The first time you play DARK SEED, a menu of set-up options will appear 
allowing you to choose the appropriate input device; either a Microsoft 
compatible mouse, joystick, or keyboard can be selected.  Press 1, 2 or 3 
to make your selection.  The next time you play DARK SEED, the game 
will default to your original selections.  If you wish to change your 
selection, add the /m parameter after DS on the command line when you 
start the game, and the input device menu will be redisplayed.  For 
example, if you previously played DARK SEED with a joystick, but now you 
would prefer to use a mouse, you would type:   

DS /M

Press enter, then select "1" from the input device menu to choose the 
mouse option.

GAME CONTROLS
DARK SEED is most easily played with a two-button Microsoft compatible 
mouse.  If you have a three-button mouse, only the left and right buttons 
will be active.  Joystick users should use the appropriate action buttons;  
these will vary on each type of joystick.  The corresponding keyboard 
controls are the SPACE BAR (left mouse button) and ENTER key (right mouse 
button).  The cursor arrow keys control directional movement.

On the screen, you will see an arrow-shaped cursor that you control.
When your cursor is over a connecting doorway which leads to another
room or location, this single arrow cursor changes to four inwardly-
pointing arrows.

To make Mike Dawson move, position the arrow cursor to the wherever
you want him to go and press the left mouse button.  If there is an 
unavoidable obstruction in his path, he will stop at the closest possible 
point.  If you press the left mouse button when the multiple arrows are 
displayed, Mike will walk to the doorway and then to the adjoining 
location.

Clicking the right mouse button cycles the cursor shape through a "?"
(look/inquire) shape, a "hand" (touch/manipulate) shape and an "arrow" 
(move) cursor shape.

When the "?" and "hand" cursor are placed over items which have more
information available, or which Mike can pick up or use, the cursor 
changes shape.  The "?" shape changes to the "!", and the "open hand"
shape changes to the "pointing finger".

To examine or manipulate an object, select the "?" or "hand" icon
using the right mouse button, place it over the desired object, and click
the left mouse button to activate.  If you use the "hand" icon to pick up 
an object, it is added to your inventory.

Regardless of the input device you chose (keyboard, joystick or mouse), 
the "T" key can be used during the game to advance the clock to the 
beginning of the next hour (i.e. if it's 10:15, then pressing T will 
advance the clock to 11:00); this is useful if you find yourself stuck 
in a situation with a lot of time to kill.

Hint:  make sure you look at everything in each room.

YOUR INVENTORY

To view your current inventory, move the cursor to the top of the screen.  
A row of icons will appear at the top of the game window, representing 
items in your inventory.  At the beginning of the game, all you have in 
your inventory is some money, represented by the money icon, which is 
useful (and necessary) if you want to take Mike Dawson shopping.  Other 
inventory item icons will appear as you accumulate them.  To examine an 
item in your inventory, place the "?" cursor over the inventory item and 
press the left mouse button.  To manipulate something in your inventory, 
use the "hand" cursor.  To use an inventory item, select it by clicking 
with the arrow cursor; the cursor will immediately change to the "hand" 
shape to indicate that you are holding an inventory item.  You may then 
place the "hand" cursor over any object or position on the screen 
(including other icon items in your inventory) and press the left mouse 
button to use the item.  To de-select an inventory item after you've 
selected it, press the right mouse button; the item will remain in your 
inventory.

If you have more items in your inventory than will fit on the top of the 
screen, scrolling arrow icons will appear next to your inventory icons.  
Selecting arrows allows you to view and select from your entire inventory.

GAME OPTIONS

You may access the game options screen by selecting the diskette icon at 
the top of the screen.  Use your left mouse button to select it.  The 
game options screen can be used to save your current game position, load 
a previously saved game, turn the sound on or off, exit to DOS, or return 
to the game.  While you are on this screen, The game's time clock is 
suspended.  Select the appropriate action button on the left hand side 
of the screen by positioning the cursor over the item and pressing the 
left mouse button.  When you save a game, you will be prompted to enter a 
filename, which can be up to eight letters long (the .SAV extension will 
be added automatically).  If you re-use an existing name, you will be 
prompted before the old save file is overwritten.  When you load a 
previously saved game, a list of filenames is displayed on the right-hand 
side of the screen .  If there is not enough room to display all the 
filenames, select the MORE box to display additional names.  Up to 75 
saved games can be viewed this way.  If you exceed this limit you will 
have to exit to DOS and delete some old .SAV files first!  From the 
available list, choose the name of the saved game you would like to 
load and press the left mouse button to select.  There are two special 
filenames: "RESTART" starts the game over from the beginning.  
Select "EXIT" if you change your mind and don't want to load a saved 
game.  To return to the game without loading or saving a game, 
select "RESUME".



1.  Save your game regularly.  If you make a mistake and haven't saved 
your game, you will have to start over from the beginning.  Also, at the 
end of every day, it's a good idea to save your game before going to 
bed - just in case you find out later that there was something you 
needed to get done that day, but forgot to do!

2.  Pause your game if you have to step away from your computer.  Time 
is suspended at the load/save/game options screen.  If you forget to 
do this, then time will continue to pass, and Dawson doesn't have a 
lot of it left to waste!  His days are numbered.

3.  Look at everything.  Sometimes you won't learn everything about an 
object on the first look;  you may have to look more closely a second 
time.  Don't forget to "look" at items you acquire in your inventory.  
Also, some objects won't make their appearance until you have obtained 
the necessary clues to their existence.  Some events in the game 
must be performed on particular days.  Remember, it's not what you 
know that counts, it's what Dawson knows that's important.  Keep that 
in mind if you need to start the game again from scratch.

4.  Pat attention to the changes in the cursor shapes as you move 
them over objects an backgrounds, as they provide important clues 
about your environment.



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