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Text File | 1994-08-27 | 25KB | 479 lines

Space Shades (tm) Version 3.00, Copyright 1989,90,91,94 Rich Frank. --------------- DEMO: Type DEMO at DOS to run DEMO.BAT. QUICK START: Type "SHADES" at DOS and enter game number 1. "P"<space> and F1 bring up help screens. TUTORIAL: Print this document and follow the tutorial section below. Important note: People have had success playing Space Shades without reading this document. The "P"<space> command will bring up a list of all commands needed to complete a game. The Demo explains the game. The most frequently misunderstood portion is the use of the directory ("DF", "DN", "DS", "DK") and directory lock ("L1", "L4", etc..) commands. Please learn how to use these commands. You will quickly get lost in space without them. --------------- NEW WITH 3.0 Deluxe version released as shareware. Alien landscapes have been released, bug fixes, registration fee reduced to $10.00. Space Shades has been recognized by CompuServe Magazine as a 'Top-10' most popular shareware game for DOS. NEW WITH 2.0 The EGA/VGA Graphics version has been released as Shareware. Space Shades is now available in Graphics, Color text and Monochrome text. All versions are two player compatible over the modem. Improvements include a much improved 1 player computer enemy especially on Skill level 3. Bug fixes. INTRODUCTION: Space Shades places you in the cockpit of a space cruiser. You control your ship, a space station, and a spy remote while exploring planets in preparation for your encounter with a hostile enemy. Space Shades is designed to provide the feel of a flight simulator, while presenting bit-mapped images of the objects you see when operated in graphics mode. During play, you look directly out a window into 3D Space. Provided with a navigation computer, you have complete freedom to fly wherever you want. You can loop around your station, fly into the Sun, or crank up your ships speed to .9 SOL. Your mission will be to seek out your enemy and destroy him before he takes over the galaxy. That is his mission also. Start with one allied planet and a space station before guiding your ship off into uncharted territory. You can expand the number of your planets by fighting for their alliance. Go ahead and enjoy yourself: Collect the spoils of easily earned victory over defending planetary Hornets. It won't be so easy to destroy your main opponent, Tin Head. Once you locate your enemy, Space Shades practically becomes a different game. Your ship and the enemy ship have nearly the same capability so it should be an even match. He's fast, but probably a Tin Headed robot. With a little style, a lot of nerve, and a some items picked up at a few of your planets, you can send him home. There are two current releases of Space Shades, a Graphics release and a Character based release. The Character based release of Space Shades is shareware, and supports all standard IBM video hardware because it runs in text mode. A Graphics version is now avilable as shareware. The two versions play identically, only the presentation is different. GRAPHICS High-Res EGA/VGA 16 color graphics. Objects appear as bit-mapped images while operating in graphics mode. After you capture a planet, you can view an animation sequence which shows some detail of your new planet (Deluxe version). CHARACTER BASED SPACE SHADES Space Shades supports text mode on non-EGA/VGA video. Functionality is not lost while playing the game in text mode, partly because the same 3D projection is used. CGA and MDA text mode versions allow Space Shades to be small enough to be placed on bulletin boards. TWO PLAYER GAMES After you've destroyed Tin Head a few times, you may develop a desire for more lively prey. Call a human enemy using your modem. While you are torpedoing your "friend" during a chase through the cosmos as he scrambles to his station for cover, put on your Space Shades, as you will be cool. Graphics versions are two player compatible with Character based versions, so your MDA dingy can go up against the toughest Super-VGA battleship. For information on starting two player games, see the DOS command line example below. The Federation player will be asked to enter a phone number for modem games, while The Kartezion player's modem will answer automatically. FEATURES Fast 3D projection. (Even on a 4.77 MHZ PC) Three skill levels. Adjusts screen update rate to utilize high performance computers. 64,000 configurations for new galaxies. Single or Dual player modes. Original music score. EGA/VGA 640x350 16 color animation. (Graphics version) Save game almost anywhere. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS/SUPPORT IBM PC, AT, PS/2 or compatible required. MDA/CGA/EGA/VGA/MCGA video in text mode. Requires EGA or VGA for graphics mode. Modem (1200 bps or higher) or null modem required for two player games. Supports math coprocessor if available. 340k (text) 512k (graphics) available system RAM. 1.2 Meg space for Deluxe version if installed on HD. If you have any additional questions or comments, contact Rich Frank on CompuServe, user id 73030,302. INSTRUCTIONS: The object of the game is to find the enemy cruiser and destroy him before he destroys you. You will first need to learn to control your weapons and navigate in 3D space. Not all of the galaxy is visible at any one time, so you will need to search for your enemy. Use the cursor keys to turn your ship. <Home> will get you moving. After you move around a bit, and eventually move out of your home system, you will discover that you need to use the directory commands ("DF", "DK", etc..) to find your way back. The directory commands bring up a list of objects you have discovered and allow you to fly to them using the lock ("L#") and goto ("GT#") commands. Whenever you bring up a list of objects using a directory command, there will be a number assigned to each item in the list. Use this number to reference the item using commands such as lock ("L#") and goto ("GT#"). The Space Shades screen shows a projection of 3D space. At any given time you see a distance of 350 units. The total size of the galaxy is approximately 1000 by 1000 by 1000 units, containing about fifty objects. At the start of the game, you will be able to see your station, your home system, and possibly one or two star systems close by. It is probable the enemy is out of sight, but not definite. The locations of the stars and planets depends entirely on what game number you select when you start. At the beginning of the game you can capture neutral planets, a fairly simple task. While you are exploring, your enemy is capturing neutral planets as well. Before too long, either you will find your enemy or he will find you. That's when real fighting starts. Weapons include lasers and torpedoes. During battle, watch your energy closely. Energy is everything: Getting hit with zero energy means you lose the game. Regain energy from your planets and the station. The Screen and Keyboard commands are explained in detail below. A tutorial is available below to help you learn to control your ship. Once you learn to control your ship, go on a search for planets to capture. Remember F1 and P<space> bring up help screens. Table for the following sections of this document: 1) The DOS command line. 4) Command reference. 2) Example Space Shades screen. 5) Space Shades tutorial. 3) Keyboard control. 6) Advanced instructions/Tips. 1) DOS command line: SHADES [-option1 -option2 ...] Example 1 player game: 'SHADES -s'. (-s Turns off sound) Example 2 player: 'SHADES -c1' or 'SHADES -c2 -k'. (One player must type -k) Example: Description: -# -1, -2, -3 Skill level 1 (easy), 2, or 3 (difficult). -b -b1200,-b2400 Transfer rate for two player games, specify -b before -c or -d. Default 1200 BPS. Maximum 2400 for 4.77Mhz machines. -c -c1,-c2 Modem connect for two player game. Indicate COM "-c1AT DP555-1212" port number (Com1 or Com2). You may provide your own local commands for dialing or answering. -d -d1,-d2 Direct connection for two player games. Use either Null modem cable or pre-connected modem. -k -k Choose Kartezion side. One player must use -k for two player games. -n -n25 Selects game number. -s -s Turn off sound. 2) Space Shades screen: (Graphics version shows bit mapped objects) ╔═══════════════════════╡Fore╞═════════════════════════╦══════════════════════╗ ║ <K> ∙ ║ Kartezion cruiser ║ ║ <L> ║ Shield up:2000 R: 133║ ║ ö ╟----------------------╢ ║ <O> ║ 1 K Cruiser 133 ║ ║ ║ 2 F Remote 45 ║ ║ ║ 3 K Kartezion 71 ║ ║ ║ 4 K Hornet 146 ║ ║ ║ 5 K Hornet 129 ║ ║ ║ 6 N Hornet 130 ║ ║ ¥ X X ║ 7 N Hornet 112 ║ ║ <N> <Q> <S> ║<C><D> <E> <F> ║ ║ · ║ ║ ║<M> X ║ ║ ║ <R> ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╟----------------------╢ ╠══════════════╤═════════════╦═════════════════════════╝ FL S3000 <A> ║ ║Energy 6785ILaser 4║ <H> ║ ║Shield 1360IDamage 2337║ Space Shades, version 1.00 (c) 1989, R. Frank ║ ║Velocity 3ICost 160║ Enemy scanning ship. ║ ║Jump 36ICharge <J> 5║ Game x.SAV restored. ║ ║Cost 27ITorpedo 9║ <G>Local scan:Cruiser view:M:Cruiser view:Lock:║ ╚══════════════╧═════════════╩════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Note: X represent characters that are printer control codes (described below). Screen key: <A> Command buffer <K> View direction indicator Target information <L> Distant object <C> Directory number <M> Very distant object <D> Side identifier <N> Cruiser <E> Object name <O> Remote <F> Distance to object Station <G> Command response <Q> X Planet (Chr 14, sign for female) <H> Message window <R> X Hornet (Chr 1, smiley face) Ship status area <S> X Star (Chr 15, big asterisk) <J> Weapons status area 3) Keyboard control: Keypad: (turn numlock off) Function keys: cursor up dive F1 view from own ship/help cursor down climb F2 view from remote cursor left turn left F3 local scan cursor right turn right F4 lock on forward object Home move F5 fire laser End look rear/fore F6 fire torpedo PgUp velocity up F7 decrease rotation sensitivity PgDn velocity down F8 increase rotation sensitivity Ins get energy F9 center on target Del clear command/stop F10 target scan Other keys: <Backspace> remove one char from command buffer <Alt>-M start message string (two player game) 4) Commands: Each command is followed with a return or a space. Use the backspace or the <Del> key to edit the command buffer. Movement: M <Home> move forward G move forward without stopping GT go to locked target GT# go to directory number # Scanning: S <F3> scan local area within 150 units TS <F10> target scan up to 350 units away Navigation: L <F4> lock on object near center of screen L# lock directory number # LT <F9> rotate towards target (center target) DN Get directory of Neutral objects. DF Federation directory DK Kartezion directory DS System directory MAP system map (CGA graphics req.) MAPx map objects of type x=N,F,K,S Cruiser: E <Ins> get energy V# <PgUp>,<PgDn> set ship velocity to # (1-9) S#### set shield to ####, ex. S2000 Remote: CR call/activate remote Rxxx remote executes command xxx LR lock on object remote is locked onto Station: MS# move station to directory number #, MS0 stops CS call station to ship Weapons: FL <F5> fire laser at target FT <F6> fire torpedo at target LAS# set laser power between 1 and 9 Planet: C capture planet V closeup view of object/get prize from planet I Inventory of prizes, instructions for use CH call hornets to attack enemy from locked planet Other: P pause, help screen Q quit SGxxx save game as xxx (up to 8 chars) LGxxx load game 5) Space Shades Tutorial: (note: 'P' <space> pauses the game.) Type 'SHADES -1' at the DOS command prompt while in the subdirectory containing Space Shades files. Space Shades begins by asking for a game number. Enter number '1' and press <Enter>. Turn NumLock off for XT/AT kbds. After the Space Shades screen sets up, you will be looking at your space station. Press the <Home> key twice to move forward. Then push F3 to execute a local scan. Notice item number 3 in the directory, Solar1, is your planet as represented by the 'F' side identifier. Neutral planets will have an 'N' side identifier and Kartezion objects will have a 'K'. Stars will always have an 'S'. Now press <Home>(move) again. Hit F4(lock) to lock onto BeeTwo2, the object closest to the center of your screen. Hit F10 (Target Scan) and verify you have locked onto the planet by checking the target information in the upper right. You must use F10(target scan) to scan objects far away. F3(local scan) will only show objects within 150 units. Now type 'GT' and press <space> to go to the target, which is currently BeeTwo2. When entering a command that does not have a function key assigned to it, type in the command and press either <space> or <Enter>. Type 'C' and hit <space> to try to capture the planet. Your attempt to capture the planet has resulted in four hornets attacking you. Hit F3 to scan the area. Enter 'P' to pause the game. Use pause whenever you need to read the tutorial while hornets are attacking you. Type 'S3000' to bring your shield back up. Before your energy drops below 4000 type 'DF' and then 'GT2' to go to the second item in your directory, Solar1. 'DF' was used to get a directory of Federation objects. As you move out of range of BeeTwo2 the hornets will stop attacking. You may now refuel by hitting <Ins> repeatedly to get 500 units of energy at a time from Solar1. The most energy you can get is 9999. Type 'DN' and 'GT1'. Enter 'C' to attempt to capture the planet again. Press F3(scan) and 'L3' to lock onto a hornet. Now hit F5(laser) and F6(torpedo) to attack the hornet. Notice your laser charge must equal your laser setting before you can fire again. When the first Hornet is destroyed, type 'L4' and fire at the next one. Lock onto the remaining hornets and fire at them until all are destroyed. If your energy gets too low, go back to Solar1 and reload. Lock onto BeeTwo2 by typing 'L2' and enter 'C' to finally capture the planet. Use 'V' to view the planet and get a prize, which in the BeeTwo system is a hornet bomb. Type 'I' to see how to use the prize later in the game. A hornet bomb destroys all hornets in the area. Type 'DF' and notice the planet is now yours as indicated by the F next to BeeTwo2 in the directory. You may now get energy from it. If you want to get more torpedoes go to your station. Planets provide only energy. Now explore on your own. You can get only one prize for any single system, so you don't need to capture every planet you find. Save the game by typing 'SGfilename' and restoring it later with 'LGfilename'. If you have trouble finding other planets, use your remote at top speed to look around. On skill level 1 you can go to Solar1 and get a Star Map. Use it with the 'DS' command. 6) Advanced Space Shades instructions, Tips, Notes: Range: You can see objects as far as 350 units away, but cannot visually identify them until they are in 'close range', within 150 units. Local scan, Laser fire, Energy transfer, Capture, and most other contact commands require the target be in close range. Notably Target scan (TS) and Fire torpedo (FT) will work up to 350 units away. Yaw/Roll cursor control: An 'AM' command for 'Angle Mode' is provided to switch between a right-left (Yaw) turning as opposed to a roll. Use the mode which seems most natural. Yaw is the default. Precise navigation control: Normally cursor keys will point you where you want to go. If you need precise control of your direction, you may use the 'Y#' Yaw, 'R#' Roll, and 'U#' Up commands. Each command allows you to control the rotation of the cruiser by entering the number of degrees you want to turn. For example, 'U90' rotates the ship up 90 degrees (climb). 'Y180' will turn the ship completely around (reverse direction) and 'R180' will spin you upside down (roll over). You may enter negative degrees. The 'UC' command is provided to obtain an absolute sense of direction in 3D space. After a few 'L' locks and some cursor rotation, you may be upside-down and sideways from your original direction. After executing 'UC' you will always be pointed in the same direction as when the game started. This is most useful for helping you explore in every direction when the enemy is unusually hard to find. Autolock: When you lock on a moving target, your direction will follow the object automatically if Autolock is on. Type 'A' to toggle autolock on/off. You will still remain locked on your target with autolock off, however the screen will not follow the target. Autolock is temporarily shut off by using the <Del> or cursor keys. Prizes: When you capture a planet you are usually given a gift. You must view the planet to collect its prize. You can collect one prize per system (not per planet). Some prizes are useful automatically. Use the 'I'(Inventory) command to determine how to activate the other prizes. Remotes: You have an unlimited number of remote 'Spy' devices of which one may be active at a time. Type 'CR' to call and F2 to view from the remote. Once viewing the remote screen, you can type in commands for the remote as though you were controlling your own ship. The device is remote controlled, you never actually get in it. You may also control the remote by prefixing commands with an 'R'. For example 'RV7' sets the remote velocity to seven and 'RM' makes the remote move. Weapons and energy commands are invalid for the remote. The remote requires no energy for movement. Press F1 to return to viewing from the cruiser. Remember, although you can view from the remote, you are not actually in it. We have found that 'expert' users use the remote to 'multi-task' commands such as directories and calling hornets (see below). An additional lock 'LR' command and a goto command 'GTR' are available to allow you to quickly access the object your remote is locked on to. Lastly, all objects within 350 units of your remote may be locked onto, regardless of how far away your cruiser is. Hornet defense: If the enemy is within close range of your planet, you can call your hornet fleet by typing 'CH' after locking on your planet or station. Moving the station: The 'MS#' and 'CS' commands control movement of the station. The station moves at 10 units (slow) per turn towards you if 'CS' was used and towards an object chosen from the directory if 'MS#' is used. For example, 'DK' then 'MS2' will move the station towards a Kartezion object. Use 'MS0' to stop the station if it is moving. The 'CS' call station command is invaluable if for some reason you get stranded with zero energy and can't move. Skill Levels: Skill levels effect 1 player games by making Tin Head and the Hornets harder or easier to destroy. The default level is skill level 2. On skill level 1: Enemy laser power is less by 25% The Enemy refills at 400 units/turn from planets (500 is normal). Hornets have no shield. Game speed is decreased %25. Galaxy map prize placed on home system. On skill level 3: (not recommended on 4.77Mhz machines) Enemy laser power is increased by 25% The Enemy refills at 600 units/turn from planets. Game speed is increased %30. (2 player: only if 2400 bps or higher used) System prizes are randomized. Single player games - Authors Technical note: Because you see only a quarter of the area around you at a time (1/2 of a hemishpere, like a slice of orange cut in four equal parts), sometimes you get surprised by laser fire from behind. It would not be fair if you couldn't surprise your enemy, so your one player enemy, Tin Head, is programmed to 'see' using the same projection as the one used to show your screen. Tin Head also uses the same internal command processor as you do. That means, for example, that he has to raise his shields with "S2000". It takes the same amount of effort as it would for you to raise your shield. I have been careful to make sure that Tin Head has no 'Hidden' advantages. Hints and tips: You will loose twice as much energy if hit with your shield down. The shield competes with the laser for energy. You will not be able to fire your laser if your shield is set too high. The laser will do more damage if set high, but must charge longer before firing again. Set your laser very high (above 7) only if you believe you are surprising the enemy. A planet will quickly surrender if already attacking your enemy. You can get a fast refill from your station, but your station can generate energy only one fifth as fast as a planet, and will run out of energy if used too much. Offensive hint: Keep this in mind if you are playing against someone who tries to stay forever near their station. You can get torpedoes only from your station. Beware of aliens bearing gifts. ------------------------------- Space Shades was created by Rich Frank using Microsoft QuickC compiler with Quick Assembler. Turbo Debugger was used in virtual mode to remove the well hidden bugs. Invaluable video programming information provided by Richard Wilton's Video Systems guide from Microsoft Press. Graphics version: Planet landscapes were created by Ken Roskos (Kirtland, OH) on a Commodore Amiga and modified on the PC using Electronic Arts DeluxePaint III (Amiga) and II (PC). Frank, 30, obtained a B.S. from the School of Electrical Engineering at Cornell University in 1987 and runs a CAD software development company. IBM, PC, AT, and PS/2 are trademarks of International Business Machines. GIF is a service mark of CompuServe Incorporated. Microsoft and QuickC are trademarks of Microsoft corporation. Turbo Debugger is a trademark of Borland International, Inc. Space Shades is a trademark of Rich Frank. All rights reserved.