
                      -------------------------
                         RELEASE NOTES for
                             THE CHASM
                         (demo-test v.1.02)
                      -------------------------

                              * * *

                        --------------------
                         TABLE of contents:
                        --------------------

                      1. CHASM demo overview.
                          1.1. Game features.
                      2. The game.
                          2.1. Install & quick start CHASM.
                          2.2. System requirements.
                          2.3. Control panel.
                          2.4. Multiplayer game.
                          2.5. Keyboard.
                          2.6. Sound.
                          2.7. Command-line options.
                      3. Troubleshooting & common problems.





                     -------------------------
                      1. CHASM demo overview.
                     -------------------------


  * In CHASM demo there are :

    - ONE little test level.
    - FOUR types of characters:
       Joker, Punisher, Spider and a Hero (for Network game only).
    - THREE different weapons.

  * Weapons are :

  1. Shotgun.
  2. Diskthrower.
  3. Crossbow.

  * Each weapon uses unique AMMO:

  1. Shotgun     - shotgun shells;
  2. Diskthrower - disks;
  3. Crossbow    - arrows;

   At present time we're working on weapons system, so some of
  listed above are not fully completed with graphics. Program
  code that supports switches and keys system are in the stage
  of development too.


 1.1. Game features.

  All objects in Chasm are realized as 3-d polygon texture-mapped
 vector models. The models are: structures, monsters, weapons,
 explosions. Hence hereinafter speaking about "model" we can mean
 all above mentioned.

 * Lighting in Chasm:

   - Pre-rendered shadow mapping (static lights)
   - Dynamic sources of light (relocatable)
   - Any model of the game can be physically destroyed,
       it concerns and to sources of light (destruction of
       a torch results in fading out of a site illuminated by the torch)
   - The source of light forms a shadow casted by the model locating
       in its radius of action, the quantity of shadows casting by
       model is practically unlimited, and depends only on quantity
       of sources acting on it

 * Characters specification:

   - Textures of a large size exclude "boxing" effect - increasing
       size of pixels on approximation to the view (camera)
   - Use of a plenty polygons (approx. 300) permits to attach
       models the real forms
   - The high level of intelligence causes real behaviour
   - Plenty of phases of behaviour pre-calculated with quality of
       70 fps provides smooth animation
   - The phases of behaviour include reaction to hit by the weapon,
       the choice of a phase depends on a place of hit
   - A distinctive feature of Chasm technology is an opportunity of
       separation of parts of monster (hands, the head) thus monster
       can stay alive and continue to act depending on a degree of damage.



                        --------------------
                            2. THE GAME
                        --------------------


 2.1. INSTALL and quick start CHASM.

  Create directory CHASM on your hard drive. Copy CHASM.ZIP
 there and unzip it. To start CHASM type CHASM.EXE.



 2.2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.

  The minimum platform to start CHASM is:

   - 486 DX2-66 MHz CPU.
   - Standard VGA card.
   - 8 MB of RAM.
   - 6 MB of Hard Drive Space.

  We strongly recommend Pentium processor and SoundBlaster card.



 2.3. Control Panel.

  Control Panel provides control of game modes and parameters.
 Use <ESC> key to toggle Control Panel.
 Control Panel is divided on two parts: Main Menu and Console.
 Use <TAB> key for switching between Main Menu and Console.

 * Main Menu contains following options:

   NEW     - starting new game.
   NETWORK - Start/Join network game.
   LOAD    - load saved game from disk.
   SAVE    - save current game to disk.
   DISPLAY - change display settings: contrast, color and bright.
   QUIT    - quit to DOS.


 * Console consist of Command line and Message display.
 Command line intended for entering Console commands.
 Message display shows the results of executed commands and
  special internal system messages.
 Console has a command history.  Pressing the up and down arrows
  in the Console will change to the last command entered.

    Here are the list of main Console commands:

   NEW              - start new game.
   RESTART          - restart current level.
   QUIT             - quit to DOS.

   CHOJIN           - immortal mode.
   AMMO             - restore ammo for all weapons.
   WEAPON           - gives all weapons to player.
   INVISIBLE        - gives 2 minutes of invisibility.
   FULLMAP          - allows you to see full map of the current level.

   KILL             - kill all monsters on the level.
   REANIMATE        - (debug) reanimate all monsters.
   FREEZE           - (debug) freeze all monsters.
   RESPAWN <#time>  - set the monsters respawn time.
                      (#time=0 means no respawn)

   SLOW             - (debug) slow mode.
   REVERSE          - swap right and left sound channels.
   DEPTH            - distant fade.
   SHADOWS <number> - set the upper limit of shadows casting by 3D object.
   GO <#level>      - warp to specified level.


 * Command without a parameter returns its current state.



 2.4. Multiplayer game.

  CHASM support network multiplayer game by using IPX protocol
 with up to 8 players in one network game. To enable network CHASM
 you must load IPX.COM driver provided by Novell, in addition to
 lower-level drivers required by your particular brand of network card.

 * To run Network CHASM you must select one machine (prefer the fastest one)
 to work in SERVER mode.

   SERVER - machine in network game that controls all game processes
            and pass culculated data to other computers (CLIENTs) in net.
   CLIENT - any computer in network game except SERVER.

 * You must follow these steps to launch Network CHASM:

   1. Load IPX driver on all computers you want to play.
   2. Start CHASM by typing CHASM.EXE.
   3. To start Network Game put command "START" to Console
      on SERVER machine.
   4. Other players can be connected to SERVER at any time using
      command "JOIN". To leave Network game use "BREAK" command.
   5. Network Game can be stopped by typing "BREAK" command in
      SERVER Console. It causes automatically disconnection of all CLIENTs.

 * The list of Console commands for network game:

   START - start Network CHASM.
   JOIN  - connect to network game.
   BREAK - disconnect from network & enter single player game.

   KILLP <#player> - (SERVER only) kill player number #player.
   KICK  <#player> - (SERVER only) disconnect player number #player.
   NICK  <name>    - change nick name to <name>.
   CLIST           - show active players list.

   AMMO   <#player> - give ammo to specified player.
   WEAPON <#player> - give weapons to --//---
   INVISIBLE <#player> - make player invisible.
   SPLINE  - (debug,CLIENT only) spline mode.
   SYNCHRO - (debug,CLIENT only) synchronise CLIENT's and SERVER's clocks.



 2.5. Keyboard.

   Default keyboard settings in CHASM demo are the follows:

   Toggle Control panel - <ESC>
   Change screen size   - <+> / <->
   Toggle level map     - <TAB>
   Scale map            - < [ >/< ] >
   Movement             - arrows
   Speed Up             - < ` >
   Strafe on            - <Alt>
   Fire                 - <Ctrl>
   Use                  - <Space>
   Look Up              - < A >
   Look Down            - < Z >
   Center View          - < S >
   Toggle cocpit        - < C >

  * To change keyboard settings use program KBSETUP.EXE.



 2.6. Sound.

  CHASM demo supports only SoundBlaster cards family,
    as describes below:

    - SoundBlaster 1.0/2.0   in  8bit MONO mode,   4 channels;
    - SoundBlaster Pro/Pro2  in  8bit STEREO mode, 4 channels;
    - SB16/AWE32             in 16bit STEREO mode, 8 channels;

  You must set your BLASTER environment variable in AUTOEXEC.BAT
   in order CHASM sound code work properly, othervise your sound
   will not work.

 * Important notes:

 - Sound effects are not completely finished yet.
 - There is NO MUSIC in CHASM demo.


 2.7. Command-line options.

  You can use these options launching CHASM from DOS command-line:

   "-nosound"       : disable sound code.
   "-warp <#level>" : warp to map level #level.
   "-nomonsters"    : disable loading monsters.
   "-nomouse"       : disable mouse control.
   "-freeze"        : freeze all monsters.
   "-start"         : start SERVER in Network CHASM.
   "-join"          : join network game.



                ---------------------------------------
                 3. Troubleshooting & common problems.
                ---------------------------------------


  Using default configuration and recommended platform you should have
 no problems running CHASM demo.

  There are some notes you have to take into account:

 * CHASM demo completely tested and found workable on following models:
    - Packard Bell Pentium 100Mhz, 8Mb RAM, VESA 1Mb.
    - Packard Bell i486DX2 66hz,   8Mb RAM, VESA 1Mb.
 * CHASM demo has not been tested with MS Windows 3.x & MS Windows '95.
 * There can be some problems with sound if you're using
   SoundBlaster AWE32.

 Known problems :
 ------------------

 Q:  I receive " Runtime error [#ERROR CODE] at [SEGMENT:OFFSET] ".
 A:  If you receive this message, please save indicated address
     in form [#ERROR CODE] at [SEGMENT:OFFSET] and E-mail it to
      chasm@gu.kiev.ua

=========================FOR COMPANIES===================================

If You are interested in publishing and distribution of our game or other 
cooperation with us, please, contact:
Voice : (+380 44) 441-1326 (Igor Karev)
                  225-6914 (Oleg Slusar)
                  274-3770 (Yaroslav Kravchenko)
Fax   : (+380 44) 274-1170
E-mail: karev@gu.kiev.ua   (Igor Karev)
http  : www.gu.kiev.ua/Chasm 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 THE CHASM Copyright (c) 1996 ACTION FORMS LTD. All rights reserved.


