README file for METEOR RESCUE ... 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


System Requirements:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This program requires an IBM PC or compatible with at least VGA.
In general, faster systems will run the program more efficiently.


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 METSFX.DBO.  Check free EMS with the
MEM command under DOS.


Primary Controls:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Use arrow keys for side-to-side movement.
ALT - fires the retro rockets/operates mothership door
CTRL (or UP) - fires your weapon (only during ASCENT, no other time!)


Additional Keys:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[P] - Pause game
[J] - toggle joystick on/off
[Ctrl-J] - calibrate joystick
[F1] - Review this file (HELP)
[F2] - Display high score chart
[F5] - Toggle sound on/off
[F10] - Quit game, go to menu
[ESC] - Quit game, go to DOS


Alternate Keys:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following keys may also be used.  They are active all the
time:

 K and L - same as Left/Right cursor keys above
 Semicolon (;) - same as ALT above
 Apostrophe (') - same as CTRL above


Joystick Controls:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When the joystick is enabled (see above) the keyboard also
functions as a backup, allowing you to control different
parts of the game with either the joystick or the keyboard.

To initiate a drop sequence with the joystick, either press
Button 2 or pull DOWN on the joystick.

To slow your freefall descent either press (and hold) Button 2
or push UP on the joystick.

To rise faster either press (and hold) Button 2 or push UP
on the joystick.

On the way up Button 1 fires your weapon.


Game Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Descend to the surface in a controlled fashion and land on one of
the available landing pads.  Smaller pads earn more points.  You
MUST use retro rockets to touch down.  Make sure that you are going
slow enough that landing gear is extended.  Landing gear retracts
automatically when you are going too fast to land safely.

Astronaut will beam aboard your ship.  Fly back up to waiting
mothership.  On the way up, you may blast away at the meteors to
clear your path and earn extra points.

Dock precisely with the mothership and then turn around and go get
the rest of the astronauts.

The longer and better you play, the better your ship's firepower,
which enables you to clear more meteors away, making your mission
a little more entertaining.

With each successful rescue, more meteors enter the atmosphere and
attempt to thwart your rescue efforts.  How long can you keep
rescuing the astronauts?


Scoring Table:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Action:                                  Points
~~~~~~~                                  ~~~~~~
Landing safely on a planet base:  250/500/1,000
Shooting meteors on the way up:         100/150
Re-docking safely:                        1,500
Rescuing all 6 astronauts:               10,000

The more rapidly you rescue the astronauts, the more TIME bonus
points you will receive.

Get the highest points possible to get into the Hall Of Fame!

The Hall Of Fame also keeps track of the total number of
astronauts rescued on each of the winning games recorded.


Credits:
~~~~~~~~
Meteor Rescue was created by Kurt W. Dekker exclusively for
PLBM Games, at http://www.plbm.com

Thanks to the Brudatrov-man for some of the finest little ships
ever created back in the 1993 days!

Meteor Rescue 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>
