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		Firework Show v 2.0
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	Welcome the Firework Show v 2.0

	By Digital Empire - E-mail: danielkirk@lineone.net
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Contents

1.0 - Intro.
1.1 - Quickstart
1.2 - Info
1.3 - Controls
2.0 - Fireworks
2.1 - Sparks
2.2 - Star
2.3 - Sequence
3.0 - Main Toolbar
3.1 - Recording Toolbar
3.2 - Launch and Changing Fireworks
3.3 - Backdrops
3.4 - Sounds
3.5 - Control Buttons
3.6 - Recording and Playback
3.7 - Saving and Loading
3.8 - Settings
4.0 - Creating good sequences
4.1 - Viewing Techniques
4.2 - Creating New Firework
4.3 - Bug fixing
4.4 - Credits
4.5 - Known Issues
4.6 - Future Ideas

Appendix i - List of Fireworks
Appendix ii - List of Hot keys

1.0 - Intro..
Thank you for downloading Firework Show v 2.0. This program is designed for you to make spectacular and imaginative Firework displays. You can then record them and play them back or even save them and E-mail them to a friend.
Understandably you may not wish to have to read through a whole help file, so I have created a short quickstart guide which should inform you of the basics and you will probably simply pick up the rest as you play although I would suggest you check out the known issues and the bug fixing chapters.

1.1 - Quickstart.
When you start Firework Show v 2.0 you will first see the intro. 'a rotating space borne cube' press enter to proceed to the main menu.
When you see the menu click on Begin to start, next you will see an outside 3D landscape.
In the middle you will see a match, move the match by pressing the arrow keys.
You will see a blue toolbar 'in the top left hand corner of the screen' with buttons and a status panel. The status panel has the name of the current firework and a brief description of it. Click fire and watch the current firework blast off from the match. You can select different fireworks by clicking on the arrow next to the fireworks name in the blue toolbar, a menu will come up, choose the firework you want and now when you click fire the one you have just chosen will be lit. You can rotate the camera around the centre by holding Shift and pressing the arrow keys.
That concludes the quickstart guide you should now be able to light and choose fireworks. If you would like to find out more then read on, otherwise enjoy your displays.

1.2 - Info.
If you want to know what a toolbar button or settings control does, simply right click on it then click on the info menu that comes up. Click OK when you have finished viewing the info box.

1.3 - Controls.
To move the match use the arrow keys.
To rotate and move the camera hold shift and use the left and right arrow keys.
To move the camera forward and backwards hold shift and up and down arrow keys.
To tilt the camera hold control and use the arrow keys.
To raise the camera press page up, to lower press page down.
To set the camera to the default position ( where it started at ) hold shift and press spacebar.
To reset the camera to the default tilting angle hold control and press spacebar.
To zoom in press + on the number pad.
To zoom out press - on the number pad.
You can orientated the camera so that it faces at either the match, a firework or straight ahead.
For normal mode ( ahead ) press N.
For match mode ( ahead ) press M.
For firework mode ( ahead ) press F.

2.0 - Fireworks.
Fireworks are the central objects in this app they are created by clicking Fire on the Toolbar or by pressing Enter. A firework lasts for a short time, and will eject stars and sparks, Some fireworks move others are static. Rockets fire up quickly then explode or have short displays. To select which firework you use click on the arrow next to the name of the current firework and choose from the menu, you can also call up the menu by pressing Zero on the number pad.

2.1 - Sparks.
Sparks are objects sprayed out from the fireworks. When they are created they simply fall to the ground or Pop. Sparks come in 7 colours: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple and White.

2.2 - Stars.
Stars are like Sparks except that when they explode they create sparks. Stars come in 7 colours: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple and White.

2.3 - Sequence.
A Sequence is a firework display. You can record and save sequences in Firework Show v 2.0. The 4 aspects that are saved in a sequence are camera movements, Match movements, Fireworks being fires and sounds or music that is added.

3.0 - Main Toolbar.
The main toolbar is blue. It is used to control the basic functions of the game, like launching a firework creating backdrops, accessing settings and help. You can move the toolbar around by moving the mouse to one of the sides of it, then holding the left mouse button, then slowly dragging it along.

3.1 - Recorder Toolbar.
This toolbar is red, it is one is used for recording and playback. There are 3 big buttons Record ( Red Circle ), Play ( Green Triangle ), Stop ( Blue Square ). You will also see a status box next to stop. Further right are 2 button save and load. Like the main toolbar you can drag it around by clicking on the sides.

3.2 - Launching and Changing Fireworks.
There are a couple of ways to light a firework, the First is to click the fire button on the blue toolbar or you can use the Shortcut Key Enter. To change your firework you can either click on the arrow next to the current firework name, you can press the shortcut key Zero on the number pad. Either of these will bring up a menu with the names of all the fireworks on, then simply click on the firework you wish to light.

3.3 - Backdrops.
There are 4 Backdrops to choose from, Tree, Cottage, Statue and Bonfire. All backdrops do is to simply add a bit of scenery to your displays. On the main toolbar you will see a block of 4 buttons right of the status box. They each have small icons on them ( Hope you can work them out ). When you have created a backdrop you can move it around or delete it, by simply moving the mouse over the backdrop and clicking on it with the left mouse button. You will then be in backdrop edit mode. Use the arrow keys to move it around, click delete to get rid of it, press the space bar to get out accept any changes you've made to it.

3.4 - Sounds.
You can add your own sounds to your displays. The files types that are compatible are .wav, .mp3 and .mid. To add a sound click on the sound button on the blue toolbar. If you add a sound while recording then that sound is recorded aswell. If you save the display then the sound file is stored in the .seq file so you don't need to worry about sending it to another computer.

3.5 - Control Buttons.
The control buttons are the 6 at the right of the main toolbar. They allow you to add sounds, or destroy fireworks. To see what each one does right click on it for info.

3.6 - Recording and Playback.
To Record a Sequence simply click Record 'on the red toolbar' then any fireworks, Sounds, camera or match movements will be recorded. To end your recording click Stop. Next click play and your sequence will be played back to you. Also if you have just loaded a sequence clicking play will play the sequence you have just loaded.

3.7 - Saving and Loading.
When you click save 'on the red toolbar' a save dialogue will come up. If you are familiar with windows you will know how to use it. When you have specified a file name and clicked OK the current sequence will be saved into that file Note: If you do not have a sequence loaded or recorded the save button will not work. To load simply click the load button then specify which file you wish to load the click OK. To play your loaded sequence click the play button. Note: If you load a sequence file then 

3.8 - Settings.
 * Delay Control: If you have a slow computer or you create too many sparks then this control if selected can even out the speed of the match and camera. If you switch it off you will see that they probably move very slowly. This Control does not affect the fireworks.
 * Wind Vel: If you want wind in your displays then this control specified how fast it should be 0 = no wind, 1 or 2 is yields quite a good result.
 * Wind Dir: This specifies in degrees what direction the wind will be blowing in. ( To find out which is 0 degrees Hold Shift and press space bar. 0 will be directly facing the camera ).
 * Firework Data Box: This control allows you to select which Firework set to use. usually their will be just one option. Each file in the data directory has an option in the combo box. If you have new data files then the can be accessed from here.
 * Width: The Width of the play area, The default is 512.
 * Length: The Length of the play area, The default is 512.
 * Sound Volume FX: If this box is checked then all user sound in the wav of mp3 format will be louder when there is a lot of sparks on the screen.
 * Move Camera: This Option if selected will move the camera when playing back a recording, if it isn't selected then you can move the camera around during playback.
 * Number of fireworks to fire: This specifies how many fireworks to fire each time enter is pressed or fire is clicked.
 * Play Game Sounds: If this control isn't selected then the game sounds will not be played, but user chosen sounds will still be played.

4.0 - Creating Good Sequences.
To make a good sequence you could try some of these techniques: Always have some activity going on, never leave too long a gap. Try to avoid firing too many fireworks at once as this will lead to a serious slowdown. Always point the camera towards the firework. Use background objects in your sequences. Sometimes you could try having a particular theme going like rainbow fireworks or rockets. Add midi or mp3 music files to your sequences, try different viewing techniques also.

4.1 - Viewing Techniques.
Different people will prefer different views, but some I suggest trying are: looking up at the sky so you only see the fireworks against the nights sky ( Hold control and press down to tilt the camera up ), Looking down at the match will make it look like the rocket is shooting straight at you ( Hold control and press up to tilt the camera down ), rotate the camera about the centre while igniting a firework ( Hold shift and left or right ). You can also experiment by changing the focus. This zooms the camera in and out, you can create some dramatic effects. Try action shots by moving the camera while a firework is in progress.

4.2 - Creating New Fireworks.
The Data for each firework is located in the Data Folder. I have designed the program so that if any new Firework data file are created they can simply be put in the Data folder and be selected from the settings. If you want to design your own fireworks E-mail me danielkirk@lineone.net and if I get enough interest I'll create a tutorial or even an actual editor program.

4.3 - Bug fixes.
This is quite a complex program and there may be a few bugs and errors from time to time. If you encounter any then I would appreciate it if you would E-mail me about them. If you do then please remember to include: What you were doing at the time you encountered the error, what you think the error might have been and whether or not you were able to find a way around it or not.

4.4 - Credits.
Firework Show v 2.0 was conceived, designed and programmed by Daniel Kirk - danielkirk@lineone.net
All artwork by Daniel Kirk.
All Sounds Selected From the Games Factory and Jamagic Samples Libraries.

4.5 - Know Issues.
1) After closing the help or settings window, the toolbars sometimes move out of the screen slightly. This is not a big problem, more of an inconvenience as you can easily drag them back.
2) Try to avoid creating too many fireworks at once as this can considerably slow down the game play. If you do create too many you can delete each firework at a time by pressing Delete or to clear all the sparks from the screen simply press End.

4.6 - Future Ideas.
I would really like to hear you views and feedback. Both what you liked and what you think I should change or improve on. Some Ideas I have for future versions are:
 * Compile sequences into movie files.
 * An in built option for creating your own fireworks.
Note If you have Jamagic and wish to improve or edit this app and send it to me, then please only send "*.J" ( Jamagic Script Files ) Not whole project files or "*.exe" Files

Appendix i - List of Fireworks
1) Lightning
2) Traffic Lights
3) Twirling Galaxy
4) Clapping Hands
5) Nights Sky
6) Sky Dancer
7) Catherine Wheel
8) Bonfire
9) Burning Bush
10) Telstar
11) Spiders Web
12) Whoosh
13) Red Rocket
14) Purple Skies
15) The Octopus
16) Big Rocket
17) Volcano
18) Rainbow Rocket
19) Crimson Fountain
20) Star Gazer
21) Rainbow Wheel
22) Rainbow Candle
23) Energy Splash
24) Air Scorcher
25) The Bomb

Appendix ii - List of Hot keys
Light Firework :	Return.
Number Pad 0 :	Call firework menu.
Number Pad 2 :	Scroll down firework list.
Number Pad 8 :	Scroll up firework list.
Delete :		Deletes the oldest firework still active.
End :		Deletes all the sparks on the screen.
Pause :		Pauses and resumes fireworks and sparks.
Escape :		Main Menu.
Key S :		New Sound.
Key I :		Stop All Sound.
Key R :		Record Sequence.
Key P :		Play Sequence.
Key T :		Stop Sequence.
Key A :		Save Sequence.
Key L :		Load Sequence.
Key N :		Normal View Mode.
Key M :		Match Follow Mode.
Key F :		Firework Follow Mode.

