
			     Tank Commander.

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		(c) 1995 The Big Red Software Company Ltd.

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		 1. Intro                                   
		 2. Compatibility                           
		 3. A Note from the Big Red Software Company
		 4. Credits                                 
		 5. Installing Tank Commander               
		 6. Running Tank Commander.                 
		 7. Single Player Tank Commander.           
		 8. Multi-player.                           
		 9. Controls                                
		 10. VR Headsets                            
		 11. Trouble-Shooting                       
		         a) IPX Network                     
		         b) Serial linked game              
		         c) Modem linked game               
		 12. Addendum to the Manual                 
		 

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1. Tank Commander 

At 123,000 lb with 120mm cannon, 8mm coax machine gun, flame thrower and 
guided missle launcher YOU control a battle tank of fearsome proportions!
Take the controls in a realistic simulation of tank war fare. 
Analyse sattallite info, send out helicopter recce camera then command 
YOUR tank battallion into war. Take out enemy choppers, troops and tanks 
by day or switch to thermal vision for night missions.
Based on simulators used by the armies of nations around the world battle 
through accurately modelled virtual worlds with over 40 different missions. 
Using the very latest battle telemetry and statistics of real battle tanks, 
TC supasses realism of any tank simulator yet.

NETWORK action for multi player gaming
Dynamic DIGITISED sound effects
TEXTURE MAPPED landscapes
SATELLITE battle management systems  
Helicopter FLYBYS for battlefield surveys
Choice of crack commanders of the AMERICAN, RUSSIAN GERMAN and BRITISH army. 
Digitised FMV graphics of battle commanders in action.






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2. Compatible with:

Tank Commander requires a 386/486/Pentium PC, with VGA graphics card, mouse, 
and double-speed CD-ROM drive. Supported options include joysticks, 
soundcards, and IPX/ODI networks, Cybermaxx Headset and Virtual IO Headset.

To run Tank Commander you need at least 4Mb of memory. In addition to this 
you need to ensure that you have an EMS driver installed, refer to your DOS 
manual for further details. Often you will find that you can use a driver 
such as EMM386 which will use XMS to simulate EMS, this is the system we use 
at Big Red Software.

All trademarks acknowledged.







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3. A Note from the Big Red Software Company

As I sit with the dawn slowly peering above the horizon of sunny Warwickshire 
England, I thought I'd wax lyrical about the development of the game you are 
about to play... Tank Commander. 

Over a year in creation with a team of eight dedicated very creative professionals 
this project represents Big Red Softwares proudest achievement to date. Some 
would say this rock 'n' roll lifestyle we games development companies have is  
something to be envied. True we may see the airport lounges through out the 
world, dine in the glamour of Las Vegas, London and Leamington Spa but I 
suspect that given the option of wrestling 2 days with a killer bug, 
tempramental Silicon Graphics machine or simply having to draw yet another 
tank, most would forgo and work nine to five like every one else. Personally 
I wouldn't change it for the world

Nostalgia is a funny thing. Tank started as homage to the legendary Battle 
Zone. Well that's how it started anyway. Great game that it is we had to make 
it compatible with the 90's. Old twenty somethings like myself may lament the 
passing of the 80's for its truly gripping gameplay, addiction, and new wave 
music. Presented with the restricted graphics or chunky pixels of a Commodore 
64, even the most jaded of hacks would reconsider.

So with one foot rooted most definitely in the 90's, the other firmly in the 
past and with the dulcet tones of the Human League on the stereo, we presented 
Tank Commander to Vickers Defence Systems, the manufacturer of the main 
british battle tank - Challenger 2. In turn we were allowed to "play" possibly 
one of the biggest video games in our lives namely the Challenger Tank 
simulator. The best bits you now see within this game.

So there you have it a simulator with attitude and a tug o the forlock to 
games past. All that remains is to pass my sincere thanks to all those 
concerned ....

Jon Cartwright and Lyndon Homewood              Chief programmers.
R Fred Williams                                 3D landscape programmer 
Peter Ranson, Mark Neesam and Paul Jennings     Artists
Gez Gourley                                     Music & SFX
Matt Hicks                                      SGI rendered sequences
Darren Anderson                                 Domark project manager
Richard Levy                                    General techie help 

A special mention must be made to the lads at Virtek International Corporation 
whose blinkin' brilliant 3D is a thing to behold. Cheers Phil, Dave, Nathan 
and Charles.

While we're on the special thanks bit, thanks to Domark for the chance you've 
given us.

Oh and before you ask, yes the virtual actors are us, we will leave it for you 
to decide which one is which!!!

Have fun,

Paul Ranson (Big Red)







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4. Credits

Chief Programmers             Jon Cartwright and Lyndon Homewood      
3D landscape system           Robert "Fred" Williams                  
3D graphics                   Virtek International Corporation
Frontend installation system  Jon Cartwright
3D real time modelling        Mark Neesam                                     
				Peter Ranson                                    
				Paul Jennings                                   
3D rendered modelling         Peter Ranson
				Mark Neesam
				Viewpoint
Rendering SGI                 Matt Hicks
2D graphics                   Peter Ranson 
				Brian Hartley
				Mark Neesam
Music & SFX                   Gez Gourley
Virtual Actors                Jon Cartwright
				Lyndon Homewood
				Fred Williams
				Peter Ranson
				Gez Gourley                                     
				Mark Neesam
				Paul Ranson
				Darren Anderson
Cameraman                     Andy Brining, Stagepoint
Image Processing              Paul Ranson
				Sarah Butterfield
				Keith Stuart
				Paul Jennings
Manual                        Jon Cartwright
				Paul Ranson
Project Manager               Darren Anderson
Technical Guru                Richard Levy  
Pilot's Voice                 Brian Walker






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5. Installation of Tank Commander.

Tank Commander is supplied on CD-ROM, and requires minimal hard disc space, 
round about 1 megabyte. To install the required files on your hard disc, 
insert the Tank Commander CD and log onto your CD-ROM drive. Then at the DOS 
prompt type install, and follow the on screen prompts.






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6. Running Tank Commander.

Tank Commander can be played in two different ways, single player or 
multi-player over an IPX/ODI or Serial or Modem connections. All the various 
ways of playing Tank Commander are accessed by typing TC from the directory in 
which Tank was installed.






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7. Single Player Tank Commander.

As each mission starts, you will have a screen explaining what to do. Read the 
brief as it will be quite useful.

Generally though, if you shoot anything that moves you can't go wrong. (That is 
assuming you don't hit a civillian).

NOTE: On 'Dice with Death' level 2, when all enemy are dead, the target  
remaining counter will show 1 enemy remaining. Ignore this, as the end of level
gates will be open.






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8. Multi-player.

Enter the Tank Commander Control Center as you would for a single player 
game. Click on the IPX/ODI icon to start a network game, Serial Option for a 
Null Modem game or Modem option for yes you guessed it a Modem game.

Follow the on screen prompt for what to do, you may need to configure your
settings correctly to make the game work if you have problems, see later.

The idea of the game is to collect the four flags that are dotted around the 
map by driving over them. Once collected, you return them to your base 
again by driving over them. Simple eh? Well it would be if your so called 
mates didn't keep shooting you (you drop all the flags you carry when shot).

Have fun.......






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9. Controls

The average Battle tank is crewed by up to 4 men. Generally their 
responsibilities are divided into Tank Commander, Driver, Gunner and loader. 
To simulate this into a mechanism that can be controlled by one player is a 
little difficult. Here goes.

Drivers controls

Cursor Up ....... move tank forwards
Cursor Down ..... move tank backwards
Cursor Left ..... rotate the entire tank left
Cursor Right .... rotate the entire tank right

Gunners Controls

DELETE. rotate the turret only left
PG DOWN rotate the turret only right
PG UP.. reset the turret to point forwards
INSERT. orientate turret to tank hull

HOME &
END.... raise and lower elevation of tank barrel

NUM_LOCK orientate tank hull to turret

SCROLL_LOCK pause the game

Z...... select the coax machine gun
X...... select the shells as weapon
C...... select the H.E.A.T. missiles
V...... select the Armour piercing missiles
B...... select the flame thrower
N...... select the mine destroyer
M...... select homing missiles

TAB.... summon air strike
F8..... select tactical recon screens

space bar fire weapon

Commanders Controls

F1.... Drivers view
F2.....Gunners view
F3.....Commanders view
F4.....Toggle between main views
F5.....Outside view
F6.....Outside view with maps & video
F7.....Nightsight
F8.....Select tactical recon screens
F9.....Toggle detail for fast and slow computer systems
F12....Toggle VR headset option (if enabled in setup)

Tank Selection Controls

1.....Assume control of tank #1
2.....Assume control of tank #2
3.....Assume control of tank #3
4.....Assume control of tank #4

On the outside views mouse movement adjusts the camera angle and gives 
you a virtual view of any where within the world. Drag mouse with left 
button pressed to increase and decrease the view distance. Press the right 
button to return to the default outside view.

Press the right hand mouse button to give a series of preset views that we
have programmed in for you.



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10. VR Headsets

Since the manual was written we aquired a Virtual IO headset. To allow the 
motion tracking to work use the Headset option from the control panel.

The F8 key on the headset options no longer selects the satalite view when the
heaset option is used. It resets the headset such that the position that your 
head currently is in is considered to be facing forward.







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11. Trouble-Shooting


	a) IPX network

Tank Commander was designed to work using the IPX network protocol. This 
requires a program to be run that is compatible with your net that transmits
and recieves network packets that are IPX compatible. Novell works straight 
away as this is the protocol it uses normally. Other networks require a 
separate driver. Usually this driver is called IPX.COM and can be aquired 
from the company that installed your net. 

The largest problem found with the network was making the program leave enough
free space while to allow Tank to run. This is achieved by running MEMMAKER on 
DOS that allows that, or by more efficient use of himem if you have not got
MEMMAKER.

Up to four different games can be played simultaneously. To select the game 
you wish to be a part of use the setup network option. After deciding whether
to run synced or unsynced you will be able to decide which game that you want
to be a part of. All players on the net wanting to play together must start
playing the on the same socket number.


	b) Serial Linked Game

Tank Commander can be played using a Null Modem Cable. These can be bought at 
most good computer stores try Tandy or Radio Shack for what it's worth, we 
bought ours from the incredibly helpful guys at Rock Computers in 
Leamington Spa, England!

Plug the lead into the COM port at the back of your computer making a note of  
which number the port is. Now from the Tank Commander Control Centre select 
the serial option. Choose the comm port that you plugged your serial lead 
into.

You you will be asked to select the baud rate that you want the lead to run at.
Basically the faster you choose the better the game will run however, the game
will work satisfactorily on a slower setting. This Baud rate must be common to
both computers that will be playing the game. Refer to your computers manual 
to find out which common setting(s) both you and your friends computer can 
support.

Meanwhile get your mate to insert the other end of the cable into the back of 
his computer. Go through the same set up procedure to make sure the serial 
cable works. 

NOTE :- Both computers must be set to the same Baud rate to work properly. 

	c) Modem Linked Game

Tank Commander has also been written to work with a Modem. To play this way, 
you need a modem (obviously) and a Null Modem Cable. The Null Modem is plugged 
into the back of the computer taking a note of the COM port that was used (in 
the same way as the serial option).

In the same way that you set up the serial game of Tank, you will need to set  
up the way the serial lead talks to your modem. From the Tank Commander Control 
Centre, choose the Serial set up from the Control Panel. Now click on the COM 
port that you plugged the cable into. You will be asked to select the baud 
rate that you want the lead to run at. As with serial the faster you choose 
the better the game will run however, the game will work satisfactorily on a 
slower setting. This Baud rate must be common to both computers and modems 
that will be playing the game. Refer to your computers manual and your modem 
manual to find out which common setting(s) both you and your friends computer 
and modem can support.

Now you need to set up the Modem so that it can ring or listen to the phone for
a call. Select the Modem option from the Control Panel. By clicking on the up 
and down arrow you may be able to high light the particular Modem that you own.
Upon selecting this option confirm the COM port that the Modem is connected to.
You will now be asked the phone number that you wish to dial this should be 
your buddy's number.

Have your mate set up his Modem and computer the same way as described above  
making sure that he uses the SAME BAUD rate settings as you have

By choosing the Modem game from the Games menu, you will be given a menu asking
weather the you want to make the call (and pay the phone bill) or alternatively
wait for your friend to call you.

Arrgh It doesn't work what do I do?

First and foremost check that both modem and serial options on both computers
are talking at the same BAUD rate.    

Having established this is correct, both of you must check that you are talking 
to your modem correctly. You must make sure that the Modem is talked to in a 
language that it understands. This "language" is known as INIT strings. A 
thorough read of the manual is in store for you here - Sorry! What you need 
do is find out how the Modem is switched into no error correction and no 
compression. You also need the string which tells the modem to hang up the 
phone line. These are usually described as a sequence of letters starting with 
the word "AT". Another way of finding the sequence is to check on the COMs 
package that you usually use and see how it sets up the modem and hangs up the 
phone. Yet another possible way is to see how other games set up your modem as
generally they will require the same information that Tank Commander needs.

This information is then best added to the MODEM.DAT file, using a TEXT editor
like EDIT. 

Load the MODEM.DAT file from the directory that you installed Tank Commander 
onto. 

At the very first line enter the name of your modem.

On the second line enter the string that your research showed you initalizes 
the modem so that it has no error correction and no compression.

On the third line enter the string that you have found will "hang-up" the
phone line. This is quite often something like "ATH".

On the fourth line enter the speed at which you and your buddy decide is the
best speed that both modems can handle.

Add a fifth line that is merely a blank so that there is a space between your 
new modem and the next.

An example addition to the file MODEM.DAT could be....

THE BIG RED MODEM
AT NO COMPRESSION NO ERROR CORRECTION
AT HANG UP THE PHONE
9600 

THE NEXT MODEM IN THE LIST

When you next run Tank Commander, and try to configure the Modem, you will find
that the your modem should feature in the list.

Assuming that it still does not work, try getting your mate to call you. Daft 
as this sounds, it sometimes works!

If all else fails, load up you coms package and dial up your friend. Establish 
that the modem works by chatting to him with the chat mode that the package has.
Now quit out of the package without hanging up the phone. Load up Tank Commander
and choose the Modem game but select the "ALREADY CONNECTED OPTION".

NOTE :- Both computers must be set to the same Baud rate to work properly. 







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12. Addendum

i.    The night sight option is only available on some missions and can only 
	be used on missions with failing light.

ii.   Pressing the right mouse button will cycle the preset viewpoints.  

iii.  Compatibility with the Virtual IO headset has been added.

iv.   The game can now be played without the presence of a mouse or Microsoft
	mouse driver. Use cursor keys, space and enter to emmulate the mouse 
	(in the Tank Commander Control Centre only).

v.    An option has been added so that you do not have to watch the pre rendered
	sequence each time the game loads.

vi.   The Challenger has an 7.62mm coax machine gun as opposed to the 8.00mm 
	device as suggested - Thanks BW.

vii.  Von Plug would like to apologise for the "that's one for the Motherland"
	joke. Not only was it not funny, but it should have been Fatherland.

viii. A big thanks to MPS Microprose Germany for the translations of the speech,
	and their assistance in the production of the German language version.
	Sorry we couldn't get you into the manual in time.

ix.   If anyone finds a new set of Init strings to make their brand of modem
	work with the game, it would be very much appreciated if you could
	convey the results to us at Domark UK (0) 181 780 2222 and ask for 
	the customer services department.

x.    When giving drone tanks orders they need a while to calculate their new  
	destination. If you get bored waiting simply hit space to cancel the 
	directive.

xi.   Remove SHARE.EXE from the bootup files. TC.EXE will propably have some
	problems otherwise and just say "Sharing violation ...blah blah blah".

xii.  You may experience problems if your MSCDEX.EXE and CD-ROM driver are not
	both loaded into the same portion of memory. So, if in doubt try having  
	them both loaded into HIGH memory if at all possible. In testing we have
	never had any problems once this has been done.

