
					     == JOE SNOW (V1.0) ==

					        Condensed Help

				This document was written by Jonnathan Smadello.
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|					1991 Philip Hassey - 2011 Acoders				    |
|						All rights reserved					    |
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| CONTENTS                      |
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1.	INTRODUCTION
2.	SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
3.	CONTROLS
4.	GETTING STARTED
5.	GAMEPLAY OBJECTIVE
6.	ITEMS
7.	SAVING
8.	GAME TIPS & TRICKS
9.	TERMS OF USE




/-------------------------------\
| 1. INTRODUCTION               |
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	This document will provide you with brief instructions for controlling and playing "Joe Snow." 
Although the game does contain more guides as you play the game, this document is where you can 
find instructions more quickly and directly.




/-------------------------------\
| 2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS        |
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	Any OS: About 35 MB of Hard Drive space to accommodate the game's saved data. 2 GB of 
RAM at least. About 2 GHz CPU single or dual (Intel is recommended). Video Card with a GPU with 
256MB of memory at least (nVidia is recommended). Audio driver.

	Windows OS: The game was tested under Windows 7 Home Premium. It's recommended that 
you have DirectX installed to improve the game's performance for video and audio.

	Linux OS: The game was tested under Ubuntu version 11.04. It's recommended that you have 
the video driver (like nVidia or OpenGL) and the audio driver (like OpenAL) installed to improve the 
game's performance.




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| 3. CONTROLS                   |
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	By default, you will be using your keyboard, but you can play the game with any compatible 
gamepads or joysticks. The keys which you are about to see are their defaults and may be changed to 
your preferences at the "Options" menu. Here are the following keys that are assigned by default...

IN-GAME KEYS				KEYBOARD					GAMEPAD
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UP					UP ARROW					-Y AXIS
DOWN					DOWN ARROW					+Y AXIS
LEFT					LEFT ARROW					-X AXIS
RIGHT					RIGHT ARROW					+X AXIS
START					ENTER or RETURN					BUTTON #2
JUMP					SPACEBAR					BUTTON #1

NOTE: If you are playing with a gamepad, please disable your screensaver or power saving options to 
prevent your computer from going asleep or locking out as you play the game. Only the keyboard and 
the mouse will keep the computer active.


Here are some details about each in-game keys...
UP		Move menu cursors up; make your player jump (if you allow that to happen*)
DOWN		Move menu cursors down; make your player drop down (if you allow that to happen*)
LEFT		Move menu cursors to the left; make your player move to the left.
RIGHT		Move menu cursors to the right; make your player move to the right.
START		Accept menu items; pauses the game.
JUMP		Make your player jump; accept menu items.


The following keys are available to use regardless of playing by keyboard or gamepad...
ESCAPE		Go back; Exit the game; Cancel changes to options; Pauses the game.
F2		Switch to control by keyboard. **
ALT+F4		Closes the application immediately. (You will lose unsaved data!)


*These can be changed to allow them to happen by going to the "Options" menu.

**Usually, unplugging the gamepad would be detected by the game and automatically switch to 
keyboard. However, that doesn't always work. In worse cases, when you unplug and plug your 
gamepad back in, the gamepad will not work with the game and it will leave you stuck in the game. 
Pressing F2 will switch to the keyboard and allow you to continue on.




/-------------------------------\
| 4. GETTING STARTED            |
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	When you start the game for the very first time, a message will be shown to give you a quick 
glimpse of the controls for navigating the menu and moving your main character. 

	Then, you can watch the opening cut-scene if you wish. You can skip it by pressing START or JUMP.
	At the title screen, press the start or the jump button to open the main menu. If you want, 
you can wait for a while to watch a demonstration on how the game is played. Otherwise, you will find 
the following menu items...

	START GAME	Takes you to the "file selection" screen.
	HELP		Shows you instructions for playing the game.
	OPTIONS	Allows you to set window sizes and controlling preferences.
	BACK		Takes you back to the title screen which eventually shows a demonstration.
	EXIT		Closes the application.

	At the file selection screen, you can select any of the three files to start a new game. (Any files 
marked "START" indicates an empty file.)

	Next you will be taken to space where you can select a planet by pressing LEFT or RIGHT and 
accepting by START or JUMP. Then, let the games begin!




/-------------------------------\
| 5. GAMEPLAY OBJECTIVE         |
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	When "Joe Snow" appears in the level, you will have full control to guide him to the exit or to 
the power item. Also, the timer will start ticking down to zero, and you don't want to let that happen!

	In order to get to the exit safely, you will need to keep your score above zero. If you don't, 
you will melt and may have to restart the world. Items like coins and crystals will add points to your 
score, while fire, lava, and acid will deduct points off your score. Avoiding the bad items completely is 
not always possible, so you will need to plan ahead by selecting a path that won't cost you too many 
points. You will also lose points when the timer hits zero. The longer the timer is at zero, the most 
points you will lose progressively. (5 pts, 10 pts, 15 pts...)

	Once you have reached the exit, your score will be carried on to the next level.

	Each world has ten levels, with the tenth level containing a power item. Collect the power item 
to complete the world!




/-------------------------------\
| 6. ITEMS                      |
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GOOD ITEMS						HARMFUL ITEMS
------------------------------------------------	------------------------------------------------
COINS				+100 points		FIRE				-200 points
CRYSTALS (of any color)		+1,000 points		LAVA				-500 points
POWER ITEMS			+10,000 points		ACID				-1,000 points


OBSTACLES
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? BLOCKS		+50 points when hit and shoots a stream of coins or flames in either directions.
HIDDEN BLOCKS		+50 points when hit.
MESSAGE BLOCKS		Gives you more help and information.
SPARKS			-50 points and immobilizes your player.
SPIKES			-50 points when landing on them
HIDDEN DOOR		Where does it take you?
BELTS			Green and purple arrows tells you the direction.
ARROWLESS BELTS		Which way will they take you?




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| 7. SAVING                     |
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	If you are at the "world select" screen (in space), you can select the planet marked "SAVE" and 
press START or JUMP to save your game. Then, the planet will be marked "GAME SAVED" and you do 
not need to save the game for now. The only times that you need to save the game are the 
following...

* When you clear a world by playing through the ten levels (you'll be prompted to save the game at that time)
* When you got better a score at the end of a level in a cleared world (increasing your current total)
* When you got a new hi-score in a world
* When you got a new hi-total in a world
       
       It's important to save your game regularly if you want to keep your scores or your current progress. 
If you quit the application immediately, any unsaved data or progresses will be gone for good!




/-------------------------------\
|8. GAME TIPS & TRICKS          |
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	This game will get more challenging as you play on. To give you some help, consider the 
following tips...

* You will have at least one opportunity to retry a level if you feel that you lost too many points. 
	However, each retry will make you restart the level with a bit of a lower score.

* When you jump, you can "stick" to the ceiling as you hold the JUMP button for a short time. 
	When you move away from the ceiling while you are "sticking," you will get a small boost, but 
	only if you are not on the ground.

* Keep practicing! If you lost, find out what you needed to do the next time you play and try that 
	world again. 

* Read the messages as you play. Many of them are actually quite helpful!

* Find out if you are comfortable playing the game with a keyboard or with a gamepad.


The game's challenges rely on your controlling, your planning, and your agility to get you moving 
towards your goals to complete the game. There are ways to win the game, but it takes a lot of 
patience, thought, and... of course... practice! Remember: keep it a game and have fun!




/-------------------------------\
| 9. TERMS OF USE               |
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	This game, "Joe Snow," is intended to be available as a "freeware" application. Therefore, this 
game is only to be made available at no costs and at no conditions. This game is allowed for distribution 
by other end-users and players with consent by Jonnathan Smadello and Acoders.
 
       This version of "Joe Snow" was inspired from the earlier version of "Joe Snow", which was 
made for the PC in 1991. Therefore, this game was created and named upon permission from the 
original creator, Philip Hassey, where he has sole rights for the original "Joe Snow" title and the original 
"Joe Snow" games and design.

       The audiovisuals of this version of "Joe Snow" was made solely by Jonnathan Smadello, and 
the soundtrack was made solely by Johan Hargne.

       We serve no responsibility for any loss or damages done by the use of this game.
 
       This game adheres to Acoders privacy policy, meaning any personal information or any 
information irrelevant to this game will be disregarded.

	The game was developed with respect to most countries' trademarks and copyright laws. All 
materials of this game, including the names, game play, graphics, programming, audio, and stories 
were created solely and with the consent of their rightful owners.

       All rights including the game play, graphics, programming, audio, and stories are reserved by 
their rightful owners.




Last edited: July 01, 2011