C A N A S T A FROM SPECIAL K SOFTWARE release 2.6 - 2002 created by G.M.McKAY COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS: Any 486, pentium or better IBM compatible computer will successfully run this game as long as it can run Windows 95 and has over 8 Mb of memory. It will use any sound driver that your Windows has fitted (ie. a sound card or PC speaker driver). A mouse is required (as with all Windows activities). It works best if Windows has a standard screen resolution, such as 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, or 1280x1024. However, it can accommodate any resolution. You should have at least 256 colours in your Screen Color Palette. DISTRIBUTION: This copyrighted game is distributed under the SHAREWARE system which depends upon your support for on-going development. You are encouraged to freely copy and distribute this product unaltered to friends, business associates, bulletin boards and user groups. HOWEVER THIS PRODUCT IS NOT FREE! You have an evaluation period of two weeks. If you decide you do not like the game, simply pass the disk along to someone else. If you are still using "Canasta From Special K" after two weeks of evaluation, you are obligated to send a minimum payment of $30. If the future of low-cost quality software is to continue, we all must support this concept. If you cheat on this payment may you be constantly finessed. When you register, you get lots of goodies, as well as that warm feeling that only comes from the knowledge that you are more saintly than the scum around you. Read the end of this file to find out about all the goodies. If you registered a previous version that gave you life time registrations (like this one does), simply setup this Shareware program on top of the previous one (ie into the same directory). It will become registered. INSTALLATION: CANASTA is distributed in a form which makes installation easy for you. Like all Windows programs, its installation is more complex than DOS programs, but the SETUP.EXE utility takes care of all this for you. This way, it can ensure that you have the correct Windows System files that it needs to run properly, without you having to do any work. After installation, you should have these files in the \Program Files\Canasta From Special K directory - CANASTA.EXE - base program CANASTA.HLP - Windows help file CANASTA.TXT - ASCII text help file REGO.FRM - user registration form SCORES.CAN - game scores and set-up info GAME.CAN - saved game *.CRD - data files. In addition, it will make sure that you have Windows system files in your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. If you received this software from a Bulletin Board or the Internet, it will be compressed into the one file, eg CANASTA.ZIP. Before running the installation program you will need to decompress it. Create a temporary directory, eg C:\MYTEMP, and decompress all the files into it. The software is now ready to install, as if you had bought it on a floppy disk. Now run the SETUP.EXE program. The easiest way of doing this is choose RUN from Windows START button, and type in the drive, directory, and SETUP.EXE name. Alternatively, you can run it from the File Explorer. If you have Winzip installed, you just have to open the .ZIP file and run the SETUP.EXE file. The installation program prompts you to enter the directory name in which to store the files. The installation program does NOT interfere with any of your standard set-up eg, AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, *.INI, path. It places the icon to start the CANASTA game in a group called "Canasta From special K" that it creates in the Programs group on the START button. If you want, you can easily move this icon to a different group (by the usual method of dragging and dropping). If you created a temporary directory, eg C:\MYTEMP, you can now remove it. The total space that this program takes up on disk is about 3.8 Mbytes. If you run CANASTA and find that it does not fill the whole screen, the answer is probably the screen resolution that you have chosen for Windows. You can change this via the Display icon in the Control Panel. It works best with standard resolutions, such as 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, or 1280x1024. However it supports most other resolutions. If it does not fill the whole screen, you can force it to use another - click here to find out more. Windows 95 also lets you uninstall this program. You will never want to do it, but you can delete the program, via the 'Add/Remove Programs' icon in the 'Control Panel' (use the 'START' button, then 'SETTINGS'). ************************************************************ If you have any problems with this program, whether installing it, or running it, please let me know. You can contact me on gmckay@dezzanet.net.au or Garry.McKay@akzonobel.com.au ************************************************************ VERSION 2.6: This version is ver 2.6 of CANASTA FROM SPECIAL K. This program plays the most popular forms of the enduringly popular card games of Canasta. Use Windows 95/98 to achieve the realistic atmosphere of a multi player Canasta game. You can choose from styles of play, scoring techniques, and different numbers of partners. It has animation, and supports various screen resolutions and sound cards. Background textures are now available. It comes complete with this help file which contains both rules and playing tips for the various games. So, it is ideal for expert and beginner alike. This version has various playing fixes and enhancements. REGISTRATION: - the latest, updated registered version (with even better card playing skills). - if you want it, for a small extra postage cost, I will include a registered copy of 500 Card Game For Windows 95 or Euchre Card Game From Special K or Bridge Game Card From Special K. An additional incentive is that you can register this version and have registered versions for life! With this registered version you receive a key. Download any future shareware version from the Internet, or any other source, and you can turn it into a registered version! Yet another incentive to register is that the registered copy does not make you endure the initial "nuisance" screen when you run it. SPECIAL BONUS - The registered copy also has a much more pleasing picture as the background to the Main Menu (ie. you do not have to see me and my family). It also allows you to put in YOUR OWN background to this menu, so if you have a pleasing Bit Map Picture, or even a scanned-in picture of yourself, this can be in the background every time you run it. You can register by posting the registration form and a check to me, and choose to receive your registered version by mail, or receive it quicker by email (and pay $3.00 less). You can also register on line by credit card by visiting my homepage at http://www.specialksoftware.com or http://home.dezzanet.net.au/gmckay Dealer enquires are welcome. Corporate licenses are available. ___________________________________________________________ CANASTA FROM SPECIAL K SOFTWARE Name:___________________________________ Date:___/___/___ Address:_____________________________________________________ City: _______________________ State: _____ Code: ________ Country:_______________________ Email (write very clearly): ______________________________ Version: _2.6_ Windows ver: _____________ My Copy From:_____________________(if the Internet what site) Floppy: _1.44MB_ Do you have a CD ROM (Yes/No): ______ registered latest version of CANASTA....$---- ($30) Postage & handling......................$---- ($3 for email or $6 for post) options: registered 500 CARD GAME FOR WINDOWS 95.$---- ($3 if required) registered EUCHRE FROM SPECIAL K........$---- ($3 if required) registered BRIDGE FROM SPECIAL K........$---- ($3 if required) registered RUMMY FROM SPECIAL K........$---- ($3 if required) registered WHIST FROM SPECIAL K........$---- ($3 if required) total $---- (at least $33 or $36) Send registered version by email or post: ________ I will be grateful for any suggestions, comments, or information on problems with the game you may have. ____________________________________________________________ SEND THE FORM TO: R.McKAY 29 Melissa St. Strathmore Victoria , 3041 Australia Make checks payable to L.R.McKay You can confirm the postal addess at the Internet sites below. If you want to register on the Internet and pay by credit card, you can by visiting my home page at http://www.specialksoftware.com or http://home.dezzanet.net.au/gmckay (these have a slightly different payment deal). - - - - - - - - Enjoy this game, R. McKay