This documentation is meant to familiarize you with Probe and get you started playing as quickly as possible. After reading this you should go through the 3 part tutorial you will find in the Missions folder. Following the tutorial missions, you're all set to play Probe and any of the levels created for it, so make sure to get online and download more levels to play! The Probe site is at http://skyport.com/tatsquan. If you purchase Probe you will also receive a Level Editor, which will give you the ability to create your own levels for personal play, or to share with the world and make you eligible to *win a prize!
Getting Started
After launching Probe by double clicking on its icon, and the initial startup screens have been displayed, the menu bar at the top of the screen will get you started on your gameplay. The File menu allows you to simply "Select Mission..." and
"Quit." The Options menu allows you to customize certain aspects of the game, such as sound, music, and other aesthetic values.
The various items contained in the Options menu will be saved to the Probe Prefs file, so that you will not need to reset these options each time you play. Set them once and forget about them until you want to change them again. Here is a breakdown of the various items contained in the Options Menu :
Select Keys...
You can customize the keys on the keyboard that are to be used for controlling your ship. After selecting this item you will be asked to press keys corresponding to various actions such as firing your thrusters and rotating your ship.
This is an easy method for quickly setting up both keyboards and joysticks. If you have a joystick plugged into your Mac that simulates keyboard keys, it can be set to pretty much any combination. Simply manipulate the joystick and controls for each selection that is associated with the corresponding position or action displayed on the screen.
Sound
This toggles the sound on and off.
Lock Speed
If you are running Probe on a very fast computer you may need to lock the speed of Probe by making sure there is a check mark beside this menu item. This will ensure Probe plays at a consistent speed, no manner how fast the computer may be.
Skip Intros
Each level in Probe has a text introduction accompanying it which is displayed right before you play each level. If you
would like to skip these intros, make sure this item is selected. Be careful though, you might miss an important hint for
completing mission objectives if you do.
QuickTime Music
Music is a great addition to the game and adds extra depth. However, it does slow the game down noticeably on older machines. We've given you the ability to turn it off if you find your computer is just not responsive or comfortable to play Probe with the music on.
Apple Events
Usually you want Apple Events to allow other programs and system functions to work correctly on your Macintosh. You
require them in order to hear QuickTime Music and also if you want to take a screen shot of the game in progress. For those of you with early PowerMacs, if you turn off Apple Events and QuickTime music you will gain about 25% more speed in the game. You need Apple Events ON in order to take a screenshot during the game.
Save Preferences
You have the ability to stop Probe from saving a Preferences file just in case you need to run it from a CD-ROM or other
locked media.
The Playfield
Each playfield (game playing area on the screen) may consist of these possibilities :
Space : The area in which your ship can fly safely through. It should be quite obvious where it is safe to fly in each level, and if it is not it should be explained in the Mission Introduction that is displayed before you play each level.
Land : This is terrain or other objects that will destroy your ship if you fly into it. Again if the Land or solid objects are not directly obvious it should be explained in the Mission Introduction.
Environmental Conditions : There are a few conditions that affect the flight of your Probe on screen.
1. Wind may effect your ship by blowing it to either side at varying force.
2. The ever present threat of gravity, depending on the level, that pulls at your ship (remember what goes up must
come down on a landing pad or… boom!).
3. Finally Atmospheric density determines how quickly you come to a stop when you are not firing your thrusters.
Remember, the only thing that will stop you faster than rushing headlong into a gale on a heavy gravity planet with air as
thick as pea soup is, of course, a wall of solid granite.
Charge Ups : These are small spinning graphics that either give you more fuel (F), or more missiles (M) depending on
the charge up. Many are vital to completing a mission successfully. The amount of fuel and missiles in each charge up
varies with each level.
Mission Objectives : You must acquire these in order to complete a level. Some levels have several mission objectives and you must acquire all of them. Still other levels do not contain a single mission objective and all you need to do is land.
Objects : These are various items that affect your ability to complete a level. They may push at you, pull at you, or worse yet, shoot at you. Sucker and Pusher pods do exactly what their names imply and either pull you in or push you away by altering the gravitational field surrounding your Probe. A Calmer is a device that negates the effects of atmospheric wind, and a Cannon fires Proton bolts at you that are capable of destroying your Probe with a single hit.
All of these objects have activation ranges. When you have entered this range they will activate. Each object can vary in
power, in the case of Suckers, Pushers and Calmers, and speed, in the case of Cannons.
Landing Areas : In order to complete a level, after having acquired all mission objectives, you need to land your ship in a designated landing area. This area will either be obvious or if not so obvious, it will be detailed in the Mission Introduction. Be careful, you must land softly or your ship will explode.
Anomalies : Strange invisible occurrences, Anomalies affect your Probe in several ways. Pushing and pulling at you they can be barely noticeable or devastatingly powerful.
Piloting Your Probe
Your Probe is equipped with a main thruster and two rotational thrusters, all of which use fuel. When you fire your main
thruster your Probe will move forward in the direction you are currently facing. Firing the left and right rotational thrusters will spin your Probe accordingly.
Remember that you will be susceptible to gravity, wind, air density, and the gravitational effects of other objects on the play field. You can fire missiles by pressing the appropriate key. To select this key, and the others, choose the menu "Options" and select "Set Keys..."
Completing A Level
In order to complete a level you must collect all the Mission Objectives, if there are any for that level. Depending on the mission, collecting all the objectives may be enough to send you on to the next area, but keep in mind, some missions
require you to land in designated landing areas after gathering all your objectives before you can advance to the next level.
You can assume that if there are no Mission Objectives, that you will be required to land somewhere. These types of details are explained in the Mission Intros.
Probe was designed as an open system and allows anyone to create their own levels (with the fully registered version) and because of this each level you play has the ability to be widely different than any other. The quality control of user created and distributed levels are out of the hands of Tatsquan Software and we take absolutely no responsibility for them. It is actually possible to create unplayable or impossible levels with the Probe Level Editor included in the registered version. Of course it's hard to believe anyone would ever want to create and distribute this type of level, but disturbing things have been known to happen before.
If you crash your Probe, get shot down or land (in a designated landing area) but do not collect all the Mission Objectives
you will fail your mission. You will be given the option to retry until you successfully complete the level.
Linked Levels
Some levels are linked to other levels. These "linked" levels cannot be played without having first played the level to which it is linked. In other words, you cannot enter a 10 level Saga at the 4th level. You've got to start from the beginning.
Trialware Software
Probe is Trialware. You are entitled to try the Probe Demo for up to 30 days. Tatsquan Creek Software believes in an honor system and we ask that if you appreciate Probe and would like to support the Macintosh software scene, that you purchase the full version of Probe. The full version (only $12) includes the following :
• A complete Level Editor with full documentation. The Probe Level Editor allows you to make your
very own levels for Probe.
• No demonstration timeout limitation. No annoying reminders. No more restarting from scratch.
• Free minor (1.x) updates when Probe is updated in the future.
• Special discounts on other future Tatsquan Creek Software products.
• Automatic Contest entry, your name could be drawn for a prize!*
To find out how to purchase Probe instantly within minutes online, please drop by the
Tatsquan Creek Software Web Site at :
http://skyport.com/tatsquan
Please support the Macintosh OS platform and enjoy Probe!
*Check for Contest details online at the above address
