Zap!2k

Zap!2000 opens a new era in gaming for the Palm: smooth colour or grey-scale graphics, scrolling backgrounds, more aliens, bigger bosses, more power-ups! Playing it is simple, just shoot the aliens, dodge the incoming shots, and pick up the power-up gems!

Current released version: 1.12 (9th April 2000)

Highlights: Autofire (registered version only), compatible with Chrome on Palm IIIc

Current release expires: never

Feedback to: David Oakley ([email protected])

Game Info: http://www.astraware.com/palm/zap2000/

Copyright (c) 1999,2000 Astraware Ltd.

All rights reserved.

Note to colour users:

Displaying Zap!2000 in colour puts great demands on your Palm IIIc or other colour organizer. If you find that the game runs too slowly, try one of the following:

Turn off some scenery, using the 'Preferences' form

Use a performance booster, such as Cruise Control by BackupBuddy Software. These make a big difference to the game speed, but they can have side-effects that cause strange behaviour. Astraware isn't responsible for any problems caused by using this type of software!

Introduction

Zap!2000 opens a new era in gaming for the Palm: smooth colour or grey-scale graphics, scrolling backgrounds, more aliens, bigger bosses, more power-ups! Playing it is simple, just shoot the aliens, dodge the incoming shots, and pick up the power-up gems! The further you go, the harder it gets. The boss which is found at the end of each mission has a special attack (watch our for it), but also a weakness that you can exploit to destroy it and move on!

How to install

After unzipping (or Stuffit extracting), simply double click on the one of the following files to start your Palm Install program:

zap2000-colour-shareware.prc - colour version for Palm IIIc only (at this time)

zap2000-grey-shareware.prc - grey-scale version for any Palm III, V, VII, Handspring or TRGpro

If you have the registered version of Zap!2000, then the files will be similar but will have 'full' in their names.

Zap!2000 does not require any databases (.pdb files) to be installed.

Playing Zap!2000

Install and run the Zap program on your palm.

Tap the screen to start a game.

(Datebook)

Left (Phonebook)

Right (Up)

Special Attack (To Do List)

Thrust (Memo pad)

Fire

(Down)

Shields

The control buttons can be fully customised if you wish, by selecting the 'Controls...' menu option! You can also turn 'auto-fire' on or off using the 'Game Preferences...' option.

You get an extra ship every 5000 points.

Registering

Registrations for Zap!2000 costs just $7.95, and your key will remain valid for the grey-scale and color versions and future upgrades. Go to the Zap!2000 web page at http://www.astraware.com/palm/zap2000/ for more details.

If you wish to send us a cheque (check), then email first so that we can advise on the details.

Other Astraware Products

Palm Games Pack - get Zap!2000, Astroids, Bzzz! and Fire! for your Palm for just $17.95 (price correct as of March 2000)! That's more than 20% off the price if you bought them separately.

Astroids - asteroid-blasting action with authentic grey-scale and colour gameplay and sound effects as well as a high score table and an enhanced mode with powerups! A PalmCentral Hot Product, PalmGear #1 in June 1999, PilotZone 5-plane rated game! (Shareware)

Fire! - a fast paced remake of the old 80s handheld classic, Fire! (Shareware)

Bzzz! A cute screen-tapping game of catching flies - suitable for kids and adults! (Shareware)

Timetable for PalmPilot - An organiser for teachers and students. (Shareware)

Astraware PC Products

Bzzz! A cute game of catching flies - suitable for kids and adults!

Fire! The PC version of the 80s Handheld classic, Fire!

Release Revision History

Release 1.12 : 10th April 2000

Now compatible with Chrome alternate colour settings on Palm IIIc

Fix: used to crash when you tryed to use 'Reset Highscores'

Fix: used to crash if you cheated to jump past level 5

Now only loads graphics when needed - much quicker to load

Auto-fire (only available in registered version)

Release 1.1 : 10th March 2000

First colour release for Palm IIIc

Completely configurable controls (map any button to any action)

Shields countdown clock

Ability to turn scenery off and on for a faster game

Release 1.01 : 25th February 2000

Palm OS 3.5 compatibility (Palm IIIc and Palm IIIxe)

Removed duplicate printing of Game Over

Added 'Zap!2000 is loading' message

Release 1.0 : 1st January 2000

New completion screen

Redesigned highscore page

Boss aliens are harder to defeat

Shields

Nuke bomb (registered version only)

Fix: aliens don't disappear anymore

Beta 4 : 26th December 1999

Improved and added to sound effects

Bonus coins dropped by alien waves give player extra points at end of level

Mission Summary screen

Boss alien warning radar

Bug: some aliens near the end of mission 2 disappear seemingly of their own accord

Fix: Ship can now pick up power-ups when invulnerable

Beta 3 : 18th December 1999

Fix: Resuming a game-in-progress now works OK (wasn't re-fetching current level's wave definition)

Full screen drawing! No top margin obscuring gameplay

Fix: Mission 2 Boss's laser sometimes caused a bus error

Beta 2 : 12th December 1999

Greyscale palette can be set by user, and restores previous palette when the game exits.

Text moved out into resources to make code smaller and i18n easier.

Space station now has lethal new weapon!

More accurate collision detection between alien shots and player ship (sorry)

New splash page

Bug: resuming a game-in-progress doesn't work

Bug: Hit rate percentage at end of each level is wrong

Beta 1 : 5th December 1999

First release! Recent updates: added more complex astroid field at the end of Mission 2; fixed the collision detection for the wide player shots, the player's ship and the mission 2 boss; more use of the LCD-style text; faster intro screen particles;

Items still to do...

We have ways of making the colour version run quicker...

Thanks!

The evolution of Zap! and Zap!2000 was helped by...

Kevin Mohinani - for input to the design of graphics, and for providing some raw ship graphics to work with.

Pete Moss for the endless constructive feedback on how to improve the game.

Tim Adams for testing and nitpicking ;-)

All the beta testers who fed back with comments.

Feedback

If you've got suggestions about how to improve Zap! - or with reports of any problems you've had, then please contact us!

Zap!2000 enquiries/feedback: [email protected]

General Astraware enquiries: [email protected]

Legal

Astraware Ltd takes no responsibility for any adverse effect that this software could cause to your machine: backup important data before using Zap!2000.

Zap!2000, Astraware and the planet logo are trademarks of Astraware Limited. All rights reserved.