Debut - a detailed analysis of the quick start in the game "Colony" article by A. Shkolnikov.

<b>Debut</b> - a detailed analysis of the quick start in the game

(C) Andrew Shkolnikov, 1996.


                COLONY


          Mastertronic. 1987



           "The planet is inhabited Shelezyaka ...

        metalevoyu kulturoju Velma nizko
        On rivnya ... Korisnih copaline on

        planeti lot. Bodi TER lot.

        The atmosphere a lot. Nichogo on planeti

        a lot. Coley scho th Bulo, robots all

        vitratili th bidno live. "


        Kir Bulychev. "Alice's Journey."

                    (In Ukrainian)



   ... The ship was preparing to fly away. Team
Droid smartly to download the latest bales
seeds in the main granary of the colony. A
captain, has repeatedly checking all
system, having nothing to do parting
single colonist:


   - Remember, the tin: we have left you everything you need 
for the first time. I had my way, would you and half of these 
reserves have not received. Generally, this whole kolonistskaya 
program ... But clear to myself is this: more gifts will not 
be! Require that - Welcome: causes the ship, to pass

mushrooms, earn credits. And for loans
have ordered all that you need. Your
fortunate that the Earth so need these fungi, and
this planetke for them ideal natural conditions! Well, do not 
miss, tin! 


   Unloading finished. Ship smoothly
climbed under the whistle antigravov and hid behind
low clouds. Colonist The robot was
on the planet alone. Except for Aboriginal ...


                 *


   So the game starts, "Colonia" firms
"Mastertronik. Game is pretty clever, as
'd Matroskin "shopping." AND
Of course, since I wrote it "Mastertronik"
- Manage and run and shoot. However, the best order.


                  ROBOT.


   Does your robot has two modes: shooting
and work with objects. They switch
key "MODE". Total robot can carry
up to four subjects. To put the subject, we should just stand 
next to the area, where you want to put it.



   For example, when you sows the seeds
must demonstrate outstanding combinatorial ability, but 
otherwise has planted the seeds will not stop you from properly 
up to plant new ones. 


   In the upper left corner of the screen
is an indicator of energy
weapons and shield robot.
When you podnakopit loans,
be able to buy a gun and protect better. And be careful -
if the energy is almost zero, it is not necessary to go far 
from the point of recharge. Although wasting energy colony to 
anything. 



   In addition to the main robot colonist at your disposal 
there is a robot protector (Remote droid). True, it does not 
hurt to buy batteries. A robot that dumb but useful: As soon as 
it is inserted battery, it starts to run, scorching all

by laser discharges (including
Your main robot, if he did not have time to get away from the 
road) and even mend a broken fence. 


                ENERGY.


   Energy - the blood of your colony, it
provides and nourishes all. In order not to spoil
fragile ecology of the alien planet, you CHP
build banned. All the energy you need to receive from the local 
sun. 


   To make solar energy and distill it into the batteries of 
the colony, you a solar panel. First

these panels built on three "bays" but in reality is quite 
enough for two. 

Just do not forget to properly protect them
from the vicious insects.


   The bar at the top of the screen is an indicator of energy - 
a word "POWER"; its color varies

from the fullness of batteries colony. Do not forget to watch 
it! Too little energy - bad: the robot can not be recharged, 
power off the fence, you can not use beacon. But cram the 
battery is not good: it will explode and detonate a colony 
pieces together with a fair chunk planet.



   However, gold can not be too
a lot. "As soon as the battery starts to overflow, excess 
energy is easy to lose, for example, include a couple of 
minutes buoy. And find out how much energy now, possible during 
charging robot. 


               INSECTS.


   As I mentioned on the planet, in addition to
Your colony, there are local residents -
hefty insects. Of course, they
nasty and spiteful, and also bent to
darkness and ignorance. So that the debt earthling - to help 
them develop a good and humane civilization, but not now, but 
some other time. 


   So far, the earth is interested exclusively in fungi. And 
one which coincidence - the local insects, these

Mushrooms are also very interested ... In general, the laser is 
not for nothing the robot will! 


   Some insects can only chew on
all they will get on the path, others at
This still shot. Fence along the perimeter
at some time they will delay, but not for long. So that the 
robot will have to destroy them itself: a laser, a battering 
ram, stationary cannons fire perimeter. 


   Main - Keep insects to
solar cells and fungi! Especially
dangerous ladybugs.


                 Fences.


   When you start the game, the colony has
fenced perimeter. True, the cheapest fencing - wood. This piece 
of wood Local termite on one tooth, that is

mandibles. Fortunately, there are at your disposal
three types of fencing, plus another surprise.


   With the first type - wood - you've already
familiar. Serious protection, he will not provide,
but still better than nothing.


   Not much stronger and wire fence.
But here's a third type - steel ... Of course,
ants progryzut overgrown and a steel
net, if itch, but not immediately, not once.



   A promised a surprise - it's a trap. The robot can run on 
them without hindrance; but the insect, standing on the trap,

instantly transformed into ashes. Unfortunately, this burns 
itself a trap, so that they should put in only the most 
important places. However, the traps are inexpensive. 


   Southern entrance to the base, as well as
one of the reserved mushroom plantation power fence. That would 
be something more! She acts as a trap, but does not disappear.

The only drawback - the power fence off when depleted 
energohranilische colony. 


   If you are bypassing the colony, an ant can see a happy, fun 
dogryzayuschego fence - an ant can shoot, and nadgryzanny piece 
of fence will catch with them. Why? Now know.



                REPOSITORY.


   On the territory of your colony has several buildings. One 
of them - point to recharge the robot one more thing - the 
remote control buoys, and all others - the repository. 


   In these stores you can refill
reserve sections of the fence, seed, solar panels - so almost 
anything! And maybe deliver them. Why? Well, for example, have 
the same somewhere to put unnecessary sections of the fence. 


   Moreover, if a fence nibbled by insects - it to you 
immediately fixed. Of course, since the same can be repaired 
and solar panels. Here Only mushrooms do not repair, which is a 
pity. Incidentally, while the robot is in store, game time 
stops. 


   Sooner or later supply store runs out, fortunately, with the 
Earth is always possible order another - certainly not in vain.



                 MUSHROOMS.


   And now it is time to remember, for the sake of
How it all was started. Of course, for the sake of
mushrooms! The very ones who desperately
Need to Earth. And the view - common
fly agarics ...



   Grow these mushrooms in special greenhouses from seeds, and 
perhaps controversy. Initially, all the greenhouses have 
already been filled by these seeds, so that the first few 
minutes of the game turned into a crazy race: faster to collect 
mushrooms, until they reached up to them yourself you know who. 
The more so because even Bare nadgryzenny mushroom fastidious

Earthlings have zachtut. A careless founders of the colony did 
not even bother to enclose the greenhouse! By the way, do not 
forget to visit the store in the suburbs, the south-east 
colony. However, there a no reason to hurry: it is protected by 
the power fence. 


   When all the mushrooms are collected or eaten,
comes the time for sowing. At the same repository,
where you take the mushrooms, now can collect seeds and start. 
The work is hard: already planted the seeds are often disturbed 
stand so that the new plant. True, until the seed has not gone 
to the growth, it can be pick up and transplanted.




   All the greenhouses, I think the seed is not
worth it. Believe me, even with two or three
plantations you oberetes hassle. Of course, before the 
maturation of mushrooms can be fenced greenhouses of steel 
fence, but even its stubborn bugs progryzut if not, then at 
least to bite. And it means - to change the fence

and go to repair poporchennuyu section of the warehouse.
In the meantime, the beetles are selected for the new
section of the fence ... In short, you do not miss
necessary.


                SHIP.


   For each fungus, as delivered to the repository, you
earn 30 credits. And as for these loans can order that your 
heart desires: better equipment for the robot battery for robot 
defender, defender of the robot, any fence, solar panels, new 
seeds and something else. 


   To order, simply go to
appropriate building (which is east of
center of the colony), and call the ship from Earth (the menu 
item "order supplies"): immediately You can order the necessary 
equipment. It is interesting that for the delivery of money do 
not take: reason to wonder whether the full price you paid for 
the mushrooms. Here in the top of the screen, under the current 
time, there is an arrival time a ship. Do not forget to close 
to this time include radiobaken to

ship knew where to sit. If this is not
do, it just resets the load, and bales
scatter throughout the colony. Half of them at the same time 
lost, and half the remaining half of the insects will before 
you do. 


   And if the landing is successful, the ship, incidentally 
destroying all insects in area of the colony, will take you 
gather mushrooms and carefully unload all brought to the 
landing site (this is where first is the robot-back).



   It is necessary to hasten, rastaskivaya all of this
repositories: the ants are not asleep! Oh, and
one: in any case does not stand on the landing site when the 
ship priplanechivaetsya. Otherwise, it just crushes you. 


                 *


   So now you know about the world that
You have to colonize, almost everything.
Of course, some things still remain a mystery. No wonder:
"Colony" - play smart, and all its secrets
did not immediately disclose.


   First, a robot protector. It can be
order from the Earth, but why? Indeed, the only one in the 
colony is already there, and get rid of It is not easy, if at 
all possible. When zakanchivetsya charge in the batteries, it 
just stops. I confess, I once emptied into it about a dozen 
clips of his laser - but he though that. 


   Another mystery - a spare robot (spare
droid). It can be ordered, but what happened to him
do next - is unknown. Judging by the title, it could be 
something like an extra life. But here's how to use it? And is 
not related whether its destination with a mysterious building 
with a sign "Bay of robots" ("Droid bay")?



   And finally - the main mystery. Still
unknown - whether the game is the logical end? Whether it lies 
in some kind of "congratulation"? The report, issued in death 
of a robot on it is an obvious allusion. So the mystery, too, 
awaits its researchers. 


   And let a little more milk mushrooms will cater to your
body!


                  *