            Thank you for playing the Demo Version of
              FREDDY PHARKAS, FRONTIER PHARMACIST!

There are one or two things you should know before you play.
Actually more like five or six.  Okay, nine.

1.   Got a problem?  Blame your hardware.

2.   The requirements to install and run the demo:

     A 286/16mhz MS-DOS compatible machine w/VGA or EGA display,
     and a hard drive.  We recommend at least a 386/16mhz or
     faster.

     A hard drive with approximately 1.8 megabytes of free space.

     At least 570K of free low memory.  (This translates to about
     583,000 bytes.  No, we don't know why.) The more memory you 
     have, the better the demo will run.  If you're having trouble 
     freeing up this much low memory, let the Install program 
     create a boot disk for you.

     We also highly recommend a Microsoft-compatible mouse.

3.   To install the demo, from whichever directory or floppy
contains the demo files, simply type the word INSTALL and hit the
<ENTER> key.  Follow the menus and select the optimal display and
sound devices.  (This demo contains digitized sound samples, so if
you have a sound device that supports digitized output, be sure to
use it!)  The INSTALL routine will copy the necessary files to the
default directory or to the directory of your choosing.

4.   The demo will run in Windows only as a DOS application.  For
maximum speed and to prevent errors from occurring with sound 
devices, we highly recommend that you play this demo from DOS, 
not in a DOS window.  The full FREDDY PHARKAS game, when released, 
will run as a true Windows application with sizeable windows 
and stuff like that there.

      If, for some inexplicable reason, you feel compelled to run
this demo in a DOS Window, we have supplied an FPDEMO.PIF file and
a FREDDEMO.ICO icon file for your convenience.  Consult your Windows
documentation for instruction on installing a DOS application with 
Windows, being sure to use the FPDEMO.PIF file.

5.   Each cursor has what's called a "hot spot."  This hot spot 
is the active portion of the cursor and needs to be used to "aim" 
your action while you're playing.  The icon bar cursors (boot, 
hand, glasses, etc.) each have a SMALL RED DOT to show you where 
the hot spot is.  With the inventory item cursors, you'll have to 
experiment.  Let it be a challenge to you!

6.   The demo doesn't allow you to save or restore games.  The real
game does. 

7.   The interactive portion of the demo is on a TIMER.  If you do
not give any commands to the demo for TWO MINUTES, it will
automatically go to the BALLAD without saving your position or
anything!  Surprise!

You can, however, pause the interactive portion of the demo simply by
placing the cursor at the top of the screen so that the icon bar is
activated.  The timer turns off when the icon bar is active.

8.    The RIGHT MOUSE button can be used to skip conversations or 
text.  But be careful; the text, including dialogue, can contain 
crucial information or clues.

9.    If you successfully complete the demo, Whittlin' Willie 
(the narrator) gives you 49 out of 50 points.  THIS IS A JOKE!  
There are NO points in the demo, and subsequently there's no 
way to get 50 out of 50.
     
Why did we tell you this?  Simple.  Because there's a saying:
"Nobody reads the README file."  Well, obviously YOU are the
one glorious exception to the rule, so we're rewarding you by 
saving you the trouble of hunting endlessly for the missing 1
point.

FREDDY PHARKAS, FRONTIER PHARMACIST (the whole magnificent game)
will be available in the Spring of 1993.  To order, use your Visa,
Mastercard, American Express, Discover or PharkasCharge and call 1-
800-326-6654, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm (Pacific Time). 
Outside the US, call 209-683-4468.  In Europe, call 0734-303171. 
FREDDY PHARKAS is the first Computer Comedy Western ever, and we
think it's high time that you stopped reading this README file and
got down to playing the demo.                    

10.   Enjoy it!  Distribute it freely.  Knock yourself out.        

                              SCREW LOOSE AMUSEMENTS
                             (The Freddy Pharkas Team)
