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Text File
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1991-12-29
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13KB
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291 lines
M M EEEEE GGG AAA TTTTT RRRR OOO N N V V GGG AAA
MM MM E G A A T R R O O NN N V V G A A
M M M EEE G GG AAAAA T RRRR O O N N N V V G GG AAAAA
M M E G G A A T R R O O N NN VVV G G A A
M M EEEEE GGG A A T R R OOO N N V GGG A A
Megatron VGA - Evaluation Copy
Copyright (c) 1992, Stanley Design Team
[All Rights Reserved]
Programming, John Stanley
Design Assistant, Warren Rice
Share Ware Release
------------------
This version of Megatron (2.4.4) is released as Share Ware to the software
community. It may be freely distributed to Bulletin Boards and Information
Networks around the world. No fee may be charged for this "evaluation copy"
except for reasonable download charges. No express time limit is placed on
the length of time this copy can be used. All commercial rights to the game
are expressly reserved by the author.
Evaluation Copy
---------------
The Share Ware release of Megatron is a fully functional version of the game
with one exception. The AdLib/SoundBlaster sound system has been disabled;
the IBM PC sound system is operational. I regret having to take this action.
Too many computer hobbyist believe that Share Ware means "IT'S FREE!" That
attitude forces me to supply them with something *tangible* as encouragement
to register their copies of the game.
Disclaimer
----------
This program is provided "AS IS" and it is without warranty of any kind that
it will work correctly in any or all situations. No liability shall be
assumed for direct or consequential damage caused by the use of this software.
The only claim that is made is that there are no intentional bugs or fatal
errors in any original copy of the program that you receive directly from
the author.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Assignment
----------
The year is 3015 and as the commander of an elite unit of Megatron
BattleMechs, you've been chosen to enter the labyrinth combat zone and hunt
down the adversary. At your disposal are two standard omni-field mechs (Mad
Cat and Vulture) equipped with high-yield Thorn Missiles and Pulse Disrupters.
Enter the world of Megatron and experience the highest level of virtual
reality combat available in Share Ware to date. Megatron uses a combination
of ray traced and hand drawn imagery coupled with AdLib/SoundBlaster
synthesized sound effects to bring to life the ultimate modem combat
experience.
Use your skill at piloting your mech and raw courage to defeat your adversary
and bring glory to your unit.
Game Descriptions
-----------------
This is a 2 player game. It can be played in a single player mode with a
synthetic adversary generated by the computer, but for best results two
computer are needed. The object of the game is to hunt down and destroy your
adversary. This is not an easy task. At the start of each game, both you and
your adversary are placed in a randomly selected labyrinth at random
positions.
You don't know where your adversary is hiding. All you have to work with is
a 3-Dimensional view of the corridor you are standing in, a top down view of
the labyrinth, and a changing sonar blip that can guide you to your adversary
if you interpret it properly. If you are in a hurry, you can use your area
radar to search for your adversary. The down side to using radar is that you
don't always locate the enemy, but the enemy always locates you.
To win the game, you must hunt down your adversary and shoot him with your
laser and rockets until he runs out of energy and dies. There is only one
problem. This is a real-time game. While you are shooting at your adversary,
he gets to shoot back at you. Whoever is fastest with their weapons and has
the strongest nerve wins. If you lose your nerve, you can turn and run away.
This is not always a bad idea. One of the best strategies of this game is to
sneak up on your adversary and shoot him in the back!
Computer Power
--------------
This game is designed for "High End" computer systems. For best results use a
25Mhz 386 (or faster) computer. For best screen animation use a 1-MB [or
larger] software disk-cache while playing the game.
Megatron will function on 286 systems, but if you are connected to someone who
is using a 386 system you'll lose every time. Sorry 286 users, but the
real-time nature of this game requires serious computer power.
Required Hardware
-----------------
You must have a VGA adapter card and a matching color monitor. You also need
a minimum of 640K RAM to run the game. Because of the size of the game
(approximately 1.5-MB) you must install it to a hard disk drive.
Additional Hardware
-------------------
This game is designed to use both the mouse and keyboard as input devices.
Depending on the circumstances you will want to switch between the two
devices. To play in head-to-head combat you need an open serial port with a
modem or null-modem cable connect to your adversaries computer.
Fast Start
----------
The game of Megatron uses futuristic 3-Dimensional and top-down views of the
labyrinth and your human or computer adversary. Sonar blips tell you how
close you are to your adversary: you must figure out how to negotiate the
labyrinth to get close enough to fire. If you are in danger of being
destroyed, you can run away and recuperate. Taunt your adversary with his
cowardice for running away, or entice him into your trap, or send any message
through the message box.
For a fast start, just type MEGA at the DOS command prompt, then press ENTER
twice. The First press will pass you through the Copyright Notice. The
second will randomly select a BattleMech for you to use. Once you see a 3D
view of the combat zone maze corridor on the screen press F5 to start (single
player) Computer Adversary mode.
Use the direction arrow keys on the numeric keypad to guide your BattleMech.
Use HOME and PGUP to fire your weapons. The INS key toggles your area radar
on/off. To return to normal "Off-line" mode press F5 again. The ESC key
brings up the EXIT menu.
Game Icons and Function Keys
----------------------------
There are 6 icons used to control the game. They are arranged in two set of
vertical columns located on the left and right side of the screen. To
activate an icon place the mouse cursor over the picture and press either
mouse button. The icons are arranged as follows.
F1 F4
F2 F5
F3 F6
Here is a description of each of the icons along with the function key use
to activate it.
F1 - Copyright Notice & User Registration. The copyright and share ware
release versions are displayed. User registration information is
also displayed on the screen.
F2 - Sound System On/Off. There are two sound systems built into the
game. They are AdLib/SoundBlaster and IBM PC sounds. Unregistered
players use the IBM PC (beep, beep, beep) sound system. Register your
copy and hear the total range of combat effects.
F3 - Make New Maze. If you don't like the maze you are using, you can press
this key and you will receive a new maze.
F4 - Modem Control. Choose the modem port to use. Choose from Dial Modem
or Answer Modem. You can use a Null-Modem cable by selecting the
appropriate COM port and then press Done.
F5 - Computer Adversary (Single Player Mode) On/Off. Practice fighting
against the computer. This is great for homing your combat skills.
The computer is defiantly NOT a wimp!
F6 - Exit Game. Obvious.
Instant Messaging
------------------
You are always in total communication with your adversary. Once a connection
is established between the two computers, anything you type (except for game
commands) is instantly transmitted to the other player as you type it.
Energy Meters
-------------
On the left side of the playing screen is located the BattleMech energy
meter. The meter provides useful information about both your and the
adversaries power status. The meter is divided into two set of there bar.
The top GREEN bars are yours and the bottom RED bars are the adversaries.
The first bar on the meter shows your power shield strength. The second bar
shows your current weapon energy supply. And the third is the overall health
of your BattleMech. Bars 4-6 shows the same information as do bars 1-3 except
it is for the adversary BattleMech.
Modem Control Menu - (F4)
-------------------------
Megatron gets the information it needs to communicate with another computer
from the Modem Control Menu (F4). Once in the menu, use the mouse or function
keys (F1 - F8) to select COM port, baud rate, and modem option.
Use F1 - F2 to select the COM port to communicate through:
F1 - Cycle COM Port Up
F2 - Cycle COM Port Down
Use F3 - F4 to select the baud rate (speed) the computer should use.
F4 - Cycle Baud Rate Up
F6 - Cycle Baud Rate Down
Use F5 - F6 to Dial or Answer the Modem.
F5 - Dial Modem. You will be prompted to enter the phone number to dial.
F6 - Answer Mode. Sit back and wait for the other player to call you.
For direct connection through a null-modem cable, choose the proper COM Port
and Baud Rate settings. Then select DONE at the bottom of the Modem Menu.
There External File MODEMS.INI contains the Hayes initialization string used
to program your modem for the game. Here is a transcript of that file.
AT E1 L3 M1 Q0 V1 X1 &C1 &D2 S0=1 S7=60 S11=155
AT DT
/* this line must be present */
A simplified version of the init file is supplied with the game (SIMPLE.INI)
that works well with every modem I've tried to date. Use it needed. At DOS
prompt, type:
COPY SIMPLE.INI MODEMS.INI
If your experience problem using your modem you may need to modify this file.
For another type of modem, or to use different dialing or answering
parameters, refer to your modem handbook.
RS232 Hardware Signals
----------------------
The number of hardware signals required to run Megatron depends on the type of
connection used between computers. A direct connect uses three pins, (2)
TRANSMIT, (3) RECEIVE, and (7) SIGNAL GROUND. Pins (2) and (3) must me
swapped once between the two machines.
An auto-dial modem uses five pins, (2) TRANSMIT, (3) RECEIVE, (7) SIGNAL
GROUND, (8) DATA CARRIER DETECT, and (20) DATA TERMINAL READY. There is not a
swap between pins (2) and (3) with a modem.
There is one (1) additional pin signal provided by Megatron that some serial
cards and/or modems require. The signal is pin (4) REQUEST TO SEND. Most
machines will function properly without this extra signal; it is included for
completeness.
SPECIAL NOTE: Megatron uses pin (20) DATA TERMINAL READY to signal the modem
when to hang-up the phone line and reset to command state. This
DTR monitoring option is switch select able on some modems. You
should check your modem for this option before making long
distance phone calls through Megatron. If this option is
improperly set, the phone will not hang-up when Megatron exits
and you will accumulate excess long distance charges.
The proper modem DTR setting is:
DTR high - process dial command and connect normally
DTR low - Hang-up phone line and reset to command state.
Video Adapter and Monitor
-------------------------
You must have an Video Graphics Array (VGA) installed in your computer as the
primary graphics device along with a matching color monitor. Megatron does
not support EGA or CGA graphic at this time. If Megatron is run on a computer
that does not have a VGA installed, it will detect the absents of the VGA and
refuse to run.
NOTE: If Megatron fails to properly detect your VGA hardware, you can override
the video hardware check by using the command line option NOTEST.
(Example): MEGA NOTEST
This option is especially useful when playing Megatron on computers
equipped with off-brand video cards that sometimes lack video BIOS
signature.
PS/2 PLAYERS: Megatron uses full VGA graphics and will not operate on PS/2's
equipped with MCGA graphics.