From SOSG: Colony

Om ram, All! :) Due to the increased interest of subscribers in this game, I’m throwing out SOSG excellent description of one of the best Spectrum gaming experts. :) ===cut=== (C) Andrey Shkolnikov, 1996 (R) Spectrofon #20 COLONY Mastertronic, 1987 "Planet Shelezyak... Inhabited by metal culture of the Velma of the low rivnya... Korisnix There is no copalin on the planet. Bodi is still dumb. At- There is no mosphere. There is nothing on the planet. Koli what happened, work everything and live it's bad." Kir Bulychev, "Alice's Journey" (in Ukrainian). ...The ship was preparing to take off. The droid team quickly loaded stowed the last bales of seeds into the main grain storage of the colony. A captain, having already checked all the systems several times, there is nothing to do Lat admonished the only colonist: - Remember, tin can: we left you everything you need. for the first time. If it were up to me, you wouldn’t have even half of these reserves received. In general, this whole colonist program... But understand this Here's what: there will be no more gifts! Will you need something - mercy We ask: call the ship, hand over the mushrooms, earn credits. And on loans already order everything you need. Your happiness is that the EarthWhy are these mushrooms so needed, and on this planet there are ideal places for them? natural conditions! Well, don't be boring, tinny! The upload has ended. The ship rose smoothly to the whistle of an- tigers and disappeared behind the low clouds. The robot colonist remains there is only one on the planet. If you don't count the aborigines... * * * This is how the game "Colony" by Mastertronik begins. Game before- Quite intelligent, as Matroskin would say, “economical.” And finally- but, since “Mastertronic” wrote it, it will be possible to run and shoot. However, it’s better in order. WORK. Your work has 2 modes: shooting and working with objects mi. They are switched with the "MODE" key. Total work can carry up to four items. To place an item, you need to stand up straight near the area where you want to place it. For example, when you sow seeds, you have to be careful ordinary combinatorial abilities, otherwise already planted se- exchanges will prevent you from getting up correctly to plant new ones. Energy indicators are located in the upper left corner of the screen weapons and protective field of work. When you accumulate loans, then you can buy yourself better weapons and protection. And be careful be careful - if the energy is almost zero, you shouldn’t go far from charging point. Although there is no need to waste the energy of the colony.In addition to the main colonist, you have at your disposal also a protective robot (remote droid). True, it won’t hurt to go to him buy batteries. This work is stupid, but useful: as soon as a battery is inserted into him, he starts running, firing in all directions us with laser discharges (including in your main work, if he doesn’t have time to get out of the way) and even fix what’s broken fencing. ENERGY. Energy is the blood of your colony, it supplies and nourishes everything. Yes- so as not to spoil the fragile ecology of an alien planet, you should build a thermal power plant banned. You will have to receive all your energy from the local sun. To receive solar energy and convert it into batteries tors of the colony, you have solar panels. First these There are three whole “compartments” built up with panels; actually quite praise- tit and twox. Just don’t forget to properly protect them from the evil ones insects. On the panel at the top of the screen there is an energy indicator gii - the word "POWER"; its color changes depending on gender notes of accumulators of the colony. Don't forget to keep an eye on him! Too low energy - bad: the work cannot be recharged, it turns off power fence, the buoy cannot be used. But also fill the accumulator the cumulator is not good: it will explode and tear the colony to pieces along with a fair chunk of the planet. However, “there cannot be too much gold.” As soon asthe cumulator will begin to overflow, it is easy to dump the excess energy; for example, turn on the buoy for a couple of minutes. And find out how much it is now energy, it is possible while recharging the work. INSECTS. As I already mentioned, on the planet, in addition to your colony, there are local residents are huge insects. Of course, they are disgusting and evil, and also stagnant in darkness and ignorance. So The duty of an earthling is to help them develop a kind and humane civilization - tion; but not now, but some other time. For now, the Earth is interested exclusively in mushrooms. And it’s necessary, ka- What a coincidence - these mushrooms are also very interesting for local insects. they shove... In general, they won’t give the laser a job in vain! Some insects can only gnaw on everything they come across on the way; others still shoot. Fence around the perimeter It will delay them for some time, but not for long. So the work will come- to destroy them yourself: with a laser, a ram, stationary fire perimeter guns. The main thing is to keep insects away from solar panels and mushrooms! Ladybugs are especially dangerous. FENCE. When you start the game, the colony is already fenced around the perimeter. True, the cheapest fence is a wooden one. This piece of wood is termites for one tooth, that is, mandibles. Fortunately, in your region There are as many as three types of fences, plus one more surprise.You are already familiar with the first type - wooden. Serious protection It won’t provide you with it, but it’s still better than nothing. The wire fence is not much stronger. But here is the third type - steel... Of course, oversized ants will chew on steel too net, if you need it, but not right away, not at all right away. And the promised surprise is traps. The robot can run on them unhindered; but an insect, standing on such a trap, instantly veins turn into ashes. Unfortunately, at the same time, the trap, so you should only place them in the most important places. However, traps are inexpensive. The southern entrance to the territory of the base, as well as one of the mushroom plans - The stations are protected by a security fence. If only there was more of that! She's acting It sounds like a trap, but it doesn’t disappear. Its only drawback is the power fence turns off when the energy storage is depleted colonies. If you, walking around the colony, see a happy ant, have fun you can shoot the ant that is gnawing on the fence, but the gnawed one take a piece of the fence with you. For what? You'll find out now. STORAGE. There are several buildings on the territory of your colony. One of there is a recharging point for work, another one is the control panel buoy, and all the rest are storage facilities. In these storages you can replenish the stock of fence sections, seeds, solar panels - almost anything! Or you canhand them in x. For what? Well, for example, we need to put the unnecessary ones somewhere fence sections. In addition, if the fence is eaten by insects, you will immediately they are repairing. Of course, they can also fix a solar battery. Bot only mushrooms do not repair; it's a pity. By the way, it's still work is in storage, game time stops. Sooner or later the storage supply is depleted; fortunately, from Earth Is it always possible to order more - of course, not for nothing. MUSHROOMS. And now it’s time to remember why it all started. Of course for the sake of mushrooms! Those that are desperately needed on Earth. And on species - ordinary fly agarics... These mushrooms grow in special greenhouses from seeds, or maybe be, dispute Initially, all greenhouses are already filled with these seeds, so the first minutes of the game turn into a crazy race: quickly collect mushrooms before they get to them, you know who. Moreover, even a slightly chewed mushroom has become you earthlings will not count you. And the careless founders of the colony even They didn’t bother to fence the greenhouses! By the way, don't forget to visit storage facility on the outskirts, in the south-east of the colony. However, there there is no need to rush: it is protected by a security fence. And when all the mushrooms have been collected or eaten, it’s time for sowing. In the same storage room where you donated mushrooms, you can now collectseeds and start. The work is not easy: the seeds have already been planted They often prevent you from getting up so that you can plant new ones. True, bye- The sword has not grown, it can be picked up and replanted. All greenhouses, I think, are not worth sowing. Believe me, even with With two or three plantations you won't have any trouble. Of course, until the creation When mushrooms grow, greenhouses can be fenced with a steel fence; but even her persistent beetles, if they don’t gnaw, will at least bite. A this means changing the fence and going to repair the damaged section on warehouse Meanwhile, the beetles are approaching a new section of the fence... In short, you won't be bored. SHIPb. For each mushroom deposited in storage, you receive 30 credits. Comrade And with these loans you can order whatever pleases your soul - but: improved equipment for work, batteries for work - defender, the work-defender itself, any fence, solar panels containers, new seeds and something else. To place an order, simply go to the appropriate building (it's east of the center of the colony) and call a ship from Earth (menu item "order supplies"): you can immediately order what you need equipment. It’s interesting that they don’t charge money for delivery: reason think about whether you are paid the full price for mushrooms. Right there in the top part of the screen, under the current time, the arrival time appears ship. Don’t forget to turn on the radio beacon closer to this time,so that the ship knows where to land. If this is not done, he will simply will drop the load, and the bales will scatter throughout the entire territory of the colony. Po- half of them will be lost, and another half of the remaining half insects will find us before you. And if the landing was successful, then the ship, simultaneously destroying all insects in the colony area, will take the mushrooms you collected and will carefully unload everything brought at the landing site (this where the protective robot first stands). It’s worth hurrying, taking all this into storage: ants don't sleep! Yes, and one more thing: under no circumstances stand on the ground. landing area when the ship is “landing”. Otherwise he it will simply crush you. * * * So, now you know about the world that you will colonize posing, almost everything. Of course, a few things will still remain riddles. Nothing surprising: "Colony" is a smart game, and does not reveal all his secrets right away. First of all, the robot is a protector. It can be ordered from Earth; but for- what? After all, there is already one of these in the colony, and to get rid of it not easy, if at all possible. When the charge in the battery runs out rays, he just stops. I repent, I once discharged in non- he has about a dozen frames of his laser - but he doesn’t care. Another riddle is the spare droid. It can be for- say, but what to do with it next is unknown. Judging by the nameI think it could be something like an extra life. But here's how should I use it? And isn’t its purpose connected with the mysteries? a building with a sign saying “Droid bay”? And finally - the main secret. It is still unknown whether it has Is the game a logical end? Is there some kind of "congratula" hidden in it? tion"? In the message that is issued when a job dies, this there is a clear hint. So this mystery is also waiting to be explored. tel. And let more mushrooms end up in your body! ===cut=== Best regards, Arthur/JEDI █▓▒░ [ZX-News][Stonehenge][SOSG][COSG] e-mail: Artur_Podtelkoff.sp0899@zxnet.spb.ru (N-DISCOVERY)