Readme File for Hyper Tank ... by PLBM Games
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
File Updated:  January 17, 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 486DX/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 HYTSFX.DBO.  Check free EMS with the
MEM command under DOS.


Primary Controls:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keyboard Controls: (keyboard controls are active CONTINUOUSLY, even
					when mouse or joystick play is selected!)
	Cursor keys:  up down left right:  maneuver your tank
	Ctrl/Space:  fire weapon (see notes below)

Mouse Controls:
	Cursor Up/Down:  accelerate forward back (must use the keyboard)
	Motion:  maneuver your tank left/right
	Left button:  fire weapon (see notes below)

Joystick Controls:
	Motion:  maneuver your tank
	Button 1:  fire weapon (see notes below)

Notes on firing your weapon:  At this release of the game, there
are three different fire modes according to how long you hold down
the fire button before releasing it.  The fire mode selected is
shown in the lower corners of the screen by changing "power bars."

		momentarily:  fire primary gun
		longer:  fire primary gun in TRIPLE fire mode
		hold it down:  fire artillery bomb (must remain in one place!)


Additional Keys:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[P] - pause the game (press [P] or [Enter] to restart)
[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 not purchased the complete version of Hyper Tank,
there will be a button to allow you to view ordering information.
Also, you can press PageDown to the bottom of this file to view
ordering information.

If you have purchased the complete version of Hyper Tank, then
you can also play in "Random" mode, which will give you random
stages selected from the complete list of maps, to give more
variety of play.


Input Selection:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Input Selection screen allows you to select what input
source to use.


Scoring:
~~~~~~~~
Points are added to your score for destroying various
enemies and achieving certain goals.  Some score values
are listed below for the more-common enemies:

	Gunbase (basic)				 100
	Mine (basic)				 150
	Green Tank (basic)			 175
	Red Tank					 350
	Big Gun Emplacement			1500+

Some of the above enemies have "super" variants that make them
more difficult to destroy, and hence worth more points.

Not all enemies can be destroyed.  Some are hidden below the
surface and with your weapons cannot be damaged enough.

Additional points may be scored at the end of each stage:

	- for completing the stage without receiving ANY damage
	- for the amount of fuel remaining at end of stage
	- for destroying a high percentage of the enemies:
			100% - 100 points per enemy unit destroyed
			 90% -  25 points per enemy unit destroyed
			 80% -  10 points per enemy unit destroyed
			 70% -   5 points per enemy unit destroyed
			less than 70% - only 10 points awarded


Game Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Hyper Tank is a high-performance top-down bitmap-rotated tank
game.  Your goal is to destroy as many enemies as you can to
work your way through each stage to the goal.  You may also
need to retrieve keys to unlock obstacles in your path, or
else find an alternate way around them.

In order to complete each stage, you need to destroy about 40%
of the initial enemy units.  In the upper left corner of the
screen is a display that shows how many enemy units you have
destroyed and how many you still need to destroy, as well as
the total number to destroy if you want to achieve a "perfect"
hit rating for the stage.

For every 20,000 points that you accumulate, you will be
awarded an additional "bonus" tank.  When all your tanks
have been destroyed, it is Game Over!


Play Hints:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Never sit still (at least not for long).  Enemies aim directly
for your tank and if it's within their range they will hit
it every single time.  Keep moving so they can't draw a bead.

Be careful not to trap yourself against the edge of some obstacle.
The enemies love it it when you're helpless, and they will take
the opportunity to really pound you severely.


Trouble Shooting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are experiencing game play that is too slow you can press
F4 to toggle on and off frame-dropping.

If you get an "out of memory" error, you need to free up additional
conventional memory before running the program.  Please refer to
your MS-DOS or Windows operating system manual for details on this
procedure.

For email support please contact:

						support@plbm.com


Programming Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hyper Tank is written entirely in Borland C++ with a few lines
of assembly language, mostly for palette management and digitized
sound.  Large amounts of diet coke and chicken katsu curry were
consumed in order to facilitate speedy development of this game.

Due to licensing issues, the source code for Hyper Tank 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

Moral support and great backrubs came from SLB... thanks!!  :)

Inspiration and vacations graciously provided by MM at Kuliwai,
as well as great views from Point, Pillars and Spitting Caves.

Additional ideas were culled from suggestions sent in by various
net.folk around the world.  You know who you are!!!

Additional playtest and some great ideas:  ChrisA, GabeV, KirkT,
ChrisH, TimC, Mike&JudyC, ChrisJ, JohnR, JohnP, JoshW, DougF,
MikeM, and many others.  Thanks!!!

Hyper Tank is Copyright (c) 2004 PLBM Games and Kurt W. Dekker.


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>
