AFK Wars — a Progressive Power Up Screensaver
Watch | Version 0.9.3-preview | Windows x64

Watch is the free edition: the complete autonomous space battle. Piloting, music and effects are features of the separate Take the Helm edition.

GET STARTED
1. Extract the entire ZIP into a folder you can keep. Do not run from inside the ZIP.
2. Keep the _internal folder beside AFKWars-Watch.exe.
3. Open AFKWars-Watch.exe. Choose Window preview to try it, or Watch now for fullscreen.
No separate Python installation or administrator installation is required.

AUTOMATIC SCREENSAVER
Enable Start automatically while I'm away, choose your delay, then Run in background.
The app must remain running for automatic activation. Show system tray icon is optional.
Open the executable or your shortcut again to recover settings even when the icon is hidden.
Quit AFK Wars stops it completely. Closing the settings window also quits; use
Run in background when you want it to stay ready.
This portable package does not automatically install itself at Windows sign-in
or register as a .scr screensaver. A Windows startup shortcut may optionally
launch this executable with --resident to start it in the background.

CONTROLS
Space or Esc pauses. Space resumes; Esc again while paused exits the battle.

By default, ordinary keyboard/mouse activity dismisses fullscreen watching.
These exit preferences are configurable. The window preview stays open for input.
F11 toggles fullscreen in preview. Sound is silent while watching automatically.

UPDATING
Open settings and choose Check for updates, then Download update.
After the verified download is ready, choose Install and quit. The installer
waits for AFK Wars to exit, replaces this application folder, and retains the
previous version for recovery. Open your existing shortcut to start again.
Preferences stay in their separate settings folder. If the new version fails
its startup check, the installer restores the previous version.
Take the Helm uses your private purchase link or receipt code for update access;
keep it private. Update access does not affect offline gameplay.
Versions before 0.9.3 have no updater: extract this full ZIP into a new folder
and update your shortcuts once to gain the built-in updater.

SETTINGS AND UNINSTALL
Preferences and diagnostic logs are stored under %APPDATA%/aft-hours.
Both editions use that settings location. Close the running edition before
switching editions. Quit first, then remove the extracted application folder
and any shortcuts you created to uninstall. Your saved settings remain unless
you choose to remove the aft-hours settings folder too.

COMPATIBILITY AND LIMITS
This build was tested on Windows 11 x64 on a 2560x1600 laptop at 150% scaling.
Physical sleep/reboot, external mixed-DPI monitors and minimum-spec hardware
were not validated. Frame-rate settings are caps, not performance guarantees.
The executable is unsigned. No macOS, ARM Windows or Steam Deck support is claimed.
The version remains labeled 0.9.3-preview. This is a standalone distribution;
it does not include a Steam key or Steam ownership verification.

DISPLAY CARE
Dark moving visuals and gently drifting, fading hints are designed with OLED
displays in mind. No screensaver guarantees prevention of burn-in. Keep normal
display sleep and manufacturer-recommended care features enabled. AFK Wars
does not prevent the display from sleeping or alter system locking settings.

DEPENDENCIES
Third-party notices are in licenses/ and third-party-notices/. Keep dependency materials with this folder.
The _internal directory contains replaceable shared libraries; do not remove it.
