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TANK BLASTER VERSION 1.5  (07/07/96)
UPDATE TO FREEWARE ON 08/27/2013 
By Uranys
===================================================

(Please :do not give out the game without this doc.)



SUMMARY of this doc:


I)   INTRO: What is Tank Blaster ?
II)  How does it work ?
  a) INFORMATIONS
  b) OPTIONS
  c) SCORE
  d) SET PLAYERS
  e) PLAY
  f) QUIT
III) Technical
IV)  Shareware / Swapware
V)   ADDRESS
VI)  CONCLUSION/GREETINGS/HELLOS



I) INTRO What is Tank Blaster ?

Tank Blaster has been realised for your great pleasure, it looks like
DYNA-BUSTER / DYNA-BLASTER or S.B.M. , if you know these games.
For the ones who don't know this kind of game (is it possible???),
I'll explain: you have to shoot at your
friend(s) !! I can see some who are already taking their base-ball bat...
Each player drives a tank (already guessed ????) and has to destroy his
friends who drive the same kind of vehicle.
This game is a SHAREWARE, that means this version is a demo version
(limited) and you have to register to receive a complete version and the
updates (see Ý SHAREWARE/SWAPWARE).



II) How does it run ?

After the launch of TBLASTER.PRG, the main menu appears:

   - a) INFORMATIONS
   - b) OPTIONS
   - c) SCORE
   - d) SET PLAYERS
   - e) PLAY
   - f) QUIT


II.a) INFORMATIONS

This menu allows you to obtain infos about the game.
It is a little doc about it...

II.b) OPTIONS

This menu enables you to configure the game as you like:
   - solid tank (allows one tank to be solid or not...)
   - push tank (allows one tank to push another or not...)
   - repeat fire (allows a player to stay pressing fire to shoot...)
   - time (to define the duration of one game...)
   - energy (to define the energy level of each tank...)
   - fire distance (shooting distance measured in pixels...)
   - save config (automatically loaded at each launch of the game)
     IMPOSSIBLE IN THE DEMO VERSION

II.c) SCORES

This menu contains the score of each player (SCORE MENU), the
winning number of each player (WIN MENU), the result tables for each
player (how many times did each player hit/kill the others).
The score table is automatically launched at the end of a game.

II.d) SET PLAYERS

  It allows you to define the number of players and their names. You enter
  the game by pressing your fire-button (or alternate/shift for the
  keyboard). Normal joysticks, STE joysticks (normal joysticks on the
  enhanced joystick port ->See doc<-), JOYPAD and keyboard are used.
  In this menu each player chooses a name, and his tank color that will
  define his team (the players of the same team can't shoot at each other
  but can push another if the option PUSH TANK is activated...).

  In the menu SET PLAYERS you can also select the game mode you want...

   - the NORMAL mode (by pressing F10)

   - the HUNT mode (by pressing F1 to F6 for player 1 to 6 respectively),
     in this case you choose for each player (1 to 6) the color to be
          destroyed (and that will be the only colour to destroy)

   - the TEAM mode (by pressing F9), in this case a tank will be driven
     by two players at the same time (one will drive the tank and the
          other will command the turret), the teams are composed in function
          of the colour choosen by each player.

   Ex: If there is 3 red tanks and 2 green tanks : the 2 first red
        will be together on the same tank as the third red will be alone on
        another tank (like in the normal mode), and will still be in the red
        team. The two green players will be together on a green tank.



   In each 3 modes you can play in teams...

   BE CAREFUL: you will play the game if you have pressed fire
   and pushed on "END"

   When a team is made ,a player number is shown on the tanks to avoid
   mistaking one tank for another of the same color. But it is always
   possible to desactivate/activate this number by pressing 'N' during
   the game.

   As it is impossible to know if JOYPAD or STE JOYSTICK are plugged in
        the enhanced port, you can push 'J' when you want if you use JOYPAD
        or STE JOYSTICK (by default joysticks STE)

   Push 'RETURN' to leave the screen SET PLAYERS

   ---> If the player selection is incorrect, the menu PLAY in the main
        menu will be disabled.
   (example: 2 players with green tanks !!!
        HUNT MODE, 1 red tank  & 1 green, the green has to kill
        a blue and the red has to kill a brown !!!....

        On the other hand: HUNT MODE , 1 red tank , 1 green and
    1 blue , the red has to kill a green, the green has to kill a brown
    and the blue has to kill a yellow is an allowed mode)


II.e) PLAY

   Guess what ??? After having selected PLAY you are in the game, a
   game is formed of as many level as there is in file level.dat (for
   the registered version), 16 in the demo version and up to 1000 in
   the registered version. Each level is editable with a level editor
   with the complete version.
   In the superior bar is indicated the energy of each player.

   The level swapping is done when a team has won or when nobody can be
        destroyed (HUNT mode), or if you push "F1".
   The game is finished when all the levels have been played or when you
   push "F10".
   For the smart players who are thinking they will win by staying hidden,
   I can tell them they're wrong.The best score will be for the player
        who will have beaten up a lot.

During the game:

   Press :
   -'P' / 'O' to enable/disable the pause
   -'HELP' to disable the soundtrack
   -'UNDO' to enable the soundtrack
   -'BACKSPACE' to switch on/off internal-speaker
   -'+' / '-' to increase/decrease the soundtrack volume
   -'N' to show/hide the tank number (useful for teams)
   -'J' to disable/enable joystick STE mode or JOYPAD mode
   -The cursor key (+ ALTERNATE or left SHIFT) for the player on the
        keyboard
   - '(' ')' '/' '*' to center the screen during the game


III)  Technique used

  This game has been done in C + ASM 68030 + DSP for the routines which
  had to be quick (sprites displaying, joystick routine, soundtrack....).
  It runs on a RGB & VGA screen (it has been done on RGB screen )
  in 320x240  TRUECOLOR.
  It still works in 1 VBL.
  For the sound , I used the (very good) routine of NULLOS (DNT-CREW).
  The next version 1.1 will have an 8 voices sound (one for each player and 2
  for the scenery) with samples (.AVR) banks upgradable when you will
  like...


  I work a lot at killing,(I think nearly all) the bugs, but if you are a
  witness of a crash or if there's anything fishy, don't hesitate to write to me.
  But don't forget to explain the circumstances of the bug and your
  configuration.

 Here is the list of the files in the zip:

 - TBLASTER.PRG
 - DOC\TBLASTER.FRA
 - DOC\TBLASTER.ENG
 - DOC\HISTORIK.DOC
 - DAT\BLAS.NTK
 - DAT\SCORE.NTK
 - DAT\PRESENT2.SCR
 - DAT\PRESENT3.SCR
 - DAT\SOL1.SCR
 - DAT\SOL2.SCR


--->SPACE PROBLEM ON THE HARD-DISK
I did not intend to do something too technical, to allow the game to be launch
with a minimum of memory. All the pictures are loading when the prog needs
it. So if you have not enough space left on your hard-disk you can erase one
SOLX.SCR or/and one PRESENTX.SCR ,and the programm will take the other.
The soundtracks *.NTK can be deleted too and consequently will not be
loaded.



IV) SHAREWARE/SWAPWARE

   This game is a SHAREWARE that means you can distribute the demo as you
   like but if you want to receive a registered version you have to pay
   50FF, 15DM, œ5 or 10$.
   For me, the registration is a "moral pact" signed between the author
   of the program and the buyer.
   So if you do register, you will receive a complete game, including a
   levels editor (manageable and well-designed), and you will also be
   able to ask me anything you want about the game (I will do my best to answer
   any of your questions, but I have to study hard to obtain my Computer
   Science Degree = that means a lot of work, so please be understanding in
   case of a delay)

 Examples:
   - You don't like the tank sprite and you would like me to put the sprite
   you have drawn instead !! That's no problem, send it to me and I will send
   you back a new version with your own sprites...
   - You don't like the background and you want a new one ??? Don't trouble
   I will send you the POV script to make a new one
   - Last example: you have imagined a new trap and you want to see it in
   my game. That will be no problem...
   - I'am opened to all suggestions, critisms.....


   But what is a SWAPWARE ?? It is a new invention of mine !! Yes
   indeed, if you want to receive a registered version of TANKBLASTER and if
   you are a shareware author with an equivalent (or superior ????) cost of
   registration, I will agree to swap both versions.


TO SUMM IT ALL UP:

   In the DEMO version there is 2 soundtracks /  5 in the registered version
   In the DEMO version the save config is disabled.
   In the DEMO version there is only 1/4 of the gfx.
   In the DEMO version there is only 16 levels / up to 1000 editable with
   the level editor.....



V) ADDRESS

   For remarks, criticisms, questions, suggestions, registered versions (&
   donations !!!!) or bugs reports, Write to:

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|                                                                    |
|       E-MAIL: uranys@hotmail.com                                   |
|       Uranys on forum http://www.atari-forum.com                   |
|                                                                    |
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VI) GREETINGS

Thank you for your attention.
Before ending, I would like to say that I have designed TANK BLASTER
because I'am keen on coding and this will not be my last game on FALCON ...
(I'm thinking of an adventure game like the LUCASFILM ones, but that would
be better if someone drawing good gfx could help me)

As the Falcon is one of the more advanced computers in the world and as
some other people pass their time to configure their AUTOEXEC.BAT, I think
we have a lot of luck because they have the power by the number.

GREETINGS/HELLOS:

 - SANTORIN (Cyclades)  for his help
 - MACACA   for the graphics
 - PARDALIS for the very good soundtracks
 - HIBERNATUS  for my compendium in pieces !!!!
   (to insult him E-MAIL: oberthom@srvetud.univ-lr.fr)
 - URANIUM  for the "licence" lecture he will give to me
 - DEADHEART
 - STERCUS  (our DAVE SMALL)
 - BEASTY   for his french traduction of Gemini and his MINT
doc soon in french
 - ELICIT   "I'm laaaaming in the rain !!!"
 - SABRINA  for her english translating help
 - VECTRA
 - MAVERICK
 - NULLOS   for his SOUNDTRACK DSP routine (Does anybody know his
address ???)
 - TSCC
 - EKO           for their demos we dreamed of
 - LAZER waiting for your next demo ......




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|                                                                    |
|       E-MAIL: uranys@hotmail.com                                   |
|       Uranys on forum http://www.atari-forum.com                   |
|                                                                    |
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