                            Virtual Park Demonstration

                                  Instructions


                        Copyright 1989 Virtual Technology.

          The Virtual Park Demonstration Software and Virtual Park
          Demonstration Instructions are Copyright 1989 Virtual Technology. 
          The Virtual Park Demonstration Software and Instructions may be
          copied and distributed on a nonprofit basis.  Please feel free to
          make a copy of the Virtual Park Demonstration Software and give it
          to a friend.


          Introduction:

          Virtual Park... Thoroughbred Horse Racing Entertainment for the
          Personal Computer.  Virtual Park simulates a day at the horse
          races for one to four players.  The Park stables 120 horses with
          twelve Trainers and fifteen Jockeys.  Each horse has it's own
          unique running style.  Horses may be affected by the Trainers,
          Jockeys, post positions, weight carried, track conditions, time
          off between races, and maybe just a little luck among other things!

          The races are viewed from a three window screen.  One window shows
          the race from a top view.  A second window displays the elapsed
          time, horse positions, and track calls.  The third and largest
          window shows a side view of the race as seen from the center of
          the track.  You watch the animated horses race around the entire
          track.

          Game options are selected from pulldown menus for starting a race,
          viewing statistics and past performance sheets, placing bets, and
          printing out race forms, past performances, bets, and racing
          statistics.  Virtual Park even has an Instant Replay of the
          previous race!

          The Virtual Park race statistics database is updated after every
          race.  The past performance and race statistics are generated from
          your actual races.  This information along with Trainer, Jockey,
          and Track statistics, are all available from pulldown menus.  Each
          player can use the information to make Win, Place, Show and
          Quiniela bets.

          The Virtual Park Demonstration program will do almost everything
          that the real program will do except that the demo repeats the
          same race.  You will be able to view race statistics, print race
          forms, place bets, and view a race, the same race every time.  


          Getting Started

           System Requirements:

             Virtual Park requires the following:

              - IBM or Compatible Personal Computer

              - 256k of available RAM

              - DOS 2.1 or higher

              - Color or monochrome graphics adapter
                (CGA, EGA, VGA, Monochrome Graphics)

              - One disk drive (5-1/4 or 3-1/2)
                (Program can be copied to fixed disk)

              - Optional: Parallel Printer


          Starting Virtual Park

          Virtual Park will automatically recognize the presence of CGA,
          EGA, and VGA monitors.  For users with Hercules Graphics or Black
          and White monitors with a CGA card, see Special Start-up Options.

           Floppy Disk System:
           
           1. Insert the demo disk in drive A>.

           2. Type A: to change the drive to A>.

           3. Type VP to start Virtual Park

          The demo may be copied to a fixed disk.  Copy all files from the
          floppy disk to a subdirectory on your fixed disk.



            ***  Special Start-up Options  ***

          Users with a CGA Graphics Adapter and a Black and White Monitor. 
          Start-up the Virtual Park demo with the following command:

                  VP /b    or    VP /B
             
          Failing to set this option will result in some horses and jockeys
          not being visible during the race.

          Users with Hercules Monochrome Graphics Adapters.  Start-up
          Virtual Park with the following command:

                     VPH    or    vph
           You may also start-up Virtual Park by entering the following
          commands:

                     QBHERC  [Return]
                  
                     VP      [Return]
          Quick Start - Off to the Races...

          You may not need to read any further...  To move around the game
          use the arrow keys to highlight your selection and then press
          Enter to confirm your choice.  Additional key information is
          displayed at the bottom of the screen when keys are active.  The
          Esc key in most cases, will take you back to the top menu.  The F1
          key is available for limited help when displayed.  And... at least
          one player must go to the betting window before you can start a
          race.  This booklet briefly describes how to get around in the
          game.  Good luck, and see you at the races!


          The Main Menu.

          Virtual Park's main screen displays a menu bar along the top of
          the screen with pulldown menus that appear when the choice is
          highlighted.  The main body of the screen displays a "Page" out of
          the Virtual Park Race Program, along with Current Track Conditions
          and Program Selections in order of finish (calculated by Virtual
          Park's resident handicapper).  The screen displays the horses for
          the current race, the horse's Trainer, Jockey, Weight Carried, and
          the Morning Line (Odds).

          The main screen contains a "second Page" which displays the
          current odds for the current race and the approximate payoffs for
          a $2 Quiniela bet.


          Start Race Menu Option

          The Start Race menu option contains two choices.  The choices are
          turned off and on throughout the day's races to help keep you from
          accidently starting a race before you have placed a bet.  

         Let's Go... sends you off to the current race were it will be Post
          Time.  At the start of every race, this choice is turned off until
          at least one player has visited the betting window.  Once you
          select "Let's Go...", there's no turning back, all bets are final.  

         Replay.....  Virtual Park provides an "Instant Replay" of the most
          recent race.  If you missed the finish or just want to analyze the
          race, the Replay option is available at anytime after the first
          race.  Only the most recent race completed is available for
          replay.

          Place Bets Menu Option

          Highlighting the "Place Bets" option drops a list of players for
          the days races.


          Placing a Bet.  To move around the Betting Window, use the arrow
          keys, the Tab key, Backspace, Del, Ins, and Return key.  Most of
          the standard move and edit keys will work.  In the betting window
          there are four lines in which you can place multiple bets.

          Dollar(s) Bet:  The Virtual Park Betting Window accepts bets from
          one dollar to 99 dollars.  You can only place bets in whole
          dollars, keep your change for later.  To bet more than 99 dollars
          on a horse, you can place the same bet on another line.

          W)in, P)lace, S)how:  After entering the dollar amount to bet,
          enter W, P, or S, or any combination, or all three for your Win,
          Place, and Show bets.  You cannot enter two of the same bet type
          on the same line (last example).

          Examples:  W   :  for a Win Bet
                     PS  :  for a Place and Show Bet
                     WPS :  Win, Place, and Show Bet
                     WW  <=will not accept this input 

          Horse Number(s):  After entering the amount bet and the type of
          bet, enter the Entry Number of the horse or horses that you wish
          to bet on (up to three horses on one line).

          Examples:  2   :  Horse/Entry Number 2
                     63  :  Horse/Entry Numbers 6 & 3
                     44  :  Double Bet on Number 4
                     

          Multiple Bets.  A bet as follows:

                   $2.00    PS    16

          Reads as: Two Dollars to Place and Show on Horse/Entry Numbers 1
          and 6.  This is a Total Bet of $8.00 that adds up like this:

                   $2.00 to Place on # 1
                   $2.00 to Place on # 6
                   $2.00 to Show  on # 1
                   $2.00 to Show  on # 6
                  -------------------------
                   $8.00 Total Dollars Bet


          There are three lines for each better to place Win, Place, or Show
          bets.  The Fourth lin is for placing Quiniela bets.  A quiniela
          bet is picking the horses that finish first and second in any
          order.  for this bet you can wager from 1 to 99 dollars, and you
          can "box" three horses (bet any three horses and play all possible
          combinations).  The approximate payoffs for Quiniela combinations
          is desplayed on "Page Two" of the main screen.

          After entering your bets either tab to the end or press [Esc] and
          the computer will total your bets.  If you are satisfied with your
          bets, press [Y] or press [N] if you need to make changes.

          You may go to the betting window as many times as you like before
          a race begins.  You can only bet on the current race.
          Past Performance Menu Option

          Highlighting the "Past Performance" option allows you to view past
          performance stats on horses in the Current Race, or from any of
          "Today's Races".  The window displays one horse's past performance
          information at a time.  To view other Entries use the Arrow
          Up/Down, PgUp, PgDn, Home, and End key.  To exit the window, press
          the Esc key. 

          The following gives a brief description for some of the past
          performance information.  
           
         Lifetime:  The horse's season record for the number of Starts,
          Wins, Places, and Shows.

         Times:  These are the Leader's times at the Quarter mile (QT), Half
          mile (HT), and Finish (FT).  (Time Format: Minutes:Seconds-Fifths
          of a Second)

         Track Conditions:  The track conditions (TK) at race time are: 
          ft:Fast  fr:Frozen  gd:Good  sl:Slow  sy:Sloppy  md:Muddy 
          hv:Heavy

         Track Length: Races are 6 furlongs (TL).

         Odds:  The Post Time Odds.

         Weight Carried:  The weight carried (wt) by the horse. (Jockey,
          Saddle, etc.)

         Track Speed:  The Track Speed (ts) is a number that can be used to
          compare the horses final time to the track record. 

         Track Variant:  The Track Variant (tv) is the average of the Track
          Speed for the winners of all races run that day subtracted from
          100.  

         Position & Margin:  The first number is the horse's running
          position, the second number is the number of lengths behind the
          leader.  Position and margin are given at the Quarter, Half, and
          Final Calls.

          Statistics Menu Options

          Statistics: Jockeys and Trainers

          These choices display statistics for Jockeys and Trainers in the
          current race.  The window lists the Jockeys or Trainers by
          Entry/Horse number and displays the number of Mounts/ Starts,
          Wins, Places, Shows, and the Percent of races Won for this season.  

          Statistics: Track

          The "Track" choice displays the number of winners by post
          position.



          Statistics: Betting

          The "Betting" choice displays a breakdown of Win, Place, and Show
          Bets for the previous race, and a summary of the days total
          betting. (The display rounds the bets to dollars)  To view other
          Players bets use the Arrow Up/Down, PgUp, PgDn, Home, and End key.  
          Print Menu Options

          The Virtual Park Print option is set up to print to a parallel
          printer port.  The printer outputs should print on any compatible
          printer that can print 80 characters wide and 60 lines per page.

          Print: Current Race Bets 

          Current Race Bets sends a printout of each players bets for the
          current race. 

          Print: Today's Program

          This option prints the Official Virtual Park Racing Program.  The
          following format is used in the Race Program:

              Race # 1       Computer Picks
              ------------------------------
              Entry | Horse Name    Trainer
                    | Jockey   Weight  Odds

          Print: Past Performance

          Selecting the Past Performance print option sends past performance
          for the selected race to the printer.  The following is a key to
          reading the Past Performance Sheet:   

          Entry Number   Horse Name   Weight  Trainer

                   Lifetime: Starts Wins Places Shows

          Day Race  QT  HT  FT    TK   Odds TL   PolP

               Weight [Pos & Margin at Calls]  Jockey

               Horses order of finish       ts     tv  

          Example:

               Entry # 3  SUNANGEL 122  Jim Keith
                           Lifetime:  27   7  3  4
              15  2 :21-3 :45-0 1:11-3 gd  7/2 6f 2
                118 6/2.2 4/2.4  2/3.4    Adam Redd
                INSIDER ,SUREWIN ,CROWNGEM  93  6



          Print: Race Statistics

          Selecting the Race Statistics Print option prints statistics on
          Jockeys, Trainers, and Winning Post Positions.  The printout is
          one page and contains a table of all Jockeys and Trainers with
          their number of Mounts/Starts for this season, the number of Wins,
          Places, Shows, and the Percent Win.  Another table contains the
          number of winners by post position.  The printout also includes an
          Odds Table for payoff on a two dollar bet.

          Print: Betting Stats

          The Betting Stats choice prints a betting summary for each player. 
          The printout includes a breakdown of Win, Place, and Show Bets for
          the previous race, and a summary of the days total betting. (The
          printout rounds the bets to dollars)


          Quit Menu Options

          Quit: No  This is just a flag in the menu to prevent you from
          accidentally ending the game.

          Quit: Yes  Select this option to end the game.

          Quit: New Day  This option lets you start a new day at Virtual
          Park without having to exit and restart the game.  The demo
          version does not changes days.


          Viewing the Race

          After you have placed all of your bets for the race, you are ready
          for the Start Race: Let's Go command.  Highlighting "Let's Go" and
          pressing Return will send you off to the race.

          In the upper left window is a top view of the entire track.  From
          this view, you will be able to see the horses leave the gate and
          race around the track to the finish.  The upper right window
          displays the track timer, the horse numbers for the four lead
          horses, and track calls.  The lower window is a side view of the
          track as if you were inside the track.  From this view, you are in
          the middle of the track and the horses are running around you.

          The entire race is simultaneously displayed on the two windows. 
          After all of the horses have crossed the finish line, the lower
          window will show a close-up of the finish.  After the judges have
          declared the race official, a small button will appear in the
          lower right corner called [KEY].  Press a key to move on.  

          When you press a key the Payoff Board is displayed in the lower
          window.  Once again you will get a beep and [KEY] button to signal
          a press of any key for the next screen.

          After pressing a key, the top right window will be replaced by the
          Better Payoff display.  This window displays the total amount of
          money each player has won on the race.
          Yes, once again you will get the beep and [KEY] button to press
          any key when you are ready to continue.  This time you will be
          returning to the Main menu.  

          Upon returning to the main menu, you can go to the Statistics:
          Betting option to review your winnings or loses for the race, and
          how you stand for the day.  You also have the option to Replay the
          race and Payoff Boards. 

          The Demonstration program does not update the statistics database
          since the same race is repeated each time.

          Inside the Program

          The Virtual Park program was developed to simulate thoroughbred
          horse racing.  An extensive amount of time was spent developing
          the performance factors that influence the races.  Each horse,
          trainer and jockey has strengths and weaknesses, and like most
          things, they all have their good and bad days.  There could be a
          favorite or faster pole position, or the track conditions might
          effect everyone involved.  Performance is not random in this
          program.  There is a system, but then who is to say a little mud
          in the eye won't slow a horse down.

          There are 120 horses stabled at Virtual Park, twelve Trainers, and
          fifteen Jockeys.  The race entries are selected so that no trainer
          has two horses in the same race.  A trainer is always responsible
          for the same ten horses.  Jockeys are selected at random for their
          mount.

          The horses appear to run in their same lane all the way around the
          track.  This is only true for the display.  Post positions may
          have some effect out of the gate and down the first stretch. 
          Going into the corner the computer calculates position as if the
          horses are on the rail (the outside horse does not run any further
          than the inside horse).

          Betting and Payoffs are not pari-mutuel as in real tracks.  Odds
          and payoffs are based on an internal handicapping routine (if you
          only new what it was!).  Payoffs may be more generous than you
          would find at a real track.


          To Order:

          Virtual Park is available on either 3-1/2" or 5-1/4" floppy
          diskette.  The Software package includes floppy diskette and 
          user's manual.  To order, send Check or Money Order for $35
          (includes shipping and handling) to:

                      Virtual Technology
                      PO Box 324043
                      Kansas City, MO 64132

          Please state that you want Virtual Park Thoroughbred Horse Racing
          and the disk size 5-1/4 or 3-1/2 inch.
