Copyright: ® Copyright 1995, DynoTech Software


VIRUS Contents;VIRUS
 : The Game

You are Vinny the Virus. Your job is to infect a hard drive and control all its sectors by capturing bytes. Watch out for the persistent virus cleaner disk and other anti-virus tools!

Playing the Game

    Moving the Virus

    Game Pieces

The Story

Options

Game Tips

Credits


Playing The Game
Playing The Game:

You (VINNY THE VIRUS) explore the surface of a hard drive. Capture bytes on a section of a hard drive and advance to higher sectors while avoiding an aggressive antivirus program. When you have captured enough bites for a sector you can advance through the exit to the next sector.

The number of bytes you are required to find is indicated on a status bar at the bottom of the screen. When the count gets to "0," the exit will open. Once you have found its location, you may leave and advance to the next sector.

Each screen represents a different sector of a hard disk. There are 30 possible sectors for you to "infect." these sectors are divided into small colored squares. If you step on a blue square it turns yellow. Stepping on a yellow square turns it red. Stepping on a red square turns it into an empty spot. You can no longer step on an empty spot, but the antivirus program can go anywhere. It is relentless, so keep moving and watching over your shoulder.

(SPECIAL MOVE:  You can jump over a single empty spot by moving into the empty spot and pressing the space bar. This will allow you to jump to the next square after the empty spot.)

Completing the Game:

You must complete all 30 levels to win the game.  Lost Sectors are optional.


The Story
The Story:

Being a computer virus isn't easy! You're working all the time trying to eat away at what seems to be an endless supply of  hard drive bytes. As if  that wasn't hard enough, now comes along a virus cleaner program (anti-virus disk) to wipe you out! Your goal?  Simple! Keep away from the antivirus program while running through each hard drive sector collecting it's bytes. Next, find the exit and get to through. Easy? NOT!

There are a few surprises on the way. Plan your moves carefully and quickly, because each time you take a step you are cutting  off your escape. This is how it works:  You (the virus) run around the surface of a hard drive which is divided into small colored squares. If you step on a BLUE square it turns yellow. Stepping on a YELLOW square turns it red. When you step on a RED square it turns into an empty spot and you can no longer step there. This can restrict your movementsjust one of the many dilemmas you will face.


File Management
File Management (Game Option):

NEW GAME:  Restart VIRUS:  The Game.

EXIT:  END the game and return to Windows


Options
Options:

1)	Digitized Sounds. Click on the option to turn sound effects on and off. A check mark indicates the option is turned on. To hear sound effects, you must have a sound card installed in your computer.

2)	Music. Click on the option to turn background music on and off. A check mark indicates the option is turned on. To hear background music, you must have a sound card installed in your computer and configured for MIDI music. If not configured properly, you may experience a MIDI Error.

3)	Joystick. Click on the option to turn joystick support on and off. A check mark indicates the option is turned on. Make sure you follow your joystick calibration instructions.

File Management


Tips for Playing VIRUS
Tips for Playing VIRUS:

1)	KEEP MOVING! The anti-virus disk is constantly on the move after you.

2)	Learn to use the space bar to jump empty clusters.

3)	Avoid the lasers, they will drain your power more than anything else.

4)	Look for a power surge hidden on some sectors. Even if you don't need any extra power, you still get points. But, save it for last, just in case you DO need the extra power.

5)	Be very cautious when moving on the red squares. Don't let yourself get trapped in a corner.

Have you developed a "secret" strategy? We'd love to hear about it. Please send your favorite tips, hints, and VIRUS tricks to DynoTech. You may see them (and your name) in a future version of VIRUS.

Send your favorite VIRUS tips to:

DynoTech Software

ATTN:  VIRUS Tips

1105 Home Avenue

Waynesville, MO  65583-2231

Or fax to:  (314) 774-3052


Game Pieces;Virus;Anti-Virus
Game Pieces:

You find items by walking over the BLUE squares. Sometimes items are hidden under them. Yellow and red squared don't have items under them. Here's what you can find on your disk:

SQUARES ON DISK:

Bad Cluster:  These areas will slow your movements. Nothing works on bad clusters (except the Anti-Virus Disk). Avoid these squares if the Anti-Virus Disk getting close.

Blue Cluster:  Clean section of a disk, just waiting to be infected by a nasty virus. When you move over this area, the square will turn yellow.

Empty Cluster:  Nothing is left on the disk. Either is was already empty, or you have completely destroyed all data here.

Red Cluster:  Fully infected section. You've already been here. Visit this area again and even Vinny's big brother will not be able to cross.

Yellow Cluster:  Mildly infected by a virus. You probably passed over this area one time. Move here again and the square will turn red.

GOOD STUFF:

Bytes:  (1500 points) The object of the game is to control bytes. Get enough bytes and you will be allowed to advance to the next sector.

CD-ROM:  (500 points) Even though you can not infect a CD-ROM, you have the power to infect it's driver.

Circuit Board:  (500 points) Who knows, you may be able to control the printer.

CMOS Chip:  (500 points) Do you nasty business on this chip.

Exit:  The "door" to the next sector. Hidden somewhere on each sector. You must collect the specified number of bytes to open.

Extra Virus:  WOW! An extra life.

Lost Sector:  Lost sectors are revealed when you find this item. Once you find the Lost Sector item, you'll have all the bytes you need to complete your current level. Your next sector will be a BONUS sector. Here you can collect all sorts of goodies. You need only one byte to open the exit door. You may stay and collect all the goodies you want, but you can loose a valuable virus if the anti-virus disk catches you. The greedier you are, the more dangerous these sectors become!

Memory Chip:  (500 points) I forgot what these are for . . . but, they're worth points.

Power Surge:  (1000 points) Restore lost power and gain extra points.

BAD STUFF:

Bomb:  Bombs are not good! Avoid these! They blow up if your move over them. If you uncover a bomb, stay away from it! (So what if there are no bombs on a real hard drive . . . there are in this game.)

?? Lasers:  [You'll know when one has found you!] On the upper levels you will find lasers. These track you cold-heatedly. Once they have you in their sights, they continue to shoot until you get away. Watch from all directions. Keep moving. They'll be there to zap you!

Virus Cleaner (Attack Mode):  GOTCHA! Get away FAST!

Virus Cleaner (Search Mode):  The virus cleaner (anti-virus disk) relentlessly chases you. It's movement is NOT restricted by any spot on the screen. If it comes in contact with you, it will drain you of vital power needed for your continued existence. Stay away if you can. Run away if it catches you. Don't EVEN try to stay and fight!


Moving the Virus
Moving the Virus:

Use the arrow keys and space bar to move the Virus.

Move Up [Up Arrow]

Move Left  [Left Arrow]

Move Right  [Right Arrow]

Move Down  [Down Arrow]

Jump Blank Space  [Arrow; Space Bar]

JUMPING:

You can only jump over EMPTY SPACES. You are limited to jumping over ONE space at a time.  Example:  To jump over an empty square, point your virus so that it is facing the square and press the spacebar. The empty square can NOT have another empty square behind it (your landing point must not be an empty square).

Joystick Control:

UP to move up

DOWN to move down

LEFT to move left

RIGHT to move right

PRIMARY BUTTON to jump


Background Music

MIDI

Musical Instrument Digital Interface - Music generated by a device capable of connecting to a computer. MIDI music plays independently "in the background" while your computer is working on another task.


MIDI Error

If you have a sound card in your computer and you get a message such as:  "This file may not play correctly with the current MIDI setup", go to the "options" menu and turn "Music" off by selecting it. A check mark next to "Music" indicates it is ON. Refer to your sound card's owner manual and Window's Reference manual to set up your Windows "MIDI mapper."


Vinny the Virus

Here's VINNY--

Vinny The Virus - The Hero!?


Credits
Credits:

DynoTech Software would like to offer special recognition and a big THANK YOU to the following for making VIRUS: The Game possible:

Programmers

James Lindly

David Carlson

Artwork, Music & Sound Effects

Melissa Berger

Andy Carlson

Donna Carlson

Dottie Chaffin

James Lindly

Special Thanks for Various Contributions

Microsoft Corporation

20/20 Software, Inc.

TEGOSoft, Inc.

Graphic Impact (Michael Haschka)

BASEBALL HOTLINE

Dad's BBS (314-774-5907)

Gary Lindstrom

Russ McCulloch

Mike White

And, our patient families . . .


Baseball Hotline
BASEBALL HOTLINE:

1-900-3-STRIKES (900-378-7453)

When asked, enter ID # 3016

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Requires touchtone phone - Must be 18

.99 per minute - average call 3 minutes

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All you do is dial 1-900-3-STRIKES on your touchtone telephone from anywhere in the USA. When asked, enter your special access ID # 3016.

CALL NOW -- TELL YOUR FRIENDS

Internet Baseball Information:

URL: http://www.atm.ch.cam.ac.uk/sports/baseball.html


Baseball Information

Internet Baseball Information:

The Internet Baseball Information Center is for baseball fans worldwide. Once you connect, you'll find lists of Baseball Servers, REAL-TIME League Scores, team home pages, statistics, rosters, team reports, and more. From here you can surf to your favorite baseball hangout.

World Wide Web URL:

http://www.atm.ch,cam.ac.uk/sports/baseball.html