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Text File | 1994-02-16 | 20KB | 511 lines

Welcome to Patriot Command! Copyright (c) 1992-93 Timber Valley Software P.O. Box 80301 Portland, OR 97280-1301 CompuServe: 73073,2304 Table Of Contents Section 1.................Getting Started Section 2....................Instructions Section 3...........Command Line Switches Section 4........................Ordering Section 5...................List Of Files Section 6................Shareware Notice Section 7........Contacting Timber Valley ******* **** FLASH **** ******* Now you can register Patriot Command through CompuServe. The shareware registration number is 1553. For details, see Section 4, Ordering. --------- Section 1.................Getting Started --------- Patriot Command is distributed on one or two disks in a zipped format. Merely copy all the files from each disk to a directory on your harddrive. Then type UNZIP. This will unpack all the Patriot Command files and then cleanup the directory by removing unneeded files. To run Patriot Command, type "PATDEMO" for the Unregistered Shareware version or type "PATCOM" for the registered version of the game. Here are step-by-step installation instructions. For these instructions, we'll use the example of installing from two 5.25 inch floppies on the A drive to the harddisk, the C drive. Step 1: Create a directory on your harddrive for Patriot Command. Change to desired harddrive, move to the root directory, create the new directory, then move into the new directory. Type: C: CD \ MKDIR PATCOM CD PATCOM Step 2: Copy files to the new PATCOM directory. For each disk, insert the disk into the appropriate floppy drive, then copy all the files to the PATCOM directory. Insert Disk #1 into drive A Type: COPY A:*.* Insert each disk and copy all the contents. You may only have one disk. Step 3: Unzip the packed files and clean up the new directory by deleting files not needed to run Patriot Command. Type: UNZIP This batch file will automatically unzip all the files necessary to run Patriot Command and then will delete the zipped versions and the unzipping utility. All the files are installed into a single directory. Step 4: Run your new game! For unregistered shareware versions: Type: PATDEMO For registered versions: Type: PATCOM Note: While running Patriot Command, you can press the <F1> Function Key or the <ESC> Escape Key to get the menu bar to appear at the top of the screen. This is a good way to pause the action. To use the menu bar, press down on the right mouse button, hold the button and slide it over the menu bar. Popdown selections will appear. Continue holding down the mouse button and slide down the selections. To make a selection, highlight the selection and then release the mouse button. Another Note: Some shareware vendors may have their own installation process. Refer to other text files on this disk if you did not attain Patriot Command directly from Timber Valley Software. --------- Section 2....................Instructions --------- Patriot Command is a fast-paced war game where you are in charge of an air defense system. Your job is to protect potential ground targets from air bombardment by targeting and launching ground-to-air missiles. Missiles explode near falling bombs and other ordinance - the blast and shock of the explosion destroys the in- coming threat. Bombs fall from orbit or are dropped from delivery vehicles such as F-14s, Mirages, F-117s, and helicopters. They will try to impact your cities and missile bases. Once all of your cities and other ground targets have been destroyed, you lose the attack and the game is over. Targeting of ground-to-air missiles is done by moving the target designator (the red cross) around the screen with the mouse. To launch a missile, press one of the mouse buttons. Each button corresponds to a different missile base. A small blue cross will mark the point of missile detonation. The trick is to time the detonation so the resulting blast will destroy the incoming threat. Delivery vehicles can also be destroyed but they can take several hits and tend to dodge launched missiles. Watch out for "stealth bombs" dropped by delivery vehicles. These stealth bombs are difficult to see, difficult to kill, and often times require more than one hit to neutralize it. As launch commander, bear in mind that you have a limited amount of missiles and once all ground targets have been destroyed, you are most likely to be reassigned to Barrow, Alaska. But as time goes by (really, as points are accumu- lated), cities will rebuild which offers you continued opportunity to prove your prowess under heavy battle situations. Just a few reminders from your training: First, to get command line switch info, type this at the DOS prompt: C:> PATCOM /HELP If the battle seems to slow down (or your battlefield computers run too slow), there are several things you can do to keep the speed up. The blast shape can be changed from the default Circle Blast to the quicker Square Blast. The Debris option can be set to OFF from the Blast Shapes popup menu. The Use Symbolic Bombers option can be set to ON from the Patriot Command popup menu. After that, you will have to make an emergency wartime funding request for faster battlefield computers. Assuming that attacks will occur around the clock, multiple launch commanders can be accommodated by a registered version of Patriot Command. Add launch commanders (multiple players) from the Add Player option under the Players popup menu. A commander can be removed from the battlefield at any time. A commander can also be re-instated at any point during the game by skipping to that commander by using the Skip Player option from the Players popup menu. Each commander plays (typically) for 5 minutes and then the next commander will get a turn. This time length can be changed from the Time Per Player option of the Patriot Command popup menu. Important to recall, but not recommended for use, is the Panic Launch mode. A panic launch can be signaled by pressing the Space Bar. Also recall the enormous amounts of paperwork required after using the panic launch mode... Latest intelligence reports: A ground target will be rebuilt after each 10,000 points. Ground targets can be stocked up if not used. For registered copies of Patriot Command, a commander's skill level will increase each 100,000 points since his last skill increase. For higher skill levels you can expect more bombs, faster bomb drops, bombers coming in low using nap-of-the-earth approaches, jink quicker, and in the Totally Insane Level, a skilled commander will face 5 bombers simultaneously! Skill levels can be adjusted from the Skill Level popup menu. Field reports indicate that as skill level increases, the velocity and number of bombs increases. Delivery vehicle's velocity, number, and aggressiveness (lower drop altitude) all go up quickly as skill level increases. An optional playing mode, use of the theoretical Unlimited Missiles, can be used. But launch of a missile costs points and battlefield results are somewhat inconclusive. But there is a degree of training value using the unlimited mode (found under the Patriot Command popup menu). Backgrounds can be changed or turned off at anytime. Additional backgrounds, ground targets, and delivery vehicles can be ordered from Timber Valley Software. Check out the Read Me popup menu for info on how to order backgrounds and other Timber Valley Software games. Lastly, a commander or a Patriot Command defense group can surrender (or Quit) by typing 'Q' during active play or when the menu bar is displayed. --------- Section 3...........Command Line Switches --------- Patriot Command has a few DOS Command Line Switches that you can use to change some features of the game. To get the information below, type "PATDEMO ?". /HELP or ? Patriot Command hardware requirements: 2 or 3 button mouse. AT compatible (Any of 80286, 80386, 80486, Pentium). VGA graphics card. 640K convention memory. Expanded memory optional but recommended. Mouse button switches: /BUTTONS=2 /BUTTONS=3 Some mouse drivers incorrectly report the number of actual buttons on the mouse. Using this switch you can specify how many missile bases are tied to the mouse. Expanded memory switches: /NOEMS Using this switch will forego the use of Expanded Memory even though it may be available. Alternate directory switches: /DATA=directory_path This switch can be used to specify a directory where the optional data files used by Patriot Command are located (if other than the current directory). Optional data files have the following file name extentions: .LTR, .RTL, .AST, and .BKG Example use of command line switches: PATDEMO /BUTTONS=2 /NOEMS This will start up Patriot Command with two missile bases and prevent the use of Expanded Memory. --------- Section 4........................Ordering --------- Additional backgrounds, ground targets, and bombers can be ordered from Timber Valley Software by writing to: Timber Valley Software Ordering Department P.O. Box 80301 Portland, OR 97280-1301 The "Order Form" menu option can be used to order additional backgrounds, ground targets, and bombers as well as other computer games. You can also printout the ORDRFORM.TXT file and handwrite your order. Addition backgrounds available include: Space Backgrounds features high resolution images of the US Space program from Project Mercury, Gemini, the Apollo moon landings, and the Space Shuttle. Gulf War Backgrounds include images from the recent conflict in and near the Iraqi desert. Grizzly... World War II Backgrounds will remind through startling photos about the scope and destructiveness of WWII. Scenic Backgrounds offer quality images that contrast the destructive nature of nuclear devastation. Famous City Backgrounds places you around the world to defend populations from various nations. Assorted Ground Targets/Bombers is a package of high- tech delivery vehicles as well as additional ground targets to protect, such as houses, political leaders, etc. You decide what to protect...and watch out for the Stork Delivery System. - - - - - * Please make payment in U.S. Dollars * Checks from foreign countries must be drawn on a U.S. Bank. Make checks payable to: Timber Valley Software - - - - - CompuServe members can now order Patriot Command through CompuServe's Shareware Registration. Patriot Command's Registration ID number is 1553. When you register Patriot Command through CompuServe, you will enter your name and mailing address which will be forwarded to Timber Valley Software. CompuServe will charge your account the $20.00 registration fee automatically. Then Timber Valley Software will mail you a new registered copy of Patriot Command. It's that simple. Here are few steps to help you registered through CompuServe. A. Starting at the Top Menu, enter the (11) Computer/Technology section. B. From the Computer/Technology Menu, enter the (6) Shareware Registration section. This will take you out of Basic Services. C. From the Shareware Registration Menu, choose the (2) Register Shareware options. Read the shareware notice presented by CompuServe. D. You will be presented with a choice of program identification methods. Choose the (1) Registration ID option. E. Enter: 1553 F. CompuServe will then show you a description of Patriot Command. Verify that you have identified the correct program. G. CompuServe will then ask you "Would you like to Register?" Type 'Y' for 'yes'. H. CompuServe will then prompt you for your name, company name, mailing address, and phone number. Enter this information carefully. I. CompuServe will then verify that you have entered all of your information correctly and that you would still like to register. Answer yes and your new registered version of Patriot Command will arrive in the U.S. Mail. J. Then type 'T' or 'BYE' to return to Basic Services. --------- Section 5...................List Of Files --------- README.TXT This text file which describes how to install Patriot Command, instructions for the game, describes command line switches, lists files, the shareware message, and how to contact Timber Valley Software. ORDRFORM.TXT This text file is a blank order form that can be printed on any printer, filled out, and mailed to Timber Valley Software to register Patriot Command and to purchase additional backgrounds for Patriot Command. VENDORS.TXT This text file contains information for shareware vendors, BBS manager, etc that wish to distribute Patriot Command. PATCOM.EXE This is the registered version of Patriot Command. PATDEMO.EXE This is the unregistered shareware version of Patriot Command. CITY.BKG These are backgrounds used by Patriot Command. KNIGHT.BKG The backgrounds will change every few minutes OILFIELD.BKG between rounds. These files are supplied with UNKNOWN.BKG the registered and unregistered shareware versions of Patriot Command. They are optional, one background is included with the executable. DINO.AST These are Patriot Command ground target images GONEWIND.AST (assets) that you are protecting from nuclear HUSSIEN.AST destruction. These files are supplied with the NUKESITE.AST registered and unregistered shareware versions LIBERTY.AST of Patriot Command. They are optional while other assets are built into the executable. AIRBRASL.LTR These are image files of bombers that fly F-16.LTR across the screen and release bombs and MIG-31.LTR stealth bombs. These files are supplied with SCRAMJET.LTR the registered and unregistered shareware SHUTTLE.LTR versions of Patriot Command. They are also SR-71.LTR option while some bombers are built into V-22.LTR the executable. AIRBRASL.RTL F-16.RTL MIG-31.RTL SCRAMJET.RTL SHUTTLE.RTL SR-71.RTL V-22.RTL --------- Section 6................Shareware Notice --------- "Shareware" is computer software written by creative individuals or groups that do not charge for or sell their programs in the normal sense. "Shareware" is meant to be copied and shared with other computer users, and Timber Valley Software would like you to do the same with this Patriot Command shareware program. "Shareware" writers are not directly paid for their efforts and rely on computer users (like you) to "register" their "shareware" for a minimal appreciation fee. If you enjoyed the challenge of this game, please order a "registered" (non-shareware version) of Patriot Command. You can print a computerized order form from the "Order Form" menu option. We are asking for a $20.00 registration fee. Patriot Command, additional backgrounds, and MiniHEX plus other software are available from Timber Valley Software. -- And more coming soon!! * Vendors should read the VENDORS.TXT file to learn about attaining permission for distributing Patriot Command. --------- Section 7........Contacting Timber Valley --------- Getting in contact with Timber Valley Software is very easy. Just write to the department and address given below that is appropriate for your needs. In all cases, allow 2-4 weeks for a response. In all correspondence, include your name, company name, full address, a phone number (optional), the product name, a serial number and version number, and if you have either, a CompuServe or Internet E-mail address. Customer orders, write to: Timber Valley Software Ordering Department P.O. Box 80301 Portland, OR 97280-1301 Vendors, inquiries, et al, write to: Timber Valley Software Marketing Department P.O. Box 80301 Portland, OR 97280-1301 Customer support, write to: Timber Valley Software Customer Support P.O. Box 80301 Portland, OR 97280-1301 CompuServe: 73073,2304 Customer support is available only to verified owners of "registered" Timber Valley Software products. The serial number of the registered product is required.