PC/CD Gamer UK 46/PCGAMER46.bin/Games/ASSAULT/ROOT/README.TXT

Text File | 1997-05-12 | 19KB | 749 lines

Welcome to the demo version of
       EXTREME ASSAULT!

      (C) Blue Byte 1997


-------------------------------------
    VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

      To: MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS

While Blue Byte invite individuals to
make use of this demo, any magazines
wishing to include the demo on their
own publication as a promotion may
ONLY do so having FIRST attained
written permission from:

for UK Territories
Matt Broughton - PR Manager
[e-mail]

for USA/Canada
Samantha Flint - PR Manager
[e-mail]

Blue Byte will pursue any violations
of this to the fullest extent the law
allows.

Thanks for your co-operation.
Blue Byte Software
-------------------------------------



Table of Contents
 1. What's in the Demo
 2. Minimum Configuration
 3. Recommended Configuration
 4. Installation under MS-DOS
 5. Installation under Windows 95
 6. Running the Installation Program
 7. Setup Sound
 8. Additional Information
 9. Starting Extreme Assault under
    MS-DOS
10. Starting Extreme Assault under
    Windows 95
11. Key Assignments
12. Playing Extreme Assault
13. The Sound Setup
14. Resolution Setup
15. Graphic Detail Level
16. Controls Setup
17. The Cockpit
18. Confronting the Enemy
19. Contacting Blue Byte


1. What's in the Demo

In this demo version of EXTREME
ASSAULT, you'll fly the Sioux AH-23
through the first part of Operation
Zones One and Two.  You'll
experience breathtaking real-time 3D
graphics that flow smoothly without
the need for any expensive graphics
accelerator cards.  Check out the
awesome visual effects like fog,
transparent laser barriers, and
scorch marks left on the terrain
from your gun blasts.

The action is fierce, so be sure you
don't miss the bonuses that re-
energize your shield and replenish
your ammunition. In this demo, your
helicopter has very powerful weapons
systems, but there will be more
available in the final version.

Also missing in this demo, is the
T1. It's a powerful high-tech
battle tank you'll command in later
Operation Zones. There are many
more features that are found only in
the final version including: unique
multi-player levels, rockin' CD
audio tracks and additional types of
cunning opponents.

TIP:  If you have any technical
difficulties or questions about
EXTREME ASSAULT, call our technical
support line at:
  [phone], between 2:00 PM
  and 6 PM UK Time.
For the quickest results, make sure
to write down your hardware system
information including: processor type
and speed, installed sound cards,
graphics cards, main memory and any
additional hardware like an
AVI-Accelerator. Software
information is also helpful, in case
we need to analyze driver problems.


2. Minimum Configuration

PC CD-ROM
Pentium 90
VESA-compatible graphics card
PCI-Bus
16 MB memory
MS-DOS version 5.0 or Windows 95


3. Recommended Configuration

Pentium 133
PCI-Bus
16 MB memory
Sound Card
Joystick


4. Installation under MS-DOS

1. Turn on your computer and insert
the EXTREME ASSAULT CD into your CD-
ROM drive.

2. At the end of the boot sequence
switch to the CD-ROM drive.  At
the DOS  prompt, type the letter
of your CD-ROM followed by a
colon and then press [RETURN].
For example:  D: [RETURN]

3. Type "Install" and then press
[RETURN]. You will now see the
start menu for the installation
program.

4. Follow the instructions in
Section 6 entitled "Running the
Installation Program".


 5. Installation under Windows 95

1. Turn on your computer and insert
the EXTREME ASSAULT CD into your CD-
ROM drive

2. Use the Windows Explorer to
change to the EXTREME ASSAULT
directory.  Double click on
"INSTALL.BAT" to start the
installation.

3. Follow the instructions in the
section entitled "Running the
Installation Program".

Note:  Please make sure that your
sound card is installed correctly
under Windows 95. For information
and guidance please see the On-Line-
Help from Windows 95.


6. Running the Installation Program

1. Click on "Install Extreme
Assault" to start the
installation.

2. Select the drive where you'd like
EXTREME ASSAULT to be installed.
The program shows you the drives
where enough hard drive space is
available.

3. Choose the directory in which
EXTREME ASSAULT is to be installed.
You can accept the directory
shown or pick your own. Confirm
your choice with [RETURN]. The
game files will now be copied
onto your hard disk.

4. You will then see a Setup Menu
with the following choices:
    Setup sound
  Additional information
    Quit program

Please note there may also be a
menu option here to START the game
demo. Please do not use this; rather
you should follow the instructions
later on in this readme for Starting
Extreme Assault manually.


7. Setup Sound

1. From the Setup Menu click on
"Setup Sound".

2. If you have a sound card, confirm
the prompt  "Select and configure
midi music driver" with [ENTER],
then proceed to number 3 below.
If you don't have a sound card,
choose "No MIDI music" and "No
digital audio" and proceed to
number 6 below.

3. You are now presented with a list
of common sound cards. Choose
the sound card that is installed
in your PC. If your particular
sound card is not listed, select
"Creative Labs Soundblaster or
100% compatible".
This selection works for the
majority of sound cards and
probably for yours as well.

4. The next prompt will ask you
"Attempt to configure sound
driver automatically". If you
confirm with [ENTER], the
configuration will be done
automatically. If all has gone
well you will see the message
"Device detected successfully".
Confirm with [ENTER].

5. If you have problems with the
configuration and have good
knowledge of computers, you might
try doing the configuration
manually. Choose the prompt
"Skip auto-detection and
configure sound driver manually".
For those who are not so familiar
with computers, we recommend
trying a different driver,
("Select a different sound
driver"), and then use the
automatic configuration process
mentioned above.

6. When you have successfully
configured the midi music, click
on the prompt "Select and
configure digital audio driver"
and repeat numbers 3 and 4 above.

7. When you have successfully
completed the configuration
process, leave the sound setup
program by clicking on "Done".
This brings you back to the Setup
Menu.


8. Additional Information

This section contains the readme
text for this demo version. This is
the file you are currently reading.


9. Starting EXTREME ASSAULT under MS-
DOS

1. Change to the directory in which
EXTREME ASSAULT is located.
 For example:  C:\>cd
bluebyte\extreme [ENTER]

2. The following line should now
appear at the DOS prompt:
C:\bluebyte\extreme\>

3. Now you must start EXTREME ASSAULT
by typing the word "Start" and
then [ENTER].

Caution!  If your graphics card
doesn't support the 640x480
resolution in HiColor (65,000
colors), then you should start
EXTREME ASSAULT  using the batch file
"LOWCOL.BAT" located in the EXTREME
ASSAULT directory.  This will enable
you to start the EXTREME ASSAULT in the
256 color mode.


10. Starting EXTREME ASSAULT Under
Windows 95

1. Use the Windows Explorer to
change to the EXTREME ASSAULT
directory.

2. To start, double click on
"START".

Caution!  If your graphics card
doesn't support the 640x480
resolution in HiColor (65,000
colors), then you should start
EXTREME ASSAULT  by double clicking the
batch file "LOWCOL" located in the
EXTREME ASSAULT directory. This will
enable you to start the EXTREME
ASSAULT in the 256 color mode.


11. Key Assignments

Any of these key assignments can be
changed by accessing the Options /
Controls Setup / Adjust Controls
menu. Highlight the control you
would like to change, press ENTER
and while the line is flashing press
the key you would like to perform
this function.

A: Accelerates
Z: Decelerates
Left Arrow: Turns left
Right Arrow: Turns right
Up Arrow: Climb
Down Arrow: Dive
Drift Left: Left Shift
Drift Right: X
Fire Selected Weapon: CTRL
Change Weapons: Backspace
Fire Rocket: Enter
Smart Bomb: Space
Thunderbolt: T
Selects target #1: TAB
Select target #2: Q
Zoom radar: r
HUD on/off: 0
Virtual Cockpit on/off: 9



12. Playing Extreme Assault

After the initial title screen, a
screen with four pilots will appear.
These pilots represent the various
difficulty levels, from the easiest
in the top left corner to the most
difficult in the bottom right
corner. After you have chosen your
pilot, the main menu will appear.
It contains the following points:

1. New Game
 Here is where you start a new
game. Before you begin, however,
it pays to be sure that the
helicopter's controls will
function the way you want them
to. See section 16, Controls
Setup, to adjust the controls.

2. Continue Game
 This will automatically load your
last successfully completed
mission.

3. Load Game
 Choose this to load any of your
saved games. Your progress will
automatically be saved after
every successful mission.  You
will be shown all successfully
completed missions for each pilot
and can choose where you would
like to begin.

4. Change Pilot
 This enables you to change pilots
(ie difficulty level).

5. Options
 By clicking on "Options" in the
main menu an "Options Menu" will
appear. You can also call up the
"Options Menu" during the game,
by pressing the F2 key. It
contains the following choices:
 The Sound Setup
 Resolution Setup
 Graphic Detail Level
 Controls Setup
 These sections are fully
explained in sections 13 through
16 respectively.

6. Network Play
 This is another option that is
only available in the final
version of EXTREME ASSAULT.

7. Credits
 Find out who is responsible for
EXTREME ASSAULT.

8. Quit Game
 Ends Extreme Assault.



13. The Sound Setup

1. Briefing
 Select the way in which you
receive your briefings: text
only, voice only, or text and
voice together.

2. Music Selection
 Normally, you could pick what
type of music you'll hear: Midi,
CD Audio or no music.
Unfortunately, the CD Audio
selection will not function in
this demo version.

3. Midi Volume
 The volume level is presented in
slide-bar form: left is quiet and
right is loud.

4. Sound Effects Volume
 This slide-bar adjusts the volume
of all sound effects as well as
the volume of the voice
transmissions. Again, left is
soft and right is loud.

5. Number of Effects
 Here you can adjust the number of
simultaneously audible sound
effects. The more effects
available the better the sound
quality; however, it also means
that your computer will run more
slowly. If you encounter
problems with processing speed,
try reducing the number of
effects available.


14. Resolution Setup

 Adjust the resolution quality
available for your missions. Try out
the different resolutions and pick
the one which best suits your taste.

Note:  If you choose a resolution
that is not supported by your
graphics card and the game still
starts, (games     sounds are heard),
but no picture appears, then press
"F5" after the briefing. This will
switch the resolution from LowRes
to HiRes or vice versa. If you can
now see a picture, press "F2", and
use the OPTION MENU to     change to a
different resolution.

Note:  "F5" allows you to switch
between LowRes and HiRes, even
during the game.

Caution!  Because this is a demo
version, it's possible that the
resolution you chose, although
supported by your system, still
does not function properly. In case
this should occur, please try
another resolution.


15. Graphic Detail Level

 Select the level of graphic detail
that best meets your playing
requirements.  Of course, an
increase in graphic detail will
decrease the speed of your computer.
Play the game with the various
options and decide on a balance that
you like best.


16. Controls Setup

1. Configure the controls to operate
the way you want.  Click on the
object to be defined (i.e. Keyboard),
and press the desired letter or key
for each command or control element.
The same applies for a joystick, but
instead of a letter or key, it's
the movement that needs to be
defined.

2. Choose from one of the three
available control types: arcade,
normal and pilot. Alternatively,
you may setup your own key/joystick
assignments with the custom
setting.

3. A special control function we
added to EXTREME ASSAULT is called
drift.  Imagine that you are
trying to avoid the fire of an
attacking opponent, but don't
want to lose sight of him.  Drift
allows you to move laterally to
the left or right without turning
your helicopter.

You can assign drift left and
right with the same joystick
movements as turn left and right.
Define drift with the "ALT" key,
(naturally it can be any
available key you desire), and
define drift left and drift right
with the appropriate joystick
movements.  Now during the game,
to drift left or right, just
press the "ALT" key and make the
joystick movement for left or
right. As soon as you release
the "ALT" key, you'll return to
the natural turning movement.


17. The Cockpit

1. Shield Display
 The energy bar at the top middle
of the screen shows the amount of
shield energy you have remaining
to deflect enemy fire. When the
energy level reaches zero, the
next shot is fatal.

2. Weapons Display
 In the top left and right corners
of the screen there are three
lines of symbols. They indicate
the amount of ammunition
remaining for each on-board
weapons system. In the left
corner, from the top down, these
systems are: the Razor Gun, Laser
Cannon and Fire Flash. From the
top, in the right corner, there
are Guided Missiles, Smart Bombs
and Thunderbolts.

3. Razor Gun
 It's a powerful, fully automatic
machine-gun that fires armor-
piercing rounds; these rounds are
guided by the Target Sight (see
Target Selection below).

4. Laser Cannon
 This cannon fires laser blasts in
the direction the helicopter is
facing. There is no guidance
system available for this weapon.

5. Fire Flash
 A highly developed hi-tech weapon
that fires lightning bolts. The
penetrating force of this weapon
is extremely high. It is
available only later in the game
and does not come with a guidance
system.

6. Guided Missile
 You'll start the game with six
Guided Missiles. When your
magazine has less than six
missiles left, you can pick up
refills wherever you find them.
The Guided Missile doesn't have a
spectacular name, but it is a
very effective weapon against
fast and heavily armored
opponents. There isn't a lot
that an opponent can do to get
away from it. To take advantage
of the Guided Missile feature, be
sure to first select a target
(see Target Selection below).  If
this is not done then the
missiles will not track their
target.


7. Smart Bomb
 These bombs are not available
right away, but you'll probably
run across them during the game.
The Smart Bomb is the most
advanced and, like its name
indicates, the most intelligent
bomb in existence. The bomb
disperses numerous rockets
simultaneously which seek out any
target in range.  If you happen
across a large group of deadly
enemy forces, it may prove
advantageous to have one or more
of these bombs available.

8. Thunderbolts
 You have to find these bombs as
well, but they sure are worth it.
The Thunderbolt functions like a
conventional guided missile; it's
upon impact that you notice the
difference.  It covers an entire
area with grenades and is very
effective against tightly grouped
stationary units. It's also
fascinating to watch the effect
it has on aerial vehicles that
are threatening your chopper.

9. Target Selection
 Target selection is accomplished
by pushing the assigned key.
This key can be defined in the
Control Setup menu. The Sioux
AH-23's target selection system
can lock-on any target within the
Target Sight.  When multiple
targets are within this circular
sight, the one nearest to the
cross hairs will be picked when
the select key is pressed.

 When a target has been locked-on,
a Lead Point will appear that
shows the opponents calculated
position based on his current
speed and direction. This point
not only indicates where the
opponent will be at the time of
impact but also whether or not he
is in range.



18. Confronting The Enemy!

After you've chosen a pilot, made
the necessary setup decisions and
started EXTREME ASSAULT, you'll begin
with a mission briefing.  Your
headquarters transmits mission
orders and important warnings over
the radio.  Don't be surprised if
you experience transmission
disturbances once and a while.  They
are not due to problems with your
computer!  These problems are caused
by atmospheric disturbances.

You'll soon notice that two
helicopters are approaching your
location.  Don't be alarmed; their
choppers are no match for your Sioux
AH-23!  After you blow them out of
the sky, take some time to
familiarize yourself with the
controls, before starting the next
mission.  One of those enemy
choppers left behind an "extra" when
he crashed.  Fly near the site so
you can pick up whatever it is.  You
can always collect extras so long
as there is enough room on board.

This time the extra is ammo for your
Razor Gun.  Now you'll be able to
fire with all barrels, and be more
effective against enemy targets.
Naturally, that is only possible so
long as the additional ammo holds
out.  Press "F12" when you're
comfortable with the helicopter and
its controls.  The second mission
briefing will then start, but this
time we'll let you carry out the
mission yourself.  Good Luck!

Have fun with the demo version!

The EXTREME ASSAULT Team


19. Contacting Blue Byte

For more information on EXTREME
ASSAULT, or any of our other hot
titles, go to our web site at:
http://www.bluebyte.com.
For those of you residing in
the U.K.  dial 01604-259090 or
07000-BLUEBYTE, between the hours
of 2PM and 6PM UK Time.  Or if
you're in the U.S. dial
[phone].  To get the latest
scoop on all of our current
and future games, email your name and
address to [e-mail]
(If you are in the US, please email
your details to [e-mail])
Please mention code #EAINDOS.