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  Tic Tac Toe v2.0
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1 Installation
  1.1 System requirements
  1.2 Installing the game

2 Running the game
  2.1 Against the computer
    2.1.1 Too Easy
    2.1.2 Easy
    2.1.3 Intermediate
    2.1.4 Hard
    2.1.5 Impossible
    2.1.6 Random
    2.1.7 Sequence
  2.2 Multiplayer
    2.2.1 The names
  2.3 Editing
    2.3.1 Colors
    2.3.2 Characters
    2.3.3 Font
    2.3.4 Attitude
  
3 Uninstalling the game
  3.1 Removing files

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1 INSTALLATION
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1.1 System requirements

Before installing the game, make sure your system meet the following minimum requirements:
 - Pentium 90 MHz processor, 4Mb RAM
 - WindowsNT/95/98/Me
 - 2Mb HD space


1.2 Installing the game

To install Tic Tac Toe, simply unzip the archive to a specified installation path, and open the file named "Setup.exe". (If you use Winzip, clicking "install" in the Classic interface will automatically run the setup file.)


2 RUNNING THE GAME
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2.1 Against the computer

	In this version of Tic Tac Toe, you can play a game against the computer. When you open the program, you will automatically be set in the "vs. Computer" mode. If you wish to play the computer while you are in multiplayer mode click "Players" on the menu and click "Human vs. Computer". You may play the computer either with it always going first, you always going first, or taking turns. You can play it at 5 different levels of difficulty as shown next. (One other change is that you may not start in the same spot twice in a row!)

   2.1.1 Too Easy
	
	The first, easiest difficulty, and the default one for the opening of the program is called "Too Easy". To access this while in another section of the game, click "Difficulty" on the menu bar, and click "Too Easy". This difficulty is almost impossible to lose! Play around with it to see the different paths the computer takes.

   2.1.2 Easy

	The second difficulty is called "Easy". While slightly harder than "Too Easy", "Easy" is still very beatable. You can access the "Easy" difficulty level by once again clicking "Difficulty" and then clicking "Easy". Play around with it to see the differnet paths the computer takes.

   2.1.3 Intermediate

	The third difficulty is called "Intermediate". Harder than "Easy", this is probably where most will like to play. It is beatable, but provides a sense of competition. The "intermediate" difficulty can be selected by clicking "Intermediate" in the "Difficulty" menu. Play around with it to see the different paths the computer takes.

   2.1.4 Hard

	The fourth difficulty is called "Hard". Hard is for those who at first believe they can guess the steps of the computer. Since there are only a few ways to beat this difficulty, you may find yourself copying a step down over and over. You can access "Hard" by clicking "Hard" on the "Difficulty" menu. Play around with it to see the different paths the computer takes.

   2.1.5 Impossible

	The fifth and final difficulty is called "Impossible". There is actually no mathematecal way to beat this difficulty. You can tie it, but there is no way on earth to beat it. As intimidating as it seems, it is true. You can access this difficulty by clicking "Impossible" on the "Difficulty" menu. This is a great trainer to know how not to lose when starting a game of Tic Tac Toe. So study and play around with this difficulty to see the paths the computer takes.

   2.1.6 Random

	Something I did very late in this program was programmed this random difficulty. This is very different from the other difficulties. The first five difficulties are all programmed to do a certain thing. This one however, is completely random. It will not always go in the same spot. While it still has a little bit of "intellegence", it can be hard one time, and then turn right back around and be simple. Never take this one for granted. You can access the "Random" option of playing the computer by selecting "Random" from the "Difficuly" menu.

   2.1.7 Sequence

	Something I decided to do in this version was by far the hardest part of the game. This was giving you the option of going first. At first it sounded far to overwhelming, but it bacame easier than I thought, and the option is much more appealing to users. From the "Sequence" menu, there are three different ways to play the computer. By clicking the "Computer always first" button, the computer will always begin the game. By clicking the "User always first" button, the user will always begin the game. And by clicking the "Take Turns" button, you will go back and forth.


2.2 Multiplayer

	If the ways of the computer are too boring and monotonous for you, play multiplayer by clicking the "Players" button on the menu bar and proceeding to click the "Human vs. Human" button. The first thing you will do is enter Player 1's name and player 2's name. (If you just hit enter or leave it blank, your name will just be Player 1 or Player 2.) Now you may start wherever, and finish wherever. You will swap turns, (I.E. After Player 1 goes first, the next game, Player 2 will go.) If you tie, win, or lose, you will be congratulated or confronted on the tie, and asked to play again (by saying "No" to playing again, the program will end.)
  
   2.2.1 The names

	The only part typing in your name has to do with anything is so when you win, lose, or it's your turn first, the computer can identify your turn through the name you desire.

2.3 Editing

	One great thing about this program that any creative person would love is the wide variety of editing options available in the "Edit" menu. You can edit the colors of numerous interface items, or the characters of the X's and O's, or even the font of the X's and O's.

   2.3.1 Colors

	There are many different options in this program for the person with the colorful mind. At first the program is rather dull with its black and white interface. But, you can change the color of the background, the X's and O's, or the lines. The color selection is from a predetermined bank of 6 basic colors. However if you're not satisfied with that, you may choose a custom color by clicking "Custom" on any of the color sub-menus.

   2.3.2 Characters
	
	Let's assume you're tired of the same old X and O style of playing. Fine!!! You can change X and O to whatever you want to. Click the "Edit X and O characters" from the edit menu to see a further extension. Click on either "Change X" or "Change O". An input box will show up. Type in 1 letter, number, symbol, whatever into the box (all following letters will be excluded.) So now instead of playing with X's and O's, play with U's and R's, or 5's and 9's, or #'s and *'s or whatever you want!

   2.3.3 Font

	Another creative aspect of this program is the change in font you make to the X's and O's. Click on the "Change Font of X and O" button from the Edit menu. From here a warning message box will show up (see WARNING). After clicking OK, you will see a window with a list for editing font, size, style, and Underline/StrikeThrough. Click on whatever you want and click OK. Your change will take place.

WARNING: Due to older and newer operating systems, some of the fonts which I placed on the list may not be available on your computer. There are two ways of checking if your computer has these fonts. On clicking the font you want, if the preview box does not change, your computer does not have that font. You may also check "C:\Windows\Fonts" and see if you can find that particular font. In the case that a font you have is not in my list, get the name of the font, type it into the text box above the list (the preview box will not update, don't worry about it.) and click OK.

   2.3.4 Attitude

	Probably the only humorous thing about this program is the computer's personality. It can either be very polite, or very rude. On startup, it will be randomly either polite or rude. To change this, go to "Attitude" in the Edit menu, and click on the attitude you want the computer to have. If it is polite, it will give you humble messages when it whens, understanding statements on a tie, and very congratulatory remarks when you win. On the other hand, if it is rude, it will call you a cheater when you lose, blame other things for a tie, or make fun and brag when it wins. This game has got one bad attitude!!!


3 UNINSTALLING THE GAME
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3.1 Removing Files

	To remove Tic Tac Toe from your computer, click the start menu, go to Settings, and click control panel. Then, double click the "Add/Remove Programs" Icon. Find Tic Tac Toe in that list and click remove. The uninstall program will take you through the rest of the process.

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Tic Tac Toe v2.0

Author: Ben McDonie
If you have any questions or concerns you may e-mail me at:
bob_10000@hotmail.com

P.S. Visual Basic ROCKS!!!