VECTREX THRUST
© 2004, Ville Krumlinde

WHAT IS IT?

Vectrex Thrust is a remake of the classic C64 game 'Thrust' released in 1985, written for the GCE Vectrex game console.

COPYRIGHT / LICENSE

VECTREX THRUST © 2004 Ville Krumlinde.
This game is freeware, but copyrighted; it may be freely distributed, but it must be always accompanied by this documentation file. This program may be included on websites and shareware or freeware compilations, but please contact me first. You can't distribute VECTREX THRUST on Vectrex cartridges without my explicit permission.
Ville Krumlinde makes no guarantees, written or implied, on this software. I'm not responsible for any damage due to the use of this software.

HOW TO PLAY

You can either:

- Play it on a real Vectrex using VecRam/VecFlash http://www.vectrex.biz, or
- Play it on a PC using a emulator such as MESS or VecX (no sound).

Emulators also need the Vectrex System BIOS.
Site describing how to setup MESS + download BIOS: http://www.vectrex.nl
Note: Vectrex Thrust does not seem to work well with the Dos Vectrex Emulator 'DVE'.

GAME INSTRUCTIONS

The resistance is about to launch a major offensive against the Intergalactic Empire. In preparation for this, they have captured several battle-grade starships, but they lack the essential power sources for these formidable craft; Klystron Pods.
You have been commissioned by the resistance to steal these pods from the Empire's storage planets. Each planet is defended by a battery of "Limpet" guns, powered by a nuclear power plant. By firing shots at the power plant, the guns can be temporarily disabled; the more shots fired at the nuclear reactor, the longer the guns will take to recharge. BUT BEWARE!! If you fire too many shots at the reactor, it will become critical, giving you just ten seconds to clear the planet before it is destroyed. If you have not already retrieved the pod stored at that planet, then you will have failed the mission. If you have retrieved the pod, and you manage to send the reactor into its critical phase, and leave the planet safely, you will receive a hefty bonus.
Further into the Empire's system, you will encounter planets with REVERSE GRAVITY and something even more deadly...

GAME CONTROLS

LEFT | ROTATE SHIP ANTICLOCKWISE
RIGHT | ROTATE SHIP CLOCKWISE
1 | LOCK THRUST (HARD+ mode only)
2 | ACTIVATE TRACTOR BEAMS/EXTERNAL SHIELDS
3 | THRUST
4 | FIRE

Note: The buttons are redefinable, press button 2 in title screen to make your own settings.
To collect a Klystron Pod, hover just above the pod, activate the tractor beam, and thrust away from the pod. When the automatic tow-bar has fixed to the pod, you can deactivate the tractor beam.
To collect fuel, hover above a fuel cell, and activate the tractor beam.

SCORING

DESTROYING A LIMPET GUN | 750 POINTS
DESTROYING A FUEL CELL | 150 POINTS
PICKING UP A FUEL CELL | 300 POINTS
BONUS FOR MISSION COMPLETION | VARIES ACCORDINGLY
BONUS FOR DESTROYING PLANET | MISSION BONUS + 2000 POINTS
MISSION FAILURE | NO BONUS!!

A spare ship is allocated for every 10.000 points (20.000 in Hard+ mode).
The game will end if

- You die and have no spare ships
- You run out of fuel

At the top of the screen your score, lives and fuel is displayed.

GAME MODES

On the title screen you can start the game in different modes:

1. Normal
2. Hard+
3. Time attack

- Normal mode is the mode most similar to the original Thrust-game.
- Hard+ mode is harder, with a couple of extra features such as homing gun shots and extra levels. The 'lock thrust' feature allows you to thrust in one direction while shooting in another.
- Time attack is like normal mode, except you have a limit of 75 seconds to get the highest score.

CREDITS

This game was written by Ville Krumlinde (ville.k@eldean.se)
The original 'Thrust' for Commodore 64 was written by Jeremy C. Smith in 1985 and released by Firebird software.
Original music by Rob Hubbard in 1985.

THANK YOU / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A big 'Thank you' to:

- Thomas Jentzsch who wrote the excellent Thrust for Atari 2600.
- The Llamasoft forum at http://www.yakyak.org
- Fred Taft for releasing Vectrex rom disassemblies.
- Alex Herbert for making the great 'Protector' game for Vectrex.
- Frank A. Vorstenbosch for the AS09 assembler.
- Richard Hutchinson for the VecRam cart http://www.vectrex.biz/
- Wiebo de Wit for 'Thrust Deluxe' (a Thrust remake for PC)
- Peter Ekberg for another Thrust PC-remake, with source code.
- Valavan Manohararajah for the VecX emulator and making the source available: http://www.eecg.toronto.edu/~manohv/vectrex.html
- The 6809 port of GCC:
  http://nostalgies.thomsonistes.org/developpement.html, and
  http://skwirl.ca/coco/gcc.html

CHANGE LOG

November 30, 2004 | Version 1.01. | Minor enhancements.
November 20, 2004 | Version 1.0. | First cartridge version.
June 8, 2004 | Version 0.9 beta. | First public release.

CONTACT

All feedback is welcome, please send it to ville.k@eldean.se
Vectrex Thrust Homepage: http://www.eldean.se/vectrex
Buy Vectrex Thrust on cartridge from: http://www.vectrexcarts.com/

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