This file contains helpfull hints for "The Orion Project". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you have any questions reguarding "The Orion Project" please send them to: DREAD STRAWN Compuserve:70571,2315 Good questions will be periodically added to this file. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ASK DREAD: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. My computer gives me a strange error code before the game starts. The letters on the monitor become quite large. A. If your lucky enough to have DOS 6.0 or better, reboot your computer. When the computer says "STARTING MS DOS, depress the "F5" key. This will allow your coputer to boot cleanly. Thus, freeing all your RAM memory. If you have an older version of DOS change your CONFIG.SYS file. This program requires 2 meg of extended memory. Type "REM" in front of any lines containing "VDISK" or "RAMDISK" or "EMM" or "XMS" then reboot your computer. If the game still does not work make sure the machine contains 4 meg of memory. Note: Don't forget to change your CONFIG.SYS back after you play the game. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. How do I control the ship? A. This game was designed with the mouse as the primary controller. Moving the mouse from right to left and left to right controls the spin of the ship. Moving the mouse up and down has no effect on the ship. Pressing only the left mouse button fires the bullets. Pressing the right mouse button produces low thrust in the direction the ship is pointed. Pressing both the right and left buttons produces high thrust. A Gravis gamepad can also be used to control the ship. The joystick spins the ship while the inner 2 buttons control the bullets and thrust of the ship. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. How do I start the game from a C:\ prompt? A. The best way to start the game is from within the c:\orionx di- rectory. FROM C:\ TYPE "cd\orionx" You will then be in the c:\orionx directory. THEN TYPE "orion" to start SHAREWARE game. or TYPE "orion2" to start REGISTERED game. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. How is the game organized? A. |-----------|-----------|-----------| | Quadrant | Quadrant | Quadrant | | 9 | 2 | 3 | |-----------|-----------|-----------| | Quadrant | Quadrant | Quadrant | | 8 | 1 | 4 | |-----------|-----------|-----------| | Quadrant | Quadrant | Quadrant | | 7 | 6 | 5 | |-----------|-----------|-----------| "The Orion Project" consists of 9 quadrants, of which only 4 are contained in the shareware version. Each quadrant contains an array of different objects that you must destroy. The plotters at the top of the screen show the position of the primary object in each quadrant. Your goal in the shareware version is simply to destroy the primary targets in quadrants 2, 3 and 4. The registered version requires that one save the "Orion" space- station in quadrant 9. To acheive this goal one must destroy the communication network that the aliens operate in all the other quadrants, then navigate the deadly spacemaze in quadrant 9. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. How do I replenish my supply of bullets ? A. Destroy the ammo depot in quadrant 2 located near the rotating satallite. Warning don't let JAWS eat you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. I have been unable to destroy the satalite behind the rotating asteroid field in quadrant 3. Is there a secret I should know ? A. Do better. Try matching the rotation of the asteroids, then slide in behind the big one. At that point spin the ship, reverse your thrust and FIRE your bullets. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. One of the ships in quadrant 4 took off with the satellite and left the quadrant before I could destroy it. Is there a way to follow the satellite out of the quadrant ? A. No. I would say the point in time that the satellite left the quadrant was the point in time you lost the game. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. How do I get out of the asteriod field in quadrant 1 ? A. Do not fire your bullets in the asteroid field. Firing will increase the chaotic nature of the asteroids making navigation more difficult. Humans seem to do best flying up towards quad- rant 2. Use maximum thrust and fly on a slalom like course. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. Where do I order the registered version ? A. лллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллл лВ л лВ The registered version of "The Orion Project" may be obtained from the л лВ following vendors: л л лВ л лВ л лВ DREAD BBS 1-(800) 824-1630 $19.95 л лВ CompuServe GO SWREG $24.95 л лВ PSL 1-(800) 242-4775 $29.95 + S/H л лВ Vir-Tech labs 1-(800) 486-4496 $29.95 + S/H л лВ л лВ If you require technical support for either the shareware or registered л лВ versions of this game contact Joel Strawn @ CIS 71415,3551 or by phone л лВ @ (817) 860-7010. л лллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллл лВ л лВ DREAD BBS 1-(800) XXX-XXXX $19.95 M/C or VISA only л лВ л лВ The most affordable way to receive your registered version of "The л лВ Orion Project" is to download it directly from the DREAD BBS. This л лВ bulletin board service contains the complete and most recent version л лВ of the game. To use the service, dial the (800) number with your л лВ computers modem. One will be prompted for your full name, credit л лВ card #, expiration date and the protocol needed to download the game. л лВ The only requirement is that your modem receive data at 9,600 BPS. or л лВ faster. л лВ л лВ л лВ To Use The DREAD BBS: л лВ л лВ 1. Start the communication software included with your modem. л лВ 2. Set the speed of the modem to 9,600 BPS or HIGHER. л лВ 3. Set the modems protocol and remember. (ZMODEM or XMODEM or YMODEM) л лВ 4. Dial 1-(800) 824-1630 with your computers modem. л лВ 5. Know your FULL NAME. л лВ 6. Know your MASTER CARD or VISA number. л лВ 7. Know your credit cards EXPIRATION DATE. л лВ 8. Know what PROTOCOL your communication software is using. л лВ л лВ Transfer takes less than 16 minutes. л лВ л лВ Immediatly after the game has been transferred to your computer, л лВ you will be logged off the service. If for any reason service л лВ is disconnected prior to completion of the transfer your credit л лВ card will not be billed. л лВ л лВ WARNINGS: л лВ л лВ 1. Do not call this number with a voice phone. No operator will answer. л лВ 2. Do not use an ILLEGAL CREDIT CARD #. We record each telephone number л лВ that calls. л лВ 3. Have your credit card information ready before you call. If your л лВ total connect time is greater than 25 minutes, there will be an л лВ additional charge of $ .27 per minute for each minute after the 25th л лВ minute. This charge is used to cover additional long distance cost. л лВ 4. Make sure your modem is set to 9,600 BPS or faster before calling. л лВ calls received at lower speeds will not be connected. л лВ л лВ л лВ л лллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллл л лВ л лВ CompuServe GO SWREG $24.95 Your CIS Account л лВ л лВ One may now order the registered version of "The Orion Project" л лВ from CompuServe. "GO SWREG" will take you directly to the share- л лВ ware registration forum. Once at the registration forum perform л лВ a search for the KEYWORD "ORION". Then TYPE "Y" to place your order. л лВ Yor order will be shipped within two business days. Your CompuServe л лВ account will automatically be billed. л лВ л лВ л лВ л лллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллл л лВ л лВ PSL 1-(800) 242-4775 $33.95 US/CANADA MC л л лВ $35.95 OVERSEAS VISA л лВ AMEX л лВ DISCOVER л лВ л лВ The Public (software) Library can take orders from 7:00 a.m. to л лВ to 7:00 p.m. CST Monday-Friday and normally from 7:00 a.m. to л лВ 4:00 p.m. on weekends. л лВ л лВ CREDIT CARD ORDERS ONLY - л лВ л лВ You can order with MC, Visa, Amex, or Discover from Public (software) л лВ Library by calling 800-2424-PsL or 713-524-6394 or by FAX to 713-524 л лВ -6398 or by CIS Email to 71355,470. You can also mail credit card л лВ orders to PsL at P.O.Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235-5705. л лВ л лВ THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE FOR ORDERS ONLY. л лВ л лВ Any questions about the status of the shipment of the order, refunds, л лВ registration options, product details, technical support, volume л лВ discounts, dealer pricing, site licenses, etc, must be directed to: л лВ л лВ Joel Strawn (DREAD) л лВ CIS 71415,3551 л лВ Voice phone (817) 860-0710 л лВ л лВ л лллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллл л лВ л лВ Vir-Tech labs 1-(800) 486-5596 $33.95 US/CANADA MC л л лВ $35.95 OVERSEAS VISA л лВ Check л лВ Money-Order л лВ л лВ Your SHAREWARE Source. This and other games can be ordered via л лВ VIR-TECH LABS 24 hour (800) number. Orders may also be processed л лВ via CIS Email @ 73051,376. Send check or money order to PO Box л лВ 530757, Grand Prairie, TX 75053. л лВ л лВ л лВ л лВ Credit Card Orders: Check or Money Order: л лВ л лВ 1-(800) 486-5596 M/C VISA Vir-Tech labs л лВ CIS 73051,376 Order Processing л лВ P.O. Box 530757 л лВ Grand Prairie, TX 75053 л лВ л лВ л лВ Ask about our FREE SHAREWARE CATALOG on a disk!!! л лВ л лВ л лллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллллл л ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. What are the red lines for on the screen ? A. These lines should be used as a tool to show the user's direction of movement. One may also use the vector meter in the lower right hand corner to assist them in determining direction. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. How do I find the main targets in each quadrant? A. Use the function plotter in the upper right hand corner of your control panel. This plotter will get you close to your primary targets. On must still fly around in that general area to locate the targets. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q. Can one destroy the satallite in quadrant 7. A. One must get to it first. The center brick on the right side of the structure is loose. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------