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
