1.0 Installation

Windows:

Extract almostBowling_windoze.zip> to the directory where you want to install almostBowling. This zip archive has the files in it's own directory, so extracting to "C:\Program Files\" would put the executable that will start the game in "C:\Program Files\almostExec\" 

almostBowling can be run by double-clicking almost.exe in the almostExec directory that was created. If you create a shortcut to almost.exe it will not work if the working directory (in the Shortcut tab) is set to the almostExec directory. 

Source is inalmostBowling-0.75_windoze_source_VC6.zip and should compile in Microsoft Visual C/C++ 6 into it's own almost\exec directory.  

Linux:

Extract almostBowling_linux.tar.gz to the directory in which you want almostBowling installed.  Like for Windows this archive contains a direcory in it.  You will need the SDL libraries installed, probably mesa (for opengl) and it would be nice to have hardware accelerated video drivers.  It will also need to be run from the directory containing the program data (likely the same as the one containing the program)

Source is in almostbowling-0.75_linux_source.tar.gz and I will not instruct you how to compile it.  


2.0 How to play

Objective:

The goal is to knock all of the 'pins' off of the 'field.' The pins are smaller than your ball, and usually arranged in a trianglurar shape. You knock them off by throwing your ball at them. When they are all knocked off you will be taken to the next level. There is not currently a limit on how many times you can throw the ball in each level. 
How to throw the ball:

While moving your mouse in the direction you wish the ball to go (relative to the 'field,' not the direction the camera is facing) press the left mouse button (primary mouse button). 
When you release this button (you don't need to hold it for long, just tap it) your ball will be thrown with the direction and speed you were moving the mouse at while holding the left mouse button (primary mouse button). 

The ball will move around for ten seconds (a countdown timer will appear in the upper left), until it falls off the 'field,' or until you press the right mouse button (secondary mouse button). When one of these events occur your ball will be reset, but the 'pins' will not, they will continue moving. 

Other keys: