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Animate/x v2.5 [freeware] 10/13/97
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Created by Darren Ranalli and Glenn Barnett
           BitShift Interactive
           http://www.bitshift.com

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Introduction
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Animate/X is an animation tool that will load an arbitrarily sized .PCX
and seperate it into 4 quadrants of 3x4 64x64 tiles.  This was used
to view character animation before implementation, so we could take
care of any stray pixels or what have you.

This tool was originally created for the use of the Prophet development
team, but it is free for all to use.  Prophet has since been discontinued,
but it has proved useful in all aspects of graphical development of our
new game, Phalanx, as well.  (More info regarding Phalanx can be found at
http://www.bitshift.com)

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Usage
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With Animate/X, .PCX files can be loaded via the command line, i.e.

        ax template.pcx

... would load template.pcx for viewing.

If no file is specified, the file loader screen will come up, allowing you
to preview files in the directory.  You will note that the palette Animate/X
is dependant on the palette of the individual graphics.  The program uses
colors 16(10h) - 31(1Fh) for its palette;  it will look best with a gradient
between said colors.

The main interface is pretty much self-explanatory, but here is a rundown of
which button does what:

        1,2,3,4         Select Quadrant 1, 2, 3, or 4

        q,w,e,r         Select Frame q, w, e, or r
        a,s,d,f         Select Frame a, s, d, or f
        z,x,c,v         Select Frame z, x, c, or v
        
        l               Jumps to file loader screen
        ~               Reload file (works well for multitasking purposes)

        p               Play current macro
        [               Stop current macro
        ]               Record new macro

        [caps lock]     Loop macro playback
        +               speed up macro playback
        -               slow down macro playback

        [escape]        quit Animate/X        

Any of these functions can be achieved with the mouse as well.

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Conclusion
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We hope you enjoy using our program, and that you find it as useful as
we did.  There is no charge for the use of Animate/X, we just ask that
you maybe drop us a line, or send us a copy of whatever you use it for.

Glenn Barnett (rhythm@wpi.edu)
Darren Ranalli (dranalli@wpi.edu)

Bitshift Interactive (http://www.bitshift.com)

