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- ATOM EXPLORER
- Copyright(c) 1995 Gingerich Software
-
- Summary
- -------
- The object of this game is to capture the elements of the periodic table
- without your ship being destroyed in the process. As you capture more
- elements, your ship gains additional capabilities. If an atom hits your ship,
- your shield power is reduced depending on the size of the atom and the speed
- of the collision. If your shield power goes to zero, your ship is destroyed.
-
- Classroom Use
- -------------
- This program was designed to give students something fun to do when they finish
- their work. The student can enter his or her name, play the game, and print
- a periodic table with their name on it and the elements they have collected.
-
- The 'entire' periodic chart (109 elements in this version) can also be printed
- for reference.
-
- Shareware Notification
- ----------------------
- This version of Atom Explorer is shareware. It has been limited.
- If you like this game, you may obtain the registered version by sending
- $14.95 to:
-
- Gingerich Software
- 220 Sutherland Drive
- South Charleston, WV 25303
-
- Please send any comments to:
-
- gsoft@citynet.net
-
- Note: This is my address as of 8/17/95. I don't know where or when this
- file may be read, so you should probably check for a recent upload to be
- sure we haven't moved.
-
- Installation Notes
- ------------------
-
- The unregistered version of Atom Explorer does not include an installation
- program. The following files are included:
-
- PERTAB.EXE - the program
- PERTAB.TXT - this file
-
- After extracting the archive, simply run PERTAB.EXE from the File menu,
- or you may open the Games group and add a new program item with the
- following properties:
-
- Description: Atom Explorer
- Command Line: C:\WINDOWS\PERTAB.EXE
-
- The other properties don't matter.
-
- These instructions assume that PERTAB.EXE is in the C:\WINDOWS directory.
-
- Recommended Hardware
- ------------------------------------
- 486/33 or higher
- Sound card
- Requires Windows 3.1 or higher
-
- The atom explorer ship is controlled with the arrow keys:
- left and right for turning, up for thrust, down for reverse (if available)
-
- The element boxes along the top of the screen are opened by clicking with the
- mouse. Each time you open a box it costs points. The TAB key will also open
- the next available box.
-
- Ship Controls
- -------------
-
- Capability Key Elements Needed
- ---------- --- ---------------
- Capture Element spacebar to engage none
- ESC to disengage
- M to adjust mass
- compensation
-
- Attract A Nb
-
- Detach D B,Si,As,U
-
- Guns G H,C,N,O,S,Pb
-
- Laser L O,Al,Cr
-
- Repel R Ga,At
-
- Destroy X U,Pu
-
- Improved Thrust Up arrow H,O
-
- Faster Turning Left & Right arrows Hg
-
- Reverse Down arrow B,Ge,As
-
- It is left to the user to guess how these elements
- might be used in providing the ship with the capabilities
- mentioned.
-
- Click in the middle of the screen with the right mouse button
- during game play to bring up the menu. You may save the game this way.
-
- Quick Tutorial
- --------------
-
- After getting the program started, choose Easy level,
- and set the number of elements per level to 5.
- Press New Game to start the game.
-
- Get used to moving the ship around and avoiding atoms
- by turning with the arrow keys and using the up arrow
- to go forward.
-
- Press the spacebar and you will see two beams converge in front of the
- ship. If there is an atom where they converge, it will become trapped.
- The lower right corner of the screen where it says BEAM charge will
- show you the number of protons in the atom.
-
- Find the element box along the top of the screen that corresponds to the atom
- (on the easy level, the boxes show the atomic numbers at the top). Click
- on the box with the left mouse button to open it.
-
- If you have selected the right box, the beam will stabalize and the atom will
- stop moving. The beam power goes down quickly, so don't take too long
- or it will disengage.
-
- If you are low on power, you may wish to wait a bit before trying to move the
- atom. The quicker you try to move the atom, the quicker the power goes down.
-
- Turn your ship pointing towards the box you have opened and guide the atom into
- the box. If you have the right box for the element, the atom will be captured.
-
- Collect the rest of the atoms to complete the level.
-
-
- Notes
- -----
- Some of the elements at the top of the screen are not real elements, but
- all of the ones you can capture are. On the easy level, you can see that
- they have unusual atomic numbers.
-
- If you have a slower computer, you may wish to reduce the Atom Rotation Angles
- so the game will start quicker. You may also reduce the elements per level
- to improve the game performance.
-
- The elements for each level are chosen randomly. If you are fortunate with the
- unregistered version, you may have the necessary elements to try out some of
- the ship's advanced capabilities. If you aquire lasers and/or guns depending
- on the level, you will find that something new may emerge to fire at.
-