Fredrik's Interactive Fiction Starter's Package
-----------------------------------------------

This is a package for PC-users who want to try some Interactive Fiction
of the 1990:s. Like almost all of the IF games produced today, all games in
this package are freeware or shareware. Check the files in each game's
directory for details.

All these games can be played on a variety of platforms other than PC, by
changing the game-file interpreter. If you are interested in doing so, go to
the web-sites at the end of this document for further information. The
interpreters included in this package can all be used to play other games
on the same format as well.

Instructions for unpacking:
---------------------------

0. Unzip the zipped archive, thus getting this file (readme.txt) and
   a self-extracting archive called FIFARC.EXE

1. Place FIFARC.EXE where you want it to create its new folder/directory for
   the games.

2. Run FIFARC.EXE

3. Delete FIFARC.EXE, since it is no longer needed.

4. To play a game, enter the new directory, called FIFSTART, and run MENU.BAT


How to play the games:
----------------------

There is a file called GENERAL.TXT in the directory called TADS. This is
actually an introduction to playing games developed with TADS, such as
John's Fire Witch and The One That Got Away, but almost all of it applies to
the other games as well. Also, there may be a "HELP" command in some of the
games.

Nine Points was designed only as a tutorial on how to play IF games,
and is probably the best game to start with if you haven't played any IF
games before. If you get stuck or don't know how it works, just type "help"
and follow the menus. If you still can't finish the game, there is a text
file called "NINESOL.TXT" in the directory "Z-FILES" containing a transcript
of the solution. Use this only as a last resort!


About the distribution of the games:
------------------------------------

Nine Points: Freeware.
John's Fire Witch: Lunchware, a lunch or $6 registration.
The Sound of One Hand Clapping: Shareware, $10 registration.
The One That Got Away: Freeware.
Gumshoe: Freeware.
Theatre: Freeware.


If you want MORE:
-----------------

When you have played these games for a while and feel that IF is interesting,
but you want to try some other games, here is what to do;

A: Surf into any of these addresses:
     http://www.tiac.net/users/baf/if-guide.html
     http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/wsr/Web/IF/homepage.html

B: Visit the if-archive at
     ftp://ftp.gmd.de/if-archive

     There is another starter's kit in the directory "starters" there,
     called ifstart.zip. That kit has more text files about how to play,
     and solutions for the games included. There is also a different kit for
     Win95/NT there.

     There are also heaps of games in the directory "games". The ones
     in games/infocom can be played with frotz.exe, the ones in games/tads
     can be played with tadsr.exe, both supplied with this package. The ones
     in games/pc are stand-alone games that don't need a separate
     interpreter. There is a textfile in the "games" directory called
     "playgame.FAQ" that explains how to play all the other types of games
     stored there.

Enjoy!

Fredrik Ramsberg, Nov 30, 1996
d91frera@und.ida.liu.se, http://www-und.ida.liu.se/~d91frera
