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 D A R K   L E G E N D S   S O F T W A R E    P R E S E N T S
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                Black Hole - Final Version 1
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Contents :

1.0 What is Black Hole?
   1.1 What is Black Hole?
   1.2 How was it programmed?

2.0 Running Black Hole.
   2.1 Installing and Running. 
   2.2 TroubleShooting.

3.0 Controls.
   3.1 Basic Controls.
   3.2 Instructions.
   3.3 Different Tiles.
   3.4 Scoring System.

4.0 Custom Maps.
   4.1 Making Custom Maps.
   4.2 The Rules of Map Making.
   4.3 Distributing Maps.

5.0 Future Projects of Dark Legends Software.
   5.1 Tales Of Utopia.
   5.2 Rockwars.
   5.3 Infernal Forces.
   5.4 KaddaCrap.
   5.5 ZipLib.

6.0 Final Version Notes.
   6.1 Final Version Notes.

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1.0 What is Black Hole?
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   1.1 What is Black Hole?

Black hole is a puzzle game based on an old classic by the
name of POD. The concept is a simple one, collect all the tiles
and reach the red tile before your time runs out. As you might
expect, however, there are a few hicups along the way, in the
form of deceptivly difficult puzzles. 

Thanks to everyone who played the Beta Version! The game is
now completed. There are 35 levels, 10 in easy, 10 in Medium
and 15 in Hard, as well as unlimited Custom levels that I'll
host on our website. My biggest regret is the graphics. As
you can see from the screenshots on our website, or just by
playing the game, I'm no Artist.

Also, a little confesion... I did'nt compose the music. The
music is taken from 2 different Final Fantasy Titles. I was
hoping to compose music myself, but I soon realised that I
lacked this talent. The Music chosen is the Ancient Library
from Final Fantasy V, and Mission and Fanfare from Final
Fantasy Legend II.

   1.2 How was it programmed?

Black hole was programmed in Pure QuickBasic 4.5 with the
asistance of an excellent Music and sound effects engine,
BWSB, by Edward Schunder. As a policy, Dark Legends software,
and most people involved in the QuickBasic Internet
community, distribute our games free and with the source
code. We don't expect money. That said, It's not as If
we would turn it down if we were EVER offered any... :)

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2.0 Running Black Hole
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   2.1 Installing and Running.

The game comes preinstalled - simply unzip to the directory
of your choice. Run "Black.exe" to play the game. If it is
your first time running the game, the Music Setup program
will execute. Otherwise, to set up your sound card for use
in the game, run Setup.exe.

   2.2 TroubleShooting.

I think I've done a pretty good job in finding bugs,
particularly with one nasty bug I found whil making the
levels. In fact, in fixing some bugs, I had to do things
with the source code that was VERY amaturish. In fact, I
am ashamed of the source code I have written. I try to
write my programs to do a job, not to look good, and
unfortunatly although it does it's job, the source code
of Black Hole is VERY Messy. The best thing about the
Open Source Theory is that if you do find a bug, and you
can program in anyway at all, you should be able to fix
it yourself. I am confident that I've eliminated all bugs,
but If you find anything, Don't hesitate to EMail me.

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3.0 Controls
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   3.1 Basic Controls

Up/Down/Left/Right = Duh!
Space              = Confirm in menus

   3.2 Instructions

When you choose "New Game" From the menu, you will be 
presented with four options, Easy, Medium, Hard and Custom.
Easy, Medium and Hard are accually 3 different stages. All
Stages have ten different levels each. Yo can technically
have 9999 levels in a custom game. 

Choose Easy, Medium or Hard. I recommend starting with Easy.
The idea is to move your POD over the tiles, which fall
behind you as you move. You must make all the tiles fall
before proceeding to a red tile to finish the stage.

   3.3 Different Tiles.

Blue Tiles : Step on once and they fall behind you.

Green Tiles : Step on twice.

Yellow Tiles : Step on 3 times.

3,2,1 tiles : Countdown Tiles. You must collect the tiles
              in order 3,2,1.

White tiles : Teleporter. Teleports you to the other white
              tile.

Red Tile    : Touch this after all tiles are destroyed.

NOTE : You can not destroy the white tiles.

   3.4 Scoring System

50 points   : For each step taken.
+25 Bonus   : If off tile in .5 seconds or less.

100 points  : For ever second left in your time when the
              level is complete.

Every 50000 points is an extra life, to a maximum of 9 lives.

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4.0 Custom Maps
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   4.1 Making Custom Maps

Black Hole comes equiped with a program, CUSTOM.EXE. This will
allow you to make your own maps for use in the game.

Up/Down/Left/Right : What do you think?
Space              : Plot Tile.
+/-                : Change Current Tile.
S/L                : Save or Load the Map.
M                  : Move the entire map in a direction.

   4.2 The Rules of Map Making

I'm sure at this stage you understand the Physics of Black
Hole, but to allow others to play your maps, you must first
take note of the following file name conventions.

Your file name must be in the form

NameNum

when you type it in in the editor. For example, Lets say
you've made a 5 map stage called Castle. You will have to
save level one as CAST1, level 2 as CAST2, Level 3 as CAST3
and so on. This is because the name cannot exceed 4 letters.
Black Hole will not load Custom Levels if the name is
DIFFERENT than 4 letters (No More, No Less) , and after that,
It looks for the levels in order. Whenever it runs out of
levels, it finishes the Stage.

To set the amount of levels in your stage, save the last
level last. So for example, if you had 15 levels in your
stage, simply save MINE15.MAP last, and a file will be
set up to show that 15 levels exist.

   4.3 Distributing Maps

You can distribute your maps where ever and however you like.
You can even Distribute Black Hole With it, as long as you
don't change the game. And If you Email your Maps to me, I'll
host the maps on our website. I advise distributing in the
form of a zip file with a readme and your levels. In your
readme, make sure that you mentain that the maps have to
be unzipped into the MAPS Subdirectory to work, and mentain
the Keyword that they must type in to load extra Maps.
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5.0 Future Projects of Dark Legends Software.
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   5.1 Tales Of Utopia.

Lead Programmer - Terry Cavanagh
Tales of Utopia is the First RPG that Dark Legends Software
will make. It's a huge story about the events before, during
and after a massive holocaust on Utopia. The Plot of Tales
of Utopia is constantly moving, integrating Sub Games and
Stratigical Battles in a strange and new Role Playing Game
system. Work has just started on this game, and trust me,
this is one title you won't want to miss.

I'm also considering releasing a customizable RPG Engine
so that you can make your own RPG's based on the system.
This has been done by many people before - OHRRPGCE to
name the most popular, VERGE to name another popular
kit, ZZT to name another - the list goes on. Adding
UTOPIA (Ultimate Tool On Producing I-appealing Adventures (j/k))
to this list can only be benifical to the project.

   5.2 Rockwars.

Lead Prgorammer - Matthew River Knight
Matthew River Knight, Of Dark Legends Software will very
soon be making a tiny game called Rockwars. It's a simple
game that I still don't know much about, but It sounds
promising, judging on his inthusium.

   5.3 Infernal Forces.

Lead Programmer - Svante Ekholm Lindahl's
A promising Stradegy game that could well be one of the
best games that this company produces.

   5.4 KaddaCrap.

Lead Programmer - Willaim Moores
Will hit on a great idea here. Despite so many games of
this genre in the past, CrackOut, T-Turner Etc, people
still havn't gotten enough of these games! Best of luck
to him on what looks to be a brillaint, enjoyable, yet
simple game!

   5.5 ZipLib.

Lead Programmer - Willaim Moores
A programming tools that Will's Devolping. Very useful,
and very fast.
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6.0 Final Version Notes
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   6.1 Final Version Notes

Nothing more to say, except enjoy the game! You can email us
with comments, or Whatever. This is the Final Version, and it
will not be updated, except on the occasion that a major bug
is found.
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         Programmed by Terry Cavanagh 2000

   terrycavanagh@eircom.net - www.darklegends.com
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