4K Race refueled

                            ================



A 4k minigame for the Spectrum 128k

Winner of the 2005 Minigame Compo (http://www.ffd2.com/minigame/)



Version 2.01





CREDITS



Code and manual: Paolo Ferraris   (pieffe8.at.libero.it)

Graphics: Luciano Costarelli



Engine sound idea: Mario "Chrome" Prato



Thanks to the Italian Zx Spectrum mailing-list for testing and suggestions

on the original 4K Race





LOADING INSTRUCTIONS



The game has NOT been tested on a real machine, but on two of the most

accurate emulators available, and those Spectrum emulators usually emulate

the real machine faithfully.



Do NOT run the game on a 48k Spectrum, or on a 128k Spectrum in 48k mode:

it runs, but all graphics are distorted.



If you have troubles running the game,



* be sure that you are using/emulating a Spectrum 128k/+2/+3. Some 128k

  clones may be good as well.

* after a reset,  select TAPE LOADER at the starting menu

* try to remove all additional hardware from your computer. The game does

  not work with hardware such as microdrives, and others which like to write

  on the floating bus...



Be sure to turn the volume on!





PREFACE



This is an enhanced version of 4K race. The original game have been

successful (thanks folks!) even if incomplete: strange prespective,

all cars of the same size even if at different distances, etc...

I thought that it was not possible to solve such problems in a 4k

but, while working on a complete version of the game, I found out that

it was possible. I never though I'd have ever used advanced programming

tecniques such as dynamic compiling, expecially for the Spectrum!





GAME DESCRIPTION



As the title suggests, this is a racing game, similar to (oh well...)

Outrun and Super Hang-On.



The goal of the game is to reach the end of the track in the given time

avoiding all the other cars. Checkpoints - there are 6 along the track - give

you extra seconds. Time over = game over.



At every game the track is different.





Controls: Q = accelerate

          A = brakes

          O = turn left

          P = turn right



or Sinclair Joystick port 1.



The upper part of the screen shows the score and high score, the part of

the track in which you are, the time left, and the speed.





I hope you will enjoy this minigame. I have spent a lot of hours on it.



Comments and suggestions are welcome.





REVISION HISTORY



1.00 "4k race" for the Spectrum 128k

     original game



1.01 "4k race" for the ts/tc2068 (beta). Not working on the real machine.



2.00 "4k race refueled" for the Spectrum 128k.

     - Bigger cars

     - Better prospective

     - Visual is over car and not over the street any longer

     - Faster to start

     - Minor playability improvements



2.01 "4k race refueled" for the Spectrum 128k.

     - Fixed bug that freezes the game at the end of every game



2.10 "4k race refueled+" for the ts/tc2068 (beta).

     - Tested on the real TS 2068

     - New introduction screen

     - Better landscape