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- HOWITZER
- Version 0.95beta (10/18/93)
- by Randall Spangler (rspangle@micro.caltech.edu)
-
- Howitzer is still in beta-test, although by now it is very stable.
- I'd appreciate feedback on game mechanics, playability, the manual, etc.
-
- Please do read the manual, especially the troubleshooting section
- at the end.
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Howitzer is one of a style of games known as "artillery" or "tank war"
- games. Tanks on a 2-D landscape lob shells at each other; the goal is to
- be the last tank alive. Tanks can be controlled by humans or the computer.
- Howitzer has many exciting features, including:
-
- * Higher resolution - Howitzer runs in up to 1024x768x256 Super-VGA
- graphics on any VESA-compatible card
- * Support for Adlib and Soundblaster compatible sound cards, with 192KB
- of digital effects!
- * Pop-up help - Alt+H from any screen brings up a help window.
- * More realistic terrain and background, which generate in advance while
- the program waits for input
- * Over 60 types of ammunition, shields, guidance, etc. - including tank
- modifications such as armor, different bodies, and improved barrels
- and turrets.
- * All bullets and explosions are resolved simultaneously, instead of one
- bullet at a time. (Yes, this means that bullets actually move AT THE
- SAME TIME explosions are happening.)
- * 32-bit fixed point math and graphics, for quick and accurate modeling
- without a math coprocessor.
- * Six types of computer opponents
- * A beginner mode which removes some of the more complicated controls
- and equipment
- * Team mode (pit your friends against a few teams of computer opponents)
-
- In order to provide this, Howitzer requires the following hardware and
- software:
-
- * At least a 386-based machine
- * A Super-VGA video card with at least 256KB of video memory, with VESA
- support via BIOS or a TSR (a freeware TSR, Univesa, is included with
- the Howitzer package)
- * 448 KB of free memory (though you can get by with less if you have
- enough expanded memory)
-
- Howitzer will run better with the following:
-
- * A two or three button mouse, with its driver already installed
- * A 486-based or Pentium-based machine
- * 540 KB or more free conventional memory
- * 2048 KB or more of expanded memory
-
- SHAREWARE:
-
- Howitzer is shareware; please see howitzer.txt for details. It's cheap
- to register - $10, $5 if you're a full-time student, and a postcard
- if you live outside the US.
-
- LIMITED WARRANTY:
-
- Howitzer is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind,
- expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties
- of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Use this program
- at your own risk.
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- FILE LIST:
-
- Howitzer is packaged as a self-extracting archive file. This will
- be named hwitzNNN.exe, where NNN is the version number (for example, 094
- for 0.94). When you run the self-extracting archive, you should end up
- with all of these files.
-
- howitzer.exe The executable
- howitzer.txt Documentation, ASCII format
- howitzer.pif PIF file for running Howitzer under Microsoft Windows
-
- fixed5x7.fnt REQUIRED datafile
- fixed7x8.fnt REQUIRED datafile
- howlogo.bin REQUIRED datafile
- howitzer.snd REQUIRED datafile (well, if you want digital sound anyway)
-
- univesa.exe VESA support TSR (freeware)
- univesa.txt Documentation for univesa
-
- register.frm Registration form
- upgrade.txt Notes on upgrading from a previous release of Howitzer
- whatsnew.txt Changes since previous revisions
- readme.txt This file
- file_id.diz Very short description
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- MAJOR FIXES AND ADDITIONS IN 0.95beta:
-
- * Digital sound support at last! Thrill to exciting explosions
- and that wonderful nuke "BOOOOOOOOOOM!"
-
- * Drastically sped up explosions
-
- * Upped max. players from 10 to 12
-
- * Computer opponents are much more intelligent, use more weapons
-
- * More weapons and equipment
-
- * Better memory handling - saves about 50KB (which is promptly
- used by the digital sound...)
-
-
-