
==========================================
|              VENTURE                   |
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|                                        |
|  STATUS: Finished !                    |
|  Coding : Joeri Roels                  |
|  www.jrxs.net                          |
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Minimize/maximize window with <F4>
Use <F9> to take screenshot.


============
| Synopsis |
============

It's a new version of the original game "Venture" from Exidy based on the ColecoVision version.
Venture was originally released in the arcade.
This version has a lot of extra content added.

Roam the dungeons with your hero "Winky", and rob them clean of all the treasures.
Watch out as the dungeons are filled with monsters and all kinds of traps.

24 new rooms were added with all new traps. The first 12 rooms were taken from the arcade version.
(total of 36 rooms). New weapons like different arrows, bombs and shield were also added to the game.

The new traps are pretty evil. Some may find this game very hard. 
Also, the A.I. of the monsters is seriously enhanced, because I think the colecovision A.I. is too easy.
This game is a typical arcade game. Hard, and no mercy. You have been warned :)

Graphics and music were taken from the colecovision version. I made the other graphics needed for the extra stuff
in the game, like extra traps, walls, etc. 


===========
| Systems |
===========

Game works on most Windows systems.
Also it should work on most Android systems.
Most joysticks, gamepads and keyboards are supported.

I tested it on Windows Vista, Windows 10, OUYA and Nvidia Shield TV.
On Nvidia Shield TV, I tested it with NVidia Shield controller and the OUYA controller
(you can pair an OUYA controller with the NVidia Shield TV)


===============
| How to play |
===============

The game is controlled by keyboard, gamepad or joystick. 
Controller must have at least 4 buttons to be useful for this game.

To use a controller, just plug it in, and then start up the game.

Plugging or unplugging a controller during gameplay might lead to strange bugs.

Here is a picture of a controller.

   /-----\__/-----\
  /  X         4   \
  | XXX      1   3 | 
  \  X    __   2   /
   \-----/  \-----/

On the left side, there is a D-PAD, and on the right side are 4 buttons
I refer to a button as button(x), with x=1,2,3 or 4.
Some buttons had A B X Y on them, but here the location of the buttons is what counts.

Keys on a keyboard are denoted as <KEY>. 
So, pressing key 'H' is denoted as <H> in this readme.
Space button is <SPACE>, escape button is <ESC>.
Function button F2 is denoted as <F2>, and so on.


-----------------
Main intro screen 
-----------------
You can "new game" or "continue" to start game. Use arrow keys or D-PAD to change choice, and <SPACE> or button(2)
to accept. When starting for the first time, please choose "new game".

When starting the game for the first time, the files "venture.sav" and "venture.ws" are created.
"venture.sav" contains all progress of your game, so you can continue where you quit the last time.
"venture.ws" contains screen settings and some other settings.

Use <F4> to change window size.

Use <H> or button(4) to see the highscore screen. 
<ESC> or button(3) to exit game.


--------------
Options screen 
--------------
There are 2 modes: "advanced mode" and "arcade mode". 
Arcade has only the first 3 dungeons, just like the arcade version, and no new weapons or rooms. 
This mode is fun if you just want to play the arcade version, but with higher difficulty and better control of 
your player.

Advanced mode has new rooms, new weapons and new traps.

You can also change the levelup system. 
It will determine when the level goes up to make the game more difficult. 
Basically, levelup=0 is easy, levelup=1 is normal, and levelup=2 is hard.

mode x levelup system:
----------------------
 mode = advance, levelup = 0 : level will never go up (easy).
 mode = advance, levelup = 1 : level will go up when you get all 36 treasures (normal).
 mode = advance, levelup = 2 : level will go up when you finish a group of 3 dungeons (hard).

 mode = arcade,  levelup = 0 : level will never go up (easy).
 mode = arcade,  levelup = 1 : level will go up when you get all 36 treasures (normal).
 mode = arcade,  levelup = 2 : level will go up when you finish 3 dungeons (hard).


------------
Choose level
------------
When starting a new game, you can choose the difficulty level. 
There are 8 levels ranging from easy to extremly hard.
The default setting is level 3.

Recommended is that you play the game in level 3 or higher. It will give you a good retro hardcore feel and a
good challenge. Level 1 and 2 is in my opinion too easy. If you're good, try level 4 or higher!
Actually, level 4 is my favourite.

NOTE : IF you hold <F1> or button(4) on the gamepad, and you are in "ADVANCED MODE" as choosen in the options 
screen, the first 12 levels will be skipped!


-------
In game
-------
Arrow keys or D-PAD/left analog stick  : move player
<SPACE>    or button(2)                : use weapon
<Z>        or button(1)                : change weapon (left)
<X         or button(4)                : change weapon (right)
<P>        or button(3)                : pause game
<ESC>                                  : exit game on main screen, or go to main screen from any other screen

When game start, you start in a dungeon, where you can see 4 rooms. You are the small red dot. 
Move your player (dot) to a room door (white) to gain entry to a room.
The dungeon is filled with hall monsters that try to catch you. they cannot be killed, so you have to
avoid them, or else you die.

In the upper corners of the dungeon there are white stairs to get to another dungeon, so you dont need to finish 
all the rooms in 1 dungeon in one go.

When you enter a room, the room is zoomed and you can see your player up close.
As a weapon you have 4 types of arrows: yellow, green, blue and red. 
You can also use a bomb or shield when available. 

You start off with the yellow arrow weapon. The other weapons must be collected first. 
They can be found in specific rooms. 
Use <SPACE> to use your weapon. An arrow shoots in the direction you move.
When you shoot an arrow, you can't shoot another one, until you get your arrow back. So, you will be vulnerable
for a little while. You get your arrow back when the arrow is destroyed (e.g. it hits a wall) or the arrow has 
hit an enemy. If you kill a monster, the corpse will stay there for a while: dont touch the corse, or you will be killed.
If you shoot the corpse again, it will just stay there longer, in which case it may block your exit.

You can fire arrows in 8 directions,
The enemies are smart, and will try to avoid your arrow and at the same time move towards you.
(I spend quite some time on the A.I. It's evil and very tricky)

Try to get the treasure that is in the room. it's not necassary to kill all enemies, but it helps,
If you get the treasure from the room, and get out safely, the treasure is yours,
Once exited and you have the treasure, the room is sealed and you cannot get in the room again.

If you stay too long in the room, a hall monster will appear and will move towards you, you will have to get 
out of the room fast, or you will be killed. Also, when you try to enter the same room too many times, the green
monster will appear almost immediately. In that case, try another room first. If it's the last room of a dungeon, the green
monster will never appear immediately, but only if you stay in the room too long.

If you exit the same room too many times, a hall monster will be waiting for you in the dungeon to kill you.

There are 6 weapons.
To use them, you will have to collect them first (except the yellow arrow which is your default weapon):

  yellow arrow  :   arrow kills monsters, and is destroyed when it hits a wall or a monster [DEFAULT WEAPON]
  blue arrow    :   arrow kills monsters, and moves through walls and monsters (you can kill more than 1 monster with 1 arrow)
  green arrow   :   arrow bounces on certain walls and only kills monsters when bounces at least once
  red arrow     :   arrow kills hall monster when it enters a room (when you're in too long)
  bomb          :   kills all monsters in the room
  shield        :   when shield is activated, monsters have a hard time getting you, since the shield repells them. 
                    However, if you stay still too long, a monster might eventually get through the shield, so keep moving.

NOTE: not all weapons can be used in all rooms. E.g. in some rooms you cannot use the shield, 
although you collected it.

If you finish all the rooms in a dungeon (or a group of dungeons, depending on the mode that is set), the dungeon is
completed, and you will receive bonus points and some extra lifes. Also the level is increased to make the game more
difficult.

If it's game over, you can add your name to the highscore list. It is saved in "venture.sav" file.


ENJOY!


----------
Debug mode
----------
Only available in "advanced mode".

Pause the game, and enter with D-PAD or arrow keys (keyboard) the follwing sequence: RIGHT-UP-LEFT-DOWN-RIGHT.
You will hear a sound, debug mode is on now.

When you enter code again, debug mode is disabled (you hear a sound), so you can turn it on and off again.

You will now have all weapons, bomb and shield. However, not all weapons can be used in every room.

Also, on the treasure screen, there will now be a white square. You can move with d-pad or arrow keys, to select or
deselect treasures using <Z> or button(1).

This way, you can easily test the game.



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| END OF README                 |
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