Important information about SKYBORG: Into the Vortex 27 July 1995 From SkyBox International Developed by: Fringe Multimedia ------------------------------------------------------- MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ------------------------------------------------------- 486/25 DX, 13" VGA monitor, 256 colors, 4MB available RAM, 2MB of free hard drive space, 2X CD-ROM drive, and QuickTime 2.0.1 for Windows (the latter is included on the CD-ROM; see "General Setup" for installation information). ------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL SETUP ------------------------------------------------------- Take the following steps to ensure that the game runs properly. (1) In the File Manager, run the SETUP.EXE program found in the same directory on the CD-ROM drive as this README.TXT file. This will create a new Program group called "SkyBorg-Into the Vortex". (2) Switch to the Program Manager and open up the "SkyBorg-Into the Vortex" program group. Run "QuickTime for Windows" to install Apple Computer's QuickTime For Windows, version 2.0.1. (You should only need to do this once.) (3) Make sure your monitor is running 256 colors. You can inspect (and alter) this in the "Windows Setup" application. (Under "Options" choose "Change System Settings" and then pick a 256-color display that matches your video card and preferred screen size, e.g., "Super VGA (640 x 480, 256 colors)". If your PC has a special utility or setup program for video settings, use that instead. After you exit the game, use the same technique to switch back to your original settings, if desired. (4) To start the game, return to the "SkyBorg-Into the Vortex" group in Program Manger and run the "SkyBorg" application. Note about Sound and Video Cards: If you have sound or video problems when you run the games, check that your PC system has the most current drivers for your sound and video cards. You can obtain an update by contacting the card vendor. Some vendors also make current drivers available on popular bulletin boards and online services. ------------------------------------------------------- GAME OVERVIEW ------------------------------------------------------- Goal ---- Your goal is to locate the planetÕs manual power override station and turn it on. Playing the Game ---------------- *Movement* Click on the screen to move. The cursor indicates the direction of available movement. Some objects have close-ups which are not indicated by the cursor. *Cards* When you see an person in a stasis field (a card), click on them to learn more. Move your cursor over the cards to discover items that have additional information or may be taken. Double-click or click and drag objects to your control screen to take them. New weapons appear in the lower right control screen window, while other objects appear in your inventory arm. *Inventory (Left) Arm* This contains inventory items that youÕve collected from cards or locations in the world. Arrows scroll through the inventory and clicking on an object selects it. Analyze shows a description of the selected item. To use an object, drag it from your inventory arm and drop it where youÕd like to use it. If it is unusable there, it will automatically return to your inventory. Some objects may be worn. To wear an object, select it and click ÔwearÕ or ÔremoveÕ in its inventory window. *Weapon (Right) Arm* This arm holds your weapons. To fire, hold down the Option (Macs) or Alt key (PCÕs) and click on the target. Though different weapons may be selected using the scroll arrows in the lower right corner of your control screen, they are not implemented in this demo. If you are fired at and hit, the display in the lower left corner of the control screen will indicate the type of damage. DonÕt worry though, you cannot be killed in this demo. *Programs* Are inserted in slots in your inventory arm. They are not implemented in this demo. They are turned on and off using the program button on the control screen. *Status* In the demo, this shows information about the game. In the release version, this will tell you important information like your energy level and the strength of your weapons and shields. Story ----- The year is 2025. The worldÕs resources are straining to support the worldÕs ever-increasing population. One man, Dr. Sinclair Barton, has a solution -- the microcosm. With the support of the World Council of Governments, he has learned to create tiny, micro-universes, complete with suns and habitable planets. It is hoped that these microcosms will provide a relief valve for earthÕs enormous population pressures. The initial tests are complete. Thousands of volunteers have been injected onto eight habitable planets in a toroidal microcosm created by Dr. Barton. Because of time acceleration in the microcosm, in a few short days a whole new generation of microcosm inhabitants were born. Now, six months later, twenty generations have lived and died, leaving them with little memory of the outside world. Despite elaborate security precautions, someone or something has escaped from the microcosm, kidnapped Dr. Barton, and fled back into the microcosm. Dr. Barton managed to throw the microcosm into stasis just before his abduction, thus freezing all the inhabitants where they stand. You are SkyBorg, the half-machine, half-human creation of Dr. Barton. Normally, you assist him in monitoring and maintaining the microcosm. Now, your mission is to find and rescue Dr. Barton. As the story unfolds, you find that someone has been tampering with the microcosmÕs power grid, and you need that power to reach Dr. Barton. In this demo, you find yourself having just landed on a microcosm planet, Merika, with a non-operative power grid station Your task is locating and turning on the planetÕs power station. And so it begins.... ------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT FRINGE MULTIMEDIA ------------------------------------------------------- Corporate Overview ------------------ Fringe Multimedia aims to become the premiere creator of interactive multimedia in the industry. A formidable goal, to be sure, but FringeÕs great success in a short period of time prove the goal is achievable. Since being founded in May of 1994, Fringe Multimedia has produced titles and content for a variety of titles, including National GeographicÕs Picture Atlas of the World, and SkyBox InternationalÕs SkyBorg: Into the Vortex, and Ventana PressÕ entire series of books-on-CD-ROM. Fringe has two divisions: Business Services and Edutainment. Our Business Services division provides multimedia CD-ROMs for corporate training and promotions; as well as traditional programming-for-hire services in C and C++. FringeÕs Edutainment division produces the highest-quality entertainment titles in the industry. Fringe is staffed by a number of eclectic multimedia professionals. Backgrounds include film and television, commercial art, programming, game design, and traditional business. FringeÕs relaxed environment encourages creativity. Fringe staffers are encouraged to explore the realms of computers and multimedia, and much of this exploration has borne fruit in the form of code libraries that can be used to enhance a clientÕs project. All of this is balanced against a strong business background and a strict project management model. Fringe has never missed a project deadline, and Fringe projects have always arrived on budget. Technologies and Tools ---------------------- Fringe targets all the work it produces for multiple platforms, including Windows, Macintosh, and gaming machines. Our programming staff is versed in highly leveraged environments, such as Director, ScriptX, Apple Media Toolkit, Visual Basic, and FaceSpan, as well as low-level programming in Pascal, C and C++. Fringe is a member of the Apple Developer program, the Macromedia Developer Program, KaleidaÕs ScriptX Developer program, and is a beta test site for AppleÕs Sk8 multimedia environment. FringeÕs art staff produces animation and rendered 3D output using a variety of hardware and software. Experience in this group ranges from 3D Studio and Strata Pro on Pentium and PowerPC-class machines up through Alias and Softimage on Silicon Graphics workstations. Other skills include Photoshop image manipulation Fringe brings strong video and film experience as well. One of FringeÕs founding partners has a degree in film-making and has worked in Hollywood; other staffers have worked for television stations and shows. From 35mm/16mm film, to 1Ó video, BetaSP and Hi8, Fringe has experience turning film and video content into the highest-quality digital video. FringeÕs LegacyCode is a library of routines designed to leverage man-years of experience in the multimedia world. Proprietary Fringe code includes internet access from CD-ROMs, Portable Documents technology, and 3D/Virtual Reality code. This library makes production cycles shorter and production costs smaller. Fringe keeps a large contractor base in the area. The Research Triangle Park area is located in the heart of North Carolina and is bordered by three large research universities (Duke University, the University of North Carolina, and North Carolina State University). These provide a number of highly skilled technology workers with which Fringe is able to staff up quickly for any particular project. VirtualSpot Fringe has developed core routines to implement a seamless rendered virtual space on a PC CD-ROM. Based on low-level routines in FringeÕs proprietary library, VirtualSpot can be used to create a wide range of gaming experiences. These components of the technology allow us to create a Myst-like adventure with Doom-style action. Our first game using this code, SkyBorg: Into the Vortex, will be shipping this fall from SkyBox International. VirtualSpot features: - First-person point of view - Player can move through an environment and rotate - Mixes modeless interaction (player exploring a world) along with modal interactions (player being attacked and fighting back) - 3D Opponents allow integration of interactive elements, such as fighting robots, with the static worlds. Internet Connectivity Part of FringeÕs low-level code is a series of routines that allow integration of CD-ROM-based multimedia content with the internet. This code allows standard high-level internet connectionsÑsuch as internet mail, network news, and the World-Wide WebÑas well as application-specific low-level TCP/IP communicationÑsuch as youÕd use for a multiplayer game. Fringe designed this code to allow our interactive multimedia to talk to the outside world. --- ItÕs not just games that need interaction with the wider world. Portions of this technology are being used in Ventana PressÕ WebWalker Pro series of books-on-CD-ROMs, so books can be instantly updated with new information. Imagine CD-ROMs that lets users communicate with each other. Whether itÕs gardening, bridal showers, or car repair, the crucial element of human interaction is what add depth to a product. Fringe Multimedia, Inc. 100 Europa Drive -- Suite 180 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 932-6554 fringem@aol.com