The first time you play DARK SEED, a menu of set-up options will appear
allowing you to choose the appropriate input device; either a Microsoft
compatible mouse, joystick, or keyboard can be selected. Press 1, 2 or 3
to make your selection. The next time you play DARK SEED, the game
will default to your original selections. If you wish to change your
selection, add the /m parameter after DS on the command line when you
start the game, and the input device menu will be redisplayed. For
example, if you previously played DARK SEED with a joystick, but now you
would prefer to use a mouse, you would type:
DS /M
Press enter, then select "1" from the input device menu to choose the
mouse option.
GAME CONTROLS
DARK SEED is most easily played with a two-button Microsoft compatible
mouse. If you have a three-button mouse, only the left and right buttons
will be active. Joystick users should use the appropriate action buttons;
these will vary on each type of joystick. The corresponding keyboard
controls are the SPACE BAR (left mouse button) and ENTER key (right mouse
button). The cursor arrow keys control directional movement.
On the screen, you will see an arrow-shaped cursor that you control.
When your cursor is over a connecting doorway which leads to another
room or location, this single arrow cursor changes to four inwardly-
pointing arrows.
To make Mike Dawson move, position the arrow cursor to the wherever
you want him to go and press the left mouse button. If there is an
unavoidable obstruction in his path, he will stop at the closest possible
point. If you press the left mouse button when the multiple arrows are
displayed, Mike will walk to the doorway and then to the adjoining
location.
Clicking the right mouse button cycles the cursor shape through a "?"
(look/inquire) shape, a "hand" (touch/manipulate) shape and an "arrow"
(move) cursor shape.
When the "?" and "hand" cursor are placed over items which have more
information available, or which Mike can pick up or use, the cursor
changes shape. The "?" shape changes to the "!", and the "open hand"
shape changes to the "pointing finger".
To examine or manipulate an object, select the "?" or "hand" icon
using the right mouse button, place it over the desired object, and click
the left mouse button to activate. If you use the "hand" icon to pick up
an object, it is added to your inventory.
Regardless of the input device you chose (keyboard, joystick or mouse),
the "T" key can be used during the game to advance the clock to the
beginning of the next hour (i.e. if it's 10:15, then pressing T will
advance the clock to 11:00); this is useful if you find yourself stuck
in a situation with a lot of time to kill.
Hint: make sure you look at everything in each room.
YOUR INVENTORY
To view your current inventory, move the cursor to the top of the screen.
A row of icons will appear at the top of the game window, representing
items in your inventory. At the beginning of the game, all you have in
your inventory is some money, represented by the money icon, which is
useful (and necessary) if you want to take Mike Dawson shopping. Other
inventory item icons will appear as you accumulate them. To examine an
item in your inventory, place the "?" cursor over the inventory item and
press the left mouse button. To manipulate something in your inventory,
use the "hand" cursor. To use an inventory item, select it by clicking
with the arrow cursor; the cursor will immediately change to the "hand"
shape to indicate that you are holding an inventory item. You may then
place the "hand" cursor over any object or position on the screen
(including other icon items in your inventory) and press the left mouse
button to use the item. To de-select an inventory item after you've
selected it, press the right mouse button; the item will remain in your
inventory.
If you have more items in your inventory than will fit on the top of the
screen, scrolling arrow icons will appear next to your inventory icons.
Selecting arrows allows you to view and select from your entire inventory.
GAME OPTIONS
You may access the game options screen by selecting the diskette icon at
the top of the screen. Use your left mouse button to select it. The
game options screen can be used to save your current game position, load
a previously saved game, turn the sound on or off, exit to DOS, or return
to the game. While you are on this screen, The game's time clock is
suspended. Select the appropriate action button on the left hand side
of the screen by positioning the cursor over the item and pressing the
left mouse button. When you save a game, you will be prompted to enter a
filename, which can be up to eight letters long (the .SAV extension will
be added automatically). If you re-use an existing name, you will be
prompted before the old save file is overwritten. When you load a
previously saved game, a list of filenames is displayed on the right-hand
side of the screen . If there is not enough room to display all the
filenames, select the MORE box to display additional names. Up to 75
saved games can be viewed this way. If you exceed this limit you will
have to exit to DOS and delete some old .SAV files first! From the
available list, choose the name of the saved game you would like to
load and press the left mouse button to select. There are two special
filenames: "RESTART" starts the game over from the beginning.
Select "EXIT" if you change your mind and don't want to load a saved
game. To return to the game without loading or saving a game,
select "RESUME".
1. Save your game regularly. If you make a mistake and haven't saved
your game, you will have to start over from the beginning. Also, at the
end of every day, it's a good idea to save your game before going to
bed - just in case you find out later that there was something you
needed to get done that day, but forgot to do!
2. Pause your game if you have to step away from your computer. Time
is suspended at the load/save/game options screen. If you forget to
do this, then time will continue to pass, and Dawson doesn't have a
lot of it left to waste! His days are numbered.
3. Look at everything. Sometimes you won't learn everything about an
object on the first look; you may have to look more closely a second
time. Don't forget to "look" at items you acquire in your inventory.
Also, some objects won't make their appearance until you have obtained
the necessary clues to their existence. Some events in the game
must be performed on particular days. Remember, it's not what you
know that counts, it's what Dawson knows that's important. Keep that
in mind if you need to start the game again from scratch.
4. Pat attention to the changes in the cursor shapes as you move
them over objects an backgrounds, as they provide important clues
about your environment.
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