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http://sicode.ticalc.org |
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sicode@bigfoot.com |
1.1 What is ORiON?ORiON is a multiplayer as well as a single player strategy game by SiCoDe. Features include
1.2 Version History
- 1 -> unlimited number of players in one game
- Advanced strategies
- Easy-to-use interface
- Separate Server program
- Customisable campaigns with briefings
- Datafile Checker
- 2 save slots
v1.0 - Initial Release
1.3 Future Plansv1.0 was not released by SiCoDe, and so was not available. If you are interested in playing this game, which is different to ORiON 2.0 - you can download it from http://sicode.ticalc.org/orion/orion10.zip. Please note, SiCoDe does not support this product!
v2.0 BETA - SiCoDe Beta Release 1
- Added support for campaigns
- Streamlined programs
- Added support for any number of players
- Added extra depth in strategies
- Added datafile checker
- Added random campaign generator
v2.0 BETA 2 - SiCoDe Beta Release 2
- Fixed turn calculation bug
- Fixed "cannot find pic0" bug
v2.0 BETA 3 - SiCoDe Beta Release 3
- Fixed goods and supplies calc bug
- Fixed battle engine
- Added good stockpiling
- Changed some layouts and other small enhancements
- Added "Teacher Key" in Status Screen
- Added save slots
- Now impossible to lose by selling all of your workers
- Briefing now built into prgmORION, not the datafile.
- Briefing now not shown in multiplayer games.
v2.0 BETA 4 - SiCoDe Beta Release 4
- Fixed "No attack menu in multiplay mode" bug
- Fixed random price generation
- Fixed objective detection
- Fixed supplies check
- Fixed battle engine (again!)
v2.0 - ORiON Release 1
- Fixed battle engine (yes, again!)
- Got rid of a loophole.
- Finished Orion and Earth campaign sets
The only future plan we have for definite is a play-by-email facility. SiCoDe will provide an email server for this purpose, but the details need to be worked out. Watch out for it.
Anything you want to see in ORiON? Give us a call on our Online Form.
1) Unzip the file ORION.ZIP into any directory, usually your Link Software's directory (e.g. C:\WINLINK).
2) Run your Link Software and send the file ORION.83G to your TI-83.
3) Run the program prgmORION to begin. The server is prgmSERVER
4) Visit SiCoDe's website at http://sicode.ticalc.org for news and program updates.Contents of ZIP File
This release of ORiON contains the following files:
ORION.83G ORiON Game Files ORION.83P ORiON Client Program SERVER.83P ORiON Server Program ZORION.83P ORiON Default Mission ORIONM1.83P ORiON Default Mission Backup ORIONEM.ZIP ORiON Earth Mission Campaign Set
5 missionsORIONOM1.83P Orion Mission 1 - Project Earth ORIONOM2.83P Orion Mission 2 - Hostile Intent ORIONOM3.83P Orion Mission 3 - Counterstrike ORIONOM4.83P Orion Mission 4 - The Directive ORIONOM5.83P Orion Mission 5 - Prophecy ORIONCHK.83P ORiON Campaign Checker ORIONRND.83P ORiON Random Campaign Generator ORIONOM.ZIP ORiON Orion Mission Campaign Set
5 missionsORIONEM1.83P Earth Mission 1 - First Assault ORIONEM2.83P Earth Mission 2 - The Survivors ORIONEM3.83P Earth Mission 3 - Sabotage ORIONEM4.83P Earth Mission 4 - Redemption ORIONEM5.83P Earth Mission 5 - Final Stand ORIONCHK.83P ORiON Campaign Checker ORIONRND.83P ORiON Random Campaign Generator
ORiON is a complex game. I will try to go through the strategies used and the basic concepts, and please tell me if you don't understand some bits - I can then change them for the next version.The story so far..
In 2010 Earth suffered a devastating war. Hundreds of ships carrying refugees fled all over the galaxy in a bid to escape the turmoil, founding colonies where they landed. There they discovered the Orions, an alien race from a distant star system who were expanding their territory. From the ashes of the war, a new government rose and attempted to rebuild the ruins Earth, with the newly formed colonies providing a vital role in the defence of Earth. In July 2053, having occupied many of the systems which surround Sol, the Orions moved against an Earth Colony on Alpha Centuri. It was a devastating defeat for the outnumbered Earth forces. Relations with the Orions crumbled and Earth declared war on them in August 2053, beginning a new war which stretched the impoverished Earth forces resources to the limit. Many colonists defected to the Orions side in a bid to save themselves, but many still remain. As commander of an Earth Colony, what will you choose?
So what do you have to do?
In ORiON you run a colony under the Earth Government. The objective of the game varies depending on what game mode you play. Game modes are set by the ORiON Datafile (prgmZORION), and can vary - anything from surviving a fixed number of turns, to collecting 20000 credits can be the objective.
Game Modes can also be used in multiplayer ORiON - a unique experience. Any number of players (the number is only limited by your available memory) can engage in combat to eliminate each other, whilst simultaneously managing their own colony. Alliances can be formed and broken, deals struck and battles fought.
Turn calculation in ORiON is not built into the game. The ORiON Server handles this, and can calculate for either 1P or multiplayer games. For 1P games, just select the "1P Quick Calc" option, for multiplayer games you will need to use the Settings option to define how many players are in the game, whether the server is playing, and what player number the server is.Day in the life of a colony commander...
To play your first ORiON game, here's what to do.
I hope this tutorial helps. A description of more complicated strategies and aspects of the game can be found in the Advanced section.
- Run prgmORION
- After the SiCoDe logo and the Title Screen, you arrive at the Game Menu of ORiON.
- Choose "NEW GAME", "OK >", and then "SOLOPLAY". The calculator will load the datafile (prgmZORION) and then display your mission briefing. Scroll left and right to view the briefing and press "ENTER" when done.
- Your objectives are now displayed one at a time. Pressing "ENTER" displays the next one. Press "ENTER".
- You are now in the Main Menu Screen of ORiON. Select the "STATUS" option.
- This screen shows the status of your colony. Pressing left, right, up and down cycles through the pages which show all the stats of your mission. Also, pressing the numbers 1 through 7 will jump you straight to the relevant page. "CLEAR" activates "Teacher Mode" where a blank prompt is shown (inputting anything into this prompt will cause the program to return to the Status Screen). Pressing any other key will bring you back to the main menu. Display the fist page (shown in the bottom left of the screen).
- We will now explain what each of these options mean on each page.
- <1> GENERAL
- Version: Version of ORiON - needed for version checking on the server
- Player: Your player number. This can be anything in multiplayer games, but is always 1 in soloplay games
- Turn: The turn number
- Credits: The amount of credits you have. Credits are used to buy everything from supplies for your colonists, to your offensive and defensive forces.
- <2> COLONISTS
- Workers: Workers take resources and turn them into goods to sell. You need to keep enough supplies to feed them though, as one worker uses one supply a turn.
- Scientists: Scientists use resources to research improved shields and turrets for your colony as well as better fighters and soldiers. They also require supplies.
- Soldiers: Soldiers defend your colony from invaders and also can be used to attack and invade an enemy colony. They also require supplies.
- Goods: Goods are built by your workers and can be sold to buy other more useful equipment.
- <3> RESOURCES
- Supplies: Supplies are used to feed your Workers, Scientists and Soldiers. Each of these types of colonists use one supply per turn.
- Goods (2): Goods are built by your workers and can be sold to buy other more useful equipment.
- Resources: Resources are used by Workers and Scientists to build goods and research tech levels respectively.
- <4> MILITARY
- Turrets: The number of turrets you have. Turrets destroy attacking fighters and dropships.
- Shields: The number of shields you have. Shields prevent dropships dropping troops onto your colony.
- Fighters: The number of fighters you have. Fighters destroy attacking fighters and dropships as well as attacking enemy colonies.
- Dropships: The number of dropships you have. Each dropship holds 2 soldiers which are dropped on an enemy colony once its shields are down.
- <5> RESEARCH
- Turrets TL: The Tech Level of your turrets. The higher the tech level, the better they fight.
- Shields TL: The Tech Level of your soldiers. The higher the tech level, the better they defend your colony.
- Fighters TL: The Tech Level of your soldiers. The higher the tech level, the better they fight.
- Soldier TL: The Tech Level of your soldiers. The higher the tech level, the better they fight.
- <6> OFFENSE
- Dropships: The number of dropships attacking. Each dropship holds 2 soldiers which are dropped on an enemy colony once its shields are down.
- Soldiers: The number of soldiers in the dropships.
- Fighters: The number of fighters attacking.
- Attack P?: Player number that you are attacking.
- <7> ALLOCATION
- This shows how your resources are allocated. The left column shows the resources, and the right the allocated groups (Scis and Workers). The bottom shows how many of your resources are used each turn.
- Now that you are familiar with the Status Screen, I will show you how to buy and sell stuff. Press any key to go back to the Menu. Select "TRADE" and then "GOODS".
- This is the Trading Screen. It shows what unit you are buying (Goods) then their current price, then the amount of credits you have, then the amount of that product you have, and then the amount of that product you can afford. You buy and sell using the same screen.
The same process is used for all tradable variables (Goods, Supplies, Military Stuff and Colonists).
- To Buy - Simply type in the number of that product you wish to buy.
- To Sell - Type the "negative" sign (-) (note: Remember not to put in the "minus" sign!) and then the number of that product you wish to sell.
- Sell 10 Goods. You will be returned to the trade menu. If you went back to the Status Screen you would see that your goods number has gone down and your credits up.
- Select "< CANCEL". We now want to buy some supplies for our colonists. Buy 50 supplies.
- We will now see if we can allocate our resources a little more efficiently. Go to the Main Menu, and select the "ADMIN" option. You will be shown the administration screen. Your resources are displayed with the amount allocated to your Scientists (Sci) and your Workers (Wrk) shown along with any free resources.
- You are prompted to type in the amount of resources allocated for scientists - type 1, as we know we won't be attacked that often so we won't need very high tech levels for our equipment. Now type in how many resources you want to allocate to the Workers - type 9, as it is pointless having unused resources.
- You will be returned to the Main Menu. Buy a few base defences if you can and then return to the Main Menu.
- The "OBJECTIVES" option displays your mission objectives again, should you forget them.
- Select "QUIT" and then "OK >". You will be returned to the ORiON Game Menu.
- Select the "SERVER" option. Assuming you have the server installed, you will be taken to the ORiON Game Server.
- Once loaded, select the "1P QUICK CALC" option and follow the step-by-step instructions to calculate the next turn. You will be asked whether there were any errors, this is not really relevant in a soloplay game (it is used mainly for uplink problems in Multiplayer games that the Server can't detect, but humans can!), but can be used to cancel the turn calculation before it starts. You will be returned to the Server Menu.
- Saving Games: If you want to play more than one game of ORiON at once (for example a soloplay game and a multiplayer game) you can save your games in one of two save slots (found in the "SAVE" menu of the ORiON Game Menu). Loading a game will overwrite the game you are playing, so be sure to save first!
- Multiplayer Games: I will now take the time to explain multiplayer game calculations. To continue your soloplay game you would just select the "ORiON" option, and then the "CONTINUE GAME" option.
- Multiplayer Server Configuration: To set up a multiplayer game, load the ORiON Server and select the "SETTINGS" option. (Games are configured automatically in soloplay games, but in multiplay games you need to do it manually). A "Players>" prompt will appear. Type the number of players in the game. You will then be asked whether the host is playing in the game. Select "YES" or "NO". If you select "YES" it will ask you the host's player number (for example 3 (Player 3)), if not it will just continue with the setup. After answering those questions your ORiON game is configured, and you're ready to play!
- Multiplayer Turn Calculation: First, each player starts ORiON and LOADS THE SAME DATAFILE! They take their first turn and wait. The host player would enter the server, selecting the "NEW TURN" option. Please note that in multiplayer games, game objectives are not used - the objective is merely to become the last remaining player.
- One by one the players would connect their calcs to the server using a link cable, when prompted. After all players have been collected, a screen will appear asking if there were any noticeable errors in the uplink process. Selecting "YES" will prompt the server to start from scratch. Turn calculation then commences, after which players are prompted to connect their calculators to the server and use the "GET FILE" option in prgmORION to collect their game files. After a player gets his game files, they can continue their game on the next turn! If a player dies, the server will display a message before upload, and that player is out of the game.
- Attacking other players: From the ORiON Main Menu, select the "ATTACK" option. It will first display your available fighters, and prompt for how many you wish to attack with. It will then display your available dropships, and prompt for how many you wish to attack with (soldiers are automatically transferred onto the dropships). It will then ask you to "ATTACK P>" - type in the number of the player you wish to attack. The Strategy Menu will then appear. Loot means your soldiers merely take a certain number of resources from the defending player on defeating them. Eliminate means your soldiers destroy the defending player and remove them from the game. Hit + Run means your soldiers will attack the defending player until the defending player's forces outnumber their own, in which case they will retreat. That is it!
1. Description of the lists used in ORiON.You can use this to create your own missions, as you need a knowledge of the game's lists to define your own starting conditions.
(note: cheating in the game by editing lists is often extremely easy to spot and is unfair besides. DON'T DO IT!)
lORION (Player's Game File)
1. Version
2. Player Number
3. Turn (0=Player is out of the game)
4. Credits
5. Dropships Attacking
6. Resources
7. Goods
8. Supplies
9. Supplies Price
10. Goods Price
11. Attack Player ?
12. Fighters Attacking
13. Turrets
14. Shields
15. Fighters
16. Dropships
17. Turrets TL
18. Shields TL
19. Fighters TL
20. Soldier TL
21. Scientists
22. Workers
23. Soldiers
24. Workers Resources
25. Scientists Resources
26. Strategy (1=Loot, 2=Eliminate, 3=Hit + Run)
27. Number of credits to loot
28. Number of supplies to loot
29. Number of goods to loot
30. Turrets Price
31. Shields Price
32. Fighters Price
33. Dropships Price
34. Scientists Price
35. Workers Price
36. Soldier Price
37. Turrets TL research progress (100=done)
38. Shields TL research progress (100=done)
39. Fighters TL research progress (100=done)
40. Soldiers TL research progress (100=done)lHOST (Host Config File)
1. Version
2. Turn
3. Number of players
4. Host player number (0=host not in game)
5. Turn needed to win
6. Credits needed to win
7. Goods needed to win
8. Supplies needed to win]
9. Attack Number 1 - Turn attack occurs
10. Attack Number 1 - Number of fighters
11. Attack Number 1 - Number of dropships
12. Attack Number 1 - Fighter TL
13. Attack Number 1 - Soldier TL
14. Attack Number 2 - Turn attack occurs
15. Attack Number 2 - Number of fighters
16. Attack Number 2 - Number of dropships
17. Attack Number 2 - Fighter TL
18. Attack Number 2 - Soldier TL
5.1 Troubleshooting5.2 Known Bugs/Problems
- Please contact SiCoDe Support and we will try to help you with your problem.
5.3 Contacting Support
- There are currently no known bugs and problems.
SiCoDe will always try to rectify any problems you have with this software. If you do run into any difficulties just email sicode@bigfoot.com or use our online form to contact us. Please describe the problem fully in order to help us understand the problem.
6.1 About SiCoDeSiCoDe is a group of programmers who program for various TI calculators in the TI-BASIC language. We also program ASM applets that can be used with TI-BASIC programs. SiCoDe aim to continually provide high quality TI-BASIC programs. These are frequently considered to be inferior in all ways to ASM programs and we aim to eliminate this misconception!
SiCoDe is an member of the TI-BASIC Quality Alliance which means that quality is assured in our products.
Further information about SiCoDe can be found by visiting our website at http://sicode.ticalc.org. SiCoDe can be contacted at sicode@bigfoot.com.You can download further missions, and other ORiON resources from EarthCom.
Programmed by - David Hall6.4 Acknowledgements
Original Game Idea - David Hall
Title Screen Artwork - David Hall
Graphic Design - David Hall
Program Engine - David Hall
Official Testing - Nathaniel Gibson
Playtesters - Nathaniel Gibson
Thanks to all of you on SiCoDe's Mailing List who Beta Tested ORiON.Uses SiCoDe ORiON Engine
Uses technology from SiCoDe Colony III, and ORiON v1.0SiCoDe wishes to thank...
- Nathaniel Gibson for his extensive bug reports (which cut down time I had to spend looking for bugs considerably) and his many useful suggestions.
- All our other playtesters, especially for not complaining about the stupid mistakes in the beta versions!
- Dimension TI, yet again, for being such a cool group of people and having such a decent site.
- All of the people who waited ages for first Colony III, and then ORiON not knowing when the hell I'd get round to finishing it :)
- The WebBoard "regulars" - you know who you are...
- Everyone who sent in their suggestions, no matter how impossible they were :)