The Adventures of MicroMan ========================== Adventure 1: Crazy Computers (Shareware - unregistered version) Programmed and Developed by: Brian L. Goble Copyright (c) 1993 Brian L. Goble WHAT IS MICROMAN - ADVENTURE 1? =============================== This Text file provides deatiled information. For summary information about this program, please refer to the README.TXT file. MicroMan - Adventure 1, is an arcade-action style game for Windows 3.1 developed by Brian Goble using the Windows Animation Package (WAP) which was also developed by Brian Goble. The object of MicroMan is to run, jump, duck, climb and shoot your way past the enemies while exploring new areas and collecting special powerups! MicroMan - Adventure 1, is shareware. Use beyond a 30 evaluation period requires that you register this program with the author. Registered users will receive Adventure 2 of the MicroMan Adventure Series plus a special bonus Windows application: WallMan. You are free to distribute this program as long as all files are included and no changes are made. It is requested that shareware distributors notify the author. WHAT FILES SHOULD THE MICROMAN ARCHIVE CONTAIN? =============================================== The MicroMan archive should contain the following files: * MICRO1.EXE * MICRO1.IMG * MICRO1.RMP * MICRO1.WAV * MICRO1.PG1 * MICRO1.PG2 * MICRO1.TXT * README.TXT * REGISTER.TXT WHAT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ARE NEEDED TO RUN MICROMAN? ==================================================== System requirements and recommendations for running MicroMan are: * Microsoft Windows 3.1 (required) * 2 megabytes of memory (required) * 1 meg free disk space (required) * 386DX processor (recommended) * 8-bit color graphics (recommended) * Sound card (optional) HOW DO I INSTALL MICROMAN? ========================== To install MicroMan, simply copy all the files from the disk (or decompressed archive) to any directory of your choosing on your hard disk. HOW DO I RUN MICROMAN? ====================== To run MicroMan, select "Run..." from the "File" menu in Program Manager. Next, enter the full pathname (e.g. C:\WINDOWS\GAMES\MICRO1.EXE) and press the enter key. Alternatively, you can double-click on MICRO1.EXE from File Manager or you can create a MicroMan icon in Program Manager. Refer to your Windows documentation for more information. HOW DO I PLAY MICROMAN? ======================= To play MicroMan, select "New Game" from the "File" menu (or press Ctrl+N). Press F1 to view the quick reference help screen. Use the arrow keys to move, the space-bar to jump (hold longer to jump higher) and the "Ins" key to shoot. To explore new rooms, simply move to the edge of the screen (and keep going) to enter the neighboring room. Left Arrow - Move left, aim left (keypad arrows work best) Right Arrow - Move right, aim right Up Arrow - Climb up, grab ladder Down Arrow - Climb down, duck Space-Bar - Jump (hold space-bar longer for higher jumps) Ins Key - Shoot a bullet (keypad Ins works best) The keypad works best for game play--make sure Num-Lock is off. Use your left hand to jump with the space-bar and place your right hand over the keypad, with your thumb on the Ins key for firing. WHAT IF MY SYSTEM IS TOO SLOW? ============================== If your system runs MicroMan too slowly, you can select "Skip Frames" from the "Animation" menu. This will result in faster, but jerkier animation. You can also un-select "Energy Bar" from the "Display" menu. Un-selecting "Fancy Wipes" under the "Display" menu will speed screen transitions when the game is in "attract" mode. WHAT IS THE MICROMAN STORY? =========================== MicroMan is the victim of a top-secret experiment that went terribly wrong. Wearing a special weapons suit, Bob Jones voluntarily stepped into the Molecular Miniaturizer created by Dr. Schnapps. Dr. Schnapps turned on the power and the miniaturization process began. After a few moments of blinding light, Bob Jones was reduced to the size of a few microns. The experiment seemed to be a success but the Molecular Miniaturizer suddenly started smoking and a few seconds later, exploded, killing all those in the lab, including Dr. Schnapps. Bob Jones, now known as MicroMan, was never found after the explosion. However, since the Molecular Miniaturizer and it's creator had both been destroyed, it didn't really matter--there was no hope to return him to his original size. MicroMan now finds himself in a strange and hostile world where he is one of the smallest inhabitants. Now, his mission is personal: to explore and stay alive. HOW DO I REGISTER MICROMAN? =========================== By registering this shareware program, you will receive the following: * Registered version of MicroMan - Adventure 1 (with cheat mode!) * Maps, tips, hints, and secrets for MicroMan - Adventure 1 * MicroMan Adventure 2: Savage Stones (new graphics, sounds, and puzzles!) * Special bonus Windows application: WallMan (with five images!) To register, send $25 to: Brian L. Goble 2218 Franklin Ave E. Seattle, WA 98102 Please specify disk size (5 1/4" or 3 1/2") and whether your Windows system uses 16 or 256 colors. You can also print the REGISTER.TXT file and use the included registration form. It is my goal to create the highest quality games for the Windows environment in terms of graphics, animation, and playability. Please help support my continuing efforts by registering this software. IS THERE A WARRANTY FOR THIS SOFTWARE? ====================================== This software is provided "as is". Although the author has made extensive efforts to make sure no bugs exist in this software, the author claims no responsibility for any damages you may experience as a result of using this software. Use at your own risk. If you do find any bugs, please report them to the author. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WHAT IS WAP? ============ WAP stands for Windows Animation Package. The package implements real software sprites and flicker-free sprite animation under Microsoft Windows. WAP was developed for use with 8-bit color but is able to execute on systems using less than 256 colors as well. The heart of WAP is the WAP.OBJ file which is linked with the Windows application that wants to use WAP's services. WAP also consists of 3 utility applications for capturing sprites, editing rooms/maps, and manipulating palettes. WAP was developed by Brian L. Goble. WHAT LANGUAGE WAS USED TO CREATE WAP? ===================================== WAP was compiled using Microsoft C/C++ 7.0. No C++ was used however. WHAT CONCEPTS DOES WAP SUPPORT? =============================== * Sprites * Images * Patterns * Frames * Pages * Rooms * RoomSprites WHAT SPRITE FEATURES DOES WAP SUPPORT? ====================================== * Drawing * Moving * Erasing * Clipping * Flashing * Mirroring * Inverting * Mirverting * Removing * Virtual Frames * Collision Detection * Sprite Types * Sprite States * Sprite Control Programs IS WAP EASY TO USE? =================== WAP is very easy to use. All the low level functions required for flicker- free sprite animation are carried out by WAP. The programmer merely calls the high level functions when necessary. A typical main animation loop might consist of the following WAP routines: // --------------------------- // // Example Main Animation Loop // // --------------------------- // case WM_TIMER: WAP_ProcessSprites(lpWAP); // execute sprite control programs WAP_DrawSprites(lpWAP); // draw all active sprites WAP_SwapPages(lpWAP); // display new sprites, erase old ones WAP_CheckSpriteCollisions(lpWAP); // check for sprite collisions return(0L); The main programming effort required by the programmer is the coding of the Sprite Control Programs (SCP). A SCP is a routine that controls a specific sprite. For example, a simple SCP to animate a sprite walking across the screen to the right might look something like: // ------------------------------------------------------- // // Example Sprite Control Program for Walking to the Right // // ------------------------------------------------------- // int FAR WalkRight(lpS) LPSPRITE lpS; { if (lpS->MoveState == MS_UNINIT) { // if first time, initialize sprite lpS->MoveState = MS_WALKING; // set move state to walking lpS->x = 10; // set initial x coordinate lpS->y = 50; // set initial y coordinate lpS->image = 5; // use graphic image #5 lpS->frame = 1; // use frame #1 of image #5 } else if (lpS->MoveState == MS_WALKING) { // process next frame of walking lpS->x++; // increment x coordinate if (lpS->x > 600) { // is sprite at right border? lpS->SpriteFlags |= SF_REMOVE; // if done walking, remove sprite } lpS->frame++; // use next animation frame if (lpS->frame > 24) lpS->frame = 1; // if end of frames, wrap to start } return(1); // finished - return to WAP } So, by using SCP's, the programmer still has full control over all sprite actions and logic but doesn't have to worry about all the tasks necessary to animate them--WAP performs these necessary tasks! HOW CAN I OBTAIN WAP ==================== Currently, WAP is not available on a general, wide-spread basis. However, if you are working on a finanacially supported software poject and would like to use WAP in your product, please contact the author for further discussion. In the future, the author hopes to create proper documentation for WAP so that it can be made available to all interested programmers--regardless of their experience level regarding graphics and animation programming. HOW CAN I CONTACT THE AUTHOR? ============================= To contact the author of both WAP and MicroMan, use: Brian L. Goble 2218 Franklin Ave E. Seattle, WA 98102 (206) 322-7932 goble@u.washington.edu Please contact me if you questions, offers, or comments...I would like to hear from you.