Homegrown Software ALIVE Mediasoft Ltd. Moonbases RTG Demo Release 1.2b (c) James Marshall 1997-1999 Copyright Notice ---------------- This is a beta demo release of Moonbases. All code, graphics and sound effects are copyright James Marshall, and remain the sole property of James Marshall, except for all music and in-game speech, which is copyright Stuart Radforth, and all in game graphics, which are copyright Graham Mitchell. This demo is freeware, and may be freely distributed providing all files are distributed together and unaltered. Permission is NOT given to use any of the demo files for any purpose other than playing the Moonbases demo. System Requirements ------------------- Workbench 3.0+ Amiga with graphics card, 1MB CHIP RAM, 2MB FAST RAM or better Installing the Demo ------------------- Copy the Moonbases directory on to your hard drive (probably necessary to play in high resolution mode), or play direct from the cover-CD (magazine demos only). Hard drive installation requires 1.5MB free space. Uninstalling Moonbases ---------------------- To remove the Moonbases demo from your hard-disk, double click the Moonbases_uninstall icon. This deleted the Moonbases preferences files from ENV: and ENVARC: You can then delete the Moonbases directory as normal. Setting Preferences ------------------- Run Moonbases_prefs to change the game settings for screen size and resolution, and the game language (English or German). Running the Demo ---------------- The demo is run from the command line or via its Workbench icon. Enter the Moonbases directory. The executable is called Moonbases NOTE: it is recommended to boot your computer with no startup-sequence if playing in high resolution mode (hold down both mouse buttons during booting, then click the "Boot with no startup-sequence" button. Current Functionality --------------------- This demo of Moonbases allows access to the following features of the finished game: * 2 mission single player campaign The Save Game option has been disabled. Also if you have the reduced demo version (for magazine coverdisks) you won't be able to use the high resolution mode. Not included in this demo, but included in the final game, are the following: * 20 single player missions, divided into 2 campaigns * 2 player games via serial cable or modem * Plug-in campaign system to allow easy addition of extra mission sets * Map-editor and documentation to produce 2-player maps, or entire campaigns Controls -------- NOTE: From the Main Menu, Mission Briefing, and Main Game Display, you can take screenshots by pressing * (PrtSc) on the numeric keypad. >Main Menu --------- The main menu allows you access to previously saved games (click on the name of the save game you want to reload), start a new game (click on the "New Game" button), or quit the game (click on the "Quit" button). >Mission Briefing ---------------- To speed up the briefing, press any key. When the briefing is finished and you are ready to play, press any key to commence. >Save Game Screen ---------------- Accessed from the Toolbar on the Main Game Display, click on the save slot you wish to save your current position in. Type in the new name, and press enter when done. Clicking on the cancel button at any stage will abort the save and return you to the Main Game Display. >Main Game Display ----------------- The Main Game Display gives you a window onto the battlefield, and a Toolbar for controlling your forces (described below). You can move your viewing window about by moving the mouse pointer to the edges of the screen, which will cause the window to scroll in that direction. Units are selected with the right mouse button, and given orders with the left mouse button. Multiple units can be selected by dragging the mouse with left button pressed, to create a selection box. More units can be added to those already selected by holding down the left shift key and selecting additional units as above. Selecting an already selected unit while the shift key is held down will de-select it. Units can be assigned into groups by selecting as many as desired, holding down the left Ctrl key, and pressing one of the function keys F1 to F10. Pressing the same function key again on its own will reselect the group. Holding down the left Alt key and pressing the function key will cycle through the members of the group, centering the window on each in turn. Units can be given orders to move to a location, or attack an enemy unit. Certain types as vehicle such as the Mine Layer and Mobile Mining Rig can be given other orders (see Vehicle Characteristics). Units can also be ordered to move to a location using the Toolbar (see Toolbar Layout) >Toolbar Layout -------------- The Toolbar allows the player to view the overall tactical situation of the battle, construct buildings and vehicles, sell and repairs buildings, and monitor power levels in the base. On the left of the toolbar is the minimap, which shows the battlefield overview, and can be used to refocus the main view by right clicking on an area of the minimap. Selected units can also be given destinations on the minimap by left clicking on it. Next to the minimap are the buttons for repairing (spanner) and selling (dollar sign) buildings. Select a building and left click one of these buttons. Right clicking the repair button will stop repairs to the selected building. Above these buttons is the funds indicator, showing the level of funds available to the player. To the right of the funds indicator are the buttons for saving the game (disk icon), re-stating the briefing (question mark icon), and restarting the mission (exclamation mark icon). In the middle of the toolbar are two rows of buttons, the top row for constructing buildings (from left to right, Satellite Uplink Centre, Geological Survey Centre, Vehicle Construction Centre, Solar Array), the bottom row for constructing vehicles (from left to right, Recon Buggy, Recon Hovercraft, Light Buggy, Light Hovertank, Heavy Buggy, Heavy Hovertank , Mine Sweeper, Mine Layer). To the right of the toolbar are three status bars. The top bar indicates vehicle construction progress, the middle bar indicates building construction progress, the bottom bar indicates power levels (green=power surplus, red=power deficit). The power scale is logarithmic. The toolbar also provides message windows for two player games. Building Characteristics ------------------------ * Moonbase : allows construction of other buildings while sufficient funds are available, and generates power * Satellite Uplink Centre : allow uplink to geo-synchronous spy satellite, providing full battlefield overview while sufficient power is available * Geological Survey Centre : reveals the location of mineral deposits in the area. Only works if sufficient power if available * Vehicle Construction Centre : allows construction of vehicles while sufficient power and funds are available. Multiple Centres can be built to speed production. New vehicles appear at the primary Centre (designated by a red 'P' on the Centre's status indicator). To designate a Centre as the primary Centre, select, then left click on the Centre. Vehicle Construction Centres can also repair damaged vehicles if sufficient power and funds are available (order the damaged unit onto the Centre's construction pad), and reload Mine Layers if sufficient power and funds are available (order the Mine Layer onto the Centre's construction pad) * Solar Arrays : generate power Vehicle Characteristics ----------------------- * Recon Buggy : fast, maneuverable, lightly armed and armoured reconnaisance vehicle * Recon Hovercraft : faster and more maneuverable than the Recon Buggy, but with lighter armour and armament. The Recon Hovercraft can pass through minefields * Light Buggy : a slower, less maneuverable version of the Recon Buggy, with superior armament and armour * Light Hovertank : a slower, less maneuverable version of the Recon Hovercraft, with superior armament and armour. The Light Hovertank can also pass through minefields * Heavy Buggy : a very slow, un-maneuverable version of the Light Buggy, with heavy armament and armour * Heavy Hovertank : faster and more maneuverable than the Heavy Buggy, with marginally inferior armament and armour. The Heavy Hovertank can also pass through minefields *Mine Layer : an unarmed Heavy Hovertank, which carries 5 mine payloads for fortifying positions. To lay a mine, select the Mine Layer and left click on it when stationary *Mine Sweeper : an unarmed Recon Buggy, which can de-activate mines. To do this simply order the Mine Sweeper to move onto a mine *Mobile Mining Rig : a heavily constructed vehicle which can move to the location of resources, and be deployed to mine those resources. Resources are revealed by the Geological Survey Centre. Mobile Mining Rigs are deployed by selecting, sending to the resource location, then once there left clicking again on the rig. Rigs can only be deployed when a Geological Survey Centre is built, and there is sufficient power to run it. About Moonbases --------------- Moonbases is developed by Homegrown Software and published by ALIVE Mediasoft Ltd. Homegrown Software: email - homegrown@eclipse.co.uk web - http://www.eclipse.co.uk/homegrown ALIVE Mediasoft Ltd.:email - jenniealive@innotts.co.uk web - http://www.innotts.co.uk/alive-mediasoft address - ALIVE Mediasoft PO BOX 940 Kirkby-in-Ashfield Nottingham NG17 7FA ENGLAND phone - +44 (0)1623 467579 fax - +44 (0)1623 467579 Enjoy! ------ We hope you enjoy playing the Moonbases demo!