VersuS runtime
by Ron "Pscion" Newcomb

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VersuS.exe is the game executable (obviously)
VersuS.txt is this text document
ALPHANUM.VS is the tiny font used in-game. I forget how I generated this.
CSS.VS is the select screen that first pops up.
VS.PAL is a color palette. I stopped using it but included it for completeness.
VSC files are the characters; use VSCC to create them.
VSS files are the stages; use VSSC to create them.
VsIconMac is an icon for Mac OS X
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ICO files are icon files for Windows
VOC are sound files (like WAV) for the Sound Blaster card
PCX are an old image file format. Each one holds one pose of a character
MVS files are a script file for VSCC. You write one per character.
fontutil Folder is a utility I used to create the in-game font for the combo messages
img_util Folder has a utility that turns PCX files into VS's own format
vscc Folder has the Character Creator tool
vscc2 Folder has an unfinished "windows" version
vssc Folder has the Stage Creator tool
vssc2 Folder has the unimplemented tile-based scrolling stage creator
source Folder has all the C source code
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	This is an alpha version of the game VersuS. It was created in C with inline assembly. It was compiled by Borland Turbo C++ v3, for DOS. VersuS is a real-mode DOS game.
	The stages are merely bitmaps with platform information. Eventually they will be replaced with large, tiled, scrolling stages.
	Characters were created by the VersuS Character Compiler (VSCC for short), a complex tool I also created. VSCC is a compiler for a script language which details possible player inputs and the animations that go with them.

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HOW TO PLAY:

	Run the executable VERSUS.EXE. Due to the game's optimized code, it must be slowed down for any computer faster than a 386/33. The game will prompt for the computer speed. Use 0 for a 386/33 or slower. A value of 12 is about right for a 486/100. Or 25 for a Pentium 200. Guess a number for your computer. (This was a temporary hack I added after buying a new computer.)

	The stage and options selection screen appears. At the right side of the screen, 5 game options appear and may be modified by pressing the capital (first) letter of the option's name, then pressing a digit 0 - 9. (Some options have a lesser range than 0 - 9.) Press the Up and Down arrow keys to select a stage, and Enter to accept it. The 5 options are:

Number of characters (default value 8): the number of fighters onscreen per round. Known bug: entering 8 or 9 as the #/characters causes an illegal value to be used. Recommended value: 3

Impact (default value 2): When a character is hit, he is pushed away (called 'recoil' in most fighting games). This option controls how far. A value of 0 effectively turns off recoil. Recommended values: 0 - 5

Recovery time (default value 2): When a character is hit, he cannot be hit again for a few game tics. This options controls how many game tics must pass for the character to be able to be hit again. Any value 0 - 9 is fine, but the higher the value, the less often the Fatal Bug seems to occur.

Experience points (default value 0): Character get experience points for doing damage. At 30,000 points they recieve a level up, which increases the damage they inflict. This option multiplies the points they recieve, allowing level ups to happen more or less frequently. Recommended values: 0 - 7

Message time (default value 1): Messages appear beneath the characters, giving combo and XP level information. This option controls how long a message stays onscreen, in seconds (roughly). A value of 0 turns off messages.

	After selecting options, press Enter on the desired stage. (Recommended: FACTORY stage) The character selection screen appears.

	To add a character, use the arrows to select the one wanted, and press one of the following buttons to add him:
1 - character controlled by Joystick 1 (buggy)
2 - character controlled by Joystick 2 (buggy)
P - character controlled by numeric Keypad (SHIFT and CTRL are jump & attack)
K - character controlled by letters on the Keyboard (not implemented yet)
Enter - character controlled by computer (AI actually moves randomly)

	RECOMMENDED SETTING: Tap P on Ken to play as the red guy with the numeric keypad. Then keep moving to Martial and pressing Enter so the computer controls many white guys. 

	The game will now start. (If you get a blank screen, it may be because the number you entered for Computer Speed at startup was too high. The computer is waiting a long time before painting the first frame.)

	Object of game is to destroy the opposition. The game will probably lock before the round is complete. Press the Escape key to end the round immediately. The end-of-round score screen appears (hold Space to keep it displayed indefinitely). Press Escape again (or hold it awhile) to exit the game.

