
    PLAGUE PLANET - Archimedes Release Note
    =======================================

 Version 2.1 (c) 1988/1989 Alpine Software/PDH

            Alpine Software
 PO Box 25, Portadown, CRAIGAVON, BT63 5UT

This note contains instructions for transferring
the software on  this disk onto a hard disk,
making a backup onto floppy and  running the
software from the RISC OS desktop or from Arthur
1.2.


        ALPS - the ARCHIE VERSION
        =========================

Plague Planet was written with the BBC version of
ALPS, our  Adventure Language Programming System.
A considerably enhanced  version is now available
for any Archimedes with RISC OS and at least 1Mb
of RAM. Making full use of the Windows, Icons,
Mouse and Pointer  (WIMP) system, ALPS on the
Archimedes is very powerful but even easier to
use. The latest version is fully RISC OS
compatible and multi-tasks in the Desktop
environment. With a very advanced parser that
recognises four  types of verb in addition to
nouns, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions and
other words such as 'all', 'it', 'them' and 'but',
it can easily handle inputs such as:

PUT EVERYTHING BUT THE APPLE AND THE RED BOOK INTO
THE CASKET  THEN GO NORTH, OPEN THE LARGE WINDOW
WITH THE BRASS KEY AND THROW  THE CASKET THROUGH
THE WINDOW.

All this can be analysed with a single 'PARSE'
instruction!

A versatile text editor with a Cut/Copy/Paste
facility using a  clipboard is used for all text,
vocabulary and program entry when  developing a
game. You can have up to 1000 locations and 255
objects in your game. Objects can be defined as
containers with a specified capacity and
open/closed and transparent/opaque properties. The
system takes care of putting into, taking from,
carrying around and examining objects in
containers. There are built in palette and
character designer utilities and  all the
instructions you need to add your own graphics to
illustrate the games are included. There are
light-giving objects, wearable objects, invisible
objects, locked doors,  blocked exits (and
invisible ones!) plus MUCH MUCH MORE!! Far too
many features to mention here! The editor is well
over 107K long  plus a 17K ARM code run-time
program. The system creates an application
directory on the disk containing all the resources
needed to allow your games to be run (and sold)
without the editor being needed.

During play you can use the mouse to input
commands by clicking  on a menu at the bottom of
the screen or even by selecting words  right out
of the text itself - just point at a word and
click  select and the word appears on the input
line! To help solve the  adventures you create,
your customers will need the ramsave and  ramload
features for speedy saving and restoring of the
game  position. Conventional disk saves and loads
are also provided for  those rare occasions when
the player has to sleep!


Memory requirements: at least 1 Mbyte RAM
Operating System   : RISC OS only.


Available now, price 32 plus 1 p+p. Send orders
to the address  above or telephone 0762 342510 for
Access or Visa sales.


                NEW RELEASE
                ===========

Watch out for "COPS", our 'HILL-arious' new
adventure with  graphics using the full advanced
parser of the ALPS system  described above. Spend
a day with the cops of the Hall Street Precinct
and solve the mysterious cases of robbery at the
grade  school and the baffling disappearance of
Police Chief Davids.

Available End of October 1989. Price 19.95 inc p+p.


               CREDITS
               =======

Thanks to Keith McAlpine of Gem Electronics for the
title screen,  the character set and other help. Thanks
also to Jonathon Evans  and Neil Shipman for helpful
suggestions and to Howard Roberts of  Heyley Software
for spotting the odd bug. I'm grateful to Alan
McConnell and the staff of the Craigavon S.C.U. for
their  assistance. And last but not least, Thanks to
Carol for ideas for some of the puzzles.


         THE OBLIGATORY WARNING
         ======================

The contents of this disk are the copyright of
Philip  Hawthorne/Alpine Software. Other than for
the purposes given  below, it is illegal to copy
any part of this software.

We haven't protected this disk to make it easier for
you to  copy it to a hard disk or make a working copy
onto another  floppy. Please respect this faith we have
shown in your integrity.

To install this software onto your hard disk type
the following:

 *COPY ADFS::0.$.!Planet ADFS::4.!Planet R~C
 *COPY ADFS::0.$.Library ADFS::4.$.Library R~C
 *COPY ADFS::0.$.Resources ADFS::4.$.Resources R~C

To make a working copy of the disk for your OWN
use only:

     *BACKUP 0 0 Q


             RUNNING THE GAME
             ================

For both Arthur 1.2 and RISC OS you can do a
SHIFT-BREAK. When you quit or finish the game you
will be returned to the operating system * prompt.

In RISC OS you can double click the !Planet
application icon. When you quit or finish the game
you will be returned to the desktop.

In the Arthur desktop you can double click !Boot.
