

                          * * * MAIN BREAK * * *

                       by William Soleau   March 1990

                                VERSION 4

                             *** OBJECTIVE ***

         Welcome to MAIN BREAK...   The game is quite simple and yet very
    challenging.  Your job is to connect passages for the water to flow
    through without leaving gaps in the water main.  The board is set up
    in a grid like pattern.  When the game begins, there will be a starting
    point chosen at random where the water will start to flowing after 10
    seconds.  At the bottom of the screen you will see 4 different types of
    pipe connections.  The selections will move from left to right as you
    place them on the grid.  The active pipe will be the one with the white
    border around it. (the far right)


                          *** REQUIREMENTS ***

                        CGA Graphics and a Mouse


                          *** PLACING PIECES ***

         When the game begins, your mouse will be used to place the active
    game piece onto the grid board.  You can place the piece anywhere on
    the grid board by clicking the mouse in the appropriate grid box.
    You must think ahead as to where best to place a particular piece, as
    not all pieces will be suited for use as they appear.

         On the left side of the screen, you will see a timer line, which
    shows you when the water will begin to flow.  You must place connections
    so that the water will keep flowing through consecutive pipes without
    stopping.  The longer the water can keep flowing the more points you
    will accumulate for that round.  Extra points are given when you can
    get the water to cross over itself by using the cross pipe connector(+).
         You can place a piece on top of another piece if you desire, yet
    a time delay will use up 5 seconds.  Once water has entered a
    grid, you will not be able to place another piece in that grid.
         When the water starts to flow, you can keep on placing pieces
    as long as the water still keeps flowing.  Sometimes, you will need
    a particular type of piece and it might be 3 away from the active
    piece, so you will just place them anywhere on the board just to get
    the one you want.  Be aware however, that when the water cannot flow
    anymore, all unused pipes are counted against you and points are
    deducted from you score.

                           *** SCORING ***

         When the water reaches a break in the main, the game will stop
    and the unused pipes will be deducted from the total score.  To
    continue to the next level, you must have at least 200 points for
    each level you reach, plus your level * 10.  Thus at level 2 for example
    you will need a total of at least 430 points or the game will be over.
                         
                          Level 1:  200 + (1 * 10) = 210
                          Level 2:  200 + (2 * 10) = 220
                                             Total:  430
      
         Each level you must also at least score that amount.  Therefore
    lets say you have 1000 points after 2 levels, you must reach 1230 for
    the game to continue.
       
        There are a total of 7 levels for this version and high scores
    are kept in a special file which can be called up at anytime.  The
    best way to learn how to play is to just jump right in and discover
    your own strategies for super high scores.  The more you play, the
    better you'll get.  (see final screen for Upgrade to 99 levels!!)
       If you can get the water to cross itself 4 times, you will be given
    a bonus of 1000 points.  If you can make it cross 8 times, you will be
    awarded 3000 points, and 12 times... 5000 points!
    
                          *** KEY ASSIGNMENTS ***

                              <O>ptions - Key Assigments
                              <I>nstructions
                              <S>ound Toggle On/Off
                              <P>ause Game
                              <B>oss Key (for you office players)
                              <H>igh Scores
                              <Q>uit Game


                            ENJOY..................

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