"The STellar STarfighter"


         Welcome to STellar STarfighter headquarters. As a rookie
         cadet, you will need to prove your worth to the fleet by
         carrying out a very difficult mission. You must fly through
         STellar STarspace in your STellar STarship until you find the
         caged Amigon, shoot him, and then return back to STellar
         Starfighter headquarters. Two additional levels of difficulty
         must be overcome before full STellar STarfighter STatus can
         be awarded. Good luck, and may the STellar force be with
         you.

         Piloting you STarfighter requires great skill. Begin by
         having your flight engineer plug a joytsick into the port
         (tell him that it is right next to the mouse port). To go
         left, right, up, or down, move the joystick in the intended
         direction. Remember that the XJ-10 model that you are
         piloting has a raised tail for stability. Be careful when
         changing directions that you do not hit an object with the
         tail. Any collision with the environment will result in
         instant destruction of the STarfighter, fortunately you have
         six to work with.

         Firing the photon torpedoes is accomplished by pressing the
         fire button. Only three photon torpedoes can be out
         simultaneously, so use them wisely. The torpedoes have a
         limited range, so you may have to get close to an object in
         order to hit it.

         Besides making contact with the environment, there are four
         types of hazards that the STarfighter will encounter through
         STellar STarspace. Falling maser bombs must be avoided at all
         costs. Contact with one of these bombs will results in
         instant destruction of the STarfighter. Cannons are
         positioned by the enemy in stategic locations so that you
         will be shot if you cross their paths. The cannons, if shot
         will cease their firing and may disappear. Gray laser
         barriers have been placed to prevent your passage. Above them
         are generators which are vulnerable in only one spot, a
         magenta square at one end. If a bullet penetrates the magenta
         square, the generator and force field will disappear. The
         final hazard that will present itself is several sets of four
         blue barriers. Only one of the set of four barriers for each
         set can be shot out, the rest will cause you photon torpedo
         to be reflected back on your STarfighter.

         There are two convenience keys that you may interest you.
         While playing the game, you can hit UNDO to return back to
         the menu screen. Be careful because it does not ask you if
         you are sure you want to quit, it just quits. If you hit F3
         at any time, the music will toggle on and off.

         The code was written in Laser C but can also be compiled in
         Megamax and Alcyon with no difficulty. There is no artwork
         that is loaded in, all of the screens are drawn using VDI
         calls. The music is done through a vertical blank interrupt
         which is installed at the beginning of the program. A
         joystick handler is also installed at the beginning of the
         program. Both the interrupt and the handler are removed upon
         exiting the program.

         I hope that you enjoy the STellar STarfighter as much as my
         beta testers did. Good luck, and may the STellar force be
         with you.