This is the fist beta version of Dome Wars for the Mac. This game similar to Scorched Earth for the PC. However, it is, at its current state much less developed. Current system requirements (not fully tested - go ahead and try something different and see what happens) are a Mac with 640k memory, and System 7.
The goal of the game is to be victorious in battle over the other tanks (domes). Each dome is started in a location across the canyon floor. By varying the angle and the power used, attempt to destroy the other tanks on the screen. Points and cash are awarded according to your performance during the play, which can then be used to buy new weapons.
Options
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A few of many possible options have been implemented.
File Menu
New Game - start game with settings in the preference menu
Quit - sort of obvious
Preference Menu
Players/Rounds/Walls - bring up a dialog box allowing you to set these options
solid floors/walls - shots explode on impact
bouncing floors/walls - shots bounce off walls
wrapping walls - shots going off one side of the screen will wrap to other side
Define mountain - set the characteristics of the canyon you play in
press sample to see what sample lands with your choices would look like
Sound - turn sound on and off
Buy Weapons - allow players (& computers) to buy weapons at end of each round
Fast Computers - If only computers are left, computers will play extra speedy
note - if there are only computers left, you can end their play by holding down
the escape key when an explosion occurs. Holding down escape when dismissing
the score dialog box will end the current game.
Help
Controls - Shows the controls used to play the game. If it key is marked with a •,
it means by holding down the command key, the specified value will change at a
much slower rate than normal, allowing precision changes.
During Play
To show the menu bar, press command-space bar. This can only be done during your
current turn. This will allow you to turn sound on/off, abort the current game, or
switch to the background. (bug note: please just choose "Hide Dome Wars" as choosing
another application will not properly switch to it.
Weapons
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Baby Missile - small basic explosion, basically unlimited
Missile - slightly larger explosion
ICBM - slightly larger explsion again
Little Boy - once again, slightly larger explosion
Fat Man - large explosion
Small Roller - rolls down hills until land goes up, or hits tank, small explosion
Roller - same as Small Roller with larger explosion
Large Roller - same as above with even bigger explosion
+10 Health - when used, this will add 10 to your health
Death's Head - Different from scorched earth, this is now just a big explosion
Light Shields - protection against enemy shots
Shields - more protection against enemy shots
Energy Wall - the ultimate protection against enemy shots
??? - unimplemented weapons
Enemy Tank Types (AI)
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Right now there are only 2 AI's written. First, is the idiot. This computer just chooses a random direction and a random angle, hoping to hit something by sheer luck. (This isn't always too bad, depending on the walls.) Second, is the straight shot. This computer chooses another tanks situated above him, aims straight and fires. This AI does not adjust according to the max amount of power it has, which often means that damaged tanks shoot low. If a straight shot tanks is the highest the screen, it will shoot with full power at a random angle. Choosing random will randomly choose between these two types of tanks.
Play Notes
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This is just to explain the basic mechanics behind the game. A random player goes first, and the turn rotates through people from then on. A direct shot will always kill, unless shields are activated. A direct shot is considered any shot that lands within a radius of 9 pixels from the center of the tank. This means hitting directly below the tank so that the explosion takes place under the tank may cause a death. You lose one heath for every pixel you fall, and damage is assigned from explosions based on the explosion strength and your distance from the explosion. Rollers may behave unpredictibly when they hit a very skinny peak. Because not every point that the projectile passes through is calculated, it is possible for a shot to pass through a very narrow slit of land without exploding. Do your best to survive the round, you get more points for doing this than for killing tons of tanks.
Other Misc info.
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You can create your own backgrounds to randomly be chosen for the background. Up to 100 backgrounds can be within Dome Wars to randomly choose between. You should be careful that the colors do not conflict with the tank colors. If they do, you can change the tanks colors in the pallette, to make them more distinct from the background.
Keys:
Move turret left: right arrow, 6 (numeric keypad)
Move turret right: left arrow, 4 (numeric keypad)
Move turret slow left/right: Hold down command key
Increase power: Up arrow, 8 (numeric keypad)
Decrease power: Down arrow, 2 (numeric keypad)
Medium increase power: hold down command key
Fast increase power: 9 (numeric keypad)
Fast decrease power: 3 (numeric keypad)
Command Space during your turn will show the menu bar. You must choose "Hide Dome Wars" to get put it in the background.
Coming Features
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more sounds
more weapons
more and better AI's
better graphics
wind
networkability
your idea here
bug fixes...
Known Bugs
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My method for erasing dirt after explosions is not always perfect, and bits of unerased land may remain on the screen after an explosion. This usually happens when the explosion hits the side of a very steep wall.
Rollers behave erratically near the edge of the screen.
A quit event is not quite handled perfectly, but it seems to work.
Most of the needed error checking is left out of the beta. This could cause problems if you aren't running under system 7.
If you have a MediaVision sound card, the sounds will have a little click at the end. Any ideas why this happens would be appreciated.
When you show the menu bar in the middle of the game, behaviour is not perfect.
Why I am releasing this public beta with so many bugs
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Basically, I spent a lot of time working on this game over some of my different breaks from school. The game, as it stands is playable, and could be enjoyed by many people. I do not have time to go through and fix these bugs at this time. This brings up the standard question of "Do you realease a buggy product just to get it out?" Obviously people aren't waiting for this program like they did Wolf 3D, but I know it may be a few months before I will get a lot of time to start adding new features and fixing up the game. So, in the meantime I decided to release this, let people who are interested enjoy it, and if people support it, I will continue development when I have more time.
Closing remarks
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This game is shareware. This means if you like this game and decide to keep it, you should send me $10 to register it. This registration will be good for all versions of the game, and, when implemented will allow you to play across a network. I realize most people don't pay this, but, if you want to see further updates (I can't even afford a compiler upgrade to make it Power Mac native) please send something.
I would like to give my special thanks to Dave Burns, sysop of the cool Mac BBS, Gooey. Call him at (805) 986-1216 and tell him "hi" for me. Out of all the people who tested this program, he did by far the best job.
I take no responsibility if this game doesn't work on your system. This is a beta version, run at your own risk. However, do send comments/suggestion/bugs to:
