APDL Public Domain 2/APDL_PD2A.iso/demos/demo_1/digaurora/!DigAurora/!Help

Text File | 1992-09-22 | 7.9 KB | 148 lines

DIGITAL AURORA HELP FILE   (v1.000000001)
________________________

   As with New Dawn, I slipped up a bit on the memory allocations and over
ran the 2 megs limit slightly on this demo. Fortunately Tom tested it out
for us and noticed the problem. I have therefore modified this version to
work on a 2 meg computer. (basically I lopped the top part off of EXEL's
intro anim - you don't see any difference!). Thanks to Tom for spotting my
error.

   If you've got an ARM3, turn it off (or if you've got an A5000 press f12 and type cache off and press return) before loading the demo.

   The software on this disk is public domain and may be distributed freely,
as long as no part of it is altered in any way. We retain the copyright on
all our files however, and no parts of this demo may be used separately from
it. This demo may not be sold commercialy. This demo is not intended to be
an advert for Clare's Illusionist package, but if Clare's want to think of
it that way, I would appreciate it if they sent me lots of money in return.

   If you run a PD library and want to distribute this, please get in touch,
and send me your catalogue disk first. That way, I can supply you with the
rest of our demos, as well as upgrades etc. Thanks. (NOTE - At the moment I
only give free plugs to the DATAFILE, but this is mainly because I have not
been in touch with any other libraries (if Dave is reading this, I only plug
the Datafile because its a great library, as well!!!)


   This demo is QUANTUM's first foray into the world of computer-rendered
graphics, and basically shows the pictures that COBRA created in the first
couple of weeks of using Illusionist.

   Originally intended to be part of QUANTUM's new Megademo, which will be
out soon, Digital Aurora was created, when the size of the Megademo became
apparent (and the number of disks it would have taken). The mode 15 graphics
and music take up about 2.5 megs, so you can see why this demo has been
compacted. If you've got enough memory (4megs, or possibly 2) then copy this
demo to the ram disk, and run it uncompacted from there (its a lot faster).

   If you've got an ARM3, then turn it off for this demo.

   If you've got less than 2megs of memory then get an upgrade, cos with the
current upgrade prices, you must be either very sad or very poor not to have
2 or more megs memory. Why am I so harsh on the subject of unexpanded
Archie's? Well try writing a demo that will work on a one meg machine - its
a lot of hassle.

   If you don't know anything about the four members of QUANTUM (COBRA,
EXEL, TOM COOPER and NARC) then you obviously haven't seen any of our other
demos. If not, keep a look out for TimeZone, Digital, New Dawn mag, F18
Hornet (shareware game) and all of Tom's PD games like Gyrinus II. All our
stuff is always available from the Datafile PD, and may even be available
from other PD libraries.

   QUANTUM are at this very moment working on a new arcade game (as well as
a couple of other projects that I have to keep secret right now). It will be
written by COBRA, with the ray traced graphics, and sound effects by EXEL.
Also look out for the amazing vector graphics section!

   We basically have at least four different games on the go (not to mention
demos!) and we need some extra help on the graphics side. If you're any good
with a art package (or a ray tracer) then get in touch now. All your
contributions to our games will be worth a cut of the profits (negotiable
with me). Write to me at the address below.


F18 Hornet
__________

   There seems to have been some confusion about QUANTUM's F18 Hornet game,
so I've written this special textfile for Dave of the Datafile, to add to
the F18 disk, and am also distributing it around the latest demos, so I can
get it to as many people as possible.

   Firstly and most importantly, I want to make it perfectly clear that if
you possess a copy of the demo version of F18 Hornet (available from the
Datafile) you can play the training mission, AND mission 2.

   The training mission is fairly basic, and is aimed at complete novices,
who have not used a flight sim before. The landscape is basic, because its
in the Nevada desert where USAF pilots train.

   Mission 2 is a much more detailed mission in which you can take part in
proper combat etc. It is possible to play mission 2 without completing the
training mission. To play mission 2, load the game and select the play
mission option from the main menu (I think thats what its called anyway).
Choose mission 2 from the next menu that appears, and then you can look at
the recce info, and then select fly mission (or go to plane  -  I haven't
looked at F18 for quite a while). You should then be able to play Mission 2.

   Mission 2 gives a good idea of what the other missions are like (the
training mission is basically the odd one out, and is no way near as good to
play as them. The full game which is available from me for £5 (I put the
price down) contains seven missions, with the final mission taking up a
whole disk! This is a complete game in its own right, and would take any
flight sim freak a long time to complete. This mission is well detailed!

   Finally, I understand that several people have been in contact with Dave
(of the DATAFILE PD), who have not liked F18 too much. I think this may be
because you have not seen mission 2, so please, follow the description above
and enjoy the game. To be perfectly honest, F18 is a lot better than
TimeZone! If you have any comments about the game, then please get in touch
with me (address in the readme file). I really want users of our games to
get in touch, so I can find out what you want our games to be like, and so I
can correct any bugs or errors in the game. An area which I find
particularly hard to set, is the difficulty of the games. I obviously play
flight sims a hell of a lot, and tend to be able to fly most planes quite
well. This means that the missions I write are often quite hard, but are
they too hard or are they just right? Another thing is the manouvreability
of the planes. Personally, I hate anything that can't pull over 10g on a
steep turn, but is this going to far for novice pilots? Please get in touch
and tell me.

   Even if you just write to me to tell me an idea for a good scenario for a
new game or give any input to any aspect of my software at all, I'd be
grateful for you help. I will answer ALL letters, if return postage is
included (if you send a disk + return postage+packing you'll get a copy of
New Dawn back).


   The PD demo version of F18 Hornet is available from the Datafile, and the
full version can be obtained by sending £5 to the address above (cheques
only please, and made payable to Paul Wheatley).

   If you're a fan of QUANTUM's flight sims, look out for a mega simulator
which Software 42 will be marketing for us. The game will be designed by
COBRA and Nick van der Walle of Astute Graphics, so its gonna be pretty
good.


Good flying (and remember to get in touch)

COBRA

P.S.  QUANTUM is a fairly open group which likes to work with other people
or other demo crews. Since its creation, just over half a year ago, QUANTUM
has gone from being a two man show with no contacts, to being a four man
crew which knows many people throughout the Acorn (and Amiga) world. If you
would like to join QUANTUM or simply work with us on a demo or commercial
game, then get in touch at the above address. Each member of QUANTUM has his
own area of expertise and we'd all be glad to help out in any way we can
with other peoples software projects. The only conditions are full credits
to the authors in demos (and a plug for New Dawn!!!) and a cut of the
profits for commercial software. EXEL has already produced music for many
other people and companies (eg. Oregon, Software 42 etc...) and so if you
like any music in any of our demos, don't rip it, just get in touch and EXEL
will produce some brand new music just for you (tell us what style and how
much disk space it can take up - if you don't give EXEL a limit, you'll need
a whole disk for the music!!!). See Ya.