## Notes ##

Note 1:
If you are using an unzipping program make sure that the folder information is used. For WinZip this is accomplished by checking the box marked 'use folder names' and for PKzip you must use the -d switch in the command line.

Note 2: (for Win3x users)
If you have a problem getting CyberPony to start in Windows 3x you can:

- try modifying the cybrpony.pif file with the pif editor that comes with Win3x.

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

Note 3:
If CyberPony will not run on your system it may be due to a sound conflict. Open the file 'cpset.ini', in the CybrPony folder, with any text editor and change the value in [Sound] to 1. Save and try to run the program again.  

Note 4:
The file cswdpmi.exe is a program written by Charles W. Sandmann which allows CyberPony to run in DOS mode. SoftGun has received permission from the author to distribute this program with SoftGun's products.
## End of Notes ##



The following help information is identical to the on-line help (in fact the program is reading this text file!).



** Information ************
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CyberPony v1.2
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(c)1999 by SoftGun
Toronto,Canada

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

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Other Products:
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Jagtris v3.0 - falling block game, simple but lots of fun.
Double Jagtris v1.0 - Interactive Jagtris for two players.

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Please email SoftGun with comments, suggestions, criticisms, etc. at:
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softgun@aol.com



** Registration ************

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To play the full version of CyberPony, which will activate 300 more horses, any horses created with the new horse editor, and full score keeping please visit SoftGun's web page for registering instructions at:

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http://members.aol.com/softgun/
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(check out the high scores too!)

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or email SoftGun at:

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softgun@aol.com



** General ************
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GENERAL INFO:  CyberPony is a horse racing simulation that has a realistic wagering system and an easy to use interface.  Win, Place, and Show bets are complimented with Exacta, and Triacta wagering.

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The full version has a 500 horse database (200 for shareware version).  New horses can be easily added with a special New Horse Editor. Also, registered users will have full highs listing in all categories.

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Each game session consists of a ten races. Highs for each category (except for Overall Earnings) are based on completing this race set.

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Before each race a simplified racing form is used to assist in selecting horses to bet on.  This form can, if necessary, be interchanged with the betting record which displays all bets for the current race.

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At the end of the race, finish positions and pay outs for the horses are displayed and by clicking on the WIN, PLACE, and SHOW buttons, photo finish shots can displayed to show the finish positions. Clicking on BET RESULTS will show players the results of each of their bets.


 

** Records ************
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RECORDS:  The full list of active horses and their statistics can be viewed by clicking STATS on the main menu.  The times (shown in purple) represent the fastest winning time for each horse during its entire history.  Total purse winnings over the last 20 races are shown in green and the number of win, place, and show finishes over the last 20 races are shown in red, blue, and white respectively. 

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Player highs can be viewed by clicking HIGHS on the main menu. High score 'Top 15' lists are provided for: highest Points score; highest Overall earnings; highest earnings for Win bets; highest earnings for Place bets; highest earnings for Show bets; highest earnings for Exacta bets; highest earnings for Triacta bets; and highest total Combined earnings for multi player games (unregistered versions will only track highest overall earnings over the three races).

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Note:- the Highest Points category is calculated to reflect consistent betting practices and scores in this category can be posted to SoftGun's web page 'Top 100' list. This category is least affected by attempts to restart games after poor first race results to maximize earnings.    




** Forms ************ 
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RACING FORM:  The form is simplified to make betting easy and can be refreshed during betting by selecting the FORM button.

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Each entry in a race will be identified by the start position, the name of the horse, the odds (chance of winning), and the best winning times (shown in purple) for each horse during its entire history.

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Total purse winnings over the last 20 races are shown using different shades of green to highlight larger earnings (also yellow and white for very high earning). The number of win, place, and show finishes over the last 20 races are shown in red, blue, and white respectively.

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Occasionally a tip given by the 'track insider' will appear beside the form and that horse will from then on be indicated by yellow text. All tips are valid (the horse is better than it's record shows).

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The racing form can also be viewed at the end of the race by clicking on the FORM button provided on the screen showing race results. This allows a review of each of the top finisher's statistics. 




** Betting ************
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BETTING:  The betting keypad is divided into four sections - name of player, amount bet, type of bet and horse(s) bet on. A bet can only be entered in this order. Clicking on the name of a player will also display that player's money (during single-player games this is not needed).

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When each element of the bet has been selected, the BUY or CANCEL button must be selected. As you select from each section of the betting keypad the colors of the buttons will change to make your selection options clearer. All invalid buttons will be colored dark purple.

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The dollar amounts range from 1 to 1000 and you may also use the '$?' button to type in a more exact amount. You can choose individual horses, all of them [ALL] or just the horses above 10 to 1 odds [10:1 +]. All bets are displayed as they are entered and the BETS button at the bottom of the screen shows any bets that may have disappeared under the racing form as more bets are added.

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If you are relatively new to wagering, read the file 'betting.txt' (found in the CybrPony folder) for an explanation of the types of bets.




** Editor - New Horses************
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NEW HORSES:  To create a new horse click on NEW in the main menu. Then type the horse's name followed by the Enter key. Try to pick unique names that are not too similar to existing ones. The program will not accept any exact duplicates.

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After hitting Enter, the characteristic controls will appear. Use the slider arrows to change the speed, spont., stamina, and sprint values.
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speed - the normal top speed of the horse
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spont. - (spontaneity) willingness of horse (jockey) to change strategy
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stamina - horses ability to maintain top speed to the end
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sprint - quickness off the start and at end of race

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These are relative values (a horse with a speed  of 99 is not 99 times faster than a horse with a speed of 1). Finally, you can change the computer-selected color using the color boxes provided.

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Three buttons at the bottom of the screen (IGNORE, NEXT, and OK) are used to either cancel the new horse, accept the new horse and create another, or accept the new horse and return to the menu. 




** Settings ************
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GAME SETTINGS:  The game settings can be accessed from the main menu by clicking on SETTINGS. A new screen will appear with several buttons which alter certain characteristics of CyberPony v1.2:

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Sound: - toggles the sound OFF or ON. Select off if there is a conflict with your sound card or operating system.

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Animation: - FAST or SLOW depending on your preference and different speeds of various systems. Also, you can select LAST to show just the final stretch run or NONE to skip to the results without displaying the race.

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Score Reset: - click to reset all the high scores to zero. A confirmation screen will appear as a reminder.

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Registration: - your registration number is shown. When you register through email and provide this number, an new number will be emailed back to you. When you receive it click on the orange ENTER button and type in the provided number to fully activate CyberPony.




** Miscellaneous Information **
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The last game that is ended prematurely is always saved for future continuation and by clicking on the LOAD button in the main menu it can be resumed with one condition - that game will no longer allow a High Points score (all other highs still function).

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You may notice that the race times seem to be slower than the horses best times. This is because the horses have run hundreds of races previously to set their best times.

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All bets made that are multi-bets (more than one possible combination) assume that the amount bet is divided among all possible combinations. If you bet $6 on a horse ACROSS(w/p/s) you are betting $2 to win, $2 to place, and $2 to show (NOT $6 in each position - total $18).

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If you would like to see your performance history, CyberPony records overall earnings of each player along with the date in a file called 'results.txt' for each race set that is completed. This is a text file that can be opened with any text (.txt) editor or viewer.



** Web Page ************
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Registering CyberPony v1.2 will also allow you to post your High Points score on Softgun's web page. If you would like to be ranked on SoftGun's web site (I hope that you will!), you can send the high score file 'cpscore.dat', found in the CybrPony folder via email.

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Your email software should allow for file attachments. Visit SoftGun's web page if you need instructions.

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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 on the 'Top 100' list can be reserved for each registered game.

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Should your Highest Points score improve, the listing can be updated at regular intervals by resending your high scores file.


** End ****************

 