Computer Game Instructions

I. System Requirements
-------------------

A. IBM or compatible 286, 386, or 486 computer operating at greater
than 6Mz (greater than 12 Mz is recommended)

B. Microsoft Windows 3.0

C. Mouse pointing device

D. EGA or VGA display

II. The Program
------------

A. General

1. "Windows Command" is a Windows application. Its behavior and
how you tell it what to do is very similar to other Windows
applications. But since it is also an arcade game with lots
of action and movement, you should be aware of the following
items:

a. You can resize the "Windows Command" window at any time.
But if you resize it while missiles are moving on the
screen, they become disoriented and explode in improbable
places. No big deal, the effect is harmless. The next
missile waves are adjusted for the new window size. Avoid the next wave of missiles. You can avoid the glitch by
the glitch by not resizing when missiles are attacking.
Correcting the glitch requires more programming effort than
I believe it is worth.

b. You can shift to another Windows application at any time.
You can shrink the game to an icon at any time. Please
note that unlike most Windows applications the game will
continue in the background. The enemy will destroy your
cities while you work on a spreadsheet or word processor!
This is easily avoided by simply pausing the game first
(It does look neat to see the enemy's missile explosions
inside the game's icon).

c. The fast-paced arcade action of the game depends heavily on
Windows' graphics routines. If Windows is burdened down
with lots of other tasks, the game action will slow to a
crawl. Conditions that may overburden Windows and slow
down all Windows applications include low system memory,
or running a bunch of applications at the same time.

B. Menu Commands

1. "Game" popup menu

a. "Demo" -- A demo version of the game is provided as a teaser
for you to enjoy and (I hope) help you decide to
register for the full, unrestricted version. Play
it as much as you like! The action ends when the
score exceeds 20000 points or the cities are all
gone.

b. "Full" -- A dialog box asks for the "password". You get it
from me when you register and pay the $3.00 fee.
Anything typed in the dialog box is converted to
asterisks to discourage guessing. Repeat games
avoid rentering the password by selecting the
"Demo" option which now starts the full version.
Invalid passwords start the "Demo" version.

c. "Quit" -- Self-explanatory

2. "Difficulty" popup menu

Self-explanatory. Increased difficulty shrinks the size of your
defensive missile blasts, forcing you to be more accurate in
targeting enemy missiles.

You can also greatly affect the difficulty of the game by
resizing the window. Narrowing the window makes it easier,
flattening it makes it harder.

3. "Options" popus menu

a. "Pause/Resume" -- A toggle to freeze (or thaw if frozen)
the game action. You should pause
before switching to another Windows
application.

b. "Sound On/Off" -- A toggle to turn off ( or on) the warning
siren heard before each new round of
missile attack waves. The missile explosion
sound cannot be turned off.

4. "Help" popup menu

The "About Windows Command" item will display a dialog box
to tell you how to register and obtain the password for the
full version.

III. The Game
---------

A. Object -- To protect your cities from enemy attack as long as
possible.

B. Play -- You're in charge of Missile Silo Alpha. It provides
protection of the six large cities in Sector Delta from
missile attack by the those perennial bad guys, the
Klingons.

Suddenly, the missile attack siren sounds! A large
number of enemy missiles (the Scud model 1000) appear
at the top of the window. You rapidly move the arrow
cursor with your mouse to desired locations and click
the left mouse button. Your missile, the Patriot model
XXXX of course, screams upward from the silo to explode
almost instantaneously at where you were pointing.
After the first wave of missiles explodes (either by
one of your missiles or when it reaches a low altitude)
another wave immediately follows, and then more!

Finally, the Klingons take a breather and the round ends.
A dialog box appears. Your score is updated, your missile
arsenal is replenished, and you are awarded any bonus
cities. The bonus cities automatically replace any
destroyed city to give you a new lease on life. You get
one bonus city for every 10000 points scored(20000 above
100000, 30000 above 140000).

The Klingons don't discourage easily, and they may send
a Stealth bomber into the attack. You cannot see the
plane, but will quickly note the burst of bombs appearing
suddenly over your cities.

Should you be lucky enough to survive the initial few
waves of missiles the enemy will send his starship into
the battle. You see a sphere materialize. At first it
may do nothing, but then it will begin moving quickly and
firing an unstoppable laser beam. A well-placed missile
is needed to destroy it.

Since the number of missiles in your silo is usually less
than the number of enemy, well-placed missile shots are
vital. You will hear a "beep" sound when you click the
mouse button and there are no missiles left to fire. You
are now helpless until the round ends.

The game continues until all your cities are destroyed and
there are no bonus cities to replace them.

C. Strategy -- ???? Part of the fun is figuring it out on your own.

IV. Opps! Pardon Me
---------------

This is my first published Windows application. Extensive programming
effort was involved to try and make "Windows Command" an entertaining
game that is (hopefully) bug-free. If you enjoy it, please register!
If you find any difficulty running the program, let me know. I need
feedback to fix my boo-boos! You can reach me on Compuserve or write
directly (see the About dialog box for my ID and address).

Tim Baldwin

May 23, 1991