S P A C E
I N V A D E R S
Version 1.5
CONTENTS:
1. Introduction
2. How to run the game
3. How to run the game optimally
4. Additional information for sound card users
5. How to play the game
6. Version history
7. DISCLAIMER
1. Introduction
This is a 99% arcade perfect version of Space Invaders
programmed in the summer and autumn of 2004 by Kim Fastrup
Larsen for the original Commodore Amiga systems.
The game now supports AHI sound. In fact, it should now be
completely OS4 compatible. I do not own an OS4 system
myself, though, and so cannot test it.
The game has been tested on an Amiga 4000/030. I have also
tested it in WinUAE in various configurations.
Unfortunately, I did have problems with using monitor
drivers (as described below) in WinUAE. I think this is
due to emulation issues, but I cannot be sure.
For these reasons, I would greatly appreciate any kind of
feedback (positive or negative) from anyone who tries out
this game on a real Amiga system (classic or modern). Please
state exactly what kind of system on which you ran the game.
I can be reached on the following e-mail address:
kimflarsen hotmail.com
Features:
+ Programmed in pure C using Intuition screens and windows
and absolutely no direct hardware access (not even user
copper lists)!
+ Gameplay is extremely close to the original arcade game--
use classic tricks such as "shot counting" and "death row!"
+ The graphics are a pixel perfect copy of the original
game, except that this version runs in 7 glorious colors
(and I changed the text slightly)!
The game can be freely copied by anybody for anybody. This
game wants to be played!
2. How to run the game
For any european (PAL) Amiga, whatever the Kickstart or
model, it should be a simple matter of starting the game from
Workbench, Shell or startup-sequence. The game does not need
any disk resident libraries, devices or fonts.
For american (NTSC) Amigas, since the game needs a display
of 240 lines and NTSC only provides 200 lines, special steps
must be taken.
First and foremost, NTSC Amigas must have Kickstart 2 or
better to run the game.
Kickstart 2 users must start the game from Workbench. Your
Workbench must have the PAL monitor drivers installed.
Kickstart 3 users can simply choose PAL from the boot menu.
If this is done, there is no need to install monitor drivers.
Alternatively, Kickstart 3 users can run the game from
Workbench, having installed either of the PAL, DblPAL or
Multiscan monitor drivers.
Of course, you should only install monitor drivers that your
monitor actually supports!
Installation of monitor drivers works differently depending
on your exact Workbench version. Refer to your Amiga's
instruction manuals for details. On most systems it's a
matter of dragging a file from the "Storage/Monitors" drawer
to the "Devs/Monitors" drawer and then rebooting.
There may also be particular programs, boot blocks or even
hardware tricks available to convince your NTSC Amiga that
it is really PAL. Use them at your own discretion and risk!
3. How to run the game optimally
The gameplay is updated 60 times per second just as in the
original arcade game. A PAL display is only updated 50
times per second. So when the game is run on a PAL display,
the various animated graphics appears to "stutter" slightly
instead of moving smoothly like it should.
However, Amigas equipped with the AGA chipset are able to
produce a VGA-like 240 line display that is updated 60 times
per second. This requires the Multiscan monitor driver to
be installed.
In other words: For the best results, the game should be
run on an AGA Amiga. It should be started from the
Workbench, and the Workbench should have the Multiscan
monitor driver installed.
4. Additional information for sound card users
The game will now default to using AHI for sound output on
any system using OS4 or newer. If for some reason you wish
to use audio.device for sound instead, you must set the
tooltype SOUND=Paula if you are running the game from the
Workbench, or use the argument "Paula" if running the game
from a Shell, e.g.:
Invaders Paula
On any system using an older version of the operating
system, the game will default to using audio.device for
sound. If for some reason you wish to use AHI instead, you
must set the tooltype SOUND=AHI if you are running the game
from the Workbench, or use the argument "AHI" if running
the game from a Shell, e.g.:
Invaders AHI
If you don't get any sound when playing the game, try
setting the tooltype SOUND=AHI/using the "AHI" argument.
5. How to play the game
The following keys are used in the game:
F1: Start a 1 player game
F2: Start a 2 player game
Left Arrow: Move the laser cannon left
Right Arrow: Move the laser cannon right
Left Alt: Fire the laser cannon
Esc: Quit the game
A joystick can be used to move and fire the laser cannon.
6. Version history
Nov. 5th, 2004: V1.0 - First working version - should
run on any PAL/DblPAL/Multiscan-compatible classic Amiga
system.
Dec. 5th, 2004: V1.01 - No longer requires gameport.device
(though it is still used if there) as a first step towards
OS4 compatibility.
Jan. 16th, 2005: V1.02 - Changed screen routines slightly to
centre display on Kickstart 1.3. Also did tiny updates to a
couple of random choice routines.
Jan. 25rd, 2005: V1.03 - First attempt at AHI support for
full compatability with OS4. Let's hope it works.
Feb. 1st, 2005: V1.04 - AHI code was never invoked, as the
game would always attempt to open audio.device first, which
doesn't fail in itself on OS4. This has been fixed, so
hopefully there will now be sound in OS4. Tooltype support
added.
Apr. 11th, 2005: V1.5 - Command line argument support added.
Minor sound frequency corrections.
7. DISCLAIMER
BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO
WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE
COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM
"AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE
OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE
DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING,
REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO
IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO
MAY MODIFY AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED
ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL,
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF
THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR
LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE
PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH
HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES.
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