GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
You have at your command the remote
controlled GEMINI tank. You have a
variety of instruments on your
command console including a TV screen
showing the forward view from the
tank.
In practice mode you play a computer
simulator in order to sharpen your
skills. In telegamming mode your
opponent is live ... it is someone
else at their command console viewing
your tank! They may be next door or
across the country as long as they
can be reached by phone.
Objective: Destroy 3 of your
opponent's squads before yours
are destroyed.
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Your controls are straightforward.
When using the cursor keys the up
arrow increases your forward speed
while the down arrow puts you into
reverse. The right arrow key turns
your tank to the right while the left
arrow turns your tank to the left.
The 0 key on the keypad brings you to
a dead halt. The 1, 3, 7, and 9 keys
are speed and turning combinations.
Press the space bar to fire. If it
appears your shell will miss, you may
fire again after a brief pause for
reloading. With practice you will
learn how the momentum of the tank
affects its movements.
Pressing the ESC key stops the
current game and returns you to the
menu. Pressing Ctrl-S turns the
sound on/off. Press < to slow the
game down if you are using a PC-AT
(press > to speed back up again).
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INSTRUMENTS
Now for the instruments. The large
TV screen shows a 3D image of your
opponent whenever he is in view. A
a mountain range is always visible in
the background.
The radar screen at the lower left
shows your tank at the center and
your opponent's current relative
location as a white blip. A trail of
blue blips shows relative motion. The
map at the lower right shows absolute
locations as well as tank shells. A
speed indicator at the bottom shows
your forward or reverse speed. The
heading display at the bottom shows
the direction your tank is facing.
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If you learn the shapes of the
mountain range you can also tell your
heading from the TV screen in the
event your heading indicator is
destroyed. You can never reach the
mountain range for you and your
opponent's tanks are trapped in the
valley by invisible force shields.
You cannot travel beyond the range
displayed on the map. You will no
longer know the boundaries if your
map display is ever destroyed.
To the left and right of your TV
screen are damage indicators. Your
opponent's damage is shown at the
left and your damage is shown on the
right. The top indicators show your
current tank's damage level. The
tank display indicates how many tanks
have been destroyed. The squad
counter shows how many squads are
gone. You lose if you have 3 squads
destroyed!
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When a tank is destroyed a new one is
deployed at the opposite corner.
There are 4 tanks in a squad. You
will notice that shells are vaporized
if they come near a force shield.
You can lock in on your opponent
easier if you are not moving.
However sometimes it is best to move
and turn your tank at the same time.
In fact you may wish to move in
reverse and turn at the same time
while watching the radar until your
opponent appears on the TV screen.
Learn to use your various instruments
... you may have to depend on each
one of them at different times.
Use the basic play practice mode to
learn the controls and instruments
and then move up as you increase your
skill. The practice mode is fun as an
arcade game by itself ... until you
can call up a live opponent!
*
LEVELS OF PLAY
There are three levels of play
whether you are in practice mode or
telegamming mode. The basic play
level allows three hits on a tank
before your tank is destroyed. The
damage indicators show how many hits
you have had. In intermediate play
mode a single hit destroys your tank.
This mode is good for sharpening up
your evasion techniques. In advanced
mode three hits are required to
destroy a tank, but each hit also
destroys one of your instruments.
This is why it is important to learn
how to use each of your instruments.
When you are in telegamming mode you
do not have to play at the same level
as your opponent. If one of you is
more experienced, they can play at
level 3 while the other plays at
level 1 to equalize the combat.
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TELEGAMMING
In order to play a "live" opponent
you must first establish
communications with another computer
that is also running GEMINI-2.
Pre-arrange with your opponent who
will originate and who will answer
the call if you are using a
telephone.
After selecting telegamming you will
be in talk mode. If you are using a
modem you can enter commands to your
modem to place the call or answer the
call. For example for a hayes
compatable modem type ATD123-4567 and
press enter to call 123-4567 or type
ATA and press enter when the phone
rings to answer a call. You may need
to turn off echo if you see all your
keystrokes apearing twice (e.g. enter
ATE0 for hayes type modems).
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You can also use your favorite
communications software to establish
communications first. Then exit it
and start up GEMINI2 and select
telegamming.
When communications has been
established and you are in talk mode
you can then interact with your
opponent by typing sentences and
pressing enter. When you are ready to
begin play one of you (not both)
should press the dollar sign ($) key.
After a short initialization period
you will begin "live" combat. At the
beginning you each will see one
another's tank on the TV display, so
be ready to move quickly!
To momentarily return to talk mode
during a game, press the "?" key.
After conversing, you can resume play
by pressing the "$" key.
+
If you have two computers in the same
room you can connect them direclty
together using a null modem and
appropriate cables. You may be able
to use higher baud rates using this
technique. Once in talk mode you will
be ready to begin since no dialing is
required.
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GEMINI2 FILES
The 4 optional files that may be used
with GEMINI2 are described below:
GEMINI2.DOC - This is where these
instructions are stored.
GEMINI2.SCN - This is a detailed
screen image of your command console.
You may need to delete this file to
use the simplified display if your PC
is not fully IBM compatible.
GEMINI2.KEY - If you wish to use keys
other than the cursor keys, create
this file with one record in it (you
can use EDLIN). The record should
consist of 9 characters for
left/reverse, reverse, right/reverse,
left, dead stop, right, left/forward,
forward, and right/forward. A sample
record might be:
BNMGHJTYU
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GEMINI2.PRM - If you will always be
using the same baud rate, you may
wish to create this file with one
record in it. You may need to create
this file if you use COM2 or have
problems getting your modem to work.
The format of this record is
identical to the parameters within
quotes described for the OPEN "COM...
Statement in the Microsoft Basic
Manual (be sure to include the
quotes). A sample record could be as
follows:
COM1:300,E,7,1,CS0,DS0,CD0,PE
If this file is not present, you are
prompted for the baud rate prior to
entering talk mode. The parameters
shown above are the program default
values.
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USER SUPPORTED SOFTWARE
You are encouraged to copy GEMINI-2
and pass it on to others as long as:
1. You do not charge anyone for the
software.
2. The software is not modified.
This distribution method eliminates
advertising costs and copy protection
schemes. Users obtain quality software
at reduced cost. They can try it out
before buying in the comfort of their
own home or office.
If you like GEMINI-2, please send $15
to PARAGON SOFTWARE. The invoice on the
next screen is provided for those
who wish to have one for their records.
(press Shift-PrtSc to print it)
PC-MENU is another PARAGON SOFTWARE
product distributed in this manner.
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------------------
INVOICE
------------------
Purchased from: Purchased by:
Paragon Software ----------------
P.O. Box 79069 ----------------
Jackson, MS 39236 ----------------
Date: / / Invoice #860901
=======================================
PRODUCT QTY EACH TOTAL
----------------- --- ------ -----
GEMINI-2 program 1 $15 $15
-----------------------------
Please pay this amount...$15
======================================
Make check payable to: Paragon Software
Check number:
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