Thank you for downloading Adventure Gamers' second seasonal adventure game, Christmas Quest 2: The Yuletide Flows In.  

The sequel to last year's smash hit (or so we'd like to think) Christmas Quest: The Best Adventure Game Ever!, the new game is similar to its predecessor in many ways, but different in others.  

One thing that hasn't changed is the foremost objective of the game: have fun!!  And to make that possible, we've made the game even simpler for anyone to pick up and play.  But if you're reading this, you may need a few pointers to help you along, so here are the basics to get you started.

After downloading the zip file, simply unzip it to the directory of your choice.  There you'll find the setup and game icons. Under Winsetup, you can twiddle around with the settings you prefer.  That's right - this is our professional technical advice: twiddle.  You can change resolution and set the game to run in full screen or windowed.  If you make changes, just click "Save and Run" and off you go!  

At any time, you can click on the ChristmasQuest2.exe icon to begin the game.  From the title screen, simply select the option you want (except Quit.  Never select Quit.  Never ever.)

Once in the game, Christmas Quest 2 is as easy to control as pointing and clicking.  Sweeping your cursor across the screen should reveal many hotspots.  Left-clicking the mouse causes your character to use an object if an action is possible, and right-clicking will provide an observation.  If your cursor is not over a hotspot, the character will move to the location you left-click (laws of gravity and common sense permitting).

Onscreen at all times are icons for the main menu and inventory.  The main menu is represented by an open book in the top right hand corner of the screen, and the inventory is accessed through a Santa sack icon in the upper left.  Left-clicking on either icon will open their respective functions.

In the menu bar, additional icons include:

Wrapped and unwrapped presents: save and load game
Christmas light bulb: help
Doorway: quit game (remember to never ever use this under any circumstances imaginable).

Once you have acquired items to use, they will be stored in the Santa sack.  Clicking the sack will cause it to open and reveal the items you have acquired.  Like any object in the game, each icon can be examined and used and even combined.  Right-clicking will offer an observation of the item.  Left-clicking will select the item for use and replace the default pointer as your active cursor.  If you wish to combine the item with another inventory item, simply left-click the second item.  If you wish to use the icon in the main game, right-click to close the inventory, and left-click to use the item on an active hotspot.  If you wish to de-select the item, simply right-click your mouse button again.

As you proceed, the game will switch to a close-up first-person view at times.  When in this perspective, an additional two icons will appear.  Selecting the A<-B icon will reset the current puzzle (somewhat painfully), and the arrow icon will back out of the current screen.

So those are the mechanics, and the rest is up to you!!  Take your time, and don't be shy.  You can't die in the game, so observe everything carefully and try any action, no matter how crazy.  The solutions are logical (in their own way), but the game rewards those who follow the Xmas-factor: eXplore, eXperiment, eXperience!  

There are two characters in Christmas Quest 2, and each has their own unique insight, so be sure to check with both for every item you pick up.  One of them may just have important clues to offer.  And early on, you'll discover an Adventure Gamers favourite, the Ulti-pan.  Remember to use it on everything!

That's it.  You're on your own after this, but we're sure you'll prevail.  If you do get stuck, feel free to log into the Adventure Gamers forums (http://forums.adventuregamers.com/) and someone will be sure to help you out.

Enjoy the game, everybody.  Long live the adventure!