WELCOME to WORD BLAST

Thank you for choosing WORD BLAST. LeMonds Software hopes that
you have many hours of enjoyment playing the game and learning
new words.

WHAT is WORD BLAST?

WORD BLAST is now 3 games in 1: the original WORD BLAST game,
plus WORD FIND and JUMBLE. The original game of WORD BLAST is a
hangman-type program designed to help children enhance their
vocabulary and spelling skills in a fun computer game setting.
In WORD FIND, players search for words that are hidden
(horizontally, vertically, and diagonally) in an array of letters.
JUMBLE, true to its name, scrambles the letters in a word, and your
job is to rearrange them in the correct order. These games
strengthen one's typing skills as well.

All three games in WORD BLAST use the same word lists.
WORD BLAST comes with over a dozen specialty word lists
(US Presidents, Tell Capitals Given States, Animals,
Rocks and Minerals, etc.), plus a word list containing
over 1700 words and their definitions. Easy-to-use menus
enable the user to create new word lists or to modify existing ones.

Up to 4 people can play WORD BLAST together, creating an
environment in which children not only learn spelling and
vocabulary, but also learn to work together. Points are awarded
for correctly solving the word puzzles, and a scoreboard is maintained
which shows the player's scores. Trophies are displayed for
the top three scorers.

Learning is reinforced in WORD BLAST with audio compliments.
Each time a game is won, a compliment is sounded. If you have a
microphone, it's easy to create your own compliments for the game,
and your children can hear your voice praising them when they
correctly spell a word. Visual effects, such as smiling faces,
trophies, and ribbons also serve as praise for finding the correct word.

With WORD BLAST, learning vocabulary and spelling is a blast!

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for RUNNING WORD BLAST

	o) WINDOWS 95/98/NT/2000 Operating System
	o) 2 MB of free space on your hard drive.

INSTALLING WORD BLAST via the SETUP PROGRAM

1) Create a folder in which to extract the contents of the zip file,
   say "C:\Windows\Desktop\Temp".

2) Unzip (decompress) the ZIP file "wdblast8.zip" that was downloaded
   from the Internet into the folder created in Step 1 using any
   standard file unzipping program (e.g. Winzip).

3) Run the WORD BLAST setup program, "Setup.exe". It can be found
   in the folder created in Step 1, and has an icon that
   looks like a computer monitor with a box of diskettes in front
   of it. Double click on "Setup.exe" to activate the setup program.

   The setup program will guide you through the process of installing
   WORD BLAST, and will create the following items for you:

   o) Folder "C:\Program Files\Word Blast 4" (or the folder that
      you specify during the setup process). This folder will contain
      all of the WORD BLAST program files.

   o) A shortcut on your desktop for running WORD BLAST.

   o) A button in your Start menu for running WORD BLAST.
      Press "Start", then "Programs", then "Word Blast 4".

   o) A button in your StartUp folder that will start up
      WORD BLAST when Windows is started (optional).

   You can delete the folder created in Step 1
   ("C:\Windows\Desktop\Temp") following installation.

   It is recommended that you retain the zip file "wdblast4.zip"
   in case you need to reinstall the program.

UNINSTALLING WORD BLAST

We hope that you won't ever remove the program from your computer,
but here's how to do it:

o) Double-click on "My Computer".
o) Double-click on "Control Panel".
o) Double-click on "Add/Remove Programs".
o) Choose "Word Blast 4" from the list box.
o) Click on the "Add/Remove" button.
o) Confirm that you want the program removed by clicking on "Yes".

All of the WORD BLAST program files that were added during
the installation process will be removed from your machine.

HOW to RUN WORD BLAST

You can start WORD BLAST using the short-cut in your Start menu if
you created one, or using the one which was created for you if you
installed WORD BLAST via the setup program.

To run WORD BLAST, left-click Start, then left-click Programs, then
left-click Word Blast.

You can also run WORD BLAST by double-left-clicking directly on the
icon for the WORD BLAST executable, 

	C:\Program Files\Word Blast 4\WordBlast.exe

HAVING TROUBLE RUNNING WORD BLAST?

Some computers may need an updated copy of the "Oleaut32.dll"
file in order for WORD BLAST to work properly. 
If you need this newer file, a message box will
immediately appear when you try to run WORD BLAST.
It will state that the file "Oleaut32.dll" cannot be
found (even if the older version of the DLL is on your machine).

You can download a copy of Oleaut32.dll directly from Microsoft at:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/vba6/utility/1/win98/EN-US/VBRun60sp3.exe

Put the new version of Oleaut32.dll into your "systems" folder,
which on most machines is "C:\Windows\System". You may want to
make a backup copy of your original version of the DLL
before moving the newer version into your systems folder.

NOTE: You should replace your original copy of "Oleaut32.dll"
with the new onw only if the new one is NEWER than the one on
your machine. You can check the version number of a DLL
file by right-clicking on its icon to bring up the "properties"
menu, and selecting the "version" tab in the properties window.
Replace the DLL on your system only if the version number of
the one in the zip file is higher than the version number of
the original one.

WORD LISTS

WORD BLAST comes with the word list "Words.wds", which contains
over 1700 words and their definitions, and a number of specialty
word lists, including US Presidents, States, and State Capitals.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

WORD BLAST is protected by copyright law; it is not public
domain software.

SHAREWARE VERSION of WORD BLAST

This is the shareware version of WORD BLAST.

LeMonds Software is happy to grant you a limited license to
use the program for a period of up to 30 days in order to
evaluate the program before purchasing it. The shareware
version is a fully functional version of the program, in
which all features are operational. However, the shareware
version of WORD BLAST will run on your computer for only 30
days following installation.

REGISTER WORD BLAST

Your shareware copy of WORD BLAST may be registered by
obtaining a registration code and entering it via the
Registration Information command in the Register menu.

Registration of WORD BLAST affords you continued, unlimited
use of the program beyond the 30-day evaluation period on
the computer(s) on which you register the program. Please
submit payment for the appropriate registration fee for
WORD BLAST to LeMonds Software (the cost for registering
WORD BLAST is listed below). Upon receipt of the 
registration fee, LeMonds Software will promptly send you
a registration code which will enable WORD BLAST to run
beyond the 30-day evaluation period on your computer(s).

To register WORD BLAST, press the Enter Registration Code
button in the Registration Information menu, enter the 
registration code in the text field in the menu, the press 
Enter. Your copy of WORD BLAST will then be registered and 
will work beyond the 30-day evaluation period.

SINGLE COMPUTER LICENSE

A single computer license grants the licensee the right to
install and use the program on a single computer. The
license may be transferred to another computer which is owned
by the licensee at any time as long as the WORD BLAST program
is completely uninstalled from the computer on which it was 
previously licensed.

The cost of a single computer license is:

	$15.00	for a registration code via U.S. mail or e-mail

	Please add $5.00 if you wish to receive a copy of the program
	on 3.5" diskettes (not necessary if you have downloaded the
	program from the Internet).

SCHOOL LICENSE

A school license grants a single school the right to use
WORD BLAST on any of the computers in the school, as long
as the school is part of a local school district, as
opposed to a statewide or nationwide group of schools.

The cost of a school license is  $50.00.

Please add $5.00 if you wish to receive a copy of the program
on 3.5" diskettes (not necessary if you have downloaded the
program from the Internet).

SCHOOL DISTRICT LICENSE

A special license may be obtained for a school district.
That license permits WORD BLAST to be used on any computer
in any school within the school district. A representative
of a school district should contact LeMonds Software at 
the address shown below to negotiate a fee for such a 
license. The fee, which will depend on the size of the 
district, provides a low-cost method for using WORD BLAST 
in all of the schools throughout the district.

HOW to REGISTER WORD BLAST

Please send a check or money order for the appropriate
amount for the type(s) of license(s) which you request to 
LeMonds Software at:

		Jeffrey LeMonds
		1 Fox Glen Ct.
		Clifton Park, NY  12065

Upon receipt of your remittance, LeMonds Software will send
a registration code for each license type, and any diskettes
ordered.

DISTRIBUTION of WORD BLAST

Please feel free to distribute your shareware copy of 
WORD BLAST for the purpose of EVALUATION only, as long as you
have not modified any of the WORD BLAST files in any way.

You may NOT give or sell your WORD BLAST registration code to any 
other party.

LEGAL NOTICE

LeMonds Software has gone to great lengths to design 
WORD BLAST so that it will operate in a proper, safe, and
robust manner on the computer(s) on which it is intended to 
operate. However, LeMonds Software is not responsible for any 
damage which the WORD BLAST program may do to any software 
or hardware on any computer system.

LeMonds Software disclaims all warranties relating to this 
software whether express or implied, including but not 
limited to any implied warranties of merchantability and 
fitness for a particular purpose, and all such warranties 
are expressly and specifically disclaimed.  Neither LeMonds
Software nor anyone else who has been involved in the 
creation, production, or delivery of this software shall 
be liable for any indirect, consequential, or incidental 
damages arising out of the use or inability to use such 
software even if the author has been advised of the 
possibility of such damages or claims.  In no event shall 
the author's liability for any damages ever exceed the 
price paid for the license to use the software, regardless 
of the form of claim, the person using the software bears 
all risks as to the quality and performance of the software.
Some states do not allow the exclusion of the limit of 
liability for consequential or incidental damages, so the 
above limitation may not apply to you.

Use of this product for any period of time constitutes
your acceptance of this agreement and subjects you to its
contents.

HOW to CONTACT LeMONDS SOFTWARE

Please feel free to send comments about WORD BLAST, including
suggestions for improving the game, to:

	Jeffrey LeMonds
	1 Fox Glen Ct.
	Clifton Park, NY  12065

or send e-mail to:

	lemonds@worldnet.att.net

Thank you for choosing WORD BLAST. Enjoy the game!

Sincerely,

LeMonds Software

OTHER PROGRAMS from LeMONDS SOFTWARE

APP LAUNCHER -- Create Buttons to Quickly Launch Applications,
                and Open Folders and Documents.

30-day Free Trial Period; $15 to Keep Program

Web Site:  http://home.att.net/~lemonds

APP LAUNCHER provides a convenient way for organizing and starting up
your programs and for opening the folders and documents which you
frequently need to access. Your applications and documents can be
arranged in categories, each of which can contain up to 100 buttons.
Each button can be used to launch a particular program or file, and
displays the icon of the application or file associated with it.
The result is a computer desktop which is free of clutter.
APP LAUNCHER is very well behaved: you can drag and drop files or
the shortcuts to them onto the buttons, but cannot accidentally drag
them off; they must be explicitly removed in a button deletion mode.
The program is easy to customize: provisions exist for moving and
copying buttons within or across categories, for changing the text
which is displayed with each button, and for changing the icons
which appear on the buttons. You may also use the program to fire up
your web browser, e-mail utility, or screen saver. Applications can
also be scheduled for launch at a future time, and alarms can
be set.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for RUNNING APP LAUNCHER

	o) WINDOWS 95 Operating System
	o) 2 MB of free space on your hard drive.

ACTION CHECKERS -- Play Checkers in a Minefield

15-day Free Trial Period; $10 to Keep Program

Web Site:  http://home.att.net/~lemonds

The ACTION CHECKERS game is similar to the game of checkers,
and is played on a board that is similar to a checkers board.
However, that's where the similarities end! Think that you
can get to the other side of the board? Just wait and see
what happens!

The object of the game is to move one of your pieces to the
other side of the board. That's right, just one piece! It
sounds like an easy thing to do, but the going will be rough.
The board is a minefield, and if you move or jump onto a mine,
there goes another one of your pieces. Occasionally pieces are
arrested and put in jail. When trial occurs, the judge is not
usually very lenient. Then, there are the electric fences,
which aren't too good for your pieces either. A player can
also win when his or her opponent runs out of pieces.

You can play the computer (with an easy or harder level of
play), or a human opponent. The board layout and colors, and
the various "events" are all easy to customize.

Good luck. You'll need it!

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for RUNNING ACTION CHECKERS

	o) WINDOWS 95 Operating System
	o) 2 MB of free space on your hard drive.

