README file for SCORCH v1.5 Updated 3 JUNE 95 This file contains trivia, last minute instructions, and changes to SCORCH, in no particular order. What's New in Version 1.5? ========================== This version is designed to solidify the features integrated so far, and is consists mostly of bug fixes and small improvements. - Support for most 256 color video modes - Scanned Mountain Ranges!! - New sky: Cavern... actually this will be a landscape in the next version of Scorch - New sky: Pitch black... test your skills at night! - Team support: three kinds, to please all people! - Real timer delays - great for people with 486's and up. - New weapon: lasers. - New shield: SuperMag - tough as a heavy shield, pushes missiles like a deflector, and bounces away any that get through all that like a force shield. Yikes! - Better keyboard support in simultaneous mode - multiple players on the keyboard no longer conflict with each other. - Joystick support has been modified to support Gravis Gamepads. - Somewhat improved computer algorithms - Foreign character support Distribution List: ================== The full distribution of Scorched Earth consists of the following files: Filename Size Description ------------- ------- -------------------------------------- FIX .BAT 83 Utility to remove bad .cfg files FILE_ID .DIZ 321 Brief description of Scorch ORDER .FRM 1859 Order form for Scorched Earth Password README . 6226 This file SCORCH .DOC 129790 Scorched Earth Documentation SCORCH .EXE 415456 Scorched Earth, The Game SCORCH .ICO 766 Scorched Earth Icon for MS Windows SCORCH .PIF 545 PIF file for Microsoft Windows TALK1 .CFG 1287 Comment File used for Talking Tanks TALK2 .CFG 1272 Another Comment File for Talking Tanks Mountain Ranges Size --------------- ------ ICE001 .MTN 45972 ICE002 .MTN 54281 ICE003 .MTN 139961 ROCK001 .MTN 63114 ROCK002 .MTN 73730 ROCK003 .MTN 136992 ROCK004 .MTN 69068 ROCK005 .MTN 41767 ROCK006 .MTN 33738 SNOW001 .MTN 67134 Printing the Documentation: =========================== Make sure your printer is on, online, and has paper. SCORCH.DOC takes 57 pages. Then type COPY SCORCH.DOC PRN. Then hit Enter, of course. Or use any program that will print files, such as your favorite word processor. VGA note: ========= Scorched Earth (SCORCH) is a VGA only game. It will not run on any other type of system. Fixing Problems: ================ If you have a problem with SCORCH when changing settings, you can just delete the SCORCH.CFG file and run SCORCH. It will return to the default settings. Or, just run FIX.BAT, and it will get rid of the bad SCORCH.CFG file. Useless Statistics: =================== For those who are interested, Scorched Earth 1.5 was written using Borland C++ 4.0 and Turbo Assembler 3.0. There are approximately 122 C/C++ files and 3 assembly files, totalling over 785K of source code. Scanned mountain ranges were processed with Adobe Photoshop. Acknowledgments: ================ There are far too many people who have contributed to the success of Scorch to mention here. Thanks to all who have sent letters pointing out bugs and offering suggestions. Keep 'em coming! Special thanks goes to the Scorch 1.50 Beta Testers... great job guys!! Any bugs that remain are surely the author's fault. Deluxe Registration!! ===================== Due to popular demain, "Deluxe Registration" is once again available! Deluxe Registration includes the most recent copy of Scorch on disk and a complete bound copy of the enhanced manual. The enhanced manual contains the same text as the file "scorch.doc", but is illustrated with tables, icons from the game, and keys for all the options. Deluxe Registration costs $30 instead of $20. Deluxe Registration is available in the U.S. only, due to shipping expenses and difficulties. Hang On A Minute... Why Does Scorch 1.5 Cost More? ================================================== Simply put, I was unable to make enough profit at $10 a copy to pay for new compilers, graphics libraries, and tools to keep up with the next release. Hopefully the price will stabilize at $20 for a long time. Upgrades ======== If you have registered an earlier version of Scorch, you can get a free upgrade by sending a self-addressed, stamped disk mailer, and a blank, formatted disk. Mailers which are not stamped cannot be returned. Please give us enough information to find you in the customer database, or we cannot honor this free upgrade. Alternately, you can upgrade to a 1.5 basic registration for $10 - this covers the disk and postage from our side. Site Licenses ============= Site licenses are available at MASSIVE discounts... contact Scorch HQ with your specific requests. Scorch Fans Outside the U.S.: ============================= To register Scorch, all you need to do is figure out some way to get $20 to me. Try going to your local bank and asking for a "U.S. Dollar World Money Order". I hope to make international editions of Scorch as time permits. Other problems/suggestions: =========================== If you have any ideas or bug reports, please contact the author as indicated below. Please do not call. All comments are welcome, whether or not you are a registered user. Wendell Hicken P.O. Box 1215 Whittier, CA 90609-1215 70671,606 on CompuServe whicken@parasoft.com on internet Scorched Earth also has a home page on the World Wide Web: http://tower.itis.com/scorch ============================================================================ Most of all, Don't forget that Scorched Earth is Shareware. The game is good, if somewhat addictive. The price is reasonable. So why not support the game, its further development, and the whole shareware concept by sending in your $20. As they say on T.V. "Thank you for your support."