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M U L T I P L E X
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Multiplex is an ASCII action game for DOS, in which your mission is to make as big as possible explosions, while avoiding that you explode yourself. You must kill all enemies in every level, either by crushing or by running into them.
If you die, you may continue two times from the level in which you died. The third time, you must start over at level 1.
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RUNNING THE GAME UNDER WINDOWS XP, WINDOWS 2000 AND OLDER
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Under Windows XP, 2000 and older, Multiplex can be run directly from Windows. Press Alt-Enter to switch to full-screen (recommended).
If this does not work as intended, try running it under DOSbox (http://dosbox.sourceforge.net). The recommended CPU cycle setting is 20000. Press Ctrl-F12 to increase this, and Ctrl-F11 to decrease. Press Alt-Enter to switch to full-screen (recommended).
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RUNNING THE GAME UNDER WINDOWS VISTA
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Under Windows Vista, Multiplex can also be run directly from Windows, but the gameplay is not optimal since you can no longer switch to full-screen. Therefore, it is recommended to run it under a virtual DOS environment using Virtual PC (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/) in combination with FreeDOS (http://www.freedos.org).
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FILES
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MX.EXE : Executable program
MXLEVELS.INI : Default level file used if no level file is specified on the command line
README.TXT : User manual
SCORES.DAT : High score table
If MXLEVELS.INI is not found, Multiplex uses a "built-in" game with one level.
To reset the score table, delete SCORES.DAT. It will be created again when the game is played.
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IN-GAME KEYS
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Arrows: move player
S : Toggle sound on/off
M : Toggle music on/off
F9 : Toggle audio (sound+music) on/off
Esc: Quit.
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COMMAND-LINE SWITCHES
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/version : Displays copyright and version information
/nomusic : turns off music (this might solve slowness problems)
/nosound : turns off sound effects
/quiet : turns off all audio (music+sound)
Any filename: use the specified file as the level file (default: mxlevels.ini). Note that the file name, excluding the .INI extension, must not be longer than 8 characters and may not contain spaces, in order to work! Example: "MX mylevels.ini".
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EDITING LEVELS
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You can edit the levels and make your own by modifying the file MXLEVELS.INI. You cannot design levels completely by hand, but you can change various settings and parameters, the colors and shapes of all objects in the game and the "random seed", which uniquely identifies the level layout, including the placement of all walls, monsters and eggs.
If you create interesting levels, please send them to me, because I might include them in an additional level-pack!
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OTHER INFO
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This game was inspired by the game "Pyro II". If you like explosions and computer-generated fire, definitely give it a try!
This game is freeware. Source code (QuickBasic 4.5) is available on request.
Please send any bugs and other feedback to: maarten.knf@student.eur.nl
Version 1.0.1 (c) 2007 Aestan Software
Programming and level design by Maarten Koornneef, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
