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1993-02-13
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GROUND WAR II
REGISTERED USER MODEM VERSION
(C) 1991-92 EnQue Software
V 2.00
01/01/92
Ground War is a two-player tank game, that involves both hand-eye
coordination and strategy. Find a friend and take a position at the
controls, then try to outfight and outsmart your opponent! One player
takes the position of the Allies, while the other takes the position of
the Iraqis.
This version is much enhanced over version 1.00. Enhancements include a
digitized playing field, variable tank speeds, communication towers, and
more sprites! In addition, we have completed the modem feature, which
allows you to play your opponent over either a null-modem cable or a
standard phone line. Through some careful optimizations, we have been
able to make game play identical when connected by modem even at 1200
baud! That means you can play someone across town or across the nation
and feel like he's sitting right next to you.
This modem version of Ground War II is being distributed as ShareWare.
The ShareWare principle is simple. If you enjoy playing this game, and
wish to reward the hard work that went into it's design and construction,
you can give support by registering the game with us. If you wish to
register, just send $10.00 (or whatever you feel the program is worth) to
the address below:
EnQue Software
Route 1, Box 116C
Pleasant Hill, MO 64080
Our BBS number is (816) 353-0991, and is up 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. You can also contact us through GEnie at address B.GAFFORD1, or
on CompuServe, user ID 73670,636.
Please feel free to give this version to your friends, colleagues, and
any bulletin boards that you may frequent. You may not charge any price
for this program, with the exception of reasonable media or handling
charges. Reasonable charges mean nothing more than a few dollars (since
registration is only $10.00, after all). Also, please distribute this
program in it's original archival file, as others cannot benefit from the
program if only parts of it are distributed.
Originally we released Ground War 1.00 in '91, during the height of the
ground war with Iraq. We made the game ShareWare, and promised registered
users (those who contributed $10.00 or more) access on our BBS to the
modem version of the game. The number of registrations resulting have
been abysmal. We are not sure why, although the recession undoubtedly is
a contributor, along with the fact that people don't usually pay for
something when they can get it for free. Allow me to explain that last
statement. We discovered that someone who obtained this registered user
modem version had distributed it around without our permission. Well, we
will not stand for this. We'de rather release it to everyone than have
these people think they have something over the rest of you honest gamers
out there. So here it is, the full registered user version complete with
modem support. We are sorry to say that due to this experience, we have
dropped all future plans for games, as well as the tools we have developed
to make writing these games easier.
We have since shifted our efforts to programming libraries and tools for
'C', and have been gaining a foothold in that market. Our products
UltraWin and InTUItion compete very well with any text windowing / user
interface / screen designer available, and we have customers on just about
every continent, from dozens of countries around the world. Should
registrations of this final version of Ground War II warrant, we might
reconsider doing another game, but for now we'll wait and see.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, now on to playing the game. To begin, just type GRNDWAR from the
DOS prompt. You may also type GRNDWAR SPEED, where SPEED is a number from
1 - 9. You will be presented with a title screen, and then after a short
delay you will be presented with some instruction screens. Read these
carefully as they show the different keys to use for your tank control.
Finally man your controls and get ready. The game will begin with the
trumpeting of CHARGE!
Your goal is to destroy the enemy. You have several tanks, along with
reserve fuel and ammo on your side of the border to help you accomplish
the job. Just maneuver your tank into position and fire away!
Now a few pointers are in order. The main one to remember is that your
controls may be used in combination with each other. That means you can
rotate your turret, move your tank, and fire all at the same time. To
destroy your target, just point your turret in it's direction and hold
down the fire key. You will notice as you are holding down the key that
your fire indicator at the bottom of the screen increases left to right.
When the appropriate charge is built up, release the fire button and watch
your shell as it is propelled from the muzzle of your gun. If your shell
falls short or fires long, just fire again, adjusing your fire strength by
varying the time you hold down the button.
Try to take out both of his communications towers first, then his
bunkers. These are worth the most points, and destroying his lines of
communications will slow down his ability to swich contol to his other
tanks. Then target his ammo dumps and fuel stroage facilities, as this
will reduce his capability to refuel and resupply his tanks. Be careful
though, as you can destroy your supplies as well. Do your best to defend
the strategic targets on your side of the border.
Be careful when you cross the border to his side, as there are two
minefields at random locations that can destroy your tank. If you are
playing via the modem, you will be able to see the two minefields
on your side of the screen. Don't worry, as your minefields will not kill
you (The assumption is that if they are your minefields then you probably
know how to get through them safely). Once a tank has walked into a
minefield and explodes, then that minefield is marked by the remnants of
your destroyed tank, along with some smoke. Avoid going there again
during the game! You can also find a minefield by firing a shell at the
area you think it exists. If you hit it, some smoke will mark its
location.
Also be wary of destroyed ammo dumps and fuel depots, as these are
dangererous to any tank and will result in their destruction if
contacted. This is because these targets catch fire rather than
simply smolder, as does a bunker or tank.
If your tank suddenly stops, it's probably because you have run out
of fuel (or run into a bunker or other obstacle). To refuel your tank,
just press your refuel button. You may also find that your tank has
run out of shells. To resupply your ammo, just press the resupply
button. The number of refuels and resupplies are indicated as little
gas cans and bullets just below your fire indicator. If your ammo
dumps or fuel storage tanks are taken out, the number of refuels and
resupplies you can perform will be reduced, putting you at a
disadvantage.
At any time you can switch to the next tank in your group by
simply pressing the appropriate next tank key. Use this capability
to maneuver your tanks to strategic portions of the battlefield.
The tank switching capability is affected by the presence of your
control towers. With at least one tower intact, you can switch
very quickly between tanks. However, if both of your towers are
destroyed, your tank switching capability will be degraded very
significantly. It can take several seconds just to switch to the
next tank. So try to protect your communications towers from
his attact, and try to take out his towers to restrict his units
responsiveness.
Remember, the object is to score the most points. You can destroy
all his tanks, but still loose the war if your strategic targets are
decimated. Protect your bunkers and control towers, as these are
worth the most points.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
If you get annoyed with the sound, simply press the P key. This
will toggle on/off the sound, and let you play without the wife
hollering at you from the bedroom.
At any time during play, you can quit from the current game by
pressing the ESC key. You will then be asked if you wish to begin
a new game. Just press N (for No) if you want to quit!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAYING VIA MODEM OR NULL-MODEM CABLE
To play by modem, all you have to do is specify some special parameters
on the command line. The non-modem version of Ground War only had a speed
parameter, in that you could type:
GRNDWAR 4
and play the game with much faster tanks. You now have several more
parameters, which allow you to specify not only the speed, but the modem
COMM port, the baud rate, direct connect or modem connect, and dial string
or answer. The following shows the parameters along with several
examples, and will be shown on the screen if you type "GRNDWAR HELP".
LOCAL USAGE: grndwar speed(1-9)
Example 1: grndwar 1 (very slow tanks)
Example 2: grndwar 2 (medium speed tanks)
Example 3: grndwar 4 (fast tanks)
REMOTE USAGE: grndwar speed(1-9) chan baud direct/modem answer/ATDTphone#
Example 1: grndwar 1 3 1200 direct answer
Example 2: grndwar 1 3 1200 direct dial
Example 3: grndwar 2 2 2400 modem ATDT555-1212
Example 4: grndwar 2 2 2400 modem answer
After many hours playing over the phone, we have found that due to the
size of our modem packets, there is really no significant advantage
between playing at 2400 baud over 1200 baud, with a speed of 4. You can
even play at 300 baud, with only a small reduction in response. We have
also found that a speed of about 4 is ideal in that you can do some
dodging with your tanks when you're dueling with another tank, but it's
not so fast that you can outrun the shells altogether.
To begin a game, first talk to your opponent over the phone and decide
who will initiate the call, and who will answer. The caller will play the
part of the Iraqis (keypad), while the one who answers will play the part
of the allies (left part of the keyboard). As an example, the caller will
type:
grndwar 4 2 1200 modem ATDT555-1212
and press <Enter>, and the person who is on the receiving end will type:
grndwar 4 2 1200 modem answer
and press <Enter>.
Please note that this sets up Ground War for a speed of 4, with the
modems both on COMM 2, and 1200 baud. Use a parameter of 1 if you have a
modem on COMM 1, and use the appropriate phone number. When connection is
made, you will have to go through the usual information screens. Just
press any key to get to the main playing field. The calling computer will
generate a random playing field and send it to the receiving computer, so
every game is different! When both players are to the play field, you
will hear the charge sound, and it will be time to fight 'till death or
victory. If you don't hear the charge sound, that just means that your
opponent is reading the information screens. Don't worry, when he finally
gets around to the main play field the charge will sound! After the game
is over, you both will be presented with a score screen, and both of you
will be asked if you want to play another game. Reply with "no" when you
are finished playing, and the results of the war will be shown on the
screen.
It's usually a good idea to decide beforehand the number of games you
want to comprise a war, so you both will know when to quit. If your
opponent quits before you (either of you can quit at any time during a
battle by simply pressing ESC), then you will also be forced to quit, as
if you pressed ESC yourself.
As an added feature, we have added separate keys for the sound on/off
toggle. If you are the caller, then use the "P" key to toggle the sound
on or off. If you are the receiver, use the "O" key. Please note that if
you press the wrong key you will toggle the sound on your opponents
computer! This can be a little fun if you want to try to confuse him by
turning his sound on or off. Of course the sound is defaulted to on for
both computers.
You will find a couple of batch files included that make getting started
super easy. These are the DIAL.BAT and ANSWER.BAT files. To use the
DIAL.BAT file, just type:
DIAL ###-####
and press <Enter> (where ###-#### is your opponents phone number).
The answer.bat file requires no paramters, so just type:
ANSWER
and press <Enter>. These little batch files default to 1200 baud on COMM
2 with a speed of 4. Feel free to edit these batch files to suit your
modem setup and tank speed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
We hope you enjoy the game as much as we have enjoyed creating it. We
probably spent as many hours playing it as we did writing it! If you
register, please include any suggestions or comments that you might have.
Ground War was written in 100% C code, and requires an EGA compatible
graphics card with at least 256k on the card.
EnQue Software is the sole owner of the copyright to Ground War.
--------------------------------------------------------------------