MicroMarket requires Amiga (512k or more), Mouse reccommended PLEASE WAIT WHEN LOADING IN, AS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CRUNCHED MICROMARKET - PLAYING INFORMATION Introduction The idea for this game originaly came from an educational program for the BBC micro/Electron. We found the original program (Stokmarket) highly playable and we decided to write a game based on the BBC program, and convert it to the Amiga using some of the Amiga's capabilities. The original program was a fairly limited affair, with only four companies in which to trade in, and consisted of absolutely no graphics whatsoever. Our Amiga conversion, on the other hand, has six companies and " SOME " graphics. (Although after three or more hours looking at our screens will make you either want to retch violently and/or wish we had stuck to plain black screens or died horribly in a freak bottulism outbreak whilst an in-patient at the local infirmary.) We have spent a great deal of time on the program logic, this has not left much room for stunning graphics and sound effects. However we think this has paid off, as the game is as playable as the original and the computer player is an absolute swine ! Playing The Game Playing the game itself is very simple. First, you will, after the game has loaded, be presented with a menu. This is the Main Menu Screen. This consists of the following items:- ALTER NUMBER OF PLAYERS - Well, if you can't work this one out ,then .... OPTIONS - This allows you to select either human or computer players once you have decided how many players you want ( see above. Got it yet ?!). You can also enter the player names at this stage ( PLEASE NOTE : Player names will be set to " Player 1 ", " Player 2 " and so on, if no names are entered. Also, the default setting is two players , one human and one computer.) READ CREDITS - By selecting this item, you will be able to read all about all about the wonderful people who put this crap together, you lucky, lucky people!! Needless to say, this is not a game requirement, but we all need our little moments of self congratulation so humour us a bit and read them. Go on ! Its not long and it won't hurt THAT much. Please ?! EXIT TO DOS - Again, pretty self-explanitary so if you still can't get the jist of this one, I suggest you forget your application to Mensa and go and weave some baskets. PLAY GAME - Nuff said , really ( see above as I am too lazy to write it all out again.) The Game Object of the Game The object of this game is to get very rich indeed. ( pity the same can't be said of the poor impoverished programmers who put this game together with sweat, blood, tears and herbal tea ... ) Buying and selling shares in the six companies listed will enable you to amass a great fortune or a credit blacklisting depending on how good, bad or lucky you are, although the spawney git with no idea of any strategy will not get very far, we promise you! First of all, the computer will ask you which share you wish to trade in. Click left on number one to six on the keypad at the bottom of the screen. Then, using the same method, type in the number of shares you wish to buy. If you click on the full amount key, the computer will automaticaly buy (or sell) the maximum permittable number of shares. Selling the shares is done in much the same way, click on the share you wish to sell and enter the amount, then click on go (the green one) or click on the full amount key. Should you make a mistake, click on the backspace key (at the bottom right of the display). This will delete the character you entered last. If you click to trade on the wrong company then click on the CANCEL key and this will return you to the beginnning of your turn. The system can also be controlled by the numeric keypad (unless you were one of those sad deluded people who bought an A600, ha ha !), use "-" to sell, "+" to buy, "*" to cancel, "/" for full amount, ")" miss a turn and "(" for backspace. Also the go key (that is the enter key) is enter. The game works on 4 rounds, at the end of which the players will have their pockets filled by the companies dividend payouts. These consist of a percentage payment per share owned. The rounds are displayed at the top left and top right of the screen, and increase as each person takes one turn. At the end of the first round, you will be presented with a newsflash. This will tell you significant things which have happened on the market. This may not affect you, but there again, it just may send you bankrupt. At the end of round 3 the computer gives each player a simple wealth evaluation. It works out how much you are worth, then tells you in the nicest possible way that you're skint. The state of the economy can also change, this may bankrupt you if you do not know exactly how to deal with the situation. You will understand this the more you play the game. I think thats it, apart from to tell you that it has a highly complicated mechanism which fluctuates share prices, and gives news reports and stuff. I will leave it up to you to work out what the P/E and YIELD mean. I'd tell you only it would make the game too easy - well easier at least, so sod it. Rounds Summary End Of Round 1 - A Newsflash. End Of Round 2 - Wealth Evaluation Screen. End Of Round 3 - Nothing Much Happens, To Be Honest. End Of Round 4 - Companies Pay A Dividend On The Amount Of Shares You Own Keyboard Summary As explained above, it was desingned to be done from the numeric keypad, and so the keys are as follows :- ( - Backspace ) - Miss A Turn / = Full Amount * - Cancel - (minus sign) - Sell + - Buy and enter is enter, logical isn't it ? If anybody knows of another stockmarket type game for the amiga, (except for insiders club !) then tell me or send me a copy if you can ... thanks. Send any bug reports to :- D. Roach, 4, Tile Terrace, Brighouse, W. Yorkshire, England, HD6 1HY. Future Versions We have nearly finished a MicroMarket V1.2, which is much more flexible, and much improved. The new version allows you to change the names of companies and loads of new stuff ! If you can send us £5, and tell us your address, we would be only too glad to send it to you.