Object of the Game
	Object of the game Eliminate the ropes by untwisting the knots. When a rope is completely untwisted, it disappears. When all of the ropes are gone, you move to the next screen.  The sliding bar pushes the knots down. The game is over when a knot reaches the bottom. See also How to Play


Game Screen


Score and level

Your current score and level.

Each level has 3 screens. There are 9 levels in all, plus bonus levels (bonus levels have only one screen). For example, when you see Level 2-3, it means that you are on Level 2, Screen 3.


Ropes

Eliminate the ropes by untwisting the knots. When all of the ropes are gone, you move to the next screen on that level.


Frame

Move the frame from side to side using the LEFT and RIGHT ARROW KEYS. To untwist a knot, press SPACEBAR, or press the UP ARROW KEY when the frame is around the knot. Each time you twist or untwist a knot, the frame changes direction and color.

The direction and color of the frame indicate the type of knot you can untwist.

Blue frames slant to the right [image] and untwist knots with the right rope on top [image].

Red frames slant to the left [image] and untwist knots with the left rope on top [image].

Both frames untwist same-color knots.


Sliding bar

The sliding bar pushes knots to the bottom of the screen. The bar moves faster as you reach higher levels. The game ends when a knot reaches the bottom.


Bonus points
Bonuses

Bonuses appear as tiny icons on the side of the rope field. You can use bonuses to untwist knots you can't reach. To collect bonus points, untwist the sparkling [image] knots.


Candle

 When the candle appears, use the opportunity to remove an entire rope. Connect the rope with the red dot [image] at the top to the red dot on the bottom by twisting or untwisting the rope until it touches the top and bottom dots.


Red dots

When the candle appears, use the opportunity to remove an entire rope.Connect the rope with the red dot [image] at the top to the red dot on the bottom by twisting or untwisting the rope until it touches the top and bottom dots.


Twist indicator

The twist indicator shows the direction of the knot that you can twist or untwist.

When the twist indicator points to the left [image], you can only untwist knots with the left rope on top [image], or create a knot with the right rope on top.

When the twist indicator points to the right [image], you can only untwist knots with the right rope on top [image], or create a knot with the left rope on top.


Sparkle Bonus
Sparkle

Collect bonus points by untwisting sparkling knots.


How to Play
	How to play Eliminate the ropes by untwisting the knots. • Use the LEFT and RIGHT ARROW KEYS to move the frame from side to side. • To untwist a knot, press SPACEBAR or the UP ARROW KEY.  • The frame must cover a knot before you can untwist it. • A frame that is slanted to the right [image] untwists knots with the right rope on top [image]. • A frame that is slanted to the left [image] untwists knots with the left rope on top [image]. • Either frame can untwist same-color knots.  Remove all the ropes to move to the next screen. The game is over when a knot reaches the bottom. Tips • If you can't untwist a knot, try twisting or untwisting another knot, and then return to the first knot. Each time you twist or untwist a knot, the frame changes direction. You can also untwist knots you can't reach using a bonus you've collected by untwisting a sparkling knot.  • You only control the left and right motion of the frame. The frame automatically moves up and down to the place where it can twist or untwist a knot See also Object of the Game Game Screen Tips and Strategies Starting a New Game, Pausing, and Exiting


How to use a bonus
	To use a bonus Use bonuses to untwist knots. 1  Place the frame beneath the knot you want to untwist, and then press TAB or the DOWN ARROW KEY. The frame will change direction to let you untwist the knot. 2  Make sure the frame is over the knot you want to untwist, and then press SPACEBAR. Simply pressing TAB will not untwist the knot. • Collect bonus points by untwisting sparkling [image] knots.  • Bonuses appear as tiny icons at the side of the rope field.  See also Tips and Strategies


Starting a new game, pausing, and exiting
	Starting a new game, pausing, and exiting To start a new game On the Game menu, click New, or press F2. To pause a game On the menu bar, click Pause! or press F3. Click Play! to resume the game. To exit a game On the Game menu, click Exit. See also How to Play Game Options


Tips and Strategies
	Tips and strategies Note the slant and color of the frame, the direction of the knot, and the color of the ropes. • You only control the left and right motion of the frame. The frame automatically moves up and down to the place where it can twist or untwist a knot. • The direction of the frame, as well as its color, indicates the type of knot it can untwist. • Blue frames are slanted to the right [image] and untwist knots with the right rope on top [image]. • Red frames are slanted to the left [image] and untwist knots with the left rope on top [image]. • Either frame untwists same-color knots.  If you can't untwist a knot, try twisting or untwisting another knot, and then return to the first knot.  • The direction of the frame changes every time you twist or untwist a pair of ropes. For example, if you want to untwist a knot with the right rope on top and the frame is red and slanting to the left, you need to twist or untwist a knot with the left rope on top first. • When adding twists, try to twist two ropes of the same color. You can then return to the twist you created and undo it no matter which direction the frame is slanting. • Try to untwist different-color ropes first. You'll have more same-color ropes at the end and it will be easier to find knots to untwist, because you can untwist same-color ropes with either frame. Use bonuses to untwist knots. • Collect bonus points by untwisting sparkling [image] knots. • Bonuses appear as tiny icons at the side of the rope field. • To use a bonus, place the frame beneath the knot you want to untwist, and then press TAB or the DOWN ARROW KEY. The frame will change direction. To untwist the knot, press SPACEBAR. Simply pressing TAB will not untwist the knot. • Each saved bonus is worth 30 points, but don't try to save up your bonuses - you're usually better off using them to stay alive! When the candle [image] appears, use the opportunity to remove an entire rope. • Connect the rope with the red dot [image] at the top to the red dot on the bottom by twisting or untwisting the rope until it touches the top and bottom dots. When a paintbrush [image] appears, you can press ENTER to change the ropes' color scheme. This might help if the current rope colors are making the ropes difficult to untwist. • Use the paintbrush with discretion. If ropes are the same color, for example, changing the color scheme may increase the level's difficulty instead of decreasing it. There are 9 levels - plus bonus levels -- in Fringer. Each level (except the bonus levels) has 3 screens. You can change the start level instead of playing from the beginning. As the levels get higher, there are more colors of ropes on the rope field and the bar drops to the bottom more quickly. See also How to Play Game Screen Scoring


Scoring


Game Options
	Game options You can customize the game by changing the start level, adding a player name, and turning the background music and sound effects on or off. You can also reset the high scores, and turn Quick Help and Quick Tips on or off. Click the option you want: Changing the Start Level Changing the Default Player Name Turning the Background Music On or Off Turning the Sound Effects On or Off Turning Ask for Player's Name On or Off Resetting the High Scores Turning Quick Help On or Off Turning Quick Tips On or Off


Change Level
	To change the start level There are 9 levels, plus bonus levels, in Fringer. There are 3 screens per level, but bonus levels have only one screen.  1  On the Game menu, click Options. 2  In the Start Level section of the Fringer Options dialog box, click the up or down arrow to increase or decrease the start level of a game. As the levels get higher, there are more colors of ropes on the rope field and the bar drops to the bottom more quickly. See also Game Options


Add Player
	To change the default player name You can change the name that appears by default in the High Scores list. 1  On the Game menu, click Options. 2  In the Fringer Options dialog box, type your name in the Please Enter Your Name box. If you want the same name to appear automatically in the High Scores list each time you earn a high score, clear the Ask for player's name check box. If you want to change the name that appears in the High Scores list each time you earn a high score, select the check box. See also Game Options Ask for Player's Name


To Turn the Background Music On or Off
	To turn the background music on or off 1  On the Game menu, click Options.  2  Select or clear the Background Music check box in the Fringer Options dialog box. See also Game Options


To Turn the Sound Effects On or Off
	To turn the sound effects on or off 1  On the Game menu, click Options. 2  In the Fringer Options dialog box, select or clear the Sound Effects check box. See also Game Options


To turn Ask for player's name on or off
	To turn Ask for player's name on or off You can choose to have your name appear automatically in the High Scores list when you earn a high score, or you can enter your name each time you earn a high score. 1  On the Game menu, click Options.  2  In the Fringer Options dialog box, select the Ask for a Player's Name check box if you want to enter a name each time you earn a high score. Clear the box if you want the name in the box to appear automatically in the High Scores list. See also Game Options


To Reset the High Scores
	To reset the high scores When you reset the High Scores list, all high scores listed return to zero. 1  On the Game menu, click High Scores. 2  In the High Scores for Fringer dialog box, click Reset. See also Game Options


To Turn the Quick Help On or Off
	To turn Quick Help on or off Quick Help provides brief instructions for the game, including the game's Objective and How to Play. 1  On the Help menu, click Quick Help. 2  Select or clear the Skip Quick Help at Startup check box in the Fringer Quick Help dialog box. See also Game Options


To turn Quick Tips on or off
	To turn Quick Tips on or off Quick Tips provide quick information on key game features as they appear or levels as they occur. 1  On the Help menu, click Show Quick Tips.  2  When Show Quick Tips is checked, Quick Tips will appear during gameplay. When Show Quick Tips is cleared, Quick Tips will not appear. See also Game Options


Credits
	Credits Mir-Dialogue Project Manager: Valeri Mirantsev Concept: Alexey Pajitnov, Vladimir Pokhilko Producer: Andrey Novikov Lead Programmer: Nickolay Reshetnyak Programmers: Vadim Kuznetsov, Nadya Romanchuk Lead Artist: Marina Lenskaya Lead Composer: Igor Krasilnikov Software Test Lead: Yury Romanchuk Technical Support: Sergey Pshenichnikov Microsoft Producer: Zachary M. Drake Game Designer: Alexey Pajitnov Product Planner: Heather Burgess Product Manager: Ann Martinson Localization Project Manager: Laurence K. Smith Technical Support Lead: Steven Kastner   Software Test Leads: Steve Sanford, Matt Gradwohl, Eric Spunaugle Software Testers: Brian Hunt, Paul H. Gradwohl, Sean Kellogg, Shelina I. Gowani Beta Coordinator: Andy Wood Setup Developer: David Shoemaker Help Developer: Maximilien X. Klaisner Writers: Tricia Hoffman, Pamela Janello, Alexandra Shapiro Editor: Amy Robison Art Director: Jennifer Epps Jewel Case Artist: Chris Lassen  Icon Artist: Connie Braat Usability Specialist: Sean Draine   Management: Stuart Moulder, Brian Bennink, Jo Tyo, Craig Henry, Ed Ventura


Your guide to Microsoft Technical Support
	Technical Support For product support, contact the manufacturer of your PC.  Refer to the documentation that came with your PC for the product support telephone number.