ASTRAWARE Palm OS Products 
 
Ricochet for Palm Information
Current released version: 1.03 - 15th October, 2003
Current release expires: never
Feedback to: Larry Dyde (larry@astraware.com)
Game Info: http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=47865
Recent update headlines:

Ricochet ©2002 Reflexive Entertainment
All rights reserved.

Introduction

Brick Blasting Fun!

Pilot your ship through over 150 levels using your shield and ion sphere to destroy bricks and solve puzzles!

Based on the classic PC game, Ricochet brings together problem solving and fast action as you frantically bounce your Ion Sphere off your ships shield and try to get it to destroy all of the blocks on screen. Discover bricks that move, explode, transform and even push other bricks away in your quest to complete the game.

How To Install

Use an extractor program such as WinZip on the PC or Stuffit Expander (on the Mac) to get at the Ricochet for Palm files. Install the game by double-clicking the .prc file, which opens the Palm Install Tool program

Use the HotSync button as usual to install the game onto your handheld. If you have a handheld with an expansion card, you can then move the game over to it. Do this before you register the game!

Now run Ricochet for Palm and tap the screen to play the game!

If you've got any queries about Ricochet for Palm or the registration process, first check out our knowledge base on our website (you must be connected to the internet to access this). If this doesn't help, get in touch with us at support@astraware.com. If you've got any questions (or suggestions, we love those) about the game itself, please get in touch with us at the email address at the top of this page.

How To Play

Keep the Ion Sphere in the air until all the bricks are destroyed. Move your ship to the left and right to bounce the sphere off your shield and that's it!

Object:
The object of Ricochet is simple: get the highest possible score. There are four ways to add to your score. They are:

  • Break Bricks - Each brick you break will add a different number of points to your total. In general, the harder the brick is to break, the more points it will add to your score.
  • Get a Powerup - Each powerup you pick up will also increase your score. They also do other nice things for you as well, that can have the effect of really cranking up your score.
  • Destroy a Bomb - When you can manage to direct your ion sphere to intersect the path of a bomb, the bomb is destroyed and you are awarded a point bonus.
  • End a level - Each time you end the level, you will receive a completion bonus, and a bonus for every Ion Sphere you manage to keep in play. The more powerful your Ion Sphere is, the higher your bonus will be!

Controls:
You can control your ship using either the hardware keys or the stylus. To configure what the keys do you can use the 'Controls Settings..' from the 'Options' menu. To use the stylus either tap or drag on the screen where you want the ship to go and it will follow your movements. To fire you can either double tap on the ship or tap in the top three quarters of the screen (controlled by the setting in the 'Game Settings' screen).

Hidden Features

If you want a real challenge you can try the Insane difficulty by entering 'i' on the title screen, but be warned it won't be gentle!

Registering

If you downloaded the game straight from the internet, from Astraware's web pages, or from one of the popular handheld download sites, then your copy is in 'Demo' form.

In Demo form, you can play the first 10 levels of Ricochet for Palm 5 times for free, as you decide whether you like it or not. After these games are up, the program will display a short message asking you to register on the internet or purchase a full version from a shop!

If you beam a demo to someone else, and they also like the game, then they can register it either by purchasing a copy from a local store, or by purchasing online.

Registering Online:

For those that like the speed and convenience of buying of the internet, when you register for the game, you'll get a key which will unlock the game and remain valid for future 1.x upgrades. Go to the web page at http://www.astraware.com/games/reflexive/ricochet
for more details.

You'll need to know your HotSync ID which you can find by running Ricochet for Palm, and going into the menu, and selecting the 'register' option. Your HotSync ID (or username) will be filled in for you below.

When you register, Astraware will generate a key based on your ID, which will normally be sent out by email within 48 hours of you registering. When you receive your key, go to the same register option, and enter the key into the space provided.

Submit your High Scores!

Registered users of the game are entitled to submit their high scores to our Internet High Score table.

Just visit the Ricochet for Palm web pages at http://www.astraware.com/games/reflexive/ricochet and select the link to view high scores.

To submit your own score, you need to go to the menu in the game, and select 'export high score'. This will provide you with a code which you can then type into our site:

http://www.astraware.com/games/reflexive/ricochet/high

You can only submit high scores once you've beaten the scores built into the game!

(Astraware reserves the right to remove this board or facility without any notice, or to remove individual names if necessary)

Release Revision History!

Release 1.03 : 15th October, 2003

  • Fix for graphical display problems on Sony UX series CLIÉs
  • Sound resources compiled into one - only one PRC file for hires, and one for low-res

Release 1.00 : 1st January, 2003

  • First Public Release

Feedback

If you've got suggestions about how to improve Astraware Ricochet for Palm - or with reports of any problems you've had, then please contact us!

Ricochet for Palm enquiries/feedback: ricochet@astraware.com
Registration problems: registrations@astraware.com
General Astraware enquiries: feedback@astraware.com

 

Contributors

For Astraware:

  • Palm Game Programming: Laurence Dyde
  • Game Graphics: Stephen Thorley.
For Reflexive:
  • Producer/Designer: James C. Smith
  • Lead Artist: Jeff McAteer
  • Art: Chad Max, Mike Colonnese, Mike Suyo, Zach Young
  • Level Design: Ion Hardie, Zach Young
  • Sound Effects: Ion Hardie
  • Music (PC Version) : Zach Young
  • Lead Programmer (PC Version) : James C. Smith
  • Programming (PC Version) : Lars Brubaker, Loren Osborn

Thanks also for the help of our dedicated beta testers!

Software Licence Agreement

This is a legal agreement between you, the end user, and Astraware Limited. Read this agreement very carefully. If you do not wish to accept this agreement, you may not use Ricochet for Palm on a device or software emulator.

  1. Grant Of License
    This License permits you to use Ricochet for Palm on any single computer, provided the software is installed on only one handheld device at any time.

  2. Copyright
    The software is owned by Astraware Limited. and is protected by United Kingdom copyright laws, international treaty provisions, and all other applicable national laws. You may not modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, dissasemble or otherwise attempt to discover the code and algorithms of the software.

  3. Other Restrictions
    You may not rent or lease the software, but you may transfer your rights under this license agreement on a permanent basis provided you transfer all copies of the software and all written materials and the recipient agrees to the terms of this license.

  4. No Warranty
    The software is delivered as is and Astraware Limited. makes no warranty as to its use or performance. Astraware Limited. does not, and cannot warrant the performance or results you may obtain by using the Software or its documentation. Astraware Limited. makes no warranties, express or implied, as to noninfringement of third party rights, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. In no event will Astraware Limited. be liable to you for any consequential, incidental or special damages, or for any claim by any third party.

Legal

Astraware Ltd takes no responsibility for any adverse effect that this software could cause to your machine or the data on it: backup important data before using Ricochet for Palm. Ricochet for Palm is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Ricochet for Palm is licensed, not sold.

You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble this software.

Astraware’s and its suppliers’ entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at Astraware’s option, either (a) return of the price paid, if any, or (b) replacement of the product that does not meet the warranty and which is returned to Astraware with a copy of your receipt. This warranty is void if failure of the product has resulted from accident, abuse, or misapplication. Any replacement software product will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer. These remedies are not available without proof of purchase from an authorized source.

Written permission must be obtained before distribution of this game, either in demo form or full form, through any online or offline methods. 

Ricochet ©2002 Reflexive Entertainment.

Astraware and the planet logo are trademarks of Astraware Limited. All rights reserved.