===============================================================================
Secret of the Hose 0.96 (c) 2004 Luminary Enigma Entertainment and NewCreature
Design. All rights reserved.
===============================================================================

Description

Secret of the Hose is a free top-down water fighting game with 2-4 player
splitscreen, plus up to 16 players with online play support. Other features
include various multiplayer characters, and many different secrets hidden
within the levels. Play in arenas such as a school, a casino, a cave, and
more! This game also includes a replay mode so you can record your matches.
Enjoy tagging out your best friends with a 99-Cent Water Pistol, a Dual-Fire
Water Rifle, a Water Balloon Launcher, or just letting them step on your Water
Mines. Compete in various multiplayer modes including Splashfest, Team
Splashfest, Runner, Capture the Flag, Hothead, Tag, Freeze Tag, Cops and
Robbers, Tag Match, and Team Tag Match! The excitment of the soundtrack,
consisting of 12 songs, will keep you going. With all these gamemodes and all
this action-packed music, what else do you need to keep this game exciting for
hours and hours of fun? Oh, did I mention that it's bundled with a level editor
for creating your own custom levels to play with friends? Well what are you
waiting for? Call your hydrophobic friends and show them how the true master
plays!

===============================================================================

System Requirements:

Pentium or better PC
VGA or better graphics card

Recommended System:

Pentium II or faster PC
16-bit sound card
Gamepad(s)
Broadband Internet for Online Play

===============================================================================

Getting Started

To use Secret of the Hose you must become familiar with its menu system. To
navigate the menus and modify options you must use the arrow keys. Pressing
Enter will activate an option, usually proceeding to a new screen where you may
set up more options. Pressing the Escape key will take you to the previous menu
except in a few cases.

===============================================================================

Setting Up Controls

From the main menu there is a Controls option which you can use to customize
the controls. By default all joysticks will be used and, depending on how many
joysticks you have, some players will be assigned to the keyboard. You can mix
and match the buttons and keys any way you wish. Simply select the action you
want to modify by pressing Enter, then press the button or key you would like
to assign the action to.

===============================================================================

Playing the Game

To play the game simply select the Play option from the menu, select the game
mode you'd like to play, set the options you'd like for that game mode and then
select Start Match to begin play.

===============================================================================

Playing Over a Network

There are two things that have to be in place to play a networked game. A game
server must be started and additional players must connect to this server using
an IP address. Alternatively, you can use the list server feature to download a
list of available servers. Not all listed servers will work, depending on who
is running the server and/or if the server closed without reporting to the list
server. This will be remedied in future versions.

Once players are connected to the server they can select their character and
set a few of the options. The server is in control of selecting the play mode
and setting all the game options.

===============================================================================

Game Modes:

There are several multiplayer game modes which can be played either locally or
on a network using the Online Play feature. The rules of each game mode are
discussed below.

Splashfest:

Each player has a set number of respawns. When a player runs out of respawns
they are out of the game. The last player remaining is the winner. Discard
players using the various weapons available to you.

Team Splashfest:

The same as Splashfest except you align yourself with one of the teams. When
all players from one team are eiliminated the other team wins.

Runner:

When your reach the time limit you are the winner. Sound simple? You have to be
what's called the "runner" in order for your timer to count down. If you are
discarded the player that discarded you becomes the runner. The game continues
until someone reaches the time limit.

Capture the Flag:

You must capture the other team's flag and take it back to your base. Once you
have captured enough flags you are the winner.

Tag:

The object is to not be "it" and thus not have your time ticking away. If you
are "it" long enough you are eliminated. To tag someone simply hit them with
any weapon. Last player standing wins.

Freeze Tag:

If you are a runner, you must keep yourself from being shot. If you are shot
you are frozen until another runner touches you. If all runners are frozen the
taggers win, otherwise if time reaches 0 the runners win.

Tag Match:

Make a set number of discards to win. To discard someone means to deplete their
raincoat completely so that they must respawn.

Team Tag Match:

Same as Tag Match except you have teams.

Cops and Robbers:

The cops must capture all the robbers. Shooting a robber puts them in jail. For
a robber to escape from jail they must have one of the other robbers come to
the jail to let them out. The robbers win when time reaches 0.

Hot Head:

The player declared hot head gets points for discarding other players. Other
players can get points by discarding the hot head and thus becoming the hot
head so they can earn more points. First player to reach a set number of points
wins.

===============================================================================

Weapons

There are 4 weapons available in Secret of the Hose. You can customize which
weapons and ammo you start with as well as what will be available in the play
arena.

99C          - Sprays water.

Rifle        - Sprays water a longer distance.

Wave Thrower - Launch waves at your opponents to do massive damage.

Hurrican Gun - Sprays a wider range of water for hitting elusive players.

Wabalauncher - Fire water balloons. These are powerful but don't fire rapidly.

Mines        - Stuns players who hit them and does a little damage.

Ammo powerups respawn at the rate set in the menus.

===============================================================================

Powerups

There are several powerups available to you in Secret of the Hose.

Water Bottle - Refill your water for the Rifle or 99C.

Raincoat     - Recharge your raincoat so that you can don't get discarded.

Boots        - Used for setting off mines without harm.

Cola         - Gives you a caffeine speed boost.

Binoculars   - Increase your viewing area to spy out the area.

===============================================================================

Conclusion

We hope you enjoy Secret of the Hose as much as we have creating it for you. If
you like the game, we encourage you to provide feedback, as this will help us
make our games better for you. If you'd like to comment, please utilize the
contact information below. Thanks.

===============================================================================

Contacting Us

If you have general questions about our programs or anything else you can
contact us via e-mail. Please report any bugs you find in our software as well.
Comments are also appreciated. Visit our web site for the latest updates and
releases.

E-mail     - todd@t3-i.com

Web Site   - http://www.t3-i.com
