Pong Ultra 1.1.1          
For Windows 95/98 and Dos         
(A Stars Dev Company Production)  

Copyright (c) Martin Zolnieryk aka Hard Rock 2002 - 2003  All rights reserved

Pong Ultra Official Website : http://pongu.sf.net
Stars Dev Company Website:    http://starsdev.cjb.net


Table of Contents
--------------------------------------------------------
1.0 - Running The Game
   1.1 - Requirements
   1.2 - How to Play
   1.3 - Controls
2.0 - Using The Map Editor  
   2.1 - About
   2.2 - Controls
   2.3 - Some Tips
   2.4 - Submitting a Map
3.0 - Bugs and a List of Fixes
4.0 - Info
5.0 - The FAQ Version 1.1
6.0 - Credits
7.0 - Contact
8.0 - Ending
--------------------------------------------------------




1.0 Running The Game
---------------------------------------------------------
To Run The Game Run Pongu.exe. It is reccomended, 
but not required that you run setup.exe 
before proceeding to use both the map editor and the game.
And make sure you read the license agreement before playing!


1.1 Requirements
---------------------------------------------------------
586 at 90mhz  (120mhz+ Recommended)
8 mb ram      (16+ram Reccomended)
12 mb hard drive space
Sound  Blaster Compatible Sound Card (Not Required)
SVGA video card (15/16 bit color)


1.2 How to play
---------------------------------------------------------
The game plays like pong, and for those not very familiar with
the game, the goal is to get the ball past the opposing paddles.

Pong Ultra comes with several map and game types.

2 Player Maps
-------------
In 1 vs 1 Game Type, The Two paddles try to get balls past each other
In For Score the player controls both paddles, and keeps it in as long as possible

4 Player Maps
-------------
In 2 vs 2 Game Type, The LEFT paddle and the 
	BOTTOM Paddle are on the same team, 
	while the RIGHT paddle and the TOP paddle are on the same team
In 3 vs 1 Game Type the LEFT paddle is on one team, 
	and everyone else is on a different team
In For Score, the player controls all paddles

Solo Maps
---------
The player controls the paddle, and hits it of the wall.

1.2 Controls
---------------------------------------------------------
By Default, The Keys Are mapped as follows

User 1
------
Up    -   Up Arrow
Down  -   Down Arrow
Right -   Right Arrow
Left  -   Left Arrow

User 2
------
Up    -   W
Down  -   S
Right -   D
Left  -   A

User 3
------
Up    -   I
Down  -   K
Right -   L
Left  -   J

User 4
------
Up    -   8
Down  -   5
Right -   4
Left  -   3

These Keys CAN be adjusted in the game. 
However as of the current release, they will not be saved. 
This feature will be added in a future version.

2.0 Using The Map Editor
---------------------------------------------------------
The Map Editor Included with the game happens to be the exact
same tool we used to create the maps you see in the game.
It is not crippled in anyway, and has all the features we had.

2.1 About The Map Editor
---------------------------------------------------------
We included this, in the hope that maybe some people with some
time on their hands, could create a map or two, submit it to
us and have us put it on the official website so the game could
expand, and let us focus on creating new features and items,
and not levels and graphics. Also this is partially a test, 
as we are going to see if their is any potential in releasing
map editors with future games.

2.2 Controls
---------------------------------------------------------
Some Commands you may wish to remember.

On The Map Editing Screen
-------------------------
Escape - Bring Up Main Menu
S      - Take Screenshot (dump.bmp is created)
Alt-X  - Exit the map editor

Left Mouse - Place Down a Tile
Right Mouse - Change to Tile Choosing Screen

On The Tile Choosing Screen
-------------------------
Left Mouse - Select a Tile
Right Mouse - Change to Map Editing Screen
0     - Change Tile Properties To Normal Blit
1     - Change Tile Properties To Rotate
2     - Change Tile Properties To Animate

2.3 Some Tips
---------------------------------------------------------
Becuase this is the readme, I wont give a full blown article
on how to use the map editor, instead, with the game comes
a tutorial in .html format, with pictures and other goodies that
should help you edit maps. So Ill give you some usefull tips

-Dont Overuse the rotate sprite, it is very cpu hungry
+When Creating a map, its a good bet that you should be able to 
create both a 2 player and a 4 player map with one tileset
+The Ball can animate, so use it in your map
-Dont Ship the packfile with .bmp's in it. An uncompressed bmp with
  the tileset in it is 300KB+! Change it to .tga beforehand
-Dont use jpegs for the paddle or the ball, its not reccomended
+Do compress your images before you ship them
+Do save your images in the lowest color depth

2.4 Submitting Maps
---------------------------------------------------------
After youve made a map, you might want the rest of the world
to be able to use it, so there are a few rules:
+Put your maps in .pak file
+Send the maps in a .zip file, with both myname.npk and myname.pak
DONT SAVE SCORES ON THE .NPK, or we will not upload it.
+You may want to add a .txt file, with your name, what the levels called and a website/email. (a sample layout can be found at the site)

Go To http://pongu.sf.net to submit it and follow the rest of the instruction there, as they change from time to time.

3.0 Bugs and List of Fixes
---------------------------------------------------------
For a complete list of changes, please see changelog.txt

Pong Ultra 1.1.1(Official Release) June 15,2003
----------------
+No maps bug fixed
+No animate bug fixed
+Installer cleaned up
+New maps

Pong Ultra 1.1 (OFficial Release) May 30,2003
------------
Wohoo! Improved Everything, this game is tons better now.
No serious know bugs, however, game may hang from time to time
when loading music.(I think we have fixed this bug however)

Pong Ultra 0.9 (OFficial Release March(Delayed))
------------
Well, yes this game should be very bug free, but sadly it isnt.
However, version 1.1 is in the works, and among hundreds of bug
fixes, the game will be updated from 8 to 16 bit colour!



---------------------------------------------------------

Please report any bug you find to:
http://pongu.sf.net

Or at the Stars Website
http://starsdev.cjb.net



4.0 Info
---------------------------------------------------------
This game is freeware, and open source.
Considering this is my first open source game, ive tried to
make this game in such a way that it would be benifit from
comuntiy support, imagine new features added monthly with full
backwards compatibly? Sadly, my code leaves a LOT to be desired,
and definetly needs an overhaul. Howver if you support this project
enough, the chances are good that some new features will be added,
or even better, progress on version 2.0 will start. Who knows?

The Game Uses Allegro(http://alleg.sf.net) Dumb(http://dumb.sf.net)
The Map Editor Uses Lexgui for its gui.



5.0 The FAQ Version 1.0
--------------------------------------------------------

5.1 Q: Open Source?
-----------------------
A: Basically, it means that anyone with some understanding of
programming, and spare time can add new features to this game,
or help us find new bugs.

5.2 Q: How often will this game be updated?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A: We are hoping monthly, even if only a small update, but it may
even be yearly. But we can honetly say,we wont abondon it if people
play it.

5.3 Q: Allegro, Dumb, Lexgui?
------------------------------------------------------
A: Allegro is a game programming library, it can be found
at http://alleg.sf.net.
   Dumb is a Music Playing Library, it can be found at:
http://dumb.sf.net
   Lexgui is a makeover for allegros gui routines, it can be
found at http://stienke.net/allegro/

5.4 Q: Hey, you have any cheats I could use?
--------------------------------------------
A: As usual we forgot these, but since its open source, its probably VERY easy to add them yourself for use.

5.5 Q: Linux Support,question etc.
------------------------------------------------------------------
A: Well, i dont use linux myself, however the code SHOULD compile on linux since it doesnt use any platfrom dependent code, but it might not like some of my routines, with some minor changes you should be able to get it to run. DUMB, ALLEGRO both work under linux.

5.6 Q: Your websites doesnt work.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A: This happens from time to time, first http://pongu.sf.net should always be up, if not you can download the latest version from the stars dev website and its mirrors:
http://starsdev.cjb.net
http://stars.hybd.net
http://flatface.net/~hardrock/


5.7 Q: I dont Understand Tournament Mode!
-----------------------------------------
A: I'll be the first to admit it, it didnt turn out as well as i hoped,
its just not as exciting as i want it be. Maybe in the future ill change it so multiple paddle sizes, and settings for tournament mode are possible.

5.8 Q: Why Isnt this feature.......?
-------------------------------------------
A: New Features are added all the time, got to http://pongu.sf.net and see if the feature you want is already been worked on, or the latest version has it in it, if not feel free to drop a message or email us.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
5.9 Q: How do i use the map editor?
-------------------------------------------
A: Read the tutorial that ships with the game! It helps.

5.10 Q: I downloaded a map, now what?
-------------------------------------------
A: The map comes with two files. A .npk, and a .pak. Simply place
both these files in your ..pongu/maps/ (where ... is where pongu is located) and then run the game. They will automatically be detected.(Dont you love modern technology?)
5.11 Q: What happened to your really old version of this game?
--------------------------------------------------------------
A: Yah, i remember that. I made it in 5 days, as opposed to the 6
months it took me to make this, well if you can find it you can play it,sound fair?
5.12 Q: Sound is acting funny..
--------------------------------------------------------------
A: First, make sure you run setup and make sure everything is fine,
sound wise. This will fix all stuttered sounds you may have if the
drivers are selected incorectly

5.13 Q:I have a question that is not answered 
----------------------------------------------
Well email us and we will get around to answering it or fixing the bug
or whatever ;)
-----------------------------------------------------------------

6.0 Credits
---------------------------------------------------------
These Credits are slightly different than they appear in the game,
they may have email/websites adresses where you can reach that person.
A Stars Dev Company Production
------------------------------

Pong Ultra Ver 1.1.1
------------------
Pong Map Editor(Included)
-------------------------
Pong Ultra Team
----------------
Martin aka Hard Rock
Cristian aka Whirlpool
Scot aka zcot

Programming
----------
Martin aka Hard Rock

Graphics
--------
Cristian aka Whirlpool

Concept
---------------
Martin aka Hard Rock

Level Design
------------
zcot
Martin aka Hard Rock


Music
-------------
Footsteps - 
  Hard Rock

Bob the Builder,
I Can't Fly -
    Rikard Berg

Chant For Sweat - 
    Zombah
    http://www.sivari.org/~zombah
    zombah@sivari.org

Untitled # 1 - 
    Stefan Xenos AKA Cyclone

Euro Trash -
    Darkmoon

My Swing Arm,
Maybe - 
    Na Than Assh Antti

Dumb ver 0.9.2
--------------
Ben Davis
http://dumb.sf.net

Allegro 4.0 (Under Dos, Windows Ships With 4.03 DLL)
-------------
Everyone Who Helped Make It.
http://alleg.sf.net

LexGui ver 0.9.1
----------------
Lennart Steinke (aka Spellcaster)
http://www.steinke.net/allegro/

LexGui Skins
----------------
Fire Skin - 
    Hard Rock

Beos Skin,
Windows Skin,
Aqua Skin - 
    Spellcaster

JPGAlleg (for loading .jpg's)
---------
Angelo Mottola

GIF support
------------
Written By Connelly Barnes
Originally  written by
   Paul Bartrum.

Font
----
SF Espionage
  ShyFonts Type Foundry
http://www.shyfonts.com


Physics Help
------------
Nathan
Rel
Wizardlife
Amarillion (His Excellent sin+cos tut!)
Hymerman

Special Thanks To
------------------
(In alphabetical Order)
Air
Amarillion
Ben Davis
Elik
Emeric Poupon (aka ITM)
Gnolam
Hymerman
Lachie
Lloyd
Matthew Leverton
Nathan
Rel
Spellcaster
Wildcard
Zcot



Wildcard
  For a whole lot of things!
  Cant mention them all.

Emeric Poupon (aka ITM)
  For His "Magic" Routine for Hard Ai
  And his TPong Game.
http://iteme.free.fr/tpong.html

Lachie
  For His Pong Worz Game
http://www.kentauri.cjb.net/

Zcot and Rel
  Both For Working on the rotate sprite
  routine, thanks!

Jark for letting 
me use some of his images!


All the kind musicians for lending me your
songs, Thanks alot!

And to all the friendly people 
at Allegro.cc (too many to name) 
A Big thanks goes out to all you guys!
Http://allegro.cc

Pixelate for some very useful articles,
and a great magazine!
http://pixelate.co.za

And you the player!


Copyright (c) Martin Zolnieryk 
            aka Hard Rock 2002 

7.0 Contact
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Stars Dev Team Members are:

Martin Zolnieryk aka Hard Rock
---------------------------------
Creator of The Stars Dev Company and the lead Programmer.
Also the hardest working of the bunch.
You can contact me at: Hard_Rock_2@yahoo.com
or at the Stars Website

Cristian Molnar aka Whirlpool
--------------------------------
Artist for the Stars Dev Company.
You can contact him at:	Whirl_pool_13@yahoo.com
or at the Stars Website

Scott aka Zcot
--------------
Occasionly lends a hand in his spare time, 
as a programmer. 
You can contact him at: dorkmanzcot@hotmail.com
or at the stars website

The Stars Website:
http://starsdev.cjb.net


Mirrors:
http://stars.hybd.net
http://flatface.net/~hardrock/




8.0 Ending
------------------------------------------------------------
Yep it's the end of the readme!
Please send all questions and comments to: hard_rock_2@yahoo.com
The Official Pong Ultra Website:
http://pongu.sf.net

The Stars Dev Website can be found at:
http://starsdev.cjb.net

Thank you.
Martin aka. Hard Rock