larger than eight and
every level after this adds two more squares to the
minimum. The bonus round does not change and
only needs groups of eight regardless of the level.

The number of squares that must be removed to finish
the first level is 100. This goes up by 10 for every new
level. The bonus round is excepted again and only 100
squares need to be removed regardless of the level.


**  Scoring  **
You receive points that depend on how large a group
you can form with larger groups earning considerably
more points than the minimum required for each level.
 
For multiple group removals, even larger scores are
possible that are based on the size of each group, the
number of groups, and the number of colors in the round.

Each increase in score will be shown under 'last score'
and your largest group, largest multiple group and
bonus round high score will be indicated below this.

In multi-player mode each player will be positioned on
the score board according to their score and the highest
single and multiple removals along with the bonus will be
indicated in the color of the player who holds each high.


**  Bonus Rounds  **
The bonus round is a mini game within the game
and you can't lose in this round. All the conditions
are the same no matter what level you are on.

To finish the round you need to remove 100 squares
and the minimum size of any group must be eight.

Because you can't lose, you have the opportunity
to try some different strategies and assess their
value depending on the scores that you receive.

The bonus round has a separate high score list so
that it can be used by itself to gauge a players ability.
It may even be used as a short game when you don't
have much time. After a three round warm-up you try
for a bonus high score and then lose the next round!


**  Strategy  **
Try to make large groups in the first two rounds
and then multiple groups in the last two rounds
of each level. The scoring formula is complex
but you can get a feel for it just by playing
and watching your 'last points' scores.

Large groups can be made by forming two or
more groups of the same color close to each
other and then joining them together.

If you wish to get through round 1 quickly you can
build large stacks and then try to get the whole thing
to come down in one big avalanche. This doesn't
earn any extra points in this round and is very
difficult to pull off in the other three rounds.


**  Controls  **
The falling blocks can be moved down, left, and right
using the respective arrow keys.  The up arrow key or
the left mouse button (helpfull if you need to look at
the keys) rotates the block clockwise around the center.

If a joystick is detected the stick directions
will mimic the arrow keys and Button 1 will
also be able to spin the cube.

Note: The game can be paused or unpaused by hitting
the ENTER key, Button 2 on the joystick, or the right
mouse button. This is very usefull when you are
interupted during your game or you just need a break.

Note: The [ESC] button will end you games and Jagtris
will not check for high scores (for quick shut-downs).


**  Players  **
Jagtris v3.0 can be played with up to four players
and although each person is playing their own 
separate game, each round is played by all players
before the game continues on to the next round.

Each player is indicated by number and color when
scores, high scores and messages are shown:
 
Player 1 is red, player 2 is blue,
player 3 is green, and player 4 is orange.

Should a player not finish a round (except for the
bonus), Jagtris will check that player's scores in
each category and if they have a high score their
name will be requested before the game goes on..



** High Score Lists  **

Jagtris will track high scores in several categories:

High - all-time highest scores (since last reset).
Single - most points made from removing one group.
Multi - most points from a 'cascading' multiple removal.
Bonus - highest scores during just one bonus round.
Month - highest scores of the current month.

Note 1: Only the highest Single or Multi for each player
has the potential to be added to each high score list.

Note 2: If you change your computer date (month) and
then play Jagtris, the month high scores will be lost.

**  SoftGun Website  **
Please visit:  http://members.aol.com/softgun/

To be ranked on SoftGun's web site, you can
send the high score file 'jagscore.dat' via e-mail.
Your e-mail software should allow for file attachments.

The file has a special code to confirm your score
which will ensure that all the scores are legitimate.

You can only list your high score if you
are registered and only one placing can
be reserved for each registered game.

Should your best score improve, the
listing can be updated at regular intervals.



**  Misc.  **
Sounds for Jagtris will function if you have a sound
card that is Sound Blaster compatible. The game only
plays wav files and should work for most systems,
however, sounds are not essential to the strategy of
the game and may be turned off from the main menu.

Jagtris will also look for a joystick or game
pad and attempt to install it automatically.

Jagtris v3.0 is small enough ( 1 Mb ) so that it may be
stored on a standard floppy disk.  It can even be played
from the floppy with only a slight delay when you are
checking high scores or searching this HELP file.

If you would like to reset the high
scores just delete the file 'jagscore.dat'.


 

  