supertux

- An introduction for SuperTux -
http://super-tux.sf.net/

Last update: April 26, 2004

DESCRIPTION
-----------
SuperTux is a jump'n run like game, with strong inspiration from the
Super Mario Bros games for Nintendo.

Run and jump through multiple worlds, fighting off enemies by jumping
on them or bumping them from below. Grabbing power-ups and other stuff
on the way.


STORY
-----

- Penny gets captured! -

Tux and Penny were out having a nice
picnic on the ice fields of Antarctica.
Suddenly, a creature jumped from
behind an ice bush, there was a flash,
and Tux fell asleep!

When Tux wakes up, he finds that Penny
is missing. Where she lay before now
lies a letter. "Tux, my arch enemy!"
says the letter. "I have captured
your beautiful Penny and have taken her
to my fortress. The path to my fortress
is littered with my minions. Give up on
the thought of trying to reclaim her,
you haven't a chance! -Nolok"

Tux looks and see Nolok's fortress in
the distance. Determined to save his
beloved Penny, he begins his journey.


DOCUMENTATION
-------------
Important documentation for SuperTux is contained in multiple files.
Please see them:

AUTHORS - Credits for people that contributed to the creation
of SuperTux.
NEWS - Changes since the previous versions of "SuperTux"
COPYING - The GNU Public License, which "SuperTux" is liscensed
under.
INSTALL - Instructions on requirements, compiling and installing.
README - (This file.) Game story, usage, rules and controls.
TODO - A wish-list for this version of "SuperTux"
LEVELDESIGN - Very useful information for those that want to design
levels for SuperTux.


RUNNING THE GAME
----------------
SuperTux makes use of proc to see where it is. In other words, it does not
have any need to be installed and can be run from anywhere. This makes
it possible to click in the executable in your filemanager (ie. Konqueror,
Nautilus) as oposited to most of Linux games.

Options can be reached from the menu, so you don't need to specify arguments,
but if you want, type 'supertux --help' to check the ones that are avaible.
Also, notice that SuperTux saves the options, so you don't need to be allways
specifying them.

The game has two frontends: SDL and OpenGL. Currently, there isn't any
noticiable difference between them. Basically, SDL uses software to draw
the game and OpenGL makes use of the videocards CPU (if the videocard has
one and the drivers support it). Under linux, nVidia is recommendaded
(with the closed drivers), but an ATI video card should work just fine.


PLAYING THE GAME
----------------
Controls
--------
Both keyboards and joysticks/gamepads are supported. You can change the
controls via the Options menu. Basically, the only keys you will need to
use in-game are to do the following actions: jump, duck, right, left, power
and 'P' to pause/unpause the game. I don't think there is anything to
explain about the others, but the power key, also called run, allow you
to run and use the power of the powerup you got. For instance, with the
fire flower, you can shoot bullets (note that this is the only power
currently implemented).

Other useful keys include the Esc key, which is used to go to the menu or
to go up a level in the menu. The menu can be navigated using the arrow
keys or the mouse.

In the worldmap, the arrow keys are used to navigate and Enter enters the
current level.

The leveleditor is controled via the mouse, but there are shortcuts that
may make your life easier. To see the shortcuts for the buttons, just
do a Right-click on them. If you are interested in creating SuperTux
levels, we advise you to read LEVELDESIGN to learn more about the editor
and creating new levels.


SCREEN LAYOUT
-------------
Status
------
The amount of time you have left to complete this level is displayed in
the center at the top of the screen. (Note: Time is NOT in seconds!)

The number of coins you have collected is displayed at the upper right.

SCORING
-------
Enemies
-------
If you kill more than one enemy at a time without landing on the ground,
each enemy is worth more points. For example, if there are three in a
row and you jump on the first, it's worth 50 points. If you bounce off
the first and onto the second, it's worth 100 points. If you also get
the third, it's worth 150 points.

You can also score by shooting at the enemies. Don't forget to get
the iceflower in order to get the ability to fire.

THE END
-------
Thanks for trying out SuperTux.

If you like SuperTux, please rate and review it at the
Linux Game Tome:

http://www.happypenguin.org/

Search for "SuperTux"!


Thanks!

The SuperTux development team