GAME: COUNTDOWN FORMAT: FLOPPY DISK PUBISHER: LOCKTON SOFTWARE TEL: N/A To play COUNTDOWN Type from the installed directory: COUNTDWN (NOTE: There is no second 'O' in this word) GETTING STARTED Please note that the DEMO version of the game has a cut down dictionary, the full version has the complete CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY built in. On running the COUNTDWN.EXE program the MAIN MENU will appear on the screen. This offers you the following options: PLAY Self-explanatory. QUIT Ends your COUNTDOWN session and returns you to DOS. HI-SCORES Displays the best scores against the computer for each level of difficulty. SOUNDBLASTER ON/OFF Not available on the DEMO version. SCREEN CHANGE SLOW/FAST Not available on the DEMO version. CONTINUE GAME This will be available only if you previously exited a game between rounds using ESCAPE (Not available on the DEMO version.) To select any option, first highlight it either by clicking once with the left-hand mouse button or by using the cursor keys, then press ENTER or RETURN. This is also the procedure for choosing any of the options which the game will offer you as you play. If you select PLAY, you will next be asked HOW MANY PLAYERS? Selecting the 2-player game allows you to play against your friend, boss, mother-in-law or whoever. If you choose the 1-player game, you will be asked WHICH RULES DO YOU WISH TO PLAY BY? You can have a PRACTICE game against the computer at one of three levels of difficulty, or play at COMPETITION standard which will be explained later in this manual - for now, assume that you select PRACTICE rules. (DEMO only allows one player) HOW GOOD A PLAYER ARE YOU? (1-player PRACTICE game only). AVERAGE is a good choice for beginners and children, because the game will attempt to match your ability as play progresses. The other two levels, GOOD and CHAMP, are of a fixed standard and are a better measure of how you would get on against real COUNTDOWN contestants. (DEMO only allows AVERAGE play) PLAYER 1 (then PLAYER 2 if appropriate) ENTER NAME. Type in your name, up to a maximum of 7 letters, using either upper or lower case. If you make a mistake, press BACKSPACE to erase it, then retype, and press ENTER when your name is correct. It is important that Player 1 can reach the SPACE BAR and Player 2 can reach ENTER without falling over each other, or else you'll have to change seats halfway through the CONUNDRUM. Also, if you have chosen the 2-player game, you and your opponent should not have identical names. WHO WILL PLAY FIRST? There is no advantage in playing first or second, so take your pick. If you are playing COMPETITION rules, you will not be offered the choice. (DEMO version forces the computer to play first). PLAYING THE GAME If you have seen COUNTDOWN on television, you already know how to play. However, complete beginners will need a brief explanation. There are 3 types of game: LETTERS, NUMBERS and CONUNDRUM. In the LETTERS game one player selects 9 letters, in any combination of vowels and consonants, and then each player tries to make as long a word as possible in 30 seconds, using the letters selected. Each letter can only be used once, unless of course it appears more than once in the selection. After the 30-second COUNTDOWN, each player declares the length of his word. The shorter word is entered first (if both players have a word of the same length, they are asked in random order for their answer), and the player with the longer word receives one point for each letter, except that a 9-letter word scores 18 points. Foreign words and proper nouns are not acceptable nor is any word which does not appear in the CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY. In the NUMBERS game one player selects 6 numbers between 1 and 100, then a target figure between 100 and 999 appears and each player tries to make the target in 30 seconds,by adding, subtracting, multiplying and/or dividing the 6 chosen numbers. You do not, however, need to use all 6 numbers.When choosing your numbers, note that the top row contains the numbers 25, 50, 75 and 100 and the other rows contain numbers 1 to 10 (two of each). After the 30-second COUNTDOWN each player will be asked what answer he has got, and the player who is closer to the target will be asked to explain how he reached his answer. You will receive 10 points if you make the target exactly, 7 points if you are within 5, and 5 points for getting within 10. The CONUNDRUM is a 9-letter word which has been scrambled. The first player who unscrambles it correctly, before the end of the 30-second COUNTDOWN, receives 10 points. The game of COUNTDOWN consists of 9 rounds (usually) : three LETTERS games, a NUMBERS game, three LETTERS games, a NUMBERS game and finally a CONUNDRUM. If the scores are equal after these 9 rounds, the CONUNDRUM will be replayed until one or other player has won. THE LETTERS GAME When it is your turn to select letters, you can choose vowels or consonants using either the keyboard - press C for a consonant or V for a vowel - or the mouse - click the left-hand mouse button once when the cursor is on the word CONSONANT or VOWEL. When 9 letters have been selected the 30-second COUNTDOWN will begin. After the COUNTDOWN, each player will be asked HOW MANY LETTERS? Enter the number of letters in your word, using either the numbers on the keyboard or the keypad, then press ENTER. If both players declare the same number of letters they are asked in random order to enter their answers, otherwise whoever declared lowest enters their word first. Again, lower or upper case will do, but this time if you make a mistake you cannot erase it using BACKSPACE, however you can press ESC which will allow you to re-enter your word. Instead of typing your word on the keyboard, you can click the left-hand mouse button once on each letter in turn. Once you have entered your whole answer, i.e. the number of letters you declared, the computer will beep and ask you IS THIS CORRECT? If not, answer N then type in the correct answer. If your answer was correct, you can answer Y or press ENTER, or just wait for the computer to catch up. If you declared the wrong number of letters you won't get any points so BE MORE CAREFUL NEXT TIME ! DICTIONARY CORNER may or may not make a contribution. THE NUMBERS GAME The computer will ask you (if it's your turn) to choose 6 numbers. Select your numbers by clicking once on the left-hand mouse button when the cursor is on your choice, or by using the corresponding letters on the keyboard. When 6 numbers have been selected you will be asked to press RETURN (unless it's the computer's turn) and the target will appear at the top of the screen, then the 30-second COUNTDOWN will begin. After the COUNTDOWN, each player will be asked WHAT ANSWER HAVE YOU GOT? Use the numbers on the keyboard or keypad then press ENTER. The player who is closer to the target will be asked to ENTER ANSWER. HOW TO ENTER YOUR ANSWER TO THE NUMBERS GAME The best way to do this is in small steps, and it is very important to enter each step in the order in which you want the computer to deal with it. Note that the computer will perform each arithmetic process (addition, subtraction, multiplication or division) as it meets it rather than using mathematical progression. You cannot use brackets when entering your answer, and you cannot enter any process which results in a fraction. Note also that * means "multiplied by" and / means "divided by". Type in the first part of your solution then press ENTER. The computer will ask ARE YOU SURE? Check that what you have entered is correct, then use the mouse or cursor keys to answer YES or NO. You can enter either a single number e.g. 100, or a sum e.g. 100 * 4. When you have entered two steps the computer will invite you to add, subtract, multiply or divide them before going on to the next part of the solution. For example, suppose you have the numbers 75 9 9 8 5 and 3 and a target of 321. One solution would be 9 - 5 = 4 Type 9 - 5 ENTER 4 * 8 = 32 Type 8 ENTER * 32 + 75 = 107 Type 75 ENTER + 107 * 3 = 321 Type 3 ENTER * Another example: you have the numbers 75 25 3 6 4 6 and the target 797. A possible solution is 6 + 6 - 4 = 8 Type 6 + 6 - 4 ENTER 75 + 25 = 100 Type 75 + 25 ENTER 8 * 100 = 800 Type * 800 - 3 = 797 Type 3 ENTER - You can enter your sum in larger steps if you prefer, e.g. the first solution could be typed in as 9 - 5 * 8 + 75 * 3 ENTER. However, the more complex you make each step, the greater scope there is for going wrong. THE CONUNDRUM A scrambled 9-letter word will appear on the screen and the 30-second COUNTDOWN will begin. BE CAREFUL WITH THIS GAME! First you have to be sitting in the right place (see GETTING STARTED). When you think you have the answer, press the SPACE BAR if you are Player 1 or ENTER if you are Player 2. This interrupts the COUNTDOWN and you will be asked to enter your answer. Type it in very carefully, because if you make a mistake here you cannot correct it and you will not receive the 10 points. If one player interrupts the COUNTDOWN and enters an incorrect answer, the COUNTDOWN will resume but only the other player will be able to answer. THE COMPETITION VERSION This feature enables clubs or groups of two or more players to compete with each other, for example in a postal competition. The COUNTDOWN disk contains 99999 actual games stored in memory, any of which you can play as often as you wish in order to improve your score against the computer. (Not available on the DEMO version). THE END OF THE GAME When the CONUNDRUM has been solved, or at the end of the COUNTDOWN, you will be asked to PRESS A KEY and the score will be displayed. You will then be asked to PRESS RETURN TO END GAME. If you do not wish to play again, highlight QUIT on the MAIN MENU and press ENTER. This will return you to DOS. You can also discontinue your game before the end: pressing ESC when you are asked to press RETURN for the next round will save your PRACTICE game so that you can continue it next time (see GETTING STARTED) and pressing CTRL and BREAK together will abort during the 30-second COUNTDOWN without saving your game. The COMPETITION game cannot be saved. TROUBLESHOOTING Install Program locks up shortly after the clock appears. This can happen if you have a SOUNDBLASTER card which not not correctly installed. Check the installation of the card. If the problem persists, boot up your computer from a floppy disk with no drivers or TSR programs loaded, and re-install COUNTDOWN. LEGAL DOGMA Neither the author nor Lockton Software. assumes responsibility for any damage or loss caused by the use of these programs, however it occurs. All the registered trademarks used herein are registered to whoever it is that owns them. This notification is given in lieu of any specific list of trademarks and their owners. TELEVISION SERIES (c) YORKSHIRE TELEVISION LIMITED 1994 COUNTDOWN IS AN ARMAND JAMMOT GAME