| ASTRAWARE | palm os products |
| Astroids Release Notes |
| Notes |
Please make sure you read the information below about installing the game.
If you enjoy Astroids, please take the time to enter a review at PalmGear HQ, PalmCentral or EuroCool.
Astroids is shareware, which means that you've downloaded it for free, but if you enjoy the game and want to keep playing then we ask you to register for it. It's only $7.95, and you can find out how to register online at the Astroids registration page.
Register online now at PalmGear or at PalmCentral.
Registering
removes the delay when running Astroids.
| Installing the game |
Astroids is available either as a standalone .prc file or as a compressed ZIP (for PC) or SIT (for Mac) file. The compressed files contain these release notes along with the .prc file.
The .prc file needs to be installed on your Palm or compatible handheld. Firstly, locate and start up the 'Palm Installer' program. On Windows this is in the 'Palm Desktop' menu in 'Programs' on the Start Menu. Using the Palm Installer program, select the .prc file. Put your handheld in its cradle (or use a HotSync cable) and press the HotSync button. During the HotSync, the Astroids game will be transferred to your handheld and will be available from the menu when you press the applications button. Tap the Astroids icon, and you're in the game!
Notice : Astroids Greyscale requires a little bit of 'elbow room' in memory for decompression - if your machine is very close to being full, you may experience problems when Astroids cannot decompress the graphics required!
To start a game of Astroids, tap the screen. Unless you use the Options...Control... menu choice to change them, here are the default controls for playing:
| (Datebook)
Left |
(Phonebook)
Right |
(Up)
Special Attack |
(To
Do List)
Thrust |
(Memo
pad)
Fire |
| (Down)
Special Defence |
Also
- if you get killed by an astroid or alien, and want to come back straight
away to wreak sweet cold revenge, then pressing the UP button will
bring you back - even if there is an astroid in the way!
| Known Problems with Hacks |
Astroids graphics and gameplay push the capabilities of your palm to its limits! To do this, we've had to make direct use of much of the hardware of your machine. While this causes no problem for most users, we've had reports from a few users running lots of hacks that the game reports memory problems - even when there is plenty to spare.
Since many hacks also try to use the same hardware calls, sometimes they might be incompatible. If you get the memory error, and you know that you've got enough space, then try de-activating your hacks one by one until you can narrow down which are causing the problems. So far, we have had confirmed reports that Padlockhack, Screenwrite, and Switchlock hack seem to be incompatible with Astroids.
Speed Up -Hacks
There are quite a few hacks available ( Afterburner, Tornado, and I
personally use Eco-Hack and Cruise Control) which allow you to change the
speed your main processor runs at. At the expense of some battery life
(about 20% less) your palm can run faster by overclocking. This
does not cause any problems with Astroids, and many users use these hacks
to make the game run faster (or slower) than normally allowed by the standard
Astroids speed settings. For those concerned with getting high up the internet
high score table, using these hacks makes the game run at a relatively
higher speed - so you will get a difficulty bonus added to your score!
| Powerups |
If you play the 'Enhanced Game' (use the 'Game Settings' menu item to change to it), there are special astroids for you to shoot - and when you do they release a powerup. These are one of:
| Registering |
We think Astroids is great, and we hope that you do too! (It looks really cool on a Palm V when backlit!)
If you decide that you would like to keep Astroids on your palm, then you should register within approximately one month. Registration is available online at the Astraware Astroids registration page. Registrations for Astroids cost $7.95, and your key will remain valid for future upgrades.
If you wish to send us a cheque (or a check), then email first to registrations@astraware.com so that we can advise on the most secure method.
The more times you play astroids before you register, the longer the pause at the start of each game will be.
Registered
users can send us their high score (in the form of a code which tells us
how fast you palm runs too!) which we will include on our high score table!
Go on, show the world what a master you are!
| Version History |
| Other Astraware Products |
| Thanks! |
A few of the testers have really given very major assistance with the development of the game - giving bug reports (with detailed information of how to get the bug to happen!) serious suggestions for improvements, and feedback on the overall game feel.
Main thanks goes to:
Stephen Stanway - who helped considerably with the maths required to do proper bounces when the shield is on. Without his help it could have been many more months before the game was updated.
Tim - who has sent me more than 30 pages of feedback, bugs, suggestions and cheerful comments!
Christopher, Pete, and Kevin - Who have each contributed such considerable important feedback and have been awarded a registration for the effort!
Hiroshi, who gave great feedback during the conversion to Grey!
Also
thanks and a mention go to the following - who have sent either cheerful
feedback or bug reports or other useful tidbits!
Corky,
Rick, Frederick, Larry, Aaron, Paul, Eric, William, Roger, Gianvincenzo,
David, Rich and Mike.
| Legal |
Astraware takes no responsibility for any adverse effect that this software could cause to your machine: backup important data before using Astroids.
This page was last updated on 7th May 2000, by H.Tomlinson