- * - * - * - [Intro]


In Parsec 2: The Interstellar Mine-Sweeping Missions you play as a space captain
whose ship must travel throughout the stars and destroy hostile homing mines.
There are eleven levels, each one more intense than the one before.

This is a very challenging game, but I assure you that it is possible to beat
all eleven levels. I have done so myself. :)

I sincerely hope you enjoy playing it as much as I've enjoyed making it!
And please, share it with your friends. Don't get frustrated; it just takes
losing a few dozen times and then you start to get the hang of it. ;)

God bless!
+Jonny Tweed, jonny.burton@gmail.com


- * - * - * - [Controls]


The keys employed are:

e r t - for thrusters, with "f" being the brake key,
d f g   which automatically detects the direction 
c v b   your ship is moving and thrusts against it.
        (You may also use the arrow keys.)

h - Vent shield energy to the engine cooling system.
    ...this function is pretty much useless: I don't recommend its use.
    (You may also press =.)

j - Fire lasers. The longer you hold it down the hotter your guns get:
    A long hot blast of lasers does a lot more damage than just tapping it,
    but if you hold it in too long your engines will overheat.
    (You may also press the space bar.)

k - Transfer power to the shields; puts a strain on the engines.
    (You may also press enter.)

l - When you have destroyed all mines in the level you may hyperspace to
    the next mine field. However, it is useful to fully charge your shields
    and wait for your engines to cool off before doing so. Every level
    your shields will start out at least halfway full, but if you charge
    them to 100% you will be fully prepared for battle.
    (You may also press backspace.)

p - Pause. Pressing any key will un-pause the game.
    (You may also press pause.)

q - Quit.
    (You may also press escape.)


- * - * - * - [Closing remarks]


When you start the game it will ask you to type a delay number:
the higher it is the slower the game will run. It will also
show you a listing of the easy keys and some basic notes on game-play.
If you type a negative number then it will use crazy colour mode.
Woot, woot!

The screen layout is (from left to right, top to bottom):

Engine heat gauge, view screen, earnings in US dollars, current game level,
and shield meter.

Well, the game took about fifteen hours to make and has six hundred and ninety
one lines of QBasic. My next project will probably be a strategy game set in the
middle ages. Many thanks to Dani for putting up with my neglectfulness during
its development and testing! Sorry sweetie!
(Also, thanks for letting me use your computer.)
[Edit: Since I originally wrote this I've probably put in another twenty
hours or so adding cool stuff and making the game run better...]

After every level it shows the warp animation. After the last level it shows the
ultimate victory animation.

The damage level of a mine can be seen as it grows dimmer and dimmer.

*Happy blasting!*

};->
