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1984-12-19
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DEMO
ICON: QUEST FOR THE RING
Demo Icon: Quest for the Ring, Copyright 1984, Macrocom, Inc.
All rights reserved.
NOTICE
The Demo Icon Program may be copied freely and distrbuted to
others without charge. The program is a copyrighted program
which the copyright holder has granted permission to you to copy.
The programs are not public domain programs. You may not modify
these programs or use the code or routines in these programs in
any programs of your own without the express written approval of
Macrocom, Inc.
*****************************************************************
DEMO ICON: QUEST FOR THE RING PROGRAM
The Demo runs on the IBM PC (or true compatibles) with either a
standard color graphics card or a IBM compatible color card. You
can use either an RGB monitor or a TV for display. The program
will also run on a PC jr. Note: the program will not run on a
system that uses a monochrome card.
The Demo ICON program is a very abbreviated fragment of the
adventure ICON: QUEST FOR THE RING. The demo lacks a large
number of features contained in the actual adventure. The number
and variety of creatures and characters have been severely
limited; the playing area has been reduced; there is only one
level; only a single normal sword is available as a weapon;
there are no treasures; the entire cosmic plot has been removed;
animated plot scenes have been ommitted; story screens are
absent; etc. Despite these omissions, the fragment remains
playable as a an arcade style combat game. For information on
how to get a copy of the actual ICON: QUEST FOR THE RING, see the
end of this file.
RUNNING THE ICON DEMO. To start the game, type in ICONDEMO after
the DOS prompt. Then press the ENTER key. Several introductory
screens will appear. Press the SPACE BAR to move through these
screens. Once you are in the game proper press the F1 key to get
to the HELP screen. Note: if you have a joy stick, you can
enable the joystick by pressing the J key and then following the
instructions that appear on the screen. Pressing ESC will
terminate the game.
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COMMANDS
MOVEMENT If you have a joystick, you may use it to guide your
character. Please refer to the section on joystick use.
Otherwise use the numeric key pad to control your movement.
Simply press the arrow key that corresponds to the direction that
you want to go. The arrow keys are located on the right hand
side of the key board. (The arrow keys are the same as the
numeric key pad keys.) You can move to the left and right (keys
4 & 6), up and down (keys 8 & 2) You can also move diagonally to
the upper left (key 7), to the upper right (key 9), to the lower
left (key 1), and to the lower right (key 3). The PC jr. does
not have diagonal keys. While movement is possible using the key
board, it is recommended that you use a joystick.
PICK UP OBJECTS [P] There are a number of objects you may want
to acquire--weapons, armor, treasure, healing runes, magic wands.
These objects are scattered around on the floor of the dungeon.
To pick up an object, move your personna until he is in contact
with the object. Then press [P] and you will see the object
disapear from the floor. Some objects will be placed in your
back pack, other objects will appear on you. Thus, if you pick
up a shield, you will see it appear on your arm. If you are
without a weapon, and pick up a sword, the sword will appear in
your hand. However, if you are already carrying a weapon, the
new weapon will be placed in your pack. You can always check on
your possessions by pressing [S] to view the status screen.
DROP OBJECTS [D] You may want to drop objects at various times
in the course of your adventures. To drop objects, press [D] and
the DROP SCREEN will appear. The screen will show all the
objects you are carrying and wearing. Each object will have a
letter assigned to it. Press the letter that corresponds to the
object and you will be returned to action. You will see that the
object you chose to drop will be lying on the ground next to you.
FIGHT [SPACE BAR] In order to use whatever weapon you have in
your hand, press the [SPACE BAR]. This will swing any sword you
happen to be holding. If you don't have any weapon, pressing the
Space Bar will swing your fist. (In the full version, other
weapons, such as fire staffs and magic wands would also be
available for combat.)
WEAPON SELECT [W] The Demo only provides you with one weapon, a
normal sword. Thus this command is fairly irrelevant. Press [W]
and the weapon selection menu will appear. Each weapon in your
possession will be displayed with a corresponding letter. Press
the letter of the weapon you want to have in your hand. If you
don't want to carry any weapon, press the space bar.
STATUS [S] You will frequently want to know what your status is.
Status is made up of several components: The armour, weapons,
and objects you have in possession; your vital strength; and your
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score. Each of these is displayed on the STATUS SCREEN. Press
[S] to see this screen. Press the space bar to exit back to the
adventure.
QUIT or SAVE [Esc] Press Esc to quit the game. The save game
feature is not implemented in the demo version.
HELP [F1] Pressing [F1] will display the HELP SCREEN. Press the
space bar to return you to the action.
SOUND ON/OFF. [F2] You can switch the sound on or off by
pressing the [F2] key.
JOYSTICK [J] The demo assumes that you only have a keyboard.
However if you have a Joystick, you may use it by invoking the
"J" command. Since there is a wide varity of joysticks on the
market, the computer needs to find out what type of stick you are
using. Follow the callibration instructions that appear on the
screen. You will be automatically returned to the playing
screen. Pressing a button or key will restart the action. The
two buttons on your joystick are command buttons. Button #1 is
the ATTACK button, and button #2 is the PICK UP button.
****************************************************************
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER AND THE TERRITORY
Your Health. You do not have to go to the Status Screen to tell
what your relative health is. Notice that your personna has a
triangle on the front of his tunic or chain mail. The color of
this symbol indicates your relative health. A steady green color
indicates that you are unwounded; flashing green and yellow,
slightly wounded; flashing red and yellow, moderately wounded;
flashing red and black, seriously wounded; black, irreversably
dying. A green triangle, however, does not guarantee that you
will survive an attack. You might start out quite weak but not
be wounded at all. Also, you might be very strong and, thus,
though seriously wounded, because of your basic strength, you
might be able to endure an encounter with a formidable opponent.
To tell how strong you are you do need to check the Status
Screen.
Your Vitality. Your current vitality points are always
displayed on the Status Screen underneath the Vitality Scale.
This scale shows the relationship between your actual current
vitality and your potential "well" vitality. The green portion
of the scale shows your current vitality. The entire bar
represents what your vitality would be if you were unwounded. If
the entire bar is green you are at one hundred per cent of your
potential vitality.
In the demo version of ICON you start the game with a 100
vitality points. As you progress in your adventures you can
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increase your potential vitality. You will notice in the course
of your wanderings a number of flashing CROSSES. These crosses
indicate healing runes which can cure you if you are wounded and
increase your vitality if you are already well. Pick one of the
Crosses up and if you check your status you will see that your
actual vitality has increased.
Hit Points. Most of the creatures you encounter have a specific
number of "hit points" assigned to them. These "hit points"
correspond to the amount of damage a creature will do to you
should you come into contact with the creature. When a creature
bites you, you are wounded and lose a given number of vitality
points. The number of vitality points you lose from any given
bite is equal to the creature's "hit points." How do you know
how strong a creature is? You can only learn this from
experience. Observe how much damage (loss of vitality) you
suffer from an encounter.
****************************************************************
YOUR SCORE
Your Score is displayed at the bottom of the Status Screen. The
specific details of the scoring system is one of the many things
you need to discover during the course of your adventure.
However, here are some of the general principals that effect your
score.
Conquests. Most of the creatures you encounter have a specific
number of "score points" assigned to them. These "score points"
are distinct from the "hit points" discussed above. You are
rewarded the creature's score points should you be fortunate
enough to overcome the creature. The score points are the same
for all creatures of a given species.
Dying. Should your actual vitality be reduced below zero you
will die. However, in both the demo version and in the real
ICON, dying is not the end. Death leads to rebirth. But, you
will usually discover, upon being reincarnated, that you have
lost a hundred of points. Thus, you can acquire a large negative
score if you die a few times before you have a chance to
accumulate a signifcant "store" of points.
A Very Important Point About Points. "Count no man's life happy
until he is dead."--Herodotus. The consequence of dying is one of
the most distinctive features of ICON. In the ICON universe
death is not the end nor does the fact that you die necessarily
mean that you have lost. ICON is a heroic adventure, and its
worth remembering that in many heroic legends the hero, in fact,
dies. The fact that the protagonist dies doesn't mean that he or
she is not a hero or heroine. Indeed, a noble death counts for a
lot more than ignoble survival. All men are mortal and death is,
in itself, not a shameful thing. But living poorly and stupidly
before you die is. Every one of the seven dungeon worlds in ICON
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contains various tests or tasks. Though you will always lose
some points when you die, if you die after having passed the
test, you will be promoted to the next, more advanced world.
And, as you will see, you will acquire a considerable amount of
points for your achievements during your life--a quantity of
points that will more than offset the effects of your death.
Special Considerations When Using a Monochrome Monitor or B&W TV
ICON has been designed to run on the IBM with the color/graphics
card. The program does not support the IBM monochrome card and
monitor. However, ICON does produce acceptible displays on a
composite monochrome monitor or B&W TV attached to the
color/graphics card. There are several things you need to keep
in mind if you are using a monochrome monitor. For instance, you
will not be able to use color to distinguish between the blue
magic wand and the red magic wand. The wand that shoots fireballs
(red wand) flashes brightly whereas the lightening bolt wand only
flickers slightly. Also, you will not be able to tell what your
vitality level is by observing the colors of your personna's
chest triangle. In this case, the rate at which the triangle
flashes can be used as a cue to your health. The more seriously
wounded you are the more rapidly the triangle will flash.
****************************************************************
If you would like to buy a copy of ICON: QUEST FOR THE RING --
see your local dealer or call our TOLL FREE phone number:
TOLL FREE (800) 622-8086
In Georgia (404) 874-6448
Macrocom is an approved mail/telephone order VISA & MasterCharge
merchant.
You can also get a copy by mailing a check or money order for
$49.95 to:
ICON
MACROCOM, INC.
P.O. BOX 70012
MARIETTA, GA 30007
Your order will be shipped promptly by UPS or 1st Class mail.
See next page for order form.
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------------------------------------------------------------------
ORDER FORM
Macrocom, Inc.
P.O. Box 70012
Marietta, Georgia 30007
Phone 1-800-622-8086
ICON: QUEST FOR THE RING
Your Name_________________________________
Street Address___________________________(Apt.)_________
City_____________________________State____________Zip________
Price per copy $49.95 Amount Enclosed_______________
Check_________ Money Order___________ Cash__________
Computer Brand_________ Model______________Memory_______________
Joystick?___________ Type of Color Card?________________________
Display (RGB, Composite Monitor, Color TV, B&W, etc.)___________
Would you please fill in the above information so we can assure
that ICON will run on your system. We would also like your phone
number so we can contact you if there are any problems regarding
your order. We guarantee that your number will not be released
to anyone. Phone ( )______________________.
THANK YOU
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