Roxie's Math Fish Copyright (C) LatticeWork Software, 1995-1998 Roxie's Math Fish is a freely-distributable shareware program REQUIREMENTS Windows 95 256+ color mouse Windows-supported sound card hard drive INSTALLATION Click on the "Start" button then "Settings" and then select "Control Panel." Double-click on "Add/Remove Programs" and click on the "Install" button. Click "Next" and Windows will find setup.exe on your floppy disk. Click on "Finish." UNINSTALL To uninstall Roxie's Math Fish, click on Start/Settings/Control Panel. Next double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon. Scroll down and click on Roxie's Math Fish. Then click the Add/Remove button. INTRODUCTION Roxie's Math Fish is a very intuitive, and easy-to-use program. Children can, with no help or supervision, learn to play the game just by clicking on various areas on the screen. ROXIE'S HINTS For example, the mouse cursor will change depending on the action which can be taken at that position. When the cursor is over the HELP button, or over Roxie, it changes to a large question mark. Clicking on Roxie will cause Roxie to explain the current game status. Clicking on the HELP button, allow access to on-line help screen. When the cursor is over the draw deck in the center of the screen, or over one of the player's cards on the bottom of the screen, it changes to a hand holding a card. And, when the cursor is over the STOP button on the bottom right of the screen, the cursor changes to a STOP sign, showing how to exit the program. Clicking on a card with the RIGHT mouse button will cause Roxie to say the mathematical expression and answer of that card. GETTING STARTED The program will display a dialog box asking for the child's name, math level, and playing level. The math levels are: o Addition (0 - 12) o Subtraction (0 - 12) o Addition (0 - 18) o Subtraction (0 - 18) o Multiplication (to 5 X 5) o Division (to 5 X 5) o Multiplication (to 9 X 9) o Division (to 9 X 9) The three playing levels are: o Easy o Medium o Hard Roxie plays an increasingly better game in the Medium and Hard levels. Choose a level and click on Ok. PLAYING THE GAME Your child is ready to play Roxie's Math Fish. The goal is to get the largest number of books consisting of four of the same card. (Actually the goal is to learn math, but don't tell your child that!) Your child's and Roxie's cards are on the screen, with a draw deck in between them. Roxie will tell your child what the next move is. For example, at the beginning of the game, Roxie says "Your turn." A good reminder to your child will be to tell him or her that if they are stuck, to click on Roxie's face, and Roxie will tell them what's going on. For most children, this is not necessary, because they will be trying different things, clicking on different areas of the screen and discovering what works and what doesn't. That will make the game more fascinating for them since THEY are the ones who are in charge and are running things. A more unusual activity that the child is not likely to just "happen" on is that clicking on a card with the RIGHT mouse button, will cause Roxie to say the mathematical expression and the answer. Telling them about this can be helpful. At the beginning of every game, the child is first. They will click on a card to ask Roxie if she has any of those. If so, the cards will be given to the child; otherwise, Roxie will say a variation of "Go Fish!" In this case, the child should click on the draw deck, and a card is placed in their hand. If they drew what they asked for, it is still their turn. If they did not draw what they asked for, it is Roxie's turn, and Roxie will ask for a card. If you child has that card, he or she should click on it. Don't worry, they cannot make a mistake. If the child clicks on the wrong card, or on the draw deck, when they have the card that Roxie wants, Roxie will gently correct them. Play continues until all of the cards in the draw deck are played, and Roxie announces a winner. After playing a complete game of "Go Fish" the child may play one round of Roxie's Dice. (See below for details of the game.) If the child or Roxie completes a book of four cards with the same answer, that book is placed onto their respective discard piles on the table. If this causes either player to run out of cards, one is automatically chosen for them and play passes to the other player. CHANGE LEVEL Click on the HELP button, and choose "Change Level" if you wish to change either the math level or the playing skill level. HELP Click on the "HELP" button for the on-line help, or to order Roxie Math Fish, or change levels of the Roxie Math Fish game. ROXIE'S DICE GAME As a reward, the child may play one round of the classic dice game, Shut The Box, renamed here to Roxie's Dice. The object of Roxie's Dice is to try to close all nine boxes, or as many of the nine boxes as possible, to score the lowest score possible. The score initially is 45 (the sum of one through 9). The dice are rolled by clicking in the "cup" area. One, two, three, or four boxes may be closed on each throw of the dice. The total of the numbers on the boxes closed must be equal to the total number of pips on the two dice. For example, if all boxes are open, and a 6 and a 5 are rolled, one of the following sets of boxes may be closed: 1.) box 9 and box 2 2.) box 8 and box 3 3.) box 8, box 2 and box 1 4.) box 7 and box 4 5.) box 7, box 3, and box 1 6.) box 6 and box 5 7.) box 6, box 4 and box 1 8.) box 6, box 3 and box 2 9.) box 5, box 4 and box 2 10.) box 5, box 3, box 2 and box 1 After all necessary boxes are closed, the dice will be placed back into the cup for the next throw. There is a limited undo option. Play continues until there are no more possible moves. The sum of the numbers of the boxes left open is the final score. Roxie's Dice has a limited undo option. If only one box is needed to be closed to complete a throw of the dice, after closing that box there is no way to undo that play. However, if two or more boxes need to be closed to complete a throw of the dice, and if only one of those boxes has been closed, clicking on that box again will open it. For example, if a 6 and 3 are thrown, and a player clicks on the 7 box to close that box, before clicking on the 2 box, the 7 box may be clicked again to re-open it. Then, if desired, boxes 5 and 4 may be closed instead. To quit Roxie's Dice at any time, click on the "Go Fish" button. SUPPORT The following support of Roxie's Math Fish is provided. LatticeWork Software will answer questions and fix serious bugs during a one-year period after order or registration. For problems involving specific hardware or software environment or feature, LatticeWork Software may choose not to modify the program. In that case, if a problem is reported within three months after order, then LatticeWork Software will refund the user's order price. You may contact LatticeWork Software at the following addresses: 1) LatticeWork Software P.O. Box 362 Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 2) email to support@latticeworksw.com 3) visit our web page: http://www.latticeworksw.com DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT LIMITED WARRANTY THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION ONLY, ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. LATTICEWORK SOFTWARE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NEITHER LATTICEWORK SOFTWARE NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH SOFTWARE, EVEN IF LATTICEWORK SOFTWARE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS. THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.