**************************************************************
ATOMIC BOMBERMAN ON-LINE MANUAL
**************************************************************
Updated: July 7th, 1997
For Additional Information see "README.BM"

For those of you not familiar with the Bomberman 
experience, I will spare you the details.  The 
dynamics of the game are as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Drop a bomb.
2. Run away.
3. Watch your back, your front, your left, etc. 
   Just watch out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Getting Started
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a 1-10 player no-holds barred action game!  Play 
either against human or computer opponents in this 
hilarious, ultra destructive game of "tag."  Select the 
number of wins for a match as well as which arena to 
compete in.  If the number of game wins is not "in your 
face" enough, set the match determination to kills and 
find out once and for all "Who's The Man!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Control
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To move your bomberman around just press in the direction 
you would like your bomberman to move.  Basically, there 
are two buttons that control all the functions of your 
bomberman--Drop Bomb and Action Button.

DROP BOMB: (joystick button 1, spacebar, 'S') To drop a 
  bomb, press this button.  Otherwise, this button is
  used to drop a Spooge (see below) and Grab/Throw a 
  bomb.  Press the button again after dropping a bomb to
  do either if you have the appropriate powerup.  
  If you have the Blue Hand powerup, you may carry a 
  bomb by grabbing and holding down the Drop Bomb button.

ACTION: (joystick button 2, enter, 'a')  Use this button
  to perform certain actions in the game.  For instance,
  if your bomberman has the Kick powerup, press the 
  action button to stop a kicked bomb.  Also, if you have 
  the Boxing Glove, you can punch bombs in front of you
  by pressing the action button.  Finally, you can 
  activate a Trigger bomb.  Just make sure you are in the
  clear.

=Other In-Game Controls
=======================
Useful Stuff:
Ctrl-A - Set all players to AI in the controller setup
  screen (won't work in network play!)
F1 - Help (review help / information files)
F10 - Forces a draw game.
Ctrl-Q - Quit game in progress; go back to main menu 
  (terminates game completely)

Neeto Stuff:
Alt-N - dump out the networking statistics (NETSTATS.TXT)
Alt-D - display the misc info screen 
  (use it VERY sparingly when network play is going on... 
  it will affect synchronization!)
Alt-W - disable waiting between games (intergame_nowait 
  will reset between each MATCH)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Start Game
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Use this selection to begin the multiplayer mayhem on
a single computer.  Before any fuse can be lit, all 
players must setup their control method and select the 
conditions for victory.

=Control Selection Screen
=========================
The control selection screen is used to setup the controls 
for the bombermen in the game.  Move the cursor (the head) 
[up] and [down] to select players 1 through 10.  To add a 
player, press [right] to toggle through the different 
control methods.  Any joysticks detected will be displayed 
to the right of the screen.  To remove a bomberman, press 
[left]; this turns the highlighted player 'off.'  To 
assign a Bomberman AI to a player, press [right] until the 
player is selected on 'AI.'  In order to start a Bomberman 
match, at least two players must be selected and players 
cannot have the same control method on the same computer.  
Click a button to select a level.

Controlling The Screen:
[up]/[down]    select player
[right]        toggle through control methods
[left] 	       turn player 'off'
<button>       continue to the next screen

=Map Selection Screen
=====================
Once all players have selected their controls, you must 
decide upon a playing arena.  Click [left] and [right]
to cycle through the different maps and win requirements.
When you are ready to have a Blast, press the <drop bomb> 
button to begin the battle!  Bombs away!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Start Network Game
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This option allows bombermen of all ages to host a game on
an IPX, modem, or serial network.  Upon selecting this 
option, the network setup screen will appear.  As other 
bombermen join your network game, they will be listed on 
this screen.  When all players are connected, press the 
<drop bomb> button to advance to the control selection 
and level selection screens.

=AIs and Team Play
==================
In a network game, only the computer who started the 
network game (the host) will be able to assign AIs or 
set team colors.  When selecting controls, players under 
remote control will be displayed as 'NET' players.

=Network Game Notes
===================
In network play, the server (host) will upload the
settings information to each of the clients and
the clients will use those settings instead of
their own local settings.

Custom Sounds, Graphics, etc., are not transmitted.  
Scheme files are transmitted, however, they will only
reside in memory and not make any files on the client 
machine.

=Random Sounds and Tunes
========================
If you are using the smallest install you will not get 
random music and or custom stage music.  This is the case
only in net play.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join Network Game
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Use this selection to join a battle over a network.  Up to 
five computers may join a battle.  Move the cursor [up] 
and [down] to select the node (game) in which you would 
like to join.  Press the <drop bomb> button when you are 
satisfied with your selection.  The screen will change to 
wait for other players to join.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Options
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Play:  (Yes/No) A 'Yes' in this option allows 
  players to play on one of two teams.  The default is 
  'No' which will play a regular game.  Generally,
  players 1 through 5 are on one team and players 6
  through 10 are on another.  To change teams from the
  Controller Setup Screen, select a player and press the
  'T' key.

Random Start:  (Yes/No)  If Random Start is set to 'Yes'
  then player start positions will be randomized at the 
  beginning of the match.  Schemes designed for team 
  play (i.e. Schemes with two numbers after the name)
  should be played with this option set to 'No' (ofF).

Node Name:  Click on this selection to change your 
  computer's name for a network game.  Others in the 
  network will identify you by this name.

Conveyor Speed:  (Low/Medium/High)  This option sets the 
  speed of the conveyor belt.  The conveyor belt will 
  carry bombs and players along its path. 

Stomped Bombs Detonate:  (Yes/No) When the walls start
  closing in, bombs 'stomped' by the wall will detonate
  if this option is turned on (Yes).

Win Matches By Kill Total:  (Yes/No)  If this option is 
  set to 'Yes,' the winner will be determined by the kill
  count.  Otherwise, a player wins a match by winning
  the required number of games (score).

Gold Bomberman:  (Yes/No)  The Gold Bomberman is a reward
  given to the winner of the last match.  The reward 
  consists of a random powerup determined by the roulette 
  wheel. (Not available in network games)

Enclosement Depth:  (None, A Little, A Lot, All the Way!)
  This option determines the enclosement depth of the 
  walls that close in after the 'Hurry!' message.

Scheme File:  The scheme file sets the block configuration 
  for the gamefield.  You may choose different setups for 
  full customization.

  ---- For a little more fun
  ---> Wally Bomb/Team Wally Bomb 
  A favorite Interplay past time. Assemble your team and 
  let the *^$% fly. Each team starts off with the glove 
  and the hand.  The teams are separated by an 
  indestructible barrier running the length of the arena.  
  Throw and punch your bombs over the wall to destroy 
  your opponents.  You will need to set the scheme to
  Wallybomb.sch from the options menu, turn 'Random Start'
  off, and turn 'Team Play' on.  To ensure that the teams
  are placed properly, player slots 1 through 5 are on 
  one team and player slots 6 through 10 are on the other.

Play Time:  (1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 
  10:00, Infinite)  Selects the amount of time for game.
  Remember... the enclosement blocks start closing in 
  after the 'Hurry!' message.

Assign Keyboard Player:  (Yes/No)  Toggle this option to 
  automatically assign a keyboard player in the control
  setup screen.   If all players are using joysticks and 
  gamepads, it might be helpful to set this option to 
  'No.'

Diseases Can Be Destroyed:  (Yes/No)  If this option is 
  set to 'No,' diseases destroyed by bombs will regenerate 
  elsewhere on the map. (Not available in network play)

Lost Net Players Revert To AI's: (Yes/No) If this option
  is set to 'YES', lost net players will turn into AI 
  players.  If this is set to 'NO' they will be dropped 
  out of the game without notice.

Disable Music During Gameplay:  (Yes/No) If this option
  is set to 'YES', no music will play during gameplay.  
  Disabling music during gameplay will increase the 
  performance of the game, especially in network play.

Modem:  Allows you to adjust the settings for your modem
  for use with a Network Modem game of Bomberman.    Use 
  this selection to set the Com Port, IRQ, Baud Rate and 
  Default Phone Number to complete your connection.
  Just check your Windows 95 Control Panel for these
  Settings.

Define Keyboard Layouts:  Use this selection to customize
  the keyboard controls.  From the keyboard definitions
  screen, use the mouse to click the key you would like 
  to modify.  If you would like to restore the default 
  controls, click on the 'Return to default keys' button.
  When you are satisfied with your selection, press ESC 
  to return to the Options screen.

Set Default Network Protocol:  Select this option to 
  choose your default Network Protocol type.  A window
  will pop up prompting you to select a network protocol.  
  If you would like the program to ask you every time 
  you start a Network Game, select the 'Prompt each time' 
  option.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Bomberman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For a list of people who have lost sleep in making this
game.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Online Manual
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This will give you access to all of the available help
files and information files on Bomberman.  You should
take a quick peek through the files for any information
not covered in the printed manual.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exit Game
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This will end your current session of Atomic Bomberman.  
Now why would you want to do a thing like that?  :)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Standard Bomberman Equipment (Powerups)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every demolition squad knows that it takes Special Items
to effectively and efficiently obliterate your opponent. 
Here are the tools you will need to become "The Man."

The Menu
~~~~~~~~

<IMGpowbomb> Extra Bomb.  Allows you to drop an additional 
		bomb.

<IMGpowflame> Extended Flame.  Allows your flame to shoot 
		further.

<IMGpowgold> Golden Boy.  Max Flamelenth.  Gives your 
		explosions MAXIMUM range.

<IMGpowdisea> Disease. Gives you one random "disease."


<IMGpowbad> Super Bad Disease.  Gives you up to three (3) 
		diseases simultaneously.

<IMGpowkick> Kick.  Allows you to kick any bomb down a hallway.
		Kicked bombs can be stopped using <action>.

<IMGpowgrab> Blue Hand.  Allows you to pick up (grab), carry,  
		and throw your bombs.

<IMGpowpunch> Boxing Glove.  Allows you to punch any bomb.


<IMGpowjelly> Jelly.  Turns your bombs into Jelly (bouncy).
		

<IMGpowtrig> Trigger.  Allows you to precisely control when 
		your bomb detonates.

<IMGpowskate> Skate. Speed Boost.  Allows you to run faster.


<IMGpowspoog> Spooge.  Lays down ALL of your bombs at once.


<IMGpowslow> Brake.  Slows down your Bomberman. 
		(option only available through Gold Bomberman)


=Mutually Exclusive Powerups
============================
All bombermen cannot have everything in life, so some
powerups will not work with others.  If a player picks
up a powerup that conflicts with another already in 
possession, the old powerup will be spit out for another 
bomberman to grab.  For instance, if a bomberman already
has the Jelly and tries to pick up the Trigger, the 
Jelly will be dropped.

Picking up...
  Trigger will drop Jelly and Boxing Glove.
  Jelly will drop Trigger.
  Boxing Glove will drop Trigger.
  Blue Hand will drop Spooge.
  Spooge will drop Blue Hand.

=Blown Away!
============
All good things must come to an end.  This also applies 
to Bombermen.  If a Bomberman dies, powerups possessed 
will be randomly dropped across the map for other 
bombermen to loot.  Remember, if powerups get blown
away, they are gone forever!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STRATEGIES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every gamer knows that the real difference between 
winning and losing depends on shrewd, overall strategies. 

= While in possession of "The Glove" drop a bomb near a 
wall and wait for a brief moment, punching the bomb into 
the air when you think it is ready to explode.  As soon 
as the bomb touches ground KABOOM.  This eliminates any 
reaction that an opponent can make to your assault.

= Using the same technique as above with "The Boot", you 
can kick your volatile bombs down the hall towards 
unsuspecting delvers who think they have a little time to 
spare. 

= When you get the Trigger Bombs powerup, use them 
sparingly, saving them for their surprise element.  Go 
near an opponent and wait for him to drop his bombs, then 
drop your trigger bomb next to his regular bomb, take 
cover as quickly as possible and detonate it.  Usually 
you will catch the opponent off-guard with the fast-blast.
 
= Good disease strategies often involve passing the 
disease to as many opponents as possible. Good diseases 
to do this with are:  Short Fuze, Reverse Controls, Poops, 
and Short Flame.

