STAR TRADER
(Bug-Byte)

The highest plateau yet reached in Spectrum software


Play Star Trader and you enter a galaxy more complex and enthralling
than any previously experienced.
	Trade, barter, eat and drink with wonderful creatures from
different planets, ever wary of their treacherous, volatile economies
and the risk of civil disorder and death. Then return with your goods
through a deadly gauntlet of space pirates intent upon stealing your
cargo and your own death. All enjoyed in the most advanced 3D graphics
yet attained on a Spectrum.
	You'll need far more than courage and quick reflexes; it takes
cunning, initiative and skill to survive. Could you be a Star Trader?

Star Trader takes software forward into a whole new dimension of
action, involvement and realism. You'll need the super-fast reflex
skills of an arcade ace and the cunning, guile and logic skills of an
adventure master just to stay alive. To win ... you'll need to be a
Star Trader!


Program design: Trevor Hall
Coding:
Spaceflight sequence: Joey
Adventure section: Rob Phoenix
Graphic design: Gary McNamara


SCENARIO:
	Far away, in a distant galaxy, are colonies of men, on small
inhabitable planets in neighbouring star systems. Over the years these
communities have learned to rely on each other for trade. Marauding
pirates have been quick to take advantage of the strong inter-
dependence of the planets, and haunt the interplanetary trade routes
with their menacing craft. In fact, it has come to the point that
interstellar trading is a very risky, though profitable, venture. As a
result of a recent increase in the pirates' greed (their self-imposed
"tax" on traders is now 1/4 the traders cargo value), all the
remaining traders have left the system. All, that is, except you. You
alone must attempt to vanquish these rogues, whilst keeping the vast
interplanetary economy intact.

LOADING THE GAME:
To play Star Trader:
1. Put the cassette in your player and connect it to your computer.
2. Press 'LOAD"" Enter' on your Spectrum.
3. Press PLAY on your cassette player.

TRADING:
	There are eight planets on the trade routes. They each have eight
major interplanetary industries, which buy goods from traders and sell
goods to them. You enter the simulation with an amount of cash and a
cargo ship. You must use your cash wisely, to purchase goods at low
prices on producing worlds, so that you may then sell your wares at a
suitable profit on consumer worlds. For example, if planet 1 produced
coal (through its mining industries), and planet 2 had no coal mines,
it would be wise to buy coal from planet 1 and subsequently sell it on
planet 2. Planets with poor supplies of any commodities will suffer
inflation, which you may use to your advantage. If, however, inflation
rises to a chaotic level, social unrest will lead to a complete
collapse of civil order; so various people will turn to piracy for a
new source of income.
	You have a limited storage capacity in your cargo hold, which you
may check during the game. You may only buy and sell your goods during
normal business hours, outside of which you will find all shops
closed.
	The main legal tax on your profits is from the customs officials,
who will charge you astounding duties on your wares. You may try to
cheat these officials of their dues, but at great peril should you be
caught.

LIVING:
	To stay alive during the game you must eat and drink at regular
intervals (as per usual). Failure to do so will cause starvation, and
eventually death! You may stay overnight in the inn or an hotel; this
reduces the chances of getting yourself mugged. You should take a
quantity of food with you during space flight (which you will be able
to buy from the supermarkets in the game).

PIRATES:
	The worst hazard to the trader is being attacked by a pirate band.
You may protect yourself from these by buying armaments. You will need
a laser and at least one battery (to energise the laser) if you intend
to put up a fight. You may perform your fighting skills using keyboard
or joystick controls (using either Kempston, Protek or Sinclair
joystick interface). The fighting is viewed from your spaceship front
windows, with enemy craft approaching. The controls allow you to move
your vessel up, down, right, left and to fire your missile (so, for
instance, if you choose to move left, the enemy craft will drift
rightwards past your windows, just like driving a car!). In keyboard
mode, use 'Z' and 'X' for left and right, 'L' and 'SYMBOL SHIFT' for
up and down, and 'ENTER' to fire. Other controls (which may be used in
either keyboard or joystick modes) are 'Q' to surrender (quit), 'A' to
pause the action (to answer the phone, etc.) and 'S' to turn sound
effects on/off.
	Indicators between the windows show remaining laser charge and
remaining enemy craft in scanner range. Your laser batteries will
recharge slowly from the ship's generator during flight. During a
battle your ship will sustain damage to its shields. There are nine
shields, covering different areas of your vessel. Three hits on any
one shield will destroy your ship (two hits produce a warning sound).
You must repair your shields after landing, otherwise you will not be
permitted to blast off again, because of the obvious damage a crippled
ship might cause to the space port should it malfunction during take-
off. You may quit your fight and surrender to the pirates, but they
will probably confiscate more than you bargained for. If you are a
poor fighter you would therefore be better off accepting the pirate's
"tax".
	If you enjoy this game, look out for other Bug-Byte programs at
your local computer shop, branches of Boots and W.H. Smiths, or in our
advertising in the computer press and elsewhere.


(c) Bug-Byte Ltd. 1984