EBX is a freeware game for the Win32/DirectX platform. It is a clone of games like Arkanoid or Breakout. The advantage this game has over those older classics is that you can create your own custom levels, which you can then play by yourself or trade with fellow EBX players.

EBX lets you customize nearly every aspect of the levels you create. You can create your own graphics, use your own sound effects, and even use your own MIDI files for background music. In addition, you can create your own enemy graphics, and even program the way they will move. You even get to add your own title screen and title screen music. It is all very entertaining, and it is especially fun to play levels made by other people.

EBX comes with a default set of levels. The theme of these levels is the classic SNES RPG, EarthBound. When completed, it will contain over 60 levels. If you would like to play other level sets, please visit the EBX distribution site. You will find several user-created level sets as well as instructions on how to set them up so you can play them.

There are many features new to Demo 9:

• Note: I am going to have to discontinue the level-editing program. Don't worry, you will still be able to make your own levels, but it will require you use a paint program (MS Paint will suffice, I believe). More on this as EBX continues to evolve.
• Enemies are now programmable! You can make your enemies move almost any way you want!
• More levels in EarthBoundX, and all enemies have been reprogrammed.
• Enhanced mouse movement. It moves much smoother now.
• Added some things to the scripting language. If you're interested in this, join the EBX level-making list.

Here are a few things I plan to incorporate into future versions of EBX.

• I'm still working on the front end for EBX. This program will let you choose which set of levels to play. Currently, you have to edit LEVELDIR.DAT and change the text in there when you want to play a different set of levels.
• FPS limiting code. Some people are playing this demo at 90 FPS!
• Bonus stage support.
• Difficulty levels. Any ideas or comments about this would be greatly appreciated.
• Special attacks. Right now, the special meter won't do anything when it fills up...
• Endings with multiple screens.
• A menu after the title screen where you can choose the difficulty level, sound options, and more.
• Secret cheat codes :)
• Better collision detection. The current collision detection algorithm doesn't work so well...
• Screen snapshot capabilities (pressing Print Screen doesn't work very well right now).
• Enemies can be invincible. Invincible enemies do not have to be destroyed to move to the next level.
• Enemies make sounds when hit.
• Create objects. Objects let level designers create animations in the background. Examples include things like glowing torches, flying birds, or people walking in the distance.
• Add PCX support.
• Choose which player to use before a level begins.

Minimum System Requirements:

• 90 MHz processor
• 16 MB RAM
• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft DirectX 5 Runtime Libraries
• SVGA card (640x480x256 gfx mode required)

You may think that if you have a system better than the recommended system, you're in good shape. You might be wrong. Some players have achieved an average Frames-Per-Second count of 80 or even 90. EBX is meant to be played at 60 FPS. I will attempt to remedy this problem in the future.

User Input	Action
Arrow keys	Move paddle
Shift + arrow keys	Move paddle faster
Space Bar	Release ball
Left mouse button	Release ball
F1	Turn vsync on (will slow down the game)
F2	Turn vsync off (default)
F3	Restart game
Esc	Quit

The goal of each level is to destroy all the enemies on the screen. You do this by bouncing a ball around, attempting to hit these enemies until they disappear. You must do this while keeping the ball from falling off the bottom of the screen, a similar to pinball. You keep the ball in the playing field by moving a paddle across the bottom of the screen.

At first, the physics of the game may seem odd to you. Similar games approach the physics a little differently:

The angle the ball will bounce off the paddle is dependent on the distance of the collision from the center of the paddle.

This setup may seem awkward at first, but if you learn it, and learn how to use it to your advantage, you'll find it's much more interesting than the other style.

• EBX will run so fast on fast computers that it will be unplayable. I will make some sort of fix for this, although I'm not sure how well it will turn out.
• Keyboard movement is messed up. I was going to fix this, but I want to get Demo 9 out as fast as I can. It should be fixed by Demo 10.

• People who can capture graphics for EarthBoundX
• People who can create/find MIDIs and/or sound effects for EarthBoundX
• People who can test out the EBX engine by creating their own levels. I feel this is the most important of all. If you'd like to make your own EBX levels, you can start by joining the EBX level-making mailing list, which can be found on the distribution site.
• People who are willing to hunt for bugs in EBX

If you can help out, please contact me. I might not reply, though. I get so much mail nowadays that I can't answer every single message. If I do reply, it will usually be about something important.

EBX is Copyright © 1999 Clyde Mandelin
Unauthorized distribution of EBX is prohibited.

By running EBX or any of its accompanying programs, you, the user, agree, that I, the author am not to be held liable for any damage that may be done by said programs, regardless of whether this damage should occur in hardware or software form. If you do not agree to these terms, then you are not authorized to run EBX or any of its accompanying programs.