      *** Cool Columns v1.00 ***        `
    Last Updated: November 18, 1999     `
                                        `
       (This file is README.TXT)        `
                                        `
                                        `
                                        `
           *** OBJECT ***               `
                                        `
The rules of the game are quite simple. `
Pieces of three randomly chosen blocks  `
fall from the top. It is your objective `
to arrange these pieces so that three   `
or more of the same colors or elements  `
line up in a vertical, horizontal, or   `
diagonal fashion. When this occurs, the `
matched blocks or elements will be      `
removed from the screen. Any unoccupied `
spaces will then be filled (simulating  `
gravity) if there is any pieces above   `
the now empty blocks. The game is over  `
when there is no room at the top of the `
playing field for any new pieces to fall`
into the playing area.                  `
                                        `
                                        `
                                        `
                                        `
          *** SCORING ***               `
                                        `
For each piece that is matched during   `
game play, one point is rewarded.       `
                                        `
Because it is easier to earn much higher`
scores in easier difficulty settings,   `
there are three "Top 10" boards, one for`
each of the settings: easy, normal, and `
hard.                                   `
                                        `
Even though they are really cool, there `
is no extra points rewarded for clearing`
multiple (more than three) blocks in one`
move or causing chain reactions (which  `
occur anytime after a match is removed  `
and "gravity" causes blocks to fall into`
a new position which in turn causes new `
matches to be made).                    `
                                        `
Sometimes they can be planned; but more `
than likely, huge chain reactions are   `
based on "luck" not "skill."            `
                                        `
Any multiple clears and chain reactions `
will generate messages across the top of`
the screen.                             `
                                        `
                                        `
                                        `
          *** CONTROLS ***              `
                                        `
During the game, you use the left and   `
right arrow keys to move the current    `
falling piece. The piece cannot be      `
rotated, but each of the elements of    `
the piece can be shifted by pressing    `
the up arrow key. Holding the down      `
arrow key will increase the rate of     `
speed that the piece falls. You can     `
also press ESC to quit the game. Since  `
this prompts you to verify that you want`
to exit the game you can use this as a  `
pause feature as well.                  `
                                        `
                                        `
       Summary of Keyboard Controls:    `
                                        `
       LEFT & RIGHT - Move Piece        `
        UP [OR "A"] - Shift Piece UP    `
  KEYPAD 5 [OR "Z"] - Shift Piece DOWN  `
               DOWN - Drop Piece        `
                ESC - Pause / Quit Game `
                                        `
                                        `
                                        `
To navigate the main menus, use the up &`
down arrow keys to select an option, and`
the left & right to change options.     `
                                        `
                                        `
                                        `
          *** OPTIONS ***               `
                                        `
The "START LEVEL" determines the speed  `
of the pieces that fall during the game.`
0 is the slowest, 9 is the fastest that `
you can select but there are actually 10`
levels. If you start at level 0, each 25`
pieces that you place will result in    `
you going to the next level. If you     `
start at higher level though, the number`
of pieces required to get to the next   `
level increases (Start Level times 25   `
to be exact!)                           `
                                        `
                                        `
"DIFFICULTY" determines how many types  `
of elements exist during the game.      `
                                        `
                                        `
    Easy   = 5 Elements                 `
    Normal = 6 Elements                 `
    Hard   = 7 Elements                 `
                                        `
                                        `
The higher the number of elements, the  `
less likely that a match will occur in  `
any given position during the game.     `
                                        `
"GRAPHICS SET" determines how each of   `
the pictures during the game appears.   `
                                        `
                                        `
    Elements = Fire, Ice, Water, etc.   `
    Gems     = Emeralds, Diamonds, etc. `
    Blocks   = Simply filled Squares    `
                                        `
                                        `
Elements and gems are animated and are  `
cool to look at. The blocks, however are`
not animated and may make it easier to  `
see, but it's not quite as cool as the  `
animated pictures.                      `
                                        `
"ANIMATION" only works with Elements    `
and Gems on "GRAPHICS SET". You can turn`
turn animation off, or have it set to   `
slow or fast. Note that this does not   `
change the speed the pieces fall.       `
                                        `
"BACKGROUND" determines which background`
will be drawn at the start of the game. `
Some backgrounds are very vivid and may `
distract you when you play, espically   `
if color cycling is on.                 `
                                        `
                                        `
 NONE = No background; solid Black      `
    1 = Laser Show (Red, Grn, Blue)     `
    2 = Spotlites  (Cyan, Mag, Yellow)  `
    3 = Wood-Texture Spiral (Brown)     `
    4 = Flowing River (Blue)            `
    5 = Warp Speed (White & Gray)       `
                                        `
                                        `
"COLOR CYCLE" determines the speed at   `
which the colors in the background      `
"rotate" or if they do at all. Choose   `
between Off, Slow, and Fast. The fast   `
setting can be distracting, so beware!  `
                                        `
"EXPLOSIONS" are what makes the game    `
look so cool. When a match is made,     `
random particles appear to explode at   `
the point of the disappearing blocks.   `
Fewer particles may improve performance `
but the more particles, the cooler it   `
looks. You can even turn them off       `
totally if you'd like.                  `
                                        `
"PLAY SONG" determines the background   `
music. Select one of the following:     `
                                        `
                                        `
 NONE - No music at all                 `
    A - "Dreaming" (slow, pretty)       `
    B - "Awaken" (80's trance rock)     `
    C - "Temple" (medium tempo)         `
    D - "Lonely" (both mellow & heavy)  `
    E - "Uhhhh" (silly funky rock)      `
                                        `
                                        `
To preview a song before playing, select`
the song and press the enter key.       `
                                        `
"MUSIC VOLUME" and "SOUND VOLUME" are   `
there if you want to increase or to     `
decrease the volume of the music and/or `
sound effects. I like to keep them      `
at roughly the same volume level. To    `
test the sound mixture, select the sound`
volume option and press the enter key.  `
This will generate a sound effect which `
allows you to determine how loud the    `
sound effects are compared to the music.`
                                        `
                                        `
                                        `
          *** CREDITS ***               `
                                        `
Anybody who has played any of the large `
number of puzzle games like Tetris and  `
Columns knows that even though these    `
games are very simplistic, they can be  `
very entertaining and addictive.        `
                                        `
I thought that Columns was a very cool  `
game the first time I played it on the  `
Mac several years ago. Since then, I    `
decided to make my own version of the   `
game.                                   `
                                        `
The first version I made was complete   `
in that it had animated backgrounds and `
sprites. But this version is far better `
in my opinion.                          `
                                        `
When matches are made, they do not just `
disappear. They explode! There is music `
and sound effects that should work on   `
any sound card. And other little nice   `
extras have also been added to make     `
this the most complete, the coolest,    `
and the most professional looking game  `
I've created to date.                   `
                                        `
But I could not have done it on my own. `
I would like to thank the creators of   `
DJGPP, Allegro, JGMOD, Modplug Tracker  `
and RHIDE.                              `
                                        `
This program was crated using DJGPP,    `
a FREEWARE 32-bit compiler. I also      `
used an easy-to-use, but **very**       `
powerful game programming library       `
called ALLEGRO.                         `
                                        `
The makers of RHIDE have created an     `
easy to use interface to the DJGPP      `
compiler. I highly recommend it!        `
                                        `
The music is in .MOD and .XM formats.   `
The songs were tracked using MODPLUG    `
TRACKER. The game uses JGMOD to play    `
these songs.                            `
                                        `
ALLEGRO and JGMOD are libraries that    `
are used with DJGPP. Currently Allegro  `
can be used with DOS, but a port for    `
DIRECT-X exists called WIN-ALLEGRO.     `
                                        `
All of this software is very easy to    `
use and setup and it's all free! Help   `
support the writers of these software   `
pacakges by learning how to use them    `
and posting your source code!           `
                                        `
The original game "X-Columns" from      `
which Cool Columns is based was written `
and designed by Jay Geertson.           `
                                        `
All Graphics / Music / Sound Effects    `
by me - Adam V. Smith.                  `
                                        `
That's All. Hope you have fun playing.  `
I would like to hear from anybody who   `
cares to write and give comments and    `
suggestions.                            `
                                        `
     email: adamvsmith@excite.com       `
   webpage: http://go.to/adamgames      `
                                        `
                                        `
                                        `
            *** THE END ***             `
