Spectrofon #09 30 сентября 1994

Игры

Expertise - online version of the strategic game "Laser Squad". Allows play with a partner on the modem. Including the fourth, third scenario.

          EXPERTISE



   Today's examination will be
somewhat unusual. Will be discussed
a super-hit "LASER SQUAD". But
We will not describe in detail
this game. Many have long understood it, and a description of 
the debut of this game has recently been published in the 
journal "ZX-REVIEW." 


   Today, talking about "LASER SQUAD"
go in a somewhat different plane. We will look at common 
mistakes, flaws, which are in this game will open some

secrecy, unknown to users
and lovers' LASER ARM ".



   Hope that you
Our materials are interesting not
only fans of "Infinity" and
other amenities, but also programmers, computer designers,
as well as developers of new games.
We will try to open to all,
who loves "LASER SQUAD", new
possible courses of action. And if someone even
half implements all the ideas proposed by us, then this game, 
we dare suggest, would pokruche any version of "ELITE". We

know that work in this direction has already begun. Today
one of these works, we will present to your attention. We are 
talking about network version of the game "LASER

SQUAD ", which we have already mentioned
In the seventh issue of our magazine.
In the meantime, we bring to your attention an article on how 
to improve the program "LASER SQUAD".   Dmitry Usmanov



         "LASER SQUAD" -

    on the path to perfection ...


   Hardly the "Spectrum" is
steeper strategic-tactical game than a "LASER
SQUAD ". Know about it almost
all, published its description,
but ... Not all the details
this game is still lit and known to a wider audience.


   First of all, this game was
moved from IBM with a stunning
accuracy, but the authors Spectrum version is not able to 
exclude several infiltrators errors. This does not detract

results of their work, but now, when there is a wave of rampant
retrofit programs
These errors can be corrected.



  It is possible that there
are people who are able to
make a "perfect" "LASER
SQUAD ".


   To make their lives easier, I
try to describe all the mistakes and
shortcomings of existing versions.
In addition, I considered ways to improve this
program. So:


   The biggest error in this
game associated with the management of fighters that make it 
possible cheat program. Here they are:




   1. If placed two of its soldiers at a distance of one
step from each other, we can produce the following cheats:


   moving one of them
another cell, and clicking on
"FIRE", you exit at the truncated
menu "SELECT":


   END MOVE

   CANCEL


   If we now choose
"END MOVE", then the program will not leave soldiers on each 
other, and return last

to the place where he
stood before, and will return
his energy spent on trying to get
the head of a friend.


   This is correct, and should
be. But if before this step
give the fighter command, which does not require
movement (PICK UP, DROP,
FIRE, OPEN, CLOSE, etc.), then
he returned not only the energy
spent on the course, but also on the previous operation.


   Thus it is possible, for example
shoot the whole clip Aimed Shot in a single move and
without any energy
costs (the only thing that the soldiers
tired for the next move). For
that it is fraud
work, between action and
"Taps" on the partner is not
should be no rotation,
waste, etc.



   The second mistake can do to get unlimited energy, but to 
carry out It's hard.


 2.If take some object
Option "PICK UP", then the program
takes on the energy cost of a fighter
this rise (because of its strength, fatigue, weight, and ammo
objects, etc.) But if empirically choose a weight
to the men remained energy
within approximately -3
to 3 action points, then the program
the next move will give him about 255 units of energy. By
well, reaching up to 170 action points
energy is usually longer to subside, and you can easily run 
around soldier in the entire territory and score, literally, 
kicking all enemies. 


   This error is most often
manifested in the performance of the first mission, when up the 
remains of the droid. If the right does not work, try to quit 
something out of ammo, or vice versa - to raise. With some 
Soldiers such fraud is not never triggered.



   The third mistake - it is a
section. The authors left no routine of throwing objects
very "crude".

 3.Itak, if you put in front of
each other two soldiers, one
of which nothing in his hands there, and
the other an object
(Let it be, for example,
garnet), and if the last throw
subject in the first, then he'll catch him safely.


   Your screen will remain as
under a regime of fire, and the course
in this case goes to catch the
subject. It is assumed that a fighter can throw a grenade, and
can deal with it in its
discretion (in fact, it is possible that
This grenade cotter, and its just
thus handed). But!
Cursor at the same time shifted somewhere
upper left corner, and if they start to move randomly, then
may freeze. Moreover,
throw grenade
will not catch it, but ... cast, in whose hands, by
idea, nothing
No! (A splurge
will be energy
catch).



   If the game spill
grenades, soldiers from different units, in 90% of cases, the 
program will issue a failure - there's some new walls, items 
that are not what they seem, a variety of

effects up to reset the computer.


   If you throw a grenade cotter
a friend on the force, then the thrower will still be an option 
"PRIME" (pull out the check) which has nothing on impact.

Here we have a lot to fix ...



 4.Chetvertaya error occurs
in those versions, which can be
after the game without podzagruzki start the level again.
Sometimes the enemy soldiers are not at their usual
places, and the crowd somewhere on
patch in the center and nowhere
leave. Moreover, after each move they start to leave
copies (also not moving).
This is the most "fun" error.


   Rare ERRORS
(The term "rare" means that
me or my friends are
effects of repeated no less than 10
times on different versions of computers and software.)


   1. In the game there are situations when faced with an 
opponent in a narrow corridor of nearly face to face.


   Moreover, if your fighter is armed only with a grenade, then 
to do not suffer from the fragments, it is necessary

throw a grenade behind the enemy. And then it waits for us
surprise games: if you throw a grenade at a very acute angle to 
the wall of a building, it is possible that when it flies 
through the solid wall, and falls for her. (Although, according 
to the rules, it must a rebound from it and fall

for the enemy). This will explode
grenade behind a wall, as expected, without bringing anyone any
harm. Possible even if such an effect, when the grenade will 
fall into random place on the territory,

where fighting is taking place and will explode with 
unpredictable consequences. 



   2. Error explosion. With the explosion
different subjects, when the soldiers turned to the epicenter 
of one side of the body, can such

effect: the explosion removes protection
not from the front, and on the opposite side of the vest. This,
of course, can be deflected,
but why then no
wounded from the front of the explosion?


   3. When playing with the computer
You must have noticed that
his fighters less energy expenditure. It is done correctly, 
change nothing. However, if the soldier computer

armed with a "MARSEC PISTOL", then
sometimes it does not decrease
energy during the shooting. It will
shoot until the ammo runs out.



   4. The blast wave is not
delayed by the body. A
in life we ​​have many examples where one of the men saved the 
others, covered the grenade his body.



   5. Very rare error. If
under certain circumstances
(Hard to understand what) crash
soldier in a wall, something will happen
several unfortunate effects.
(For example, instead of vertical
walls appear images of soldiers).


   More in the game there are no errors, but
there are gaps that can be
corrected for best results.



   1. The biggest flaw
"LASER SQUAD" - this is perhaps
static deployment of fighters
computer on the playing field. The man quickly learns these 
provisions, and could easily destroy the 5.6 soldiers already 
in the computer the first move, firing back, or

throwing grenades into dangerous places. Dramatically reduces 
the predictability of "playability" of the program. This 
disadvantage is eliminated in a 3-m level, would be nice to 
clean it up and in the rest.



   2. When the grenade (and
only her) on the screen showing all the soldiers that are in
radius of action, which gives
additional information about the enemy. Displayed, even those
who is behind several walls, and can not suffer
from the explosion.

   We have to do
so that all
No one appeared, either to manifest those soldiers who are 
wounded by shrapnel. 


   3. When your
soldiers saw men
opponent, the computer will inform you
this sound
signal and sign
"<N> ENEMY", where
<N> - The number of
enemies. However, if the narrow corridors of a soldier sees the 
enemy, and then a move another (at the same time it loses

out of sight of the first), the inscription remains, but no 
sound signal.


   Inattentive players it can bring down
confusing, they will notice
enemy, only by entering into
one with the screen. Let me explain, the sound signal
not be issued if the total number of opponents has not changed.


   4. When the soldiers ambushed at
"SPOTTED'e" does not show any signal. When playing with a 
computer that is not important, but for the game two of the 
signal should be mandatory, otherwise it is possible to trick 
the opponent, and quietly remove "spotted."



   In addition, the screen should not
scrolled to the shooting,
giving its location.



   Well, with errors like the clear. But there is no limit to 
perfection, there is still much to be do to have turned

"Cart-smashing superhit. AND
if the 48-m mode change
something for the better is almost impossible, in the 128 
meters in front of us opened a whole field of activity.



   First, you can add
sprites, depicting a man with
rocket launcher on his shoulder, and now
it can not be distinguished from a machine gun or
high-power laser.



   Secondly, the sound design can be done with the music board. 
It simply huge scope for creativity.



   Voice can fly grenade
opening the door, hitting the walls
and on the enemy, cries of pain
(See how it was done in
program, "SPACE HARRIER 2" -
just the upper class!)


   Imagine how, after
command "OPEN" in the airlock, you hear a growing hiss of 
compressed air, and then sharp clatter open doors

is reflected echoes in the corridors. A
whiz of bullets near the soldier's shoulder
will cause many players flinch. Ideally, the whiz of bullets, 
the hiss of the laser and the roar of the flying missiles 
should be different. 


   Hum of automatic doors, the creaking of wood, the sound of 
breaking glass - all this can be implement.



   The main thing that these effects
allowed by AY-8910, to be
you can listen on headphones,
not giving information to the opponent.
You can add music to the menu and
if you select "INFO". On the dynamics of the "Spectrum" should 
go only the sounds of "SPOTTED'ov.



   In the third, schedule. It is necessary to squeeze out of 
the 128-th machine, all that it may make in this regard -

pictures of body armor and weapons in the arsenal of arms, yeah
such that they are in full-screen and in color.



   When "SPOTTED'e"
instead of scrolling
screen should appear as a beautiful picture of a sniper
provides no
intelligence. When
select "INFO" can be
output at small
figure and portrait
This soldier, with a graph showing the functioning of the heart 
over time. 


   Fourth, it is
introductory text to
each mission with music, graphics, and
maybe a cartoon. Such "INTRO"
can be done in Russian,
with explanations of what we need
do in each mission.


   At the end of the mission can be arranged
"Analysis of Job command,
with the issuance of awards, titles, or
on the contrary - with the removal from office.


   In addition, such
cool game just needed more levels. Can
move with the remaining
"IBM", but this is not the limit. Suffice it to
a little dream up, and new stories
missions literally wallow in you. How great it will look
Lost Space
ship of "Nostromo" to the strangers on board.


   Small buds that
do not know how to shoot, but quickly
move and attack. And uterus
who controls them, with powerful protection, and spitting acid. 
Task - to destroy the uterus and All cocoons ...



   Levels or, more suitable
for two players: For example, an underground base on which are 
two of the same unit, and each of its military

computer. Task - to destroy
computer opponent (who
placed once at the beginning of the game,
and do not move).


   Or quite simply - two identical groups face in
ancient deserted maze of
which there is no exit. Objective -
destroy the enemy, without additional conditions.

   You can come up with a mission terminators T-1000, 
civilization predator ninja clan ... Can

come up with anything! That
prevent us to equip their
soldiers say kvaziplazmennym
submolecular annihilator of
remote control?


   The main thing that any changes made
changes do not simplify the game, and
complicated. And if you do not repeat
old mistakes (as in "LASER
SQUAD with five levels), the result is stunning.


   Still possible to teach computer
play a more intellectual -
For example, use grenades
in addition to small arms, or shoot through the door,
and not become a "permanent" ambush near her.


   Should be added to the complexity of the game, and then for 
real fans it is not difficult to win

7-m level, armed only
knives and without body armor.


   And finally, the coolest
"Gadgets" - to "LASER
SQUAD "network. Imagine you are
're in his apartment, and
communicating with each other
the end of the modem! What
Fights can be arrange!


   Can even arrange
championship in this game, which emerge most talented military 
leader. How great fight other professional, "Special Forces", 
which you absolutely do not know, and who uses

own tactics of warfare.
That's when the real start
Battle!


           *



   What is described above, this is
Of course, the ideal "LASER
SQUAD ". But even close to the
it will cause this version
furor among the fans of this game.


   The editors of SPECTROFON'a ", in
turn, is always ready
extend the author's program, and help in its preparation.


   A few words about the network version of "LASER SQUAD", 
which was included in the "Supplement". 


   Today we present the first prototype development of a network
version of the game " 300Om.

   In the menu settings of the game set the ports and bits of 
it under this device and we do not recommend

users to change set
parameters. Later, when the
prepared by the universal version, we'll go about setting up
more detail.


   We can only say one thing: right now
Owners of computers with modems
type CDOS, may try to play this version through the CDOS modem. 
Settings: 


        I / O

PORT: # FFEF # FFEF
NUMBER: # 20 # 20
BIT: 4 7


   However, we do not guarantee a confident communication via 
modem CDOS. This is due to communication protocol

Data used in the program, which is tweaked for
TAPE IN - TAPE OUT modems. When
slightest incompatibility of your
computer with a computer partner, the program will not work.



   But this is still only
CDOS modem. Device TAPE IN
- TAPE OUT ensures stable communication. It is desirable to 
make sure that the telephone socket, to which are connected

Your computer was not capacitors.


   And lastly: do not be
confuse the new game scripts, which appeared in the menu: "THE
CYBER HORDES "and" PARADISE
VALLEY ". This is the real (corporate) names of scripts that
has not yet been found. On IBM
they are, but for
"ZX-SPECTRUM" not likely to
written. Anyway, so far. Maybe they will write in Russian? Wait.



   And as evidence of this, we
included in the submission version of the new (fourth) scenario
the unknown author (recorded under
entitled "THE CYBER HORDES").
This is a remake script "MOONBASE
ASSAULT ".'ll Give tribute to the reenactors - Map of thought
carefully enough. Incidentally, in the
This scenario is fun to play
together. "Broken" corridors
greatly exacerbate the game.
The only drawback (however, this shortcoming is inherent
all scenarios, alterations due to
use in a map editor) - low mobility of the soldier on your 
computer. Well a flaw - the lack of "data banks" (DATA

BANK).



   And it is this: in the company
scenarios "MOONBASE ASSAULT" striker for a complete victory, 
you must destroy all banks data. For one destroyed

Bank issued five bonus points. Thus, killing
all databases, you ensure victory. In this case you can not 
kill a single soldier opponent. One point can be

obtained for each destroyed by the analyzer. This fact the 
author does not take into account. He probably just about it 
knew. Well, in general, the new scenario, of course, much more 
interesting than those who were "LASER SQUAD with" five "levels"

("S" N3).



   It only remains to add that

offer a version of the game

designed for computers with parallel
myatyu no less than 128Kb.



         GOOD LUCK!



             *>