
   MINESWEEPER 2000,  v2.5 (released in May 2000)


The game is "almost" identical to te original Minesweeper shipped with
Windows NT4.0 system. That one has 3D fields and is better looking (for the
authors). There are some improvements of the game that can optionally be set.


What's new (see "improvements" for details):
-----------------------------------------------------------
1. Fixed some bugs with solvability detection
2. New "dump debug file" feature
3. Bitmaps are now generated in the application directory
4. Solvability descriptions
5. Now you need to double-click to start a new game
6. When the last hi-score time has passed a sound is played
7. Different tray icon (you can select any icon in the system). An empty icon
   (BOSS.ICO) is now shipped within the package.
8. Right-click on the tray icon closes Minesweeper (super boss key)
9. Now you need just to single-click to restore Minesweeper from the tray
10. System mouse settings are saved/restored upon opening/exiting. You can
    change mouse speed for the Minesweeper only.


Improvements:
-------------
There is support for multiple players. The hi-score statistics are generated
for every player individually and overall. There are 10 entries for each
hi-score table with averege score and date.

Custom field sizes are now more flexible. If accidentally custom set is
identical to one of the predefined ones (Begginer, Intermediate or Expert),
game will switch to that one.

It is possible to define SKINS which include graphics and sounds. Only valid
skins are used. Template files for making graphic skins are in the SKINS
directory. The sound files you should make on your own. There are two
predefined skins - <Default> and <Doom>. You'll need more than 256 color to
use Doom skin. See below for details.

The game now beeps or plays a skin-sound if the player's best hi-score has
passed.

It is possible to start a new game by double-clicking on the killed board.

Main window can be made "Always on top" and centered when new game starts.
(Not recommended if you have your boss around).

There's a status bar with information about :
  - last achieved score
  - current hi-score,
  - playing time
  - efficiency indicator : total clicks / good clicks - that did something
  - estimated time

Importing/exporting of all settings and players to a file so you can take
your results to another computer. Only the better scores will be imported and
non-existing players will be added. This feature is not 100% compatible with
the versions prior to 2.0 - some options will be lost (sounds etc.).

Escape key now minimizes the window to the system tray, so your boss will
never again catch you playing Minesweeper. You can change the tray icon too.

Now you can have Minesweeper open at least 5% or more fields. This way you
won't get tired and old waiting for a good opening! If you chose custom
settings this fetaure is not available!

Error correction will not let you click on a field, drag the mouse to another
field and open it. This prevents "sliding accidents". It is useful when you
have a jumpy mouse or if you're playing while an earthquake.

DUMP debug file - If you experience an error or just want to contact us about
some game issue, please send us the file generated by this command.

Mouse - If you want to use different mouse speed with Minesweeper, you just
start the mouse control applet from within Minesweeper (Options/Configure
mouse). The old system settings will be restored upon exiting the game.

Missing things:
---------------
Color menu does not exist! You can download a black-and-white skinfrom our
site.


Authentication files
--------------------
When a player sets a new hi-score, a snapshot of the window will be saved in
your Minesweeper 2000 folder. It's filename will be players name + 0, 1 or 2
indicating beginner, intermediate or expert field size, respectively.

If you think you are good, then compare your score with other Minesweepers
all over the world. All you have to do is to send this picture (.bmp) and
your name, last name and e-mail to us. Your score will appear on our
world-wide top 100 hi-score list, which you can find at our website.

If you think you can fake the picture, think twice! All fakers will appear on
our black list. Don't underestimate the power of the dark side! :-)


Always solveable feature
------------------------
This is an astonishing feature of Minesweeper 2000. You can now solve the
board in every situation. If you get to a non-solveable situation and
guess-click on a mine you will be saved - instead of opening the mine the
flag will be set.

If you set the flags wrong, you'll die. This feature is dependent on your
playing skills.

Now, the solveable situation includes anything the player can do. If there's
nothing you can do the situation is considered non-solveable. So, if you
didn't set one flag you have something to do!

If you think you cannot solve the situation but die anyway, you're wrong. The
algorithm detects theoretically 99% and practically 100% situations. Anyway,
you'll have red-colored the first field that is solveable. If you can't find
out why it is considered solveable, please send us a picture of a situation
and we will explain it to you. If the red colored field is solved or you find
it in a idiotic position, you probabely could have used the mine count to
solve the puzzle.

From version 2.5 a brief description is available if you die "unsolved".

So to recapitalize : before trying to guess-click be sure you set all the
flags you can, but if you are leaving a lot of mines not set, you should
uncheck this feature.


Skins:
------
Graphic skins are made up of three bitmaps:
MINES.BMP
NUMBERS.BMP
SMILES.BMP

Those bitmaps are strictly defined and you should use the same format. They
are not all needed.

Sound "skin" is made up of seven waves:
START.WAV
NOWAY.WAV
SETMINE.VAW
SINGLE.WAV
DOUBLE.WAV
DEAD.WAV
BESTTIME.WAV
VICTORY.WAV

Format must be Windows RIFF wave. The files are not all needed.

A file DATA.INI can be placed in the skin directory. For now, it defines only
the basic gameboard color through it's RGB components. Here is a sample:

--------------
[Colors]
BaseColorR=15
BaseColorG=0
BaseColorB=134
--------------


To set up a skin, get all the files, make the directory in the SKINS
subdirectory and put the files in. Templates for the graphic skin are in the
SKINS subdirectory!

Check our website for download of new skins! We encourage you to make these
skins and send them to us.


Doom WADs:
----------
As you can see, if the <Doom> skin is used you will be able to open WAD
files. When you open a WAD file a list of present maps will be shown so you
can select which map you want to play. If there's only one map, it will be
automatically loaded. A close representation of the map will be drawn on the
field and where the enemies are in te map (as well as the player starts) you
wil find mines. All fields that are outside the map do not have a mine for
sure and this can help a lot.

Of course, because of the limitations of the filed size, some enemies may end
up mixed as only one mine.

Once you loaded a map, you can tweak the field size in the "Custom" menu. The
initial field size is determined from the screen size so it is advised to use
large resolutions.

Of course, this option is useless and idiotic, but I love Doom.


Legal stuff:
------------
I don't know if it is legal to use resources from the original Minesweeper
((tm) MicroSoft) and Doom ((tm) id Software), to change them and put them in
a game but since Minesweeper 2000 is freeware I hope Bill and John wont get
fussy about it.


Game rules:
----------
Please consult the original Minesweeper help file for details about game play
rules.


Requirements
------------
Since we introduced this new all-times-solveable feature you'll have to own
more than Petium/100 just to play Minesweeper with that option on.

If you want to see the Doom skin at it's best, please use more than 256
colors.

Don't you love these new games. Lucky we didn't work up a 3D version of the
game. :-)


Contact:
--------
Please, use these mails to send any comments and other stuff:

  asmolcic@usa.net
  mbonacci@foi.hr
  asmolcic@foi.hr
  ass@katedrala.com

Official home page is here:

http://members.tripod.com/Minesweeper2000


Contributions
-------------
Thanx to Alexandar Stefanac and Ivica Sossich for testing and suggestions.


--
Ante Smolcic
Marin Bonacci