======================================================================= October 1991 Volume I Issue 4 ======================================================================= ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º Fellow Overkillers! º º Fall Edition º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ DUSTIN SPEAKS: Whew... it's been SEVEN months since the last release of Operation: Overkill version .996?! ...and I'm wondering the same as you, when is the 1.0 version going to be released? Well, we're one step closer to it with the new release of version .997B. Naturally, this new release would have been labeled a major upgrade to the previous version numbers, but we're running low on new version numbers! So, we're just moving the version number up a thousandth point . Just think, only three more revisions till the final 1.0! In all due respect, I must apologize for the slow path we seem to be following. Of course, we DO have our excuses (I think that's a common trait among all programmers!) During the summer, I took a much needed break from the game. When you look at the same screens for almost a year and a half, things start to look a little monotonous. Besides, all work and no play makes Dustin an unhappy programmer! But, alas! Now that I am back on the grindstone in Austin again, things seem to be going at a very streamline and professional pace. Tom has been working on his new board, while I've been mucking up the code as much as possible. And with the help of the new Alpha testers, the bugs are being target, squashed, and terminated (thanks for all the Alpha applications!). I must admit that I wholeheartedly love looking through 30 pages of bug reports . It's all for the better, of course. We're hoping that this new system of Alpha testing will end all bugs in public releases of Overkill. Also in addition to our small staff of programmers, Vince Laurent is joining Tom and I in our ventures with Overkill. Vince will be special- izing in the graphics and utilities area and eventually be creating a graphics terminal for EGA/VGA users. Vince is the SysOp of LuNaTiC FrInGe here in Austin and is active in the Doorware, OnLineGames, OOII and OKILLERS echos on FidoNet. TOM SPEAKS: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º ALPHA TESTING º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ Many people have wrote me and asked me about Alpha Testing Operation Overkill II and for that we are flattered. However, though there are alot of applications brought before me, I am only able to select the best of the best for testing. Listed in the new ALPHA application you will find some examples of people that I have selected as alpha test sites. The reason these were selected in not because they are gods at programming or are rich and paid me, but because they have proven time and time again that they are friendly and reliable people. Please note the second word RELIABLE. This is a key point to testing. If I say TEST this feature and verify that your bugs are fixed, then that is what I expect. Heck, I am not a slave driver but it does take time and if you don't have the players to test it for you and you don't have the time to test it with them, then you may not want to be an alpha location. Lastly, DO NOT apply for alpha testing if you just want to play the next release before anyone else. This is NOT a reason for testing. Testers don't brag, show off, say they have it before others, ect.. Testers TEST and that is what is expected of them. Also, when you apply, please don't be scared off by the questions listed. Try to answer them as best you can even if you have no clue. It's not really your answers that I am looking for, but how you approach the problem and the effort you put into the application. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º MAP CONTEST º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ Since our last release of Operation Overkill II, we have been including several levels of difficulty for maps. Feel free to create maps that you find enjoyable and send them to me(Tom). Please do not make changes to the existing maps and submit those. I prefer to see original creations. If they are good, then they will be given to our expert play teams and tested for playability and possibly included in the next release of OOII. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º MONSTER CONTEST º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ We are looking for MORE MONSTERS and the monster hunt is on! We need monsters for ALL Levels including INSIDE buildings. Yes, thats correct we are going to have monsters INSIDE the buildings soon. Inside Monsters would include Rats, Cats, Bats, and other various indoor creepies to get in your way and blood on your blade. The monsters we are looking for range from the horrifying to the bizarre. However, these monsters to not range to the area of silly or goofy. We try to maintain a serious atmosphere in Overkill and things like KNIGHTS WHO SAY NI, KILLER FISH, ect should not be included. PLEASE create some and send them our way. Please List: NAME : STR : DEX : HP : RADS : DESCRIPTION: ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º NEWSLETTER and NEXT RELEASE º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ We are sorry to include the newsletter in the package this time, but growing costs of the package makes mailing too costly. This way we also insure that everyone gets their newsletter this way as well. We felt bad last time, that several people did not get their newsletters and if you are one of those people, please write me(Tom) a letter and I will try to get you a copy of the last newsletter. This offer applies ONLY to the registered people. If you are not registered to the game and would like the last newsletter, then you can send me a self addressed and stamped envelope to me and I will be happy to drop one to you. Please include two stamps for postage. I wanted to say that the time delay for this release is mainly my fault and I just want people to know the whys about it all. This release has been played over and over and over again to find problems and bugs that would have popped up in the months to come. I wanted to be sure to get them fixed AND create a more challenging package for you. Dustin and I (as most know) have great pride in the level of support, development, testing and game play for our products. A strive for perfection is what we wish to acheive. Design Offer: IF you are the type of person who is creative and wants to assist in design of OOII. Please drop us a note, for we are looking for the following talents: 1) Ansi Music Creation 2) Ansi Graphics Creation 3) Monster Designs 4) Map Designs Though I am a game designer and program manager for Operation Overkill, my talents take a drop when it comes to artistic creativity. Items One and Two above leave me in the dust (grin). And if you are willing to put the time into some of these, we would be more than happy to take a look at it. If we like your efforts and include them in OOII, then there is a good chance we will give you something in return for your efforts. Please keep this in mind. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º CLOSING NOTES º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ We hope we have taken care of everyone for registration. But if you know of someone or are someone that has NOT received a registration that you sent. PLEASE, PLEASE let us know and we will take care of you as soon as we can. Happy Hunting......