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1994-01-22
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Battle Beyond version 1.0 Documentation
Scheduled Release date for project: January 18, 1993.
This game requires:
At least an 80286 or greater equipped IBM/Compatible class computer.
3 megabytes free on your hard drive.
640K Conventional RAM with 600K free for full sound
VGA or MCGA card.
Sound Blaster (or 100% compatible) card is optional (but highly
recommended :)
====================== LEGAL NOTICES ========================================
BATTLE BEYOND Copyright 1994 Robert J. Colbert
All Rights Reserved
GTDR
Battle Beyond and the "Double B" symbol are trademarks of Lucida Group.
"Lucida Mini-Movie," as a phrase, is a trademark of Lucida Group.
Battle Beyond is a massive project undertaking, consisting of over 11,000
lines of source code, and over 2 megabytes of external data. This set of
files, including the executables and data files, are the exclusive property
of Lucida Group. You may not sublicense, rent, lease, convey, modify,
translate, convert to another programming language, decompile, disassemble,
"reverse engineer," or change this package in any way by any means mechanical
or electric. If you suspect that you have received a copy of Battle Beyond
version 1.0 that appears to be modified in any way, please report this to:
Lucida Group
32 Ohio Street
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS-IS. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED.
LUCIDA GROUP DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE, WHETHER
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ALL SUCH
WARRANTIES ARE EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED. NEITHER LUCIDA GROUP
NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR
DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL,
OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH
SOFTWARE EVEN IF LUCIDA GROUP HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES OR CLAIMS. IN NO EVENT SHALL LUCIDA GROUP'S LIABILITY FOR ANY
DAMAGES EVER EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE,
REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF CLAIM. THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL
RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.
Some states do not allow the exclusion of the limit of liability for
consequential or incidental damages, so the above limitation may not apply
to you.
This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Pennsylvania
and shall inure to the benefit of Lucida Group and any successors, admin-
istrators, heirs and assigns. Any action or proceeding brought by either
party against the other arising out of or related to this agreement shall
be brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of competent jurisdiction
located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The parties hereby consent to
in personam jurisdiction of said courts.
[ In English: We do offer a money back guarantee for the REGISTERED version
of the software if you are not completely satisfied, but we cannot be held
responsible for any damages you incur resulting from the use or misuse or
inability to use this software ]
-=* Other Advice *=- [Virus Infections]
Also, in these days of frequent virus infections, we STRONGLY suggest that
you run a virus detector/cleaner on this software before you run Battle
Beyond for the first time. A good product to handle this task would be
McAffee's SCAN.EXE and CLEAN.EXE or Microsoft's MSAV program bundled with
MS-DOS 6.0 or later. These softwares are the exclusive properties of their
creators, and are in no way affiliated with Lucida Group.
This is only for your own protection, as we do not exactly know from where
you received this copy of Battle Beyond.
-=* Finally (whew) *=-
If the shareware copy of Battle Beyond you received does not function
correctly when run, please send a diskette to us (3.5" HD preferrably)
and we'll send you the shareware version absolutely free.
In other words, no matter how you acquired this copy of Battle Beyond, if
it does not work correctly, we'll fix it -- FREE.
=============================================================================
Battle Beyond v1.0
from
Lucida Group
Battle Beyond is our first game. We feel that you will spend many
hours in front of your computer, enjoying this MultiMedia Blitz of a game.
If you have any comments/suggestions/bug reports, please feel free to contact
us at:
Lucida Group
32 Ohio Street
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Battle Beyond is a "Lucida Mini-Movie" format video game! We have combined
every resource currently available for making this game possible in such a
small amount of physical disk space. Because of this, please do not tamper
with the data files included in this package. We know you may be curious as
to how this game was produced, but feel free to ask us!! We will not replace
damaged copies of Battle Beyond if it can be proven that you have tampered
with the data files.
=============================================================================
This unregistered version of Battle Beyond version 1.0 may be freely
distributed as long as no more than $10.00 is charged for duplication or other
fees, and it may not be included with any commercial package without written
consent from the authors.
Finally, Battle Beyond version 1.0 IS shareware. This means that you are
granted a limited license to use this software for evaluation purposes before
you pay for it. Please support this marketing concept by registering Battle
Beyond with the authors. Our registered package contains even more Battle
for your buck: More sounds, more animation, and more challenge (as if it
wasn't already hard enough).
We are asking only $20.00 (U.S. currency only, drawn on a U.S. bank) as a one-
time registration fee. If you register before September 12, 1994, you will
be placed on our "Preferred Customer List." This will entitle you to FREE
REGISTERED UPDATES as they are created!! You did read that correctly, FREE
REGISTERED UPDATES are yours if you register before September 12, 1994. That
means that every time we revise Battle Beyond, or create any sequels (part
II, III, etc.), you get the registered version for free.
Lucida Group makes every attempt to respond to our foreign customers in as
timely a manner as possible, but please understand that the mail is a little
slow. If you are a foreign customer, please make sure to give us your entire
address as we should write it on the package we ship. Also, foreign customers
should include an extra $2.00 for shipping and handling charges in U.S.
currency (check/money order), drawn on a U.S. bank. We do understand that if,
in some cases, you purchase a money order, you have to spend it or you will
lose your money. We will make every attempt to make sure you are completely
satisfied!
Your registered package will include:
More Enemy Ships to hunt and destroy
A long list of helpful tricks and tips.
Extremely in-depth documentation on diskette.
Membership in Club Lucida (including our bi-monthly newsletter).
Access to technical support (including some programming tips)
through U.S. Mail or our contact BBS.
Again, the nominal $20.00 registration fee will get you all that is listed
above -- including free updates if you register before September 12, 1994.
To register, type REGISTER at the DOS command prompt and press [ENTER].
You will be presented with a question asking you if you'd like to continue,
type the letter 'Y'. Afterwards, you will be presented with a screen
displaying several prompts. Type the information requested on each line,
the press [ENTER]. The cursor will advance to the next line automatically
to allow you to enter more information. Finally, select your payment method
from the available choices (including NOT REGISTERING), then verify your
information by pressing the letter 'Y' at the prompt "Is this correct (Y/N)?"
Print the file REGISTER.FRM on your printer, or hand write the requested
information on a piece of anything and mail it to us. Please pay by check
or money order only, drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. currency. Foreign orders
are welcomed, and I will respond to any foreign letters the day I receive
them. Please do not send cash.
=============================================================================
About Battle Beyond. . . .
In the year 2034 A.D., communism as it was known throughout the 20th
century was abolished and the global community lived in a peaceful, unified
state. The global economy had improved since the world leaders agreed to help
any country with their problems--a world movement which started with the
United States of America in the early 1990's. The unemployment rate for the
entire planet dropped to less than two percent, and work was started on space
stations using a new shuttle type that allows the pilot to takeoff and land
vertically. Everone seemed to be content.
The world is finally a great place in which to live. That is--it was.
Now it is a vast wasteland with intolerable levels of radiation forcing the
human race to venture out into the great void of outer space. It all began
after a new spaceship project had been started that was supposed to, when
completed, be able to use the power of the nuclei of atoms. Supposedly, a
piece of biological material as small as a grape could power this ship for a
month with its newly unlocked "nuclei power."
The first tests went well, the engine ran smoothly and efficiently.
Conventional fuels were no longer needed. Then the first astronauts went up.
It worked perfectly, but it moved much faster than the old shuttles --
approaching light speed. A plan was set up, and the ship, now called the
"Atomic Archer" was equipped for a trip to our closest stellar neighbor,
Mars.
The launch was successful, and all went well. Eventually, Earth lost
contact with the craft; but that was expected, as the new starship had
traveled such a long distance. One day, 2 months after launch, screams and
gunfire were heard over the Archer's communications radio. NASA had no idea
what it was, but they knew it must have been the craft.
Earth's population expected to find these brave nuclear astronauts
dead, but they were anything but dead. When the ship entered Mars's
atmosphere, a gas leak occured due to a design flaw in the cabin of the
Atomic Archer. The astronauts became paranoid and schizophrenic causing them
to take hostile actions toward whatever they came into contact with. NASA
had no idea of the horror to follow as they directed the craft back into
Earth's atmosphere via remote control. As soon as the Archer had re-entered
Earth's atmosphere, the entire craft melted due to the intense heat caused
during re-entry from the cabin design flaw.
The ship exploded, deploying lethal Martian chemicals throughout
Earth's surface. The same chemicals that effected the crew of the spacecraft
were now unleashed upon the population of Earth. As soon as anyone breathed
the toxic air, they became hostile towards anything -- even their friends and
family. Earth erupted into a violent civil war of epic proportions, with
people fleeing to safety in underground man-made bunkers, praying that it
would all be ended soon. Their only escape was to the newly constructed
space stations using several "old design" shuttles of the mid 1990's.
The year is now 2059 A.D. Humanity exists solely in outer space,
as an entirely divided race. Those who managed to escape the breathing of
the chemicals on that horrific day now populate space stations throughout
the universe and are known as "The Alliance." Those who were less fortunate,
now known as "The Hostiles," have been ravaging the surface of Earth and have
begun building spacecraft from from military design plans seized from the
ruins of Earth. They have also begun to construct space stations of their
own. The Alliance is forced to defend itself in a Battle Beyond humanity
and the reaches of the universe.
As a member of The Alliance, this is your mission. Good luck and God
bless. You'll need it!
=============================================================================
Installing Battle Beyond. . . .
You should have received either one (1) or three (3) archived files.
Decompress them all into the same directory of your choice. Refer to your
DOS manual and the documentation for your decompression software for help
getting everything unpacked.
Once you have all of the files unpacked into the SAME directory, the
game is ready to go, and you may delete the original archives (if you want
to conserve the space on your hard disk). We do suggest that you keep a copy
of them somewhere, however, on diskette or otherwise in case of accidental
deletion or other hardships (like a hard drive crash, ack).
Battle Beyond version 1.0 DOES REQUIRE A HARD DRIVE with three (3)
megabytes free space to run. This game generates no "temp" files, and uses
your hard disk for reading purposes only. The only writing that occurs is
in the registered version of Battle Beyond, which does keep a "Top Ten" list
of pilots.
=============================================================================
Playing Battle Beyond. . . .
Playing Battle Beyond is rather simple. After loading the game, and
viewing some introductory animations, you will be presented with a Main Menu.
This shareware version of the game is fully functional; nothing has been
"crippled." We have, however, left out a few animations to reduce the file
size for telecommunication purposes and costs.
Pressing the letter "P" from the Main Menu will load the game and get
you started. Pay very close attention to every picture you see during this
apparent introduction. This is actually a lot of information your first time
through, but you'll get used to it. You will eventually be presented with
a Local Sector "DataGrid." This is the scope of the current level, and should
be paid a great deal of attention. You will see a 16 x 16 grid of blocks.
These are each a sub-sector of the current sector, and contain their own
dangers. Each sub-sector may also be "blank," displaying no icons. This
means that this is an empty sub-sector. You may fly through empty sub-
sectors at top speed, as nothing will get in your way.
To control your starship, the S-22 Silver Fox, use the following
keys:
Up arrow -- Accelerate
Down arrow -- Decelerate
Left arrow -- Turn ship left
Right arrow -- Turn ship Right
Space Bar -- Fire a missle
Letter "B" -- Power boost (speed to max 5).
Tab Key -- Game Pause
(any key) -- Game Resume (after Pause)
Escape Key -- Game Menu
Do not hit anything on the screen. If you do, your starship will be
completely destroyed. The S-22 is strictly an offensive fighting machine,
with no defensive systems or armor. You can shoot everything you can see on
the screen. That is the object of this game. Keep your starship from
hitting on-screen objects while destroying "Hostile" ships and other space
debris. Select the "(R)ead about Lucida" Main Menu selection for the cast of
characters and scoring information.
At the beginning of each level, you will be presented with a few text
screens. These will inform you of your current level, and how many targets
must be destroyed in order to complete that level. More targets will be on
the screen, but you must successfully destroy the displayed number of targets
before passing on to another level.
Valid targets are:
All Enemy Ships
Space Mines
Energy Modules
Enemy Radio Transmission Beacons
Invalid targets are:
Meteors/Asteroids
Space Debris
You will receive points for destroying the targets listed as "Invalid,"
but they will not count towards your total of destroyed targets. Upon the
successful completion of every three levels, you are awarded another starship
(if one is needed). You have a maximum of four starships at your disposal
during game play, and the game is over when you run out of starships.
Successfull completion of level 30 is the victory of this game. Try to make
it and watch the victory animations.
You will be kept in constant VOCAL communication with Alliance Base
One (Sound Blaster users only). Users without a Sound Blaster card will not
have this communication. You will hear two distinctly different voices:
Male and female. The Male voices are the fleet command back at Alliance Base
One. The female voice is your onboard navigational computer. Listen closely
to every word. Sometimes, the voices will be "cut off" from finishing their
message. Deep space communication is not a specialty of the Alliance. They
didn't plan for this to happen to them, and were not quite ready to venture
into space.
Pressing Escape during game play will pop up the "Game Menu." This
allows you to make several choices during game play:
(Q)uit to Main Menu --
Will abort the current game and return you to the Main Menu.
If your score is high enough, you will be placed into the
Top Ten.
(S)ave Current Game --
Will ask for a filename to use. You have 8 characters,
spaces and periods (.) are not valid characters.
(L)oad a Saved Game --
Will ask for a filename to use. You have 8 characters,
spaces and periods (.) are not valid characters.
(N)evermind
Self-explanatory, I thought, but will simply shut the menu
and return you to the game play. Be prepared, there's no
delay. You just get thrown back into the game.
There are several tricks in the game, but we'll let you discover them
on your own. One point we will give you is that The Hostiles will always fly
straight for you, without regard for their own life, or others around them.
Have fun!!
Robert J. Colbert (Linc)
Steve Heintz (Mantis)
Again, if you have any questions/comments/bug reports you can contact us in
two ways:
32 Ohio Street
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
or
Call the Polaris 2000 BBS (In Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.)
(412) 457-3197.
We are known as Linc and Mantis on the board.
Game registrations are not possible on the board, only chat and
latest shareware versions of our productions.
We have our own file base on Polaris 2000. You will always be able
to download the latest shareware versions of our software from this
BBS, as well as get involved in active discussions with us and the
other members of the board. NOTE: We do not operate the Polaris
2000 BBS, so you will have to abide by their rules and regulations
as we do.
=============================================================================
Closing remarks. . . .
If enough interest is shown in Battle Beyond v1.0 (i.e. registrations),
we may create a sequel. Steve and I are currently working on the story line
as you read this. We also have several other projects "under construction."
Video game writing is extremely difficult stuff, but we enjoy doing it. We
are also more than willing to accept ideas from YOU! Your feedback is
extremely important to us, please fill out the COMMENTS section of the
registration form as honestly as you can after running REGISTER.EXE. Even if
you're NOT going to register the game, send us some comments anyway. We'd
like to know why you're not registering the game with us, but hope you will
decide to! Thank you for showing interest in a Lucida Group production.
[END OF BATTLE.DOC]