README file for Island Hopper game ... by PLBM Games ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Updated: February 8, 2004 Registration information located at the bottom of this file. You can register at: http://www.plbm.com Cheat Mode is Alt-F3 (registered version only). System Requirements: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This program requires an IBM PC or compatible with at least VGA. This program requires that you have more than approximately 500K of conventional memory available. If you have less memory the program will not function correctly. This program has been tested to run on a 386DX/33 but it is much smoother on a 486DX2/66 or faster, especially when there are a lot of different shapes being drawn on the screen at once. In general, faster systems will run the program more efficiently. If the game is running too slow, press F4 to toggle on and off frame dropping, which will improve performance on slower systems. If you encounter difficulty, email support is available at the following email address: support@plbm.com Sound Blaster Notes: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This program contains routines to play digital sound on a Sound Blaster or compatible card. However, this program does NOT contain autodetection routines. This program relies upon the BLASTER= variable being set appropriately in your environment. If the BLASTER= variable is set incorrectly, the program may crash. If the BLASTER= variable is absent the program will NOT attempt to use Sound Blaster sound. Additionally you will need to have free EMS memory to hear all digital sounds (they're too big to fit in conventional memory). The sounds deemed "most important" to game play will be loaded into conventional memory on a first-come, first- served basis. To hear ALL sounds you will need enough EMS free to fit the file IHSFX.DBO. Check free EMS with the MEM command under DOS. Primary Controls: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Keyboard Controls: Cursor keys: up down left right: maneuver your aircraft Ctrl: fire weapon Space: execute an evasive loop upwards Mouse Controls: Motion: maneuver your aircraft Left button: fire weapon Right button: execute an evasive loop upwards Joystick Controls: Motion: maneuver your aircraft Button 1: fire weapon Button 2: execute an evasive loop upwards NOTE: holding down the fire key/button will rapid-fire your weapon but will result in a buildup of heat that will slow down the weapon's fire rate, possibly making it unreliable in combat. It is best to use an on-and-off technique to maximize fire rate while keeping down the internal heat of the gun, to prevent jamming. Each player's current gun temperature is displayed as a flashing horizontal line near the score at the top of the screen. Additional Keys: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [P] - pause the game (press [P] or [Enter] to restart) [J] - activate joystick for menu control (only at main menu) [Ctrl-J] - calibrate joystick [F1] - Review this file (HELP) [F2] - Display high score chart [Alt-F3] - Cheat mode (registered version only) [F4] - Toggle frame dropping (for slower computers only) [F5] - Toggle sound on/off [F10] - Quit game, go to main menu [ESC] - Quit game, go to DOS Main Menu: ~~~~~~~~~~ From the Main Menu you may press [Enter] or click the mouse to begin a new game. If you have a joystick connected to your system you may press 'J' to activate the joystick. If you have not purchased the complete set of Island Hopper episodes, there is also a button to allow you to view ordering information. Press PageDown to the bottom of this file for ordering information. Input Selection: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Input Selection screen allows you to select what input each player will use, as well as how many players (1 or 2) will be playing. Each player must have a unique input device selected from the following options: OFF (the player is not playing) Keyboard Joystick Mouse One-player games may only be played with Player #1. Episode Selection: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Episode Selection screen allows you to select and/or skip various episodes for the game you are about to play. You may select from one Episode to the number of Episodes that your version supports. Once you are playing you will play through ALL selected episodes before "recycling" and starting at the first episode (only it is much tougher the second and subsequent times through!). You must select AT LEAST ONE episode. If you have no episodes selected you will be returned to the Main Menu when you exit. The shareware version features Episode #1 (South Pacifica). Register to receive Episode #2 and #3, featuring new enemies, new terrain, and all-new fast-paced combat action. Press PageDown to the bottom of this file for ordering information. Difficulty Selection: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Difficulty Selection screen allows you to choose Training, Standard, Advanced or Elite modes of play. Training is the easiest mode of play, while Elite is the most difficult. If you complete all game levels on a given mode, you will restart at the beginning in the next higher mode. When your score is recorded in the high score chart, the starting mode of play will be prepended to whatever you type as a name. If you select any mode except Training, it will be offered as the default the next time you run Island Hopper. Episode Completion: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When you have successfully completed an entire episode, you will be decorated appropriately and given a few moments of respite to rest your weary trigger finger. You may continue onwards like a true warrior, or else you can retire at this point and see if your score is eligible for the Island Hopper Hall of Fame. See the Episode Selection entry (above) for more information on selecting which episodes you will play. From this screen you also have the option of ordering additional episodes, if you have not already purchased the complete set. Attract Mode: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you leave the program at the Main Menu for some period of time, the "attract mode" will begin playing. This is just a demonstration of the game play and can be interrupted by pressing any key or clicking on the mouse buttons or joystick (if selected). Game Notes: ~~~~~~~~~~~ Island Hopper is a tribute to the shooter classics of 1980 and early 1990. Those are the coolest games in the world and as such there should be as many of them available as possible! Island Hopper features a scrolling terrain with flying and ground- and water-based enemies that you must destroy and/or dodge in order to carry out your mission of destruction. Additionally there are hidden bonuses that can increase your firepower or give you additional bonus points at various parts in the game. For every 30,000 points that you accumulate, you will be awarded an additional "bonus" aircraft. When all your aircraft have been destroyed, it is Game Over! When it is Game Over you may have an additional chance to restart and continue from the point where you died. Your score will be reset at this point but you will not have to go all the way back to the beginning. Play Hints: ~~~~~~~~~~~ Never sit still (at least not for long). Enemies aim directly for your aircraft and if it's within their range they will hit it every single time. Keep moving so they can't draw a bead. A circular pattern is often useful, keeping the enemies from being able to shoot you while affording you a good chance at hitting any enemy on the screen. Don't get too close to the edges of the screen, as sometimes a "surprise" enemy will appear and you will not have enough time to react. Programming Notes: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Island Hopper is written entirely in Borland C++ with a few lines of assembly language, mostly for palette management and digitized sound. Due to licensing issues, the source code for Island Hoppper is NOT available for sale or release in any fashion. Sorry! :) Credits: ~~~~~~~~ This program was written by Kurt W. Dekker and is distributed by PLBM Games. You may contact Kurt via email at kwd@plbm.com Artwork graciously provided by the very-talented Scott Mathews. Thanks a lot man, and LONG LIVE DragonFlight!! Island Hopper is Copyright (c) 2004 PLBM Games and Kurt W. Dekker. Trouble Shooting: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are experiencing flicker on your screen during game play you can press F6 to toggle color palette cycling on and off. If you are experiencing game play that is too slow you can press F4 to toggle on and off frame-dropping. For email support please contact: support@plbm.com Internet Support: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Contact support@plbm.com for support via email. You may also check the following site for upgrades: http://www.plbm.com Ordering Information: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To order the full version of this game, send $9.95 registration fee plus your email address to: PLBM Games PO Box 10342 Costa Mesa, CA 92627 USA You may also visit our website and order online with a credit card. Include your name, address, phone number and email to ensure rapid delivery. All orders are fulfilled VIA EMAIL ONLY - NO DISKETTE WILL BE SENT!