                   HEY!  IT'S TIME TO PLAY!  FLIP THE BITS!

    GAMEÿPLAY

    Flip the Bits is a game that challenges players to solve word puzzles
    based on a clue (puzzle category) and letters guessed after flipping
    the bits.

    Puzzle categories may be up to 20 characters and may be such things as
    PHRASE, FAMOUS PERSON, THING, PLACE, BEFORE AND AFTER, etc.  The puzzle
    category is the player's first 'clue' or 'hint' on what the puzzle is.
    Puzzles are 10-32 characters long and are, of course, consistant with
    the category.  Look at the following example of a puzzle:

          CATEGORY:  THING
          PUZZLE:    TELEVISION SITCOM

    Each game presents a different puzzle challenge.  At each turn in the
    game, the player may select to F>lip the bits (if consonants remain) to
    determine what a correct letter guess will be.  If the player correctly
    guesses a letter (consonant) that is contained in the puzzle and is, as
    yet unrevealed, the player is awarded the number of points indicated by
    the flipped bits.

    Players who have more than 400 points may B>uy a vowel if there are
    unrevealed vowels remaining.  Buying vowels helps players to gain
    insight in solving the puzzle.

    Players are allowed to play a number of games per day that is defined
    by the BBS System Operator (from 5 to 100).

    Flip the Bits can be set up to play in two different modes: either with
    Hang Man mode on or off.  When Hang Man mode is on, players are limited
    to seven incorrect letter or vowel guesses, after which, their "man" is
    hanged and the current puzzle is revealed and ended.  You can tell when
    Hang Man mode is on when there is a gallows on the top right portion of
    the puzzle box display.  With each incorrect consonant or vowel guess,
    1/7th of the "man" is drawn on the gallows.  If the gallows is not on
    the display, then Hang Man mode is not activated and the game may be
    played through to puzzle conclusion each time.

    When F>lipping the bits and landing on "Bankrupt", the points for the
    current puzzle are lost but your total score is not affected.

    Player scores are stored for the current month, after which, the game
    is closed and a new game is started.  When a game is closed a high
    score file is created containing names and scores for the top 3 players
    of the month. The All Time High Score is also tracked and displayed
    during puzzle play.

    ADDING PUZZLES

    The larger the puzzle database, the more fun Flip the Bits can be.  But
    puzzles are only as good as the person entering them makes them.  Flip
    the Bits comes with hundreds of puzzles already included, but players
    can also add puzzles by using the A>dd Puzzle option of the main menu.
    When adding a puzzle, just follow the prompts that are displayed.  Oh,
    and by the way, for each puzzle added by a player, 1,000 bonus points
    are awarded in return.  Players can add up to 5 puzzles per day.
    
    Some restrictions apply when adding puzzles.  Flip the Bits will check
    the puzzle to see that it is 12 to 32 characters long and that it will
    properly fit on two 16-character display lines. It also checks for
    duplicate puzzle entries in the database.  When a puzzle doesn't meet
    these guidelines, you are notified and the puzzle is discarded.

