Balloonz! version 1.0
by Adrian B. Danieli
1993 Acumen Software
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Features:
* 256-color VGA graphics (required)
* Medium to fast 286/386/486 CPU (recommended)
* SoundBlaster sound card for great digitized sound effects (optional)
* Joystick (optional)
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To start:
Type BALLOONZ to begin. The game will auto-detect VGA, load all required
data files, try to detect a joystick, and then try to detect a sound card.
Only SoundBlaster (or compatible) sound cards are supported, not Adlib.
If one is not installed in your system, sound effects will come through the
PC's internal speaker. The base address, IRQ #, and DMA channel of the
SoundBlaster card is displayed if found.
If you DO own a SoundBlaster sound card and this game fails to auto-detect
it, you can attempt to force the SoundBlaster at a specific base address, IRQ,
and/or DMA channel. Do this typing the base address of your SoundBlaster card
(210,220,230,240,250,260), the IRQ number (2,3,5, or 7 only - optional), and
DMA channel (0,1, or 3 - optional) after the program name. If this doesn't
work, refer to your SoundBlaster manual for possible conflicts.
Example for base address 220h, IRQ 5, DMA channel 1: BALLOONZ 220 5 1
You can also force PC speaker music or no music by appending a "P" or "N",
respectively, after the program name. An example for no sound: BALLOONZ N
A nice Acumen Software screen appears after you press a key, and then the
Baloonz! title screen.
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Main Menu:
There are six options available at the main menu. Use the arrows key to
select an option, then ENTER to execute. Each is discussed below:
CALIBRATE JOYSTICK (IF AVAILABLE) - As the name implies, this option will let
you calibrate your joystick. If you don't have a joystick this option won't
be active. It is not necessary to select this option everytime you start,
since it is called by Midnight Journeys and Puff-Gunners before you begin if
you have a joystick and it hasn't already been calibrated.
VIEW CURRENT CONTROL INFO - Tells you which control is active for player 1,
keyboard or joystick. If keyboard is selected, the control keys are displayed
for quick reference. Player 2's keys are also displayed (used only in Puff
Gunners). They are:
PLAYER 1 PLAYER 2
(UP) (A)
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(LEFT) -- (ENTER) -- (RIGHT) (SPACE BAR)
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(DOWN) (Z)
CONFIGURE PUFF-GUNNERS - controls various options available in that game. See
section below.
PLAY MIDNIGHT JOURNEYS - plays this one player game. See section below.
PLAY PUFF-GUNNERS - plays this two player game. See section below.
EXIT PROGRAM - quits the game and displays a nice text screen asking you to
register (hint, hint).
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Midnight Journeys:
In this game, you take a balloon trip across the night time sky. The
object of the game is collect all the purple balloons on the level. You are in
control of the little man. He has two balloons to start. If he hits a star
or bolt in the foreground (hard to miss), he will lose a balloon. When all his
balloons are gone, he will plummet downward. Also, try to avoid getting sucked
into the bottom of the screen. This can happen at anytime, so use caution when
flying at low altitudes.
You can control your horizontal direction by moving the joystick left or
right (or using the left and right arrow keys for keyboard). The only way to
maintain verticle height is to flap your little arms. Do this by pressing a
joystick button (or the up arrow key for keyboard). It is best to just tap
the joystick (or keys) to move left and right, never hold in a direction, or
else you may lose control (experiment I guess).
For joystick users, pressing and holding the second button will cause your
player to flap incessantly. Keyboard users can use the numberic keypad to
control the guy's movements. The '7' and '9' keys are a combination of LEFT
and UP, and RIGHT and UP, respectively.
There are 5 levels in the unregistered version of Balloonz, and 10 in the
registered version. You can skip levels by pressing the appropriate number
key during the Midnight Journeys' intro, (i.e. pressing 3 will let you begin
on level 3).
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Puff-Gunners:
This is a two player action game. Each player is armed with a puffer gun,
which puffs out bursts of air. Balloons fall from the top of the screen, and
the object of the game is to puff the balloons against your opponent's wall
(on the opposite side of the screen) and earn points. The higher up on the
wall the balloon hits, the more points you receive (100, 75, 50, or 25 points).
Each player begins with a set amount of energy, and every time you puff you
lose a small amount of your energy. You can gain back energy slowly, however,
if you refrain from puffing for a while. Of course it takes energy to get
energy, so you'll only be recharged if both players have at least 1 unit of
energy remaining.
If the balloon hits the bottom, it will bounce back up (to a random height)
and possibly change direction.
Player 1 can use the joystick or the keyboard. Only the up and down
direction is used in this game. Pressing the button (or ENTER if using the
keyboard) will puff for player 1. Player 2 must use the keyboard. Press the
'A' and 'Z' keys to move up and down, respectively, and the SPACE-BAR to puff.
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Configuring Puff Gunners:
This option, selectable from the main menu, allows you to change some of
the features of the Puff-Gunners game. Use the arrows keys to highlight an
option and press the SPACE-BAR to select it. Pressing ESC or ENTER will
return you to the main menu. Each option is discussed below:
# OF SIMULTANEOUS BALLOONS - selects the number of balloons active at one time
during the game. Use the arrow keys to change the value to any number between
1 and 3 in the unregistered version, or between 1 and 8 in the registered
version. Press the SPACE-BAR to continue.
PUFF STRENGTH - the strength of each puff. This can be changed from NORMAL to
STRONG or GALE FORCE. Each being a little stronger than the previous one. Use
the arrow keys to change the value, and SPACE-BAR to continue.
PLAYER 1 STARTING ENERGY - changes the initial energy of player 1 in 25 unit
increments. This can be any value between 100 and 9975. Registered version
only.
PLAYER 2 STARTING ENERGY - same as above. Registered version only.
ENERGY USED PER PUFF - the energy used per puff can be changed to a value
between 5 and 100 in 5 unit increments. Registered version only.
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This game is shareware. You may use it on a trial-basis, but you must register
it if you decide to keep it. Do this by sending $8 to:
Acumen Software
c/o Adrian Danieli
404 Stone Church Road
Tiverton, RI 02878
See ACUMEN.EXE catalog or REGISTER.TXT for a pre-made order form, not required.
The registered version of Balloonz! contains the full 10 level version of
Midnight Journeys, and enables you to control all the options in the Puff
Gunners configuration menu.
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