• There were widespread problems with the new 4 channel sounds that I introduced in version 2.0.4. These problems have for the most part been rectified. However, if you are using System 7.1.2 or earlier, it's important to make sure that you have Apple's SOUND MANAGER extension (version 3.0 or later) installed in your Extensions folder. (System 7.5 and later versions have the Sound Manager 3.0 built in.)
The combination of Rescue! 2.0.5 and Sound Manager 3.0 should let most users enjoy the full 4 channel sound features of Rescue!. Some early Macs such as the Plus and SE do not have the required hardware to support multichannel sound output, however, and on these machines Rescue! will revert to the older single-channel sound format.
• I'm pretty sure that other bugs such as colonists beaming halfway across the galaxy to Altair 1 etc. were related to the corruptive sound bug and should now be fixed. I have been unable to reproduce these errors in version 2.0.5. Please let me know if they are still occurring on your Mac!
• The memory requirement has been increased to 2200 K to provide some breathing room for the sounds and graphics. Black & white users still need only 1000 K.
Improvements and new features in 2.0.5:
• The wormhole graphics have been vastly improved. Check them out!
• Single and Multi Channel Output selectors have been added to the Options menu under "Sounds". You may want to switch to single channel sounds if you play Rescue! when you have other applications or extensions running which are sound intensive (such as PlainTalk.)
• Some minor tweaks and adjustments have been made to many areas of the program.
• As always, there's a couple of other new, undocumented "extras" with this version...
Changes 2.0.3 --> 2.0.4
Improvements and new features:
• TRACTOR BEAMS are now installed on the Enterprise as standard equipment. Now you can reel in those pesky Superhawks and blast them at will as they try to cloak, or halt an asteroid to use in battle!
• It's much easier to get the PHASER CANNON now. Simply ask Morlikon 9 for help when there are 6 or fewer colonists remaining on the planet.
• Enhanced 4 CHANNEL SOUNDS (playing simultaneously if your Mac can do it), with optional background music & lots of new voice sounds! Note: for best results on older Macs such as the Plus or SE, you may want to turn off the background music.
• The new MARK II Nav Computer has been retrofitted to the Enterprise and makes turning and target seeking under warp power a joy- it's sharp, precise and efficient.
• MANUAL WEAPONS FIRING-- another excellent tactical edge against cloaked enemies. Hold down the Command key and click somewhere within the main viewer to manually fire your photon torpedos toward the spot you clicked, with no actual target selected. To fire your phasers manually this way, hold down the Option key as you click.
• New Mission Setup features: an option to CLUSTER the planets & starships (using the Mission Setup window) to make a more orderly (and easier) initial game setup. However, I've also increased the maximum possible number of enemy ships- from 40 to 50- just in case you're a glutton for punishment...
• Further tweaks to enemy vessel tactics: more mobile and varied attack patterns, and no more "hide forever" cloaked ships.
• Improved starbase and title screen graphics
Bug fixes:
• Color/greyscale support for 4 and 16 color screens commonly found on PowerBooks and some early Macs.
• Improved performance on color Macs with low amounts of RAM (4MB or less)
• Fixed occasional problems with the ordering of the high scores
• Fixed occasional bug in which the ship's computer would sometimes not come back on line after being repaired
• Fixed phantom Morlikon 9 outpost report problem (for sure? this time)
• Kigons are less likely to get angry at you if you accidentally hit them (but they have their limits!)
• Torpedos can now enter (and emerge from) wormholes.
• The Communications window is still not fully functional with very old Macs like the Plus and SE. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't use it, however!...
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RESCUE! VERSION HISTORY
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1.0 (April 1993) - Initial release version.
1.1 to 1.4 - did not exist.
1.5 (August 1993) - Added color capability, Engineering menu, wormholes, repair prioritization, pause feature, and ability to continue battling remaining Romulans after the original rescue mission was completed. Revised Enterprise & Romulan energy routines, changed some sounds and menu commands. Fixed bugs in high score window.
1.5.1 (August 1993) - partial fix of memory allocation problem which was present in version 1.5.
1.6 (Sept 1993) - added starbase defensive fire, preferences dialog, compatibility with 68000 based Macs like the Plus and SE, and compatibility with Sound Manager 3.0.
1.7 to 1.9 - did not exist.
2.0 (May 1994) - significantly enhanced graphics and sounds, new races, customizable mission setup, evasive maneuvers, enhanced Enterprise systems
2.0.1 (May 1994) - fixed a bug in which very often the player would not get credit for killing the cube ship.
2.0.2 (May 1994) - some sounds changed to non TNG-similar sounds out of respect for Paramount's rights.
2.0.3 (June 1994) - better compatibility with older Macs, Power Macs, and system 6; several logic bug fixes, game speed control, phaser cannon (easter egg), and further improvements to the alien races and the sounds.
2.0.4 (Oct 1994) - this document describes version 2.0.4's new features.
2.0.5 (Nov 1994) - this document describes version 2.0.5's new features.
