================ Squirmer v1.02C ================ Copyright (c) 1990 by Stephen Lee Parker All rights reserved. INTRODUCTION ------------ Squirmer is on the rampage. He has a voracious appetite for power pellets and he'll stop at nothing before he consumes everything in sight! The more he eats the more Suirmer grows, and the more points you earn, so munch away. Watch out for those nasty TNT bombs or you'll blow him up in a chain reaction! The maze can get hectic at times. Gobble an alarm clock if you start to run out of time, but don't panic or you may never make it out alive! REGISTRATION ------------ This program is provided as SHAREWARE is is NOT free! If you enjoy Squirmer and continue to use it for more than one month please register it. Registered users will be able to use the Squirmer Map Compiler that allows you to create your own mazes, and will automatically entitle you to new versions of Squirmer as they are released. To register your Squirmer program and receive the most current version along with the Map Compiler (available on Squirmer support BBS), send a $10.00 check or money order to: Stephen L. Parker 1842 Cashmere Ct. Lithonia, Ga. 30058 If you prefer, we can mail you a diskette containing the latest version of Squirmer and the Map Compiler for $5.00 (total $15.00) to cover the cost of the diskette, handling and postage. SQUIRMER SUPPORT ---------------- Technical support, program updates, and the Map Compiler is available to registered users at two 24-hour bulletin board systems in the Atlanta area. Contact the sysop at either BBS if you need help. Le Chateau Aion QBBS (1:133/503) (404) 593-3210 (404) 640-9670 Lithonia, Ga. Roswell, Ga. Le Chateau is the home of Squirmer. Aion provides technical support. Be sure to give your version number when you ask a question. STARTING IT UP -------------- Squirmer will operate in three different video modes: 4-color CGA, 16-color EGA, and 256-color VGA. You'll need to specify the video mode you want to use on the command line when you execute the program. The allowable modes are /C, /E, and /V. To start up Squimer in the 16-color EGA mode type: SQUIRMER /E Substitute /C or /V if you have a CGA or VGA card. The Title screen should appear with it's three menu commands: D)emo, P)lay and Q)uit. Press 'D' for Demo to see how the game works. When the demo ends you'll return to the Title screen. You can mute the music by pressing 'M' during the game, or by placing /M on the command line. Pressing the Spacebar pauses the game. Squirmer will run at three different speed: slow, normal, and fast. Select the speed while playing by hitting '1', '2' or '3' on the keyboard or from the command line as /1, /2 and /3 respectively. The default is 2, normal. PLAYING THE GAME ---------------- Press 'P' to begin playing the game. The first of 11 maze levels will appear. You can move Squirmer around by using the left, right, up, and down cursor keys. Try to eat as many of the power pellets as you can before moving on to the next level. Use the stairways to change levels in the maze. They are marked with arrows. If you eat a stick of TNT Squirmer will begin to blow! Eat one when Squirmer is small and it could be fatal! Eating a Clock will add ten seconds to the game. You'll need all the time you can get if you want to reach level 11. You have three chances, but be careful! As Squirmer grows it gets harder to move him around! SPECIAL TIPS ------------ Don't let Squirmer bump into the wall. He might have a violent reaction. Special reflecting teleporters are positioned throughout the maze. You can save a lot of time if you can figure out how they work. You may find that there are times when it is best to move on without clearing a level. There are more points available in the deeper maze levels. Applying peanut butter to the fingertips can help give the added keyboard action you'll need as Squirmer begins to move faster...hehehehehe. CREDITS ------- Original game conception and ownership by Stephen Lee Parker of Le Chateau. Graphics, music and 'C' programming by James S. Clark of Aion QBBS. Documention assistance by Melissa Parker of Le Chateau. Dedicated to the worm in us all! October 28, 1990 JSC rev. 11/15/90