barrel patrol 3d
(c) 2001 fathom entertainment

fathom_games@hotmail.com

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License:
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You may freely copy this program as long as this readme file is included.

This program is free so you may NOT charge anybody for copying it.  If you paid
any money in receipt of this program, please contact me.

You must get my permission before placing this program on any compilation CD
or similar product.  I require this simply to know how my work is being represented.

I am not responsible for any damage that results from the use of this program.




The Game:
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This game is based loosely on the arcade classic of the late 70's called "Ripoff".
The idea is simply to protect your barrels from the enemy tanks.
Shoot them, run into them, get them to shoot each other -- it doesn't matter,
just protect your barrels from them.

Once an enemy locks onto a barrel, they will try to drag it outside the game
field where it will be beamed up to their space station and presumably the world
would be a worse place for it, so don't let it happen.

The game is over when all barrels have been transported to the enemy space station.

Collect power-ups to enhance your tank's weaponry.  Be careful, enemy tanks can
also power-up.  Power-up's last the duration of the tank's life and are cumulative.

Power-ups are:
	H	Homing Missiles			Will track enemies
	F	Fast Missiles			Travel at three times the normals speed
	R	Rebounding Missiles		Rebound off of the game field boundries
	S	Scatter-Shot Missiles	Fires three missiles in a scattered array
	M	Multi-Shot Missiles		Enhances scatter shot to fire nine missiles
	E	Explosive Missiles		Explodes when near an enemy tank



(Partial) Revision History:


todo:
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revise collision detection to be more accurate
cleanup menu system a bit
add vertical sync toggle
add more environments
add more enemy types
add enemy infantry from crippled tanks
adjust controls to make aiming a little easier at lower frame rates
considering removal of "rebound" power-up (made more sense in a rectangular field)
fix fullscreen mode


v0.9beta: sep 2001
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added new splash screen
added levels and bonus points
added new physics system and collision detection/reaction routines
added debris from explosions
added damage system
added tank crippling (when HP is low)
added game speed modifiers
fullscreen mode still buggy (SDL?)


v0.82beta: jul 2001
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switched to SDL and dropped openAL/GLUT
added (slight) compression to data file
first version available for mac and linux (SDL!)
added master volume control to settings menu
fullscreen mode still a little buggy


v0.81beta: jun 2001
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switched to GLUT and openAL for portability
enemy tanks start from father away
incorporated custom data file formats


v0.8beta: jun 2001
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game time now independent of frame rate
added radar view
added game menu and in-game settings
added varius fx (ground scorch marks, more shadows, enemy fx)
added Fast Missiles power-up
added Power-Up interest to "Homer" AI type
added Player Safety time on respawn
Player now respawns facing center of field
Text now uses texture maps instead of polygons
added scoreboard
homing missiles now have narrower tracking angle
added directsound support
enemy tanks will try not to run into each other


v0.7beta: may 2001
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3D visuals nearly complete
game time locked to frame rate for testing purposes
made game-field circular