Genre: | Adventure Game: Text-Only |
Publisher: | Acornsoft |
Cover Art Language: | English |
Machine Compatibility: | Acorn Electron |
Release: | Professionally released on ROM Cart |
Available For: | Acorn Electron, Amstrad CPC464/664/6128, BBC B/B+/Master 128, BBC Model B & Spectrum 48K/128K |
Compatible Emulators: | Elkulator 1.0 (PC (Windows)) |
Original Release Date: | 1st January 1984 |
Original Release Price: | £16.50 |
Market Valuation: | £45.98 (How Is This Calculated?) |
Item Weight: | 64g |
Box Type: | Cassette Single Plastic Clear |
Author(s): | Peter Killworth |
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While orbiting the treasure-laden, but inhospitable, planet Doomawangara (Doom for short) your ship suffers a devastating attack from the local air defence system. Grounded on Doom, your ship is both damaged, and threatened with total disintegration due to the corrosive effects of the Doom atmosphere. Repairs to the ship must be made before you can escape, and there's also a tempting array of treasure to be collected; but the clock is ticking away all the while, and it's only a matter of time before the ship will disappear in a cloud of dust, whereupon you must resign yourself to a life in the wilderness of Doom.
This ROM Cartridge is designed for use with the Electron Plus 1.
As you play the game, you'll find that you will want to SAVE a game at a particular point (for example, before doing something risky, or simply to return to the game at a later time). You will be prompted to find a suitable area on one of your tapes, followed by the usual "RECORD then RETURN" message. This will put the 'dynamic' part of the database onto tape - this is the part which attends to the general house-keeping - where you are, where the objects are etc. The file is automatically called INIT so if you make several SAVEs, you'll need to keep track of which INIT is where.
If you wish to restart at one of these positions, load the program as usual, but select S to start from a saved position. You'll be asked to Position the database file. Locate the saved position on tape, set it playing, and press RETURN. Once INIT is loaded (about 45 seconds) the game will start from where you left off.
Should you QUIT or die, you'll be asked if you want another game. "Y" or "y" will return you to the start of the game; "N" or "n" will simply end it.
The game starts with a description of your immediate surroundings and any objects you might be able to use (try TAKE or GET followed by the name of the object). The computer becomes your eyes and hands. It will tell you what you can see and what is happening to you. You must tell it, in return, what to do (it prompts you with a colon).
Use commands of one or two words, in upper or lower case (typically a verb or a verb and object). The computer only looks at the first four letters of any word you type, so that the command Northeast must be typed as NE to distinguish it from North (or N - there are various abbreviations you will pick up as you play).
Passages bend sometimes, so going north from one area doesn't necessarily bring you into the next area from the south. (You can try BACK or B if you're confused). "Eh?" means the computer doesn't understand the first word you said; "I don't understand that!" usually means the second word wasn't understood. Some objects can have special properties, as you'll find out; some of them are a help and some a hindrance.
Part of the fun is finding out what words are understood! However, a short list of those you might not guess is given here:
To move in some direction, try something like MOVE UP, CLIMB, WEST, GO SOUTH.
To get or drop a gun, for example, try GET GUN or DROP GUN, GET, TAKE and DROP alone pick up or drop the first object the computer sees.
To get a full description of your immediate surroundings, use LOOK.
To get a list of your possessions, use INV (for inventory).
To stop altogether, use Q, QUIT or STOP.
To save a game for later - and the computer won't let you do this sometimes for reasons only time will explain - use SAVE.
Certain geometrical shapes are particularly significant in the game. However, words like 'square' refer to a specific object, so don't worry if you mention a square and the computer says it can't see it - it's talking about an object you probably haven't found yet.
During the game, you can display your score by typing SCORE and pressing RETURN. Finding treasures and working ship components will earn you points, as will depositing them in the ship's cargo hold, and you will gradually discover other ways of gaining points. The maximum score is 250. You can end (and win) the game once your ship has all six components (in the cargo hold) by taking off from the planet with all six treasures. But beware, finding them all is not easy!
Here is a list of commonly asked questions about Countdown To Doom, together with a set of hints and answers.
To load and run the program:
The title page will appear in a few seconds. While using the program, keep the ROM Cartridge in the cartridge slot. When you wish to leave the program, switch off the computer before removing the ROM Cartridge.
The following utilities are also available to allow you to edit the supplied screens of this game:
A digital version of this item can be downloaded right here at Everygamegoing (All our downloads are in .zip format).
Download | What It Contains |
---|---|
ROM Cart | A digital version of Countdown To Doom suitable for Elkulator 1.0 (PC (Windows)) |
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