PLAY: ‘Click’ down on the 5-way rocker button to start the game and to launch. Fly using the 5-way rocker button, fire using the ‘top right’ animated softkey on the touchscreen.

PAUSE / EXIT: Press the button shown below (when playing the game in standard mode): when the game is paused you can switch to other applications or exit the game.

For more details, read on…..

INSTALLING AND RUNNING DARXIDE EMP GAME or DEMO

When installing Darxide EMP on your PDA, please first ensure you have correctly installed your Pocket PC software and can successfully synchronize your Pocket PC and desktop or laptop PC (referred to as ‘host PC’ below) using the ActiveSync application supplied with your Pocket PC. If you wish to successfully submit any high score / playing statistics to the competition (see below for information) you will need to ensure that your Pocket PC’s ActiveSync e-mail account synchronises with the e-mail account you registered with Frontier when purchasing Darxide EMP.

When you have successfully downloaded either the demo or full game version of the self-extracting archive file of Darxide EMP to your host PC, you need to transfer it to your Pocket PC.

This is an automated process: with your Pocket PC docked in its cradle and switched on, simply double click on the downloaded file and follow instructions. The installer within the self-extracting file places the Darxide EMP game executable into a new directory called ‘Darxide EMP’ in your Pocket PC’s Program Files directory, and also places a shortcut in your Windows Start Menu.

Tap the Darxide EMP icon to start the game.

Darxide EMP can be removed using the standard Pocket PC ‘Add / Remove Programs’ utility.

During normal operation Darxide EMP will automatically create the following files in a new folder in your Pocket PC’s My Documents directory called Darxide EMP Gamefiles (Darxide EMP Demo Gamefiles for the demo version):

Darxide EMP maintains a small file called Darxide_EMP_gamepos* at the end of each level which is the current state of your game so you can pick up and play from the start of the level where you left off. This file includes statistics from your playing of the game. *not supported by / supplied with the demo version.

Darxide EMP also maintains a small file called Darxide_EMP_playerconfig to save configurable game state information.

Finally Darxide_EMP_keymaps stores your preferred game control key configurations.

The executable Darxide EMP game is actually a self-extracting compressed file of around 1.2MB. This decompresses itself every time it is run, so when playing there is an uncompressed copy of the game in your PDA’s memory making the total memory footprint of Darxide EMP around 4MB when playing. The uncompressed copy is deleted when you exit the game and created again when you re-enter it, so when you have exited the game the footprint of Darxide EMP is just 1.2MB. This system saves initial download time and storage space on your PDA – there may be a small (1-2 second) delay after you run Darxide EMP before the game appears (as it decompresses itself), but otherwise this process is transparent to you and does not affect your saved game progress.

GAME CONTROLS

Your Pocket PC is a very capable games machine. Darxide EMP is played in landscape mode on your PDA (i.e. turned sideways). The default orientation is with the 5-way button / selector on the left, and this is shown in the diagram below. This can be reversed using the ‘Reverse Controls’ Options menu selection.

Fly your fighter using the 5-way rocker button in any direction (default is ‘joy-stick’ style pull back (down) to climb – you can change this if you want using the ‘Options’ re-define keys selection).

Fire lasers by tapping the animated softkey on the top right of the touchscreen, or using the hardware fire button (default is the voice memo button).

Launch bombs by tapping the animated softkey on the top left of the touchscreen, or double click the decelerate button.

To swap weapons between lasers and plasma guns (if you’ve got them) double click on the accelerate button – though you should not normally need to do this as the most powerful weapon is automatically selected by your ship’s onboard computer.

If you select ‘Reverse Controls = YES’ in the Options menu, the screen is plotted ‘upside down’ and the button assignment changes to the following layout:

STANDARD-ISSUE HEAD UP DISPLAY

Shown below in ‘Reverse Controls = NO’ (default) mode.

Forward Looking Radar

Allows you to detect the presence of asteroids, aliens, miners, crystals and other pick-ups in front of you before you make visual contact.

Launch Bombs Softkey

Tap to launch bombs.

Mission Timer Indicator

The spaceship icon moves towards the moon icon, showing the time elapsed / remaining in the mission.

Number of Lives left

Is shown by the number printed next to the spaceship icon.

Mission Number

The number of the current mission is printed next to the moon icon.

Speed indicator

A bar graph showing your current speed.

Items Available

The number of items available but not yet picked up on the current mission.

Energy Indicator

A bar graph showing your energy status. Energy is depleted by firing weapons, ships engines – picking up red crystals replenishes your energy.

Shields Indicator

A bar graph showing your shields’ status. Shields are depleted by collisions, taking hits from alien weapons – picking up blue crystals replenishes your shields.

Score display

Shows your current score – can wrap around through zero for very large scores. The true total score is always stored correctly in your game statistics.

Speed Control Softkey

Control your speed by swiping the ball indicator to the left (slow down) or to the right (speed up).

Items Collected

The number of each type of item collected or fitted to your ship on the current mission.

Attitude indicators

Show your current bearing in different degrees of freedom.

Asteroid Indicator

Shows the number and size of asteroids to be destroyed in the current mission. The representation changes as you fragment asteroids, and any asteroids currently visible to you are highlighted.

Fire Lasers Softkey

Tap to fire lasers

SCANNING GUN SIGHT

All Command Fleet ships are fitted with the revolutionary Scanning Gun Sight as standard. This newly-developed piece of equipment is an integral part of your head-up display. Our scientists have created a virtual gun sight that is projected onto the objects in your path.

In addition, the Scanning Gun Sight functions as a teleportation Scoop allowing pilots to pick up Miners or Equipment, either from the surface of the asteroids or floating free in space. Targeting is made by lining the Gun Sight over an object, and hold the Gun Sight on the target to beam up…..or blast it with your lasers!

PICK UPS

During flight you should always keep a good look out for objects floating in space. Many of these can be collected and have great value.

CRYSTALS

The most valuable commodity in the Galaxy by far. These Crystals release huge amounts of positive energy on contact. Very useful for injecting power into energy banks and shield banks. The aliens also realise their worth, and will stop at nothing to steal them. Aliens often become very excitable after absorbing Crystals.

STANDARD CLASS LASERS (“WEAK LASERS”)

All Command Fleet ships are fitted with Standard Class Lasers as a minimum. These enable any pilot, however inexperienced, to destroy the asteroids threatening the mining bases.

MINERS

These foolhardy characters (most say insane) risk their lives to collect precious Crystal deposits from any pieces of Crystal-rich lunar rocks. Miners have been known to fly cargo transports into the middle of asteroid fields and mine the rocks in space! Each miner carries emergency radio-beacons, which they activate if in trouble. These Miners do a valuable job for Star-Fleet, and should be rescued as a priority. Double points are scored if miners as rescued off the asteroids rather than floating in space, rewarding skilled piloting.

BATTLE CLASS LASERS (“STRONG LASERS”)

Star-Fleet Command strongly recommends pilots intent upon combat action collect Battle Class Lasers at the earliest possible opportunity. Up to four of these extra-lethal weapons can be carried onboard a standard Fleet ship. They disintegrate asteroids and aliens alike and are particularly renowned for their pin-point accuracy even over extraordinary distances. It is well worth your while to pick up any found in space, in case there is a delay in official supply lines. The onboard computer will automatically close down Battle Class Lasers temporarily when energy levels become low.

PLASMA CANNON

Plasma Cannon are the ultimate weapon for the massed attack. These awesome guns, while not as accurate as the Strong Lasers are truly spectacular in their force of impact. The bolts of plasma lightning vaporise anything held in the Scanning Gun Sight. Pilots should note the huge amount of energy used when firing Plasma Cannons. Only fire Plasma Cannons in very short bursts. The onboard computer will automatically close down Plasma Cannons temporarily when energy levels become low.

BOMB SCOOP / LAUNCHER

All Command Fleet ships have been equipped to carry the Alien-designed Bomb Scoop/Launchers. These particularly rare items of equipment are of exceptional value and essential for some missions. They will be automatically fitted before missions requiring massive fire-power. All mining bases have the technology to fit this equipment, but the bombs themselves can only be picked up in flight by the Scoop/Launcher once it has been fitted. Each Scoop can hold a maximum of eight bombs and re-launch them, doing incredible damage to ships against which they are launched.

ALIEN BOMBS

After successful destruction of an alien bomber, its payload of bombs may be collected. These bombs cause huge destruction to their targets. They can only be fired using a fitted Bomb/Scoop Launcher.

ENGINE BOOST

Gives you two extra engines for maximum drive, and hence increases your top speed. Very useful for hunting down elusive crystals and miners...

MISSION BRIEFING AND FEEDBACK

There are 12 missions (only 1 in the demo, which is a stand-alone mission that is not contained within the game). You are briefed on your mission before launch. Please read this carefully - you must complete ALL mission objectives to progress.

Select LAUNCH on the title page to begin your mission.

Press ‘Fire Laser’ OR ‘Decelerate’ buttons to skip the launch or landing cut-scene sequence.

After you successfully complete each mission a number of energy crystals will appear in space around your craft, you have a short time (around 10 seconds) in which to collect as many as possible before an automatic landing sequence is initiated.

If you are unsuccessful in the mission, either running out of time or some event happens to make it impossible for you to succeed (e.g. less miners are left alive than you need to save) an automatic landing sequence is initiated and you are then presented with mission feedback. Objectives highlighted in GREEN were achieved, those highlighted in RED were not achieved. If you have lives remaining you can then re-attempt that mission by selecting LAUNCH.

MISSION TIPS

Each mission has a time limit, as you will inexorably approach each Moon. Moon bases have no defence against collisions with asteroids. You must fully destroy all the asteroids before they reach each Moon.

Your Forward Looking Radar is an invaluable aid to locating asteroids, crystals, aliens and miners before you make visual contact.

Manage your speed.

Conserve your energy and weaponry discharge, and keep an eye out on your shield status.

Crystals are valuable items which either boost your engine and fire-power (red) or shield strength (blue).

Aliens aren't there for the views – they will attack you! Remember to use any bombs wisely - they are very powerful, but don't waste them.

Miners need your help, try scanning them off the asteroids, it's easier than chasing them around in space. Panicking miners run out of oxygen quickly and are easy targets for Aliens.

Look out for extra weapons. Sometimes you'll find them attached to asteroids. Don't leave them floating in space for too long, they tend to explode! Remember stronger weapons use more energy. Short, accurate bursts of fire are best.

Some Alien craft need special tactics to destroy. Find their weak spot!

LAUNCH AND OPTIONS

Select LAUNCH to start your mission, or select OPTIONS to change the game set ups.

The OPTIONS section allows the player to customise the game set ups. Directions below refer to Pocket PC held sideways in ‘landscape’ mode. When you are instructed to ‘select’ please navigate to the relevant option using the 5-way rocker button and click down ‘into’ the Pocket PC.

Choose option 5-way rocker button UP and DOWN

Change setting 5-way rocker button LEFT and RIGHT

Exit to title page select ‘CONTINUE’

THE OPTIONS

RESTART GAME Select this option to clear your current statistics and start a fresh game for you - back at the start of the first level 1 with zero points and a standard ship. As described above, your game statistics are stored by Darxide EMP in a file called Darxide_EMP_gamepos.bin that is created in the My Documents / Darxide EMP Gamefiles folder. If you want to maintain a selection of different games at one time, you can do this by manually copying and re-naming the Darxide_EMP_gamepos file before using RESTART GAME option.

REVERSE CONTROLS Reverses controls and screen plotting for right-handed operation of 5-way rocker button. The operation of this and other buttons are flipped to maintain the same physical layout of the controls (i.e. decelerate is always the lowest key). The softkeys for fire lasers and launch bomb are swapped in position to keep the fire button on the opposite side to the direction control.

ENGLISH Language selection – automatically set depending on your Pocket PC’s language selection to one of English, French, German, Spanish or Italian. Defaults to English.

SOUND EFFECTS Turn sound effects on or off. You can also use the Pocket PC’s volume control to modify the game’s loudness. Turning sounds off will reduce battery power consumption on your Pocket PC.

DIFFICULTY Game difficulty; Easy, Medium or Hard. Default is ‘Easy’. Controls how much damage is done to your shields by different game events. Entries in Galactic High Score competition tables are weighted by the setting chosen for this option.

GAME SPEED*: Default is ‘Standard’, which runs the game as designed at 25 frames per second (fps). ‘Free Run’ lets the game run as fast as your Pocket PC is able, and prints the Frames Per Second (FPS) number that your Pocket PC can achieve in the top left corner of the game’s display. The game is designed for 25 fps operation, and so may become unplayable in Free Run mode (we have seen it run at up to 60 fps). Performance differences between nominally similar specification Pocket PCs have been found to be due to differences in the time each model of Pocket PC takes to transfer the game’s plot buffer to the Pocket PC’s video memory. The game caches reasonably well, so the effect of increased processor speed between models is apparent. Free Run is not a viable gameplay mode, it has been included in case you are curious (as we are) about what performance can be extracted from each type of Pocket PC.

*this option not present in the demo version.

REDEFINE KEYS Allows you to re-map game controls to different physical buttons on your Pocket PC – the is no facility to change the softkeys. This option is included to allow for the different layout of buttons on Pocket PC devices. The game was developed on Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC’s and the default configurations suit this device’s layout. To redefine the buttons, select the REDEFINE KEYS option. The resulting submenu entries, when selected (clicked), let you associate different game actions (up, down, left, right, accelerate, decelerate, fire weapons, swap weapons, pause) with the next key you press during a short period after you select/click them – for example to change the key for ‘up’, select ‘KEY FOR UP’ on the menu – the ‘KEY FOR UP’ line stops flashing for a short while. During this time you should press the key you want ‘up’ to be re-defined as. Successful re-mapping of a key is confirmed by a sound effect. Then accept the changes to return to the main options menu. Key configurations are stored in and read from a file called Darxide_EMP_keymaps in the My Documents / Darxide EMP Gamefiles folder.

PAUSE / EXIT THE GAME

You can pause the game at any time by pressing the button shown in the above diagrams (the default Calendar hotkey [‘top’ button on the left when playing the game on a Compaq iPAQ in default mode]). Whilst paused you can access other applications using the shortcut buttons as normal. You are also given the choice of continuing with the game or exiting the game. If you choose ‘Continue game’ you return to exactly where you left off in the game. Choosing ‘Exit game’ exits the game and puts you back at the start of the mission you were playing (i.e. the mission you have not yet completed) when you re-start the game.

THE STORY

You are a lone Star Fleet fighter pilot who has been posted to the mining moons of Darxide, a sector of the Galaxy of huge strategic importance as the only source for the energy crystals which power Star Fleet’s ships. The mining operations on each moon need your protection against frequent asteroid storms that sweep through the Darxide system. An unusually large asteroid storm, rich in crystals, is approaching the Darxide system and you are scrambled to begin your routine clearance operation.

As you go about your mission, there is growing evidence of Alien involvement in the asteroid storm. To survive against the enemy you must upgrade your ship’s weapons and engines from the wreckage of other Star Fleet vessels contained within the asteroid storm.

The miners you are protecting initially start travelling to the asteroids to harvest the crystals, but soon realise there is a high price to be paid for this folly...

As the Alien plan to totally eradicate the Star Fleet mining operation becomes apparent you are plunged into an increasingly desperate battle, which requires you to modify your tactics as well as increase your skill set as the enemy ranged against you becomes ever more formidable.

Your missions culminate in a final showdown against the Alien Mothership itself….

HIGH SCORE AND COMPETITION

All pilots reaching substantial scores will be asked to leave their mark in the local High Score Table.

Press 5-way rocker button LEFT or RIGHT to choose letter

Move 5-way rocker button UP and DOWN to change letter

Select / click with 5-way rocker button to confirm / enter name

There are several competitions for each level and the game as a whole, Darxide EMP keeps track of your playing statistics.

LANGUAGE SELECTION

Upon first running, Darxide EMP detects your Pocket PC’s language setting and then uses English, French, German, Italian or Spanish language text if appropriate, or defaults to English.

If you wish you can change the language setting using the ‘Options’ menu.

AUDIO VOLUME

Overall game sound volume is controlled by your Pocket PC’s volume control, accessible via the ‘Today’ page by tapping the loudspeaker icon at the top of the page.

COMPATIBILITY OF DARXIDE EMP AND YOUR POCKET PC

Darxide EMP is delivered to you as a self-extracting archive which auto-installs when you double-click to run it.

It installs an executable on your Pocket PC which will ONLY run on PDAs which:

use Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 or Microsoft Pocket PC Phone Edition or later operating system, AND
have CPU’s based on ARM 32-bit RISC processor designs.

Darxide EMP is NOT intended to be executed on desktop or laptop PC’s, only on Pocket PC PDAs.

At the time of writing the majority of suitable processors used in Pocket PC PDA’s are supplied by Intel using the ‘StrongARM’ or ‘XScale’ brands, although Texas Instruments’ ‘OMAP’ processors are starting to be used by some PDA manufacturers and should also be capable of running Darxide EMP. Please check Frontier’s website (www.frontier.co.uk) for available details on verified Pocket PC models.

Many other semiconductor vendors also have the capability to produce CPU’s that will run Darxide EMP and may be used in Pocket PC PDAs - the key factors for compatibility with Darxide EMP are the ARM CPU architecture and the Pocket PC OS, not the semiconductor vendor.

Microsoft currently maintains a list of PDAs and other mobile devices which run PocketPC 2002 at http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/learnmore/hardware/default.asp

which contains information about the processor used in each.

If you have any doubt about the ability of your Pocket PC device to run Darxide EMP, please download the free Darxide EMP demo from www.frontier.co.uk , install it and verify that it runs to your satisfaction on your Pocket PC BEFORE you purchase Darxide EMP.

LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF AND YOUR POCKET PC

Frontier’s Darxide EMP game is designed to immerse you in the action and tactics of space combat. Be sure to take an occasional break during extended play, and take care not to play where doing so may endanger your safety! If you play on public transport, we accept no liability for missed stops or connections… If using headphones, keep the volume at a sensible level. If not using headphones please be considerate to those around you.

Please take care not to use undue force on your Pocket PC and its buttons when playing Darxide EMP. We have provided you with the option of using touch-screen ‘soft-key’ weapon-fire and speed controls to help you play comfortably with no physical problems from repetitive actions. Please consult the owners’ manual for your Pocket PC device regarding treatment of the touch-screen. If you are unhappy or unsure about using the soft-key controls please do not use them and instead use the game’s ‘Options’ page to configure the hardware buttons on your Pocket PC to your preferred choice of arrangement. Also please use this option to help if you experience discomfort when playing the game in any control configuration. If discomfort persists, please stop playing and consult a doctor before resuming play.

Exposure to patterns or flashing lights and sound such as contained in videogames may induce epileptic seizures in a small number of people, whether they are known to be susceptible or not. If you, or anyone in your family, have an epileptic condition consult a doctor prior to playing. If you experience any of the following symptoms while playing Darxide EMP - dizziness, altered vision, eye or muscle twitches, loss of awareness, disorientation, any involuntary movement, or convulsions – please stop playing IMMEDIATELY and consult a doctor before resuming play.

GAME CREDITS

Darxide EMP for Pocket PC 2002

Pocket PC port by………………………Inventivity Ltd.

Additional programming by…………….Inventivity Ltd. and Frontier

With thanks to:

Jonny Watts

Sergei Lewis

David Fairey

Alistair Lindsay

Trevor Page

Jon Lewis

Jonathan Roach

Tjaart Kruger

Stefano Bucciarelli

www.expansys.com

Produced by Jonny Watts of Frontier Developments Ltd.

Original Darxide for Sega 32X Credits:

Programmed by .................................. Peter Irvin

Designed by ................................... Peter Irvin and David Braben

Additional programming ........................ Chris Mullender

Music and Sound Effects ...................... Adam Salkeld

Additional Music ....................... Richard Jacques

3D Shapes ................................... Aggy Finn

2D Graphics ................................... Aggy Finn

................................... Chris Mullender

................................... Reece Millidge

................................... Steve Green

Lead Testers ................................... Nick Ryan

................................... Craig Kerrison

Further assistance ............................... James Dixon

Produced by Duncan Kershaw of Sega Europe Ltd