               Readme for Falcon's Eye version 1.9.4
              (NetHack isometric graphics interface)                           
                  Jaakko Peltonen, July 1, 2001.
                  Jeroen Demeyer, April 12, 2003.


    -------------------------------------------------------------
    NOTICE:
     
	Falcon's Eye is written by Jaakko Peltonen.  The update from
	1.9.3 to 1.9.4 was done by Jeroen Demeyer.  This is still an
	`unofficial' distribution, in the sense it is distributed by
	me (Jeroen Demeyer) and not by Jaakko.  Although he knows
	what I am doing :)
    -------------------------------------------------------------

1. Introduction

    This file is a brief overview of an isometric graphics 
    interface to NetHack. The interface is called "Falcon's Eye", 
    because the viewpoint resembles a "bird's eye view". 


2. About this binary distribution

    This program is distributed under the NetHack licence. The 
    source code for version 1.9.3 of the program is available 
    from the following web page:

      http://www.hut.fi/~jtpelto2/nethack.html

    This distribution is based on NetHack, version 3.4.1.
    Since the program has been recompiled from modified source 
    code, all the binary files are 'modified' with respect to 
    the 3.4.1 binary distribution.  For more information about
	NetHack itself, see:

 	 http://www.nethack.org/

    This distribution is based on a development version of the
    source code. Thus, it may not be as stable as the eventual
    'final' release. It is meant as a 'preview' of the complete 
    program. Questions and comments are appreciated, see 'Contact
    Information' below.

    This distribution contains a HTML-based game manual. It is 
    in the 'manual' subdirectory. You can also look at the
	original NetHack guidebook in the root directory of the
	distribution.
 
    To view the manual, open the file 'index.html' in your 
    favourite web browser. The manual uses frames and Style 
    sheets, however it can be viewed without support for them 
    (open 'main.html' instead of 'index.html').


3. New features
    
	A lot of the changes from 1.9.3 to 1.9.4 were `under the
	hood'.  Here are only the changes listed affecting the
	gameplay itself:
	
	- Updated from NetHack 3.3.1 to NetHack 3.4.1
	- Falcon's Eye now uses NetHack's travel command, instead
	  of an own autopilot routine.  This new travel command is
	  much safer, you won't run into monsters any more.
	- Fixed some items/monsters having the wrong or invisible
	  tiles.
	- Implemented new NetHack option vary_msgcount to change
	  the number of message lines displayed on the screen.
	
	
4. System requirements

    Required:
      - 386 or better processor
      - Windows 95 or higher
      - DirectX-compatible video card capable of at least 
        800x600 resolution in 256 colors
      - DirectX 3.0 or greater
      - two-button mouse
      - 16 Mb memory
      - 12 Mb disk space

    Note: I haven't tried the program on a 386 or 486. In 
    practice, the game might be unplayable on a 386. This is 
    a DirectX program, so it will not work under DOS. The 
    program should also work with Windows NT and Windows 2000.

    Recommended:
      - Pentium 90 or better processor    
      - Windows 95 or higher
      - DirectX-compatible video card capable of at least 
        1024x768 resolution in 256 colors
      - mouse
      - DirectX-compatible sound card with General MIDI support 
        for music
      - 16 Mb memory
      - 12 Mb disk space

    
5. Startup options

    Falcon's Eye uses four initialization files, found in 
    the 'config' subdirectory. The files are 'jtp_opts.txt', 
    'jtp_snds.txt', 'jtp_keys.txt' and 'jtp_intr.txt'.
    You can modify them to change the graphics settings and 
    game interface of Falcon's Eye.

    For example, if you want to use a higher in-game resolution, 
    you can change it from 'jtp_opts.txt'. See chapter 9 of the 
    game manual for more information.

6. File organization

    Falcon's Eye has four subdirectories under the NetHack 
    directory:  'graphics' contains external graphics files used
    by the interface. 'sound' contains sound effects and music. 
    'manual' contains the HTML manual and the original Guidebook.
    'config' contains configuration settings and other external 
    data files.
    
    All the files in the 'graphics' and 'sound' subdirectories 
    are copyright (c) Jaakko Peltonen, 2001. Modifying the files
    may cause the game to crash. A guide to how the graphics and 
    sounds are organized will be included later (although the 
    files are mostly self-explanatory). The graphics files are 
    all 256-color PCX files.
    

7. Known problems

    This window port is still in development. No problems that
    hinder gameplay are known. However, some 'annoyances' are 
    known. The webpage

       http://www.hut.fi/~jtpelto2/nethack.html

    contains a link to a bug list, which is more or less 
    up-to-date.

    If you think you have found a new bug / problem in the 
    window port, please report it to me (see contact information 
    below). Note: bugs concerning NetHack itself (rather than 
    the window port) should be reported to the NetHack 
    development team (devteam@nethack.org).


6. Contact information
    
    E-mail:		jaakko.peltonen@hut.fi
    Regular mail:	Jaakko Peltonen
			Meripoiju 3G 65
			02320 Espoo
			Finland

    The main webpage for Falcon's Eye is

       http://www.hut.fi/~jtpelto2/nethack.html

    There is also a discussion forum for Falcon's Eye; there is 
    a link to it at the webpage.


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