Introduction
Welcome and thank you for taking the time to download and play Beetle Survival. This release also includes a new documentation format which I hope will be found helpful.There is two sets of documentation. One is for the game and the other is for the Map-Level Editor.

Theme
Control the Beetle and manouver through the mazes to eat all the dots without the bugs getting you. After you eat all the dots, you will proceed to the next level. This is a child oriented game. However, I have heard that adults enjoy it as well :-)

Release Specifics
This is the "shareware" version and has the following limitations. The Map Editor is not included. Maximum maps available in this version is 20. The highscore feature cannot be reset. No ability to play custom maps or maps created by the Map-Level Editor. Upon registration, you will receive... A registered version of Beetle Survival, the Map-Level Editor, additional graphic sets, maximum map capability of 99, highscore function that allows reseting, and the ability to play custom maps or maps created by the Map-Level Editor.The
registered version of the game also comes with over 6 MB (megabytes) of music!

[Example Screenshot]

System Requirements
Beetle Survival is a DOS based program (as is the Map Editor). It will run on a Win 95 & 98 platform as well. No other Windows platforms are supported. A 486 with 16MB ram, a vesa based video card with 1 MB of memory,SVGA monitor, SoundBlaster compatible sound card,speakers, and a mouse are required. Joystick is optional. Please do not attempt to run this program on a Windows CE,XP,ME,2000,NT, or 3.x..... it is not designed for those platforms. To run in a Win 95 & 98 platform, please have at least 24MB of ram available for performance purposes.

Registration Information
Registration can be done online or via postal service. The registration price for Beetle Survival is $15.00 US. See the order.txt file for more information or the website at
 http://www.onlink.net/~gaj617

Warranty Information
There is none. By using this program (including the Map Editor) , you assume all responsibility. I cannot be held responsible for any damages, loss of profit, your dogs tail falling off, or anything else that you find inconvenient.

Technical Support
If you are having problems with Beetle Survival, you can email me or visit the wesbite and send email from there. I'll try to help you as best as I can.

Website
 http://www.onlink.net/~gaj617

Email
 mailto:gaj@onlink.net

Or the Yahoo Support Group created specifically for games I have created.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GlennsGames

How To Play
There are serveral commands that you will need to know. They are listed below for your convenience.Use the mouse to navigate the menu system. For the game itself, the below are the available commands.

F10 - Save a picture while playing the game (in PCX format).
Arrow Keys- Move Beetle around the map.
P - Pause the game.
ESC - Quit

If you are using a joystick, it will do the movement of the Beetle for you while still having the keyboard available.

In the display area, you will see a value for the number of bugs you have eaten. As well, there
is a Safety timer... when you eat specified balls(dots), the timer will appear , going from 0 to 200(amount depends on level and whether you are playing a custom level or not).
The bugs themselves will NOT change in appearence, thus, you must be strategic in knowing
which ones you have eaten (and respawned) and the ones still to eat before the timer reaches the maximum value.It will then reset to 0(zero). Now,here is one reason why I created it this way... if you eat a special ball(dot) just before the game advances to the next level, the safety timer value will be carried over allowing you the option to eat more bugs in the new level until it reaches the maximum value. Quick thinking and a good memory are a big help!
 
 

Map-Level Editor (Registered Versions Only)

Example Screen

The above shows an example of the Map-Level Editor included with the Registered versions of Beetle Survival. Please see the documentation of the Editor for more information. The documentation has been included with the shareware version of Beetle Survival so you can
view the functionality and use in relation to the game.
 
 
 

Creation For Those Technically Interested
Beetle Survival and the Map-Level Editor were created using Djgpp compiler with the Allegro graphics library. I utilized the Win 95 platform on a 486DX4-100 with 24 MB ram. Video card used was a 1MB Vesa S3 805 series with a 14" GVC SVGA monitor.  Graphics were created using a paint program with a 256 colour palette.  Twelve versions of this game were created throughout the development phase. The Map-Level Editor was created first before the game could be created. Strange part is, that each time one version was created, I decided to add or enhance something else... thus, another version.