           XSHOOTER - By Dan Green

 Created for the game programming contest on X2FTP.OULU.FI
 Category: Games with source

This program is written is Borland C++ 3.1 using Mode X.
The source for the program is included in the file SOURCE.ZIP.

GAME INSTRUCTIONS

The instructions for playing the game are simple - shoot
everything!

Use the arrow keys for controlling your ship and the control key
to fire your weapons. 

The game consists of one short level with 4 types of enemies.
Points are awarded for each enemy destroyed. The number of hits
needed to kill an enemy and the points awarded vary based on the
difficulty of the enemy. 

Occasionally, when an enemy is destroyed, a green powerup will
appear. Collect these for faster and multiple shots, up to  a
maximum. 

On the top right of the screen, your score is displayed as well a
line of bars indicating your ship's shield strength. 10 bars is
maximum and no bars means the next hit will kill your ship. There
is no way to increase you shields, however the game will give you
an infinite number of ships. This guarantees than anyone can
finish the level the first time. Be aware, however, that you
score and weapon power level returns to zero when you are
destroyed.

The level finishes when the three "boss" ships are destroyed. No
fanfare accompanies your triumph, as there was no time to add it.
Instead, you are unceremoniously dumped to the dos prompt when
you kill the last boss. Sorry.

Note also that there is no sound in this game. Sorry, but time
was a factor.

THE PROGRAM

This game was started about six months ago when I first got
interested in games programming. I took the code for the mode X
screen blits from Michael Abrash's DDJ articles and had a
scrolling background in a few weeks. Due to a lack of time, the
project stayed at this state for a number of months until I read
about the x2ftp contest, so I decided to try and finish it. The
game in this file was completed, with the exception of most of
the asm code in about 20 hours. I know it's not complete and
could be greatly improved, but I didn't have time. As a side
note, this was also my first C++ program, so don't be too critical.

The code is mostly commented and should be fairly clear. If you
have any questions, contact me at the address below.

I plan on starting a new, improved game project in the new year,
as I have just purchased Watcom C++ 10.5. If anyone is interested
in a joint effort, contact me at the address below.

Dan Green
12 Bennett Street
East Ipswich QLD 4305
AUSTRALIA

dgreen@gil.com.au
