SUPERNOVA INSTRUCTIONS
----------------------
Supernova is an adventure set in the future. You begin on a remote
mining planet, with little to look forward to except another back-
breaking day in the mines.
To play Supernova, type sentences such as: OPEN THE HATCH THEN ENTER
THE SHIP, or SHOOT THE CREATURE WITH THE RAY GUN THEN GET EVERYTHING.
Supernova recognizes over 1000 words.
Read each room description carefully, examine anything that looks
important, and try to explore all possible passages and rooms. Draw
a map on a piece of paper as you move through Supernova's "world."
The author asks that you pay him $10 if you like Supernova. This fee
will help make up for the two years of programming work that went into
the creation of this game. It will also register your name so that you
can call the author for technical help and clues if you get stuck.
Please send a check to: Scott Miller
4206 Mayflower Dr.
Garland, TX 75043
Call for help (registered only):
Scott Miller (214) 240-0614
Terry Nagy (214) 271-3065
For $100 you can receive the complete source code to Supernova, which
was written in Turbo Pascal version 3. The code will be sent on two
disks. Use the code to learn how to write a sentence parser, or your
own adventure game.
LOADING
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Supernova, due to its large size, cannot be booted (or loaded) from the
main disk. You must first prepare a "boot" disk. This procedure is
explained in greater detail on the HELP menus (type HELP while at the DOS
prompt, with the Supernova disk in drive A.)
1. Format a disk with DOS 2.0 or higher.
2. Put this DOS disk into drive A and restart your computer.
3. When the A> appears, remove the DOS disk and insert the Supernova disk.
4. Type INSTALL, then [enter] to run the installation program.
5. Follow the instructions given by the INSTALL program.
6. Your newly created DOS disk is now your Supernova "boot" disk. You
will need this disk everytime you want to play Supernova. It can also
double as your save/restore disk, for saving games in progress.
The above routine need only be done once. However, the following LOAD
steps below must be done everytime you want to play Supernova.
1. The computer must be "booted" (turned on) with the special "boot"
disk in drive A.
2. When you see the A>, remove the "boot" disk and insert the Supernova
game disk.
3. Type NOVA /C for color or NOVA /M for monochrome, then [enter] to
start your adventure.
COMMANDS
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CLUE - gives a hint associated with your current location.
COMMANDS or VERBS - shows a two screen list of possible commands.
FIND [object] - tells if an object is within sight.
INVENTORY, INV or I - displays your current list of possessions.
LOOK or L - examines your current location.
REPEAT or R - repeats last sentence or command.
RESTART - ends current game and starts a new one.
RESTORE - resumes a previously SAVED game and lets you continue playing.
SAVE - lets you save you present game to be RESTORED for later playing.
ROOM DESCRIPTION or RD - toggles game between full room descriptions
each time you enter a new location, or brief descriptions.
SCORE - gives your current score and rank.
QUIT or Q - lets you quit your current game. (Note: you usually will
SAVE the game first.)
WAIT or Z - lets one unit of time to pass without any action.
COMMON VERBS
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EXAMINE or EX [object] - lets you study a specific object.
GET [object] - adds object to your inventory.
DROP [object] - removes an object from you inventory.
also GET ALL, GET ALL BUT [object], GET [object], [object] AND [object]
Directions: NORTH, EAST, SOUTHWEST, or N, E, SW, etc.
EAT [object] and DRINK [object] - used to consume foods and drinks.
PUSH [object], PULL [object], MOVE [object], and TURN [object]
LOOK (AT, INSIDE, BEHIND, UNDER, ON TOP OF) [object]
WEAR [object] and REMOVE [object] - used for clothing.
THROW [object] (AT, TO, ACROSS, IN DIRECTION OF) [object]
PUT [object] (WITHIN, UNDER, ON TOP OF, BESIDE, BEHIND, etc.) [object]
GIVE or SHOW [object] to [object or creature]
OPEN or UNLOCK [object] with [object]
TURN [dial] TO [position] - e.g. TURN RED DIAL TO 56.
TYPE [something] - used to enter data on keyboards, etc.
HIT [object] WITH [object]
BUY [object] WITH [object] or BUY [object] FROM [person]
[character name], [what you want to say to character] - use this format
when you want to say something to someone else in the game.
i.e. ALIENS, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE CRYSTAL.
ENTERING COMMANDS, PHRASES, FULL SENTENCES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All commands, etc. are entered at the blinking ">>".
A simple phrase might be DRINK, WALK EAST or EX CONTROLS. Every phrase
may contain only one verb.
Multiple verb phrases and commands may be combined on a single input line
by separating with a period or the word THEN. For example, EAST. NORTH.
OPEN HATCH THEN CLIMB DOWN LADDER. The word IT refers to the last noun.
The game only understands the first seven letters of any word used.
SAVE AND RESTORE COMMANDS
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SAVE and RESTORE are necessary because completing a game may require many
hours of play.
Before you finish a game session, type SAVE. The game will clear the
screen and respond: "Which disk drive?" (default is A) If you have a
two-drive system, insert a formatted disk in drive B and type B [enter].
With a single-drive system, remove the game disk and insert a formatted
disk, press [enter]. The game will respond: "SAVE under what file name?"
(Note: '/' aborts the SAVE.) Type in a file name that the game can use to
save you current game location and status. It is best to use a name that
refers to your current room, i.e. KITCHEN. Also at this point you can
type DIR or FILES to get a current list of save names already in use on
that disk.
RESTORE your file in the same way, but with the RESTORE command
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| S U P E R N O V A |
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| I N S T A L L A T I O N |
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These notes will help you get started as soon as possible:
* SUPERNOVA cannot be booted from the game diskette because there is not
enough memory left on the diskette to put a command.com file. Therefore
it is necessary to power-on your computer with a disk that DOES have a
command.com file on it (in the directory.) The diskette you decide to use
will become your "boot" (or power-on) diskette--THIS DISK MUST BE INSTALLED.
There are two ways to install a SUPERNOVA "boot" disk:
1) Copy the config.sys file (included on your game diskette) to the diskette
you plan to use when you power-on your computer to play SUPERNOVA.
OR
2) Use the INSTALL program (included on your game diskette) to create a
config.sys file. The INSTALL program is explained on the next screen.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::INSTALLING A SUPERNOVA BOOT DISKETTE::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
1) Either make a backup copy of your DOS diskette (must be version 2.0 or
higher) or use any diskette that has a copy of command.com on it.
2) Turn on your computer with the DOS diskette in drive A: (Note: Remember,
your disk will now become the "boot" disk.)
3) After the A> prompt appears remove your DOS diskette and insert the
SUPERNOVA diskette into drive A:
4) Type INSTALL and press the key (or , etc.)
5) The INSTALL program will explain itself. At the bottom, in highlighted
letters it will ask you to remove the SUPERNOVA disk and insert your "boot"
diskette. Do this, then press any key to continue.
6) A few seconds later your "boot" diskette will be properly installed.
7) Now that you have a properly installed "boot" disk you are ready to play
SUPERNOVA. But first, due to the way DOS handles files, you must turn
your computer off and back on again. This time make sure your "boot" disk
is in drive A: when the computer is turned on. DOS needs to find the file
information that is now in the config.sys file, and it only reads this
information when the computer is turned on.
* REMEMBER: From now on, whenever you want to play SUPERNOVA, you will be
required to power-on your computer with your "boot" diskette in drive A:
* And again, an easier way to make a "boot" diskette is simply to use the
DOS 'copy' command to transfer the config.sys file provided on the
SUPERNOVA disk to your chosen "boot" disk (i.e. copy config.sys b:).
* Further instructions will be offered when you run the INSTALL program
that is provided on the SUPERNOVA diskette.
