Some advice on running the beta
===============================
It is easiest to run OS2BILLY.EXE from a command line. This gives you
the opportunities to read error messages after exiting, and to use
command line parameters.  Start with VESA_PM.DLL. It is guaranteed to
work on all systems. You can switch between the VESA_*.DLLs by
typing for instance "set VESADLL=VESA_DIV" in the commandline you
launch Billy from.



- VESA_PM.DLL

Uses Gpi (Graphic Programming Interface). The standard way to draw in
PM.  This is slow but works without problems on all systems.
This .DLL uses the file PMSCREEN.EXE (included in the package).
By changing some of the settings for pmscreen this .DLL actually runs
at reasonable speed on a Pentium 133.


- VESA_DIV.DLL

This new .DLL from Johannes Martin (author of the EMX-VESA library)
uses DIVE (Direct Interface Video Extension). A current limitation is
that you have to choose 256-colour in your system settings for your
desktop.  To do this in Warp 3: (Exact names may vary, I translate the
danish names for the folders)
open OS/2 System  -  System Settings  -  System
choose "screen" and change "resolution" to:
???x???x256
For best effect choose "800x600x256".
This .DLL uses the file DIVESCR.EXE (included in the package).

On some systems the screen isn't centered when using this .DLL.
To fix this specify your desktop resolution with the command line 
parameter -g.


- VESA_ALL.DLL

This .DLL uses VIO (Virtual Input Output) calls to do screen drawing. 
OS2BILLY.EXE must be run from a full-screen session when using this .DLL. 
My expectation is that this is the fastest of the three .DLLs since 
it accesses the screen DIRECTLY like DOS programs.
I have reports on VESA_ALL.DLL working on the following cards:
    Tseng ET4000w32p    2MB
    S3 Trio V64+        2MB
    Cirrus Logic 5446   
    Cirrus Logic 5428   1MB
    S3 764

And not on these cards:
    Trident 9680        
    Matrox Millenium    
    S3 Trio V64+        2MB
    Hercules Stingray
    ATI MACH32
    S3Virge 2MB
    ET6000
    Cirrus 5430         2MB

As you can see, there migth be some cards in both list. This might
be something to do with drivers etc. So try with your card, even if it
is in the latter list, and report back to me.



Command line parameters
=======================
> os2billy -help
Billy demo v0.25 beta
Billy options:
-nosound           : turn off all sounds.
-lang <language>   : Specify language.
-intro             : Play the introduction video.
-gno               : Display no graphics.
-nojoy             : Disable joystick
-g640x480          : Graphics displayed in 640x480 pixels resolution.
-g800x600          : Graphics displayed in 800x600 pixels resolution.
-g1024x768         : Graphics displayed in 1024x768 pixels resolution.
-nocol             : Use system palette.
Enjoy.
>

The -g options can specify any resolution (i.e. -g814x742 is also valid).



CD-audio
========
If you insert a music CD the track 2 and 3 will be played. If this
doesn't happen, please report to us. If you own the commercial
version, these tracks correspond to the title track and the first
jungle track. If you don't insert a CD the program will probably
report some CD-audio warnings, but you can just ignore this - The
program will not terminate because of this.



Troubleshooting
===============
- No sound is played. Have you upgraded the DOS demo ? The OS/2
version can only play .WAV files, and not .SVX files which is used in
the old demo. An easy way to check if you need to upgrade, is to look
in the directory samples\bmove8 (if you installed the 8 Mb version) or
samples\bmove16 (if you installed the 16 Mb version). It contains
either .WAV or .SVX files. There might also be trouble with DART.

If the keyboard doesn't work with the VESA_PM.DLL or everything hangs,
you migth have an old VESA_PM.DLL or PMSCREEN.EXE running from some
obscure place on your harddisc. Make sure you only have one in your
LIBPATH/PATH.



Interpreting error messages
===========================
"GAME$" refers to the joystick.

The FEJL.LOG (danish for error.log) often contains valuable
information if the program exited with the message:
"A fatal error has ocurred in the program.
Please refer to FEJL.LOG for additional details"

If FEJL.LOG reports ......... the reason is probably ......
Couldn't open the file xxx
         ===>  Maybe you didn't install the DOSDEMO ?




Finding your way in the blind maze
==================================
Your might experience that while your screen is black because the game
faded all the colours, your system beeps at you requesting you to
answer "Terminate program or show hardware registers ?". Try to press
this key sequense: [tabulator] [arrow-up] [enter]. Maybe you need two
arrow-ups, it depends on the exact message.
	You can use the "-nocol" commandline parameter to prevent the
screen from going black.



Known limitations/TODO
======================
Changing to another application and back to Billy under VESA_DIV
and VESA_PM might jam the keyboard. The author of the VESA libray
is working on a fix. Meanwhile use the 'j' key to reset the keyboard.

Installation is too difficult.



How YOU can help
================
Send an email to os2billy@thorsbro.dk we would like to hear from you.
	Describe what works and what doesn't work. If you don't want
to use time on a lengthly bug-report, just send a short one, it is
better than none. We might be aware of the problem anyway. Everything
is read with great appreciation, but please don't expect an answer
right away. I would much rather enhance the OS/2 beta than answer
emails :) and until I make some money on Billy I don't have easy
access to email, since I am not on-line from home. You might also
write to Johannes Martin who wrote the VESA-library if your problem
concerns this. His address is jmartin@valdes.csc.UVic.CA.
	We are much in doubt as to on how many systems Billy runs, so
we would also REALLY like to hear from you if everything works
perfectly.



Buying Billy
============
If you intend to buy Billy when the OS/2 version is finished
or have bought it and is waiting for it to finish write to us. This
will help motivate programmers and silence scepticism in the
development group. Please buy through BMT micro on our homepage, since
we earn the most this way, and remember to state that you want
"Notification of the OS/2 version".
	What you are buying is a DOS version CD, which you can
upgrade to native OS/2. The OS/2 version will not be included on a CD
until we are out of stock, which won't happen anytime soon. Sorry.If
however the OS/2 sales turn out good we can get back to talking about
talking about a cheap upgrade. But I won't promise anything! 


Source code
===========
In the src\vesa directory we've placed the files we've changed in
Johannes Martins VESA-EMX lib 2.0 beta.  In src\dart is our simple
dart code. No warranty given.
Is anyone interested in source code for accesing OS/2 specifics ?



A little disclaimer
===================
This game is provided as is. We are in no way responsible for any harm
that may be caused by using this program. We do not guarantee that the
OS/2 version of Billy will run on any system, or that it will be
completed at any specific date.


