The Hacker's Encyclopedia 1998/hackers_encyclopedia.iso/pc/softdox/radix.faq

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                    *RADIX: INTO THE VOID*
               By: Neural Storm Entertainment &
                  Union Logic Software, INC.
                Distributed By: EPIC MEGAGAMES

               "Official" pre-release FAQ, v3.0
                  Written by: Greg MacMartin
                          July 1995
-----------------------------------------------------------------

=================================================================
<TABLE OF CONTENTS>
=================================================================

I.  Introduction
  1. Preliminary Info.
    [1-1] A note from the author, Greg MacMartin
    [1-2] About the RADIX Faq version 3.0
    [1-3] Game creation progress

II. General Game Information

  2. What is RADIX: INTO THE VOID?
    [2-1] So, what is it?
    [2-2] What is "shareware"?
    [2-3] What will the episodes be?

  3. What will make RADIX different than any other "3D Shooter"?
    [3-1] Sloping walls, ceilings and floors.
    [3-2] Fast, furious gameplay.

  4. What features does the RADIX engine have?
    [4-1] Non-orthogonal walls.
    [4-2] Texture mapped walls, ceilings and floors.
    [4-3] Multiple lighting variations
          (diminishing/fog effects)
    [4-4] Looking up and down.
    [4-5] Multiple heights.
    [4-6] Parallaxing Background.
    [4-7] Analog Movement.
    [4-8] Complex event system.
    [4-9] Auto Detail (with 5 settings).
    [4-10] Full Stereo digital music system

  5. What kind of gameplay features will RADIX have?
    [5-1] What kind of enemies will be in RADIX?
        [5-1-1] Extra-dimensional aliens.
        [5-1-2] Alien fighter craft.
        [5-1-3] Miscellaneous alien defence systems.
    [5-2] What kind of weapons will RADIX have?
    [5-3] Any other neat things?
    [5-4] How does this game compare to DESCENT?
    [5-5] Will RADIX have Network/Modem support?

  6. Who is creating RADIX: INTO THE VOID?
    [6-1] Neural Storm Entertainment Inc.
    [6-2] Union Logic Software Inc.
    [6-3] Epic MegaGames Inc.

  7. What will be needed to run RADIX?
    [7-1] REQUIRED Hardware
    [7-2] What sound cards will be supported?
        [7-2-1] Will the PC speaker be supported?
    [7-3] What game controllers will be supported?
    [7-4] Will RADIX be found on other gaming platforms?

III. Ordering Info / Release Dates

  8. When will I be able to get RADIX?
    [8-1] Current Release Date.
    [8-2] Where can I get some screen shots?

  9. How and Where will I be able to get RADIX?
    [9-1] Shareware release.
    [9-2] Mail-order release.
    [9-3] How do I contact Epic MegaGames?
    [9-4] OK, so where will I get the thing?

IV. Conclusion.

  10. Revision History.
    [10-1] Version 1.0
    [10-2] Version 2.0
    [10-3] Version 2.1
    [10-4] Version 3.0

=================================================================
I. <INTRODUCTION>
=================================================================

-----------------------------------------------------------------
1. Preliminary Info.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[1-1] A note from the author, Greg MacMartin
     This version is a complete revision of the old 2.1
version which is now vastly out of date.  This version is now
very definitive and fully correct.  The game is almost ready for
release, so this will probably be the last version of the
pre-release Radix FAQ.  Feel free to E-mail me with questions.
([e-mail])


[1-2] About the RADIX faq version 3.0
     This version uses the same layout as previous versions,
however the information given will be vastly altered from the 2.1
version.

[1-3] Game creation progress
     The shareware version is DONE, and is now undergoing beta
testing.  Registered levels are also being completed, and small
programming glitches are being ironed out.

     There has been some other small changes as well, the most
notable being the change in publisher which will be discussed later.

=================================================================
II.<GENERAL GAME INFORMATION>
=================================================================

-----------------------------------------------------------------
2. What is Radix: Into the Void?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[2-1] So, what is it?
     Radix: Into The Void is a 3-D perspective action game.  The
player is the pilot of an experimental fighter, the Radix-class
Inter-Dimensional Starfighter, in the year 2148.  The player has
complete control of the plane's movements, including speed, and
lateral / horizontal movement.  The ship is heavily armed and has
the capability to incorporate new technologies into it's systems
if they are found.  Many aliens, alien craft, missiles and mines
await the Radix fighter at every turn.  Not only does one playing
this furious game have to deal with these nasties, but one also has
to keep the fighter from flying into walls, getting sucked down
by gravity wells, getting seeked by missiles... You get the
picture.

     Why would one want to put themselves through something like
that? Well...

     In the 22nd century, after centuries of global strife
and tyranny, the people of the Earth united into a sovereign
world government.  The United Earth Space Alliance (UESA) launched
a dynamic plan to expand the reaches of the human race beyond
that of our solar system. This effort resulted the launching of the
first of two colony ships, in the year 2147. These massive vessels
were destined to colonize an asteroid on the outskirts of our solar
system, designated Theta-2.  After 5 months, the first ship safely
arrived and initiated the colony. Soon after, the second of the
two ships departed from earth with 10,000 colonists to place the
Theta-2 base into full operation.  Once the colony was fully
established,  mankind was to finally have the opportunity to
leave the confines of the Solar system.

     It happened on October 24th, 2148.  While the second ship
approached the colony, something unnatural occurred.  A dark
shape began to form of out nothingness, blacking out the
starscape and eating away at a small portion of our reality.
The commander of the colony vessel "Salvation" barely managed to
communicate to Earth that there were dozens of alien ships emerging
from this void when the largest of these ships tore the Salvation
apart with an immensely powerful particle beam.

     The gigantic alien craft then somehow dragged both portions
of the Salvation into a huge hangar bay, sealing the fates of the
10,000 human beings aboard...

     According to the information collected from the destruct
beacon (the "black box") that reached the Titan colony orbiting
Saturn, there were 45 alien vessels.  The one that destroyed the
Salvation, the largest one, started on a slow (8-9 month) flight to
Earth.  The remaining 44 ships attacked the tiny Theta 2 base
(with only 300 personnel) and set up what looked to be a base of
their own.

     Almost immediately after the incident, UESA went on alert
status and began assembling a fleet to counteract this alien force.
Our fleet reached the huge enemy craft well before it had even
entered the inner solar system.  Although the 3 battlecruisers,
10 frigates and 15 destroyers fought well, all were destroyed by
the massive vessel.  Although the attack was a devastating failure,
it confirmed the fact that these aliens were out for blood.  It also
allowed Earth Command to realize that large ships did not stand a
chance against this vessel. One small, fast, deadly ship armed to
the teeth just might be able to slip by the defences of the vessel
and cause some serious damage.

     Meanwhile, Earth scientists combined their knowledge and
pooled their ideas, and eventually concluded that the black
space, dubbed "The Void", is in fact some sort of inter-dimensional
portal; a tear in the structure of our universe.  Using the current
knowledge of multi-dimensional physics and quantum mechanics, they
were able to develop a device that would allow a small spacecraft,
preferably a fighter of some sort, to enter The Void and
successfully leap into a different universe.

     Three months after the incident at Theta 2, the Radix-class
inter-dimensional starfighter was built.  Considering the
unimaginable costs involved and the time required to build this
powerful fighter, only one was able to be built.  Loaded onto
the "Defiance", a battlecruiser, Operation Vengeance commenced.
Although the Radix class had just barely begun the experimental
stage of it's development, there was no more time left.  The
Defiance had to leave, and the Radix, the last desperate hope
for humanity, was going with it...


[2-2] What is "Shareware"?
     Shareware is a popular method of distributing software in
which the possible buyer gets to "try it out" before buying it.
It the case of games, the first episode, usually out of three is
the one that is freely distributed for people to try.  This game
is no exception.  RADIX: INTO THE VOID will be a shareware game
separated into 3 episodes, the first of which will be
distributed freely.  As usual, many features will only be found
in the second and third episodes, which must be purchased.


[2-3] What will the episodes be?

Episode One: Vengeance

The Radix class starfighter's first mission: Save Earth from
destruction by destroying the massive earthbound enemy ship.
Once you penetrate the ship's shielding system, there is no
turning back!  Will you be able to stay alive long enough to
make your way to the main engine core and destroy it?

Episode Two: Theta 2.

After an amazingly successful campaign against the enemy's lead ship,
the Earth forces move to the offensive.  After plotting
out a strategy, it is decided that the Radix class fighter will
fly offensive missions against the Enemy's gruesome Theta 2
base, with the aim to destroy it so that the Earth colony once
residing there can be rebuilt!

Episode Three: The Void.

The mastermind of the Enemy's conquest has escaped into the
void, and you must follow it in.  This is the ultimate test for
the Radix fighter.  What awaits you on the other side?  Will you
be able to seal the Void closed and still get out of it alive?

-----------------------------------------------------------------
3. What will make RADIX different than any other "3D Shooter"?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[3-1] Sloping walls, ceilings and floors.
     Almost all of the 3-D games out there at this point are
games with straight floors with no sloping at all.  Take the
shareware blockbuster Doom; a game highly acclaimed for it's
feeling of immersion and fluid action...Imagine Doom if it was
the same speed but it had sloping surfaces.  No longer would
stairs be necessary to change heights; there could be a hill.
     All sorts of unique effects can be produced using sloping
surfaces, including a greater feeling of immersion.  Radix has
such slopes, and they are used throughout the game on ceilings,
walls and floors.

[3-2] Fast, furious gameplay.
     Some games strive to use the newest technology and techniques
to create a virtual world. Although these techniques may be neat,
you need a Pentium-90 to play them so they are not agonizingly slow.
The creators of Radix have picked and chosen the techniques that
will make the game as real an experience as possible, and yet not
slow the engine down.

     In Radix, you are constantly moving and constantly having to be
aware of your surroundings, as your ship is vulnerable to the floors
and walls of the surrounding 3D world.  This creates an extremely
intense and challenging game environment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
4. What features does the RADIX engine have?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[4-1] Non-orthogonal walls.
     This feature is fast becoming the standard among 3-D games,
although there are still some that aren't implementing it.
Basically, this means that the walls can be at any angle to
one-another.  For instance, in WOLFENSTEIN 3-D all the walls are
at 90 degrees to one another, so that every locale was rectangular
in shape.  RADIX, DOOM and others no longer have this problem.
Areas can be created that look much more real than before and
increase the feeling of realism and immersion in the gaming world.


[4-2] Texture-mapped walls, ceilings, and floors.
     This feature allows all surfaces to have full VGA 256
colored graphics on them.  This is another standard feature
that is common with most 3-D games.  There are still, however,
some games that use it very sparingly or not at all.


[4-3] Multiple lighting variations (diminishing/fog effects)
     RADIX has 120 different shades of lighting built into it's
engine. This allows for a more realistic depiction of light in
the game.  The lighting also has a diminishing effect similar
to that of DOOM, but there is also a cool fog effect that sort
of reminds me of the one used in THE ELDER SCROLLS: ARENA (an RPG).


[4-4] Looking up and down.
     This feature allows the player to see up and down.  It is,
of course, a required feature for a game like Radix because the
player is right behind the plane, and the player's view must
stay behind the plane if it moves up or down.


[4-5] Multiple heights.
     Radix allows the player to fly at different altitudes,
depending on the level that is being flown.  Some missions have
staggering height differences, in which there are deep chasms and
crevices that one can fly into.  Others have sloped tunnels and shafts
that require some heavy climbing or diving to navigate.
Whatever the case, height differences are certainly one of the
key features of Radix.


[4-6] Parallaxing Background.
     This feature means that the background graphics move up with
the player's view to look more realistic.  Also, there are
actually two different bit-maps used for the front and for the
back view to simulate how a true world would look like.  This
prevents a "wraparound" effect that can make background graphics
look cheap.


[4-7] Analog Movement.
     Analog movement is a kind of movement that automatically
adjusts for the speed of the CPU, which means that the player
will move at the same RATE on a 386-33 as on a 486-50.
Obviously, the FRAME rate would be (significantly) slower, but
the rate that one MOVES is not effected.

[4-8] Complex events and event system.
     Radix employs a very complex event system that allows for
the activation of many events at once.  Events could be things
such as lighting effects, moving surfaces, teleportation, super
speed boosters, gravity wells, scrolling bitmapped surfaces,
among others.  For example, triggers could deactivate one event
and activate two others simultaneously.

[4-9] Auto Detail (with five settings).
     Radix has an auto detail option. This allows the player playing
on a slow computer to fly around in complex areas and keep a steady
frame rate.  The game also has 5 (count 'em) FIVE detail settings
(High, Medium, Low, Super Low, and G.A.N.C).

[4-10] Full Stereo digital music/sound system
     Radix: Into The Void uses an 8 channel digital music and
sound effect system that produces crystal clear music and sound.
All sounds, including the music, use digitally sampled instruments
and sound effects instead of the more limited FM synthesis
emulation.  Recent releases which use this newer sound system are
JAZZ JACKRABBIT and ONE MUST FALL 2097.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
5. What kind of gameplay features will RADIX have?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[5-1]  What type of enemies will be in Radix?

     Radix's enemies consist of many different types of alien ships,
like the Skyfire Assault Fighter, which flies around spewing red
laser bolts and the defence drone which is considerably weaker and
easier to kill.  There is also a couple  of walking aliens, the
most notable being the alien "fodder" which is not too difficult to
kill but can be an annoyance if there are many of them.  There will be
a detailed list of all enemies included here once the game is
released.

[5-2] What kind of weapons will RADIX have?
     There are seven different weapons that are in the game.
Three of these will only be usable if the player has the registered
version.  The weapons are listed below.  Some of the weapons will
have multiple power levels.  As in DESCENT, the player simply has
to find a weapon a second time (or a third time) to increase the
power level of that weapon.  There are also two types of weapons in
this game; weapons that require ammunition and weapons that take energy
to fire.  The ammo weapons will generally be the most powerful
(with the exception of the Gravity Wave device).

--> Neutron cannon * 2 levels
    This is the basic weapon system equipped with the Radix class
    fighter.  The different weapon levels increase the damage of
    the lasers and also increase the rate of fire.

--> Explosive Projectile Cannon (E.P.C)
    This is a rapid fire weapon that causes much more damage
    than the neutron cannon, but is a little more difficult to
    aim with.

--> Plasma Cannon * 3 levels
    This weapon is a powerful wide-spread energy weapon that packs
    a serious punch at level 3.

--> Seeking Missile System
    This system shoots out two powerful enemy seeking missiles that
    cause serious damage.  The most powerful weapon in the shareware
    version of the game.

--> Nuclear Missiles (REGISTERED ONLY)
    These are dumb fire missiles that will require skill to use very
    successfully.  However, the explosion caused by these things is
    very large and powerful.

--> Phase Torpedo (REGISTERED ONLY)
    This will fire out a small cluster of torpedoes that will stay
    together and then split apart, each one homing in onto enemies.
    This one kind of reminds on the torps fired by the Enterprise D on
    Star Trek.

--> Gravity Wave Device  (REGISTERED ONLY)
    This is a mega powerful weapon that sends out a potent wave of
    destruction.  Anything that hits the wave gets blasted away
    at a random direction, thereby clearing a path in front of
    you of those pesky aliens.


[5-3] Any other neat things?
     There are many neat power-ups and technologies that the player
can collect throughout the game.  These usually aid the player in
doing certain things easier, such as turning faster or destroying all
visible enemies :). There is one really neat system, called the
"Automated Laser Defence System", or ALDS.  Whenever enemies get near,
this thing automatically fires out lasers at them.

[5-4] How does this game compare to DESCENT?
     It is difficult to make a good comparison with DESCENT because they
are so different.  I realize that many elements in this FAQ seem to
make RADIX seem very similar to DESCENT, but there are many fundamental
differences between RADIX and DESCENT.  The most major one is the fact
that RADIX is much more fast and furious.  You have no time to stop and
ponder what to do next.  RADIX has a much wider variety of enemies and
environmental sprites than DESCENT, giving the player a little more to
see and do.  Also, RADIX has an added danger that the player has to keep
track of; in RADIX if your plane flies into a wall, it will explode.  In
DESCENT, the player can ram into walls all he/she wants to and not worry.
However, RADIX is not a true 3D game like DESCENT, and the designers have
made no contrary claims saying otherwise.  To be honest, if RADIX was true
3D, it would lose one of the aspects that makes it fun; speed.

[5-5] Will RADIX have Network/Modem support?
     YES!!!
     Radix did not originally have multiplayer support, but the demand
(Internet bashing) was so great that the designers decided to work overtime
and put it in.  There are the two standard options of cooperative and
dogfight ("deathmatch"), but Radix also has a "capture the flag"
multiplayer game.  This is where each player carries a flag and each player
must shoot at each other to get all the flags.  Once one player has them
all, the level can be finished.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
6. Who is creating RADIX: INTO THE VOID?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[6-1] Neural Storm Entertainment, INC
     Neural Storm Entertainment is a brand new company formed in
Ottawa, Canada in late 1993.  It is one dedicated to producing
the games of the highest caliber, and will stop at nothing to do
so.  These guys are almost too dedicated.  One might even call
them paranoid perfectionists.  In the end, though, this
dedication will be evident in the final game. RADIX: INTO THE
VOID will be their FIRST game, believe it or not.

[6-2] Union Logic Software, INC.
     Union Logic is an Ottawa, Canada based software publisher and
developer that is currently working with Epic Megagames for their next
few games.

[6-3] Epic MegaGames, INC.
     As many might have noticed, there has been a change of publishers
for Radix.  Union Logic was going to publish it themselves but an
agreement was struck with EPIC that would benefit everybody.
     Epic MegaGames is a 3 year old leading shareware game developer
and publisher based in Rockville, Maryland.  They have produced many
recent shareware hits such as Epic Pinball, Jazz Jackrabbit and One
Must Fall 2097.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
7. What will be needed to run RADIX?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[7-1] REQUIRED hardware.
     RADIX: INTO THE VOID has been developed to be played on
a 486-33 with 4 megs ram, standard VGA.  It plays well on a
486 DX2-66 local bus, and if you have a Pentium, you MUST get
this game.  Now, the game might run on a 386SX-16, but I wouldn't
want it to.

- Minimum requirements:
   386DX-40
   4 Megabytes RAM
   Standard VGA

[7-2] What sound cards will be supported?
   Currently, RADIX has native support for:
   1) The Sound Blaster family (SB/SBPRO/SB16 and compatibles)
   2) Gravis Ultra Sound

   NOTE: There is no support for the original Adlib sound
    card, as RADIX uses pure digital music and sound
    effects which are not possible to reproduce on the
    FM synthesis based Adlib card.

[7-2-1] Will the PC speaker be supported?
    Hell no.

[7-3] What game controllers will be supported?
     There is support for the keyboard, mouse, joystick and
Gravis Game Pad.

[7-4] Will RADIX be found on other gaming platforms?
     RADIX is currently written under DOS for 386 and above PC's
and compatibles.  Radix will be ported eventually to run natively
under Win95 (or is it Win96? <g>).

=================================================================
III <ORDERING INFO / RELEASE DATES>
=================================================================

-----------------------------------------------------------------
8. When will I be able to get RADIX?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[8-1] Current Release Date.
     There is no release date set.  There has been much happening
in the past month, and the release keeps getting pushed back.  It
is safer to simply say it will be out "soon".

[8-2] Where can I get some screen shots?
     Thre are some shots available on the EPIC MEGAGAMES World Wide
Web site. (See below).

----------------------------------------------------------------
9. How and Where will I be able to get RADIX?
----------------------------------------------------------------

[9-1] Shareware release.
     The first Episode, "Vengeance" will be put onto FTP sites
and major BBSs so it can be downloaded.  It will be able to be
freely distributed, so you'll probably be able to get it from
your friends.  It may also be distributed to retail stores,
where you could buy a copy for a little more than the price of
the disks.

[9-2] Mail-order release.
     There will be a toll free '800' number that you will be able
to call to order Episodes 2 and 3 ("Theta 2" and "The Void").
The price is currently tagged at $34.95 U.S.

[9-3] How do I contact Epic MegaGames?

Mailing Address:        3204 Tower Oaks Blvd.
                        Suite 410
                        Rockville, Maryland
                        20852
                        USA

Telephone Numbers:      [phone] (Orders)
                        [phone] (Questions and technical support)
                        [phone] (Fax)

Electronic Mail:        Internet: [e-mail]


[9-4] OK, so where will I get the thing?

(1) Exec-PC BBS:        [phone]

(2) Compuserve:         GO EPIC

(3) World Wide Web:     http://www.epicgames.com

(4) Internet FTP:       ftp.execpc.com /pub/epic

EPIC's titles and demos can be accessed via anonymous FTP
at their FTP site.  The site is "ftp.execpc.com", and the
directory is "/pub/epic".


=================================================================
IV. <Conclusion>
=================================================================

     Please keep in mind that this FAQ is preliminary and
most of the information is subject to change.  However, as
stated before, much work has gone into this to ensure that it is
as accurate as possible.  Please don't hesitate to send any
comments, suggestions and questions you might have regarding
this FAQ or RADIX itself.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
10. Revision History
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[10-1] Version 1.0 (October 1994)
     This version was a VERY preliminary FAQ that was written with
a large amount of (official) speculation.  It dealt mainly with the
technical aspects of the game's engine and very little on gaming
aspects.  Limited slopes, multiple heights, tilting, among most of
the other technical attributes of RADIX were talked about.

[10-2] Version 2.0 (February 1995)
     This version addressed more gaming aspects of RADIX, and
clarified some stuff.  It is version 2.0 and not 1.1 because it was
done so much later than the original FAQ was.  Auto detail, enhanced
slopes, and explanations about the delaying of RADIX were also
talked about.

[10-3] Version 2.1 (March 1995)
     This version is identical to 2.0 save for tiny changes to : Intro
statements, weapons, the comparison to DESCENT and the release date.

[10-4] Version 3.0 (July 1995)
     This is the final pre-release version FAQ.  Everything in it
is accurate and none of it is conjecture.  Much irrelevant stuff has been
deleted from earlier versions, and this one is more concise.

=================================================================
<COPYRIGHT NOTICE>
=================================================================

     This article is Copyright 1705 by Greg MacMartin.  All rights
reserved. The following rights have been granted to the public:

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*****************************************************************
*********** Greg MacMartin                           ************
*********** Email address: [e-mail] ************
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