                          * * * C A R N A G E * * *

Version 3.1 for Internet release. Readme notes.
Updated 2nd March 1999.
Please take a moment to read these notes; they are useful (honest!).

INTRODUCTION -
This game is entirely public domain and I make no charge for any of its 
usage, nor restrict its distribution. However, NO PART OF THE GAME, THE 
ACCOMPANYING FILES OR THIS DOCUMENTATION MAY BE CHANGED OR ALTERED IN ANY 
WAY. IT MUST BE DISTRIBUTED WITH ALL FILES INTACT. If anyone wants 
translate this document into French, German etc. then I will be happy to 
include it, but leave the original alone. In other words: Distribute all 
the files, but don't change or delete any. Thank you.
This is a game made simply for fun. It has been inspired by two games on 
the Commodore Amiga, which in turn had been inspired by another game.
I made this game for two reasons. One: I knew of no version available for 
the PC that was much fun. Two: So that I could learn from making it, and 
people could have fun playing it.
This game has no ray traced graphics, no texture mapping and no 3-D 
rotational views. But it does have one quality which makes it better than 
some that do. IT IS FUN! The two games from which this was inspired are 
called BIP (BIPlane duel) and Dogfight. Both are available for the 
Commodore Amiga. BIP was made "in memory of fun computer games". I hope 
that this is fun too. It is dedicated to the sport of gliding.

COMPATIBILITY -
Carnage has been tested under DOS 5+, Windows 3.1x, Windows 9x and NT
although it should be run in a full-screen rather than a window. It may
not work when using a PC emulator on another platform (Mac, Amiga, UNIX
etc.). This is because it uses a very direct method to access the keyboard.
It will probably work under previous versions of DOS, but I haven't tested
it.
Windows 98: Due to a problem in the Turbo Pascal CRT unit the original 
Carnage 3 would not work on a Pentium Pro 200 or faster, returning Runtime 
Error 200 (divide by zero). For some reason I found this problem only on 
Win '98 machines. Using Andreas Bauer's TPPATCH has fixed this problem and 
Carnage v3.1 is the updated software.

PLAYING INSTRUCTIONS -
The aim of the game is to take control of a Bi-plane, fly around the screen 
shooting other planes and try not to crash or be shot. To run, enter 
"Carnage" at the command prompt or run "Carnage.exe". There is an icon 
for use from Windows called CARNAGE.ICO.
You will first be asked for the number of players. You may have up to 
eight. The computer then asks for the delay. This is a mechanism to slow 
the game down for faster computers. Machines vary, so experiment to find 
the correct speed for your machine.  It should take you exactly  three 
seconds to fly from one side of the screen to the other at full speed. As 
an example, a 486SX25 runs at about the right speed while a PII 350 
requires a delay of about 35. You will also be asked for the number of 
clouds that you would like. You should choose the maximum number possible 
that your computer can support and still run at a decent speed. This should 
not be a problem for any Pentium class PC.
NOTE: On older computers the speed of play may also be determined by the
type of graphics card you have.

You have control of one of a possible eight bi-planes in one of eight
colours. The plane can travel in any of twelve directions, but you must 
first take off, by turning on the engine and building up speed. Once up to 
speed, you must take off by twisting the plane clockwise. Be careful not to 
hit the barn. If at any time you travel too slow you will stall. To regain 
normal flight - point the aircraft STRAIGHT at the ground until the speed 
picks up enough for you too fly normally. While you are getting used to the 
speed at which a plane regains normal flight, there is a small stall 
indicator at the bottom of the screen. Next to this is a series of dots - 
these represent your lives. You start with sixteen, but lose one every time 
you are shot or crash, either into the ground, barn or another plane. 
Although you start off each time with a completely new plane, the more 
planes you get through, the more unreliable the instruments may become. For 
instance, part or none of stall indicator may shine when in a stall, and 
the number of planes left indicator may not show the correct amount. It may 
sort itself out, or it may not. This will not alter the amount of planes 
you actually have. The one left at the end wins the game. If you play with 
more than four players, collision detection is turned off. This also 
happens on the ground with any number of players. So be careful when two 
planes leave the ground together!
To play the game you need a normal detachable keyboard - lap tops may not 
be suitable. Once in the air, the go button acts as the fire button. You 
may have up to two bullets in the air at one time. The bullets do not wrap 
around to the other side of the screen like your planes do.
The keys are as follows:
							
					
Go / fire | Turn clockwise | Turn anti-clockwise
Player 1 (grey)           e      |        w       |          q
Player 2 (red)         <return>  |        .       |          0
Player 3 (blue)           ]      |        [       |          p
Player 4 (green)          u      |        y       |          t
Player 5 (purple)         -      |        9       |          5
Player 6 (yellow)         x      |        z       |          \
Player 7 (cyan)           n      |        b       |          v
Player 8 (black)          /      |        .       |          ,

Note :  Players 2 and 5's keys are entirely on the numeric key pad on the 
right.
You must hold the keys down to turn, tapping them will reduce the angle at 
which you turn. You cannot hold down the fire button, though.
<TAB> key pauses the game.

TIPS -
Heading straight upwards reduces speed more than at a gentler angle.
You only have two bullets at a time - do not use them unless you need them. 
An opportunity may arise when your bullets are already fired, and you won't 
be able to fire any more until they have disappeared.
There is a safe area at the edge of the screen, fly off the screen when 
bullets are heading for you.
If you hit the top of the screen, your plane will stall.
Try hiding behind the clouds. This works best in game with more
than four players.
A bullet may shoot more than one plane, but if a player dies as their 
bullet is still flying, then that bullet is useless and simply flies
through the enemy.

KNOWN BUGS -
There are one or two. If you find any that aren't below then feel free to 
tell me, but I will be unlikely to fix it as I don't have the source code 
anymore.
* Occasionally a piece of sprite (usually a bullet) is left floating in the 
air. This is most likely due to the way in which the game uses a virtual 
screen to map sprites onto which can have problems when two sprites come 
close together.
* A plane can be stuck in a turn without any keys being pressed.
I don't quite know why this happens, but to cure it turn in the direction 
the plane seems to want to go even if this means crashing on the ground due 
to lack of speed.
* Computer crashes. This has NEVER happend to me, so if it does it is most 
likely nothing to do with "Carnage".
* Missing keys. The controls for Carnage were designed for a British style
QWERTY keyboard, and it may not be so easy with other styles. For instance,
the US style of keyboard does not have a '|' next to 'Z', so player 6 may
have difficulties. Anybody out there use a Dvorak?

Have fun.

Many thanks to lots of people who chucked in their contributions (some of
them even welcome!). They include:

The Computer Science department of Aylesbury Grammar School, Bucks,
England.

The students of Aylesbury Grammar School.

The writers of the two Amiga games, BIP and Dogfight.  Numerous play-
testers (too many to mention), some of whom I did not even ask to play!


Unfortunately, the world dictates that I have to write the
following:-
It is a condition of use that I take no responsiblity whatsoever for any 
damage, injury etc which takes place as a result of using any of my 
programs. I recommened that you do not play this game for more than an hour 
at a time without a break, but this is only a guideline.
If you do not like these conditions, tough: Don't play the game.
Having said all that, in countless games played I have never seen any 
problems, but I have to stick that in anyway.

Please note that at time of writing the information included is correct.
This includes pieces such as Web sites and e-mail addresses. Computer 
programmes can hang around for a long time, and so when you read them they 
may not be correct. However, if you suspect that your copy of Carnage has 
been tampered with then e-mail me the file "filelist.txt" and I will see. I 
accept that this is not a foolproof method, but I would ask potential 
hackers not to change bits of "Carnage". This is only a small game for 
other people's fun and there is very little challenge in breaking it. Try 
getting past your government's security system or something.
As I have already mentioned, this game is completely free. You may copy it 
far and wide, indeed I would encourage you to do so. All I ask is that you 
send me a friendly e-mail telling me you found it fun (or otherwise), and 
spread it around. Upload to your favourite Bulletin Board, send it around 
the Net; I wouldn't have released it if I didn't think people would.

* Andrew Robinson : 22/7/96. Updated 14/3/97 and 2/3/1999.
* E-mail me at: carnage@jjas.demon.co.uk
  http://www.jjas.demon.co.uk
