WORDS ALIVE version 2.O for DOS. System requirements: IBM Compatible PC, EGA or VGA Monitor, Hard Drive is highly recommended, Voice option requires 8MHz 286 or faster computer, Mouse is supported but not required. PARENTS' GUIDE (ALSO AVAILABLE BY ACCESSING THE HELP FUNCTION WHILE PLAYING) INTRODUCTION WORDS ALIVE is a set of three educational games built on the premise that learning can be lots of fun. Each game comes with its own set of options. You can use a keyboard or a mouse to operate this program. For example, the three games (SEE-N-SPELL, READ-N-MATCH and TIME-N-SPELL) are represented by three large yellow buttons on the left of the screen. Each button is labeled with a corresponding function key, so it can be activated by a mouse click or by pressing the specified function key: , or . Please note that an active game button is marked with a green light indicator. The keyboard speed was especially adjusted for kids' slow rate of typing. A new key (letter) is accepted only after a previous letter has been displayed and pronounced by the computer. OPTIONS Each of the three games has its own set of options. Options are activated by pressing or clicking the OPTIONS button with a mouse. Once activated, an options bar is displayed across the top of the screen. The options bar serves as both, a pull down menu and a status bar displaying the current selection of all available options. Now you are ready to display (pull down) any one individual option by clicking it with a mouse, or by pressing its corresponding number. When one of the options is pulled down, a current setting letter is highlighted. You can change to a new setting by clicking on it, or by pressing its letter. Help for each option can be displayed, while the option is pulled down, by clicking on HELP or by pressing its corresponding letter, which is for all options. Each game has its own set of options, however setting the sound option <4> in any game affects the setting of the sound option in the other two games. Current option settings are saved, so that the next time WORDS ALIVE is started, all the settings will come up exactly as they were at the time it was last played. SEE-N-SPELL This game is activated by clicking the top yellow button with a mouse or by pressing . The object of the game is to spell the word represented by a picture in the frame. This game is very flexible. Please set the options to match your child's skill level. For beginners who are just learning to recognize letters, you can set option <5> to either or to display the correct spelling of the word in the lower part of the picture in either upper or lower case letters. Then coordinate it with option <2> so that the child would simply match letters: upper to upper, upper to lower, lower to lower or lower to upper case. Option <3> is used to force matching from left to right, or to allow random letter entry. For older kids, you may set option <5> to not to show the spelling of the word in the lower part of the picture, so that the child would have to spell the word from memory. But you can make it easier by using option <1> to provide clues, so that the child would only fill in the missing letter(s). Or you can use option <1> to provide no clues so that the child would have to spell the entire word. There are no right or wrong combinations of option settings. Just experiment and use your own judgement as to what is appropriate for your child at any particular time. READ-N-MATCH This game is activated by clicking the middle yellow button with a mouse or by pressing . It is a game of word recognition where the child has to select one correct picture to match the word written in the lower part of the picture frame. You may find that kids will like this game because of its simplicity and faster pace. TIME-N-SPELL This game is activated by clicking the lower yellow button with a mouse or by pressing . The object of the game is to spell the mystery word by matching the time on the clock. A correct time selection is represented by a letter needed to spell a mystery word. Incorrect time selections are represented by letters that are not needed to spell this word. Use option <5> to set the difficulty level by controlling where the minute hand stops: on the hour, half hour, quarter hour or every five minutes. It may be appropriate to start with the easy setting in the beginning and adjust it gradually. BEAT THE CLOCK The first two games, SEE-N-SPELL and READ-N-MATCH , can be played with timer on or off. The timer can be adjusted by the function key or a mouse click to allow less or more time to solve the word. The timer can be turned on or off at any time by a mouse click on the pendulum or by pressing . HELP HELP function lets you access the PARENTS' GUIDE while playing. You may exit this function and return to the game by pressing . EXIT Use this function to return to the game from the HELP function or to exit the game and return to DOS. COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS If you can think of a way to make this program better; if you have always wanted to see a certain educational game, but cannot find it anywhere; if you have found an exceptional educational game and would like to share that information with others, please write to: Lana Chakoff P.O. Box 2111 Livingston, N.J. 07039-2111 U.S.A. We welcome your comments and suggestions. SOFTWARE LICENSE (shareware version) WORDS ALIVE and LEARN-N-GAMES trademarks, as well as graphics and computer code of WORDS ALIVE are property of Lana Chakoff and associates. You are granted a license to make complete copies of this shareware version and distribute all files intact. You may not make or distribute partial copies, modify, decompile, or temper with this software or any of its files in any manner. ABOUT SHAREWARE... Shareware (also known as user supported software and other names) is a concept not understood by everyone. The authors of Shareware retain all rights to the software under the copyright laws while still allowing free distribution. This gives the user the chance to freely obtain and try out software to see if it fits his needs. Shareware should not be confused with Public Domain software even though they are often obtained from the same sources. If you continue to use Shareware after trying it out, you are expected to register your use with the author and pay a registration fee. What you get in return depends on the author, but may include a printed manual, free updates, telephone support, etc. Only by paying for the Shareware you use do you enable the Shareware author to continue to support his software and create new programs. Considering that the Shareware registration fees are almost always far less than the purchase price of comparable commercial software it's obvious that Shareware is a good deal for everyone. There are real advantages to you in the Shareware system. You get to try out software to make sure it is compatible with your hardware and that it fits your needs before you "buy" it with your registration. The author saves the expense of advertising, packaging and distribution and passes the savings on to you. Plus, most Shareware authors are much more accessible than commercial software sources so that your questions and suggestions are much more likely to be responded to. REGISTRATION FORM A copy of the following registration form is contained in a separate REGISTER.TXT file. An easy way of printing it out is by typing the following command at the DOS prompt: ORDER and press The form should be displayed on the screen. Make sure your printer is ready and press the key (which is located next to the and keys in the upper row, on most keyboards). ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ WORDS ALIVE v2.0 ÍÍÍÍÍÍ REGISTRATION FORM ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º YOUR NAME: ___________________________________________ º º º º ADDRESS: ___________________________________________ º º º º ___________________________________________ º º DISK SIZE : [ ] 5+1/4" DD (360 K) [ ] 5+1/4" HD (1.2 MEG) º º [ ] 3+1/2" DD (720 K) [ ] 3+1/2" HD (1.4 MEG) º º º º REGISTRATION FEE (U.S. Dollars) $19.00 º º º º *LESS ALLOWANCE (UP TO $5.00) ___________ º º º º TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED ___________ º º *If you have incurred a cost in obtaining a shareware version º º of WORDS ALIVE, you can deduct your cost of up to $5.00. º º Please make check or money order drawn on U.S. bank º º payable to: LANA CHAKOFF º º P.O. BOX 2111 º º LIVINGSTON, N.J. 07039-2111 º º U.S.A. º ÈÍ Press to print ÍÍÍ THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ͼ