                                                               

                           F I V E   H U N D R E D
                           
                              
                              release 6.3 - 1997                  
                             written by G.M.McKAY
                                 
                                                                



 COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS :
       
       Any 8088 , 286 ,386 , 486 or better IBM compatible computer will 
       successfully run this game as long as it has an EGA or VGA colour 
       monitor and 640K of memory. A good speaker is preferable for the 
       voice synthesizer. It will use a mouse if fitted, but this is not
       a requirement.


            


 DISTRIBUTION :
       
       This copyrighted game is distributed under the SHAREWARE system which 
       depends upon your support for on-going development. You are encouraged 
       to freely copy and distribute this product unaltered to  friends, 
       business associates, bulletin boards and user groups. HOWEVER THIS  
       PRODUCT IS NOT FREE ! You have an evaluation period of two weeks. If 
       you decide you do not like the game, simply pass the disk along to 
       someone else. If you are still using FIVE HUNDRED after two weeks  of  
       evaluation, you are obligated to send a minimum payment of $25. If the 
       future of low-cost quality software is to continue, we all must support 
       this concept.  If you  cheat on this  payment  may you be  constantly 
       finessed.  
       
       You should have these files -
            500.EXE    -    base program
           TALK.EXE    -    voice synthesizer
           BACK.EXE    -    intro picture 
            500.TXT    -    this information 
           REGO.FRM    -    user registration form
         README.BAT    -    program to display this information
         SCORES.       -    game scores and set-up information
              *.CRD    -    card & sound data files - 26 files
      

 RUNNING IT :
       
       FIVE HUNDRED can be run from a floppy disk or your hard disk - if you 
       run it from a floppy make sure the disk is NOT write protected - 
       check the tab on the disk.

       To run it, simply access the directory it is stored in and type '500'.
       eg. for directory '500' on drive C: type -
                           C:
                           CD \500
                           500

       To copy it from a floppy disk in drive A: to your hard disk type -
                           C:
                           MD \500
                           CD \500
                           COPY A:\500\*.* /V

       The bidding rules and strategy can be set by choosing the "rules set up 
       menu", while the sound, background colour, and timing can be set in the 
       "layout set up menu". Make bids and play cards using the F1 - F10 
       function keys, or with the left mouse button (the right mouse button 
       cancels selections made). If you have a mouse fitted but do not want to 
       use it, it can be parked off the screen at the bottom. If your mouse is 
       not working properly, jumping, or pointing to the wrong place,  the
       problem is usually that your mouse does not fully meet the Microsoft
       standard - try running another mouse driver, preferably the standard 
       Microsoft driver (you may have to remove the current one from memory 
       first - change it in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and reboot). There may be a 
       MOUSE.COM driver in this directory.
                                 
       You can change the set up  conditions at any time during a game by 
       pressing "S". Similarly "B" lets you review the bids made in that hand,
       and "R" replays the cards played in that hand. "C" shows you the score
       card with the last 10 scores in your game to date. These options are
       also available at the end of a hand, to let you review it. Press 
       "ctrl Q"  to quit.
       
       If you have trouble with the voice synthesizer or the computer locks
       up, try removing TSR's (Terminate and Stay Resident programs eg. 
       ANSI) which may be running. Otherwise you may not have enough memory 
       (you need a full 495 Kb free to run the game and the voice synthesizer) 
       - choose "music only" on the set-up menu. The program has an internal 
       memory check and will not allow you to choose full sound if you have
       less than 495 Kb of conventional memory free. The synthesizer quality 
       may be poor if your computer has a piezo ceramic speaker on the mother-
       board rather than a real speaker - remember if you don't like it, you
       don't have to use it - choose "music only". If you run this game 
       through WINDOWS the sound quality may be poor because WINDOWS remains
       resident as a TSR.
 


 RULES :
       
       FIVE HUNDRED is a well loved card game with a myriad of local house
       rules (some are accommodated here via the set up menu). The object of 
       the game is to collect 500 points and avoid collecting -500 points.  
       The game is played in teams with you and your partner (player 2) 
       playing against players 1 & 3. Cards are ranked in order of Ace down 
       to 5 in the black suits and 4 in the red suits,  except in the suit  
       that has been designated the TRUMP suit for that hand, in which the 
       order is - Joker, right bower (the Jack of the trump suit ), left 
       bower (the Jack of the other suit of the same colour), Ace, King, etc.

       The game starts with each player bidding for the number of tricks they
       think they can win (with their partner's help) with a particular suit 
       as trumps - 6 is the minimum bid, and the order of the suits is spades, 
       clubs, diamonds, hearts, no trumps. The highest bidder wins the bid and 
       endeavours to win at least as many tricks as he/she bid; if successful 
       he/she gains the points for that bid otherwise he/she loses those 
       points. 250 points are awarded for all 10 tricks, and the non-bidding 
       team gets 10 points for each of their tricks. NO-TRUMPS with no suit as 
       the trump suit is a legitimate bid, with the Joker being played as the 
       sole trump. 
       
       MISERE (or NULLO) is a bid in which the bidder tries to lose all 10 
       tricks (the bidder's partner does not play). CLOSED MISERE is worth 250 
       points and can only be bid after a 7 bid has been made, while OPEN 
       MISERE is worth 500 points and must be preceded by an 8 bid. OPEN 
       differs from CLOSED only in that the bidder displays his hand to the 
       other players after the first lead. An 8 bid is higher than a CLOSED 
       MISERE bid (in the rules set-up menu you can choose whether you want 
       8 spades to be higher or not), and 10 no trumps is the only bid to beat 
       OPEN MISERE ( 10 hearts is of the same points value so OPEN cannot be 
       bid after 10 hearts). MISERE has a different balance of luck to skill 
       from other bids, so it is not allowed in some card schools. You can 
       choose to have no MISERE, only OPEN, or both OPEN and CLOSED. You can 
       also set the enthusiasm the players have for bidding MISERE to match 
       your own.

       The winning bidder gets the 3 card kitty to supplement their hand, and
       chooses which 3 cards to "throw out" again.

       Each player plays consecutively in a clockwise direction, with the 
       winner of the last trick leading. Each player must follow the suit led
       if they can.



 VERSION 6.3 :
       
       This version plays misere (or NULLO). It is designed to be mouse 
       friendly. Different bidding rules are accommodated to increase its 
       international appeal.




 REGISTRATION :      
       
       As discussed above, if you are still enjoying this game after two weeks 
       you should support the  Shareware concept and register your copy by
       sending a minimum donation of $25. For an extra $6 postage I will send
       you the latest updated registered version (with even better card 
       playing skills), a registered copy of the Windows version of 500 (which
       allows you to specify suits for the Joker in No Trumps and Misere, and
       a copy  of STRIP500  (500 card game with naked women playing). 
       Dealer enquiries welcome. Corporate licenses available.



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                          F I V E   H U N D R E D

        Name:     _________________________________  Date: ____/____/____

        Address:  _______________________________________________________

        City:     _______________________  State: _____  Code: __________

        Country:  _______________________

        Version:  _6.3__  My Copy From: ______________________

        Computer: ________________   Floppy (Preferably 1.44MB): ________
        
        Registration   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $----- ($25)
        Latest version + STRIP500 + 500 for Windows $----- ($6)
                                             total  $----- ($31)
        
        I will be grateful for any suggestions, comments, or information on 
        problems with the game you may have. 


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        SEND THE FORM TO:
                              G.M.McKAY
                               29 Melissa St.
                                Strathmore
                                 Victoria , 3041
                                  Australia
                                  ph 03-9379-7696
                                  fax 03-9311-5651


