Wipeout XL (2097) is a fast futuristic racing game. Twelve of the world's best anti-gravity pilots come together on a series of devilishly designed circuits in a bid for the coveted F5000 anti-gravity racing championship. You can win the race by smoking the competition with your driving skills or by eliminating them to with your weapons.
This demo does not require you to have a 3D accelerator card. However, in the final version of Wipeout XL, YOU MUST
HAVE A 3D accelerator card to play the game. Advanced 3D hardware allows us to achieve the spectacular visuals coupled with the smooth frame rate of Wipeout XL.
For the final game, these are the requirements:
Version Win 95 only utilizing Direct 3D
Min spec Pentium 133 with 3D accelerator card
Recommended Pentium 166 with 3D accelerator card
CDROM drive Double speed
Memory 16Mb RAM minimum
Controls Keyboard - Joystick - Mouse
Sound Sound Blaster or 100% compatible, Gravis Ultrasound
Resolution 320x200, 320x240, 640x480
Accelerator cards 3DFX chip (Voodoo or Rush) - 4Mb
supported 3D Labs Permedia - 4Mb
Videologic Power VR - 4Mb
Rendition Verite chip - 4Mb
Matrox Mystique - 4Mb
ATI 3D Rage/Expression - 4Mb
1. Installation
This demo requires Windows 95.
Wipeout XL needs the latest version of Direct X (version 3.0a). If you are certain have this version, please use SETUP.EXE to install the demo. If you do not have this version, please use LAUNCHER.EXE or INSTALL.EXE to install the demo.
Wipeout XL installation size is 24 MB. Please make sure you have Scandisked and Defragmented your hard drive before installation. These tools are located in the START Menu under \PROGRAMS \ ACCESSORIES \ SYSTEM TOOLS. Regularly running these programs ensures that your hard drive is in its peak condition.
Using the demo for magazine cover disks: If you want to offer the user Wipeout's Direct X installer, set up your front end to call the LAUNCHER.EXE program. If you wish to offer Direct X separately to the user and want to just install the game, call the SETUP.EXE program.
2. Start up selections
When starting up, Wipeout offers a pre-game selection menu where you can choose the screen resolution that you want to run the game in and whether you want to use 3D hardware or not. The default settings will be the optimum settings for your hardware. If you have a 3D card installed on the machine, Wipeout will detect this and will display "Direct 3D HAL" under the device section. If it does not, you may manually set this mode, however, there are certain graphical abnormalities yet to be resolved in this mode.
The resolutions that the demo runs in are 320x200, 320x240, 640x480. The resolutions offered to you on the start up box will depend on both your VGA card and 3D card.
If you have a good 3D card, we recommend you run the game in 640x480. If you don't have a 3D card, we recommend you run the game in 320x240 in "RAMP EMULATION" mode. We do not recommend that you run the demo in RGB Emulation,
When these options are set to your requirements, click 'Play Game' to continue.
3. Menu Options
To use the menu system, use the cursor keys to move the highlighted option and the ENTER key to select.
Team Menu
Pick your craft from the TEAM menu. There are four teams available: FEISAR, AG Systems, Auricom and Qirex. Each has their own handling and speed characteristics. It is recommended that beginners take out the more controllable FEISAR ship for their first few races. Use the Up and Down cursor keys to highlight your chosen racing class and ENTER to select.
Class & Track Menu
This demo contains one circuit, Gare D'Europa. You can race at Vector class (slow) or Rapier class (fast). Each race lasts 2 laps. In the CLASS AND TRACK MENU, use the Up and Down cursor keys to highlight your chosen racing class and ENTER to select.
To start the game return to the main menu screen and select "Start".
4. Playing the Game
Gare D'Europa is a complex, twisty track set in a disused Paris subway system. You start at the back of a grid of 12 craft. Your challenge: to speed past the other racers (blasting them out of the way if necessary) to win a medal. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to the respective first three finishing positions.
Default Controls
Controlling your anti-gravity craft is simple, but may take a little getting used to.
Cursor keys Steer / nose up & down
S accelerate
A air brake left
D air brake right
SPACE fire
Left Alt drop weapon
Wipeout fully supports the GravisPad Pro (similar the Playstation pad). This pad is strongly recommended.
Joysticks, joypads and the mouse are also fully supported.
All controls are redefinable in this demo. To do this, go into the OPTIONS menu from the main menu. Then select CONTROLLER SETUP. In this screen, use the left and right cursor keys, to select the required controller device. Select the REDEFINE CONTROLLER to alter controls.
Function keys
F1 View: external / internal (internal view is not recommended for those prone to motion sickness)
F5 Sky: on / off (when off - frame rate increases)
F7 Bi-linear filtering: on / off (when off - frame rate increases)
Shield Energy
Each time you collide with the side of the track or are hit by an enemy weapon, your shield energy will be depleted. When shield energy levels reach zero, your ship will explode. The on-screen Shield Energy bar shows your current level at a glance.
Speed-Ups
Fly over the blue arrows on the track to receive an additional burst of speed - ideal when going up hill and overtaking.
Checkpoints
As soon as you begin a race, a countdown showing your allotted time will be activated. If the counter reaches zero before you pass the next Checkpoint, the game will be over.
Pit Lanes
Recharge shield energy by flying into the pit lane. This is a clearly marked red striped area next to the long starting straight on the circuit.
Pausing the action
Press ESCAPE at any time during the game to pause it.
5. Weapons and PowerUps
Racing is not all there is to Wipeout 2097 / XL. There's destruction too! Flying over the coloured crosses on the track will cause you to pick up a weapon or power-up. (Note: after a craft has flown over a weapon grid the grid takes a second to reactivate). Only one weapon can be held by your craft. The full game contain 11 weapons and power ups. This demo contains 4 weapons.
Rockets
Fire in bursts of 3 from the front of the craft. Rockets have terrain hugging capability but fire only in a straight line.
Missiles
Similar to rockets, but only one fires at a time. Missiles have heat seeking capability. The missile target can lock on to enemies both in front and behind your craft. If you have a rear lock, the text 'Rear Lock' will flash below the weapon icon. To fire the missile forwards, press the SPACE BAR. To fire the missile backwards, press the SPACE BAR and the DOWN cursor key together.
Plasma Bolt
When activated, a Plasma Bolt has to charge up before it fires. This weapons is a little tricky to hit another ship with but if you do, he'll be kissing the dirt.
E-Pak
When activated, an E-Pak will boost your shield energy.
6. Misc. Stuff
In-game graphics vary according to your video card. Example: the 3DFX chip
allows the craft's exhaust to be transparent, others do not. These graphical
limitations are due to the hardware of the card and not Wipeout XL.
Some Cheats (don't tell them I gave you these!)
While in game type:
PSYTICKER = infinite time
PSYMEGA = all weapons
PSYRAPID = minigun
7. Legal Information and Contacting Psygnosis
Psygnosis contact information
support email - PSYGTECH@psygnosis.com
website - www.psygnosis.com
tech. support - 415-655-5683 (US)
800 Sales - 800-438-7794 (why not pre-order Wipeout XL)
Legal Stuff
This demo is copyrighted Psygnosis. It may be freely
distributed, provided this file remain part of the archive.
This demo may not be sold for more than the cost of media without
