THE SPECTRUM GAME DATABASE SHORT CIRCUIT PUBLISHER Ocean AUTHOR Paul Owens YEAR 1987 DESCRIPTION There are two connected games in this one package. The first is an arcade-adventure, and the second is simply a straight arcade game. CONTROLS & INSTRUCTIONS Please see the inlay card text. CHEATS SEQUELS/PREQUELS None. INLAY CARD TEXT SHORT CIRCUIT TM Its program code and graphic representation are the copyright of Ocean Software Limited and may not be reproduced, stored, hired or broadcast in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Ocean Software Limited. All rights reserved Worldwide. Short Circuit runs on the Spectrum 48/128 micro computers. THE GAME Number 5 is alive! - a robot in the SAINT (Strategic Artificially Intelligent Nuclear Transport) series has gone haywire. A million to one chance has resulted in a lightning bolt striking the automaton and bringing it consciousness. Now the scientist who put him together wants to take him apart again to find out what went wrong. The President of Nova Robotics wants to capture him before the weapons he is carrying kill millions of civilians - and the security chief wants to blow him up so that he can get home in time for dinner. You are Number five... You are alive and you aim to stay that way! LOADING The game is divided into two parts which must be loaded separately (in 48K version). There are 3 programs stored on the cassette. Side 1 contains the 48K version part one and two; Side 2 the 128K version. 1. Place the cassette in your recorded ensuring that it is fully rewound. 2. Ensure that the MIC socket is disconnected and that the volume and tone controls are set to the appropriate levels. 3. If the computer is a Spectrum 48K or Spectrum + then load as follows. Type LOAD "" (ENTER). (Note there is no space between the two quotes). The " is obtained by pressing the SYMBOL SHIFT and P keys simultaneously. 4. Press PLAY on your recorder and the game will load automatically. If you have any problems try adjusting the volume and tone controls and consulting Chapter 6 of the Spectrum manual. 5. If the computer is a Spectrum 128K then follow the loading instructions on-screen or in the accompanying manual. Follow on screen information for further details. NOTE Both parts of the 48K version may be loaded and played independantly. CONTROLS The game is controlled by either keyboard (redefinable) or joystick and is compatible with most interfaces. KEYBOARD PART I PART II Default selection Default selection A - Select A - Lazer Fire S - Up S - Jump X - Down X - Duck N - Left N - Backward M - Right M - Forward JOYSTICK PART I PART II UP JUMP ^ ^ | | LEFT<---+--->RIGHT BACKWARD<---+--->FORWARD | | V V DOWN DUCK FIRE-SELECT FIRE-LAZER Symbol Shift and Q simultaneously to quit GAME PLAY PART I The action is divided into two parts... First you must help No.5 escape from the Nova complex having collected the 3 essential "Jump" and "Lazer" accessories. To achieve this you must solve a variety of problems - opening doors and duping the security robots. COMPUTER LINK To aid this task you are equipped with the ability to "Log on" to a computer terminal and load in six additional function programs (only three per terminal). Find a terminal and while in contact with it, press select; now download function programs by following the prompts on the printer display. SELECT FUNCTION Pressing select while NOT in contact with any furniture will change the function program to be used (which appears between two arrows on the status display). Pressing select while IN contact with any furniture will run the function program (These programs are easy to use and it is helpful to follow the prompt on the printer at all times). E.G. Pressing select whilst in contact with a palm tree, with the search function. Printer display ......... Searching Palm Found a ..... (POUND SIGN)1 coin take Y/N Now press Y or N to obtain the (POUND SIGN)1 coin which may be used elsewhere in the program. PART II Having escaped from the Nova complex flee for your life and shake off your persuers by jumping over obstacles and wildlife in the cross country chase. Avoid contact with the guards and security robots at all costs - remember they're out to disconnect you! use your lazer if you have to but remember the "Robot Code" and keep a wary eye on the conscience level. STATUS AND SCORING +-----------------------+--------------+ | | SHORT | | 1 | CIRCUIT | | | +--------+ | | | | 5 | | +-----------------------+ +--------+ | | | | +--------+ +--------+ +--------+ | | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 | | | +--------+ +--------+ +--------+ | +--------------------------------------+ 1. Scrolling message display. 4. Score. 2. Conscience (Part II only). 5. Currently active program 3. Clock (Part I Only). (part I only). PART I Points are awarded for the completion of tasks that need to be overcome to escape from the factory. PART II Points are given for distance travelled, disabling security guards and pursuing Robots, extra points for avoiding damage to the wildlife. ROBOT ..................... 2000 GUARD ..................... 1000 In this game there is only one life... Your own! HINTS AND TIPS PART I * There are 3 terminals which are special. * Reading can be an enlightening experience. * Most objects have logical uses. * Make a map... you'll probably need it. * Patience is a virtue. PART II * Jumping while moving forward enables two obstacles to be cleared. * Duck to avoid the birds. * You can get through this whole section without hurting any wildlife or hitting any obstacles.... Practice makes perfect. GOOD LUCK NO.5. This software product has been carefully developed and manufactured to the highest quality standards. Please read carefully the instructions for loading. IF FOR ANY REASON YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY IN RUNNING THE PROGRAM, AND BELIEVE THAT THE PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE, PLEASE RETURN IT DIRECT TO: MR. YATES, OCEAN SOFTWARE LIMITED, 6 CENTRAL STREET, MANCHESTER M2 5NS. Our quality control department will test the product and supply an immediate replacement if we find a fault. If we cannot find a fault the product will be returned to you at no charge. Please note that this does not affect your statutory rights. CREDITS Designed and programmed by Paul Owens, Produced by D.C Ward. (C) 1987 Ocean Software Limited. Short Circuit is a trademark of Tri-Star Pictures, Inc. and PSO Presentations. (C) 1986 Tri-Star Pictures, Inc. and PSO Presentations. All rights reserved. THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS ONLY ONE CASSETTE TAPE. THE LARGER PACKAGING HAS BEEN INTRODUCED AS A STANDARD FOR THIS AND FUTURE PRODUCTS. WE MAY FROM TIME TO TIME INCORPORATE TWO TAPES OR POSSIBLY A DISK. SCORES RECEIVED URL GENERAL FACTS Short Circuit is, of course, based on the film of the same name. NOTES