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- (c) 1996 Action Forms, Ltd., Megamedia Corporation
-
- -------------------------
- RELEASE NOTES for
- THE CHASM
- (demo-test v.1.02)
- -------------------------
-
- * * *
-
- --------------------
- TABLE of contents:
- --------------------
-
- 1. CHASM demo overview.
- 1.1. Game features.
- 2. The game.
- 2.1. Install & quick start of CHASM.
- 2.2. System requirements.
- 2.3. Control panel.
- 2.4. Multiplayer game.
- 2.5. Keyboard.
- 2.6. Sound.
- 2.7. Command-line options.
- 3. Troubleshooting & common problems.
-
-
-
-
-
- -------------------------
- 1. CHASM demo overview.
- -------------------------
-
-
- * In the CHASM demo there are :
-
- - ONE little test level.
- - FOUR types of characters:
- Joker, Punisher, Spider and a Hero (for Network game only).
- - THREE different weapons.
-
- * Weapons are :
-
- 1. Shotgun.
- 2. Diskthrower.
- 3. Crossbow.
-
- * Each weapon uses unique AMMO:
-
- 1. Shotgun - shotgun shells;
- 2. Diskthrower - disks;
- 3. Crossbow - arrows;
-
- At the present time we're working on new weapons system, so
- the graphics of some of the weapons listed above are not
- fully completed. The program coding that supports the
- activation of switches and key systems are currently in
- development too.
-
-
- 1.1. Game features.
-
- All objects in Chasm are 3-d polygon texture-mapped vector
- models. Some of the models are: structures, monsters, weapons,
- explosions. Hence hereinafter speaking about "model" we can mean
- all above mentioned.
-
- * Lighting in Chasm:
-
- - Pre-rendered shadow mapping (static lights)
- - Dynamic sources of light (relocatable)
- - Any model in the game can be physically destroyed. If
- that model was a light source it will change the lighting
- in the game. Example: the destruction of a torch results
- in a darkening of the area illuminated by the torch)
- - Models cast shadows from all light sources, the quantity of
- shadows cast by the model is practically unlimited, and
- depends only on the quantity of sources acting on it.
-
- * Character specifications:
-
- - Models do not "pixelate" - increasing size of pixels on
- approximation to the view (camera) does not occur
- - Use of a many polygons (approx. 300) permits attachment of
- models the real forms
- - The high level of the artificial intelligence allows realistic
- behaviour from the monsters
- - Plenty of types of monster behaviour pre-calculated with
- a 70 fps animation rate allows realisic lookng combat
- - Some of these animated behaviours include hit reactions,
- which is dependant on the location of the hit
- - A distinctive feature of Chasm technology is separation of
- the monstars limbs (hands, arms, head) thus the monster
- can stay alive and continue to act depending on a which limb
- has been blown off.
-
-
-
- --------------------
- 2. THE GAME
- --------------------
-
-
- 2.1. INSTALL and quick start CHASM.
-
- Create a directory directory called CHASM on your hard drive.
- Copy CHASM.ZIP there and unzip it. To start CHASM type CHASM.EXE.
-
-
- 2.2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.
-
- The minimum requirements to play CHASM is:
-
- - 486 DX2-66 MHz CPU.
- - Standard VGA card.
- - 8 MB of RAM.
- - 6 MB of Hard Drive Space.
-
- We strongly recommend a Pentium processor and a SoundBlaster card.
-
-
- 2.3. Control Panel.
-
- The Control Panel provides control of game modes and parameters.
- Use the <ESC> key to toggle the Control Panel on/off.
- The Control Panel is divided on two parts: Main Menu and Console.
- Use the <TAB> key for switching between Main Menu and Console.
-
- * The Main Menu contains the following options:
-
- NEW - start a new game.
- NETWORK - Start/Join a network game.
- LOAD - load a saved game from disk.
- SAVE - save the current game to disk.
- DISPLAY - change the display settings: contrast, color
- and brightness.
- QUIT - quit to DOS.
-
-
- * The Console consists of a Command line and a Message display.
- The Command line is intended for entering Console commands.
- The Message display shows the results of executed commands and
- special internal system messages.
- The Console has a command history. Pressing the up and down arrows
- in the Console will change to the last command entered.
-
- The following is a list of the currently supported Console
- commands:
-
- NEW - start new game.
- RESTART - restart current level.
- QUIT - quit to DOS.
-
- CHOJIN - immortal mode.
- AMMO - restore ammo for all weapons.
- WEAPON - gives all weapons to player.
- INVISIBLE - gives 2 minutes of invisibility.
- FULLMAP - allows you to see full map of the current level.
-
- KILL - kill all monsters on the level.
- REANIMATE - (debug) reanimate all monsters.
- FREEZE - (debug) freeze all monsters.
- RESPAWN <#time> - set the monsters respawn time.
- (#time=0 means no respawn)
-
- SLOW - (debug) slow mode.
- REVERSE - swap right and left sound channels.
- DEPTH - distant fade.
- SHADOWS <number> - set the upper limit of shadows casting by 3D object.
- GO <#level> - warp to specified level.
-
-
- * A Command without a parameter returns to its default setting.
-
-
-
- 2.4. Multiplayer game.
-
- CHASM supports network multiplayer games by using an IPX protocol
- with up to 8 players in one network game. To enable network CHASM
- you must load the IPX.COM driver provided by Novell, in addition to
- lower-level drivers required by your particular brand of network card.
-
- * To run Network CHASM you must select one machine (usually the
- fastest one) to work in SERVER mode.
-
- SERVER - the machine in network game that controls all game
- processes and pass culculated data to other computers
- (CLIENTs) in net.
- CLIENT - any computer in a network game except SERVER.
-
- * You must follow these steps to launch Network CHASM:
-
- 1. Load IPX driver on all the computers that will play.
- 2. Start CHASM by typing CHASM.EXE.
- 3. To start the Network Game enter "START" on the Console
- of the SERVER.
- 4. Other players can be connect to the SERVER at any time entering
- the command "JOIN" in the Console. To leave a Network game use
- the "BREAK" command in the Console.
- 5. A Network Game can be stopped by entering "BREAK" on the
- SERVER Console. It automatically disconnects all the CLIENTs.
-
- * The list of Console commands for a network game:
-
- START - start Network CHASM.
- JOIN - connect to a network game.
- BREAK - disconnect from a network & enter single player game.
-
- KILLP <#player> - (SERVER only) kill player number #player.
- KICK <#player> - (SERVER only) disconnect player number #player.
- NICK <name> - change nick name to <name>.
- CLIST - show active players list.
-
- AMMO <#player> - give ammo to specified player.
- WEAPON <#player> - give weapons to --//---
- INVISIBLE <#player> - make player invisible.
- SPLINE - (debug,CLIENT only) spline mode.
- SYNCHRO - (debug,CLIENT only) synchronise CLIENT's and SERVER's
- clocks.
-
-
-
- 2.5. Keyboard.
-
- The default keyboard settings in CHASM demo are:
-
- Toggle Control panel - <ESC>
- Change screen size - <+> / <->
- Toggle level map - <TAB>
- Scale map - < [ >/< ] >
- Movement - arrows
- Speed Up - < ` >
- Strafe on (Slide) - <Alt>
- Fire - <Ctrl>
- Use - <Space>
- Look Up - < A >
- Look Down - < Z >
- Center View - < S >
- Toggle cocpit - < C >
-
- * To change keyboard the settings use program KBSETUP.EXE.
-
-
-
- 2.6. Sound.
-
- The CHASM demo supports only SoundBlaster and SoundBlaster compatable
- cards, as described below:
-
- - SoundBlaster 1.0/2.0 in 8bit MONO mode, 4 channels;
- - SoundBlaster Pro/Pro2 in 8bit STEREO mode, 4 channels;
- - SB16/AWE32 in 16bit STEREO mode, 8 channels;
-
- You must set your BLASTER environment variable in your AUTOEXEC.BAT
- file in order for the CHASM sound code work properly, othervise
- your sound will not work.
-
- * Important notes:
-
- - Sound effects are not completely finished yet.
- - There is NO MUSIC in the CHASM demo.
-
-
- 2.7. Command-line options.
-
- You can use these options launching CHASM from DOS command-line:
-
- "-nosound" : disable sound code.
- "-warp <#level>" : warp to map level #level.
- "-nomonsters" : disable loading monsters.
- "-nomouse" : disable mouse control.
- "-freeze" : freeze all monsters.
- "-start" : start SERVER in Network CHASM.
- "-join" : join network game.
-
-
-
- ---------------------------------------
- 3. Troubleshooting & common problems.
- ---------------------------------------
-
-
- Using the default configuration and recommended platform you should
- have no problems running the CHASM demo.
-
- There are some notes you have to take into account:
-
- * The CHASM demo completely tested and found workable on the
- following models:
- - Packard Bell Pentium 100Mhz, 8Mb RAM, VESA 1Mb.
- - Packard Bell i486DX2 66hz, 8Mb RAM, VESA 1Mb.
- * CHASM demo has not been tested with MS Windows 3.x & MS Windows '95.
- * There can be some problems with sound if you're using
- SoundBlaster AWE32.
-
- Known problems :
- ------------------
-
- Q: I receive " Runtime error [#ERROR CODE] at [SEGMENT:OFFSET] ".
- A: If you receive this message, please save indicated address
- in form [#ERROR CODE] at [SEGMENT:OFFSET] and E-mail it to
- chasm@megamed.com
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
- THE CHASM Copyright (c) 1996 ACTION FORMS LTD.
- (c) 1996 Megamedia Corporation.
-
-
-