home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
ShareWare OnLine 2
/
ShareWare OnLine Volume 2 (CMS Software)(1993).iso
/
games2
/
wrpspace.zip
/
EGA.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-03-04
|
12KB
|
301 lines
README README README README README README README README README README
Welcome to WARPSPACE - the multi-player space battle game!
These are the instructions for the EGA version.
INTRODUCTION:
WarpSpace is a multi-player space battle game. It is designed for two
or more players to dogfight against each other and fight for control of the
planets that make up the known universe. WarpSpace is a real-time game,
played over modems.
One player can play by himself, although he is limited to just flying
around and not fighting. This is called "Practice" and is recommended for
new players.
The normal mode is for two players to play over modems. However, we
are developing a BBS system which will allow multiple players to compete.
This multiplayer system is the real goal of the game.
WHAT YOU NEED:
For the EGA version, you will need:
1. An AT-compatible (286) computer, preferably at least 8 Mhz.
2. 640-K RAM
3. An EGA or VGA display
4. A Hayes-compatible modem. 2400 baud recommended, 1200 OK.
NOTE - You DONT need the modem if you just want to practice by yourself.
There is a "Character" display version available for those without
EGA. Also, a CGA version is in the works. These are recommended if your
machine is slow, or not a 286, or you don't have EGA/VGA. The different
versions may be played against each other. The graphics version just gives you
a prettier display.
HOW TO RUN IT:
From Floppy:
1. Insert the disk into your computer.
2. Type A: or B: or whatever your disk drive is.
3. Type MENU
From Hard Disk:
1. Create a directory on your hard disk.
2. Copy the contents of the floppy to this directory.
3. Note - the floppy has several directories on it. Be sure you copy these
and their contents, too.
4. Change to your hard disk directory.
5. Type MENU
In General:
After you type MENU, the computer will give you a choice of several
options. For now, type P for Practice.
Soon, you will see the title screen. Hit ENTER to continue.
The game will first ask you what team or race you want to join. There are
eight different teams. Each has its own kind of space ship. The FEDERATION
(choice 1) looks like the U.S.S. Enterprise. The ROMULAN (3) is also pretty
neat looking.
Next, you must select your ship's maximum speed. Enter 15.
Then, you must select the number of photon torpedos you have. A good number
is 5, 6, or 7. This number says how many torps you can shoot before you have
to detonate them. The more torps you get, the smaller they are.
Finally, choose your 'phaser recharge time". This really has nothing to do
with time. But a low number (1) means your phasers are weak. A high number
(15) means they are very strong. However, stronger phasers use up more of your
fuel when you shoot them.
Now, the game will load its graphic image files. This takes about a
minute. During this time, your disk drive will enjoy a vigorous aerobic
workout. Don't panic, your computer is NOT fixing to blow up. <PVH>
Then, the game screen will appear! You are looking at the long-range
sensor, which shows all of the stars in the known universe. Your ship is in
the center of the screen.
THE CONTROLS
Take a deep breath, grab your joystick - and put it out of the way.
This game is played with the keyboard (/* MJE */ Now supports a joy stick ).
But don't worry - there's not much typing. It's basically an action game, and certain keys are used as controls.
First, Turn off Num Lock!
Now, on to the keys:
QUIT:
Press Escape key twice if you want to quit.
HELP:
The lowercase h key displays a help screen giving information about
the keyboard commands. Hit ENTER to return to the normal game display.
Remember, while you are looking at the help screen, your ship is still flying
along and your opponent is still shooting at you!
SENSORS:
The comma is SHORT RANGE sensors - use this view for fighting. You can see
planets, stars, ships, torpedoes, and phasers.
The period is MEDIUM RANGE sensors. You will not be able to see torps on this
screen, but you will be looking at a wider region of space. If you are near a
star, you will probably be able to see all of its planets.
The slash is LONG RANGE sensors. This screen will show all of the stars and
ships. You cannot see torps or planets on this screen.
Control n toggles planet names On or Off. Planet names are normally displayed,
but you may choose to turn them off if you want to.
DEFENSES:
Shields:
Shields absorb enemy firepower to protect your ship. They cost you
some fuel to operate. The + key on the Numeric Keypad raises shields by 10
points, to a maximum of 100 points. The - key on the keypad lowers them by 10
points.
Cloaking:
The Cloaking Device surrounds your ship with a field which makes it
invisible to enemy ships. You will see a multicolored halo around your ship
when you cloak. You will be invisible to your opponent.
Cloaking costs you fuel, and you cannot fire weapons when cloaked.
The capital C key toggles the cloaking device ON or OFF. NOTE - The game is
"case-sensitive" - that is, capital letters mean something different than
lower-case letters.
FLIGHT CONTROLS:
The Up-Arrow of the keypad increases your speed. The Down-Arrow slows
you down. The Left-Arrow makes you turn left. The Right-Arrow makes you turn
right. You can hold the key down until the desired speed or direction is
reached.
The o key puts you in orbit around a star or planet. Fly close to it
at a slow speed and hit o to orbit. Hit o again to leave orbit. Sometimes a
planet will "slingshot" you out of orbit at extremely high speeds.
The j key does a hyperspace jump. This is how you get from one star
to the next. You must fly through (or very near) a star. Hit j and you will be
thrown through hyperspace in the general direction you were going. Speed is
critical when you do the jump. Hint - <Warp 8>.
THE STATUS DISPLAY:
At the bottom of the screen, you will see a status display line.
This shows the following information:
S Shields 0 - 100, 100 = full shields
V Velocity 1 - ??, Warp Speed
H Heading 0 - 360, Degrees
F Fuel 0 - 100, 100 = Full Tanks
T Temperature 0 - 100, 100 = Engine overheated
D Damage 0 - 100, 100 = ship is destroyed
W/L Win/Loss How many enemy ships you got,
vs. how many times they got you.
WEAPONS:
Your ship has Phasers and Photon Torpedos.
Firing Weapons:
The lowercase p shoots a phaser shot.
The * on the numeric keypad shoots a torpedo.
The capital D detonates a torpedo you have shot. However, torps
will auto-detonate if they get close enough to an enemy ship, or after
30 seconds. When you have fired all your torps, you must detonate some before
you can fire any more.
Aiming Weapons:
The function keys f1-f8 and shifted function keys F1-F8 shoot weapons
in pre-determined directions:
f4 f5
function keys f3 f6
f2 f7
f1 f8
------------------SHIP -----------------
F1 F8
SHIFTED KEYS F2 F7
F3 F6
F4 F5
These will shoot a volley (one phaser plus two torps) in the indicated
direction.
The weapons may also be aimed from the Command Line.
The Command Line is under the Status Line on the screen. You can use it to
enter several commands which require a little bit of typing.
To aim with the command line, enter the appropriate letter:
w
q e
a SHIP d
z c
c
then hit the Enter (RETURN) key. Then, use p for phasers or * for torps.
Note you must use the lowercase letters.
You can use two adjacent letters (like aq, qw, we, ed, etc) to get finer
aiming. Type the two letters, hit return, and then fire your weapons.
Another way to use the command line is with the "s" command.
type s and an angle (0-360) and then return. This will aim your weapons
in the desired direction. Example: s270 return = aim weapons at 270 degrees.
Also, you can say s + number or s - number to adjust your aim.
For example:
s270 return = aim at 270 degrees.
s+5 return = aim at 275 degrees.
On the command line, you may use backspace key to correct errors. Always use
the return or enter key to finish the command line.
The final way to aim weapons is with the INFO CURSOR. This is a whole subject
in itself.
THE INFO CURSOR:
The Info Cursor lets you scan a planet, star, or ship. To use it,
press lowercase i.
The cursor will appear as a crosshair. Using the arrow keys, you can move it
around on the screen. When it passes over a star, planet, or ship, you will
get some text data displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Hit return to turn off the cursor AND RESUME CONTROL of your ship.
Note - the info cursor will give readouts on cloaked ships! If there is a
cloaked ship near you, go to medium or long range sensors (the cursor scans a
larger area that way) and sweep it around till you get a reading.
To aim your weapons with the cursor, hit lowercase a when the cursor is on.
The cursor will turn off. THEN HIT RETURN. Now, fire weapons!
THE MESSAGE LINE:
You can send a message to your opponent by typing capital M and the
message and then return. For example, typing MBeam me up, Scotty return
sends the message Beam me up, Scotty to your opponent. If someone sends you a
message, it will appear below the status line.
CONQUERING PLANETS:
You can bomb planets... You can fire on planets with your phasers
or your torpedos. If you fire torpedos at a planet you MUST MANUALLY DETONATE
THEM on the target (this takes some practice) to kill armies.
Once you have angered a system you are no longer welcome there and planets
have good sensors and long range torps.
USING THE MODEM:
If you just practice by yourself, you don't even need a modem.
However, to play against somebody, you will need one and so will he.
Give your opponent a copy of this disk. Both of you should start by running
MENU. However, one person should select CALL and the other should select
ANSWER. After your ship appears on the screen, type control d.
The game will then ask you the com port for your modem. Only ports 1 and 2 are
supported. Next, the game will ask for the baud rate. 2400 is best, but 1200
will probably work. You must both use the same baud rate!!!
If you are Answering, the computer will be waiting for the phone call now.
If you are Calling, you will be asked for the number to call. Enter the number
and hit return.
Once the call is complete, it will take about a minute for the Universe to be
downloaded. The Answering computer will "back up" the universe to disk every
now and then.
After this, the game will begin. When you are ready to quit, hit Escape twice.
When you exit the game, you must TURN OFF your computer to make it turn loose
of your phone line.
ABOUT THE GAME:
Warpspace was written by Mike Erskine and Peter Van Horn of Greenville,
TX., and Michael Murray of Plano, TX. Mike Erskine's kids drew the ships and
planets in 16-color high-resolution EGA.
This game is copyrighted by the authors. The program is
"shareware" and may be freely copied as long as it is not modified in any way
or the copyright notice removed. Users are encouraged to register in order to
get the latest upgrades and bug fixes and to gain access to the Multi-Player
Bulletin Board system when it is developed (If that ever happens /*MJE*/).
Warpspace was inspired by the Vax game called Conquest. Like Conquest,
it draws its theme from Star Trek.
Warpspace was written in Turbo C 2.0. It uses Borland BGI graphics
and Greenleaf serial communications drivers. It is available for IBM-PC type
computers.