Thank you for taking the time to try this evaluation version of Santa's Secret Valley. We hope you find it enjoyable.
You are welcome to keep playing this version for as long as you wish without cost or obligation. You will eventually find, however, certain key locations that you are not allowed to enter. At that point, we hope (and expect!) you will decide that you want to keep playing, keep exploring, keep solving puzzles until you have completed your mission and won the game.
Obtaining the full version of Santa's Secret Valley is easy and inexpensive. Complete instructions are readily available from within the game itself, both on start-up and when you try to enter a restricted location. Starting with this version, North American users who have a modem on their system can actually use their VisaΣ or MasterCardΣ to register the game on-line while they play!
We hope to hear from you soon. Meanwhile, enjoy the game!
Questions and Answers
Q. What do I get when I purchase Santa's Secret Valley?
It depends on which of the two available versions you order. When you ask for the Regular Version, we give you a code that unlocks all the closed-off areas in the Evaluation Version you already possess. This lets you explore the game fully, and - if you can solve all the puzzles - eventually to retrieve Santa's magic items and finish the quest.
If you ask for the Gift Edition, costing a few dollars more, we ship you a version of the game that is especially designed for holiday season gift-giving. Besides the game itself, which comes on three high-density floppy disks, the Gift Edition includes a deluxe gift-bag, instruction card and tissue paper that go together to make an attractive holiday present.
The Gift Edition also includes a special customizing program that you can use before the software is installed to send a personal message to the recipient of your gift. The player will receive your message during the game in the form of a letter. Also, the recipient's name will be used throughout the game as the name of the main character - a touch that kids especially will love. The customizing program runs directly from the disks we ship (no install required) on any computer with Microsoft Windows. It's so easy to use that you'll be able to customize the game successfully even if you have very limited experience with computers.
Q. When I start the game, a dialog appears recommending that I switch from 16 to
256 colors. How do I go about doing that?
Nowadays, most but not all PCs running Windows support 256-color displays. If your graphics hardware allows it, you can change your display settings to 256 colors and see the game as it was meant to be seen. If you are running Windows 3.1, use the Setup program to install the appropriate display driver. If you are running Windows 95, search in the Desktop Help for Colors, then select Number of colors, changing.
Q. I'm having a problem with the game. Can I get help?
Technical support for Santa's Secret Valley is by Internet Email at ssv@islandnet.com. Our response time for email is generally less than 24 hours.
Important Notice About Technical Support
Please be aware that our tech support resources are limited. Before contacting us, check to see if your question is answered either in this readme file or in your Windows or equipment manuals. If you do need our help, please prepare a succinct description of the problem you are having, and the conditions in which it arose.
One further point: our technical support staff do not give out game hints. Please restrict your use of support services to technical problems only.
Q. Where can I find extra hints if I get stuck?
If you need a hint prior to registering, use the Hint Encyclopedia, a Windows help file with complete hint coverage for the evaluation portion of the game. It can be downloaded from the Santa's Secret Valley home page on our Family Games website at http://www.familygames.com/ssv.html. Hints for the later (post-registration) portions are available through our password-protected on-line Hint Service, for which a link can also be found at the above URL.
Q. I'm a dealer. Is there a retail version of Santa's Secret Valley?
The Gift Edition of Santa's Secret Valley is also perfect for holiday season retailing. Dealers can contact us at the email address given above, or through our order line at 1-800-EYE-SPYY.
