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-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Welcome ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- Welcome to Invasion of the Mutant Space Bats of Doom, Shareware Version,
- distributed by Pop Software. You should have these files:
-
- BATS.EXE INFO.EXE BATS.DOC READ.ME
- BATS.DAT FILE_ID.DIZ VENDER.DOC ORDER.DOC
- VGAIDEMO.EXE
-
- If any files are missing, contact us to receive the complete BATS.ZIP.
-
- Please share BATS.ZIP by giving it to your friends and uploading it
- to your favorite BBS. For information about other types of distribution,
- please see VENDOR.DOC.
-
- The files BATS.KEY, BATS.JOY, BATS.TOP, and BATS.SET are created when
- you play or configure the game. You should not distribute these files,
- and if they've been passed along to you, delete them before playing
- for the first time.
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Shareware ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- Many people play Shareware and never register. That's why we need
- ** you ** to be the exception to the rule. Make a difference. Thanks.
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Game Requirements ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- The game runs under DOS on a PC compatible. It should be a fast PC,
- preferably a 386 or better.
-
- Memory: 550K of free memory is required to run the game with digital sound.
- 530K is required to run it without digital sound.
-
- Graphics: The game runs under EGA or VGA, but VGA users will be treated
- to better graphics.
-
- Sound: The game supports music and digital sound-effects on Sound Blaster
- compatibles. No setup is necessary. If you run into problems, try disabling
- DIGITAL SOUND under the SOUND menu, and if there are still problems,
- select PC SPEAKER instead of SOUND CARD (also in the SOUND menu).
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Starting the Game ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- Start the game by typing BATS at the DOS prompt (running under Windows
- is not recommended). You will see the Quick Start directions- press any key
- to proceed. Then you may watch the slide-show- it will advance
- automatically in time with the music. To speed it up, press SPACE, or it
- cancel it, press ESC.
-
- If you want to disable the slide-show from running each time you start
- BATS (for example if you've already seen it), toggle the INTRO setting
- under the OTHER menu (in the game).
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Using The Menus ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- Move the cursor with UP-ARROW and DOWN-ARROW, and press ENTER to make
- a selection. When you are in a sub-menu you can return to the main menu
- by choosing MAIN MENU or by pressing Esc. Pressing Esc from the main menu
- is the same as choosing QUIT. If a mouse is attached you can use the
- mouse to move the cursor, and you can click to make a selection.
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Controls ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- The default keyboard controls are:
-
- Arrow Keys: Move ship (up, down, left, right)
- Space Bar: Fire guns (press repeatedly, or hold for auto-fire)
- P: Pause game
- ESC: Abort game, return to main menu
-
- In the CONTROLS menu, you can change these keys by choosing CONFIGURE.
- Or, to play using a mouse choose MOUSE, or JOYSTICK for joystick. If
- either choice is grey, then the mouse driver or joystick wasn't found.
-
- The first time you choose JOYSTICK you will go to CALIBRATE automatically.
- If you change the trim settings on your joystick, or change to another
- joystick, or find that the joystick is being weird, you should CALIBRATE
- again.
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Your Choices ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- These are your choices from the main menu:
-
- Play: Starts a new game.
- Players: Toggles between 1 or 2 players.
- Controls: Allows you to choose between keyboard, mouse, and joystick.
- Music: Allows you to select sound elements and sound device.
- Hints: Gives playing hints- including some not described here!
- Other: Allows you to toggle the intro on and off, and see or reset
- the high scores.
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Playing ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- You have three major goals:
-
- 1. Stay Alive! Use evasive maneuvers to avoid Space Bats and their weapons.
-
- 2. Eliminate Space Bats! Fire your guns with careful timing to better
- protect yourself.
-
- 3. Power Up! Many Space Bats carry power-crystals with them. When you
- hit such a Space Bat its power crystal will pop out. Grab it before it
- weaves by.
-
- If you are skilled enough, you can survive the entire onslaught of the
- Mutant Space Bats of Doom and become Earth's greatest hero. There is
- a reward for doing this!
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Power Crystals ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- The key to doing well in Space Bats is to catch power crystals. Each
- different crystal improves your ship in a different way:
-
- Green: Makes your shots faster.
- Red: Alternately makes your shot-spread wider or enables another gun.
- Blue: Makes everything except your ship go slower.
- White: Turns all your enabled guns into MEGA guns.
- Purple: Collect six of these to gain a free ship.
-
- When you catch a crystal, your ship will sparkle, and the window on the
- left will display the effect of the crystal.
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ The Bonus Rounds ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- Pilots like you often wish to test their shooting skills in non-combat
- situations.
-
- The bonus board contains four large bars, each highlighted with a
- different color. Shoot each target orb when it is over the bar of the
- matching color. For example, shoot the red orb when it is flying over
- the red bar. Higher bars are worth more points. If you do well you may
- receive a reward. Each bonus round is different- good luck!
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Free Ships ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- You get a free ship every time you reach the score shown in purple below
- your current score. You also get a free ship each time you collect six
- purple crystals. In a two-player game, both players get a free ship when
- six purple cyrstals are collected.
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Level ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- Once you make it up to Level 2 you have the option of starting new games
- from that level. Press TAB when the cursor is next to PLAY to change it
- to "PLAY (LEV 2)". This means you'll start at Level 2. The same applies to
- Level 3... but remember you must reach a level at least once before you
- can start the there.
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Credits ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- Invasion of the Mutant Space Bats of Doom was created by Mike Pooler
- (programming) and Dave Cockerill (artwork). Assisting us was the
- Legion of Invisible Elves, and a Gnome or two.
-
- This software and related documentation are:
- Copyright (c) 1994 by Pop Software. All rights reserved.
-
- Space Bats, Mutant Space Bats, and Invasion of the Mutant Space Bats
- of Doom are trademarks of Pop Software.
-
- Call or write us with any comments, questions, or problems.
- Your feedback is welcome.
-
- Pop Software
- PO Box 60995
- Sunnyvale, CA 94088
-
- Voice Mail: (408) 450-3022
-
- CompuServe: 71460,2432
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ Notice ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘
-
- Freelance computer animator-artists are available.
- Call Dave Cockerill at (415) 949-0818 for info.
-
- Pop Software is interested in considering various game related contracts.
- Conversion between platforms, game design, artwork, animation, etc.
- Contact us at (408) 450-3022 or at the above address.
-
- ┌─────────────────────┐
- ──────────┤ The End ├──────────────────────────────────────────
- └─────────────────────┘