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1 | Elite - The New Kind Release 1.0\r |
2 | -------------------- -----------\r |
3 | \r |
4 | Revision date: 22 July 2001\r |
5 | \r |
6 | This is release 1.0 of Elite - The New Kind.\r |
7 | For changes since previous releases see below.\r |
8 | \r |
9 | newkindb.zip contains a compiled version of the code designed to run under MS Windows 95/98/NT using the Allegro graphics library and DirectX.\r |
10 | \r |
11 | newkind.zip contains source code for Elite - The New Kind.\r |
12 | If you want to recompile the game then please note the following...\r |
13 | a. The .wav and .dat files are not included in the source distribution to keep the size down, they can be found in newkindb.zip.\r |
14 | b. You need the WIP version of Allegro to compile the code.\r |
15 | \r |
16 | The latest versions of the source and executable can always be found on the New Kind website...\r |
17 | http://www.newkind.co.uk\r |
18 | \r |
19 | To run the supplied executable you will need DirectX installed. Windows 98/ME/2000 and NT 4 (with latest service pack) come with this.\r |
20 | If you are using Windows 95 and you haven't already installed DirectX you will need to do so.\r |
21 | The DirectX runtime can be downloaded from the Microsoft website. (www.microsoft.com/directx).\r |
22 | \r |
23 | Two pieces of music are included in Elite - The New Kind. The Elite Theme and The Blue Danube.\r |
24 | The Elite Theme was composed by Aidan Bell and the Blue Danube was composed by Strauss.\r |
25 | I spent a long time hunting for the best MIDI versions of these pieces I could find.\r |
26 | To appreciate them properly you will need a decent Soft Synth Midi driver installed and set as you prefered Midi and Sound device.\r |
27 | \r |
28 | Keys you can use...\r |
29 | Press Y or N on the intro screen.\r |
30 | Press Space on the ship parade screen.\r |
31 | \r |
32 | F1 - Launch when docked, Front View when in flight.\r |
33 | F2 - Rear View\r |
34 | F3 - Left View\r |
35 | F4 - Right View when in flight.\r |
36 | When docked, Buy Equipment for ship.\r |
37 | Use up and down arrow keys to select item, return/enter key to buy.\r |
38 | F5 - Display Galactic Chart.\r |
39 | F6 - Short Range Chart.\r |
40 | F7 - Show information on selected planet.\r |
41 | F8 - Buy and sell items on the stock market.\r |
42 | Use up and down arrow keys to select item, right arrow key to buy, left arrow key to sell.\r |
43 | F9 - Commander information.\r |
44 | F10 - Inventory.\r |
45 | F11 - Options screen (Save Game, Load Game, Game Settings, Quit).\r |
46 | Use up and down arrows keys to select option, return/enter to select.\r |
47 | \r |
48 | A - Fire.\r |
49 | S - Dive.\r |
50 | X - Climb.\r |
51 | < - Roll Left\r |
52 | > - Roll Right\r |
53 | / - Slow Down\r |
54 | Space - Speed up.\r |
55 | \r |
56 | C - Activate docking computer, if fitted.\r |
57 | D - De-activate docking computer if switched on.\r |
58 | E - Active ECM, if fitted.\r |
59 | H - Hyperspace.\r |
60 | J - Warp Jump.\r |
61 | M - Fire missile.\r |
62 | T - Target a missile.\r |
63 | U - Un-target missile.\r |
64 | TAB - Detonate energy bomb, if fitted.\r |
65 | CTRL+H - Galactic Hyperspace, if fitted.\r |
66 | ESC - Launch escape capsule, if fitted.\r |
67 | P - Pause game.\r |
68 | R - Resume game when paused.\r |
69 | \r |
70 | On The Chart Screens\r |
71 | --------------------\r |
72 | D - Select a planet and show distance to it.\r |
73 | F - Find planet by name.\r |
74 | O - Return cursor to current planet.\r |
75 | Cursor Keys - Move cross hairs around.\r |
76 | \r |
77 | \r |
78 | On The Game Settings Screen\r |
79 | ---------------------------\r |
80 | From the Options Screen (F11) you can enter the Game Settings Screen. From here you can change\r |
81 | a number of settings that control how the game looks and plays. Use the cursor keys to select an option\r |
82 | and the Enter/Return key to change it. The options can be saved as default for future games by pressing Enter\r |
83 | while on the Save Settings option (NB this is not necessary if you want to change the settings just for\r |
84 | the current game). Game settings are held in the newkind.cfg file which should be in the same directory\r |
85 | as the newkind.exe file.\r |
86 | \r |
87 | \r |
88 | \r |
89 | Release 1.0 - Changes since Beta 3.0\r |
90 | ====================================\r |
91 | \r |
92 | - Rocks, alloys and boulders no longer stop you from engaging the jump drive.\r |
93 | \r |
94 | - Stopped tactics routine from being called while on the intro screens.\r |
95 | \r |
96 | - Ramming ships was causing little damage to player's ship. Now fixed.\r |
97 | \r |
98 | - Switching views while in space now switches stars around.\r |
99 | \r |
100 | - Moved all Allegro specific graphic functions into alg_gfx.c\r |
101 | \r |
102 | - Moved keyboard handling routines into keyboard.c\r |
103 | \r |
104 | - Moved file handling routines out of alg_main.c into file.c\r |
105 | \r |
106 | - Added screen to allow player to set the game options from within the game.\r |
107 | This means the player no longer has to hack newkind.cfg directly.\r |
108 | \r |
109 | - Tidied graphics routines and removed all references to HDC.\r |
110 | \r |
111 | - Fixed movement of crosshairs on chart screens so that they are clipped properly.\r |
112 | \r |
113 | - Added explosion, cargo cannisters and alloys to the game over screen.\r |
114 | \r |
115 | - Added escape capsule sequence.\r |
116 | \r |
117 | - Added option for instant dock vs. auto-pilot docking.\r |
118 | \r |
119 | - Fixed bug that allowed an enemy craft to launch multiple escape capsules.\r |
120 | \r |
121 | - Fixed asteroids so that they move slower and don't try to evade attack.\r |
122 | \r |
123 | - Added rock hermits.\r |
124 | \r |
125 | - Tweaked the tactics routine again.\r |
126 | \r |
127 | - Added limited joystick support (digital only at the moment).\r |
128 | \r |
129 | - Added beep sound when missile target is locked.\r |
130 | \r |
131 | - Added low pitch beep sound when missile is unarmed.\r |
132 | \r |
133 | - Added Energy Low message when enegry levels reach critical.\r |
134 | \r |
135 | \r |
136 | \r |
137 | Beta 3.0 - Changes since Beta 2.1\r |
138 | =================================\r |
139 | \r |
140 | - Fixed bug that allowed lasers to fire too rapidly.\r |
141 | \r |
142 | - The console was not being updated (i.e no of missiles) after a saved commander was loaded. Now fixed.\r |
143 | \r |
144 | - Added planet auto-select on chart screens ala NES.\r |
145 | \r |
146 | - Asteroid mining implemented.\r |
147 | \r |
148 | - Exploding ships now release alloys.\r |
149 | \r |
150 | - Fixed bug that caused enemy ships to only fire when at close range.\r |
151 | \r |
152 | - Thargoids can now appear.\r |
153 | \r |
154 | - Witchspace ambush added.\r |
155 | \r |
156 | - Anacondas now release worms and sidewinders when attacked.\r |
157 | \r |
158 | - Attacked ships can now release escape capsules.\r |
159 | \r |
160 | - Objects other than cargo cannisters can now be scooped.\r |
161 | \r |
162 | - Corrected condition indicator code. Was previously showing yellow even after danger had passed.\r |
163 | \r |
164 | - Added ability to pause game (P key pauses, R resumes).\r |
165 | \r |
166 | - The Cougar (a cloaked ship) can now appear.\r |
167 | \r |
168 | - The second mission is now playable.\r |
169 | \r |
170 | - Fixed bug that allowed enemy ships to fire from bizare angles.\r |
171 | \r |
172 | - Rewrote tactics routines. New code now based on NES Elite.\r |
173 | \r |
174 | - Docking computers now use full auto-pilot rather than just instant dock.\r |
175 | \r |
176 | - Space station now launches shuttles and transporters bound for the planet.\r |
177 | \r |
178 | \r |
179 | \r |
180 | Beta 2.1 - Changes since Beta 2.0\r |
181 | =================================\r |
182 | \r |
183 | - Added code to set legal status to clean and fuel to maximum after using an escape capsule.\r |
184 | \r |
185 | - Fixed enemy missile targeting so that other ships don't blow themselves up.\r |
186 | \r |
187 | - Fixed speed of enemy ships which were moving too slowly in previous versions.\r |
188 | \r |
189 | - Added game speed control option to newkind.cfg.\r |
190 | \r |
191 | \r |
192 | Beta 2.0 - Changes since Beta 1.1\r |
193 | =================================\r |
194 | \r |
195 | - Fixed bug in enemy tactics which caused ships to run away.\r |
196 | \r |
197 | - Set the max speed of player's ship to 0.30LM.\r |
198 | \r |
199 | - Added code to display version number on options screen.\r |
200 | \r |
201 | - Corrected spelling of "Feudal".\r |
202 | \r |
203 | - Enabled docking computers (instant dock for the moment).\r |
204 | \r |
205 | - Added hyperspace sound.\r |
206 | \r |
207 | - Changed code to display number of credits instead of bounty.\r |
208 | \r |
209 | - Set hyperspace count down to 15.\r |
210 | \r |
211 | - Added Suns, cabin temperature and fuel scooping.\r |
212 | \r |
213 | - Added left and right views when in flight.\r |
214 | \r |
215 | - Enabled use of Energy Bomb, activated with TAB key.\r |
216 | \r |
217 | - Changed scanner slightly, added code to display objects in different colours.\r |
218 | \r |
219 | - Fixed warping of stars in rear view.\r |
220 | \r |
221 | - Enabled Escape Capsule, use ESC key to abandon ship.\r |
222 | \r |
223 | - Enabled Galactic Hyperspace.\r |
224 | \r |
225 | - Added use of 'O' key on chart screens.\r |
226 | \r |
227 | - Added ability to find planets by name.\r |
228 | \r |
229 | - Added Windows icon created by Marcus Buchanan.\r |
230 | \r |
231 | - Added code by Thomas Harte to anti-alias lines and improve hidden surface removal.\r |
232 | \r |
233 | - Added option to newkind.cfg to enable anti-alias code.\r |
234 | \r |
235 | - Added the first secret mission, hunt the Constrictor!\r |
236 | \r |
237 | - Fixed equipment buying so that refund is given on existing lasers.\r |
238 | \r |
239 | - Changed colour of fuel limit circle from white to green.\r |
240 | \r |
241 | - Put some colour on the Local Chart screen.\r |
242 | \r |
243 | - Changed look of ship lollipops on the scanner to look more like the original.\r |
244 | \r |
245 | - Changed incoming laser sounds, one for hitting shields and one for hitting the hull.\r |
246 | \r |
247 | - Fixed asteroids so that they travel in straight lines.\r |
248 | \r |
249 | - Changed creation of ships so that the appear at more random locations.\r |
250 | \r |
251 | - Removed the Constrictor and the Cougar from the ship parade intro.\r |
252 | \r |
253 | \r |
254 | \r |
255 | Beta 1.1 - Changes since Beta 1.0\r |
256 | =================================\r |
257 | \r |
258 | - Fixed bug in load and save routine which caused the player to aways return to Lave.\r |
259 | \r |
260 | - Fixed bug in equipment buying screen. Buying military lasers for the side or rear view\r |
261 | would cause mining lasers to be fitted instead.\r |
262 | \r |
263 | - Renamed files to be all lowercase. This should ease ports to other OSes.\r |
264 | \r |
265 | - Removed #include of windows only allegro files from alg_main.c\r |
266 | \r |
267 | - Added #ifdef around use of GFX_DIRECTX in alg_main.c to allow compilation on non Windows OSes.\r |
268 | \r |
269 | \r |
270 | \r |
271 | Work in progress\r |
272 | ================\r |
273 | \r |
274 | The following features have not yet been implemented but are being currently worked on.\r |
275 | \r |
276 | - C64 Elite style scoring.\r |
277 | \r |
278 | - Trumbles (from C64/NES Elite).\r |
279 | \r |
280 | - View of docking bay after docking.\r |
281 | \r |
282 | - Loading of different consoles not yet fully implemented.\r |
283 | \r |
284 | - Enhance joystick support, i.e. use of more buttons and analogue control.\r |
285 | \r |
286 | \r |
287 | Known Problems\r |
288 | ==============\r |
289 | \r |
290 | - Bits of hidden surfaces on ships sometimes show through.\r |
291 | \r |
292 | - Buying more than 255gs of Gold/Platinum doesn't work.\r |
293 | It didn't in the original Elite either. Broken as designed.\r |
294 | \r |
295 | \r |
296 | Have fun!\r |
297 | \r |
298 | Christian Pinder.\r |
299 | <christian@newkind.co.uk>\r |
300 | http://www.newkind.co.uk\r |