Status Panel - The status panel stretches across
the top of the screen and is for the less interactive controls of the game.
There is a 'Menu' button to the top-left area of the screen. Once pressed,
the game simulation will pause and open up a main menu in the middle of the
screen. Within the main menu are options to resume the game or to exit the
application entirely. To the upper-right area is a clock representation of
the time and date within the restaurant scene.
Toolbox - The build mode of the game revolves
completely around the toolbox controls. Here you select tools to manipulate
the objects in the restaurant scene. Only one tool can be selected at a
time. Currently present tools in the game include: the selection tool, the
build wall tool, the wallpaper tool, the floor tile tool, the doorway tool, the window tool,
and the furniture tool. To the right of the tool buttons are the camera zoom in(+) and camera zoom out(-) buttons as well as two buttons for a quick 90-degree rotation of the camera.
Catalog Browser - The catalog browser appears when you select the
Furniture tool on the toolbar and is initially located
at the lower-left area of the screen next to the bottom toolbox The catalog browser is
the navigational selection system for restaurant furniture. Click on the
images to select the desired object to place in the restaurant. Use the left
and right arrows to scroll through the catalog.
Placing and rotating objects - To place an object in the restaurant, simply select the object in the
catalog browser, then move the mouse to the position where you want it and click the left mouse button. To rotate an object, make sure
you have selected the pointer tool, then press the left mouse button while the mouse is over the object, and drag the mouse either up, down, left, or right to rotate the object
in that direction. (Note: that you can also rotate an object in this way at the same time as placing an object by holding the left mouse button
down (when you would normally click and release to place an object), then dragging to rotate the object, and releasing the button to place the object.
Moving the Camera
W, A, S, D - These keys move the camera in the
same fashion as any real-time stratagy game. W moves the camera forward, S
moves the camera backwards, A moves the camera left, and D moves the camera
right.
Rotating the Camera Hold down shift and press (or hold) A or D to
rotate the camera left or right. Also, you can use the two arrow buttons in the bottom right
of the screen (or, alternatively, the Q and E keys) on the toolbar to quickly rotate 90 degrees in either direction.
Random Notes
In the tech demo release, you can buy and place furniture while the simulation
is running, and customers are entering and leaving the restaurant. In the actual game, you will only be able to buy and place furniture
while your restaurant is closed (before you open it for the day). In a sense, the game will be somewhat "turn-based."
When the restaurant is closed - unlike when the restaurant is open and the simulation is running - time does not move forward.
You will be able to use this time to properly furnish and decorate your restaurant, as well as do numerous other things to make sure
your restaurant is ready for the next day (like buy ingredients and hire or fire employees). Once you elect to begin the next day,
the simulation will start and game-time will begin moving forward. Note that while you will be able to pause the game when
the restaurant is open, you will not be able to buy or place furniture.
