Super DX-Ball (Shareware Version) ------------------------------- version 1.1 July 30th, 2007 Copyright 2004-2007 BlitWise Productions, LLC written by: Michael P. Welch e-mail: mike@blitwise.com website: www.blitwise.com music by: Eliran Ben-Ishai (DNA-Groove) e-mail: eliran@mindjob.org website: www.mindjob.org Additional Credits: ------------------- Benjamin Moreno - Linux version Brian P. McCabe - technical support Michael S. Austin - Mac version www.ctspgames.com Mike Boeh - graphics engine optimizations www.retro64.com Richard Phipps - several gfx routines www.reflectedgames.com Special Thanks: --------------- Ed & Al Mackey - Authors of MegaBall on the Amiga www.blinken.com Seumas McNally - Programmed DX-Ball 2, with my permission www.longbowdigitalarts.com -------------------------------------------------------------- Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP DirectX 3 or greater (DirectX 9 with latest video card drivers recommended) CPU 300Mhz minimum (500Mhz recommended) 64 megs of memory video card that supports: 800x600 resolution and 16bit color depth -------------------------------------------------------------- Technical Support: If you have trouble running the game, visit my tech support page at: http://www.blitwise.com/support.html If you need more help, send tech support questions to: e-mail: support@blitwise.com Please include what version of Windows you're running on. Thanks! -------------------------------------------------------------- Shareware Version: The shareware version of Super DX-Ball is a high-quality, family-friendly game for all ages. Please feel free to give a copy to everyone you know. You can't go wrong with recommending this game to your non-computer buddies, and I really could use your help to spread the word. Thanks! :) If you can't get enough of Super DX-Ball, then I encourage you to purchase the Deluxe version of the game. It includes the complete 150 board set plus the ability to use expansion packs as the become available. I'll be posting new board expansions regularly at www.blitwise.com as my way of saying thanks for supporting my efforts. -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Super DX-Ball 'Deluxe' Upgrade today and receive: - A total of 150 boards - Complete Challenge, Fun, and Retro board packs - Download and use free and for-sale board expansion packs (not available in shareware version) visit http://www.blitwise.com/sdxbexpansion.html for more info Purchase it online today! Visit: http://www.blitwise.com/sdxbdeluxe.html -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- ********************* * Game Instructions * ********************* The basics: ----------- This is just a simple breakout-style game. Do your best to break all the bricks on the screen without dropping the ball. If you break all the bricks, then you will move on to the next board. If you are really good, you'll be able to beat the board pack and hopefully have the new high score. To play, pick a board pack and click the Play button. Don't forget to grab the power-ups during the game... they will make the game a lot more fun. Blue power-ups are usually good, red power-ups are usually bad, and gray power-ups can be either good or bad based on your situation. Hot Keys -------- The game is played with a mouse, but there are a few keyboard shortcuts that you can take advantage of. ESC = Escape key exits the scene/game etc... F5 = toggle sound on/off F6 = toggle music on/off F7 = toggle windowed/fullscreen F8 = LCD stretch/centered LEFT = Move paddle left RIGHT = Move paddle right Ctrl = hold down to move paddle fast Shift = hold down to move paddle faster Ctrl+Shift = hold both to move paddle fastest SPACEBAR = Release ball/Fire P = Pause/Unpause game Options ------- Kid Mode: I made this option for my kids (great for kids who are just learning to use a mouse) paddle is bigger, ball is bigger, ball is always in gold ball mode which destroys gold bricks, and you'll never see a red power-up Exploding Bricks: Default - based on board pack Bubbles - force orange liquid bubble effect Retro - force retro DX-Ball gradient effect (slow) Off - turns off animation, great for older computers Background Textures: Toggles board background textures on and off if the board has a texture (*Note: None of the current boards use textures at this time. They will be in future expansion packs) Strategy: --------- A few things to remember if you'd like the highest score: - Grab every power-up, good and bad, for more points - The faster the ball is moving, the more points you receive - More points are given when a brick is broken with a ball rather than exploded in a chain reaction or exploding ball - Warp Level power-up skips a lot of oopportunities to get more points Power-Up List: -------------- Blue (Good) Thru Brick - ball breaks through bricks rather than bouncing off Set-Off Exploding - blows up all exploding bricks on the board Fireball - every ball in play turns into a fireball which causes bricks to explode Shooting Paddle - fire lasers from paddle by clicking mouse button Grab Paddle - ball sticks to paddle, release ball with mouse button Extra Life - extra life Warp Level - skip to the next level Zap Bricks - makes all bricks visible and easily breakable Slow Ball - slow down every ball in play Multiply Exploding - all exploding bricks spread and increase in number Red (Bad) Kill Paddle - lose a life Mini Ball - miniaturize all balls in play Fast Ball - speed up every ball in play Mini Paddle - shrink the paddle to its smallest size Fall Bricks - bricks slide downward each time a ball hits the paddle Gray (Neutral) Expand Paddle - increase the size of the paddle Shrink Paddle - shrink the size of the paddle Split Ball - split every ball in play into two balls MegaBall - increase the size of every ball in play Eight Ball - eight balls launch from each ball in play Special Situations: ------------------- Gold Ball Mode - If a ball has hit a gold brick, but has not hit any other kind of brick for too long, the ball turns yellow and all gold bricks become breakable. Also all multi-hit bricks are breakable with one hit (glass, metal, pink gold). Gold Ball Mode also triggers when a ball is trapped in a loop. Every board is beatable, if you are patient. Act of God - The last brick on the board will be destroyed if it takes too long to hit it. You will hear a zapping sound that keeps getting louder... then eventually a lightning bolt will blow-up the brick. Enjoy the game, and thanks for playing! :) -Michael P. Welch Author of Pocket Tanks, DX-Ball and Scorched Tanks Version Changes: ---------------- v1.1 ----- New Features: -Continue Game -Difficulty levels - Easy, Casual, Classic, Hard -Board Selection screen with ability to unlock and start on higher boards -Board Shuffle option -Neverending game option, loop after last board -Included original DX-Ball boards, no longer an easter egg -Plus... options to turn off all this new stuff ;) v1.0 ----- initial release -------------------------------------------------------------------- Super DX-Ball Shareware End User License Agreement -------------------------------------------------------------------- This Software License Agreement (the "Agreement") is a legal agreement between you, the end user (the "Licensee"), and BlitWise Productions, LLC. (BlitWise Productions). By continuing the installation of this program entitled Super DX-Ball, by loading or running the program, or by placing or copying this program onto your computer hard drive, computer RAM or other storage, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. 1. SOFTWARE LICENSE BlitWise Productions hereby grants, and Licensee hereby accepts, a license to operate the Software provided hereunder in accordance with the following terms: (a) The shareware version of Super DX-Ball can be freely distributed by end-users and vendors through web sites, on-line services, shareware disk vendors, CD-ROM vendors, and bulletin board systems. However, Super DX-Ball shareware version is not to be represented as a stand-alone commercial product that is sold for profit. Authorization from BlitWise Productions is not required to distribute Super DX-Ball shareware version for legitimate shareware and freeware uses. (b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all rights are exclusively reserved to BlitWise Productions. Licensee shall not rent, lease, sell, sublicense, assign, mortgage, pledge, or otherwise transfer or encumber the Software, including any accompanying Documentation and information. Licensee shall not reverse engineer, de-compile, or disassemble the Software except to the extent that this restriction is express...
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