Help and problem solutions for Super Mario PC Challenge 7

The "Readme" is this time in the HTML-format, as HTML is better for help-files than simple text-formats for example. To view this file you do not need a connection to the internet as it is not a website but some kind of expanded text-file.

First of all thank you for downloading this fangame that is a part of the SM PC-Games. This is the improved full version (1.1), updates or expanding patches are not planned, if I should make some, you'll find them on the mentioned website.
You will learn everything you need to know while playing, if there should be some questions or problems, have a look at this list.


Content of this help-file :


startscreen


How can I begin with the game?
Either you click twice on a shortcut on your desktop or you go into the directory in which you have installed/extracted the game (suggested is C:\Games\Super Mario PC Challenge 7) and click twice on the file "(1) Start Super Mario PC Challenge 7.exe". Than you come to the startscreen where you can choose with the arrow keys and Enter between "Start" (new game), "Load" (continue at a saved point of the game) and "End" (quit). The game begins with a click on "Start".

Why can't I choose "Load" at the beginning?
When you open the game for the first time, there's no saved game yet, so there's nothing that can be loaded. As soon as you have played a while and saved your point of the game (over the menu, under "Options"), you'll be able to continue from there over "Load".

Which keys are used? Can I choose them myself?
No, that's not possible but the keys are chosen to be easy reachable on every keyboard. You don't need any other keys than those enumerated below nor the mouse.
You move and choose with the arrow keys or the Numpad.
To jump, enter levels (by going on a levelfield (blue, with a number)) and worldmaps (by going on a worldmapfield (white, with a blue "W")) as well as to confirm textboxes and answerpossibilities, you use Enter or Space.
With Esc you pause the game and open the menu.
In the levels you can make short jumps with the keys A, F and R. As long as you hold D, E or Y pressed you can run faster and jump farther. With the S- and T-key it's possible to shoot fireballs (if you have a Fire Flower). Outside the levels those keys have no effect.
You can check the controls also in every level over the menupoint "Information".

Are there any short-keys?
Beside the normal keys to play the game there are four other combinations : F12 brings you back to the startscreen, Alt (hold pressed) + F4 quits the game immediately (both times you are not reminded to save). With F4 and F5 you enter the windowed mode and adapt the windowsize.

Can I adapt the window-size?
Yes, with F4 and F5 you can change from the full-screen mode to the windowed display (and back again) and adapt the windowsize (to 320x240 or 640x480 (but I don't recommend 640x480 as the game could be much slower and the computer might have problems with that mode)). Other windowsizes aren't possible.

Can I play with Luigi?
No, this time you can only play with Mario, there are no other playable characters.

What's the main language in the game? English or German?
All the textes are written at the same time, nevertheless German is actually the main language.

Can I change the language in the game?
That's not really planned but it's possible. On the "over-worldmap" (from where you can reach the different worlds) you just have to enter the word "spra".


Kartpicture


Where do I find what in the menu?
The menu, which you can open (and close) with the Esc-key, contains the following points :

Can I go back to one point in the game after I closed it?
Of course, that's no problem as long as you have saved (over the menu under "Options") before you quit.

How can I go back to levels I have already passed?
You just have to go to the "over-worldmap" (for example over the menu) and choose the world with a Enter-keypress on a field with a green or yellow point. Red marked fields show worlds that you can't reach yet. You can go back to your current level-standing at any time.

Why can't I play minigames from passed worlds again?
As there are so many extra-lives and items to win in these minigames, it would be too easy if you could play them more than once a world. When you have gone through the whole game you can play the minigames as often as you want in a special bonusworld (that you can reach over the "DK"-field in world 9).

Why are there so many fields to save in/load?
In fact you only need one, you can always overwrite your saved game. However, it is useful to take different fields when you are for example not the only one who plays the game on that computer, then everybody can use another field. The same is true when you want to make some kind of backup from an older place of the game.


Levelpicture


Does the game any harm to my computer? How can I remove it?
Of course it doesn't damage the computer, the program doesn't do anything when you aren't playing, there are no hidden commands and of course it doesn't collect or send personal information. Every computer should be able to show the game without difficulties. Also every file got checked for worms, viruses etc.
To remove the game completely from your pc, use the added file "Uninstall Super Mario PC Challenge 7.exe".

Can I delete the install-file or is it still needed?
The install-file (installsupermariopcchallenge7.exe) is no longer needed, you can clear it with the Delete-key (at some versions there is no install-file).

What are the other files in the game's directory for? Are they needed?
Yes, the game doesn't work without these files. They must not be deleted, renamed, moved or edited.
The file "(5) Schriften-Zusatz - Fonts-add-on.zip" has a special role : if the font is difficult to read, you should extract the fonts that are included in that file (as described in the added "Readme (English).txt").

How can I make or delete desktop-shortcuts to Super Mario PC Challenge 7?
Shortcuts are useful to start the game with a double click on the desktop-icon. To create a shortcut to the game, move the file "(1) Start Super Mario PC Challenge 7.exe" with the right mouse button to the desktop and choose Create shortcuts here. To remove the shortcut, simply click with the right mouse button on the icon and choose Delete.

My computer has problems to display the game, it's shaking all the time and the actions aren't fluently. What can I do?
As every computer should be able to display the game without problems, the problem is usually that there are other programs running in the background. Close those programs and maybe restart Windows. When you play in the 640x480-window-mode, the computer may also have problems, so it's probably better to play in the full-screen mode.

The game crashes. What can I do?
That's unfortunately never impossible, although it was tested multiple times. Should this case come true, go to the SM PC-Games - website and have a look if there is a patch/update available for this game which solves the problem. If there is already one, download it and follow the added instructions. If there's no patch available yet respectively the problem persists, remember please the place of the crash (for example before the game starts, after Level 4-3, when entering the second minigame ...) and the kind of error message (what it is about) as exactly as possible and tell me this with the added contact-form. Only then I can solve your problem (of course I send you the ameliorated version via e-mail if you want).

The monitor doesn't display the whole part of the game and/or the text looks weird. How can I change that?
When the game isn't displayed in it's whole size, but only partly (cut), you either have to change your screen-settings (for instance change to 1024x768 screen resolution, modify the monitor-settings (a.o. the horizontal position) or adjust it automatically (push the "Auto"-button on your monitor (when there is one))) or you can also change into the windowed mode.
When the text is difficult to read, you should use the added fonts (-> see here).


Bosspciture


Are there hidden passages and bonuslevels?
Yes, they are distributed over multiple worlds and levels. You can reach them especially over warp-pipes.

Are there codes with which you can cheat, for example to get more lives?
Yes, such cheatcodes exist. However, you won't be told here which they are and where you have to enter them, have a look at the internet. ;-)

Am I allowed to distribute the game or to burn it onto a CD?
Yes, of course. As long as you don't demand money for that, you may distribute the game via e-mail, messenger, CD etc. Make sure that you don't only copy the file "(1) Start Super Mario PC Challenge 7.exe" but the install-file ("installsupermariopcchallenge7.exe") respectively the whole folder of the game (when you have it in "C:\Games\Super Mario PC Challenge 7" for example, you have to copy the folder "Super Mario PC Challenge 7" of the directory "C:\Games").

I want to put the game on a website, is that possible?
Yes, as long as the download is free. When it's for a bigger gamesite (a website that is specialized on offering freegames), please inform me about it, so that I can tell the webmasters when new versions are out.

When comes Super Mario PC Challenge 8?
Nice question, you'll find out if and when that game would come out on the SM PC-Games - website.

How can I contact the author?
The added contact-form is naturally the easiest way. Otherwise you can also have a look on the SM PC-Games - website or you send an e-mail.

My question wasn't answered, what can I do?
Simply contact me (-> see just above).


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