Allegro ID#:    3653
Name:           Jakub Wasilewski
Entry name:     Starship Survivor
Link:           http://behappy.boo.pl/starsurv/  (binaries, screenshots)

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  COMPILING
--------------------------------------------------

 There is two makefiles provided, one geared towards Windows/MinGW,
and one suited for Linux. Just rename the appropriate one to
"makefile" and compile away. Under Linux, you will have to change
the LIBS variable to suit the version of FMOD you have installed.

Libs required:
	-	Allegro 4.0.3+     (alleg.sf.net)
	-	AllegroGL 0.2.4+   (allegrogl.sf.net)
	-	FMOD 3.whatever    (www.fmod.org)

FMOD comes in binary only for X systems. Also, please note that 
only  the CVS version of AllegroGL works with Allegro 4.2, trying 
to compile with Allegro 4.2 AND AGL 0.24 will result in crashes.

If you don't feel like compiling follow the link on top of this
document for Windows binaries.

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  RULE COMPLIANCE
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1. Survival.

 The game revolves around maintaining high levels of food, power and 
fuel onboard your ship. Depletion of any of those resources means game 
over. In order to survive you must visit planets, charge near the sun, 
suck up fuel and so on.

2. Make it a classic.

 I implemented the 4-button rule.
 
3. Randomness.

 Star systems are generated randomly, events are generated randomly, 
mining and harvesting outcomes are random... Everything is random here ;).

4. Dichotomy.

 When encountering events, you are always posed with two opposite choices 
on how to deal with them. Every decision has two possible outcomes, 
a positive one and a negative one. Double dichotomy :P.

5. World map.

 There is a map in the top left corner, showing the positions of your ship, 
the sun and the planets.

 I decided not to implement the Bonus rule (it's a strictly single player 
game anyway).

----------------------------------------------------
  THE AIM OF THE GAME
----------------------------------------------------

 In each starship system you have to accumulate enough (100) hyperium and
then beam straight out of it using the warp drive. You must get through
three systems (each one harder than the earlier) to win the game.
 In addition to that aim, you have to maintain your food, power and fuel
levels high, by catching star flares, exploring planets and generally
having fun here and there ;).

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  CONTROLS
----------------------------------------------------

  Z - "A" button (docking, mining)
  X - "B" button (sucking fuel)
  ENTER - "Start" button (pause, accept in menus)
  SPACE - "Select" button (warp)
  ARROWS - rotating, flying, operating menus
  
----------------------------------------------------
  GAMEPLAY
----------------------------------------------------

 Fly around using the arrow keys. Additional Z is mapped to the A button, X
is mapped to the B button, ENTER is Start, and SPACE is Select.
 The whole idea revolves on resource management - there are four resources:
 
 FUEL
 ----
 How to lose it:
  - it is used up when thrusting
 
 How to gain it:
  - find a planet with broad, red atmosphere, fly inside the atmosphere and 
  hold B until the bar fills up.

 POWER
 -----
 How to lose it:
  - small amounts are used when thrusting
  - slightly larger amounts are used when floating while attached to a 
  planet (after the "Launch" command)
  - significant amounts are used for scanning, mining and harvesting
  - 40 units are used by the hyperdrive to activate
 
 How to gain it:
  - catch solar flares (near the sun)
 
 FOOD
 ----
 How to lose it:
 - its amount decreases with time regardless of what you are doing
 
 How to gain it:
 - land on planets (A button) and harvest for food (some planets are better 
 for this).
 
 HYPERIUM
 --------
 How to lose it:
 - it is used only by the hyperdrive. Using the hyperdrive takes you to the 
 next level, but your "hyper" bar has to be full
 
 How to gain it:
 - mine for it on planets

Random events also affect the quantity of those resources. Your ship has a 
limited capacity for each resource indicated by the white line on the bar. 
This capacity can change. Losing all of any of the resources (except hyperium) 
equals game over.

--------------------------------------------------------
  PLANETS
--------------------------------------------------------

You can dock (land) on planets by maintaining close distance between your ship
and the planet for a few seconds, and then pressing A when prompted. You can't
dock on the same planet twice in a row. Once on the planet you can:

  Scan
  ----
   This gives you a rudimentary outlook on the planet (what is likely to
   succeed, and what's not). Costs 15 energy.

  Harvest food
  ------------
   This gives you food, in exchange for energy. Costs 20. Random events can 
   occur during harvesting.
   
  Mine for hyperium
  -----------------
   This gives you a chance to mine hyperium, in exchange for 30 energy. 
   Random events may occur. More on how to mine below.
 
  Explore the planet
  ------------------
   This allows you to deliberately look for random events.

  Launch
  ------
   Exit the planet.
   
 After launching you are attached to the planet. You are invincible in that 
state, and riding the planet doesn't use fuel, however, being attached to the 
planet uses power. Thrust to detach at any moment.

---------------------------------------------------------
  MINING
---------------------------------------------------------

 When mining, you will see a bar split into two parts - blue and green.
You will also see a white cursor going back and forth. The idea is to press
A when the cursor is over the green part. If you succeed in doing that, some
hyperium is mined up, the green part tightens, and you have another shot. If
you fail, mining ends. You can still come back to this planet and try mining
at a later date.

---------------------------------------------------------
  ARTIFACTS
---------------------------------------------------------

 During random events you can find various artifacts. These will help you on
your mission to survive. Read their descriptions to find out how they
influence the gameplay. Pressing Start while flying shows you the list of
possessed artifacts.
