OMEGA RACE 2009

v1.5 for Windows XP and above (Version history on webpage).

Remake by: S. Borgquist - aka. Sokurah, 2009
Email: retrohead@tardis.dk

This game is freeware.

  
------------------------------------------------------------
Intro
------------------------------------------------------------
This is my remake of a classic vector graphics shoot'em'up from 1981.

In this game you control an "Omegan Space Fighter", and attempt to
destroy waves of enemy droid ships. The battle takes place on a
rectangular "track". Player's ship bounces off the tracks walls.


I also remade this game in 2006. Back then it was my 3rd game but I
wanted to remake it again, only this time I wanted it to be easier,
prettier and better. I hope I succeeded. Let me know. :-)


------------------------------------------------------------
Instructions
------------------------------------------------------------
A Challenging Chase In Space! Omega Race is a classic vector arcade game.
This game takes place on a single screen with a large square in the middle
that displays your score, lives and other information (This information square
also serves as huge obstacle). You control a spaceship that moves much like
the ship in "Asteroids". You zip around the perimeter of the score area zapping
several different enemy types while avoiding mines. Gameplay is very fast paced,
it usually takes under a minute to complete each level. 


------------------------------------------------------------
Installing & Running The Game
------------------------------------------------------------
Unpack the ZIP file and put the files where you want them.
Then doubleclick the executable file to run the game.


------------------------------------------------------------
Controls
------------------------------------------------------------
Start the game with the ENTER key or the '1' key.

Use the LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to rotate your spaceship..
Use ALT to thrust and CTRL fire at anything that moves (and if if doesn't move, shoot it anyway).

Joypad is also supported. Turn it on or off in the settings menu.
Mouse control is now also possible (implemented in v.1.2 but wasn't
selectable unless a joypad was connected, but that is fixed in v1.3)

All keyboard controls are redefinable.


------------------------------------------------------------
SCREEN RESOLUTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------
The game runs in 1024x768 (4:3 format) and your monitor will automatically scale
it up if your monitor uses a higher resolution. However, if your monitor is a
widescreen monitor (usually 16:9 or 16:10) it will still scale the game to fit
your screen but the graphics will be stretched. I've provided a few widescreen
resolutions in the settings menu to fix that. If you use them the graphics will
not be scaled up but rather centered on the screen instead. I may put in better
widescreen support in an update.

If you're using a netbook that uses a resolution of 1024x600, like an Acer
Aspire One or a Asus Eee PC, you can start the game with -mini on the commandline
and the game will start in 1024x600 and the playing field will scroll as you move.
It works perfectly. :-)


------------------------------------------------------------
SOUND
------------------------------------------------------------
There were a problem with sound on certain Windows Vista systems, which resulted
in a delay when sound was played, but that has been fixed in this v1.3 update.


------------------------------------------------------------
TRIVIA
------------------------------------------------------------
Omega Race was Midway's only vector game created. It was designed as a direct
response to Atari's "Asteroids", released two years earlier. Omega Race differed
significantly from Asteroids in a few respects. First, there was no ''wrap-around''
(where you exit on one edge and return to the opposite edge). The walls would stop
the player's fighter if it impacted them. Second, all the information such as high
score and ships left were in a box in the middle of the playing field. Last, you
could be expected to encounter multiple attackers in each wave.
Although Omega Race wasn't a big seller, it still created a following.
Unfortunately, this game came out when games such as "Pac-Man" were at their peak. 


------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURES
------------------------------------------------------------
* Backdrop ON/OFF (for the purists)
* Widescreen friendly (to a degree)
* Redefinable keys
* Joystick/Gamepad option
* Run in fullscreen or window.
* Monochrome mode (new in v.1.4)
* Non-glowing "pure" line mode (new in v.1.4)
* Toggle music on/off (new in v.1.4)
* Adjust amount of glow on vectors (new in v.1.4)



------------------------------------------------------------
COMPARISON BETWEEN REMAKE AND ORIGINAL
------------------------------------------------------------
This is my second remake of this game and it was designed to look and play
better than my original remake. Everything is vector graphics - except for
the background picture (which can be turned off if you're a purist. I didn't
convert any of my code from the original remake - everything's written from scratch.


------------------------------------------------------------
COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
------------------------------------------------------------
The game uses DirectX7 and should run on Windows XP and above.
It's not a big game. Download it and try it out.
If it works - great, if not - sorry.
 

------------------------------------------------------------
LEGAL & INFO
------------------------------------------------------------
This game is FREEWARE and must remain freeware. The game can generally be
distributed however you want, as long as all the files are included and
unchanged. It shouldn't be sold for money, on Ebay or put on any kind of
compilation and you're a smelly cunt if you do. I would like to ask, that
if intentions are honourable and you'd like to include this game on a CD
for a magazine or somewhere else, that you contact me first - I would like
to know what kind places my little project goes...also it shouldn't be
asking too much, but then I'd also like a copy of the magazine or CD.
And don't bundle it with an installer either. The game should only be
distributed in the form of the ZIP file provided by my own website.


------------------------------------------------------------
Credits
------------------------------------------------------------
The original arcade game was designed and programmed by :
Ron Halliburton (Founder of Arcade Engineering), in 1981.

The remake is programmed by S. Borgquist, in 2009.
The sound resources used in the game are taken from the
original game using emulation, and the picture used as a
backdrop were found "somewhere" on the net.

The music was done by Robert Fearon aka. Oddbob. I've reused the
music he did for Rip Off and Space Fury because it's awesome.

This, and other games, as well as any updates for them will be available
for download at; http://tardis.dk/



------------------------------------------------------------
End of transmission...
------------------------------------------------------------
