   ____________   ________ ___________ ___________
  /  _________/\ /  __   //  ________//   _______/\
  \  \________\//  /\/  / \  \_______\\  \_______\/
   \_______  \ / ____  / / \______  \  \______  \
 ___\_____/  // /\__/ /_/___\____/  /\__\____/  /\  __
/___________//_/ / /_//____________//__________/ / /_/\
\___________\\_\/__\_\\____________\\__________\/  \_\/
 ___________________________________________________
/__________________________________________________/\
\__________________________________________________\/


SASS - Speak and Spell Simulator
(C)1999 Mike Green

Contents:

Welcome
Disclaimer
System Requirements
Controls
From the original Speak&Spell Box
FAQ
Credits
Known Problems
Wanted


Original (C) 1978 by Texas Instruments
Project started: 27th April 1999

Welcome to the readme file for my Speak and Spell simulator for windows.

THIS PROGRAM COMES WITH NO SUPPORT OTHER THAN THIS README, SO READ IT!!

BEFORE you run SASS for the first time, make sure you install the LED font! Details in the FAQ near the bottom of
this document.

You MUST use STANDARD size fonts on your desktop or you will experience some VERY strange results. Details in the
FAQ near the bottom of this page.

Please do NOT contact Sharon, Andy OR Myself with problem specific questions, they will more than likely be ignored. If
you are experiencing problems, either read the FAQ (near the bottom of this page) or check out the website 

http://sass.retrogames.com

If you wish to contact us regarding bug reports, and other things that would NOT be deemed as "Technical support
helpline questions" then please send email to:

sass@retrogames.com

Please note, this is NOT a support address, and ANY email sent to this address regarding any problems that you have
running SASS on your machine WILL be forwarded to: I_DIDNT_READ_THE_DAMN_MANUAL@recycle.bin



Disclaimer:

This program comes with no guarantees, I do not guarantee it will work 100% for you, I dont even guarantee that to
myself! If it doesnt work, and you cant get it to work, then DONT use it!

I am not responsible for any losses caused to you, your files, your hardware, your family, your pets, or ANY item
in your, or anybody elses possesion as a direct or indirect result of using SASS, its YOUR risk! 

We have taken as many precausions as we can to ensure no bad stuff will happen, but if your cd-rom starts singing 
"Love me tender" whilst you are using SASS, then DONT BLAME ME, the beta testers, or ANYBODY, its YOUR FAULT!!

On the other hand, if you happen to win a stack load of cash, or something REALLY good happens, then it is ENTIRELY
MY fault, and you should hand over the winning stocks to myself, where they rightfully belong :-P

This program MAY be updated frequently, dependant on feedback etc. 

You may NEVER sell SASS in any way shape or form! If I find you selling SASS (such as at a computer fair, car boot sale,
yard sale, garage sale, or any other "sale") I have the immediate right to take anything from your stall, house, garden, or
any of your possesions and take them to sell myself because if you are selling my things, then it should be fair that I
should sell yours (and I'm not joking about this either).

You may only Distribute SASS in its original archive. You may not change anything in the archive or add/remove any files
from it.

Happy with the rules? Ok good.


System requirements:

486 DX33 or better proccessor
8meg of HD space
A ZIP file utility such as WINZIP to decompress the archive
A Soundcard (I dont care what one as long as windows can play sounds on it)
Speakers or headphones, or some SORT of audio output device, and you can choose that yourself.
A Mouse or trackball, or at least SOMETHING to control the mouse pointer with, and i dont care if you use keyboard
to do it!
Monitor (compulsory)
A Keyboard (optional)
An electrical supply or laptop battery (essential)
Power cables (advisable)
Connecting wires for monitor, keyboard, mouse etc. (see your hardware retailer)
8meg of RAM (or less if you are feeling lucky)
Windows 95, 98 or windows NT (hasnt been tested on 3.1 machines)
At LEAST half a brain (less than this will result in an endless stream of "FREE FOR 30 DAYS INTERNET" cd's through
your door at a rate of one per day)
Some sticky back plastic
And finally, a washing up liquid bottle

If you have better, you're on your own!

Oh and your PC needs to be Y10K compatible too.


After running the setup file you should have:

SASS.exe
Readme.txt (this document)
History.txt (History file, from day 1 to Public release V1.2)
Led_real.txt (this is the file that accompanies the font that SASS uses)
Msvbm50.dll (VB5 runtime libraries, not included in the archive. If you need it, the file is on the website)

You should also have the file Led_sas.ttf, which should be copied into your C:\windows\fonts directory before you
can use SASS. (If you used the install wizard version this is done for you)

Controls:

Mouse pointer or keyboard

Buttons on top row starting from the left hand side:

Escape key or OFF button: Use to exit The simulator

F1 or GO button: To start the game

F2 or Arrow button: Replay (dunno what this does, so it doesnt do anything)

F3 or Repeat button: Make speak and spell repeat the word (good for those hard words like "tie" and "seven"
which sound like "lye" and "sun")

F4 or CLUE button: used for the hangman game, gives a clue letter, up to 3 clue letters or 7 wrong guesses then you lose

F5 or Mystery word button: Hangman game, 7 guesses, lose 2 guesses for using "clue". when all guesses are gone, you lose!

F6 or Secret code button: Changes you input letters into different ones

F7 or LETTER button: gives you a start letter for use with CODE game

F8 or SAY IT button: Say it game. Goes through 10 words then switches to spelling mode.

F9, Spacebar or ON/SPELL button: to turn "on" speak and spell and to select the SPELL mode. this makes those wonderful 
beeps (yes, it does all of them!) each time it is pressed, and MUST be pressed at least once before SASS will do anything
constructive other than quit with the OFF button.

Then comes the letters from A to Z and ' which are mirrored on the keyboard

Bottom row, last 3 buttons are:

#: Used to select expansion modules (Not implemented yet, awaiting mail)

delete, backspace or \ button: Erases your current input back to nothing, useful if you spelled something wrong.

enter key or Enter button (Up arrow): Press this to "enter" your word.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the Original Speak and Spell Box:

Hello! I am Speak & Spell, the electronic learning aid, that challenges you with random questions stored in my
brain.

NO TAPE! NO RECORD! BUT AN ELECTRONIC VOICE!

Here's how I work

Press the [ON] key - My electronic voice and brain are ready.

Select one level of achievement (By pressing A, B, C or D).

Press the [GO] key - I speak a word.

Press the letter keys to spell the word and press [^] Enter key

- If you are wrong, I will give you another chance.
- If you are wrong again, I will tell you the right answer.

After each set of 10 words, I will tell and show you your score.


7 years and up


Sounds simple enough to me!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAQ:
----

Q: I cant see the letters properly, they seem to be cut off at the bottom

A: Open control panel and click on FONTS.
   From the file menu, choose "Install new font".
   Select the file "Led_real.ttf" from the directory you unzipped SASS to.
   Restart SASS


Q: I cant get it started! What am I doing wrong?

A: Press the ON Button.
   Now Press the GO button.
   Speak & Spell was designed for ages 7 and up, if you cant work it out, I feel VERY sorry for you.


Q: SASS Tells me to type a word, and never tells me if I am correct or not. Is this right?

A: After you type in your word, press the ENTER key (it's the arrow in the bottom right hand corner).


Q: I cant understand what it says! 

A: Unfortunately, thats how the real thing sounds, so you'll have to put up with it. You could try turning your
   Volume down slightly, if that helps.


Q: It repeated a word it just asked me to spell, is that a bug?

A: No, the real speak & spell has done that to me more than once. (hows THAT for a bugfix Dave? :-P)


Q: The buttons dont seem to respond! help!

A: Make sure you have STANDARD size fonts on your desktop. To do this, go to Control Panel > Display > Settings > Advanced > Font size > Small Fonts
   click OK then OK again.


Q: Is your next project Speak and Maths Simulator? 

A: Not unless somebody sends me one :-(


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Known Problems:

"Replay" Button doesnt work


Credits:

        Myself
        Texas Instruments for making such a classic piece of hardware.
        Andy Twiss for supplying the transparency, dragging form code and removal of external .wav files, and
        generally being a lot better at VB than I am. :-)
        Sharon L. Smith for doing LOADS of stuff, PR, website, all the nasty crap that I didnt want to do. Without
        her, this project wouldnt even exist!
        Ben Schuster for creating the SASS icon.
        Matthew Welch for creating the Led_Real Font that SASS uses.
        Atila from Retrogames for offering to host the website.
        Adam Jervis, for having the ONLY machine out of all the beta testers that REFUSED to run an early version
        of SASS.
        "Disco" Dave Llewellyn for some entertaining suggestions.

	
	
Thanks to the Beta testers:     Adam, Steven and Daniel Jervis,
                                Sharon L. Smith, Exodus, Krool, Atila
                                Interceptor, Dave Llewellyn, Greg Severi
                                GurtyGurt, Antiriad, RuCrZ, Shane Monroe
                                netBEUI, TheKorn, DjJeremy and Dave W.

I have no idea who half of those people are (so I hope I spelt your names correctly), but thankyou all very much!

And anybody else I've missed out or forgotten.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wanted:

Speak & Maths
Speak & Read
Little Professor
New House
New Car
World Peace


I hope you have as much fun with this program as I have creating it. Lets find a Speak & Maths and do it ALL over
again!


Mike Green - Lead Programmer SASS
27th April 1999 - 24th May 1999

Last updated 9th July 1999
