BOX CAR VERSION 1.0
by Robert Quezada
Release date:
June 1, 1993
OBJECT OF THE GAME
------------------
The rules to the game are very simple. You must battle an
opponent on another ST, by linking with either a null modem cable or
by calling on the modem. The object of the game is to just drive
around the playing field and to shoot your opponent until one of you
is destroyed.
All that your Boxcar is equipped with is a missile and the ability
to tap into 10 different camera angles. You must use skill and luck
to your advantage in order to outwit your opponent. The field is
virtually open space, except for 10 "blockers" that you can hide
behind and the four walls that border the war zone.
OPENING SCREEN
--------------
There are five options available on the opening screen:
Master
This starts the game with you as the master controller if
connected by null modem. USE THIS ONLY TO PLAY A GAME BY NULL MODEM.
Slave
If connected with a null modem cable, this will start the game for
you when your opponent is ready. USE THIS ONLY TO PLAY A GAME BY NULL
MODEM.
Modem
This brings up the large dialer interface which allows you to dial
your modem and set the default baud rate. (See Dialer)
Practice
By selecting this option, you will play a game with a stationary
opponent that will not fire on you. This was mainly used for
debugging and other types of testing and development work, but I kept
it in so that if you want to practice or if you don't have someone to
play with, you can still enjoy the game.
Quit
This one exits the game and returns you to the desktop.
DIALER
------
This dialer has many features that make the connection by modem
much easier for you. You can store up to 11 numbers on disk up to any
length (only the amount that your modem can handle), in case you have
to use any type of long distance services, (such as Sprint, MCI,
etc.)
Stored numbers
By clicking on the position with the left button, you will load
the number from that position into the current number, so that it can
be dialed.
If you click on it with the right button, it will store the
current number into that position and will prompt you for a name for
the number, so that it makes it easier to remember which position
belongs to which person.
Current number
This window stores the current number being dialed. The two
arrows on top of the window allow you to scroll the number left or
right in case the number is longer than the width of the display.
Misc.
You can enter a number to dial by either using the keyboard or by
clicking on the number with the mouse.
The left arrow on the bottom row is a back space button and will
erase the digit or character in the last position.
The comma is a 2 second pause (can be used if you have to dial 9
before dialing the number, for example: 9,5551212).
The button labeled "W" causes the modem to wait for a secondary
tone before dialing the rest of the number. (can be useful for long
distance services) Check your modem manual for more information.
Tone and Pulse will dial the number for you in either a tone or a
pulse mode, depending on whichever button you select.
By clicking on the BPS button, you can change the bps rate to the
rate of the modem so that the modem will receive your commands and
understand them.
The answer button sets the modem into auto-answer mode.
The menu button returns you the main menu and saves all the stored
numbers and the current bps rate onto the current directory of the
current disk.
GAME PLAY
---------
When the game starts, you will see that there are two life meters
at the bottom. One is labeled "1UP" and the other is labeled "2UP".
The 1UP one is your meter, regardless if you are the Master or the
Slave. The 2UP one is your opponent's meter.
The game begins with both Boxcars pointed towards each other.
From that point on, it's everyone for themselves. Your only
protection is the ten "pyramid-shaped" blockers that you can hide
behind.
Operating the Boxcar is very easy. The car will always move
forward at a steady pace if the joystick is not moved. To move
forward at twice the normal speed, move up. To move backward, move
down. To turn to the left or right, move the joystick either left or
right. Firing is done by hitting the fire button.
The car is only be equipped with one missile at a time. After you
fire the missile, you must wait until the missile either hits one of
the blockers, one of the walls, or your opponent. Once a missile is
fired, it takes approximately 4 seconds to reload, including the time
from when the one before was shot. This is to avoid your opponent
from constantly shooting you after you have been hit and give you
enough time to get away if you are hit.
Above the life meters, there are 10 boxes each labeled with one of
the 10 camera views. They are activated by hitting the function key
that coresponds to the button. (the fifth is selected by hitting the
F5 key and the tenth is selected by hitting the F10 key, and so on...)
The current view's box is lit up, showing you what the current view
is. These views can be changed at any time you want.
CAMERA ANGLES
-------------
There are ten different camera angles that both you and your
opponent share:
FRONT
This shows what you would see in front of you, including your
"Cross-hair" so that you can see if your shot is positioned toward
your opponent.
LEFT
This angle is the view from the left side of your car.
BACK
This one is the view from behind your car. You can use it to see
if your opponent is following behind you or is trying to hide behind
something behind you.
RIGHT
This angle lets you see what is to the right of you.
AERIAL
By using this, you tap into the aerial camera, allowing you to see
the whole playing field from a distance of 20,000 ft. You can zoom in
and out by using the up and down arrows on the keyboard.
CAMERA 1
This camera is located and hidden on one of the boundary walls.
It centers itself on you and zooms in on you throughout the game.
CAMERA 2
Just like CAMERA 1, but it centers itself on your opponent.
SHOT 1
If you need to see the path of your shot and see how close it
comes to your target, this is the one to use. It zooms in on your
shot and returns to the view of you when the shot is over or when your
car has the missile ready to fire.
SHOT 2
This view is similiar to SHOT 1, but it zooms on your opponents
shot instead.
SPY
It allows you to spy on your opponent's front camera, so you can
see if (s)he sees you and has a clear shot on you.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
-------------------
THIS GAME REQUIRES AT LEAST 1 MEG OF MEMORY TO RUN
When running this program, make sure that the current drive is not
write protected and has at least 1k bytes free. The program writes to
disk after using the dialer when changes have been made and sometimes
at the beginning of the program.
This game was written in STOS using the STOS 3D extension.
Addresses for all TOS versions from 1.0 to 3.06 are in the STOS
address table, so the game will work on all ST(e)'s and TT's.
Every sound in this game is digitized, including the continuous
engine noise.
I have also included my STOS fixer program, just in case the
program does not work on your system or if you have a Falcon. Since I
haven't gotten my Falcon at the time I am writing this, I am not sure
if the STOS fixer program works on it, or if the BOXCAR.PRG file will
work on it after the STOS fix program has fixed it.
According to the author the program that inserted those values
into the table, TOS 3.05 values are in the table, but they are not the
correct ones.
If any of the users out there have a Falcon or have TOS 3.05, run
the STOS fix program, and save the results to the default file, can
one of you send me mail to (R.QUEZADA) on GEnie and give me the
information in the default file, so I can fix any future programs to
work on the Falcon.
READ THIS
---------
This program is shareware. A lot of work and time went into
creating and designing this program. By supporting shareware, you get
a good program for a low price. You may copy this program and
distribute it freely, in fact I would appreciate it if you would. All
I ask is that you are honest enough to honor that the program is
shareware by sending $5 (U.S. currency only) to:
Robert Quezada
301 Stillwells Corner Road
Freehold, NJ 07728
USA
If this game is to be sent to any other computer network, it has
to be sent in its original compressed file.
RELEASE INFORMATION
-------------------
Version 1.0
June 1, 1993
First release of program.