ASTRAWARE | palm os products

Abysma Information

Current released version: 1.00 - 15th May, 2002
Current release expires: never
Feedback to: Ray Seys (ray@astraware.com)
Game Info: http://www.astraware.com/palm/abysma
Recent update headlines: first release

Copyright (c) 2002 Gameplate, Astraware Ltd.
All rights reserved.

Introduction

It's a race against time as you attempt to fill in the puzzle pieces before the descending bar of doom!
The popular online puzzle game from Trixiam Studios has now arrived for the palm. Simply plug the gaps with existing pieces to prevent the descending bar from travelling over any spaces. Abysma starts off fairly calmly but as the levels increase so does the number and complexity of the shapes so you’ll soon find yourself racing to fill the gaps before the bar gets the better of you.
Abysma features

- Dazzling graphics
- Shadow effects
- Ultra addictive game
- Palm port of the popular web game
- ‘Tap to drop’ or ‘Drag and drop’ interface
- Colour and Greyscale support
- Three levels of difficulty
- Unlimited number of levels
- Separate high score tables for each mode of play
- Sound effects throughout the game
- Built in help and instructions to keep you going
- Exit Abysma and return to your game later!
- Option to beam a demo of the game to your friends!
- Internet High Score export for registered users!

How To Install

Use an extractor program such as WinZip on the PC or Stuffit Expander on the Mac to get at the Abysma files. Install the game by double-clicking the prc file.

Use the HotSync button as usual to install the game onto your handheld.

Now run Abysma and tap the screen to play the game!

If you've got any queries about Abysma or the registration process, first check out our frequently asked questions page on our website (you must be connected to the internet to access this). If this doesn't help, get in touch with us at support@astraware.com. If you've got any questions (or suggestions, we love those) about the game itself, please get in touch with us at the email address at the top of this page.

Game Objective

You start the game with a full bar of energy, and a board that is mostly full.

The bar will descend - and it is your task to make sure that the bar never reaches any empty squares! To do this you will have to move the available pieces - so that the area just under the bar is kept full.

If the bar hits empty spaces, your energy will reduce, and if it reaches zero - that is game over!

The game is easy to begin with, but as the shapes included get more and more complex, you'll have to plan your moves more and more carefully!

How To Play

You start with a playing area almost filled with different shaped interlocking pieces. The bar descends from the top and if it travels over any empty areas then your energy begins to run out. You can prevent this by filling the gaps with other pieces on the board trying to keep the area below the bar full.
In Easy level, you will start in level 1 and the playing area is filled with only two different shapes. As the levels progress, more shapes are introduced making the play more difficult.
In Medium level, you will start on level 11
In Hard Level, you will start on level 21.
After level 35 there are no more shapes introduced.
Bonus awards
If you fill all the holes in the path of the bar then you will be awarded bonus points and energy based on where you completed the puzzle. The quicker you complete the puzzle the more bonus points you get. If you need any energy this is also replenished and the amount gained is shown as ‘% saved’. If you have 100 % energy already then you will not save any energy when the level is complete.

Controls and Settings

There are two modes of play customisable from the options menu.
Drag:
This mode needs a ‘pen down’ to select a piece and a ‘pen up’ to lay a piece. You move a piece to its new location by dragging it there. If you need to put the piece back in its original place, you can either drag it back or jus let go of it in an area where it will not fit and the piece will ‘snap’ back to its home location. As you drag the piece around, if you get close to an area that the piece will fit into it will snap into that area ready to be dropped.
Tap:
This mode needs a ‘pen down’ to select a piece and a ‘pen down’ to lay a piece. So Tap to select and then tap in the location you wish the piece to move to. Your selected piece will appear in the lower left portion of the screen.
The options menu gives you various options
Shade: On or Off, Set to ‘On’ if you wish to see shadows in the gaps. This gives a greater feeling of depth but may decrease performance on slower machines.
Stylus: Drag or Tap, Set to Drag to select the Drag and Drop interface. Set to Tap for the Tap and drop interface.

Registering

If you downloaded the game straight from the internet, from Astraware's web pages, or from one of the popular Palm download sites, then your copy is in 'Demo' form. Demo means that you can play 10 games for free, and then decide whether to register it or not. After these games are up, the program will display a short message before each game.

In Demo form, you can play 10 games of Abysma for free, as you decide whether you like it or not. After these games are up, the program will display a short message asking you to register or purchase a full version from a shop!

If you beam a demo to someone else, and they also like the game, then they can register it either by purchasing a copy from a local store, or by purchasing online.

Registering Online:

For those that like the speed and convenience of buying of the internet, when you register for the game, you'll get a key which will unlock the game and remain valid for future 1.x upgrades. Go to the web page at http://www.astraware.com/palm/abysma
for more details.

You'll need to know your HotSync ID which you can find by running Abysma, and going into the menu, and selecting the 'register' option. Your HotSync ID (or username) will be filled in for you below.
When you register, Astraware will generate a key based on your ID, which will normally be sent out by email within 48 hours of you registering. When you receive your key, go to the same register option, and enter the key into the space provided.

Submit your High Scores!

Registered users of the game are entitled to submit their high scores to our Internet High Score table.

Just visit the Abysma web pages at http://www.astraware.com/palm/abysma and select the link to view high scores.

To submit your own score, you need to go to the menu in the game, and select 'export high score'. This will provide you with a code which you can then type into our site:

http://www.astraware.com/palm/abysma

You can only submit high scores once you've beaten the scores built into the game!

(Astraware reserves the right to remove this board or facility without any notice, or to remove individual names if necessary)

Astraware Products

You can find out about Astraware and the product range we have for the Palm-powered platform by visiting our website at www.astraware.com/.
Here are our top products at time of writing:

Astraware Palm Packs
GameHouse Games Pack 1 | Get shuffling with Nisqually, blast those blocks with Collapse and test your word power with TextTwist!
It's A Blast! Shooting Pack | Let out your tension with some target practice with Astraware's collection of great screen-tapping games!
Palm Games Pack 2001 | 4 games for under $25 - save over 25%
PopCap Games Pack | PopCap Games are sweeping the web, and now Astraware brings the top games to the Palm
Astraware Palm Games
Abysma | It's a race against time as you attempt to fill in the puzzle pieces before the descending bar of doom!
Alchemy | Turn lead into gold in Astraware's addictive PopCap puzzle game!
Astro Defence | Defend your city from the asteroid threat!
Atomica | Make Molecules in Dr. Atomica's Laboratory in Astraware's addictive PopCap puzzle game!
Bang! Bang! | Backyard blasting fun
Bejeweled | Bejeweled is a Palm version of the incredibly popular and addictive online game by PopCap
Big Money! | Coin collecting fun in another Pop Cap classic!
Biplane Ace | Dogfight against rival fighter pilots
Bounce Out | Brain bending ball matching action
Bzzz! for Palm | Fly-catching action for the Palm
Collapse! | Tap matching blocks in this simple but frantic GameHouse game.
Elixir | Collect valuable elixir from a stack of capsules without upsetting the balance in this ultra addictive game from Trixiam Studios.
Eye of Horus | Unleash your magical powers with this Astraware puzzle game.
Galaxy Ranger | Be a Galaxy Ranger, Save the Universe!
Gem Drop | Gem dropping, jewel matching fun
Mad Gab | ...It's not what you SAY, it's what you HEAR!
Mahjongg | Relax your mind with the most authentic Mahjongg solitaire game for Palm-powered handhelds
Mars Needs Cows | The challenging PopCap puzzle game of animal abduction!
Mummy Maze | Escape the maze and outsmart the mummy in this great PopCap game!
Nisqually | Make lines of blocks to clear the screen and complete the level
Noah's Ark | Save pairs of animals from the rising water in this great PopCap game!
Police Range | Police Range is a fast game of reactions, dexterity, accuracy and good judgment!
Round Up | Marble Moving Madness
Seven Seas | Ship Ahoy! Blast pirates with a broadside and navigate through dangerous waters, in this PopCap puzzle game
TacTic | A twist on the classic Tic-Tac-Toe game pits you against the brain
Text Twist | Juggle letters to make as many words as you can in a limited time!
Zap!2000 | Arcade gaming on the Palm has never looked so good!
Zap!2016 | The essential showcase for your 16-bit color Palm
Astraware Palm Applications
e.Guide | Your essential TV episode guide for Palm
Timetable | Know whats when with Timetable!
Timetable Plus | The essential tool for teachers and students, with assignment tracker
Timetable Pro | The essential tool for teachers and students

Release Revision History!

Release 1.00 : 15th May, 2002

- First Public Release!

Feedback

If you've got suggestions about how to improve Astraware Abysma - or with reports of any problems you've had, then please contact us!

Abysma enquiries/feedback: abysma@astraware.com
Registration problems: registrations@astraware.com
General Astraware enquiries: feedback@astraware.com

Contributors

- Palm Game Programming: Ray Seys
- Original Trixiam Game Design: Sylvain Dufour
- Game Graphics: Stephen Thorley.

Thanks also to the help of our dedicated beta testers during April and May 2002!

Legal

Astraware Ltd takes no responsibility for any adverse effect that this software could cause to your machine or the data on it: backup important data before using Abysma. Abysma is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Abysma is licensed, not sold.

You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble this software.
Astraware’s and its suppliers’ entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at Astraware’s option, either (a) return of the price paid, if any, or (b) replacement of the product that does not meet the warranty and which is returned to Astraware with a copy of your receipt. This warranty is void if failure of the product has resulted from accident, abuse, or misapplication. Any replacement software product will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer. These remedies are not available without proof of purchase from an authorized source.

Written permission must be obtained before distribution of this game, either in demo form or full form, through any online or offline methods.

Copyright (c) 2002 Gameplate, Astraware Ltd..

Astraware and the planet logo are trademarks of Astraware Limited. All rights reserved.