## 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 Jagtris to start in Windows 3x you can:

- try modifying the jagtris4.pif file with the pif editor that comes with Win3x.

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

Note 3:
If Jagtris 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 0. Save and try to run the program again.  

Note 4:
The file cswdpmi.exe is a program written by Charles W. Sandmann, which allows Jagtris 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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Jagtris v4.0
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(c)2000 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:
..
Double Jagtris v1.0 - Interactive Jagtris for two players.
CyberPony v1.2 - Horse racing/betting simulation.
ChessR8 v2.0 - Free rater for Chessmaster.

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Please feel free to e-mail SoftGun with comments,
suggestions, criticisms, etc. at:  softgun@aol.com

** Register  ************************************************
.

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Very LOW Registration Fees!! (last version only $1 US!)

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To play the full version of Jagtris v4.0:
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full high score listings in all categories
(including all previous highs)
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all 4 computer opponents
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one free upgrade to next version
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free high score web site posting
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visit:

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

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or email SoftGun at:
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softgun@aol.com


** GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS - HOW TO PLAY  ****************
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Groups of colored squares will fall from the top of the screen.  By moving them to places where same colors touch each other horizontally or vertically (not diagonally) points are awarded.

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Forming a large enough group of one color will eliminate those squares and any colored squares directly above will fall into the empty spaces. Points are awarded based on the size of the group. New groups formed by this process are also removed for even greater points earnings.

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The game is over when the squares have piled up so high that a new block can't be placed on the screen. Try not to build up around the top-middle of the screen.

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Taking advantage of the Bomb squares can result in much larger scores.
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Clicking SETTINGS from the main menu can change game options. Sound, score sorting, help pop-ups, background and high score resetting can be changed. Your registration number is also found there.

**  LEVELS  ***********************************************
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Each level has four rounds.
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The first round has three colors.
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The second round has four colors.
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The third round has five colors.
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And the forth (BONUS) round has six!

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The first level requires groups of eight or larger. Each level after this adds two more squares to the minimum.
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The bonus round does not change. Only groups of eight are needed regardless of the level.

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The number of squares that must be removed to finish the first level is 50. This total goes up by 10 squares for every new level.
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The bonus round is excepted again. 150 squares need to be removed regardless of the level.


**  SCORING  **********************************************
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Points depend on the size of the group with larger groups earning considerably more points.
 
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For multiple group removals, 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.

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

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Players will be ranked on the scoreboard according to their score. This feature can be turned off in SETTINGS. The highest single and multiple removals along with the highest bonus will be indicated in the color of the player who holds the game record.


**  BONUS ROUNDS  *****************************************
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Points are doubled in this round!

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The bonus round is a game within the game. All conditions are the same for each level you are on.
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Click on BONUS from the main menu to play this round as a short game when you don't have much time. The bonus round has a separate high score list (in the registered setup) so that it can be used by itself to gauge a player's ability.

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150 squares must be removed using groups of eight or larger - don't expect to finish this round for a while. 

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Since the game can't be lost in this round, try different strategies and assess their value depending on the scores received.


**  STRATEGY  ********************************************
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Try to make large groups in the first two rounds and then multiple groups in the last two rounds of each level. Watching 'last points' will assist in understanding how points are awarded.

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Forming two or more of the same color close to each other and then joining them together can make large groups. It is possible to form one single group which is five times larger than the minimum required for that level (e.g.  a 40 square group in level 1). 

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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 will also activate the bombs). This is progressively harder to do in the other three rounds.

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Use the bombs in the easy rounds and ignore them in the harder rounds. They can give scores a sizable boost but with more than four colors , bombs are difficult to activate.


**  BOMB  ************************************************
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Randomly, dark Bomb squares within each new block will be marked with a 'B'. They can't be removed in the regular way. Instead, one of two possible methods are used to activate the bombs:

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Create any single group that is twice the size of the minimum (e.g. the first level requires a min. of 8 squares, 16 will activate the Bombs)
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Cause a multiple group cascade of three or more groups of colored sets to be eliminated.

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When one of these goals is accomplished all the Bombs will change to one of the colors used in the round - this is decided randomly. Any new groups formed are also removed with a triple score multiplier.

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Depending on the round, very high points are possible when using the Bombs.

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

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

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

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Note: The [ESC] button will end all players' games (for quick shut-downs). Jagtris v4.0 will not check for high scores for any players still in the game.


**  PLAYERS  *********************************************
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Jagtris v4.0 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.

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In the freeware setup two computer opponents can be chosen (Kilo and Mega). Two better computer opponents are added in the registered setup (Giga and Tera).

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Number and color indicate each player when scores, high scores and messages are shown:
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Player 1 is red, player 2 is blue, player 3 is green, and player 4 is orange.

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Should a player not finish a round (except for the bonus), Jagtris v4.0 will check that player's scores in each category. These scores can be confirmed when all players are finished.

** COMPUTER PERSONALITIES **************************
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There are 4 computer personalities (only Kilo and Mega are available in the freeware setup):

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Kilo - average player with scores around 35,000
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Mega - good player with scores around 80,000
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Giga - excellent player averaging around 140,000
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Tera - best computer player ~ 200,000 +

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They have specific playing styles and their abilities are comparable to the numeric interpretations of their names.

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If you have lost your game and computer personalities are still playing, you can choose to end their games by hitting the Escape key. Your scores will still be registered because your game was over before the Escape key was hit.


** HIGH SCORE LISTINGS  ************************************
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Jagtris v4.0 will track high scores in several categories (the basic setup will only show highs for humans but all the highs are still being recorded):

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High - highest scores for humans.
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Single - most points made from removing one group.
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Multi - most points from a 'cascading' multiple removals.
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Bonus - highest scores during just one bonus round.
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Bomb - highest scores after Bombs activated.
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Comp. - highest scores by computer personalities.
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Month - highest scores for the current month.
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Team - combined score of two or more human players.

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Note 1: Only the highest score per category for each player has the potential to be added to each high score list.
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Note 2: If you change your computer date (month) and then play Jagtris, the month high scores will be lost.

**  SOFTGUN WEBSITE  **********************************
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SoftGun encourages you to list your scores on SoftGun's web site. You can send the high score file 'j4hsXXXX.dat' found in the Jagtris4/data folder via e-mail.

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Visit SoftGun's website if you need some help sending scores or email SoftGun for instructions.

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

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

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



**  SETTINGS  *************************************************
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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 SETTINGS menu.

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The Registration # indicated is e-mailed to SoftGun when registering and an Activation # is returned to you by SoftGun when your payment is received. Click on ENTER and type the Activation # to change Jagtris from the freeware setup to the registered setup.

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Jagtris will also look for a joystick and install it automatically.

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The game will not speed up slowly each level as in previous versions.

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The option for creating shortcuts will be available the second time Jagtris v4.0 is started after Windows has created a standard .pif shortcut file in the Jagtris folder.

** END OF  j4help.txt ******************************************
 

  
