Battle Picross by Sean Reid
===========================

Picross is a puzzle game where you try to reveal a picture.  
The puzzle lies in the process of revealing the picture.  To 
reveal the picture, you are given hints as to blocks of 
continuous pixels.  Each block of pixels is listed by row 
and by column.  You are to use these numbers to help you 
reveal the picture.  The number hints are like clues in a 
crossword puzzle - hence the name Picross!

Now, this game is different than similar types of picross 
games.  There is a lower time limit in this game.  However, 
you are allowed to use items that you collect to help reveal 
the puzzle.  It is a more franctic game that causes you to 
think just a little faster than with other puzzle games. 
And so we have Battle Picross!


Special Considerations
======================

This game features the freeware version of the Krawall Advance 
sound engine.  It is a great sound engine for the GBA, and it 
should be considered when sound needs to be added to your 
project.  Also, the music from the game comes from freeware mods 
on the net.  A special thanks goes out to these music authors!
More information is available at http://mind.riot.org/krawall/

This game was entered into the PDRoms Coding Competition in 
November 2003.  Its coding competitions like these that help 
generate interest and broaden the game development communities.
The PDRoms website is located at http://www.pdroms.de/


HOW DO I PLAY THIS GAME!?!?
===========================

I know that it might be a little hard to understand at first, 
but once you know how to play the game, you will be hooked.  
Head over to http://seanreid.ca/project/BattlePicross/ for a 
short tutorial and strategies to use to win at Battle Picross.
Also, read the enclosed tutorial.txt file.


Controls
========

You mainly control the chizzel tool on the puzzle surface.  You 
use the chizzel to to reveal the puzzle.  To chizzel a part of 
the puzzle, position the tool accordingly, and then press the 
A button.

If you know that a certain tile is not part of the puzzle, it is 
wise to mark it with an "X" so that you don't forget this fact.
To do this, press the B button.  Marking "X"s on the puzzle is 
not required to win the puzzle.  It is only there to help you 
remember which tiles are not part of the picture.

You can use items to help you reveal the picture.  To do this, 
slide in your items window with the R button.  While holding the 
R button, select the desired item with the cursor keys and press 
the A button.  If you do not wish to use an item, just let go 
of the R button instead.  You have to obtain items by completing 
puzzles.


Items
=====

L.Beam - Laser Beam
-------------------
Randomly positions a laser pod to reveal a lateral line of the 
picture.

H.Fire - Hot Fire
-----------------
Burns the puzzle away.  If you are lucky, the fire will start on 
a part of the picture, and the fire will spread far!

S.Gun - Shot Gun
----------------
Blasts the picture away with random spray.

E.Time - Extend Time
--------------------
Adds one minute to your puzzle time.


Multi-Boot Version
==================

I have provided a multi-boot version of the game (BattlePicross.mb).
This version is intended to be used for link cables that allow 
games to be uploaded to the GBA without a flash cart.  Due to the 
fact that no cart is intended to be used with the multi-boot version, 
the cleared puzzles and items will not be saved between sessions. To 
save your game progress, please run the regular version on an 
emulator or with a flash cart on the GBA hardware.