                        Sidewalk Software presents


                              Zeek the Geek


                                A Game by
                              Paul H. Smith


TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------

   The Story
   Game Controls
   The Zeek Family of Programs
   Zeek the Geek Copyright Notice
   System Requirements
   Frequently Asked Questions
   How to Order


THE STORY
---------

On a small planet in a large solar system on the far side of the galaxy,
there is intelligent life. The dominant life form is the Geek, not to be
confused with the geeks we know here on earth.  Geeks have extremely high
IQ's, but they lack common sense. (OK, so there is some resemblance to
earthly geeks.) A Geek could out-perform any scientific calculator without
blinking an eye, but would have trouble solving even simple puzzles.

Zeek is a typical Geek. He has a large head with a very large brain, and
he can solve complex mathematical formulas in a flash. But, he is easily
confused by everyday challenges. Unfortunately, this is quite a problem
where Zeek lives. Everyday challenges can be fatal if he makes a mistake,
and he needs help deciding how to get around. This is where you come in.
You can help him get to the mushrooms that he and his family like so much.


GAME CONTROLS
-------------

The primary goal of each level is to guide Zeek to a mushroom.  It is the
favorite food of the Geeks, and Zeek must gather them for his family.
Along the way, you will collect points for flowers that Zeek picks, for
gates that he opens, for finding a treasure chest, and for matching up
magic crystals. You will also collect bonus points for completing a level
quickly. The faster you can get through the level, the more bonus points
you collect. Thus, to maximize your score, you must move Zeek quickly to
the mushroom, and collect the extra treasures along the way.

You can control Zeek's movement with the arrow keys on the keyboard or
with the mouse. Press an arrow key for the direction that you want Zeek
to move, and he will respond as long as you hold the key down. Using the
mouse, just click on the spot that you want Zeek to move to, and he
responds. However, Zeek may not move exactly the way you wish unless you
click on a spot that is a horizontal or vertical move for him. If Zeek
has a fatal encounter with one of the local hazards, or if he is otherwise
trapped in a hopeless situation, you can restart the same level by
pressing the "Esc" key on the keyboard or by clicking the mouse on the
Zeek button on the scorepad. After restarting a level with a new Zeek,
no score will accumulate until you have once again collected the same
(or equivalent) treasures that you collected on the previous attempt at
the level.

You can save or restore a game in progress, load a puzzle pack (in part
two), skip a level, exit the game, or perform any of several other
functions by selecting the Disk Functions button on the scorepad.  Also,
you can view the high scores at any time by selecting the Star Performers
button.

The four push buttons on the scorepad are:

     New Zeek Button (Restart the same level)
     Disk Functions and Controls, including:
          Save Game (Save current state of game to disk)
          Restore Game (Retrieve a previously saved game)
          Load Puzzle Pack (Not available in Part One)
          New Game (Start the game over again)
          Resume Game (Continue with the game in progress)
          Turn Music On/Off (With multimedia sound board)
          Turn Sounds On/Off (With multimedia sound board)
          Skip Level (Abandon current level and go to next)
          Exit Program
     All About Zeek (this window)
     Star Performers (high scores)


THE ZEEK FAMILY OF PROGRAMS
---------------------------

Zeek the Geek Part One
----------------------

Zeek the Geek Part One is an introduction to Zeek and the puzzling situations
that he finds himself in.  Zeek needs to collect mushrooms for his family,
and you can help him figure out how to get them. You will guide him through
fifteen levels of play, and encounter a number of obstacles along the way.
There are block walls that can't be moved and locked gates that can only be
opened if you find the key. There are boulders to push out of the way,
flowers that eat Geeks, and many other things that may help or hinder Zeek in
getting to the mushrooms. You will have to figure out how to use or avoid the
things you find while you guide Zeek on his way.

The complete list of things that Zeek will meet in Part One is:

     Walls that do not move.
     Yellow barrels that do not move.
     Mushrooms that Zeek collects for his family.
     Toadstools that are fatal if eaten.
     Round yellow boulders that Zeek can push.
     Giant apples that Zeek can push.
     Yellow flowers that Zeek can pick.
     Locked gates.
     Keys to the gates. (Zeek can carry only one at a time.)
     Purple flower buds that open when a Geek is near.
     Purple flowers that eat apples and nearby Geeks.
     Magic crystals that disintegrate when brought together.
     Dynamite that Zeek can push to destroy most obstacles.

Although other members of the Zeek family of programs must be purchased,
Zeek the Geek Part One is provided free of charge, and it may be freely
copied and distributed. You are encouraged to pass copies along to your
friends, to share it at work or at school, and to upload a copy to your
favorite bulletin board or internet site.  The only restrictions to such
distribution are that all files must be included in their original
unmodified form, and that no profit shall be made from the distribution
(other than a nominal disk copying charge).


Zeek the Geek Part Two
----------------------

Zeek the Geek Part Two is a continuation of the adventures of Zeek with
thirty all new puzzling situations for you to help Zeek through.  Zeek
still needs to collect mushrooms for his family, he will meet all the
same hazards that he found in Zeek the Geek Part One, and he will meet
many new ones, including Piclasops and Atomic Eyes.  A Piclasop looks
something like an earthly triceratops, but it is strictly vegetarian.
It can inflict a fatal byte if you get in its way, but it ignores Geeks
when left alone.  Atomic Eyes were placed on Zeek's planet by an alien
race that is trying to eliminate the Geeks and eventually take over the
planet.  They watch the Geeks, and zap them with a laser blast if they
can get a clear shot at them.

The complete list of things that Zeek will meet in Part Two is:

     Everything encountered in Part One.
     Piclasops that graze on the local vegetation.
     Atomic Eyes that zap Geeks when they can.
     Blue flowers that are fatal if picked.
     Attitude Eggs that change the colors of flowers.
     Rotten Apples that are digested slowly by the purple flowers.
     Invisibility pills that last for a short time.

Zeek the Geek Part Two also includes the ability to read in Zeek the Geek
Puzzle Packs. Each Puzzle Pack contains many more puzzles and challenges
for you to help Zeek with.


Zeek the Geek Puzzle Packs
--------------------------

Zeek the Geek Puzzle Packs provide an inexpensive way for you to continue the
fun of Zeek the Geek Part Two by adding new puzzles for Zeek to solve.  The
Puzzle Packs currently offered by Sidewalk Software each contain a collection
of all new puzzles which can be read into Zeek the Geek Part Two.  Once
loaded, the Puzzle Pack becomes a whole new game.  Choose a simple Puzzle
Pack if you don't want to think too hard, or choose a more difficult Puzzle
Pack if you really want to be challenged.  A number of Zeek the Geek Puzzle
Packs are available from Sidewalk Software, and you may be able to find third
party puzzle packs available elsewhere.

The following Puzzle Packs are currently available from Sidewalk Software:

     Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack One,  "Nice 'n Easy"
          30 puzzles for those who want to be lightly challenged.

     Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Two,  "Challenge Pack"
          30 very challenging puzzles for the experienced player.

     Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Three,  "Puzzles Galore"
          60 puzzles, easy to difficult, but most somewhere between.

     Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Four,  "Challenge Pack II"
          30 very challenging puzzles for the experienced player.

     Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Five,  "Kid's Stuff"
          30 very simple puzzles designed for the very young.

     Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Six,  "Zeek 1 Puzzles"
          The 15 puzzles of Zeek the Geek Part One in a puzzle pack.

     Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack Seven,  "Zeek 2 Puzzles"
          The 30 puzzles of Zeek the Geek Part Two in a puzzle pack.

Zeek the Geek Designer
----------------------

Zeek the Geek Designer is a user friendly tool that lets you design and save
your own puzzle packs for use with Zeek the Geek Part Two. It provides
point-and-click building of up to sixty levels of play, and immediate
testing of each level. No programming experience is necessary or even
helpful in creating your puzzles, and you should be able to learn to use the
simple controls in just a few minutes.  You can build your puzzles with
all the features and functionality of Zeek the Geek Part Two, and you can
save your work in a puzzle pack that can be played on Zeek the Geek Part
Two. Then you can use, sell, or otherwise distribute your puzzle pack without
paying royalty fees to Sidewalk Software. Additionally, Sidewalk Software
will offer to sell high quality puzzle packs for you and pay you royalties
for each copy sold.


Zeek the Geek Combination One
-----------------------------

This package includes the latest versions of Zeek the Geek Part One, Zeek the
Geek Part Two, Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack One, and Zeek the Geek Puzzle Pack
Two.  That's a total of 105 puzzles and a great value!


Zeek the Geek Combination Two
-----------------------------

This package includes everything in Zeek the Geek Combination One plus Zeek
the Geek Puzzle Pack Three and Zeek the Geek Designer. That's a total of 165
puzzles, plus the ability to create more puzzles of your own!


Solutions
---------
Solutions are available for all puzzles in the Zeek the Geek Family of
Products. Send $3.00 and a stamped self-addressed envelope to Sidewalk
Software for each game or puzzle pack (Zeek the Geek Part One, Puzzle Pack
Two, etc.) for which you wish to have solutions. The solution sheet for each
product contains solutions to all puzzles in the product. For example, the
solution sheet for Zeek the Geek Part Two contains solutions to all 30 puzzles
in that game.


ZEEK THE GEEK COPYRIGHT NOTICE
------------------------------

All members of the Zeek the Geek family of products are copyrighted by
Sidewalk Software. Permission is granted to copy and distribute only Zeek the
Geek Part One, and that distribution is subject to the restrictions stated
above. For other members of the Zeek the Geek family of products, permission
is granted only for the original purchaser to make backup or hard disk copies
for his/her own use. Otherwise, the products may not be copied or distributed
in any form without the express written permission of Sidewalk Software.
Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of these products may result in
severe civil or criminal penalties and will be prosecuted to the fullest
extent of the law.


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------

The Zeek family of programs each requires a '386 or better processor running
Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or later. A VGA or better display and a mouse
are also required. A sound card with Windows drivers is required for the
music and sound effects. Without a sound card, the game has no music, and
it has very limited sound effects.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
--------------------------

1) Q. Is it possible for Zeek to collect all the flowers and treasure chests,
      and to detonate all the bombs on every level?
   A. It is possible for Zeek to collect all treasure chests on all levels in
      both Part One and Part Two, but he can't always get all the flowers.
      Occasionally there are bombs, magic crystals, apples and other things
      that he doesn't need or can't get. This is also true in all of the
      puzzle packs offered by Sidewalk Software, but may not apply to third
      party puzzle packs.

2) Q. Is there an easy way to get to a desired level other than skipping one
      level at a time?
   A. The easiest way to get to a level is to save the game there, and then
      restore the game at that point the next time you want to try the level.
      You can save the game on each level if you wish, and then quickly get
      to any level by restoring the game there.

3) Q. After saving and restoring the game, I'm back at the beginning of the
      level. Is there a way to save and restore in the middle of a level?
   A. After restoring the game you will be at the start of the level that you
      were on when you saved the game.

4) Q. When you goof, is there a way to back up a step or two?
   A. When you have a fatal encounter with one of the local hazards or when
      you find yourself in a hopeless situation, you must restart the level
      or skip it.

5) Q. I have a sound card, and I get sound effects, but I don't get any
      music. Why?
   A. Even though you have a sound card that works well with DOS based games
      and applications, you probably don't have the proper drivers installed
      for the Microsoft Windows Multimedia System. Check that the proper
      drivers are installed. One driver must be installed for WAVE files
      (sound effects) and another driver must be installed for MIDI files
      (music). A simple test to determine if the drivers are installed and
      working is as follows: From the Microsoft Windows Program Manager,
      click on "File", then click on "Run". Type "MPLAYER TADA.WAV" in the
      command line box and click on "OK". The Microsoft Media Player should
      pop up on your screen. Press the right arrow key in the lower left
      corner of the Media Player window, and you should hear the "TADA"
      sound. If you don't, the WAVE driver is not installed or is not
      working. Next, repeat the process, but type "MPLAYER CANYON.MID" in
      the command line box. You should hear music. If you don't, the MIDI
      driver is not installed or is not working. Except for the drivers for
      your sound card, all programs and files used in this test are supplied
      with Microsoft Windows 3.1 as a part of the Microsoft Windows
      Multimedia System. Contact your sound card manufacturer if the proper
      drivers were not supplied with your card. 

6) Q. I have tried everything on this level, and I give up. What can I do
      now, and how do you solve the puzzle?
   A. If you just can't figure out one particular puzzle, save the game at
      that spot and skip the level. You may be able to come back and solve it
      after working some of the later puzzles. If you need help, a solution
      sheet is available from Sidewalk Software. See "Solutions" under "The
      Zeek Family of Products" above.

7) Q. I saved a game in Zeek the Geek Part Two, and I tried to restore it
      after loading a puzzle pack. When I did this, I got an error message.
      Should the game have been restored?
   A. A saved game can only be restored into the game or puzzle pack from
      which it was saved. If you keep a lot of saved games on disk, you
      might try giving them names that indicate where you were at the time
      of each save. Thus, PP3-23.ZSG could be the file name of a saved game
      at level 23 in puzzle pack 3.


HOW TO ORDER
------------

To order, use a text editor such as Notepad to fill in and print the file
ORDER.TXT, or simply include the information on a plain piece of paper.
Just indicate which package(s) you wish to purchase, specify a "ship to" name
and address, indicate the size of floppy disks that you prefer, and include
a check or money order for the full purchase price. Remember to include sales
tax for California orders. Send your order to:

     Sidewalk Software
     10564 Limerick Ave.
     Chatsworth, CA 91311-2437

Sorry, but at this time, Sidewalk Software cannot accept credit card or
telephone orders. Please allow up to two weeks to receive your order.

See the PRODUCTS.TXT file for a description of other professional quality
software from Sidewalk Software.
