
                            *****************
                            ***** CUBEX *****
                            *****************

                                      BY X-ACT CREATIONS 1999,2000,2001

Preliminary
-----------

   This file contains details which explain various features about the
CubeX game. If you have access to the Internet, visit the CubeX website
at http://cubex.xactcreations.cjb.net to have a better explanation,
including screenshots and diagrams, of CubeX's various features.

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1. OBJECT OF CUBEX
   ---------------

1.1 What is CubeX all about?
    ------------------------

   Hmm... well. CubeX is a puzzle game in which you have to remove all
the blue cubes on the screen. Hehe, simple, you say. Well, read on!

   The CubeX world is stable only thanks to these blue cubes. So if you
remove a cube, the CubeX world will change. The cube may cause a
platform or a ladder to appear, or disappear! It may also cause a
roller, disaplatform, disaladder, teleporter or even a movin to appear,
or disappear. In short, each cube has a distinct function. You don't
know what each cube will do until you actually remove it, and then
suffering the consequences (if any). Therefore, you must remove all the
cubes from the screen without getting stuck... and within the time
limit!

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1.2 The objects found in the CubeX world
    ------------------------------------

   There are many weird and wonderful things that can be found in a
CubeX level. They are listed below:

       UMPTY DUMB-TY: This is the character you must control. You are a
                      happy green alien with two legs and a 
                      bigger-than-average head. The huge head will come
                      in useful, however, as you can remove the cube by
                      literally head-butting it!

                CUBE: These are the cubes that Umpty craves for. Just
                      walk under one of these thingies, press SPACE and
                      bingo!

            PLATFORM: Umpty can walk on these.

              LADDER: Climb on these to reach other platforms.

   HORIZONTAL ROLLER: When Umpty is on one of these, he will slip in
                      the direction they're moving. There may be no
                      obvious way of going back, so beware!

     VERTICAL ROLLER: Same as horizontal rollers except for their
                      direction.

        DISAPLATFORM: When Umpty walks over these, they disappear!
                      Think twice before stepping over!

          DISALADDER: The vertical equivalent of Disaplatforms.
 
          TELEPORTER: These can warp Umpty to a different part of the
                      screen and back.

               MOVIN: Stepping over these and pressing SPACE will cause
                      them to move to a predetermined place in the
                      screen, obviously transporting Umpty with it!

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1.3 How can Umpty die?
    ------------------

   Umpty can lose a life in any of the following three ways:

   1) If the time to complete the level expires. 
   2) If he can get no other cube from where he is.
   3) If he finds himself in mid-air! 

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1.4 Scoring
    -------

   Umpty gets 10 points for each cube removed. After you complete a
level, you get bonus points according to how much time is left on the
timer. Points are also deducted according to how many tries it took
Umpty to actually complete the level.

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2. HOW TO PLAY CUBEX
   -----------------

2.1 Movement
    --------

   Umpty can move around the screen from the keyboard. Here are the
keys responsible for Umpty's actions:

   LEFT, RIGHT: When Umpty is on a platform, disaplatform, horizontal
                roller or movin, he makes a step to the left or right.
                You're prohibited to move Umpty over the edge of any
                platform. Umpty cannot jump to other platforms
                (apparently due to his head's weight). 

      UP, DOWN: Umpty uses these keys to climb up or down ladders or
                disaladders.

     SPACE BAR: The Space Bar is used to remove the cube immediately on
                Umpty's head. It is also used to activate movins.

         ENTER: Use this key when Umpty is stuck and you don't want to
                wait for the timer to go all the way to zero. Umpty
                will lose a life.

     P (Pause): If you want to pause the game for whatever reason,
                press P. Pressing any key will resume the game.

           ESC: If you want to stop playing CubeX immediately, press
                ESC. Umpty will lose all his lives and the game is
                over. 

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2.2 Hints
    -----

   If you feel you're getting stuck too often, try out these hints:

   1) Don't get too concerned about passing through a roller. Usually
      there IS a way back, either through another platform or by
      inverting the roller by removing a particular cube. 

   2) The same cannot be said to disaplatforms and disaladders. Try to
      avoid passing through these, since you can only pass through them
      once! Admittedly, sometimes a cube will reconstruct the platform,
      but better be on the safe side. 

   3) Try to remember the function of each cube you remove, especially
      when you're attempting the level the first time. That way, you
      won't repeat your mistakes again. The CubeX Rating is based on
      the number of tries you took to complete the level, so you'd
      better do it with the least number of tries you can manage.

   4) Don't waste a lot of time thinking what to do next. You'll just
      end up with a lost life, since often, the time limit is very
      tight. Try also to complete the level as quickly as possible,
      since the extra time you have left on the clock will add to your
      bonus points.

   5) Finally, if you get frustrated, remember that this is only a
      game, so TRY AGAIN. 

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3. THE PROGRAM
   -----------

3.1 System Requirements
    -------------------

   These are the system requirements for CubeX:

   Minimum Requirements			Recommended Requirements
   --------------------			------------------------
   3MB hard disk space			3MB hard disk space
   370K conventional memory		370K conventional memory
   VGA monitor or better		VGA monitor or better
					2750K extended memory
					8 bit Sound card or better
					Mouse

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3.2 How do I start playing CubeX?
    -----------------------------

   To play CubeX, change to the directory it was installed in, and
execute the file CUBEX.EXE.

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3.3 Initialisation screen
    ---------------------

   After an initialisation pause, the screen will clear and will
contain four boxes, some (or all) of which will be 'lit'.

   If there is not enough conventional memory, the CONVENTIONAL MEMORY
box on your screen will not be lit, and therefore the RUN box at the
right hand side of the screen will not light. This implies that CubeX
will not run, as it has not passed the minimum requirements for the
game to run (see minimum requirements, above). Free at least 370K
conventional memory and rerun the program.

   If the EXTENDED MEMORY box did not light, you have either not
installed HIMEM.SYS in your startup CONFIG.SYS file, or there is not
enough extended memory. Either way, the game will run without any sound
effects. This will also happen if the game does not detect a sound card
on your system, in which case the SOUND CARD box will be unlit.

   Finally, if your system does not have a mouse, the MOUSE box will
not light.

   Press any key or any mouse button (if you have a mouse) to continue.

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3.4 The CubeX Main Console
    ----------------------

   The program will show the X-Act Creations logo (ahem...) and then
will start a short animation. Pressing any key or clicking any mouse
button will stop the animation (or the viewing of the logo). Then
you'll arrive at the CubeX Main Console. From here, you can go to
anywhere in the program. On computers with a fast display, the chosen
item will blink with many colours, while on other computers it will be
green. Press the UP or DOWN arrows and press ENTER to choose an option.
You can also move your mouse to the desired direction and click on your
desired option.

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3.5 The Options in the CubeX Main Console
    -------------------------------------

   These are the options that you can choose:

        START NEW GAME: Choose this the first time you play CubeX. You
                        will be asked to enter your name. Afterwards,
                        your initial statistics will be shown and then
                        you can start playing from Level 1!

  CONTINUE STORED GAME: Choose this if you have already played CubeX,
                        to continue from where you have left. You will
                        be asked to enter your name. Then your current
                        statistics will be shown. Click on the up or
                        down arrows to view the statistics for higher
                        levels. You can also press the UP and DOWN keys
                        on the keyboard to achieve the same effect.

        TEST NEW LEVEL: When you have written a new level using the
                        CubeX Level Editor, you must test it to confirm
                        that it can be done. You do this from this
                        option. You will be asked the filename of your
                        level. 

               OPTIONS: You can change various options for the game
                        from this option. These include the enabling or
                        disabling of the CubeX theme, sound effects,
                        typing and palette effects.

               CREDITS: Here I give a list of people (including myself)
                        to whom I give credit for the realisation of
                        this game.

                 HELP!: Information about how to help me with the game.

            QUIT CUBEX: Can't believe you don't know what this does.

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4. HELP ME TO IMPROVE CUBEX!
   -------------------------

4.1 How can I help?
    ---------------

   Simple. Just design a new level for CubeX using the CubeX Level
Editor. If you don't know how to design a new level, read the file
EDITOR.TXT which also comes with this game. Then email your pre-tested
standalone level to cubex@xactcreations.cjb.net. That's all there is to
it!

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4.2 Where is the standalone level saved?
    ------------------------------------

   Go to the folder of the CubeX game. It contains a subfolder named
LEVELS. Suppose you have named your standalone filename with the name
LEVEL. Then in the LEVELS subfolder, you'll find a file named
LEVEL.LEV. That's the file where your level is saved! So when you have
tested your level, you send this file (LEVEL.LEV) to me at
cubex@xactcreations.cjb.net so that I'll include it in later versions
of CubeX.

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4.3 Are there any criteria that levels need to satisfy in order to be
    accepted in future versions of CubeX?----------------------------
    -------------------------------------

   Only the following two:

   1) The level must be your work. 
   2) The level must be reasonably challenging
      (it need not be mind-bending). 

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4.4 Can I send more than one level?
    -------------------------------

   Sure! If all the levels you send are good, they're all be included!

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         Well, what are you waiting for? Send me a level NOW at

                      cubex@xactcreations.cjb.net

            and support Helpware software! Thanks in advance!

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   IMPORTANT! CubeX is HELPWARE. Helpware software is completely free,
like freeware. However, the users of Helpware software themselves also
help with the future development and improvement of the program. In
CubeX's case, whoever plays the game must send at least one new level
designed by himself / herself. The CubeX Editor is included with the
game just for this purpose. Read the previous section for details on
how to send me a level. Visit the CubeX website at

                   http://cubex.xactcreations.cjb.net

for more details.

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Written by X-Act Creations (Alexander Farrugia).
