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Text File | 1993-07-06 | 24KB | 614 lines

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ NYET III - Test Version 1.0 │ │ │ │ (C) 1993 PROLINE Software │ │ Gebrüder-Woge-Str. 16-17 │ │ D-31061 Alfeld / GERMANY │ │ Tel. 05181 / 26459, Fax. 05181 /26522 │ │ │ │ In the USA NYET III is exclusively distributed by: │ │ │ │ Pearl America Inc. │ │ 41281/2 California Ave SW │ │ Seattle, WA 98116 │ │ Tel: 206-938-0336 Fax: 206-938-0338 │ │ CIS: 71043, 674 │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────── System requirements ─────────────────── A completely IBM compatible AT computer (80286 and upwards) with a VGA graphic card and a hard disk is required for the start of NYET III. It is not possible to run NYET III on a XT computer (8088/8086) because 80286 commands have been used in the program. Furthermore, free capacities under MS-DOS of approximately 530 KByte are necessary. In case you do not have sufficient capacity, please read chapter "How to solve memory problems" for further information. Either MS-DOS 3.3, DR-DOS 3.41 or even more sophisticated operating systems are required for NYET III. ──────────────────────────── How to solve memory problems ──────────────────────────── In case the program does not start after entering the above mentioned command, there is probably not enough memory capacity available. We will give you some help, how to handle the situation. - In case you started NYET III not directly from DOS level but e.g. from WINDOWS, Norton Commander, DOS-Shell etc., we recommend to leave this program and start NYET III again. - If the capacity is generally not sufficient, a part of the content of the file CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT must be removed. Please note, that the computer must be started again after these changes have been carried out. ─────────────────────── What is NYET III about? ─────────────────────── NYET III is a skill and a mind game, where you have to survive 126 levels and, if possible, master 21 special tasks as well. This Test Version only consists of 36 levels and 6 special tasks. The game is divided into 7 blocks with 18 levels each. One block has to be completed before a new block can be started. The sequence of the levels in a block are, however, optional. The major aim is to solve all levels but, moreover, the player should earn as much money as possible to be able to buy as many tools as possible. These tools (are called in the following as arms) will enable you to master even the most difficult levels. ───────── Main menu ───────── After the start of the program and the opening, the NYET III main menu appears. There are 5 different function keys available: F1 Press this key if only one player is playing NYET III F2 Press this key for a second player. F3 Press this key to continue a game which has been saved. F4 Press this key to activate the statistic module which is documenting your success F5 Press this key if you want to leave the game. Furthermore, the keys ESC and ALT-X are defined as: ESC Press this key to return to DOS (in main menu only) ALT-X Press this key to return to DOS (this can be done during the entire game and causes an immediate termination of the program) ───────── Game menu ───────── After the start of the game, the game menu appears no matter whether you play alone or with a second player. This menu gives a survey of the next 18 levels to come. Use the cursor keys and [ENTER] to select the levels. The currently active level is marked by a pulsating turquoise frame. Each of these 18 levels is provided with a short description in the text window at the lower part of the screen. The pulsating frame contains the following information: - preview of level - quantity of the rows to be removed - degree of difficulty is displayed via a dice ( one eye means very easy - six eyes means extremely difficult) - your reward, in case the level has been successfully managed (depends on the degree of difficulty) It does not matter in the beginning of the game which level sequence is chosen. However, it makes sense to start the levels in a certain sequence when it comes to the difficult blocks (starting from block 4 and upwards). If one level has been won, it will be marked accordingly and cannot be selected again. ─────────────────── How to save and buy ─────────────────── Next to the window frame on the left side are buttons to save the score and to buy arms. These buttons can be reached by the cursor keys. Please note that the function "save" can only be selected when you have a "save option". This option can be purchased in the arms store of NYET III. For more detailed information concerning these functions, please read chapter "How to save score" and "How to buy arms". ──────────────── The games design ──────────────── The main task is to move and turn the down falling stones in such a way that there are no gaps when the stones are stacked. The result should be completely filled rows of stones. If a row has been completed, it will disappear and the above row takes its place (falls down). In order to win a level, you have to complete a certain number of rows. The game is over when the field is full of gaps so that a stone will reach the upper limit of the field thus leaving no space for further stones. Basing on this game design, there are quite a few mean tricks installed which prevent you to manage the rows and sometimes even the completion of a level. For more detailed information see chapter "Game elements". Of course, you do have the possibility to fight against these programmed tricks. You will receive money in the course of the game for performing different tasks. This money can be used to buy arms and other tools in the arms store. ───────────────── How to make money ───────────────── There are quite a few opportunities to make money: - For every level you manage you will be credited with a reward - For every row you manage you will be credited with points as well as money. The more rows you manage at once, the more money you will receive. - The collection of diamonds is also a rewarding opportunity to make money. - Every block is contains three special tasks. Provided that you will perform these tasks you will make a high amount of money. However, these special tasks require your stake as well. ──────────── Game control ──────────── The keys have already been defined during installation of NYET III: * Move stone to the left and right * Turn stone * Accelerate stone Moreover, the following keys are defined as well: * F1 - F6: These keys activate arms which have been bought before. * S : This key switches on/off music and sound. * ESC : This key interrupts the game and returns to main menu. * ALT-X : This key terminates the game and terminates the program. * SPACE : This key accelerates the animation. The keyboard layout for the control of the stones can be changed at any time by starting again the INSTALL.EXE program. Please use the INSTALL file on your hard disc and not the one on the original disk. ─────────────── How to buy arms ─────────────── If you select menu item "buy" you will get into the arms store. Here, you will find your heart's desire on two pages. Every weapon is provided with its own icon which appears on the field after the purchase. The arms are sorted according to their prices. If you have enough money to buy a weapon you will find a description in the above window for the use of this weapon. If you do not have enough money, there will be just a question mark instead of the icon and no description at all. A weapon is selected via the cursor keys and [ENTER]. After the weapon has been bought, the corresponding function key for the activation of this weapon during the game is displayed. Besides, the amount of arms purchased is displayed underneath the icon. It is possible to own a maximum of six different arms, however, you may also buy a weapon in a higher quantity (max. 9 pieces). Not all object in the arms store are meant to be used in the game only. There are certain objects which do not occupy a function key after the purchase, this is, for example, the scanner module EX-3000. The player can buy up to 4 pieces. These scanners display those stones which are going to fall down next. Additionally defined keys in the arms store * Page up paging * Page down paging * ESC Return to game menu ───────────────── How to save score ───────────────── The "save" function is one of the major functions in this game. If you select the button "save" in the game menu, NOBBY appears on the screen with an extended arm. He points at a window where the names of the previously played scores are displayed. Use the cursor keys (up/down) to select a score which is to be overwritten. Use only the text box where NOBBY'S finger is pointing at. When the score has been selected, press [ENTER] and enter the name of the score. But - as we already know - nothing is free in NYET III, it will cost you money to save. In the beginning of the game, there is a "free-save bonus" available but all further options to save must be purchased for quite a bit of money (in the arms store). If you do not have a save option, naturally you will not be able to save your score. We recommend to purchase the cheap PROLINE-safety package in the later course of the game to be able to save three times at a special price. It is important to save in critical situations because, if you happen to lose, all levels must be repeated commencing from the last score. But it does not make sense to waste all your money by saving because many levels (especially the ones in the later course of the game) require a massive use of arms. ───────────── Special tasks ───────────── Each of the seven blocks is provided with three special tasks. You will receive these tasks provided that six levels have been completed in a block at a time. The special task will be accurately described. However, it is your choice if you want to accept the task or if you refuse. If you agree, you will have to put in a stake and will be credited with a reward once you have performed the task. There are various numbers of special tasks: * Diamonds are spread over the field and must be completely collected. * You will have to build a figure with a given quantity of stones. This figure will be shown to you and must be memorized. * There is a given quantity of stones available which must be placed in such a way that the field is empty after the last stone has fallen down (Perfect Bonus). * You will have to score a certain amount of points before the special task can be completed. * A given quantity of stones must be placed in such way on the field that no stone can reach the upper field limit (Surviving - that's the name of the game!!) Almost all special tasks can be performed without arms. However, it is not necessary to meet all special task to be able to finish NYET III. If you reach the upper field limit in a special task, the game will n o t be over. You will only lose your stake. If we may advise you: It might be useful to own several scanner modules when a special task requires a preset number of stones in the field (figure and Perfect Bonus) - this will make things much easier for you. ───────────── Game elements ───────────── NYET III is provided with a variety of different game elements. These elements can appear alone or in a combination. It is also your task to buy the appropriate arms to simplify playing of these levels. If you start the game for the first time you will get into an introduction block with very easy levels which are meant to make you familiar with the different type of game elements. * Crumbleburger This game element causes some of your stones to crumble and disappear. This will only happen to those stones which are not occupied on top. Depending on the intensity your planning might be more or less disturbed. * New friends This game element is the exact opposite of the crumbleburgers. New friends are appearing all of a sudden, thus causing a bit of a mess and sometimes even a slight panic. Help: New friends do not grow at those places where a row would be completed. This feature might be used for your purposes as well. * Electric barrier This electric barrier is a sort of second level which appears and disappears after a certain time. Once the barrier is closed, no stones can penetrate. But you may use this barrier to build your rows on. * Magic zone Magic zones have the unpleasant feature to change stones. The player is thus forced to decide in a minimum of time where to place the stone. * Elevator This game element moves the complete field upwards by means of a mechanical equipment. This is extremely dangerous when there are big gaps and the field is already covered till the upper limit with stones. * Black holes Black holes are a bit similar to the NEW FRIENDS. The difference is that the black holes are imploding right after they appear due to their high masses. That way they become invisible. It is the task of the player to remember the position of the holes. Though they are not visible - they are still there and waiting!! * Scroll to the right This game element is based on an electro magnetic principle. Entire rows with their contents are moved to the right side. There are two variants available: Either a row in the field is coincidentally affected or just the upper row. Especially the first variant can drive even trained NYET III players into deep desperation. * Moving gate This gate in the field cannot be destroyed. As the element "scroll to the right", the gate is moved via electro magnets. The gate has an opening where stones can be directed through. Please note that this opening becomes smaller if you build into it. Help: It is not always necessary to direct the stones through the opening. Try to complete your rows right on the movable gate. * Telescope This element is similar to the elevator. However, the telescope does not move the entire field upwards but only two columns. Help: The elements of a telescope can be destroyed that means that the telescope can be stopped from growing by a well planned building of rows. * Angle mania This game variant is particularly insidious. Only green and turquoise angles are falling down - exactly those elements which cannot be easily used. A certain amount of planning and strategy is required to form complete rows with these angles. * Steel stones A row with a steel stone in it cannot be destroyed at all. This element might be already present in the very beginning of a level but there are levels where these steel stones are appearing later on. You will notice that this element is one of the most sophisticated and difficult in the game. * Explosion rules Some of the levels in NYET III are to be managed according to given rules. It might occur that the quantity of rows is to be diminished with fours only (four rows at a time) or that just doubles will bring the requested effect. Especially in combination with other elements these rules can severly aggravate the game. There are even levels where it might be fatal to break the rules by mistake because this might cause an immediate activation of numerous elements at once. * Snake The snakes are extremely dangerous and unpredictable but they are destructible elements. They aim for the upper field limit with a high speed. Snakes are "intelligent" which means they are skilled to avoid obstacles. The player, however, has the possibility to wall in the snake by a well calculated placement of the stones. If this is successfully done and the reptile cannot move anymore it's doomed to die. This is the ordinary case; but there are levels where snake nests appear after one snake has died. This can drive even the best player insane. Remedy is possible by appropriate arms. * Invisible This variant gives the player very soon quite a bad surprise. As soon as a stone lies, it becomes slowly invisible. This means that these levels require an enormous concentration and an excellent memory. * Ghosts Where ghosts appear - you will lose control. The ghosts are teasing you by turning the stones in irregular intervals. It's thus very likely to happen that stones are placed completely inappropriate in the field. * Fireballs Place a stone immediately on top of a fireball because this might prevent that all stones in the column are turned into steel stones. * Defective keyboard When the keyboard is defective you will have to react in seconds because the control you have been used to is now changed. There are different variants: Sometimes only left and right are swapped but sometimes the other keys as well. You see: Absolute concentration is required. * Diamonds This is a very pleasant element. Collect the diamonds and your account will increase. There are diamonds in three different colors with a corresponding value. Sort of diamond color value _________________________________________________ Ruby red 5 Emerald green 3 Opal turquois 1 Mostly it is either very difficult or very dangerous to collect diamonds. Please consider if it's useful to buy the appropriate tools in the beginning of the game for collecting the diamonds. But take into consideration that this might cost you more money than the diamonds will be worth in the end. * Various rules Next to the above mentioned elements there are also aggravating rules which are not listed up here. This is meant to be a nice surprise for you. Most of the time, the text in the level selection gives some hints of what to expect in the next level. ──── Arms ──── The arms in NYET III are of major importance for the various tasks to be performed in the levels. It is impossible to master NYET III without extensive use of these tools. But it is also your job to find out when to use these arms and to what effect. Below, there are some pieces of advice which should make it easier for you to get used to NYET III. - Most of the weapons are allocated to a certain game element. They are only meant for a special purpose and do not effect other game elements. - Some of the weapons can fight against many of the game ele- ments. In contrast to the above mentioned weapons, these universal weapons can be kept on stock. - There are a few very expensive tools in NYET III. Their employment is only required in very few levels (for example, the diamond press). - Especially the cheap tools should be kept on stock for safety reasons (for example the beanpole). - Watch out for the Big-Black-Box - it is a very power- ful instrument but it won't help you in every hazard. - For some levels it's more useful to buy a lot of cheap arms than one powerful weapon. - Surprise is the very special tool of this game - it is meant for the gambling nature you. If you happen to buy a surprise, you will receive a tool which has been coincidentally selected among all available tools. If you are lucky you might even get a diamond press for little money or various other expensive equipment. However, if you happen to be unlucky, you might get a camera or something else very cheap instead of the desired diamond press. - Be careful of the row destroyer type II. It is only effective when there are stones in the lower row of the field. For example, diamonds are not classified as stones. ──────────────── Statistic module ──────────────── List of highscore Use function key F4 in the main menu to get into the statistic module of NYET III. The results of all players are shown and listed up. There are six different highscores: - Master of points (achieved points in a game) - Master of rows (achieved number of destroyed rows) - Master of money (money earned) - Master of scores (depends on a lot of different factors for example, how many fours were managed, degree of difficulty in the games played, etc.) - Master of all points (sum of all entries from highscore "Master of points") - Master of the Masters (this is calculated from the all high scores paying special attention to the separate highscores) How to delete highscores It is possible to re-initialize the saved entries in the high score. Leave the program NYET III and enter the following command: CLRHI [Enter] You do have two options to delete highscores: - All entries of the chart are set to 0, all names are called "not occupied". - All inputs are provided with coincidental values. We recommend to use the second option because it will motivate you to get into the highscore in the very first game.