Published by Red Orb Entertainment(TM), a division of Broderbund Software
WINDOWS(R) 95
October 31, 1997
Table of Contents
1. System Requirements for the Demo Version
2. WarBreeds
3. The Four Clans
4. About the WarBreeds Demo
5. Summary of Keyboard Commands
6. Troubleshooting
7. Technical Support
8. Copyright Information
1. System Requirements for the Demo Version
Windows 95*
90MHz Pentium(R) or faster
16MB RAM
23MB of hard disk space
640x480 display, 256 colors
DirectX 5.xx (not installed as part of the WarBreeds Demo)
Sound Blaster 16 or 100% Sound Blaster 16 bit compatible sound card
Video and Sound cards compatible with DirectX 5.xx
If you experience problems with your video or sound card please insure that
the newest available drivers for those devices are installed properly on your machine.
*System Configuration: May require minor adjustments to the configuration of your operating
system and/or updates to the hardware component drivers.
**If you experience problems with the installation or compatibility of DirectX on your machine,
please consult the hardware manufacturers of your video or sound card. You may also want to
check Microsoft's Web page www.microsoft.com for more information.
2. WarBreeds
WarBreeds is a real-time strategy game that allows players to create and customize individual creatures through genetic research. Players command one of four different alien Clans, each vying for supremacy on an alien planet. In order to win, the player has to manage and harvest special plantlike energy pods. These pods collect energy, which is then used to create various biomechanical devices and creatures. The player can customize the creatures in his army through genetic research. Genetic material is won when enemy creatures are defeated.
Features that are unique to WarBreeds include: a special truly cooperative mode of multiplayer play (in the retail version) where allied players will be able to fully share resources, base structures, and troops, thus allowing for a higher level of strategic planning than currently available in other games of this genre; and unit classes that evolve as the player gathers DNA strands from fallen enemies.
3. The Four Clans
The Tanu
The Tanu were the first race to be engineered by the Yedda. The original Tanu were lizardlike bipeds, whose sandy skin and lightning speed gave them excellent defenses from predators in the deserts they called home.
In latter years, the Tanu have become a fiercely strong and proud race. Their swiftness has become an excellent tactical advantage as it allows them to begin and end battles without fear of effective pursuit.
The Sen-Soth
The Sen-Soth are mostly regarded as bizarre and unintelligible by the other races. Although small and physically weak, the Sen-Soth grow to maturity quickly, and the sensory organs developed over millennia of subterranean life provide them with excellent perception. The Sen-Soth fidget incessantly.
The Sen-Soth have designed a variety of descendants, but all are designed to grow very quickly and effectively swarm their enemies.
The Kelika
The Kelika are amiable swamp creatures that evolved near the coldest northern glacial swamps. They are slow and cumbersome beasts, but when their anger is aroused, their sheer size and strength makes them among the most fearsome of enemies.
After the Downfall, the Kelika have become devoutly religious, and have devoted themselves to the resurrection of the Yedda Shamanic Orders. They can often be seen to bow in prayer, even in the midst of battle. Though slow, their creatures are enormously strong, and can take massive amounts of damage before they fall in battle.
The Magha
Although they appear physically lean and weak, the Magha are among the cleverest and most deadly of foes. Their brilliant and carefully organized tactics of stealth and sabotage have allowed the Magha to retain a superior position over all of the other Clans since the Downfall.
The advanced technological research of the Magha has allowed them to develop creatures which can remain invisible to their enemies so long as their skins remain cool. This is an invaluable asset, allowing the Magha to wipe out small armies when the armies are caught unprepared.
4. About the WarBreeds Demo
This demo contains the complete Basic Training Campaign from WarBreeds. This campaign is comprised of three single-player missions that cover the basics of combat, base building, and gene collection. In addition to the single-player campaign , this demo also includes access to the Device Lab and Gene Lab screens, which are accessible from the main screen. In these areas you can view the Devices (structures), Creatures, and Weapons in the game.
Be sure to check out the WarBreeds Web site at www.warbreeds.com for up-to-the minute news on the full retail version that's releasing in early 1998.
Starting the game:
Once WarBreeds has been installed, begin at the Window 95 desktop. Click the Start Button, point to Programs, and then Red Orb Entertainment. Click the WarBreeds Demo menu item to start the program.
5. Summary of Keyboard Commands
ESC toggle main menu on/off
SHIFT fast scroll, or add units to current selection
Space Bar when held down while moving units, will keep them in their current formation
A autotarget closest enemy creature
F flash all player ID colors
Z zoom in or out
E select all creatures in the current-view rectangle
S issue stop command to current selection
N select next friendly creature
M toggles minimap on and off (if available)
L toggle follow-lock mode on or off
O toggle power zone viewing mode on or off
HOME center on the current selection
A hold down while issuing a move command to tell the selected creatures to move in parallel line formation
TAB set way points for currently selected creatures (creatures move when you let up the Tab key)
TAB + (close the start and end points) sets up a patrol path. If enemy units are encountered during a patrol, the creature should engage the enemy and then resume its patrol (assuming it survived).
TAB (held down when planting) allows Shaman to autoplant multiple Pods
Ctrl 0-9 set selected creatures into the numbered hot key
0-9 select all creatures of the numbered hot key
Alt 0-9 select and center on all creatures of the numbered hot key
Ctrl-X tell current selection to explore the map
Ctrl+Alt+K tell current selection to die a painful death
H set the current selection into a horizontal line formation
V set the current selection into a vertical line formation
/ or \ set the current selection into a diagonal line formation
] rotate the current selection 90 degrees clockwise
[ rotate the current selection 90 degrees counterclockwise
Ctrl + F1-F8 save a preset creature formation
F1-F8 set the current selection into a saved creature formation
Alt + F1-F8 same as above, but center on selection
Y opens game speed and resolution options dialog box
+/- resize the minimap, if available
6. Troubleshooting
If you get an error while installing WarBreeds, make sure that you have enough free hard drive space on the target drive.
If you get a "File not found error: dplayx.dll" error message at start up, make sure that DirectX Version 5.xx has been properly installed on your machine. If you do not have DirectX 5.xx installed on your machine, you can download from Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/directx.
If you get a "QuickTime would not load" error message, just click through the error message. QuickTime is not needed for this demo, since there are no movies to be viewed.
There is a known problem associated with tasking out and then back into the WarBreeds Demo. If the Windows 95 Taskbar remains on screen after tasking out of the WarBreeds Demo and then tasking back in, check to make sure that the Taskbar Options setting "Always on top" is not selected. To do this (from the Windows 95 desktop) right-click the Taskbar, and select Properties, this will bring up the Taskbar Properties dialog box. Select the Taskbar Options tab, uncheck the "Always on top" option. (Note: This problem will addressed in the final game.)
7. Technical Support
If you have worked through these troubleshooting suggestions and still need assistance, you can contact Red Orb Entertainment Technical Support by using the options listed below. It will be very helpful if you can tell us your computer make and model, and the brand names of both the video card and sound card you are using. If possible, have the computer both positioned near your phone and turned on. Please also be prepared to give us a detailed description of what happens when you try to run the program.
You can contact us in any of the following ways:
Internet - Online support is available through our World Wide Web site at
http://www.redorb.com/
America Online - Use the Keyword: RED ORB to find our Product Support Boards, or address your
questions to BBund Tec1 or BBund Tec2 using AOL's electronic mail.
Mail - Send your questions to Red Orb Entertainment Technical Correspondence, P.O. Box 6125,
Novato, CA 94948-6125.
Phone - Call us at (415) 382-4777 from Monday through Friday between the hours of 6:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time.
8. Copyright Information
Copyright (c), 1997 Red Orb Entertainment. All rights reserved.
WarBreeds is a trademark of Broderbund Software. Red Orb Entertainment, and Broderbund
are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Broderbund Software, Inc. Red Orb Entertainment is a division of Broderbund Software, Inc. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, Inc. All other company and/or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers.
