NOTHING BUT MAZES by Greg Boettcher Release 1: Introcomp Version Copyright 2006 Greg Boettcher ----------------------------- CONTENTS OF INTROCOMP VERSION ----------------------------- This IntroComp entry consists of three files: mazes_intro.exe: The game itself mazes_intro.3r0: Optional music module mazes_readme.txt: This file ---------------------------------- THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION ---------------------------------- Q. Why on earth did you release a TADS 3 game as a Windows .exe file instead of a .t3 file? A. Good question. It has to do with the requirements for this game. This game must be played by an interpreter that (a) can display graphics, and (b) can run TADS 3 games of version 3.0.9. Unfortunately, as of July 2006, there is only one interpreter that meets these requirements: the most recent version of the HTML TADS Player's Kit for Windows. Don't get me wrong. If you are not a Windows user, you're not necessarily out of luck. You may be able to play the game, but only by using a Windows emulator or similar software. Furthermore, running this game with an emulator or similar software can be very much easier if you're running it as an .exe file, rather than trying to install the Player's Kit for Windows separately. In fact, one of my beta-testers couldn't play the game on a Mac at all except when the game was in the form of an .exe file. Therefore, for now, I am releasing the game as an .exe file. Although this makes the game 70% bigger, it does give everyone the best possible chance of being able to play the game. And for now, it's simpler than releasing two versions. After the IntroComp, if any new interpreters are able to play this intro, I may certainly release a new version of it as a .t3 file. ----------------------------------------- THE SECOND MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION ----------------------------------------- Q. Why does this game *require* a graphical interpreter? Are its graphics really necessary? A. Although you don't need graphics to complete the *intro* of this game, you *will absolutely* need graphics to win the eventual finished version of it. And I'd rather not tantalize people with the intro to a game if they won't be able to finish it. ------------------------ INSTRUCTIONS FOR WINDOWS ------------------------ Simply run the .exe file. ---------------------- INSTRUCTIONS FOR LINUX ---------------------- Linux users have reported success playing this game under Wine. Download Wine at: http://www.winehq.com/ Some Linux users have reported being able to hear the music just fine, while others say the music often sounds bad or can even make the game crash if Wine is not set up in a certain way. If you experience any of these problems, just type MUSIC OFF as soon as you start the game. See also the "music instructions" below. ----------------------- INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAC OS ----------------------- Mac users have had mixed results when trying to play this game under a Windows emulator or similar software. One Mac user did manage to play it sucessfully; others have been unable to. If you're a Mac user, you probably know more than I do about software for running Windows programs, but it includes Q (http://www.kberg.ch/q/), Bochs (http://bochs.sourceforge.net/), Darwine (http://darwine.opendarwin.org/), etc. See also (http://www.macwindows.com/emulator.html#WinonMac) and (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emulators#x86) for more information. Please be advised, I have no idea whether any of these will work for you. One thing I do know is that Darwine worked for one of my beta-testers. Apparently Darwine only works on newer Intel-based Macs, and apparently it isn't all that easy to set up. But if you want to try it out, please feel free. My beta-tester recommends visiting (http://tinyurl.com/m8ntn) for more information. If you do get the game up and running with Darwine, please type MUSIC OFF before anything else, as recommended below. --------------------------------------- MUSIC INSTRUCTIONS: OR, IF THE GAME CRASHES UNDER EMULATION --------------------------------------- This game contains music. I think the music adds to the game, but it is optional, and you will of course want to turn it off if it causes you any technical problems. Therefore, to turn the music off or on, simply type MUSIC OFF or MUSIC ON. If you are playing this game under an emulator or similar software, and if the game crashes after just a few moves, right after it says "your eyes adjust, and you cannot believe what you see," this is likely a music-related bug. To solve this problem, simply restart the game, turn the music off before you reach that point, and keep it off. ------------------------ INSTRUCTIONS ON GAMEPLAY ------------------------ For instructions on gameplay, as opposed to technical issues, please type ABOUT or INSTRUCTIONS during the game. --------- COPYRIGHT --------- Nothing But Mazes is copyright 2006 by Greg Boettcher. It is freeware, so you may play it at no charge. Enjoy! You may also copy it and distribute it as much as you want, as long as you don't charge any money for doing so, and as long as you don't modify the game in any way. If you want permission to charge people a nominal fee to cover your costs for distributing this game, feel free to email me with details, and I'll be glad to consider the request. ----------------- HOW TO CONTACT ME ----------------- As always, I appreciate feedback of all kinds, including bug reports and reports about how this game works under various emulators. Of course, I'd also like to hear what you thought of the game, and I'll also be glad to provide whatever technical support I can. To write to me for any reason, send email to: ______________________dot_com _____at_gregboettcher greg