Supercoast documentation Copyright 1993 Brian Skrenta This Software is provided as-is. There are no warranties, expressed or implied. Microsoft Windows (TM) is a trademark of Microsoft. Requirements: ============= Supercoast requires at least a 286 computer running Microsoft Windows (TM) version 3.1. It will not run very well on a 286 or slow 386, however. Supercoast achieves it's best performance when a numeric processor is present. (486's all have built in numeric processors except the SX models, and 387's installed with 386's are numeric processors). Installation: ============= If you have a numeric processor (a 287, 387, or 486 non-sx), copy the included file "scoast87.scr" to the windows directory (usually c:\windows). If you do NOT have a numeric processor, copy the file "scoast.scr" to the windows directory. Once you have copied the proper file, load the control panel in windows (usually located in the Main group). Double-click the desktop icon and choose "Roller Coaster" from the screen saver choices. About the Program: ================== Supercoast is a screen saver for Microsoft Windows (TM) version 3.1. Screen savers are designed to protect your computer monitor from burn in by not allowing a constant pattern to remain on the screen. Supercoast accomplishes this by displaying different line drawings quickly as the roller coaster moves around the track. The result is a three dimensional eye-view as if your were riding a roller coaster. Additionally, Supercoast moves the flat image slowly back and forth over a distance of 60 pixels to prevent constant vertical lines from existing. For maximal screen-saving properties, set the track thickness to 0 (see below). Setup Option: ============= Supercoast has many options that can be set by using the setup dialog. To do this, select desktop from the windows control panel, and select the Roller Coaster screen saver. Then click on the 'setup' pushbutton. The setup dialog will now appear and options can be set. Explanations of these options follow: A. Time Interval: ------------------ The time interval is an integer number that can be specified by the user. This value is the number of milliseconds to display a frame of the motion until a new frame is redrawn. The higher the number is, the slower the roller coaster will go. This can be useful to even out the performance of the coaster on a slower machine, or to slow down the amount of cpu time that the coaster takes up (to improve performance of other programs running in the background) B. Use Intermediate Bitmap: ---------------------------- As a default, this is not selected. Normally, all of the 'drawing' of the roller coaster is done as you watch. If you have the track thickness set high, and/or other options, this may create an annoying flicker on the screen. With the intermediate bitmap option set, all drawing is done in memory, and then the final image is sent to the graphics hardware. This eliminates much of the flicker, but will probably slow down the motion of the roller coaster, especially if a high-color graphics mode is used. Whether or not this is a good option for you to set depends on what kind of graphics hardware you have, which graphics mode you use, and what other options you use. Try both ways and pick the one that works best. C. Track Thickness: -------------------- The track thickness option allows you to select the diameter of the track pipes. Generally, As the thickness of the pipes increases, the performance of the roller coaster slows. A value of 0 creates only line drawings and eliminates all computation of thickness, and is therefore the fastest option. D. Track Color: ---------------- The track color options allow the user to combine values of red, green, and blue to arrive at the desired color. Values should be in the range of 0-255. If you are not in a full color graphics mode, Windows will choose an available color which most closely represents the values you have chosen. E. Initial Velocity: ---------------------- This specifies the velocity of the roller coaster at the beginning (top) of the track. The greater this number, the faster the roller coaster will go. F. Gravity: ------------- This value specifies the gravity constant which influences the roller coaster's speed as it moves on inclined track. G. Supports: -------------- This specifies whether the ground supports are to be drawn. H. Flags: ----------- This specifies whether flags are to be drawn on the sides of the track. Ordering: ========= Supercoast is a shareware program. This means that the unregistered version is freely distributed, but users are required to purchase a registered version to continue using the program. As stated in the setup dialog, to order, send a $10 check or money order payable to Brian Skrenta to the following address: Brian Skrenta PO Box 2623 Columbia, MD 21045 For this registration fee, you will receive the latest version of Supercoast. This version will include options for password protection, and different track designs. It will also enable you to make your own roller coaster designs for use by Supercoast. This registration fee will help the author (Brian Skrenta) to make improvements on Supercoast and develop other shareware programs. Distribution: ============= The unregistered version of Supercoast may be freely distributed by anyone provided that the following conditions are met: 1) None of the program or files are modified in any way. 2) The files scoast.scr, scoast87.scr, and scoast.txt must all be included in the distribution. Feel free to use any archive/compression format for these files, but it's probably easiest just to use the original zip file. 3) Do not charge more than $5 for the media that the program is sold on. Please do distribute this program!!!! The registered version of the program is only for use by the registered owner and is not to be distributed under any circumstances. About the Author: ================= Brian Skrenta is a Senior at the University of Colorado studying Computer Science. This is the first shareware program he has released/distributed. He is interested in graphical programming, video games, virtual reality, etc. If you know of any company/organization interested in programmers in these fields, please have them contact Brian at the above address (in Ordering).