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Snaky Jake ReadMe
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Charlie Dog Games 2006

This document provides information about "Charlie Dog Games" "Snaky Jake"

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How to Use This Document
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To view the Readme file in Windows Notepad, maximize the Notepad window, and turn on the Word Wrap feature. To print the 

Readme file, open it in Notepad or another word-processing program, and click Print on the File menu.

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CONTENTS
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   1. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
   2. INSTALLATION TIPS
   3. TROUBLESHOOTING
   4. Credits
   5. Known Issues
   6. Game Play Hints


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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
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Microsoft Windows 98 ME, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP

PIII 800 MHz CPU or better
128 MByte system ram or better
Hardware Video support recommended
Direct X Sound
Minimum graphics resolution 800*600
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
Windows-compatible sound card
180 MByte of Hard Disc required for installation


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INSTALLATION TIPS
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Ensure that at least 180 MByte of space is available on the hard disc before installing and running the game.

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TROUBLESHOOTING
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Users who have older machines (pre-PIII) may find that they have low frame rate issues.  In this case the "Detail Option" in the "Options" menu may need to be adjusted to "Low Detail".  To do this, click on the "Options" text in the main menu. Then click on the "Detail Options" text until it reads "Low".

Note that the detailed backdrops only appear if there is hardware support for video.

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Credits
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Game design and game code - Charlie Dog
Art - Simon Lissaman
Music - Michael Watts / Encore Music
This product includes portions of the PopCap Games Framework (http://developer.popcap.com/)
Python integration into Popcap framework - Jarrad Woods
Thank you to all at Oberon specifically - Gabe Carter
Special thanks to my wife and children for their incredible patience and understanding.

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Known Issues
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Users running the game on early versions of Windows 98 SE may experience stability problems. 
When run in windowed mode on low end machines frame rate may not be constant.  The developer recommends running the game in full screen mode and on low end machines recommends running with the "detail option" set at "low".

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Game Play Hints
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Always try to have at least one level of scaling for Jake by getting a combo.  This provides shields, lets you jump higher and in the later stages of the game provides additional powers.

To get a high score, try to get as many combos as possible as they provide a score multiplier.  One level of multiplier is given for each combo collected.

If the trail catches fire you can put it out by getting a 3 of a kind match

Ghosts can only be stunned using the Snake Quake

The fairy will collect coins and power ups

Try to get the magnets as these automatically collect the coins for you

To use the "Dash" power up double click in the top half of Jake otherwise he'll drop under the platform before doing the dash.

Both Dash and Smash Jump can be used to stun the enemy.  

If you find a platform with a lot of coins on it and you don't have time to get them all, perform a Smash Jump to collect all the coins on the platform in one go and this kills any snails on the platform.

Try to stay in the middle of the screen when it is scrolling

Once the story mode is unlocked, play through the action mode and try to get as higher score as possible.  Action mode high scores are recorded in the high score table.
