Welcome to Airstrike V1.5
Release date: 1st November 1995
INSTALLATION
------------
Create a new directory and unzip the AS15.ZIP file into
it. Yes, I know you've already unzipped the file - I was
just being tidy.
Run the program by typing: AS
Airstrike will run under Windows, but the results are
very dependent on the video card being used. For best
results always run from DOS. (Or at least walk away very
quickly).
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------
Airstrike runs on 486 machines or better in VGA/MCGA. It
may run on some faster 386 machines with reduced performance.
It can be used with mouse or keyboard. It supports
Adlib/Soundblaster compatible soundcards if present. It
doesn't require extended or expanded memory.
SCENARIO
--------
You are the pilot of a helicopter based on a carrier
stationed in the seas around Europe. A bitter civil war
has broken out and you are involved in the inevitable
peacekeeping mission. Initially you are sent on simple
missions to destroy targets, but as your competance grows
you will be assigned rescue and protection missions. At
the start, you face weak opposition and limited firepower,
but in later missions you will encounter new weapons and
situations, until finally you're up against the
Dosnovian airforce. (Cor, dunnit sound exciting!)
CONTROLS
--------
To control your helicopter you use the controls:
cursor up - to take off and go up
cursor left - to go left
cursor right - to go right
cursor down - to descend and land
space - to fire machine guns
return/enter - to fire missiles
ctrl q/alt q - to quit game and return to DOS
The mouse may be used in addition to the keyboard.
Weapons may only be fired when the helicopter is facing
sideways, left or right.
To land the helicopter back on the landing deck. Move to
a position directly above the pad, turn so that the
helicopter is facing head on and descend.
DISPLAY
-------
Your instrument panel displays your remaining ammunition
and missiles. In the centre it indicates whether there
are any operational radars in the area. If so, then the
word DETECTED is displayed. If the enemy get a missile
lock, the word WARNING is displayed and a tone is heard.
Should you venture into range, the enemy will fire. (And
goodnight Vienna.)
The right hand side of the instruments indicates the
level of damage sustained by the aircraft. Crosses are
displayed over the outline of the aircraft. When the
aircraft is completely crossed out, the game is over.
PLAYING AIRSTRIKE
-----------------
You will be given missions to complete. The mission will
end when you return to the carrier and land. If you land
and are rearmed but the screen stays the same, the
mission is not yet complete. (Tough break, sucker!)
You may return to the ship at any time to rearm and get
repairs to your aircraft. If the helicopter is damaged
and losing height, be careful. Landing too fast may
crash the aircraft. (So it's not a bug, then?)
You will be rewarded for every successful mission and you
may be awarded a medal for completing a mission with a
very low level of damage. (What kind'a medal?)
A shiny brass medal.
(Does it come with a pension?)
Have you registered yet?
(Erm..)
GAME FEATURES
-------------
Airstrike contains several features to hold your
interest. (Babes?)
No babes.
There is a 'fast-track' system. If you complete the first
mission very quickly, you will advance to mission 4,
skipping over 2 and 3. If you are a little slow you will
only skip over mission 2. The fast track works for
missions 1,4,7,10 and so on. Time is tight on these
levels and a screw-up usually means you drop off the
track. (Happens all the time..)
If you fail a mission you will be forced to replay a
previous level before being given another attempt. If the
previous level happens to be a fast track level, you may
be able to skip the level that's giving you trouble.
If you play and die, the level that you reach is taken
into account when starting a new game. You will start at
a mission halfway between the first and the mission in
which you last died. For example, if you reach mission
10, you will be restarted at mission 5. (Wha..?)
The last level reached is stored with the hiscore. This
means that you can come back to Airstrike and restart at
a higher level - if you enter the name of the hiscoring
pilot at the start. If you enter a different name you
will start from the beginning. (I don't get it.)
You can practice the mission in which you died. If you
die during a mission, after the final score screen is
shown, press Y to replay. This will allow you to play
the mission as many times as you like. Pressing N will
restart the game. (Mission 21, here I come.)
HINTS AND TIPS
--------------
If you register, I'll send you a mission by mission run
down with hints to complete the game. (Let me have it!)
Whack!
(I fuppode yud dink dhats fuddy..)
If you are having problems with the controls:
Controlling the aircraft requires only single keypresses.
Holding a key down continuously is unnecessary except in
the case of firing the machine guns. If you are using the
mouse, you may find it too sensitive when manouvering to
land. The keyboard can be used to overide the mouse
commands and provide a more precise landing. (Why didded
yud wride a prodder idderfape?)
Shut it, awright?
If you find a level too difficult, use the practice
facility to take a longer look at it. There is sometimes
a shortcut that can be used. Some levels are better
played fast and some are better played slowly and
cautiously. If you are getting nowhere, and picking up a
lot of reprimands, you probably need to adjust your
playing style slightly.
Blowing up the radars, prevents the enemy getting a lock
when firing Seeker and Twister missiles. So SAM launchers
and missile batteries can only fire vertically.
If you are going for a hiscore, quit the game and re-run
it. Enter a new pilot's name. Play the levels slowly,
blowing up all the military items. This will maximise
your 'targets' score and avoid 'fast-tracking' over
levels. You receive medals for completing a mission with
very low levels of damage.
If you are trying to 'fast-track' and see the end levels,
try to complete the missions as quickly as possible.
ABOUT AIRSTRIKE
---------------
I began writing Airstrike in December 1994.
Airstrike started as a one screen game to demo the
process of creating and animating sprites. I took
time out from another project to see if it would make
a game. It took three days to produce a basic prototype.
It seemed to work well as a game, so I took another
three days to improve the scroll. (If you think this one's
bad you should have seen the old one). After that it was
just a question of adding levels and features.
I finished in May 1996 after a long period of playtesting
and 'tweaking.' The game then sat on my hard-drive for four
or five months until I got round to releasing it. I've
never bothered to restart the other project.
I'm not a programmer. I used to be an artist but I don't do
much these days. I'm a game designer when I get the
opportunity to be.
LICENCE
-------
Airstrike is copyright Alexander Martin 1995. All rights
are reserved by the author. Airstrike is not public
domain. This version (1.5) may be distributed via bulletin
boards, Internet and other e-mail systems, providing:
that it is distributed in its original archived format;
that all files including this one remain unaltered and
are included with it; that no charge is made for making
it available. It is expressly forbidden to distribute it
by CD-ROM, floppy disk or other magnetic media.
REGISTERING
-----------
When you register as an Airstrike User you will receive
a registration document including a printed sheet of hints
and tips to help you complete the game.
The biggest incentive for you to register is that you will
be funding future games development from me. Shareware
provides independent designers with the opportunity to
experiment with new ideas that commercial companies are
unwilling to try. Airstrike is old fashioned crap but it
could have been the next DOOM with a bit more money behind
it. Games are boring after they've been played for a bit.
If you want to see new games come out in the future, then
you have to invest in the development process now. The
money that you send can buy better tools, faster machines,
informative books, esoteric sound cards and joysticks. It
can fund subcontractors and outside services. In short, it
can speed up development and increase the quality of our
output. Do yourself a favor, send off your money today.
To register Airstrike:
The price for residents of the USA is 35 Dollars.
The price for residents of the United Kingdom is
19.95 uk pounds.
For other countries the price is the local
currency equivalent of 28 Pounds Sterling.
Price includes airmail postage, currency
conversion and banking charges where applicable.
Please make the cheque/check out to:
Alexander Martin
And send to:
Smart Products
No.4 Meadsway
Great Warley
Brentwood
Essex CM13 3DQ
ENGLAND
Don't forget to include your name and address.
For queries, e-mail: marlowe@cix.compulink.co.uk
VENDORS
-------
Airstrike is currently only available to users of Internet
and other telecomms systems. I'm prepared to offer exclusive
distribution rights to publishers of CD ROM and shareware
libraries on a territory by territory basis. I believe that
Airstrike is more playable and less trouble to install than
many of the 'playable' demos of commercial products. Exclusive
rights to include Airstrike on a magazine coverdisk can only
enhance sales of that magazine.
If you are a publisher interested in this, please contact
me at the above address.
BUGS
----
I did my best to eliminate all the bugs, however one or two
problems remain that it isn't worth fixing. Due to differences
in graphics cards, the fade between screens may not work on
your system. If this is the case, and you cannot live with the
nasty flickering effect that results, type AS NOFADE to run the
game. You only need to do this once. The fade will not be used
by the game after this. To restore the fade, after disabling it,
type AS FADE.
Infantry men sometimes run backwards. I don't know why they do
this. I think they may do it out of terror when they see the
helicopter coming.
All the levels have been tested and are possible to complete.
THAT'S IT
---------
Hope you enjoy playing! (mumble)
----------------------------------------------------------------
copyright Alexander Martin, May 1995
