*********************************
*                               *
*             FoX               *
*                               *
*           v. 1.00             *
*                               *
*  March 1997 To December 2001  *
* Terminator_Z and White Shadow *
*                               *
*********************************


FoX Readme File
_______________



(1) Version History
(2) About
(3) Features
(4) System Requirements
(5) Story
(6) Main Menu
    A. Introduction
    B. Play Game
    C. Load Game
    D. Options
    E. Quit Game
(7) World Map
    A. Introduction
    B. World Map Objects
    C. The Display
    D. Save Game
    E. Mobile Phone
(8) Main Game
    A. Controls
    B. The Aims
    C. Dying
    D. Simple Level Objects
    E. Super Shoes
    F. Laser Barriers And Remote Controls
    G. Gems
(9) Game Extras
    A. Slot Machines
    B. FoX's GameBoy Color
    C. Boss
(10) Credits
(11) Final Word



1. Version History
------------------

15th February 2002 - version 1.00 - game released, all known bugs fixed



2. About
--------

FoX is a side-scrolling platform game written in QBASIC by George Gardiner
and Steve McAuley, using additional assembly routines by Angelo Mottola,
Edward Schlinder, Simon Iremonger and George Gardiner.

It all began when two friends finally decided to combine their programming
talents and make a game in March 1997. The first two to three years were spent
doing little coding, mainly designing the game, and deciding what could be
done with the programming skills they possessed. However, from when the coding
began in earnest, the game was completed in an additional two and a half
years, in December 2001.

They sincerely hope that you enjoy playing FoX as much as they enjoyed (or
didn't enjoy) making it.



3. Features
-----------

o	thirteen massive levels! Each has eighty screens to explore and
	many secrets to find...
o	five secret levels to find...
o	four secret sub games! Each with multiple levels...
o	slot machines to play! If you win, they will give you hints
	about where to find secrets...
o	storyline that unravels as you go...
o	three different stages of completion...
o	cut scenes...




4. System Requirements
----------------------


A. DOS

150MHz processor 
8MB of RAM 
VGA Graphics and monitor 
Soundblaster or compatible 
5MB of hard disk space 
Keyboard or joystick / joypad 


B. Windows

350Mhz processor 
32MB of RAM 
VGA Graphics and monitor 
Soundblaster or compatible 
5MB of hard disk space 
Keyboard or joystick / joypad 

Note: FoX does not run under Windows XP




5. Story
-------

A nuclear reactor in Tokyo has exploded, causing nuclear smog to spread around
the whole world. This is causing disease and death to many, but surprisingly
the Japanese government is refusing to act. The US government is also being
strangely secretive about the whole affair. As no one else is acting, a
British Intelligence Agent knows who to call...

FoX!

FoX will have to traverse the Jungle, Alps and the city of Tokyo to get to the
nuclear reactor, to shut down its core to save the world.

But why are the US and Japanese governments are acting so strangely?

And can he not only shut down the reactor to stop the outpouring of radiation,
but also heal the world of the nuclear smog already emitted?



6. Starting The Game
-------------------


A. Introduction

First, run SNDSETUP.exe to set up your sound options. To start the game, run
FoX.exe. You will be treated to a short intro, and the main menu will load.
Here you have four options:

Play Game	-	start a new game
Load Game	-	load a game
Options		-	open the options menu
Quit		-	quit the game (ESCAPE will also quit)

Use the arrow keys to select and option and press fire (CTRL) to enter it.


B. Play Game

The opening cut scene will show, and then the world map will load.


C. Load Game

Move the arrow up and down the list to choose a previously saved game, and
left and right to move between the list of saved games and the exit sign. To
load a saved game, select the game you want on and press CTRL. If you have no
saved games then the cursor will be fixed on the "exit" graphic. To quit
either press CTRL when exit is selected, or press ESC.


D. Options

Move up and down to select options, and left and right to change them. To
exit, either select exit and press CTRL or press ESC. The list of options to
change is below:

Controller	-	keyboard or joystick (joystick can only be
			selected if one is available)
Music Volume	-	changes the music volume
Sound FX Volume	-	changes the sound fx volume


E. Quit

Never touch this option. It exits FoX.



7. World Map
-----------


A. Introduction

FoX will start the game on the world map. This is where you select levels,
play on the slot machines, access sub games and many other things. The world
map is designed as a series of objects, such as levels and save points, linked
by paths. You can only move between objects if there is a path connecting
them. [NOTE: some objects are not shown on the world map as they are hidden].
When you complete a level, a path will be revealed from that level to the next
object.

[Arrow keys]	-	move up, down, left, right
[CTRL]		-	active object (e.g. play level)
[ESC]		-	exit game and return to main menu
[M]		-	access your mobile phone when it rings
[P]		-	access your GameBoy Color

[NOTE: the joystick and its buttons can be used in place of the arrow keys and CTRL]


B. World Map Objects

Level		-	represents a level in the game. Changes colour
 			when it is complete.
Save Point	-	this accesses the save game screen
Slot Machine	-	this plays the slot machine (see the EXTRAS
			section)
Cartridge	-	this collects a game cartridge that you can
			play by accessing your GameBoy Color with P
Transporters	-	come in the form of arrows, caves, subways or
			elevators. They transport you to another place
			on the world map, or another world


C. Display

At the top left the number of drumsticks and money bags you have are
displayed. Also displayed is the number of sets of gems you have collected (in
how many levels you have collected all the gems).

At the bottom left your health and lives are displayed.

If you have selected a level, the top right displays what gems and what remote
controls you have collected in that level (you will not have to collect them
again). See the MAIN GAME section.

The bottom right displays the name of the object you have selected.


D. Save Game

Saving your game at a save point costs $20, and this increases by $10 each
time you use it ($30, $40...). Therefore, you can only save if you have enough
money.

Initially the text field is selected where the name of a save game can be
typed in. Alternatively, pressing DOWN accesses the list of current saved
games that can be overwritten. Move up and down the list with the arrow keys,
and when at the top pressing UP returns to the text field. Pressing RIGHT
selects exit.

CTRL will then save your game (or if exit is selected, return to the world
map). ESCAPE also exits.


E. Mobile Phone

If the sound of a phone ringing can be heard on the world map, FoX can access
his mobile phone by pressing M. If the game is being played with no sound, a
small icon flashes in the top right of the screen. His phone rings at various
points on the world map when his agent wishes to contact him and update him
about the status of his mission, and extra information. When in the mobile
phone press CTRL to continue between dialogues.



8. Main Game
-------------


A. Controls

[Left]		-	Move Left
[Right]		-	Move Right
[Down]		-	Crouch
[CTRL]		-	Jump
[ESC]		-	Exit [but lose a life]

Again, a joystick can also be used (set as controller in the Options menu).


B. The Aims

To complete a level, FoX must exit through a silver transporter (however, some
transporters will only transport you to another place in the level). But
always remember, some levels will also have secret exits!

However, there will be obstacles blocking FoX's path. There will be enemies
out to kill him, who will have to be jumped on top of to be killed themselves.
There will also be high walls that FoX will have to find super shoes to jump
over, and laser barriers that have to be turned off. The final obstacle is
merely areas that can only be found by keen powers of observation and
exploration.


C. Dying

FoX will die in a level if he falls off the bottom of the screen, or loses all
his hit points (he initially has three). FoX loses a hit point when he is hit
by an enemy. This means he loses a life (again, he initially has three). When
FoX has lost all his lives, the game is over.


D. Simple Level Objects

[Drumstick]	-	Collect 10 of these to gain an extra life
[Potion]	-	Restores one hit point
[Heart]		-	Gain an extra life
[Money Bag]	-	Gain one dollar (to spend at slot machines)


E. Super Shoes

These look like green shoes with wings, and they enable FoX to jump higher
when he performs a super jump. This can be used to reach extra objects, or to
jump onto high platforms to access more areas of the level.

To perform a super jump, crouch and then jump (hold DOWN and press CTRL).
Without any super shoes, FoX will jump a normal height, but with them he will
jump higher! Super shoes have an additive property, meaning that the more you
get, the higher FoX will be able to jump.

The effect of collecting a super shoe lasts for the whole level.


F. Laser Barriers And Remote Controls

When playing the game, FoX will come across laser barriers blocking his path.
If FoX touches them, then they will deal him hefty damage. To remove them so
he can progress through the level, FoX must find the correspondingly coloured
remote control (which look like batteries).

There are three colours of laser barriers and remote controls - red, blue and
white. Once a remote control is found in a level, it will not need to be found
again in subsequent plays of the level during the same game.


G. Gems

In each level three gems (red, green and white) are hidden. Although at the
moment their purpose is unknown, it would be to FoX's advantage to find them
all in each level.

Once a gem is found in a level, it will not need to be found again in
subsequent plays of the level during the same game.



9. Game Extras
-------------


A. Slot Machines

In each world there is a slot machine to find through a secret exit to a
level. Slot machines give you hints about where gems and hidden exits are in
levels.

To play a slot machine, go to it on the world map and press fire. If you have
enough money (collected from levels) to play on the slot machine then the
three wheels will start spinning. Press fire to stop each wheel in turn,
trying to end up with three of the same symbols.

If the three symbols are the same, then you have won, and a hint for a level
in that world will appear (WARNING: they are often obscure).

Finally, you will be given the option of playing again (if you have enough
money), or returning to the world map.


B. FoX's GameBoy Color

FoX's GameBoy Color can be accessed by pressing P when on the world map.
However, initially FoX will have no cartridges. They can only be found on the
world map, through a secret exit to a level. In total, there is four
cartridges.

When the GameBoy is entered, a choice of cartridges will be given. Pressing
fire will then show a list of levels and an option to view the manual for that
cartridge, explaining how to play it.

Fully completing each cartridge will show a cheat for the game. However,
completing a certain level in each cartridge will show additional information,
for a purpose revealed in the game.



C. Boss

It is rumoured that there is a boss in FoX, however this has not yet been
confirmed.



10. Credits
---------

Extensive credits are in the game, yet we would like to give a few brief words
of thanks to:

Angelo Mottola		-	DirectQB was essential to our graphics
				engine with its EMS routines
Edward Schindler	-	our music engine would not have existed
				without BWSB
Alf Freeman		-	SpriteLib provided us with countless
				graphics - your unknowing contribution
				was vital
Simon Iremonger		-	a constant source of ASM wisdom for us
James Osborne		-	thank you for the GFX, and your
				consistent enthusiasm about this
				project

Thanks also to the countless people who held an interest in the development of
this game, and to those (even big companies) who contributed with graphics,
music and sound effects. There are too many of you to list, and often we do
not know your names, but we really appreciate you. If you would like to be
recognised, then do not hesistate to e-mail us.



11. Final Word
------------

Thank you for playing FoX! We spent hours of our time developing this project,
and hope you spend hours of your time playing it to completion. We would also
greatly welcome feedback about this project:

Steve McAuley	-	spmcaul@aol.com [ICQ #25105257]
George Gardiner	-	shadow@georgeg.force9.co.uk [ICQ #11252603]
http://fox.qb45.com/

However, please bear the following in mind:
1) We are amateurs and developed this game in QBASIC. If you expected 3D
   graphics, then sorry, but we do not have the time, skills or resources to
   develop that. 2D games are still enjoyable, and evaluate FoX's gameplay
   over its outdated graphics.
2) We are not graphics artists, and thus had to gain much of our graphics from
   other (previously copyrighted) sources. If you wish to complain about this,
   then find us a good graphics artist who will work for free and we will
   change our graphics. We also do not care about copyright infringement since
   we are using the graphics for educational purposes, not to make money.

Thank you!

Steve McAuley & George Gardiner