Program:     THUNDERBIRDS Are Go!
Version:     1.2
Author:      James Vernon (TCPA - http://tcpa.calc.org)
Description: Platform RPG
Machine:     TI-83/TI-83+
Platform:    Ion
Language:    Z80 Assembly
Released:    September 2000
Size:        TI-83  - 12712 bytes
             TI-83+ - 12808 bytes


*********************
** VERSION HISTORY **
*********************
v0.1 <> 1386 bytes <> June 2000
- First public release
- Can walk around and climb up & down ladders
- Not at all optimised

v0.2 <> 2728 bytes <> June 2000
- The two characters (Alan & Brains) are actually separate and can both venture to different places
- Made it faster
- No longer uses ionPutSprite to draw characters, uses an ORing routine instead (ionPutSprite used XOR)
- More memory efficient way of connecting rooms used
- More screens to explore (11 to be exact)
- Game automatically saved when you quit
- 5 items to pickup & drop!
- Source code released with this version!
- Not optimised for size yet

v1.0 <> 12571 bytes <> July 2000
- Final release (of this mission) unless any bugs are found
- Intro
- Over 60 screens to explore!
- Rooms now 5*12 blocks (more like original game)
- Many different items that need to be used during the mission
- You have limited time to rescue the men
- Clues appear when you need to to something
- Optimised for size & speed

v1.1 <> 12712 bytes <> July 2000
- Fixed a major bug on the TI-83+, thanks to all the people that brought this to my attention and also to Dan Englender for finding the bug!
- Now level data is contained in the file TBIRDS to save space :)
- Made intro a little faster
- Changed a few minor details to make the game more similar to the original
- Made some parts of the gameplay more clear as to what is happening :)
- Added some more animation bits
- The 83+ size is a lot larger than the 83 size (96 bytes) because of the problem with v1.0 I had to fix :(

v1.2 <> 12712 bytes <> September 2000
- Includes source code
- Final release


********************
** INCLUDED FILES **
********************
PROGRAM FILES:
tbirds.83p              TI-83 Program File
tbirds.8xp              TI-83+ Program File

DOCUMENTATION:
readme.txt          This text document
source.txt          Information on how to properly compile THUNDERBIRDS Are Go!
notes.txt           Some quick notes I wrote when programming the game

SOURCE CODE:
tbirds.z80          Main source code file
tbgfx.h             Graphics file
scalegss.z80        Sprite Scaling Routines v1.0
scalespr.z80        More Sprite Scaling Routines
tbdata.bin          Data file
fix.exe             File used to append "tbdata.bin" to end of "tbirds.bin" during compilation


***********
** SETUP **
***********
  THUNDERBIRDS requires Ion to be played - I recommend that you use the latest version of Ion to play it. You can always download the latest version of Ion from http://joewing.calc.org.

  TI-83 Users:  Copy tbirds.83p to your calculator
  TI-83+ Users: Copy tbirds.8xp to your calculator

  The only program that should have been copied to your calculator is TBIRDS. Run Ion and select "THUNDERBIRDS Are Go! - TCPA".


*************************
** THE STORY SO FAR... **
*************************
  The year is 2065. On a remote island in the Pacific Ocean lives retired industrialist Jeff Tracy & his family. To the outside world they are the 'idle rich'. The reality is something different.

  Deep under the island is an underground complex. This is the base of International Rescue, an organisation dedicated to the saving of lives. Orbiting the Earth is Thunderbird 5, a Space Station monitoring all radio signals for the hint of an emergency. Within Tracy Island are Thunderbirds 1, 2, 3 & 4, all ready at a moments notice to be launched to any point on the Earth or in space. The International Rescue organisation is headed by Jeff Tracy and the vehicles piloted by his sons, Scott, Virgil, John, Gordon and Alan.

  All the Thunderbird crafts were designed and built by a brilliant scientist and engineer Horatio Hackenbacker, known to all in International Rescue as 'Brains'.

  International Rescue is a secret organisation and for it to continue to function it must protect the identity of its agents and the location of its base and craft. To help in this it uses many agents around the world who's job it is to gather information about possible threats.

  The British agents who are Thunderbirds most able team are Lady Penelope and her butler, Parker. As well as having to contend with natural disasters the Thunderbirds also have an arch-enemy known only as the Hood, who has sworn to stop at nothing until he has stolen the designs of all the Thunderbirds craft and become the richest man in the world.


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** MISSION 1 - MINE MENACE **
*****************************
  An explosion has destroyed the lifting gear in the Santa Peuablo Mine leaving 2 miners trapped in the mine cage deep below the surface. Conventional rescue services will arrive in a couple of hours - this will be too late - the mine is flooding from a damaged valve on the mine's pumping station. Alan, Virgil & Brains are to attempt a rescue using Thunderbird 2 to pull the cage up the shaft to safety. To do this both Alan & Brains must reach the stricken men to attach the grab and save the day. Alan starts his journey in the Control Room near the surface, while Brains is transported in the MOLE to the bottom of the mine to start his rescue.


*********************
** GETTING STARTED **
*********************
  After running the program, wait a few seconds through the intro sequence and then press [ENTER]. If you are running the program for the first time, the Main Menu will automatically come up. The picture is of Jeff Tracy sitting at his desk waiting for any emergency calls. Behind his head are the numbers 1-4, each representing a Mission. Only the Mission 1 button will work as Mission 1 is the only Mission in this version (the other numbers are there because I might make the other Missions one day :) It's hard to fit much more than more mission on the calculator because of memory limitations. Using the arrow keys, move the mouse cursor over the 1 and press [2nd].

  A screen will come up with 6 items. Firstly, you will be prompted to select 2 items for Alan to take to the Rescue Scene with him. Do so using the arrow keys and the [2nd] key. You will then be prompted to select 2 items for Brains to take to the Rescue Scene. You probably won't select the right combination of items the first time you play but remember that you can restart whenever you want.

  After you have selected your initial items Alan & Brains will be deployed at the Rescue Scene. Alan begins in the Control Room at the top of the mine and Brains is outside the Mole at the bottom of the mine. Virgil is waiting above in Thunderbird 2 with the grab to pull the men out of the mine. You don't control Virgil at all in the mission.

  NOTE: After you start a game the Main Menu no longer appears unless you restart/fail the mission.


**************
** GAMEPLAY **
**************
  After selecting your initial items you go to the game screen. In the top left is the face of the character you are currently controlling. To the right of that are the Inventory boxes - the selected item is highlighted. To the right of the Inventory boxes is the characters Health. If either of the characters' Health drops to zero then that character is unconscious and the mission will be aborted.

  In the top-right the time you have left is displayed. You must hurry to finish the mission before the time counter reaches zero or the mission is aborted. The mission can easily be completed within the time provided once you know the solution.

  The next row is the Text bar. This is where character conversation & clues will appear. The game will temporarily pause whilst these messages appear so that you can read them.

  The mission contains over 60 rooms to explore so it might be advisable to sketch a quick map of the level so that you know where you are going (although it's hard to get lost :)

  Use the arrow keys to move the character around that you are currently using. To climb up/down a ladder you must be standing directly in front of it - if you have trouble doing this hold down the [ALPHA] key whilst moving to walk slowly. Getting in the correct position isn't too hard. To alternate between the two characters, press the [MODE] button.

  Use the [Y=] & [WINDOW] buttons to select one of the two Inventory boxes. If you don't know what one of the items is that you are holding, make sure it is highlighted and then press the [TRACE] button. The name of the item will appear in the Text bar. Press the [GRAPH] button to pickup/drop items. If you can't seem to pickup an item make sure you are close enough to it. If you are directly in front of it you will be able to pick it up. If you already have two items in your Inventory boxes and you try to pickup an item, you will drop the selected item before picking up the item on the ground. Make sure you don't accidentally put items behind other junk on the ground otherwise it makes it hard to find them again later.

  Nearly all of the items have a use - in fact, only two items have no effect on anything in this mission - it's your job to work out which items are of no use to you in the mission. In most cases, unless it is fairly obvious that you need to use an item, a clue will appear in the Text bar to let you know that you need to do something. Press the [2nd] button to use an item. Note that an item won't do anything unless you are using it in the correct spot at the correct time (this isn't as difficult as it sounds).

  When (or if) you make it to the trapped men, read the dialogue then complete the mission. Once you have completed the mission you will be given the password for Mission 2 because if I ever make Mission 2 you won't be able to play it without having the password.

HINT: You must first use Brains to find a hammer to fix the small winch lift and then a spanner to restart the pump which will stop the mine from flooding. Leave Alan to his own devices until you have done these things.


**************
** CONTROLS **
**************
Intro:
 [ENTER]    - Continue

Main Menu:
 Arrow Keys - Move mouse cursor
 [2nd]      - Mouse click

Select Items:
 Arrow Keys - Toggle item
 [2nd]      - Select item

In-Game:
 Arrow Keys - Walk, climb up/down ladders
 [ALPHA]    - Walk slower
 [MODE]     - Switch character
 [DEL]      - Restart mission
 [2nd]      - Use current item (only works when you are in the correct spot to use the item)
 [Y=]       - Select Inventory Box 1
 [WINDOW]   - Select Inventory Box 2
 [TRACE]    - Show current item name (in case you don't know what it is)
 [GRAPH]    - Pickup/Drop item in current inventory box
 [CLEAR]    - Save & Quit


*****************
** SOURCE CODE **
*****************
  I've released the source code with this version. Note that you will quite possibly be able to cheat by looking at the source code so it's up to you whether or not you decide to ruin the game for yourself.
  If you have any questions about the code please contact me.


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** DISCLAIMER **
****************
  This program access important parts of the calculators memory and therefore could cause it to crash, although it shouldn't. As far as I know there are no bugs with this version although if you experience any trouble please contact me straight away!


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** SPECIAL THANKS TO... **
**************************
- Dan Englender for finding a couple of bugs with the 83+ version and doing numerous bug tests!
- Everyone that reported the bug to me in v1.0 on the TI-83+!
- Harper Maddox for helping with the number sprites in the intro.
- Badja for the Sprite Scaling Routines used in part of the intro.
- Jimmy Mardell for the Earth Sprites that I used from Sqrxz.
- Hannes 'Movax' Edfeldt for the SPRXOR routine that I modelled one of my sprite routines after.
- Joe Wingbermuehle for Ion & the handy library functions!
- Grandslam Entertainments Ltd. for making the original Thunderbirds game for the Amiga!
- Gerry Anderson & Co. for making the 1960's TV show, Thunderbirds!
- Anyone else I forgot (sorry!)


  You may add Thunderbirds to your website as long as you don't separate the files included in this zip file. If you have any comments, bug reports or questions please email/ICQ me and I'll try to get back to you.
  For some other great TI calculator games go to http://tcpa.calc.org! Enjoy the game :)


THUNDERBIRDS Are Go! v1.2
Copyright 2000 Jimsoft Software/TCPA
Written and Programmed by James Vernon <james@calc.org>
http://tcpa.calc.org/
ICQ#: 71589304