Forced Alliance Pilot Demo -------------------------- Welcome to the Forced Alliance Pilot Demo, DirectX 3.0 Download Version! This download contains a reduced version 1.1 of the Pilot Demo. All the cinematic sequences (events, walkthroughs, takeoffs) and many voice elements (the briefing) have been eliminated from this download version. There are three distinct demos available on CD-ROM -- Pilot, Commander, and Captain, highlighting features of the game. These demos contain voices, cinematics, and extended features. A complete set with DirectX 5.0 can be found at you local software dealer. Single demo copies of the Pilot, Commander, and Captain demos can be found within magazine demo discs. The minimum configuration for this demo is a 486DX 100Mhz machine with 16Meg RAM, sound card, mouse, Windows 95, and a 640x480 256-color graphics card. Be sure to look at the joystick settings when using a joystick. If you have a 3D Accelerator card with 4Meg+ memory, you should download the DirectX 5.0 version to take advantage of smooth-shaded, 16-bit graphics, and other cool effects. This document contains a complete list of flight commands, starting instructions and version notes. Starting the Demonstration -------------------------- Before starting the demonstration, you should make sure you have DirectX 3.0 installed. Should you get an Aptos/DirectX alert message at startup, you should definitely complete this step before continuing. Many websites provide copies of DirectX 3.0 and DirectX 5.0 (the newest) for installation. This downloadable version should have been unzipped with the -d option to create the subdirectory structure. Several subdirectories should have been created when you unzipped this file. An example to unzip this file is: pkunzip -d fademo31.zip The Forced Alliance demonstration requires no special installation. We have designed this demonstration specifically to run directly from the unzipped image. The game will create a few temporary files in the root of your C: drive that are removed immediately upon completion. The files are sequentially named starting with "rcg0001.jnk" and will not overwrite existing files of the same name. To start the demo, run "FADEMO.EXE". Pilot Walkaround ---------------- To save download time, we have eliminated all the cinematic and most voice elements from this demo. After some still logo images, you begin in the Ready Room of your carrier, the Lafayette. Commander Canon briefs you about the game and the upcoming mission. Once you have completed the briefing, you can begin the mission by selecting the launch door on the back wall of the room. But Wait! You can browse through several command screens of the interface. This is the Pilot Rank demo, so many operations will be unavailable to you. The operations will become available to you at higher ranks. The demo has been setup with your character as Pilot Kann, in the Alpha squadron. Find your character to set up your ship's ordinance. A few notes about settings. The joystick can be reconfigured with different buttons, a different response curve, and can even be reversed for those comfortable with "Up means Up". This DirectX 3.0 version only supports Quick-Rendering; no accelerator card features will appear. Landing at the End of a Mission ------------------------------- To land on a carrier, select Communications ('C'), then select the carrier's name. You will be taking off from the "Lafayette". Request permission to land, then fly to within 1500 meters, and you will land automatically. Flight Controls --------------- Here is a more complete list of flight commands. Joystick -- Up - Nose Down (can be reversed in the Options Menu) Down - Nose Up (can be reversed in the Options Menu) Left - Left Right - Right Holding down Button-2 while moving the stick can increase your speed or roll your vehicle. The speed can be alternately controlled with the throttle wheel when you set this in the Options Menu. The buttons are user-configurable, here are the defaults... B1 - Fire Guns B2 - Speed/Roll (with stick movement) B3 - Fire Missiles B4 - Afterburner Joysticks with Hats can be used to change cockpit views. The joystick can be reconfigured in the Options menu in the walkaround game section. You can - * Use the throttle wheel (overrides all other speed control) * Reverse the meaning of up so that "up really means up!" * Try out other response curves. * Configure the buttons. Keyboard -- A - Autopilot (takes you to the next waypoint) C - Communications (use this to get landing clearance at the end of the mission!) Tab - Afterburner E - Select Enemy Targets T - Select any Target G - Select Guns M - Select Missiles Space - Fire Guns Enter - Fire Missiles (HS"Heat Seek" and RG"Radar Guided" require target lock before firing) Z - Match Target Speed H - Toggles HUD L - Toggles Radar Lock (on target) D - Damage Display S - Shield Display W - Weapon Display Arrow Keys move ship Use Ctrl Key with Arrows to roll. F1-F8 - Cockpit Views , . - Change brightness of ships. Ctrl Q- Quit the inflight portion Ctrl R- Relaunch mission Ctrl A- Abort mission Where to find more information ------------------------------ The full game on 3 CD-Roms will be available late September 1997 for Windows 95. Contact your local software dealer or call RipCord Games at 1-888-797-5867. Updated information and demos can be found on the Internet at www.ripcordgames.com and www.orbitalsi.com. Report significant configuration issues to fatesting@orbitalsi.com Thanks for playing! - The Forced Alliance Team Forced Alliance (C)1997 Ripcord Games and Orbital Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Forced Alliance:The Glarious Mandate is a trademark of Orbital Studios, Inc. Ripcord Games is a trademark of Panasonic Interactive Media. Orbital Studios is a registered trademark of Orbital Studios, Inc. Distributed by Panasonic Interactive Media.