BOGGLY - Psion 3a - Shareware (version 1.3)
-------------------------------------------

Overview
--------

Boggly is a solitare (one player) simulation of Parker Brothers' classic dice game "Boggle".
The aim is to find as many words as possible in a random 4x4 grid of letters within a certain
time.  Each word must be formed from a series of adjacent letters in the grid.  

Boggly is shareware: once you have tried the program, if you like it and intend to keep playing
then you should register it.  Although the unregistered version is fully playable, to encourage
registration the high score table has been disabled.  Registration is rewarded with a special
code to enter which upgrades the program to the registered version and unlocks the high score
system.


Registration
------------

Boggly costs UK6 or US$10 - cash or UK cheque (to C. Kessell) only please.  Send
your remittance together with name and address (postal or e-mail) to:

	Chris Kessell,
	11 Sweetbriar Close,
	Bishops Cleeve,
	Cheltenham,
	Glos. GL52 4SU
	ENGLAND

In return I will send you a personalised code to register your copy of Boggly.


Installation
------------

The BOGGLY13.ZIP distribution file should contain the following three files:

        Name:               Copy to:            Description:

        BOGGLY.APP          /APP                Main program
        BOGGLY.GFX          /APP/BOGGLY         Game graphics
        BOGGLY.TXT          -                   This information file

To install:
a.  Copy BOGGLY.APP to any /APP directory.
b.  Create a BOGGLY subdirectory under /APP and copy BOGGLY.GFX into it.
c.  From the System screen use the "Install" option in the Apps menu to add the Boggly icon
    to your Psion.

Note that, when run, the registered version of Boggly creates two files in the /OPD directory:
BOGGLY.DAT (high score table) and BOGGLY.REG (registration details).


Playing the Game
----------------

The aim of the game is to find as many words as possible in a random 4x4 grid of letter dice
within a certain time.  Each word must be formed from a series of adjacent letters in the grid,
moving up, down, left, right or diagonally.  A given dice can only be used once per word.

Each word must be at least 3 letters long, and a valid English dictionary word.  Note that
different forms of the same base word - different tenses, plurals, etc. - ARE allowed.  

The game ends when the timer runs out or you give up.  Your words are then scored as follows:

      Letters:      3  4  5  6  7  8 or more
      Score (pts):  1  1  2  3  5  11

Duplicates of the same word, of course, score nothing.


Screen Layout
-------------

When run, Boggly displays its title screen.  Starting a new game (by selecting New Game from
the menu or just pressing Enter) moves you on to the main playing screen which, I hope, is
quite intuitive.  The display is divided up into three parts:

  - A notepad area, where your words are listed as they are entered;
  - The grid containing the 4x4 matrix of letter dice;
  - A countdown timer, showing (graphically and numerically) how much time you have left.


Menu Options
------------

Game Menu (Title Screen)

  New Game -

    Displays a dialog box requesting your name and the desired game number (leave at zero for
    a random game).  The game number is displayed in the corner of the screen at the start
    and end of each game.  Entering a game number allows you to replay any particular game at
    any time.

    You can also set the game options from the New Game dialog box, or from the separate 
    Options menu item described below.

  Options -

    Displays a dialog with three options:

	Option          Default        Description
        ------          -------        -----------

	Sound           On             Turn game sounds on/off

	Timer           3 minutes      Set the game time to 1, 2, 3 or 5 minutes, or turn
                                       the timer off for unlimited time (use the Give Up
                                       menu item to end an unlimited time game).

	Rule Checking   Full           Choose between Full or Partial rule checking.  See
                                       section on rule checking below for more details.

Game Menu (In-Game)

  Pause -

    Pauses the game, stopping the timer until a key is pressed.  The dice grid is greyed out
    while paused.

    Boggly also pauses automatically whenever it is moved to the background or the Psion is
    turned off.

  Give Up -

    End the current game and tot up the score. 

Special

  High Scores - REGISTERED VERSION ONLY

    Displays the high score table.  The top seven scores are listed, showing the players'
    names, scores, game numbers and dates.

  Register -

    Allows the registration name and code to be entered.  This menu item disappears once
    the program has been registered.

  About -

    Displays some information about Boggly and how to register it.

  Exit -

    Quit Boggly and return to the System screen.


Entering Words
--------------

During the game, simply type in the words you find in the grid, ending each word by pressing
Enter.  The Delete key can be used to correct errors as you type.  However, once a word has
been committed by pressing Enter it cannot be modified or deleted.

Note that "Qu" scores as a single letter, and that pressing "Q" automatically generates the
accompanying "u". 


Help
----

Pressing the Help key brings up a brief description of the rules of Boggly and the scoring.


Rule Checking
-------------

As you type, Boggly checks that the word you are entering follows the game rules, i.e. that
it can be made up from a series of adjacent letters in the grid.  If you attempt to break the
rules - by entering a letter that is not adjacent to the last one, for example - then the
letter is ignored and Boggly beeps and displays an appropriate warning message in the corner
of the screen.

There is a small performance penalty with rule checking - a slight delay between pressing a
key and the letter appearing on the display, due to the time taken to scan the grid for your
letter sequence.  Normally this time lag is barely perceptible, but if desired the rule
checking can be adjusted from the Options menu.  With rule checking changed from "Full" to
"Partial", Boggly only checks that the letters you type exist somewhere in the grid - it
doesn't care whether each letter is adjacent to the last. 

Note that Boggly does not verify that your entries are valid English dictionary words.  That's
up to you!



Finally, many thanks for your interest in Boggly!

(Any comments, feedback etc. to cmkesse@iee.org)

Chris Kessell




Version History
---------------

1.0       Dec 1996       First version - personal use only

1.1       Jan 1997       Initial release version... but files lost at last moment due to
                         freak accident (Psion and water do not mix!!!)

1.2       March 1997     Completely rewritten from scratch, taking the opportunity to make
                         numerous functional and cosmetic improvements

1.3       April 1997     Rule checking added - PUBLIC RELEASE
