Alternate Reality: Datasoft's News

[+kheller2]

[Please note that some of the information below my contradict other published information - Karl]

 

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC GAMER TEG-7740

 

DATASOFT'S

>>> ALTERNATE REALITY NEWS <<<

 

1 Volume I, Issue 3

2 Volume I, Issue 2

3 Volume I, Issue 1

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC GAMER TEG-7741

 

Volume I, Issue 1

Greetings Alternate Reality Adventurer:

The Alternate Reality Adventurers Club is now established and this is

the first official newsletter. We'll be publishing on a bi-monthly basis

from now on. Welcome to the Club!

In this, and all future issues of the Newsletter, we will follow a

basic format. First, we'll give you some hints on the game that we have

discovered or that have been passed along to us by other players.

Second, we'll answer questions. We may not get to your particular

question right away, but be patient (a virtue often rewarded in The

City); the most frequently asked will be answered first. Third, we'll

publish character descriptions sent in to us by players, such as the one

in this issue from Gary Thrane of Midvale, Utah, This is your

Newsletter, so let's hear from you!

First -- to business. An artist's rendering of The City is available.

This map is being printed on 8 1/2 x 11 parchment type paper and is

available for $1 (to cover postage and handling). If you would like one,

please send cash, check or money order to Datasoft, Dept. B, 19808

Nordhoff Place, Chatsworth, CA 91311. No VISA or MasterCard, please.

Don't forget to clearly PRINT your name and address and indicate that

the money is the for the Alternate Reality map.

More business: Since everyone likes to make a statement in the form of

a T-shirt, Alternate Reality - The City T-shirts will be available,

provided we get enough orders. They are Hanes, 50/50, and will be

available in blue with yellow lettering. Write us for more info.

A reminder -- If any of your friends are playing Alternate Reality but

haven't sent in their warranty cards yet, please tell them to get them

to us right away -- they will automatically become members of the Club

as soon as we receive their cards.

 

HINTS

 

Now for the good stuff. Many of you have been asking (begging?) for

hints on playing Alternate Reality, and wanting to know what the object

or goal of The City is. The main purpose is to make a complete map and

build a high level character. In fact, building 2 or 3 characters

wouldn't be a bad idea. When you get to The Dungeon, you will need a

Level 10 character to solve all the mysteries and reach all the goals.

The character you develop in The City can be used in all future

installments of Alternate Reality. Many players are building both good

and bad characters to see how different the game is under various

circumstances.

The reason for the complete map is that once you begin playing the

other episodes you WILL be able to go back to The City. In fact, if you

acquire great treasure in The Dungeon and can't carry it all with you,

you will have to re-enter The City and put it in the bank. Or you may be

injured and will need a Healer in order to regain your health and be

ready for further encounters in The Dungeon.

When mapping The City, look for vertical lines on the walls. The

distance between these lines corresponds to one square on the 64 x 64

map grid provided with the game. Buy a Compass in any Shop to help

figure out which direction you're going. It's easy to get turned around.

Most people find that the best way to travel is by using the keyboard

instead of the joystick, especially when turning right or left. Of

course, in the Atari version, you'll still need the joystick for some

things, such as leaving Banks.

There's no need to hurry through The City. You can take all the time

you need to explore and map. Pause the game while thinking or drawing on

your map.

A word of caution: Being an aggressive player is fine, but if you're

overly aggressive when you first begin playing, you won't get very far.

Remember, you enter The City with fairly low stats and are in no

position to attack everything in sight and expect to live. Use caution

and common sense during Encounters, because killing a Nobleman or Pauper

isn't going to win you any friends.

Be sure to always make a back-up of your character disk. That way, if

your Level 9 character dies, you can still play with it. Any fast copy

program for your computer will work for making these back-ups.

The documentation says there are 14 Guilds in The City -- we goofed --

there are only 12. Sorry 'bout that.

Attention Atari Owners: If you're diseased when you load your game, you

have a defective disk. Send your game disks with your name and address

and the reason for returning them to: Datasoft, Dept. B, 19808 Nordhoff

Place, Chatsworth, CA 91311. We'll recut your disks at no charge.

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

 

Q. Can I join a Guild?

A. Not in The City, 8-bit versions (Atari, Apple II and Commodore

64/128). The 16-bit computer versions (IBM PC/PC Jr., Atari 520 ST, and

Macintosh) will allow you to join Guilds, but beware of the

consequences.

 

Q. Define Charm.

A. Charm is defined as a technique of distracting the life forms you

encounter in The City. If you use Charm on an innocent or good life form

and then kill him, you will be regarded as a more evil character than if

you had just killed him. Charming an evil life form will not have any

negative influence on your character.

 

Q. How can I tell which life forms I encounter are good?

A. The music that accompanies each life form provides you with clues to

his personality. The more ominous the music, the more evil an adversary.

 

Q. What happens when you kill an "Arch Mage"?

A. The Arch Mage is a lawful life form and killing him will add

credence to the other city inhabitants' belief that you are evil and not

to be trusted.

 

Q. Can I cast spells in The City?

A. No. See the first question for the explanation.

 

Q. Why is the Tower Shield so powerful?

A. Becasuse it covers your entire body.

 

Q. What criteria determine personality?

A. All of your stats plus the interaction and decisions in playing. If

you constantly attack and kill good life forms you will be known as an

evil character.

 

Q. Can you alter the personality of your character once you have killed

a number of "good" or "innocent" people?

A. Yes, but only very slowly. If you stop killing the good or innocent

people you will gradually lessen your reputation as an evil character.

 

Q. What is wisdom good for?

A. Wisdom helps determine the value of various weapons and potions.

 

Q. How many character levels are there?

A. An infinite number. However, the higher your character, the more

experience points required. You must double your experience points for

each higher character level.

 

Q. What is the object of The City?

A. To develop your character and prepare for the journey into The

Dungeon. The City will also be of value to you as you enter The

Wilderness, Arena, or Palace to rest or revive your character for the

arduous trips he must take.

 

Q. Can you give money to Paupers?

A. No - you will need all of your money to continue your quest.

 

Q. Will a map of The City be available?

A. See previous information on first page of the Newsletter.

 

Q. Is it necessary to eat a certain amount of food each day?

A. Yes, to maintain strength. You must also seek water and rest on a

regular basis.

 

Q. Can I enter the area southeast of the Arena?

A. Not yet. This area can only be entered through The Arena, which will

be available as a later episode of Alternate Reality.

 

BEWARE OF TRAPS

 

From the Journal of Togar

It was nighttime. I was looking for a couple of Imps or Gremlins to

dispatch, as they are creatures of evil and don't belong in a City where

men dwell. I was walking through the southeast quadrant of town, around

48 East and 7 North (the left bottom square of the map is 1 East, 1

North), when I saw a young fighter running for his life. He turned and

looked over his shoulder, running east, when he hit a wall and passed

through it. I knew this area pretty well from my first month in The

City, but had never checked that particular wall for secret doors.

I stood around for a while, waiting for the fighter to come out. The

Ghoul that was chasing him arrived on the scene. I hid in the shadows,

sword ready, as the Ghoul searched around, scenting the air like a

bloodhound. I jumped out, taking the foul creature by surprise. My

convictions against outright bloodshed do not extend to devil spawn such

as this. My sword bit into his thick hide before he knew what hit him.

The fighter in the Enclosed Area still hadn't come out, but that was his

affair. He'd leave when he felt it was safe.

I gathered up the Ghoul's meager treasure and walked over to the

Flaming Dragon to see if they had any Water Flasks. I sat down at the

bar beside a man in transparent armor that glinted like fine crystal.

You know what I mean: the 24% lead stuff that women collect back on

Earth. The man was talking with the bartender, but I could tell he was

sizing me up to see if I would be a match for him in combat.

I emptied my coin bag onto the bar, all twenty-seven coppers of it, and

bought him a drink. He clapped me on the back and introduced himself as

Fargen. I didn't much like his manner. The only thing we had in common

was that we were both Earthers; but in a City like this, that was

enough. We talked about our adventures awhile and I told him about the

Enclosed Area I had just discovered. He chuckled and called me a fool. I

nearly hit him, but held back when he said I should be happy I didn't

follow the fighter.

"Those who go in, never come out," he explained. He related a similar

tale about another Enclosed Area at 42 East, 5 North. I shivered. It

could've been me that found those death traps by accident!

I pulled out my worn and tattered map and Fargen showed me where the

second trap was. I marked a one-way secret door on the west wall of the

square at 48 East, 7 North, and on the east wall of 42 East, 5 North. I

thanked Fargen and he replied, "That's okay; I'm sure we'll bump into

each other again."

I wonder how he meant that?

TOGAR is a "Mr. Nice Guy" 10th Level character. But don't push him too

far! He carries a Longsword and Battle Hammer and his armour is Ring

Mail. His Stats are: Stamina, 22; Charm, 26; Strength, 36; Intelligence,

23; Wisdom, 18; Skill, 23.

FARGEN is a 9th Level evil character, wears Crystal Plate armour and

does battle with a Longsword and Magical Battle Hammer. His Stasts are:

Stamina, 23; Charm, 22; Strength, 25; Intelligence, 27; Wisdom, 19;

Skill, 27.

--------------------------------------

As you have all realized by now, Alternate Reality is a very unique

game. It is the first of its kind we have produced, and from the

response we've had, it won't be the last. We realize, though, that not

everyone enjoys playing this type of game all the time, and want you to

be aware of the other games we produce.

If you enjoy arcade style games, we have Pac-Man, Pole Position, Mr.

Do! and Dig Dug. For fans of the action/adventure/strategy type games,

you might want to try your hand at Bruce Lee, Conan, The Goonies or

Zorro.

Coming up in the next few months are four new products from Datasoft:

The NeverEnding Story, a text-graphics adventure based on the book and

film; Mind Pursuit, a three-level test of your knowledge of facts and

trivia, can be played as text only or by using the on-screen game board

option; Crosscheck, a combination crossword and strategy word game; and

221 B Baker Street, an animated graphics and text game that challenges

you to solve 30 of Sherlock Holmes' most intriguing cases.

 

N E W S L E T T E R

 

Periodically, the goods for sale in the Shops, Smithies, and Taverns

change. If you can't find what you want on your first visit, try again

later.

To develop a "good" character, there are certain things to remember.

Alternate Reality is a game with high moral standards. The computer is

constantly checking your character against these established standards

and awarding stat points that you never see, in accordance with your

behavior. You should never Attack a Commoner or a Poor, unless he

attacks you first. Don't trick or Charm them, either, unless they start

the trouble.

NEVER Disengage when you meet a Thief or Mugger! If you have high Charm

or Intelligence, you can try a Trick; but once that has failed, go ahead

and do battle.

Another way to make the life forms in the game friendly to you is by

buying a "round for the house" in the Tavern. But don't overdo this, or

you could end up dying of alcohol poisoning!

When you overdo assaults on lesser life forms, you are more susceptible

to attacks from Guards, Warriors, Noblemen, Wizards, etc. Never Attack

these life forms unless you have a very high level character and some

pretty good weapons. If your character is "evil," it's almost impossible

to Ignore one of these fellows and get away with it.

Buy a Weapon, if you can afford it (you can bargain with the Smith),

and Ready it as your Primary Weapon (don't wait for an Encounter to

Ready your Weapon). Usually, you can afford a Dagger or Stiletto. If

not, you'll have to depend on your Strength and Skill for awhile. Some

Weapons are Magical, which gives you a definite advantage in battle.

Potions are very useful or very deadly. Examine, Sip, Taste are simply

ways of identifying a Potion. The only way to get its benefits is to

Quaff it ("Quaff" means to "drink deeply"). You can categorize the

Potions by their color and taste. Of course, it takes a lot of

experience with them before you know which Potion types are safe.

Once you have a little bit of experience, try going out at night.

Skeletons, Giant Rats, and the like are okay to Attack and useful for

developing a higher level character. Also, some of the best Treasures

are found at night. Be careful, though, you can get Diseased from rat

bites or mold spores.

If you have a lot of money, it's a good idea to spread it around. Put

some in more than one Bank account and carry some with you. If you have

too much in one place, the computer reads you as a "greedy" sort and

will penalize you (Bank failures, robbery, etc.). The Banks do offer

different prices for jewels and gems. Sometimes one bank will tell you

something is worthless, but another Bank will give you a decent price

for the item.

Eating and drinking will not cause disease, however, you can become

diseased from contact with Brown Mold, Giant Rats, Black Slime, and some

other creatures. Your only options, then, are to find a Potion that will

heal your ailment or go to a Healer. There are no shortcuts to the

Healers. The Clarity and Sight the Healers offer is to cure Delusions.

This newsletter is copyright © 1987 by IntelliCreations, Inc. All

rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC GAMER TEG-7770

 

Volume I, Issue 2

Greetings Alternate Reality Adventurers:

Thanks to all of you who wrote to us after you received the first AR

Newsletter. We're glad you liked it; we'll try our best to keep all

issues up to the same standards. Your ideas and suggestions are very

helpful and we love getting your stories! In these stories, be sure to

include elements you find useful in your travels through The City, so

you can share your findings with other AR players around the world. This

Newsletter has more of the Hints and Questions and Answers that you have

so patiently been waiting for.

Here's some trivia that might interest you. As you know, our warranty

card asks you about yourself; most of you provide the information. In

the past, we found that most players of Datasoft games were male,

between the ages of 12 and 18. All that has changed with Alternate

Reality. The average AR player is a male between 25 and 39 years old,

but the number of women playing The City is a lot higher than for any of

our other games!

Everyone keeps asking us, "When will The Dungeon be available?" Well,

much as we would like to get it out immediately, you're going to have to

wait until September; but we can assure you, it will be worth waiting

for!

As you know, you can't join Guilds in The City. The Dungeon will give

you this ability! The Rings category will be used in connection with the

Guilds. The Dungeon has four levels to explore, each more perilous than

the last. Each level you descend brings you closer to solving the

mystery of your situation in Alternate Reality; not the ultimate

solution to the series, but an important piece of the puzzle! Finding

this piece is the major quest in The Dungeon. There are many minor

quests to pursue before that end is achieved. And, of course, solving

the puzzle doesn't keep you from going back and doing more exploring and

questing in The Dungeon, or from returning to The City to visit old,

familiar places.

We expect to have something to show by the time the Consumer

Electronics Show rolls around. If you're there, we'll be in McCormick

West, Room WH 7/8 on the Upper Level. Please come by and see what's new!

We've gotten a lot of requests for the AR maps, but there are still

plenty available. The map is printed on 8 1/2 x 11 parchment type paper

and is available for $1 (to cover postage and handling). To get one,

please send cash, check, or money order to Datasoft, Dept. B, 19808

Nordhoff Place, Chatsworth, CA 91311. No VISA or MasterCard, please.

Don't forget to clearly PRINT your name and address and indicate that

the money is the for the Alternate Reality map.

Don't forget, too, that Alternate Reality T-shirts are also available.

CONTEST!

In the next issue of the Newsletter there will e a section devoted to

the Awesome AR Character. This will be character descriptions and

stories sent in by players who wish to share and compare their fabulous

characters. By the time The Dungeon is available, we will know which

submitted character is the all-time Awesome AR Character. The winner

will receive a free copy of The Dungeon as soon as it's available.

Decision of the judges is final.

To enter this contest, you must prove your character. Send a backup

copy of your character disk with a descriptive story, your name,

address, phone number, and computer type. If you want your disk

returned, please include a stamped, self-addressed mailer.

HINTS

A hungry or thirsty character can walk into a Tavern and have food and

water bought "on the house." This happens if you've previously made

friends in that Tavern by buying rounds for the house. However, this is

a mixed blessing; any food packets and water flasks you're already

carrying will be replaced by the free ones.

When making your map, use a colored pencil to shade in the Enclosed

Areas that have a roof. These places provide shelter from the rain, as

well as a relatively safe place to pass time when you can't afford an

Inn or find a Tavern.

You can be walking down the street and suddenly become diseased from a

scratch or bite you got two or three days before. Diseases have

incubation periods. So be careful in encounters with Molds, Giant Rats,

and other such creatures!

Thanks to J. Liguori of Streetsboro, OH for the above Hints.

You've probably noticed that the Healers get more expensive each time

you use them. However, the prices don't stay higher. Each 24-hour period

in The City, these prices will go back down, if you stay away from the

Healer for that period.

Checking out your stats in the street can be dangerous. To see where

you stand without the constant interruption of encounters, cycle through

your stats while in an Inn or Tavern or Shop.

Warning: Be extremely careful in encounters with Assassins! One

critical blow can be fatal, no matter how strong your character is or

how many hit points you have.

Potions

Upon finding a potion, the best way to see if it is safe is to first

Examine it, then Taste it, and then Sip it. The answers help determine

whether or not to proceed further. If you think a potion is safe, Sip it

again for more information.

You can become poisoned, drunk, deluded, etc., on just the first Sip of

a potion. However, you must Quaff a potion to get the maximum effect.

C. Warrick of Livonia, MI writes, "Gremlins almost always carry

potions. And Gremlins are easy to trick, if your character has

Intelligence higher than 20."

The game doesn't decide what a potion is until it is unsealed. This

provides some interesting possibilities, as A. K. Einbergs of

Alexandria, VA discovered with her character, Sammy:

"Sammy is saved on two disks, Character Disk 1 and Backup Disk 2. I

alternate play with these two disks. If I save Sammy to Disk 1 when he

has three or more potions, then back him up on Disk 2, he comes into the

game with different potions on each disk. This change in potions happens

everytime I backup the Character Disk. Now, if I don't like the potions,

I can backup disks until the potions suit me!"

Sammy is a Level 8 character with 74,289 experience points; STA 15; CHR

23; STR 33; INT 25; WIS 16; SKL 17. He has a Magical Longsword, Magical

Shortsword, Chain Mail, Protection +4, Invulnerability to sharp objects,

and accounts in two banks.

Banks

Some of you have reported that you enter a Bank and the program "locks

up." This occurs if you've been in The City for more than one year and

haven't been to the Bank in some time. If this happens, just wait in the

Bank for approximately 4 minutes. It takes a little while to calculate

the interest since your last visit. Make a habit of going to the Bank on

a weekly basis and you'll get much quicker results!

Some editions of The City have different bank account systems; they

simply treat your account as "inactive" if you don't make transactions

regularly. Calculating is quicker, but you won't collect much interest.

Backing Up

You can use your own fastcopy program to backup disks. The copy program

on The City disk is for the convenience of those who don't have any

other way to make copies. Be sure to backup your character disk

regularly!

Saving Characters

Always save your character on the same character disk you used to

create it. Save backup characters on the backup character disk.

Switching disks in mid-stream could eventually cause you to lose a

character.

 

Loading Problems

 

If you're having loading problems, check to see if you have peripherals

or modifications attached to your computer or disk drive. Disconnect

these extras (simply turning them off won't make much difference). Try

loading with only the disk drive, monitor, and joystick connected.

If you're using two drives, try loading the game with your simplest

drive. For example, if you have an Atari 810 and an Indus GT, use the

810 as Drive 1.

 

Attention Atari Owners:

 

Some of you have asked about the incompatibility of HAPPY-enhanced disk

drives with The City. The HAPPY is only one of many modifications for

Atari drives and, unfortunately, it's impossible for us to support all

these modifications.

We want to provide the highest quality software for reasonable prices.

Therefore, our policy is to support the standard hardware owned by most

users. Datasoft products are designed to work with the broadest possible

range of computers and disk drives. The City runs on the 800, 1200,

800XL, 1200XL, and 130XE, with 810, 1050, and Trak drives.

Also, we want to clarify some confusion. In the last issue, we

mentioned that if your character is diseased when you first load the

game, you have a defective disk. This only applies if you're using the

above-mentioned compatible equipment to load the game and the disease is

Scurvy. We will re-cut defective disks at no charge, if you send them to

us at the address below. Be sure to include your name, address, computer

system, and the reason for returning the game.

Attention Commodore-128 and SX-64 Owners:

Alternate Reality - The City is now compatible with your computer! It

works with the 1541 and Indus (for Commodore) disk drives, but not the

1571 drive (we're still working on that one!). At your local computer or

game store, read the gold format sticker on the game box. This sticker

tells you if a particular game is designed for your computer. The City

games compatible with the C-128 also work on the SX-64.

If you've already purchased a City game that doesn't work on your

computer, see if your dealer will exchange it for one that does. If not,

send your disks to the address below and we'll re-cut them at no charge.

Be sure to include your name, address, computer system, and the reason

for returning the game.

The Address Below:

IntelliCreations, Inc.

Customer Service

19808 Nordhoff Place

Chatsworth, CA 91311

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

 

Q. If you seek out the Healer to cure delusions, what is the difference

between RESTORE SIGHT and RESTORE CLARITY?

A. RESTORE CLARITY is for delusions. RESTORE SIGHT will be used in a

later installment.

 

Q. Why are my stats different after curing delusions than they were

before I became deluded?

A. The difference in stats is due to encounters and anything else that

happened to you while under delusions. Anything that can change your

stats will do so even while you're deluded.

 

Q. Aside from the initial hit point damage, is there a life-draining

effect with Acid as there is with Poison?

A. Acid has only initial hit point damage, but it could kill you to

Quaff it.

 

Q. What is the benefit of the Protection +1 and +2 active magic?

A. Protection + acts as temporary armor.

 

Q. Does the (*) symbol represent a keyboard function to be pressed in

order to activate or use the Protection?

A. There is no key to press that activates magic or armor. These are

automatically activated when needed. The (*) symbol, shown on-screen

with the Protection, is insignificant at this point.

 

Q. Is there some significance to the multi-striped shadow or puddle

that is frequently seen on the ground or in the air after you kill a

Small Green Dragon?

A. No. These are just shadows.

 

Q. What is physical speed?

A. Speed is set, with all your other stats, when you create your

character and go through the portal. This attribute determines how able

you are to run away from enemies when you press the Leave selection

during encounters. One of the Guilds will increase speed, and that Guild

is the only place you ever find out what your speed is! Potions of

Fleetness and Slowness affect this stat.

 

Q. How do I use a potion I "saved for later"?

A. Press U, but not during an encounter. During an encounter, U is for

changing weapons. (Once you unseal a potion, you can no longer save it.)

 

Q. Why am I still hungry and thirsty after eating and drinking in a

Tavern?

A. You didn't eat or drink enough of the right things. Water is best

for thirst; two or three drinks usually do the trick. Food is tougher.

Lemon pie won't take care of genuine hunger - you need real food! If you

haven't much cash, try a bowl or two of chili. A balanced meal helps:

soup, bread, and cheese are a good combination. Dragon meat is

expensive, but it adds a food packet to your collection as well as

satisfying immediate hunger. Pemmican is less expensive than Dragon and

provides the same benefit. If you're totally broke, but have food

packets and water flasks, just sit around in a Tavern for awhile. This

allows you to consume the provisions you already have.

 

Q. How do I increase my stats?

A. All your stats increase whenever you go up a level. During an

encounter, experience, strength, and skill points may go up; the longer

the fight, the more points you gain. Also, your first visit to any Guild

results in the increase of one or more stats.

 

Q. I seldom find treasure after encounters. How can I find more

treasure?

A. You're more likely to have encounters when it's raining or at night

(that's when all the weirdos come out!). There are also certain areas

where your chances for encounters are greater (try the area in front of

the Alpha-Omega Healer). The more encounters, the more treasure you're

likely to find. Of course, a Treasure-Finding potion helps! Special

Hint: It's easier to Charm a Thief than to Trick one.

 

Q. I get killed in almost every encounter! What's wrong?

A. If your charm stat is low, you'll be attacked more often (you don't

look friendly!). If you attack the Poor, Commoners, or Merchants when

you first begin the game, you'll be attacked with a vengeance by higher

life forms, especially Guards. At first, Disengage from everyone (except

Thieves, Muggers, Cutthroats, etc.). If they insist on fighting, then

fight. But don't tackle a Guard or other tough guy unless you have a lot

of strength and skill and a pretty good weapon.

 

Q. Who was Xebec, how did his demise come about, and why was a City

named after it?

A. Great question! This is an important clue to the whole Alternate

Reality scenario, so you must find the answer yourself. Hint: Look in a

good dictionary!

 

Q. What is Acrinimiril's Gate?

A. This is another AR mystery to solve. You'll find the answer in The

Dungeon.

 

Q. What is the importance of clothing in The City?

A. Clothing is an item that you'll find a purpose for in The Dungeon.

This newsletter is copyright © 1987 by IntelliCreations, Inc. All

rights reserved.

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC GAMER TEG-7799

 

Volume I, Issue 3

Greetings Alternate Reality Adventurers:

Well, we're back from Chicago CES, an exhausting but stimulating

experience. Visitors to the show were able to preview a number of new

Datasoft products, including Crosscheck, The NeverEnding Story, Mind

Pursuit, 221 B Baker Street, and Alternate Reality-The City for the

16-bit machines. Unfortunately, we were not far enough along on The

Dungeon at that time to have a demo, but the program is moving along at

a good pace.

We recently acquired the license for Mercenary and Theatre Europe, two

of Europe's HOTTEST games that all you AR fans are sure to enjoy!

Mercenary is a flight simulation, adventure done in incredible Vector

graphics. You're a 21st century soldier of fortune who has crash-landed

on the planet Targ. There's a war going on and you need to escape. YOU

decide whether to work for the native Palyars or the invading Mechanoids

. . . or work for both! There are plenty of ways to earn money and lots

of interesting things to explore.

Theatre Europe is a strategy war simulation game that gives you the

option to choose which side you want to command - NATO or the Warsaw

Pact - and lets you participate in the battles as a tank commander,

bomber pilot, etc. Your strategy options include the usual types of

limited warfare, as well as chemical and germ warfare, and the ultimate

- a nuclear strike.

To change the subject for a moment -- we still have a few Alternate

Reality T-shirts left in sizes Small, Medium and Large. This is your

last chance to get one, so it's going to be first come, first serve.

Write us for more info.

 

CONTEST!

 

We've received quite a few Awesome characters! There is some tough

competition out there and it's going to be difficult to choose the

winner. Make sure your stories are descriptive and creative. The

deadline for the contest is now September 15th.

In case you've forgotten, you must prove your character. Send a backup

copy of your character disk with a descriptive story, your name,

address, phone number, and computer type. If you want your disk

returned, please include a stamped, self-addressed mailer.

 

HINTS

 

The following helpful tips are from Peter Olafson of Warwick, NY.

- This may sound funny, but walk the way you're facing, because when

you walk backwards (especially in what Peter calls the "Urban Renewal"

area, which is the open area of the Royale Walkway in the NW quadrant),

the chances of being "surprised" with no options, are greater.

- If you are broke and hit-point poor, head for the Northern City Wall

in the NW quadrant. The water is free and Packets and Flasks don't come

any cheaper!

- Peter has learned from experience in The City that when beginning the

game with no weapons, extended Parrying is a better technique to

increase your stats than Lunging, although Lunging inflicts maximum

damage.

- As of June 2, 1986, Peter's Awesome AR Character, Peterod of Isar,

had the following stats: Stamina, 20; Charm, 31; Strength, 30;

Intelligence, 21; Wisdom, 23; and Skill, 20. He is almost a Level 11

character with over 280,000 experience points. Peterod of Isar carries a

magical flamesword as his primary weapon and a magical battle axe as his

secondary. His armor is plate mail. Peterod of Isar also carries a

longsword and tower shield. The fellow is quite comfortable money-wise

with 55,000 coppers spread among 3 banks and 3,000 in his pocket.

(Didn't your mother ever tell you not to carry so much cash on you?) He

has killed a Night Stalker or two, has visited all businesses, and is

familiar with 38 potions.

Thanks for all the hints, Peter!

Here are some more hints from Robert Ashley of Elsmere, Kentucky.

If you are an evil character and happen to run up against a Guard, the

best thing to do is Give Up. The Guard will go away. But if you Attack

and then Give Up, you'll be dead for sure!

Most Guards can be Tricked if your Intelligence is at least 25. There

are a few that can't be Tricked on the first time, but can the second.

Don't try fighting Guards and Knights unless you're at least a Level 9

character.

If you want to be a good character, you'll have to fight mainly at

night. During the day, most of the lifefroms you encounter are good guys

(except muggers and thieves).

When you are stronger, it's a good idea to buy a lot of food packets

and water flasks. This way, when you're coming out of an Inn, you won't

be in a panic to get to a Tavern. If you buy more than 255 food packets

and 255 water flasks, you waste your money since you can't carry more

than that.

The places that are harder to find are cheaper for you. For instance,

the Smithy in the City Square charges the most. The one hidden in a wall

near the Arena is cheapest. The hidden bank pays more for jewels and

gems and has better interest rates.

Robert has entered Gluson as his Awesome AR Character. We don't want to

give you too much information about the competition, so we'll leave the

rest to your imagination. Thanks Robert!

 

MORE HINTS

 

Staying in Taverns until closing is not wise. This causes you to be

thrown out and will not allow you to enter Taverns again. This could

mean serious trouble. Where will you eat and drink?

If any COMMODORE users are finding problems with Disk 2, Side 1, there

is an error in your disk. Please send it in and we'll recut it.

We cannot stress enough how much of an advantage it is to make back-up

copies of your character disk. If you're killed or an unusual situation

occurs, you won't be crying in frustration. Just back-up regularly. And

remember, any fast copy program will work.

Some people are confusing the difference between good and bad

characters. Being a good character does not imply that you can't fight

other beings. If this were the case there would be no way of surviving

in The City. The difference is that a good character won't go out and

aggressively attack every living thing he encounters. If you Leave a

Nobleman and he doesn't let you go, then you MUST attack to defend

yourself. A good character only fights in defense.

When you Disengage from Thieves, often they will steal your coins and

food. However, if you Leave or Hail, they might leave you alone.

The healers' prices go up after each visit. However, if you wait 24

hours before returning , the prices will go down again.

Delusions, Poison and Drunkenness are very expensive to cure; it is

best to wait 24 hours and sleep it off at an Inn.

The only way to find Treasure is through Encounters.

 

ATTENTION ATARI OWNERS:

 

Our programmers have discovered a cure for our Vitamin C - poor

characters. You will soon be reunited with your characters and be able

to resume life in Alternate Reality without getting scurvy. However,

it's going to take a little while longer for them to heal properly. All

it takes is a little patience and TLC.

The problem was a little more complicated than we realized. The program

has undergone minor surgery and is now being tested. We are working as

fast as we can, and your disks will be sent back to you (recut - of

course) in about a month. Hang in there!

Many of you claim to be experiencing symptoms of what appears to be

Alternate Reality withdrawals. We've consulted our programmers and they

confirmed that there is such a thing. The best thing to do is try not to

think about it and keep yourself occupied with other activities. It's

hard to imagine, but there is life after Alternate Reality.

We would like to apologize for the inconvenience you have been

experiencing with your version of the game. All of you who have returned

your disks (some of you more than once) are being very understanding and

we thank you for your support throughout this difficult crisis.

 

WHO IS MONDO AWESOME?

 

Many of you Commodore players are experiencing strange and bizarre

occurrences with your characters. A seemingly "immortal" character who

calls himself Mondo Awesome! suddenly appears on your character disk.

No, you're not going crazy; you did not create that character some

sleepless night while playing Alternate Reality and fail to remember the

next day. This character showing up actually implies a few things. Most

likely, there is an error on your character disk because you are

forgetting to do something very important. Anytime the prompt "Insert

Character Disk" appears, you need to take out the game disk, turn the

disk drive off and then on again (SX-64 owners, push the drive re-set

button), and THEN insert the character disk. The same goes for back-up

disks. There is an addendum in every package stating this. This is

essential if you don't want to lose an Awesome character that you've

been putting all your effort into.

Also, if you have not been turning your disk drive off and on before

inserting your character disk, you may find your character "corrupted."

This means that various places, such as Inns, Smithys, and worst of all,

Taverns, may not allow you to enter. They'll simply tell you to "Get

out, Worm." (The only other time you'll get that response is if you have

been thrown out or have continuously annoyed them by saying you want to

buy something when you don't have any money.)

If you have experienced any of this, your character, unfortunately,

cannot be saved. Even if you copy the character on an error-free disk,

your character will still be seen as EVIL to everyone in The City and

will eventually die of starvation, since no one will let him in.

A word to the wise...however awesome this Mondo Awesome! character

appears to be, he will not be accepted as a legitimate entry to our

Awesome AR Character contest.

 

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

 

Q. Where can I find a Healer?

A. The entrance to the Alpha Omega Healer is at co-ordinates 21 North,

5 East.

 

Q. Can you earn money without fighting?

A. Not in The City.

 

Q. How can you stay alive in the early part of the game long enough to

earn money to buy weapons and shields?

A. Don't worry about spending your money on weapons, at first. It's

better to find them in Encounters and use your money for food, drinks,

and Inns. The key is to start with the highest possible STATS,

especially Charm, Intelligence, and Strength. Be sure Hit Points are

high.

 

Q. There are a few places that are closed by order of the Palace; Will

these places ever open? If so, when?

A. The Palace is one of the expansions to The City. As of this date, we

cannot say when it will be ready.

 

Q. Is music an indication that you are near a secret passage?

A. Not necessarily. However, eerie music often indicates you're near a

secret door.

 

Q. Will The Dungeon let you join guilds in the 8-bit version, or just

the 16-bit?

A. Both

 

Q. How many entrances are there to The Dungeon?

A. Two, from The City.

 

Q. What is the advantage of making friends in different Taverns?

A. If you've made friends in a Tavern, and later come in broke, hungry,

or thirsty, you'll get free food and drink.

 

Q. When will The Dungeon and the rest of the sequences be out? I can't

wait any longer!

A. Well, The Dungeon will be out in late September, but the others are

hard to say at this time. The City will be available for IBM, Atari ST

and the Macintosh in September as well.

 

Q. Poors are easily identified, but who are the blind?

A. The blind are not in The City and will be encountered in The

Dungeon.

 

Q. Can you ever reach a secure point without the risk of dying at any

moment?

A. No. This is because Assassins can Surprise and Kill you regardless

of your STATS. Make sure you ALWAYS have a back-up copy of you character

disk!

 

Q. How do you beat a wraith without having your belongings taken?

A. The only way to kill a wraith is to Charm him.

 

Q. A tower shield is supposed to protect you from getting hit; why

hasn't it been helping me?

A. It doesn't keep you from getting hit, it simply reduces how badly or

often you're hit.

 

Q. How do I increase my stats (besides strength)? I am almost a 12th

level character and Wisdom, among others stats, has not moved.

A. The increase in STATS by moving up a level is random. It is based on

your Stamina; low Stamina results in lower chances of increasing your

Stats as you go up.

 

Q. Why am I losing money in the bank? I realize that this can happen to

evil characters, but mine is a good character who has never attacked

unless forced.

A. Bank failures have nothing to do with how good or evil your

character is.

 

Q. Is there any way to Disengage from an Encounter without having your

items stolen?

A. When Engaged, if you just wait a moment, the Encounter will usually

change to Disengaged or your opponent will make the first move.

 

Q. If you come across a flamesword and decide to leave it behind (for

fear of it being cursed), will you come across it at any other time in

the game?

A. Possibly, but don't be so cowardly, or you'll never get anywhere in

The City! A flamesword is always worth the risk!

Any other talented members, please do not hesitate sending us pictures,

stories, or any other imaginative things you can come up with! We love

hearing from you; you're what keep this newsletter going!

This newsletter is copyright © 1987 by IntelliCreations, Inc. All

rights reserved.

[Xebec's Demise]

[Velcro_SP]

Very cool, and a keeper! Thanks! I noticed the comments in there from former Amiga games guru Peter Olafson, got a kick out of that.

[RamonetB]

 

History

 

The xebec owes much of its design to the earlier galleys and galleasses of the Mediterranean. The root of the name probably comes from an Arabic word for 'small ship', and is rendered into English in three forms: 'xebec', 'chebec', and 'zebec', though the word exists in many other languages as well, indicating its popularity (or at least knowledge of its existence) in the rest of Europe.

 

 

 

I'm sure this is all common knowledge here. But one does still wonder what it means and how it unites the world of AR. A hint of you being in a ship perhaps? What demise does it speak of? It's own?

[axh174]

I'm sure this is all common knowledge here. But one does still wonder what it means and how it unites the world of AR. A hint of you being in a ship perhaps? What demise does it speak of? It's own?

893602[/snapback]

 

 

Well remember one of the riddles of the gargoyle in the dungeon where you had to finish the rhyme. He said something to the effect of "Thou sits beneath a great ____." and 'Ship' was the answer.

[Chunder]

I'm sure this is all common knowledge here. But one does still wonder what it means and how it unites the world of AR. A hint of you being in a ship perhaps? What demise does it speak of? It's own?

893602[/snapback]

 

 

Well remember one of the riddles of the gargoyle in the dungeon where you had to finish the rhyme. He said something to the effect of "Thou sits beneath a great ____." and 'Ship' was the answer.

893643[/snapback]

 

Wasn't the answer actually "shipwreck"?

 

Also, when you read through all of PP's plans for the AR series, you discover that you are actually on board a spaceship - acting as a self-enclosed world for all the captured beings...

[axh174]

 

 

Wasn't the answer actually "shipwreck"?

 

 

 

Yeah, that sounds right. Been a long time since I played.

[RamonetB]

Oh, let us not forget the odd symbols at the "end" of the game when you die.

 

An Alien looking face, something that looks like a sideways fuji, etc.

 

:: X-files music::

Edited July 22, 2005 by RamonetB

[HerbJones]

This post is from 2005, but stumbled on it looking for Alternate Reality newsletters. Thanks for posting 1-3!!

 

This game has been a favorite of mine since I started playing it in 1986. I am now 40 and have always longed to play it again. I recently started dabbling in emulators, and have got the game running, I have managed to get my characters into .ATR files on the PC, and am playing my 25 year old character (Level 11, 450K experience).

 

I get a chuckle trying to explain the AR 'mystique' to others - you simply can't. Philip Price is a hands down !!genius!! in that he created a fantastic game with a lifelike feel - all on an 8-bit computer. Even by today's standards, the graphics are relatively good, in that the amazing game play shadows the need for glitz. Simply Brilliant! I am now 40, and must say that AR City is STILL the !!BEST!! game ever made for ANY computer (as of 2010)!

 

I have converted the above Volume 1-3 newsletters into a nice Word format. I also dug up volume 4 and volume 5 of the newsletters, but am not going to convert them unless others are interested. E-mail me if anyone wants these hjones333@sbcglobal.net

 

Does anyone know how many newsletters they did? 4 and 5 do not appear to be as informative as 1-3, which leads me to believe that 4 and 5 may be it... dunno.

 

It was a pain researching how to get my characters from my Atari floppies onto an ATR file to play on my PC. If anyone has any needs for this, e-mail me also. I can do this for you and save you the hassle of re-inventing the wheel!

 

Thanks all!

[R4ngerM4n]

Does anyone know how many newsletters they did?

 

I own Volume I issue 1-5. I have never seen nor heard about other volumes or issues.

[HerbJones]

Vol. 5 finishes states that future newsletters were going to be devoted to the Dungeon. This leads me to believe that you may be correct in that it was the last one to have been released - period.

 

Bummer.

[+kheller2]

Old topic but have issues 4 and 5 been digitized?

[Mclaneinc]

And is the map they mention in issue one out there already..

 

Never read these before so thanks for the necro bump, very interesting stuff for the avid player of that game..

[+kheller2]

And is the map they mention in issue one out there already..

 

 

 

Are you referring to the Artist's Rendering one? Hmm wonder if I have that. As for a complete map there were a few that were done over the years. Mine is on grid paper including the toast squares. That was what I used to build the Doom engine version of The City.

[Mclaneinc]

Was talking about the artists rendering one..

[Bikerbob]

No one has been ambitious enough to try and continue this series eh? Or do a remake for the PC.. surprising. This was by far one of the best games I EVER remember for the 8bit computers.

 

James

[+MrFish]

Or do a remake for the PC.. surprising.

 

Remake - Alternate Reality: The City & Dungeon

[Bikerbob]

I checked out the site.. fingers crossed. seems like a slow process.

 

James

[Xebec's Demise]

Scans of all five AR newsletters can be found below, including a UK version and a letter that appears to have preceded the newsletters. There's also scans of the various boxes.

https://www.mocagh.org/loadpage.php?getcompany=datasoft

[Dunderio]

Hello,

 

Where can I get the map editor to access Arena Zone? Atari 8 bit

 

Regards,

 

Dunderio

[+kheller2]

There is no Arena to access.  There was a patch disk that allowed you access a few additional smithies, etc that were already on the city disk itself.  

[Dunderio]

2 hours ago, kheller2 said:

There is no Arena to access.  There was a patch disk that allowed you access a few additional smithies, etc that were already on the city disk itself.  

Yes, I'm looking the patch

[+kheller2]

I think it used to be on the resurex (spelling?) utility that would allow you to recover you lost characters.

 

This is NOT the utility that I remember using, but it might be helpful:

 

[Dunderio]

any other city utilities?