README for Black-Hole v1.0 by Oscar Sundbom aka Paranoiz


This file mostly deals with the precompiled version, but also has some general
information that may be necessary when using the source code. If you have the
source package you should best read the INSTALL file for instructions.


------ Introduction

Black-Hole is like Tetris, but in four different directions. As you know, a
black hole has an enormous mass, so it will attract all objects withing range.
That's the basic concept of the game, in the middle a black hole, clarified
by a grid towards which the blocks move, one by one. A block can never fall
below the "glowing" middle line, which symbolises the center of gravity. If
a block ends up outside the grid, it's game over, much the same as when the
pile of blocks reaches the top of the screen in "ordinary" tetris.
As described before, the blocks can come from four different directions: up,
down, left and right. The direction of the next block is shown beside it's
type, in the upper left corner of the screen.
You can also rotate the hole (or grid) in steps of 90 degrees, left and right,
to be able to fit in the current block where you want it. After every ten
lines, you will move to the next level, except (of course) when at the tenth
and last level, in which case nothing happens.


------ Installation:

Installing Black-Hole is a breeze, for everyone who knows how to unzip a file.

1. Unzip the package in a temporary directory. (/tmp, C:\WINDOWS\TEMP etc.)
   After that, copy the files now created into the directory of your choice.
   This could be, for example:

   In english Win9x: C:\Program Files\Blackhole
   In swedish Win9x: C:\Program\Blackhole
   In Linux: /usr/local/games/blackhole
   
   If you have both Windows and Linux, the preffered would be to unzip it to
   a directory on you Windows partition, and then create a symlink to it on
   your Ext2 partition as such:
     (example) ln /dos/c/Program/Blackhole /usr/local/games/blackhole -svf
				       
1b. Linux Only. Make sure you have the following libraries, before trying to
    run the game:
    
    Library:            Version:            Where to get:
    SDL                 1.1.3+ (preffered)  http://www.libsdl.org
    LZO                 1.0                 Search www.linuxapps.com for lzo
    MikMod              3.1.9               http://mikmod.darkorb.net

    The Windows version doesn't need this, since it is statically linked to
    these libraries, which makes the binary a bit bigger.

2. Run the game. Well, you know how to do that, I hope.

   The Windows executable is named blackhole.exe.
   The Linux executable is names blackhole.linux (for clarity).

   In Linux, you have to have the datafile in /usr/local/games/blackole or
   the current directory (only works if the above doesn't exist).
   If you are unable to run the game, check the executable's permissions and
   (as root) chmod it as needed.
     (example) chmod a+x blackhole.linux

   Since all weird Win32 related stuff has been fixed, the RUNME.BAT file is
   no longer needed. It can therefore be removed at will.


------ Command line parameters:

You can run the game by simply starting the executable, but there are also
a few other options. These are:

   --fullscreen     runs the game in fullscreen mode (if possible) [default]
   --windowed       runs the game in a window (if possible)
   --help           shows help, like this one.                 


------ Control keys:

Block movement              Cursor keys and space
Block rotation              Enter
Hole ("grid") rotation      A and D (left and right)
Escaping from the game      Escape (hmm, strange)
Pausing the game            P (for pause)

All menu selections are 100% mouse driven (except quitting -- escape).


------ Copyright:

By running this game, you agree to the terms of this copyright license.
This does not mean that you have the right to disregard the copyright issues
by not running it.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED 'AS-IS'. IT COMES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY!
Any and all use of this software is at your own risk, I can in no way what-
so-ever be held responsible for any damage done by using this piece of soft-
ware, no matter how it happened.
If anything strange should happen, please notify me of it and I will do what
I can to correct it.

This piece of software, in it's current version may be copied for personal use
and for sharing with others, as long as it is provided free of charge of any
kind (except for the price needed to cover expenses), that the distribution
has not been altered and that no one, except the actual creator, which is me,
Oscar Sundbom, claims this piece of software to be his or her own.

---

A future version MAY be put under the GPL, and will then come with full source
code. This is currently NOT the case, and therefore the above copyright notice
and license is the one used for this current version.

------ Gaining knowledge (where to get more information, updates etc.)

To get the latest version of Black-Hole, go to:
  http://free.prohosting.com/~paranoiz 
and look in the coding section.

If you, for some reason, need to get in contact with me directly, e-mail to:
  paranoiz@swipnet.se




Oscar Sundbom aka Paranoiz