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- README file for Island Hopper game ... by PLBM Games
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- File Updated: June 1, 1998
-
-
- Registration information located at the bottom of this file.
-
- Cheat Mode is Alt-F3 (registered version only).
-
-
- System Requirements:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- This program requires an IBM PC or compatible with at least VGA.
-
- This program requires that you have more than approximately 500K
- of conventional memory available. If you have less memory the
- program will not function correctly.
-
- This program has been tested to run on a 386DX/33 but it is much
- smoother on a 486DX2/66 or faster, especially when there are a
- lot of different shapes being drawn on the screen at once.
-
- In general, faster systems will run the program more efficiently.
-
- If the game is running too slow, press F4 to toggle on and off
- frame dropping, which will improve performance on slower systems.
-
- If you encounter difficulty, email support is available at the
- following email address:
-
- support@plbm.com
-
-
- Sound Blaster Notes:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- This program contains routines to play digital sound on a Sound
- Blaster or compatible card. However, this program does NOT
- contain autodetection routines. This program relies upon the
- BLASTER= variable being set appropriately in your environment.
- If the BLASTER= variable is set incorrectly, the program may
- crash. If the BLASTER= variable is absent the program will
- NOT attempt to use Sound Blaster sound.
-
- Additionally you will need to have free EMS memory to hear
- all digital sounds (they're too big to fit in conventional
- memory). The sounds deemed "most important" to game play
- will be loaded into conventional memory on a first-come, first-
- served basis. To hear ALL sounds you will need enough EMS
- free to fit the file IHSFX.DBO. Check free EMS with the
- MEM command under DOS.
-
-
- Primary Controls:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Keyboard Controls:
- Cursor keys: up down left right: maneuver your aircraft
- Ctrl: fire weapon
- Space: execute an evasive loop upwards
- Mouse Controls:
- Motion: maneuver your aircraft
- Left button: fire weapon
- Right button: execute an evasive loop upwards
- Joystick Controls:
- Motion: maneuver your aircraft
- Button 1: fire weapon
- Button 2: execute an evasive loop upwards
-
- NOTE: holding down the fire key/button will rapid-fire your
- weapon but will result in a buildup of heat that will slow
- down the weapon's fire rate, possibly making it unreliable in
- combat.
-
- It is best to use an on-and-off technique to maximize fire
- rate while keeping down the internal heat of the gun, to
- prevent jamming. Each player's current gun temperature is
- displayed as a flashing horizontal line near the score at
- the top of the screen.
-
-
- Additional Keys:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- [P] - pause the game (press [P] or [Enter] to restart)
- [J] - activate joystick for menu control (only at main menu)
- [Ctrl-J] - calibrate joystick
- [F1] - Review this file (HELP)
- [F2] - Display high score chart
- [Alt-F3] - Cheat mode (registered version only)
- [F4] - Toggle frame dropping (for slower computers only)
- [F5] - Toggle sound on/off
- [F10] - Quit game, go to main menu
- [ESC] - Quit game, go to DOS
-
-
- Main Menu:
- ~~~~~~~~~~
- From the Main Menu you may press [Enter] or click the
- mouse to begin a new game. If you have a joystick connected
- to your system you may press 'J' to activate the joystick.
-
- If you have not purchased the complete set of Island Hopper
- episodes, there is also a button to allow you to view ordering
- information. Press PageDown to the bottom of this file for
- ordering information.
-
-
- Input Selection:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- The Input Selection screen allows you to select what input
- each player will use, as well as how many players (1 or 2)
- will be playing. Each player must have a unique input
- device selected from the following options:
-
- OFF (the player is not playing)
- Keyboard
- Joystick
- Mouse
-
- One-player games may only be played with Player #1.
-
-
- Episode Selection:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- The Episode Selection screen allows you to select and/or
- skip various episodes for the game you are about to play.
-
- You may select from one Episode to the number of Episodes
- that your version supports. Once you are playing you will
- play through ALL selected episodes before "recycling" and
- starting at the first episode (only it is much tougher the
- second and subsequent times through!).
-
- You must select AT LEAST ONE episode. If you have no
- episodes selected you will be returned to the Main Menu
- when you exit.
-
- The shareware version features Episode #1 (South Pacifica).
- Register to receive Episode #2 and #3, featuring new enemies,
- new terrain, and all-new fast-paced combat action. Press
- PageDown to the bottom of this file for ordering information.
-
-
- Difficulty Selection:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- The Difficulty Selection screen allows you to choose Training,
- Standard, Advanced or Elite modes of play. Training is the
- easiest mode of play, while Elite is the most difficult.
-
- If you complete all game levels on a given mode, you will restart
- at the beginning in the next higher mode.
-
- When your score is recorded in the high score chart, the starting
- mode of play will be prepended to whatever you type as a name.
-
- If you select any mode except Training, it will be offered as the
- default the next time you run Island Hopper.
-
-
- Episode Completion:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- When you have successfully completed an entire episode, you
- will be decorated appropriately and given a few moments of
- respite to rest your weary trigger finger.
-
- You may continue onwards like a true warrior, or else you
- can retire at this point and see if your score is eligible
- for the Island Hopper Hall of Fame.
-
- See the Episode Selection entry (above) for more information
- on selecting which episodes you will play.
-
- From this screen you also have the option of ordering additional
- episodes, if you have not already purchased the complete set.
-
-
- Attract Mode:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- If you leave the program at the Main Menu for some period of time,
- the "attract mode" will begin playing. This is just a demonstration
- of the game play and can be interrupted by pressing any key or
- clicking on the mouse buttons or joystick (if selected).
-
-
- Game Notes:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~
- Island Hopper is a tribute to the shooter classics of 1980 and
- early 1990. Those are the coolest games in the world and as
- such there should be as many of them available as possible!
-
- Island Hopper features a scrolling terrain with flying and
- ground- and water-based enemies that you must destroy and/or
- dodge in order to carry out your mission of destruction.
-
- Additionally there are hidden bonuses that can increase your
- firepower or give you additional bonus points at various parts
- in the game.
-
- For every 30,000 points that you accumulate, you will be
- awarded an additional "bonus" aircraft. When all your aircraft
- have been destroyed, it is Game Over!
-
- When it is Game Over you may have an additional chance to restart
- and continue from the point where you died. Your score will
- be reset at this point but you will not have to go all the way
- back to the beginning.
-
-
- Programming Notes:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Island Hopper is written entirely in Borland C++ with a few lines
- of assembly language, mostly for palette management.
-
- Due to licensing issues, the source code for Island Hoppper is NOT
- currently available for sale or release in any fashion. Sorry! :)
-
-
- Play Hints:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~
- Never sit still (at least not for long). Enemies aim directly
- for your aircraft and if it's within their range they will hit
- it every single time. Keep moving so they can't draw a bead.
- A circular pattern is often useful, keeping the enemies from
- being able to shoot you while affording you a good chance at
- hitting any enemy on the screen.
-
- Don't get too close to the edges of the screen, as sometimes a
- "surprise" enemy will appear and you will not have enough time
- to react.
-
-
- Trouble Shooting:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- If you are experiencing flicker on your screen during game play
- you can press F6 to toggle color palette cycling on and off.
-
- If you are experiencing game play that is too slow you can press
- F4 to toggle on and off frame-dropping.
-
- For email support please contact:
-
- support@plbm.com
-
-
- Internet Support:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Contact support@plbm.com for support via email. You may also check
- the following site(s) for upgrades:
-
- http://www.plbm.com
- ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/kw/kwd/games
-
-
- Ordering Information:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Island Hopper Episode 1 (South Pacifica) is shareware and may be
- distributed freely. The unregistered version plays the first five
- (5) missions of Episode 1.
-
- Episode 2 (The Aleutian Atolls) and Episode 3 (The Isles Of Peril)
- are each sold separately for $14.95, or may be purchased as a
- complete set for only $24.95.
-
- FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SPECIAL SALES, EPISODE 2 AND 3 ARE
- SEPARATE GAMES AND COUNT AS TWO GAMES.
-
- Domestic (USA) orders add $4.95 for shipping and handling.
- International orders: add $9.95 for shipping and handling.
-
- Mail Order to: PLBM Games e-mail: sales@plbm.com
- PO Box 10342 web: http://www.plbm.com
- Costa Mesa, CA 92627
-
- You may also call 1-800-909-5701 to order using your credit card.
-
- International orders call 1-612-924-3235 to order via credit card.
-
- Include your name, address, phone number and email to ensure rapid
- delivery.
-
- All orders are shipped on 3.5" 1.44mb floppy diskette.
- <EOF>
-