Pharaoh III (Atari ST)

Pharaoh III
Developer: Supernova Software Publisher: Supernova Software Platform: Atari ST Released in EU: 1989 This game has hidden development-related text.

Developer Text

Present on the disk is a deleted file called README.TXT and another formatted for the Atari ST called README.TOS.

                Changes to 'PHAROAH III',Atari ST

1.   Program in file called PHAROAH.TOS
     Data in file PHAROAH.DAT
     Hi-score table in file PHAROAH.HI

2.   Program  and  data files executable from any disk  drive  and 
     sub-directory.Hi-score saved to disk drive/sub-directory from 
     which program was executed.

3.   Disk protection added.

4.   Initial Atari logo screen added.

5.   If  the game is run with the system in either medium or  high 
     res modes,centred text informs user low res only

6.   Bas-relief Control panel added.
     F1...Exits from 'Attract Mode' and starts game
     F2...Toggles between 1 and 2 Player modes
     F3...Toggles between Keys and Joystick modes

7.   Vertical  smoke redone.Now also twinkles to show path  of  God 
     Spirit.

8.   Explosion screen redone.

9.   All  sprites redone.Aliens not altered in size as this  would 
     be detrimental to the speed and smoothness of the action.

10.  Gods made more clear.

11.  Transition from Mother Ship to Pyramid made more smoother.

12.  After game and players have typed in their initials,the  high 
     score   table  remains  on  screen  for   15   seconds,before 
     restarting Attract mode.

13.  FUNCTION KEYS
     F1...Pressing   F1  during  the  attract  mode   starts   the 
     game.During game returns to start of Attract mode.

     F2...During  Attract  mode  returns to  stage  1  of  attract 
     mode,or if already there toggles between 1 and 2 players.1 or
     2 players appear on plaque as necessary.

     F3...During  Attract  mode  returns to  stage  1  of  attract 
     mode,or if already there toggles between keyboard or Joystick 
     mode.Appears as necessary.

     UNDO...  If  possible  saves Hi-score table  and  returns  to 
     desktop.Only effective during attract mode.

14.  ATTRACT MODE

     Once  the entire game has loaded,and the Pharoah  has  winked 
     the  game enters an attract mode.Exited if either F1  pressed 
     or  Joystick  fire pressed(if in joystick mode)  or  keyboard 
     fire pressed (if in keyboard mode).

     PHASE ONE. Static display and control panel.

     PHASE TWO. Hi-score table and chanting.

     PHASE THREE. Gameplay demo.

15.  I  have only implemented the game to use one  Joystick  (PORT 
     #1)  because  if a player only has one joystick  he  will  be 
     unable to use the two player mode.As both joysticks are not 
     needed   at  the  same  time,unlike  a  dual  player   game,I 
     thought this was the most sensible solution.

     Also  I  have been unable to get a heartbeat of  good  enough 
     quality to replay,so I've left it out.          

16.  Game play made faster and more furious.

Also present are a couple text excerpts from the copy protection source code.

to there own program and call it when ever they desire.

For best results, and greater protection against the 'hacker' the 
source code supplied should be split up into it's component parts 
and spread throughout the users program, if possible more than once
to make it harder to knock all the parts out.

The source file supplied has been split up into 7 main parts, they 
are as follows :-

PART		FUNCTION

1		Check that track 79 sector 8 is intact.
2		Check that track 79 sector 8 is intact and reads the 
		same as it did last t

to assemble 'checker.tos'.

This program can be run to check the signature disk provided and
can also be used to test 'fakes' if you want to try copying the 
signature disk before incorporating the system into your own 
program. The file 'checker.tos' is in no way intended to be protected
against the 'hacker' therefore please do not let it get into the 
wrong hands, doing so will let the pirate network see how your code
is protected !!!!!!!

(Source: Original TCRF research)