VGABomb.Exe Version 5.0 Now with Mouse Support! (c) October, 1990 by Rad Delaroderie PO Box 1991 Columbus, Ga. 31902 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ********************* Program Requirements: ********************* 128K RAM VGA Graphics DOS 2.0 or later IBM or compatible Mouse optional NOTE: An EGA Graphics version, called EGABomb, is also available. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ******************** Contact Information: ******************** I can be contacted at the PO Box listed above, or at * CompuServe, ID 74730,3526 * GEnie, RAD4 * Columbus Connection BBS 1-404-687-7309 Rad Delaroderie --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ************* Packing List: ************* This VGABomb package should contain the following files: VGABomb.Exe (The executable program file) VGABomb.Doc (This documentation file that you're reading now) RadCat.Txt (A catalog of other available RAD Software programs) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ******************** Program Description: ******************** VGABomb is a graphics game in which two players (or one with a split personality, like me!) fire artillery shells at each other under a moonlit star-filled night sky in high resolution VGA color. This VGA version displays colors that I'll bet you've never seen before in any game program! Each scene's layout is determined by many different random factors, including left & right elevations, mountain shape and size, wind factor, specific artillery piece positioning, and other factors that guarantee a unique and unpredictable playing field no matter how many times you play. With Release v5.0, VGABomb now supports a mouse. See the appropriate section of this manual for more details. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ****************** Using the program: ****************** The game is started by typing "VGABomb" and pressing ENTER. You are presented with a title screen with copyright and author information and an explanation of the game. At the bottom right of this screen, you are asked to enter a number from 1 to 9 to set the speed of the game action to your particular computer. After a few games, you will find a comfortable speed setting for your computer, and you can conveniently start the program by typing "VGABomb Sx" where x is the speed setting (from 1 to 9) you like to use. The game will then set the speed for you automatically. NOTE: Rather than having to remember that speed setting and entering it each time you play, you can start the game by creating a batch file with an ascii text editor that would start the game with the number already preset. For example, you could create a batch file called "PlayBomb.Bat" that contained the following two commands: Echo off (if you have DOS 3.3, type "@Echo off" instead) VGABomb S6 (Make sure there is a space between "VGABomb" and "S6") This batch file would start VGABomb with a preset speed setting of six. Put this batch file in the same sub-directory as VGABomb. From then on, simply type "PlayBomb", and the batch file will execute VGABomb with the speed already set for you. ***************** Playing the game: ***************** Two players, each with an artillery position, fire shells at each other. Each position starts out with 100 men, but every time you fire your piece 10 of your men desert because they can't stand the noise. The same thing happens to your enemy when his piece is fired. There are two implication of this: First, you only have 10 shots before your position is deserted; second, the longer you take to destroy your enemy's position, the less credit you get, because there's less men to kill (due to the similar desertion factor on the other side). So it behooves you to get a bull's-eye as soon as possible. Each time one destroys another's position, a game summary is displayed and you're asked if you want to play again. At the end of 10 games, the game is automatically ended with a Final Game Summary and the overall rating of each position, indicating who won. Final ratings are determined by a formula that weighs 1) The number of games won and 2) The total casualties of each position. Usually, whoever won the most individual games will come out on top in the final ratings, but not always! The game action and keyboard use is fairly self-explanatory. The arrow keys (to select and adjust speed & trajectory), and the key or (to shoot) are all that's needed to play the game itself. (See next page regarding mouse support) In addition, the key lets you reset a scene if the program gives you a really difficult battlefield (happens every once in a while), and the key lets you quit anytime. If you've completed at least one game when you , the game will display the Final Statistics summary with whatever info is available at that point. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ************* Mouse Support ************* With Release v5.0, VGABomb is now mouse supported! If you have a mouse and the mouse driver is activated, VGABomb will automatically detect and support the mouse functions, and the screen display will adjust to accommodate the mouse. When the mouse is active, a "[Fire Weapon]" box will appear that you can point and click on to shoot your artillery piece. You can use the mouse for all controls and options. Simply point the mouse arrow and press any of the mouse buttons. Note that all of the keyboard keys still also work appropriately, so you can mix and match input in any manner you wish. In adjusting the speed & trajectory of your artillery shells, only one of these settings (the one highlighted in yellow) is active at a time. To make a setting active with the mouse, position the mouse cursor on the same row (and reasonably nearby) as the setting you wish to adjust, and press any mouse button. That setting will then become highlighted and adjustable. To adjust the setting upward (increase), position the mouse cursor just to the right of the displayed number. To adjust the setting downward (decrease), position the mouse cursor just to the left of the displayed number. Note: Whether you have a three- or two-button mouse, each button adjusts the speed & trajectory functions at different repeat rates! The left button adjusts these functions at moderate speed, the middle button fairly fast, and the right button VERY fast. As you gain skill with the mouse, speed & trajectory adjustments become fast and deadly accurate! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ************* Registration: ************* If you find yourself enjoying the review version of this program regularly, please send $10 for the latest full-featured version of a program that is commercially worth a lot more than that. Make sure you specify the program name and version number! Also, specify the type floppy disk you need. (Use the order form available at the bottom of the accompanying RadCat.Txt file, or the Shareware message/order form that appears near the beginning of the review version of the program.) Finally, if this is the review version, you are authorized and encouraged to distribute copies of this program without charge for others to review. However, please make sure to include all the files listed in the packing list at the top of this file. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of VGABomb.Doc File