Copyright: DGC Software 1997


Table of Contents

Introduction

Starting a new game

Playing the game

New game options

Set-up options

System requirements

Questions

How to register

Copyright / Licence / Warranty


Introduction

Mix 'n' Match is designed to stimulate and improve your child's memory in an amusing manner with lots of options to keep the game fresh. One child can play the game, with a friend or against the computer.

Game features include:

 Selecting the picture tiles from a palette of over 100 pictures

 Selecting the size of the picture tiles

 Selecting the difficulty level to suit your child's ability. (when playing against the computer)

If your computer is equipped with a sound board you can also use any WAVE sound files available on your system in addition to the WAVE files supplied with Mix 'n' Match.


Quick start
Starting a new game

Pressing the Quick Start button starts a new game with the current options

Or

Press the New Game button to alter the game options.


Playing the game

Pairs of picture tiles are hidden in a grid of covered tiles. The game is played by turning over two of the picture tiles to find a pair of pictures. If a pair of tiles is found the same player tries again until either a mistake is made or all the tiles are uncovered. If the pair of uncovered picture tiles does not match and the game is being played with a friend or the computer the next try is passed to the other player.

How to turn over a tile

To turn over a tile, simply click the tile.

Reveal all the picture tiles

It is possible to reveal all the picture tiles, which is especially useful for younger children. To reveal all the picture tiles, simply right click any picture tile, as soon as the button is released the tiles are covered again.

The reveal feature is disabled when one picture tile is turned over.

If the game is being played with a friend or the computer, the reveal feature is disabled as soon as the first picture tile is turned over.

The reveal feature can be disabled on the options screen.


New Game
New Game options

Mix 'n' match can be played in three ways: single player practise mode, two players or against the computer. You can also select how large and how many picture tiles are in use. If you are playing against the computer, you can select how well the computer can play the game.

How to select the tile size

How to select the difficulty level

Altering the players names

How to select the game mode

 Once you have selected the game options click the tick button to start the game.

 To alter the set-up options, click the set-up options button.


Tile size

The tile size affects how many picture tiles the game is played with. Large tiles are suitable for younger children while older children will find the smaller sized tiles more challenging.

If you select large picture tiles the game is played with six pairs of picture tiles. The middle size picture tile game uses 12 pairs of tile while the smallest tile size uses 20 pairs of picture tile.

To select the tile size, simply click the tile size button required.


Difficulty level

If you are playing Mix 'n' Match against the computer, you can select how 'well' the computer can remember the tiles that have been turned over. The computer only remembers tiles that have been turned over. The difficulty level ranges from 1 to 9. If the difficulty level is set to one, the computer does not remember any tile positions. Each increase in difficulty level improves the computer's memory until at level nine most tile positions are remembered.

How to alter the difficulty level

Using the mouse, adjust the difficulty level scroll bar to the setting required.


Player names

So that the scoreboard can be personalised, each player can enter his or her name before the game begins. Not only do most children like to see their names on the computer screen; it's also good keyboard practice.

How to alter a player name

Using the mouse, click either edit box. Use the delete keys to remove the existing name and type the new name.


Game mode

Mix 'n' match can be played in three ways: single player practise mode, two players, or a single player playing against the computer.

To select the game mode, simply click the required button.


Options
Setup options

Tile Palette

The tile palette displays all the different picture tiles that can be used in the game.

Game Tiles

A maximum of twenty different picture tiles is used in the Mix 'n' Match game, depending on the tile size selected on the new game screen. If large tiles are selected, the game is played with six pairs of picture tiles. The middle size game uses 12 pairs of tile while the smallest tile size uses 20 pairs of picture tile.

Cover Tile

The cover tile is used to cover each picture in the picture grid.

How to select a picture tile from the palette

Animation Speed

Sounds

Use full Screen

Allowing reveal

Advanced Options


How to select a picture tile from the palette.

Picture tiles are selected from the tile palette using a drag and drop technique.

 Scroll the tile palette until the required picture tile is visible.

 Move the mouse pointer over the required picture tile.

 Click and hold down the mouse button - the mouse pointer will change shape.

 Keeping the mouse button held down, move the mouse pointer over the picture tile you wish to alter and release the mouse button.

To make the game easier for younger children, there is no reason why the same picture tile cannot be used more than once.


Animation speed

The animation speed setting affects the speed of transformation from cover tile to picture tile. Adjust the animation speed to suit your own taste and the speed of your computer.

How to alter the animation speed

Using the mouse, adjust the scroll bar to the setting required.

Testing the animation speed

Click the 'test' button and check the test animation for speed.

Animation Pause

The animation pause setting affects the length of pause while both picture tiles are visible before the picture tiles are covered. Adjust the animation pause setting to suit your own taste and the speed of your computer.

How to alter the animation pause

Using the mouse, adjust the scroll bar to the setting required.

Tip - While playing the game, clicking any picture tile will cancel the pause period.


Sounds

If your PC is equipped with a sound board, Mix 'n' Match can play any WAVE sound file when a game event happens, for example when a pair of picture tiles have been uncovered the 'found pair' sound will play.

You may associate any WAVE sound file with any program event; there is no reason why the same WAVE sound file cannot be associated with two or more events.

Loading WAVE files

Highlight the sound event to play and click the 'load' button. Use the open file dialog to select the required sound file.

Test playing the sounds

Highlight the sound event to play and click the 'play' button


Use full screen

The 'use full screen' option is particularly useful, when younger children are using the game, to hide other programs on the desktop. When the check box is checked the Mix 'n' Match window is maximised but without the normal windows title bar or minimise button. This means the program window cannot be moved, resized or minimised.

Please note: this does not stop the use of the [CONTROL]+[ALT]+[TAB] key combination to switch active programs or access to the Task Bar if you are using Windows 95. (See also advanced options - System Guard).


Allowing reveal

Reveal all the picture tiles

The reveal all feature is especially useful for younger children. See playing the game

The reveal feature can be used if 'Allow reveal' is checked. To disable the function, simply uncheck the checkbox.


Advanced options

All the Mix 'n' Match options is stored in the file MIXMATCH.INI file that can be found in the file directory where the program is stored. Apart from the following advanced option you will not need to manually edit this file.

Hide setup

The hide setup option is particularly useful, because it stops younger children accidentally altering the game options.

To hide the setup options:

 Open the file MIXMATCH.INI

 Find the line HideSetUp=0

 Edit the line to HideSetUp=1

 Save the file

To make the make the setup options visible:

 Open the file MIXMATCH.INI

 Find the line HideSetUp=1

 Edit the line to HideSetUp=0

 Save the file


System requirements

Mix 'n' Match will operate on any PC (486 or later recommend) running Windows 3.1 (or later) or Windows 95 (or later). A mouse or other pointing device is required.

It must be anticipated that the operation of the program will be impaired on older equipment or if used on a PC with limited memory.


Questions

If you have any questions about Mix 'n' Match contact DGC Software at:

Mail	DGC Software

12 Stonecroft

Bradford BD2 2HW

England

Fax 	01274 773624 	(from outside the UK +44 1274 773624)

Compuserve	100555,2174

Email	dgcsoftware@compuserve.com

Please note: When contacting DGC Software please quote your registration code. Technical assistance is not available to users of evaluation edition.


How to register
How to register Mix 'n' Match

On registration you will receive the registration codes to unlock your copy of Mix 'n' Match. The registration code can also be used to unlock later versions of Mix 'n' Match version 1.xx. This means that if any 'bugs' are discovered or improvments made to the program you can download the latest version of Mix 'n' Match at any time.

To register Mix 'n' Match contact

SD Micro Systems, PO Box 24, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 1HL, UK

Telephone 01953 483750

Warning: Please keep your registration code in a safe place, you will need these codes if you ever need to reinstall Mix 'n' Match or require assistance. Do not give your registration code to any other person.


Copyright/Licence/Warranty

Copyright © 1997 DGC Software - All rights reserved.

Licence Agreement

You should carefully read the following terms and conditions before using this software, your use of this software indicates your acceptance of this license agreement and warranty.

Evaluation Version

The evaluation version of Mix 'n' Match may be used for up to 30 days. If you continue to use Mix 'n' Match beyond the 30-day period, you must purchase a registered copy of the program.

Registered Version

Personal licence - Registered copies of Mix 'n' Match may be installed on any PC for your personal use, provided that you do not sell, give, lend or hire any copies to any other person.

Site licence - Please contact DGC Software for details.

Disclaimer of Warranty

THIS SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING FILES ARE SUPPLIED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.

Because of the various hardware and software environments into which the software may be put, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. The user assumes the entire risk of using the program.

The laws of England shall govern this agreement.