README file for Island Hopper game ... by PLBM Games
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
File Updated: February 8, 2004
Registration information located at the bottom of this file.
You can register at: http://www.plbm.com
Cheat Mode is Alt-F3 (registered version only).
System Requirements:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This program requires an IBM PC or compatible with at least VGA.
This program requires that you have more than approximately 500K
of conventional memory available. If you have less memory the
program will not function correctly.
This program has been tested to run on a 386DX/33 but it is much
smoother on a 486DX2/66 or faster, especially when there are a
lot of different shapes being drawn on the screen at once.
In general, faster systems will run the program more efficiently.
If the game is running too slow, press F4 to toggle on and off
frame dropping, which will improve performance on slower systems.
If you encounter difficulty, email support is available at the
following email address:
support@plbm.com
Sound Blaster Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This program contains routines to play digital sound on a Sound
Blaster or compatible card. However, this program does NOT
contain autodetection routines. This program relies upon the
BLASTER= variable being set appropriately in your environment.
If the BLASTER= variable is set incorrectly, the program may
crash. If the BLASTER= variable is absent the program will
NOT attempt to use Sound Blaster sound.
Additionally you will need to have free EMS memory to hear
all digital sounds (they're too big to fit in conventional
memory). The sounds deemed "most important" to game play
will be loaded into conventional memory on a first-come, first-
served basis. To hear ALL sounds you will need enough EMS
free to fit the file IHSFX.DBO. Check free EMS with the
MEM command under DOS.
Primary Controls:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keyboard Controls:
Cursor keys: up down left right: maneuver your aircraft
Ctrl: fire weapon
Space: execute an evasive loop upwards
Mouse Controls:
Motion: maneuver your aircraft
Left button: fire weapon
Right button: execute an evasive loop upwards
Joystick Controls:
Motion: maneuver your aircraft
Button 1: fire weapon
Button 2: execute an evasive loop upwards
NOTE: holding down the fire key/button will rapid-fire your
weapon but will result in a buildup of heat that will slow
down the weapon's fire rate, possibly making it unreliable in
combat.
It is best to use an on-and-off technique to maximize fire
rate while keeping down the internal heat of the gun, to
prevent jamming. Each player's current gun temperature is
displayed as a flashing horizontal line near the score at
the top of the screen.
Additional Keys:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[P] - pause the game (press [P] or [Enter] to restart)
[J] - activate joystick for menu control (only at main menu)
[Ctrl-J] - calibrate joystick
[F1] - Review this file (HELP)
[F2] - Display high score chart
[Alt-F3] - Cheat mode (registered version only)
[F4] - Toggle frame dropping (for slower computers only)
[F5] - Toggle sound on/off
[F10] - Quit game, go to main menu
[ESC] - Quit game, go to DOS
Main Menu:
~~~~~~~~~~
From the Main Menu you may press [Enter] or click the
mouse to begin a new game. If you have a joystick connected
to your system you may press 'J' to activate the joystick.
If you have not purchased the complete set of Island Hopper
episodes, there is also a button to allow you to view ordering
information. Press PageDown to the bottom of this file for
ordering information.
Input Selection:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Input Selection screen allows you to select what input
each player will use, as well as how many players (1 or 2)
will be playing. Each player must have a unique input
device selected from the following options:
OFF (the player is not playing)
Keyboard
Joystick
Mouse
One-player games may only be played with Player #1.
Episode Selection:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Episode Selection screen allows you to select and/or
skip various episodes for the game you are about to play.
You may select from one Episode to the number of Episodes
that your version supports. Once you are playing you will
play through ALL selected episodes before "recycling" and
starting at the first episode (only it is much tougher the
second and subsequent times through!).
You must select AT LEAST ONE episode. If you have no
episodes selected you will be returned to the Main Menu
when you exit.
The shareware version features Episode #1 (South Pacifica).
Register to receive Episode #2 and #3, featuring new enemies,
new terrain, and all-new fast-paced combat action. Press
PageDown to the bottom of this file for ordering information.
Difficulty Selection:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Difficulty Selection screen allows you to choose Training,
Standard, Advanced or Elite modes of play. Training is the
easiest mode of play, while Elite is the most difficult.
If you complete all game levels on a given mode, you will restart
at the beginning in the next higher mode.
When your score is recorded in the high score chart, the starting
mode of play will be prepended to whatever you type as a name.
If you select any mode except Training, it will be offered as the
default the next time you run Island Hopper.
Episode Completion:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you have successfully completed an entire episode, you
will be decorated appropriately and given a few moments of
respite to rest your weary trigger finger.
You may continue onwards like a true warrior, or else you
can retire at this point and see if your score is eligible
for the Island Hopper Hall of Fame.
See the Episode Selection entry (above) for more information
on selecting which episodes you will play.
From this screen you also have the option of ordering additional
episodes, if you have not already purchased the complete set.
Attract Mode:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you leave the program at the Main Menu for some period of time,
the "attract mode" will begin playing. This is just a demonstration
of the game play and can be interrupted by pressing any key or
clicking on the mouse buttons or joystick (if selected).
Game Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Island Hopper is a tribute to the shooter classics of 1980 and
early 1990. Those are the coolest games in the world and as
such there should be as many of them available as possible!
Island Hopper features a scrolling terrain with flying and
ground- and water-based enemies that you must destroy and/or
dodge in order to carry out your mission of destruction.
Additionally there are hidden bonuses that can increase your
firepower or give you additional bonus points at various parts
in the game.
For every 30,000 points that you accumulate, you will be
awarded an additional "bonus" aircraft. When all your aircraft
have been destroyed, it is Game Over!
When it is Game Over you may have an additional chance to restart
and continue from the point where you died. Your score will
be reset at this point but you will not have to go all the way
back to the beginning.
Play Hints:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Never sit still (at least not for long). Enemies aim directly
for your aircraft and if it's within their range they will hit
it every single time. Keep moving so they can't draw a bead.
A circular pattern is often useful, keeping the enemies from
being able to shoot you while affording you a good chance at
hitting any enemy on the screen.
Don't get too close to the edges of the screen, as sometimes a
"surprise" enemy will appear and you will not have enough time
to react.
Programming Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Island Hopper is written entirely in Borland C++ with a few lines
of assembly language, mostly for palette management and digitized
sound.
Due to licensing issues, the source code for Island Hoppper is NOT
available for sale or release in any fashion. Sorry! :)
Credits:
~~~~~~~~
This program was written by Kurt W. Dekker and is distributed
by PLBM Games. You may contact Kurt via email at kwd@plbm.com
Artwork graciously provided by the very-talented Scott Mathews.
Thanks a lot man, and LONG LIVE DragonFlight!!
Island Hopper is Copyright (c) 2004 PLBM Games and Kurt W. Dekker.
Trouble Shooting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are experiencing flicker on your screen during game play
you can press F6 to toggle color palette cycling on and off.
If you are experiencing game play that is too slow you can press
F4 to toggle on and off frame-dropping.
For email support please contact:
support@plbm.com
Internet Support:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact support@plbm.com for support via email. You may also check
the following site for upgrades:
http://www.plbm.com
Ordering Information:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To order the full version of this game, send $9.95 registration fee
plus your email address to:
PLBM Games <sales@plbm.com>
PO Box 10342 <http://www.plbm.com>
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
USA
You may also visit our website and order online with a credit card.
Include your name, address, phone number and email to ensure rapid
delivery.
All orders are fulfilled VIA EMAIL ONLY - NO DISKETTE WILL BE SENT!
<EOF>
