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ASTROFIRE : Version 2.0s (Shareware Version)
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Copyright Owen Thomas 1994-1997
All Rights Reserved.


Contents:

   [1]  DESCRIPTION
   [2]  REQUIREMENTS
   [3]  WHY ORDER THE FULL VERSION?
   [4]  STARTING ASTROFIRE
   [5]  THE HELPME PROGRAM
   [6]  THE SETUP PROGRAM
   [7]  BACKGROUND
   [8]  PLAYING THE GAME
   [9]  HINTS
  [10]  COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
  [11]  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  [12]  CREDITS
  [13]  ADDRESSES
  [14]  DISCLAIMER


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[1] DESCRIPTION
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AstroFire is a fast-paced arcade game featuring stunning 256-colour
raytraced graphics, awesome power-ups and more than 18 different types
of asteroids and enemy craft, spread over 75 action-packed levels.

With Version 2.0, AstroFire is now better than ever, featuring

 * Increased firepower
 * New weaponry
 * Smoother ship control
 * Improved sound support


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[2] REQUIREMENTS
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AstroFire requires:

 * 386 or faster IBM-compatible PC
 * Colour VGA graphics
 * 1Mb of RAM
 * 2Mb of hard-drive space
 * MS-DOS 5.0 or later, or Windows 95
 * Sound Blaster compatible card (optional)


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[3] WHY ORDER THE FULL VERSION?
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Only the first Episode of AstroFire can be played for free - just a third
of the full game. Furthermore, you are only entitled to play this demo
version for a 30 day evaluation period - if you enjoy the game and you
want to continue playing it, you must purchase the full version.

This scheme relies upon your honesty. If you want to show your appreciation
and support the production of future games, please take the time to order.

Detailed instructions on how to order are included in the following files,
which can be viewed via the HELPME program (see below) or your favourite
word-processor:

 USA.TXT
 Provides instructions on how to pay via cheque or credit card in the USA.

 UK.TXT
 Provides instructions on how to pay via UK cheque or EuroCheque.

 WORLD.TXT
 Provides instructions on how to pay from outside the USA and UK.

 INTERNET.TXT
 Provides instructions on how to pay via e-mail or the World Wide Web.

 CIS.TXT
 Provides instructions on how to pay via CompuServe's GO SWREG service.


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[4] STARTING ASTROFIRE
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To start AstroFire from DOS:

 1. Switch to the drive where the game is installed (eg. C:).
 2. Move to the sub-directory where the game is installed (eg. CD \ASTRO).
 3. Type ASTRO

Alternatively, you can start AstroFire with one or more of these switches:

 ASTRO -RESET
 Restores all the option settings (ie. difficulty level, volume and
 joystick control) to their original state. Always try this switch if
 you encounter any problems which you cannot resolve by other means.

 ASTRO -QUIET
 Disables the sound effects.

 ASTRO -CHEATKEYS
 Enables the cheat keys: F1 to boost your shields and fire-power;
 F2 to skip the current wave; and F3 to skip the next 10 waves.
 This switch is only available to owners of the full version.
 If you use it, your score will be fixed at zero.


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[5] THE HELPME PROGRAM
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All the documentation for AstroFire, including this file and details of how
to order the full version, can be viewed by running the HELPME program:

 1. Switch to the drive where the game is installed (eg. C:).
 2. Move to the sub-directory where the game is installed (eg. CD \ASTRO).
 3. Type HELPME


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[6] THE SETUP PROGRAM
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AstroFire will do a very good job of auto-detecting the sound card
installed in your computer and most users will encounter no problems.
However, if you do, you should run the SETUP program and tell it exactly
what your settings are (you may have to refer to your sound card manual
for some of this information):

 1. Switch to the drive where the game is installed (eg. C:).
 2. Move to the sub-directory where the game is installed (eg. CD \ASTRO).
 3. Type SETUP


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[7] BACKGROUND
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An alien armada has swept the galaxy, laying all to waste.
New Earth is under attack and you are its last hope.


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[8] PLAYING THE GAME
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The keys are as follows:

   Left Arrow           Rotate Anti-Clockwise
   Right Arrow          Rotate Clockwise
   Up Arrow             Thrust Forwards
   Ctrl                 Fire
   P                    Pause
   S                    Toggle Sound On/Off
   Esc                  Quit Game

The rules are pretty simple: kill everything!

There are two information bars at the top-left of the screen.
The first, marked 'S', represents your shields. Each time your ship is
hit, your shields are depleted - when they reach zero you die!
Fortunately, you can boost your shields by collecting red power-up gems.

The second bar, marked 'W', represents your weapon's power-level.
You can boost your fire-power for a short period by collecting gold
power-up gems. If you reach maximum power, your ship will release a
devastating ring of shots - very useful when you're in a tight corner!

You start the game with three lives and you can gain more by collecting
purple power-up gems. The number immediately to the right of the bars
tells you how many lives you have left.

The number at the top-right of the screen is your score.


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[9] HINTS
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 * If the game is too easy or too hard, try changing the skill level on
   the Options Menu: on the easy level, your ship will be able to take more
   hits, but you will be awarded fewer points.

 * Most users find keyboard control easier than using a joystick.

 * Try to stay in the centre of the screen.

 * If your ship is hidden off the edge of the screen, don't just hang
   around waiting to be hit - take a chance and just accelerate ANYWHERE.

 * Keep the number of asteroids on the screen to a minimum by picking off
   the larger rocks one at a time: shoot one large rock, shoot all the
   smaller rocks released, and only then shoot the next large rock.

 * Some of the alien craft home in on your ship. You can confuse them by
   moving off one side of the screen and appearing on the other.

 * Shoot the UFOs from a distance - the closer you are, the more likely
   you are to be shot yourself.

 * Some alien craft reflect your shots back at you. To avoid shooting
   yourself, make sure you only open fire from a distance.


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[10] COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
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 * Whatever problem you encounter, if all else fails, you should always try
   re-setting the game with the -RESET switch (type ASTRO -RESET to start).

 * Although the game may run normally under Microsoft Windows 3.1, it is
   not advised. If you have problems getting the sound to work, or if the
   game runs slowly or even halts completely, you should try exiting
   Windows and running the game from DOS (note: this means shutting Windows
   down completely, not just running the game from a DOS session while
   Windows remains in the background).
  
   There should be no problem running AstroFire under Windows 95 so long
   as you have a reasonably fast computer, but if you do encounter any
   problems, again try shutting Windows down and running the game from DOS.

   AstroFire must be run in full-screen mode - it is not designed to run in
   a window on your desk-top.

 * If you have a Sound Blaster compatible card, but are unable to get sound
   effects to play or you get a lot of interference on the sound:

   (1) check the sound volume on the Options Menu,
   
   (2) try running the SETUP program to configure your sound card,

   (3) check you're not running the game under Microsoft Windows 3.1,

   (4) if you're running under Windows 95, try shutting Windows down and
       running the game from DOS,

   (5) disconnect any parallel port devices, and

   (6) check you have your sound card drivers installed correctly
       (you will have to refer to your sound card manual for this).

 * If the program locks up or "behaves oddly", there may be a conflict
   with your sound card. Try starting AstroFire without sound (ie. disable
   sound from within the SETUP program or start the game with the -QUIET
   switch).

 * If the game runs slowly, try the following:

   (1) Switch off Joystick Control.

   (2) Use the SETUP program to disable all sound effects.

   (3) Make sure you're not running the game under Windows.

 * If the graphics appear either too dark or very washed out, don't forget
   to try adjusting the settings on your monitor. Different monitors give
   very different results!

 * If you receive a message telling you there is insufficient memory
   available, try booting your computer with a minimum boot disk or modify
   your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files (see your DOS manual for further
   instructions).


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[11] FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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 * HOW CAN I LISTEN TO A MUSIC CD WHILE PLAYING THE GAME?

   You'll have to disable the in-game sound from the SETUP program or by
   starting the game with the -QUIET switch.

 * HAVE YOU WRITTEN ANY OTHER GAMES?

   Yes, see the file TERRA.TXT for details of TerraFire.
   For news of future releases, keep an eye on the web site (see below).

 * CAN YOU POST ME YOUR OTHER SHAREWARE GAMES?

   I regret it isn't possible for me to distribute the shareware versions
   in this way, but you are welcome to download copies from the web page,
   and, of course, they're available from your usual shareware source.

 * WHICH PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE WAS USED TO CREATE ASTROFIRE?

   Almost all the code was in C, with only a tiny amount in assembler.

 * HOW DID YOU CREATE THE GRAPHICS?

   Most of the graphics were created using an excellent raytracing
   package called POV-Ray. If you have an internet connection, check out
   their web page at http://www.povray.org. I am in no way connected
   with the POV-Ray team and cannot supply you with their software or
   with any further information about them.

 * HOW COME I CAN'T HEAR MUSIC?

   Because there is no music - if this bothers you, put the radio on.


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[12] CREDITS
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DESIGN:             Owen Thomas

PROGRAMMING:        Owen Thomas

ARTWORK:            Owen Thomas

PLAY-TESTING:       Merete Hertzum
                    Martin Moyse
                    Pete Croft
                    Julian Morris

SPECIAL THANKS TO:  Anne & Denys
                    The POV-Ray Team
                    Jean-loup Gailly
                    Mark Adler
                    DiamondWare


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[13] ADDRESSES
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If possible, please check out the ORT Software web site before contacting
me directly as you may well find the answers to your questions there:

  http://www.ortsoftware.com

You can get the latest versions of all ORT games from the web site as well
as screen shots and ordering details.

If you still need to contact me directly, please use e-mail if possible -
it's easier for me and quicker and cheaper for you! My e-mail address is:

  ort@ortsoftware.com

Finally, if you need to contact me by regular post, please write to the
following address, enclosing a stamped-addressed envelope:

  Owen Thomas (ORT)
  2A Berceau Walk
  Watford
  Herts WD1 3BL
  United Kingdom

PLEASE DO NOT PHONE THE ABOVE ADDRESS.

If you require technical assistance, try to give me as much information
as possible: what happens, when it happens, what error messages you get,
which version of the game you are using, what computer you have
(eg. Dell 200MHz Pentium with MMX), what sound/video card you have,
which version of DOS/Windows you're using and what memory managers you
have (eg. EMM386, 386MAX).

Owners of the full version must quote the name and address of the person
who purchased the game and the serial number on the label for disk 1.


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[14] DISCLAIMER
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Great care has been taken to ensure this program is virus-free and is
safe for you to use. However, you use this program at your own risk.
I cannot accept responsibility for any damage caused to your computer,
or to any data held on your computer, by the running of this program.

That's the English version - here's the legal stuff:

THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS-IS". NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, ARE MADE AS TO IT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON. I WILL PROVIDE NO
REMEDY FOR INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING
FROM IT, INCLUDING SUCH FROM NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR BREACH OF
WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, EVEN AFTER NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

