README file for SPLAT - by PLBM Games
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
File Updated:  January 17, 2004


Registration information located at the bottom of this file.

Cheat Mode is Alt-F3 (registered version only).


System Requirements:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This program requires an IBM PC or compatible with at least SuperVGA,
and requires that the SuperVGA adaptor support the VESA standard.

In general, faster systems will run the program more efficiently.

If the game is running too slow, press F4 to toggle on and off
frame dropping, which will improve performance on slower systems.

You can also press Alt-F4 to toggle on/off the bitmap backgrounds,
which will also improve performance on slower systems.


Sound Blaster Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This program contains routines to play digital sound on a Sound
Blaster or compatible card.  However, this program does NOT
contain autodetection routines.  This program relies upon the
BLASTER= variable being set appropriately in your environment.
If the BLASTER= variable is set incorrectly, the program may
crash.  If the BLASTER= variable is absent the program will
NOT attempt to use Sound Blaster sound.

Additionally you will need to have free EMS memory to hear
all digital sounds (they're too big to fit in conventional
memory).  The sounds deemed "most important" to game play
will be loaded into conventional memory on a first-come, first-
served basis.  To hear ALL sounds you will need enough EMS
free to fit the file SPLSFX.DBO.  Check free EMS with the
MEM command under DOS.


Game Objective:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Splat you control a huge fly swatter and you use it
to crush all the little bugs that come out to try and
steal your sugar cubes.

You must keep AT LEAST THREE (3) SUGAR CUBES or else
it is GAME OVER!


Primary Controls:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Depending on what you have selected at the beginning
of the game, use either Mouse, Joystick or Keyboard
to control your flyswatter, and use the SLAM button
to swat at the insects, or the SUPER-THUMP button to
momentarily stun all the insects.

				To SLAM             To SUPER-THUMP
				~~~~~~~             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mouse:          button #1           button #2
Joystick:       button #1           button #2
Keyboard:       SPACE/CTRL          ENTER/ALT

Note that you only have three (3) SUPER-THUMPs to start
with, and when they are gone you cannot SUPER-THUMP
anymore, unless you earn a bonus SUPER-THUMPS (see below).


Additional Keys:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[F1]     read this file
[F2]     review the high score list
[Alt-F3] cheat mode (registered version only)
[F4]     toggle frame dropping on/off (adjusts performance)
[Alt-F4] toggle background bitmap on/off (adjusts performance)
[F5]     toggle sound on/off
[P]      pause the game
[F10]    game over - return to main menu
[ESC]    exit to DOS immediately
[Ctrl-J] calibrate the joystick


Scoring:
~~~~~~~~
You are awarded points for each type of insect killed:

	Type of Bug        Roving          Stealing Away
	~~~~~~~~~~~        ~~~~~~          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	Micro Ant			   2				   3
	Red Ant                5                  15
	Black Ant             20                  40
	Fire Ant             100                 200

Every time you slam down your swatter and MISS, it costs
you two (2) points.

All points are multiplied by the points multiplier for
that particular stage.

Bonuses are awarded every 3000 points as follows:

	1. You earn an extra SUPER-THUMP.
	2. If you have lost any sugar cubes, you will earn an
		extra sugar cube to replace it.

In two-player mode, bonuses are awarded every 1500 points.


Input/Player Selection:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the Input/Player Selection screen, you select which
players will be playing and what input devices they will be
assigned to use.

Explanation of available input devices:

	Off - no player
	Keyboard - use the keyboard
	Mouse - use the mouse/trakball - positional input
	Trakball - use the mouse/trakball - rate input
	Joystick - use the joystick - positional input
	Gamepad - use the joystick/gamepad - rate input

Only one player can use the Keyboard at a time.

Only one player can use Mouse/Trakball at a time.

Only one player can use Joystick/Gamepad at a time.


VESA Information:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If this program gives you an error indicating that a VESA
driver is required, this means that you need a special video
driver for your system to display SuperVGA graphics modes.

The VESA driver for your particular system and/or video card
combination should have been provided when you purchased your
system.  If you did not get such a diskette, you should
contact the manufacturer of your video card and/or system and
request the VESA driver for your system.

Alternately, you may be successful running one of the various
"universal" VESA BIOS Extender programs available as shareware
and/or freeware on the Internet.  Using WWW search engines
(such as www.yahoo.com) look for either UNIVESA or UNIVBE.


Internet Support:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact support@plbm.com for support via email.  You may also check
the following site for upgrades:

		http://www.plbm.com


Credits:
~~~~~~~~
This program was written by Kurt W. Dekker and is distributed
by PLBM Games.  You may contact Kurt via email at kwd@plbm.com

Splat! is Copyright (c) 2004 PLBM Games and Kurt W. Dekker.


Ordering Information:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To order the full version of this game, send $9.95 registration fee
plus your email address to:

	PLBM Games                                   <sales@plbm.com>
	PO Box 10342                                 <http://www.plbm.com>
	Costa Mesa, CA  92627
	USA
    
You may also visit our website and order online with a credit card.

Include your name, address, phone number and email to ensure rapid
delivery.

All orders are fulfilled VIA EMAIL ONLY - NO DISKETTE WILL BE SENT!
<EOF>
