                                     "Bingo4U"
                                   Version 1.0

                 (32-bit WINServer BBS Shareware Web-Based Game)

                             Written and distributed by
                                   PC Pursuits 

                      Support site: The Pursuit of Happiness at
                       http://www.pcpursuits.com/products.htm
                              telnet://pcpursuits.com
                  MSN Messenger at bruce.preudhomme@pcpursuits.com

Product Summary:
----------------
Bingo4U is a MULTI-PLAYER web based game similar to the classic game of Bingo with the 4 types of games; 
Standard, Corners, Diangonals, and Black Out. It is highly configurable with many built-in defaults and 
automated tasks (unlike other games where you have to schedule a maintenance program, this one is self-
maintainting). It has a very detailed logging system, integrated chat (so players playing in a game can chat),
automated/dynamically generated stats, ability to configure as much or as little of the web pages as you 
would like, and many other features!  Bingo4U draws users to your site and keeps them coming back!
Players compete for game cash, experience and game ranking!

Setup:
------
1.  Unzip the program file into any folder on your system as long as you make sure to PROPERLY 
    follow all of the remaining steps (especially Steps 2 and 3). HOWEVER, if you UNZIP with pathnames,
    directly into your WINSERVER folder (WC5 or whatever) then all the files will be put in all the right 
    folders so all you have to do is edit those required (mostly the BINGO4U.DAT in your WinServer DATA folder. 
    I prefer to put my 32 bit games under the WC5 folder while others prefer to put all games under a GAMES folder. 
    This game works either way! Please note: you will need TWO game folders; one is for the main part of the game
    and the other is for the WEB part of the game (to be discussed later).
    Important: Use an unzip program that supports long file names.
    and Use a directory name that does not contain any spaces or special characters. 

2.  Copy ALL the WCX files into your Wildcat/WINServer folder. There are 2 WCX files.

3.  VERY IMPORTANT!!! Create a text file called bingo4U.dat (sample is provided in the zip), 
    and COPY it to your WINServer DATA folder (usually c:\wc5\data). All entries except line number 3 and 5,
    MUST be the fully qualified path name including drive letter (WINServer server names like
    wc:\data are NOT allowed). The file must ACCURATELY contain at least the following 5 lines:

C:\wc5\Bingo4U\                    //This is the folder where the main programs are installed <DEFAULT>
www.yourdomainname.com:81/         //This is YOUR web address to the root of your web site (this is should be the ROOT of your web site)   
www.yourdomainname.com:81/Bingo4U  //This is the web address to where Bingo4U stores all it's web pages
c:\wc5\http\Bingo4U\               //This is the corresponding DISK path to the line above (folder on your web for Bingo4U)
www.yourdomainname.com:81/         //This is the web address for auto generated links to return to the BBS

----------------------------------------------------
1 - The disk PATH to where the Main Bingo4U files
2 - This is YOUR web address to the root of your web site (this is should be the ROOT of your web site, port is optional)
3 - This is the web address to where Bingo4U stores all it's web pages (port is optional)
4 - The disk PATH to the folder referenced in #3 above
5 - The FULLY Qualified Web Address of Your Main Web (where you want your users to exit the game to)
    the page for signed on users to return to from the game

Please note, that the web addresses do NOT contain HTTP: so please do not include them.
Also, the folders should not contain spaces or special characters and must be accessible from the web
(therefore, it should be somewhere under your HTTP folder from line 2 of this .DAT file). Also, you 
do NOT need to put the :81 as shown on lines 2, 3 and 5 unless you happen to run WIN Server on the non-standard
port of 81 like I do (because I run IIS on port 80 which is the default port for http). Therefore, if you are 
not sure then leave the :81 off!

5.  Most HTML files are generated by the program. I have included two that are needed in the folder referenced
    on lines 3 and 4 (one is a game FAQ and the other is needed only in non-registered mode. You should copy any  
    *.GIF files to the folder specified in line 4 of your Bingo4U.DAT (you can use your own image for the background
    but the game looks better with a nice light colored background or no background at all).
    You can specify your own background by providing a Bingo4U.GIF file. You can also provide 
    background sounds by providing a Bingo4U.WAV or Bingo4U.MID file (please bear in mind that larger files can and do 
    slow down the initial download. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO EDIT OR ALTER THE TEMPLATE OR GENERATED HTM FILES! Note,
    if you provide your own backgroud image, or sound they MUST be the exact names mentioned above and
    must be located in the folder referenced in line 4 of your Bingo4U.DAT file. 

6.  VERY IMPORTANT! Make sure to put a link from your game page or whatever page you want to link Bingo4U from on your
    web site to (e.g. http://www.yourdoamin.com:81/Bingo4U/Bingo4UMenu.htm). The Bingo4UMenu.htm is AUTOMATICALLY
    generated in the folder referenced in line 4 of your Bingo4U.DAT and the web address is determined by the
    web address put in line #3 of your Bingo4U.DAT. PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS PORTION OF THE SETUP SINCE
    IT DOES AFFECT HOW WEB BASED USERS ACCESS THIS GAME!

7.  The maintenance is built-in the program so there is nothing needed for maintenance! The maintenance deletes the 
    temporary htm files, and a few other things.

8.  Last but very important step since this generates the Bingo4uMenu.htm in your Bingo4U Web folder, run the following command
    from a web browser: http://www.YOURDOMAIN.com:81/code/html-Bingo4U?action=L
    This runs the program and generates the necessary files and is now ready for play so why not play?!?

Remember if you UNZIP using path names right into your WC5 folder then all you need to really worry about is editing the 
Bingo4U.dat file under WC5\DATA and adding a link to the Bingo4uMenu.htm from your web site. If you have any problems 
email me at admin@pcpursuits.com and/or try contacting via MSN Messenger at bruce.preudhomme@pcpursuits.com.

General Information About Bingo4U and Optional Setup Options:
-----------------------------------------------------------------      
When you enter the game for the first time, various folders and files will be generated. They do not take up 
a large amount of space and should not be deleted or altered except as identified in other parts of this
documentation. The game is ready to play at this point but there are MANY additional options you can set, 
define, and customize! I recommend playing it first in default mode before tweaking any of the 
settings, features, and screens. 

Optional Setup:
---------------
The game has a GAMENAME.DAT file which allows you to change the name that gets displayed in your Who's Online 
and in your Activity Log.

All files are stored in the TWO game folders where you installed "Bingo4U" and as specified in the
Bingo4U.DAT file discussed in the steps above. Other Files and sub-folders will be generated as well.  

The following files can be modified to override certain defaults (please note, 
do NOT change the names or locations of the files, only the contents):

1.    The Bingo4UMenu.htm can be replaced. The game only generates one if it is missing
2.    The two folders "Balls" and Cards are VERY important so PLEASE make sure they get to their proper locations.
      They can be edited but I strongly discourage that. The Balls files are used to generate the numbers that are 
      "called" during the game. The Cards are used to generate the players cards. There MUST be 60 files in each of 
      these folders with the EXACT names. Each file has the number 1 thru 75 in a randomly generated order.

See the Customizations Section below for more options!

How to register and the benefits of registration:
-------------------------------------------------
There IS a 2 game limit per day per user which will be removed once registered. In addition, several displays appear 
indicating that it is unregistered, and the system emails you if your users try to play more than 2 games a day <G>. 
When you register your BBS name will be displayed on all the web pages rather than the unregistered message and you
will sleep well at night knowing that you help support the shareware concept and the future 
development of feature rich products by PC Pursuits! Your users will be allowed to play an unlimited 
number of games in a day. In addition, certain other features are disabled in the unregistered 
version. Also, the game won't go beyond level 2 and it can't be won until registered! So why not register it?!?!?!

VERY IMPORTANT, to register the game edit the REG.# file under the folder created in Step 1 above and 
put in the alphanumeric key provided to you when you pay for the program. 

The cost is $50 by Paypal, check or money order. You can register online using Paypal, by mail, or by credit or 
even via voice for the same price! Just go to http://pcpursuits.com/products.htm 
and check out the options available to you!. You can contact me, Bruce Preudhomme, via email at 
adminp@pcpursuits.com for package deals or if you would like me to contact you by phone.

All future upgrades are FREE! We also offer a support message base, support forums accessible from the
web, and a support mailing list which can be joined from the website:

Visit the SUPPORT forums at http://www.pcpursuits.com/support/

Sign-up for the SUPPORT Mailing List at http://www.pcpursuits.com/mailinglist.htm

The latest information on other products being developed as well as what is currently available all
can be accessed from the website, mailing list and/or Support Forums on the website. Feel free to
email me at ANY time if you have questions, comments, or need assistance in setting up this or any
of my products by sending an email to sysop@pcpursuits.com

Files Used and How to Take Advantage of them:
---------------------------------------------
These are the files that are located in the Bingo4U folder and what they do. Some of these are 
created when certain things happen in the game, so if some are not present, do not worry.

Bingo4U.TXT - This is the file you are reading at this time.

Maint.dat - This file contains the last date that the maintenance was performed. When the first 
player of the day enters the game, maintenance will be ran, cleaning up, and doing other things 
that need to be done. Do not delete or edit this file!

Overall.dat - This file is created when someone lists the top 20 overall players. This is what 
is shown when a player enters the game.

Record High.dat - This is the record high score ever recorded at the time when the top overall 
player is figured. This will not be deleted when the game is started over again, it is sort of 
like the hall of fame, but just contains one high score and one name.

ReadMe.txt - This is a last minute read me file, it may or may not exist in your zip file.

MaintControl.dat - This file is created when the maintenance is ran. Do not delete or edit this file!

SysOp.dat - This file is created with the word SYSOP in it. This allows people with the 
security level of SYSOP to be able to enter the SysOp part of the program. You can add any 
security levels you want to this file, or even add individual names to this file. So, if you 
wanted to allow SID MEIER to have SysOp access to this program, but not to the system, you can 
just add his name to this file. Capitalization is not important in this file, but spelling is!

Today.log - This is the log file that can be viewed online by the users. Everything the users 
do while in the game is wrote to this file. When the first user enters the game for a new day, 
this file is copied over the YESTERDAY.LOG file and the Today.Log is restarted.

Version.dat - This contains the version number of the program. Do not change this, it will have 
no bearing on the program, but will help me in knowing what version of the program you have.

Visits.dat - Contains a number that can be editted in the Registered version to restrict how 
many times your users can play the game in a given day. Unregistered it is 2.

Most of the files can be looked at with text editors, but most of the files located in the DATA 
folder cannot. 

Future Plans and Upgrades:
--------------------------
All updates are free once you register. I am constantly enhancing and improving this game as well as all my products 
so you will benefit from these efforts. Things I have planned for this game:
 - Adding an ANSI side (depending on the number of requests received for this option)
 - Adding a computer assisted/computer player BUT this is VERY complex logic and will require lots of time
 - Email support so that you can be notified when it is your turn

Other plans are for MANY more web-based multi-player games like (send me an email of ones you are most interested in):
 - Crazy Eights
 - Poker
 - Hearts
 - Black Jack
 - Board games like Monopoly, Sorry, checkers, and others
 - Role Playing games

* LEGALITIES:
          
 THIS SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING MATERIALS ARE DISTRIBUTED "AS IS" WITHOUT
 WARRANTY, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY
 IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 IN NO EVENT SHALL ANYONE INVOLVED WITH THE CREATION AND PRODUCTION OF THIS
 PRODUCT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING
 OUT OF ANY USE THEREOF OR BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY.

    
* DISTRIBUTION:
 
  You may make this file available for downloading from your BBS or you may
  upload it to any BBS of your choice, provided that you do not make any
  changes to the contents of the archive (ZIP file).

  You are NOT allowed to distribute the registration codes.

