ASTRAWARE | palm os products

T-Blaster Information

Current released version: 1.0 - 27th May, 2002
Current release expires: never
Feedback to: Howard Tomlinson (howard@astraware.com)
Game Info: http://www.astraware.com/palm/tblaster/
Recent update headlines: First Public Release

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

Introduction

The Earth is in danger once again... Vicious aliens are attacking, and you are the one to stop them!

You have to use your graffiti or typing skills to destroy the aliens as they descend! Each alien carries one or more letters, which you must type in order to destroy them. Better be accurate, or they will get to you first...

How Long Can You Last ?

T-Blaster Features:

- Colour and Greyscale version combined
- Cool Graphics
- Easy to Play - just type!
- Optional settings to include lowercase, number, and punctuation
- Three difficulty settings
- Option to export your high scores to our internet high score table
- Compatible with the latest Handspring hardware
- Ideal for practising your typing or graffiti!

How To Install

Use an extractor program such as WinZip on the PC or Stuffit Expander on the Mac to get at the T-Blaster 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 T-Blaster and tap the screen to play the game!

If you've got any queries about T-Blaster 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.

How To Play

Once you start a game, you will see your ship at the bottom of the screen. Also on screen you will see your score read-out, and an energy bar at the top right hand corner of the screen. Don't let your energy bar get to zero, or your shield won't be able to withstand a collision from an enemy!

You've only got one ship, so be careful with it!

Aliens will soon begin to appear at the top of the screen, and descend towards you... Each one carries one or more letters beneath it. You have to type or graffiti that letter, and your ship will move underneath the alien and shoot a missile at it. If the letter is wrong, the missile won't hit, so you have to be accurate!

Before long, the aliens will carry more than one letter at a time - forming longer and longer words... You have to destroy all of the letters in the word in order to destroy the alien.

If the alien reaches the bottom of the screen, it will crash into you, and you'd better hope your shields have enough strength to withstand the collision!

Settings

There are a number of game options so that you can customise how you want to play!

All of the options are available through the menu, and by selecting the 'Game Settings' option

#### Speed

The speed can be set to Slow, Medium, or Fast. This lets you adjust it to the speed you like best.

#### Sounds

You can choose to have the game running silently (great for meetings), with subtle sounds (just beeps), or with full sounds.

#### Moves

Depending on the type of screen on your device, you can choose to have the aliens moving in jumps or smoothly. Having them move in jumps is better for screens with a slower refresh rate, as it means that you'll be able to read the letters more easily. Note that it doesn't mean that the alien moves faster in total, just that it will stay long enough in one place for you to read the letter.

#### Force Correct Order

Want a real challenge ? This option lets you choose whether you want the game to make you type every word in the exact correct order it appears on the screen! With this setting off, you can type the letters in any order and still kill the alien.

#### Show Background

The background is just a visual effect - however, if you prefer, you can turn the background off, and the game will be able to run a little more smoothly.

#### Show Particle Effects

Lets you choose whether you want the full explosion effect with fragments flying in all directions, or to keep the screen clean. Turning this setting off will also help slower devices.

#### Include Lowercase, Numbers, or Punctuation

You can set these independantly - and they will affect what kinds of characters the aliens can come onscreen with. You'll get more points for playing with these settings on, but it will make it a more challenging game... Switch these on to really find out how good your typing and graffiti are!

Game Hints

A few hints:

- Try to destroy the aliens sooner rather than later - you'll get more points for them at the top of the screen
- Your energy will replenish over time - sometimes its better to collide with an alien if you're having trouble killing it, and concentrate on getting all of the rest of them!
- Each shot depletes your energy - be accurate, otherwise you'll find all your energy gone when you need to be able to survive a collision!

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 T-Blaster 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/tblaster/
for more details.

You'll need to know your HotSync ID which you can find by running T-Blaster, 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 T-Blaster web pages at http://www.astraware.com/palm/tblaster/ 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/tblaster/high

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 1.0 : 27th May, 2002

- First Public Release !

Feedback

If you've got suggestions about how to improve Astraware T-Blaster - or with reports of any problems you've had, then please contact us!

T-Blaster enquiries/feedback: tblaster@astraware.com
Registration problems: registrations@astraware.com
General Astraware enquiries: feedback@astraware.com

Contributors

- Palm Game Design and Programming: Howard Tomlinson
- 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 T-Blaster. T-Blaster is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. T-Blaster 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 Astraware Ltd..

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