Game Head 1996 March

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Text File | 1995-09-28 | 17.1 KB | 450 lines

21-Sept-95 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ZONE RAIDERS Demo v1.14s >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> =========================================================== This demonstration program is copyright (c) 1995 Virgin Interactive Entertainment and copyright (c) 1994-1995 Image Space Incorporated. You may not disassemble, decompile or reverse engineer this demonstration program. This demonstration program is provided as is with no warranties of any kind expressed or implied. Virgin Interactive Entertainment and Image Space Incorporated will not, under any circumstances, be liable for any lost revenue or other consequential or incidental damages arising from the use of this demonstration program. =========================================================== Thanks for trying out this demonstration version of Zone Raiders. Although this is a work in progress, we wanted people like you to be the first to try this out. We don't think you will, but if you do run into technical problems know that they will be fixed in the retail version. ZONE RAIDERS COMPLETE RETAIL VERSION FEATURES -------------------------------------------------- 16 Different Tracks 8 Player IPX Network 4 Selectable Hovercars + 1 Secret Hovercar 8 Usable Weapons 25 Different Enemies REQUIREMENTS ----------------- The demo needs a 486DX2 or better PC, 50 MHz or greater, with approx 7 MB free XMS RAM and VGA graphics. A math coprocessor is REQUIRED. A 486SX, 486SX/2, Nx586, or similar chip will not work. If you have a 486-compatible CPU without a floating-point coprocessor, then Zone Raiders is the best reason yet to get a DX2, DX4, or Pentium upgrade. If the demo cannot detect a coprocessor, it will not execute. INSTALLATION ----------------- Install the demo to your hard disk by typing 'install' and following the program prompts. Once the game is installed you can configure your sound card. For subsequent sound card changes, type 'setsound', which is in the game root directory. Most any sound card will work. A low memory GUS may cause the game to hesitate at times. ZONE RAIDERS TECH PROBLEMS ------------------------------ Most problems encountered in running ZR are probably due to insufficient memory available. Zone Raiders requires about 6.5 MB of free XMS memory (according to the DOS command 'mem /c /p'). If insufficient XMS memory is available, try to free more memory by doing the following: /***********************************************************/ /* */ /* NOTE: Always make backup copies of config.sys and */ /* autoexec.bat before attempting any modifications. */ /* */ /***********************************************************/ - try reducing the amount of SmartDrive cache memory to 512K (or 256K in extreme cases). We do NOT recommend that SmartDrive be disabled, as it will significantly increase disk loading times. Alter your SmartDrive entry in autoexec.bat to read: lh c:\dos\smartdrv.exe 512 or lh c:\dos\smartdrv.exe 256 - if you are using a RAM disk, turn it off completely. If you have any other problems, please call the tech support number below. CONTROL DEVICES -------------------- The following control devices are supported, according to type: Standard Joystick Type: ---------------------- one or two regular joysticks, Flight Stick Pro Type: --------------------- Flight Stick, Flight Stick Pro, Virtual Pilot Pro, Virtual Pedals Thrustmaster Type: ----------------- Thrustmaster FCS, Thrustmaster PFCS, Wingman Extreme Most other control devices will work as well, just select the type most appropriate. Go to the CONTROLS option screen to fully configure a device. IF YOU NEED ZONE RAIDERS INFO ---------------------------------- If you would like to preorder or ask questions about Zone Raiders use the following numbers. Please call customer service/technical support to if you need help getting ZR to work correctly. Pre-Order 1-800-874-4607 (Credit Cards accepted) Fax PreOrder 1-619-530-2225 International Pre-Order 1-619-490-9234 Alternate order line 1-619-693-1200 Customer Service/ 1-714-833-1999 Technical Support Customer Service Fax 1-714-833-2001 Virgin BBS 1-714-833-3305 You may also write to us if you need hints or have any technical questions: RE: Hint Request Virgin Interactive Entertainment 18061 Fitch Ave. Irvine, CA 92714 Make sure you include: Product name, type of computer you own, amount & config of memory, any additional info that you think may help us better understand your request, type of operating system or DOS version number & a detailed description of the problem. ZONE RAIDERS E-MAIL ADDRESS -------------------------------- Have a comment? Find any bugs in Zone Raiders? You can make any ZR suggestions to the following E-Mail address: zone_raiders@vie.com VIRGIN WEB SIGHT --------------------- You can log onto our Web sight at the following address: http://www.vie.com If you would like to give us any comments on Zone Raiders please use the following E-Mail address: zone_raiders@vie.com GAME MUSIC -------------- Members of Virgin Studios Audio Department are also part of the band CONTAGION. If you like the music in the game, drop a letter to CONTAGION at: CONTAGION PO Box 91114 Long Beach, CA 90809-1114 INTERNET GAME TESTERS ------------------------- Special thanks to all the people who game tested for us. Jon Somodi Matt Chan Larry Blackburn Justin Ratcliff Christopher Parvin Philip Langdale Russell Webb Robert Thompson Vito ...and everyone else who forgot to send their real names. GAME PLAY -------------- The demo highlights driving on the Power Grid track. We recommend that you use a joystick but the keyboard can be used also. Your vehicle (a seriously modified antique) is equipped with a hoverplate and omnithruster, allowing for dangerously high speeds and neck-snapping maneuverability. An inertial mass brake is also available for those (rare) times when slowing down seems appropriate. Occasional use of brakes (hah!) and reverse thrust allows for more control to get through the track faster. Totally reckless driving (recommended) will sometimes result in a quick death. Restarts are automatic. To start the Zone Raiders demo, type "raid". The following options are supported: '-s' : disable sound and music '-m' : disable music only (for 512K GUS users) DIFFICULTY LEVELS ---------------------- There are 3 difficulty levels in this shareware Zone Raiders demo. The default level is the Rookie mode. The other 2 include the Veteran and the Raider modes. The major difference is the reaction that the player car has when it gets hit by a weapon. In the Rookie mode the reaction is minimal while in the Raider mode it is exaggerated. There is also a Recon mode which allows the player to drive around the track with no enemies or The Guardian activated. We like to call this mode the Sudden Death mode when playing in Network competition. DRIVING ------------ Joystick - The best way to drive. Forward for forward thrust, backward for reverse thrust. Sideways will spin sharply at low speeds, and turn normally at cruising speed. The joystick is calibrated only the first time the demo is run. Keyboard - Up/down arrows for thrust, left/right arrows for steering. Multiple keys may be pressed simultaneously (on older keyboards, use the numeric keypad for multiple keypresses.) Brakes override all thrust, and are very useful for slowing down. Key Function -------- ------------- * joystick forward/backward forward/reverse thrust * up/down arrow forward/reverse thrust * joystick left/right left/right steering * left/right arrow left/right steering * z key slide left * c key slide right * w key brake esc quit F1 window smaller F2 window larger F3 toggle dash F4 toggle mirror F5 back plane near/far F6 detail hi/low F7 sky on/off F8 recalibrate joystick F9 save game to RAM F10 restore game from RAM F12 snap screen to a .PCX * space bar fire weapon * m key display automap (m or esc to exit) 1 choose laser 3 choose plasma gun 5 choose grenades v key toggle V-Locator ping on/off Outside view ----------------- enter key toggle outside, inside views delete, page dn swing about vehicle home, end pitch about vehicle insert, page up zoom in and out from vehicle Don't forget to explore the option screen menus to change any settings and keyboard controls (marked with a * above) you may prefer. ZONE RAIDERS FAQ'S --------------------------------------------------------- * Questions apply to the shareware version only: The Power Grid What is the overall story plot? ----------------------------------- Zone Raiders takes place in a nuclear ravaged world where the only hope is you. You will be fighting against an oppressive dictatorship called ECO (Ecological Containment Organization) that is trying to keep you under it's thumb. What's the goal in this demo? ---------------------------------- To collect the 2 pieces of the Atomic Power Coupling (APC) and then exit the level. In RECON mode, try beating our best time of 2:10. How do I find the APC pieces? ---------------------------------- Follow your V-Locator which is the green radar type device on the dashboard. When the line is pointed up then you are headed in the correct direction. The V-Locator will point toward piece #1 but is possible to find piece #2 first. If that happens then you got lucky. The V-Locator will also beep faster the closer you get. The "v" key toggles the sound. How do I find the exit? ---------------------------- Use the V-Locator also. After you've picked up both APC pieces then it will point toward the exit. You can't exit until you've picked up both pieces. What's the V-Locator? -------------------------- As was stated above, the V-Locator points the player in the correct direction. If it's pointed up then you're going toward a piece or the exit. What about the Guardian? ----------------------------- The Guardian is the Master Protector of all the cities, including the Power Grid. You'll notice a green timer on your dash. When that counts to zero then The Guardian is on it's way so you'd better move fast. It's equipped with some mean weapons, so watch out. How do I keep The Guardian from coming out? ------------------------------------------------ You'll notice some devices on the sides of track walls that look like kiosks. Those are called sensors. You'll also notice that if you blow one up then your green "count down timer" stops. If you go a little ways further down the track then it will begin to count down again. This is because ECO has planted these to warn the Guardian of intruders. If you're within sensor range then that means The Guardian is getting ready to come find you. If a sensor is destroyed ECO can no longer track anyone in that sensor range. The point is: BLOW UP THE SENSORS TO KEEP THE GUARDIAN FROM COMING TO GET YOU. And the best part is? The phone company collects the money for you! What do the power ups do for me? ------------------------------------- There are many power ups in the game. Some just add to your weapon ammo stockpile while others perform other functions. Here's a quick run down... Jet Pack Power Up: This will boost the thrust of the player for a few seconds. Shield Power Up: This will increase the player's shield by 25% of full capacity. Super Shield Power Up: This will increase the player's shield back up to 100% Hull Repair Power Up: This fixes damage to the hull of the hovercar. Plasma Ammo Power Up: This gives you a weapon more powerful than the default laser. Grenade Power Up: This gives you the most powerful weapon available to you. The longer you hold down the space bar/joystick button, then the higher and farther the grenades will go. What's this about Hull Damage? ----------------------------------- On the dashboard of your hovercar you'll notice a long yellow line that turns to red on the left. This is your shield/hull indicator. The yellow part represents your shield while the red represents your hull. When the red is completely gone, then the gamer has been exterminated. The tricky part is that you could have one hull increment left, then pick up a Super Shield and have 100% shield again. All the while your hull damage is still severe. The shield power ups DO NOT fix hull damage. You need a Hull Repair power up for that. What about Network Play? ----------------------------- There are two forms of Network play available in this version. One is the cooperative which can be played on any difficulty setting. The other is the Sudden Death Mode which is accessed when the Game Leader chooses Recon Mode. The Recon Mode is also located in the Options Screen under Difficulty settings and it deactivates all ECO enemies. At this time only one network game is possible at the same time. What do the Dashboard Icons mean? -------------------------------------- There are quite a few dashboard indicators that can be used by the player. The vertical yellow line on the right side of the screen indicates the amount of ammo you have. When it's empty, you need to get more. The laser is endlessly full while the other two weapons run dry the more you fire them. You may also notice a green points icon. This will determine how you access new cars in the full retail version. The more points you get, the faster you gain new hovercars. This is not, however, implemented in this version. The Grenade Launcher has a small red bar underneath the monitor. This indicates the distance that it will shoot. What about secrets? ------------------------ Even in this shareware version there are secrets. Just remember, if you think you can't drive somewhere, you're probably wrong. If I really enjoy this Shareware Demo, who should I thank? --------------------------------------------------------------- Send your spirit of Shareware "THANKS" to: Image Space Incorporated c\o Java Fund 206 South Main Street, Suite 206 Ann Arbor MI 48104 USA ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 1995 Virgin Interactive Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Copyright (c) 1994-1995 Image Space Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. -----------------------------------------------------------------------