============================================================================ BACKLASH A Turret Gunner Simulation Online Instruction Guide ============================================================================ === ===== THE STORY === ===== STARDATE 1422.332 : ORDERS Effective immediately, you are assigned to the System Defense Craft SD-2707 in Sector M as Turret Gunner 1st class. Proceed to Omicron station, quadrant M01.01 where you will report to Captain Masters. Dirian activity in Sector M is high and although peace talks are about to begin on Zhinda III, loss of this sector would be a major blow to the war effort. Admiral Horn End Transmission === ==== THE GAME === ==== BACKLASH is a 3D science fiction action game for DOS. The player must defend the mothership from over a series of missions against an increasing onslaught of enemy spacecraft, mine fields, asteroids and drones. The rewards from successful missions can be used to upgrade the defense systems and purchase more powerful weapons. Requirements ------------ o IBM/PC compatible computer with 386 or later processor o 2 megabytes of RAM with 500k available conventional memory and 750k available extended or expanded memory o Fixed disk drive with approximately 6 megabytes available o VGA compatible graphics adapter o MS-DOS 5.0 or above Recommended ----------- o 486 or later processor o Microsoft compatible mouse o Analog joystick o Creative Labs Sound Blaster compatible sound card The shareware release contains the first campaign of BACKLASH and a subset of the features of the complete game. See ORDERING INFORMATION for details on how to get the full release of the game. ===== ===== QUICK START ===== ===== The game begins at the docking bay terminal interface. Start a new game in the OPERATION BACKLASH campaign by selecting confirm. Select the OPTIONS screen and configure the controls for the game. Calibrate the joystick if it is to be used. Select DIFFICULTY and choose either ROOKIE ( easy ) or REBEL ( medium ) level. Select MISSION and review the instructions for the sortie. Experiment with the other options in the terminal interface. Click LAUNCH and CONFIRM to enter the mission. Once the mothership has completed the launch sequence, press the H key to view the control help screen. Press ESCAPE to return to the game. The first mission is a training mission. Use the opportunity to become familiar with the weapons, radar and interface components. To move on to to the real action, press ALT-F8 to abort the mission. ===== ========= QUICK REFERENCE ===== ========= TERMINAL INTERFACE SUMMARY : Options available between missions. Mission Menu ------- ---- Orders Review information regarding the next mission Details Review turret configuration and mission objectives Maps Review the mothership flightpath for the mission Summary Review the results of the previous mission Equipment Menu --------- ---- Next Select the next available equipment upgrade Previous Select the previous available equipment upgrade Purchase Acquire the current upgrade Single Reload Restock one missile to the current missile rack Full Reload Completely reload the current missile rack Launch Menu ------ ---- Confirm Enter the next mission System Menu ------ ---- Load Load a previously saved game Save Save the current game New Start a new game in a selected campaign Options Configure sound, music, detail, controls Difficulty Set the difficulty level of the current game Help Terminal interface help. About Display information regarding the game version Exit Exit the game GAME CONTROL SUMMARY : Controls available during a mission. Keyboard Controls Control Functions -------- -------- ------- --------- ARROWS Orientation F1, TAB Switch Target SPACEBAR Fire Guns F2, S Increase Shield Power ENTER Launch Missile F3, E Increase Weapon Energy F4, W Switch Weapon Mouse Controls F5, T Select Tactical Display ----- -------- F6, N Select Navigation Display LEFT BUTTON Fire Guns F7, O Select Objectives Display RIGHT BUTTON Launch Missile F8, A Abort Mission * CENTER BUTTON Switch Target F9, D Increase Detail Level F10, C Toggle Crosshair Joystick Controls -------- -------- System Functions BUTTON 0 Fire Guns ------ --------- BUTTON 1 Launch Missile H Display Control Help BUTTON 2 Switch Target P Pause Game BUTTON 3 Switch Weapon ESCAPE End the Game System Options ------ ------- ALT-M Toggle Music ALT-B Toggle Background Rendering ALT-S Toggle Sound Effects ALT-D Toggle Debris Rendering * Use ALT-F8 to confirm the abort of the mission. Not all missions can be aborted. HOW TO === == START A NEW GAME : Click SYSTEM, NEW. Select a campaign. Click CONFIRM. REVIEW MISSION : Click MISSION, ORDERS for a description of the mission. Click MISSION, DETAILS for specific information on the objectives. Click MISSION, MAPS to review the flight path. Click MISSION, SUMMARY for a review of the results of the previous mission. FLY A MISSION : Click LAUNCH, CONFIRM to enter the next mission. It is a good idea to save your game before launching. SAVE A GAME : Click SYSTEM, SAVE. Select a slot ( click EMPTY ). Type a description for the save game and press ENTER. LOAD A GAME : Click SYSTEM, LOAD. Select the game to load by clicking the description. BUY UPGRADES : Click EQUIPMENT. Use NEXT and PREVIOUS to cycle through the list of upgrades. Click PURCHASE to buy the upgrade. RELOAD MISSILES : Click EQUIPMENT. Use NEXT and PREVIOUS to find the missile rack to be reloaded. Click SINGLE to buy one missile at a time or FULL to reload the rack to capacity. CHANGE DIFFICULTY : Click SYSTEM, DIFFICULTY. Select a diffulty level from the menu. New players should start with REBEL ( the easiest ). Use the other levels to increase the challenge. CONFIGURE : Options can be toggled in the SYSTEM, OPTIONS screen. To set up a sound card, use the configuration program ( SETUP.EXE or CONFIG.EXE ). ======= ==== PLAYING TIPS ======= ==== o Concentrate on enemy ships moving at the mothership. Avoid chasing ships that have broken off and are difficult to hit. Wait for a good shot and fire short bursts that can destroy evading ships with multiple hits. o Use the radar to find targets that are out of view by moving the turret until the enemy craft is centered on the gray marker. o Use the threat indicator ( green radar blip ) to find enemy crafts that are firing at the mothership. Target the firing ship. Ships that are on attack runs are usually good targets for the turret. o Use the turret orientation indicator to track the orientation of the turret with respect to the mothership. Try to keep the turret near center in order to have the best view of attacking enemy ships. o Missiles can be shot down with cannon fire. Use your cannons to defend against bomber attacks. o Buy system upgrades as soon as enough credits are available. ======== =========== ORDERING INFORMATION ======== =========== Get the rest of the action and order the full release of BACKLASH today for only $30.00. The full release of BACKLASH contains : o Operation Iron Horse and Operation Gambit. Go on the offensive against the Dirians in 30 all-new missions in Sector G. o All three difficulty levels for each of the operations. o New enemy ships including the devastating Dirian Heavy Figher and Assault Scout. o All twenty equipment upgrades, including the Cluster Missile. You'll need them! o More great sound, music, animations and graphics. o Printed manual. o Hints and playing techniques from the developers and testers. o Technical support and expanded access to the SANCSOFT BBS. Use the file ORDER.FRM to place your order today. Order by phone : 10:00am to 10:00pm Eastern Standard Time In the US call 1-800-699-6395 International orders call 1-803-699-6395 Order by fax : 24 hours a day / 7 days a week / 365.25 days a year US and International Orders : 1-803-699-5465 Order by mail : Sanctuary Softare Studio attn: ORDERS P.O. BOX 2178 Stow, Ohio 44224 Order by e-mail : CompuServe mail 72734,3357 Internet mail 72734,3357@compuserve.com Send $30.00 US plus $5.00 shipping and handling. Ohio residents must add 5.75% state sales tax. Pay by Visa, MasterCard, check or money order. International shipping and handling $10.00. Register the shareware version by sending in the order form and receive technical support via the SANCSOFT BBS and to be placed on our mailing list. ======== ========= SOFTWARE CREATIONS ======== ========= Get our latest releases from Software Creations BBS "Home of the Authors". Check out the )|( Sanctuary Software Studio, Inc. home board. Software Creations WEB BBS Access: http://www.swcbbs.com Internet Access: Telnet BBS.SWCBBS.COM 2400/9600/14.4 USR HST/Dual Standard Public Access (508) 368-7036 2400/9600/14.4/28.8 USR V.Everthing Public Access (508) 368-6604 2400/9600/14.4 USR HST/Dual Standard Public Access (508) 368-7139 9600/14.4/16.8/28.8 USR V.Everthing Public Access (508) 368-3424 Software Creations is the world's leading BBS system for software distribution, voted the #1 BBS two years in a row and 1995 winner of the John C. Dvorak Award for outstanding BBS and Web Site. Access methods include telnet via the Internet, Concentric Data Network and direct dial. Try out the new WEB BBS, the first BBS on the World Wide Web! ========= ======= TECHNICAL SUPPORT ========= ======= Refer to the read.me file for a list of outstanding problems with the current release of the software. Technical support for the shareware version of BACKLASH is available through electronic mail. Please do NOT call the order number for support as the fullfillment office is unable to provide assistance. Please provide a return e-mail address on all electronic submissions. We welcome feature requests and recommendations. Electronic inquiries should be directed to: )|( Sanctuary Software Studio, Inc. BBS (216)677-0229 ( 2400+BPS N81 ) or E-Mail : CompuServe 72734,3357 ( Internet 72734,3357@compuserve.com ) The BBS is the recommended method for getting technical support. The solutions to problems encountered by other users are posted. Patches and the latest release are available first on the BBS. Please understand that we are limited in the support that we can supply to unregistered users. ========= ========= SHAREWARE AGREEMENT ========= ========= What you have is a shareware version of Sanctuary Software Studio's BACKLASH - A Turret Gunner Simulation. You are encouraged to freely distribute to one and all. Everything contained herein is copyrighted to and the property of Sanctuary Software Studio, Inc. Our lawyer is now happy. ======= CREDITS ======= BACKLASH is the product of )|( Sanctuary Software Studio, Inc. Game Design ........ Sanctuary Software Studio Software ........ Michael Terry Graphics and Animation ........ Tony Fienman Mission Design ........ Brian Simonton Sound and Music ........ Brian Simonton Product Management ........ Stacey Simonton BACKLASH would not have been possible without: Ken Kuhlmann, Robert Terry, Jim Haffner, Amy Masters, Devin Dellagnese, Randall Jarrell, FormGen, Gold Medallion. BACKLASH is a trademark of Sanctuary Software Studio, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.