ASTRAWARE palm os products 
 
Zap!2000 Information
Current released version: 1.61 - 2nd May, 2003
Current release expires: never
Feedback to: David Oakley (david@astraware.com)
Game Info: http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=5453
Recent update headlines: Better memory handling on Palm III, improved graphics, GamePad support

Copyright (c) 1999-2003 Astraware Ltd. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.

Introduction

Zap!2000 opens a new era in gaming for the Palm: smooth colour or grey-scale graphics, scrolling backgrounds, more aliens, bigger bosses, more power-ups! Playing it is simple, just shoot the aliens, dodge the incoming shots, and pick up the power-up gems! The further you go, the harder it gets. The boss which is found at the end of each mission has a special attack (watch our for it), but also a weakness that you can exploit to destroy it and move on!

Zap!2000 (for greyscale and 8-bit colour) and Zap!2016 (for 16-bit colour handhelds) are now the same price, and so we've merged the instructions. Where we refer to Zap!2000, the same applies to Zap!2016!

How To Install

To reduce the occurrence of piracy of our games, we have a separate version of Zap!2000 for our registered users. If you have registered Zap!2000, please read the registration email that we send to you to check where to download a package containing the full versions of the game.

Zap!2000/2016 comes in three varieties, and you'll need to install the correct one for your handheld:

If the version you need isn't included in the zip file you downloaded, go to the Zap!2000 or Zap!2016 web page and get the correct one. Use an extractor program such as WinZip on the PC or Stuffit Expander on the Mac to get at the Zap!2000 files. Install the game by double-clicking the prc file. Use the HotSync button as usual to install the game onto your handheld.

Now run Zap!2000 or Zap!2016 and tap the screen to play the game. If you are running the full game for the first time and haven't registered by entering your code in the game yet, you will be asked to do so. Your registration code is included in your registration email.

If you've got any queries about Zap!2000 or the registration process, please check out our Support Knowledgebase 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.

Known Problems with Hacks

Zap!2000 graphics and gameplay push the capabilities of your palm to its limits! To do this, we've had to make direct use of much of the hardware of your machine. While this causes no problem for most users, we've had reports from a few users running lots of hacks that the game reports memory problems - even when there is plenty to spare.
 Since many hacks also try to use the same hardware calls, sometimes they might be incompatible. If you get the memory error, and you know that you've got enough space, then try de-activating your hacks one by one until you can narrow down which are causing the problems. So far, we have had confirmed reports that Padlockhack and Switchlock hack seem to be incompatible with
Zap!2000
.

Speed Up Hacks
There are quite a few hacks available ( Afterburner, Tornado, and I personally use Eco-Hack) which allow you to change the speed your main processor runs at. At the expense of some battery life (about 20% less) your palm can run faster by overclocking. This does not cause any problems with
Zap!2000
, and many users use these hacks to make the game run faster (or slower) than normally allowed by the standard Zap!2000 speed settings. For those concerned with getting high up the internet high score table, using these hacks makes the game run at a relatively higher speed - so you will get a difficulty bonus added to your score!

Playing Zap!2000

Install and run the game on your Palm.
Tap the screen to start a game.

(Datebook)
Left
(Phonebook)
Right
(Up)
Special Attack
(To Do List)
Thrust
(Memo pad)
Fire
(Down)
Shields

The control buttons can be fully customised if you wish, by selecting the 'Controls...' menu option! You can also turn 'auto-fire' on or off using the 'Game Preferences...' option.

You get an extra ship every 5000 points.

Zap!2000 has a facility to allow you to save your position at key points throughout the game. You can use 'Save game' only at the end of each mission. After you kill a boss you will see a 'Save' icon while the Summary is shown. Tap it and your score, lives and power-ups will be saved at the start of the following mission. You can use the 'Game' menu to use 'Resume game' and continue from where you were.

Registering

If you purchased a copy of the game on a CD from a store, then it will come pre-registered!  If so.. please find the accompanying details with the CD to find out how to register your purchase to get upgrades!

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.

If you downloaded the game straight from the internet, from Astraware's web pages, or from one of the popular Palm download sites, then you will have the demo version of Zap!2000. The demo version contains only two of Zap!2000's 7 levels, and to go further into the game you will need to purchase the full version of Zap!2000 online or from a shop.

Retail Copies

This and other great Astraware games are available to purchase straight from a store - you'll get a CD with pre-registered copies of the games - no hassle - and makes a great gift!

You'll need to know your HotSync ID which you can find by running Zap!2000, and going into the menu, selecting the 'How to register' option and clicking on "My registration ID". Your HotSync ID (or username) will be filled in on this screen.

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, follow the instructions on the email to download, run and register the full copy.

Release Revision History!

Release 1.61 : 2nd May, 2003

  • Fixed problem with Zap!2000 not accepting Palm Games Pack codes
  • Fixed bug with volume sliders under Palm OS 5 CLIÉs

Release 1.6 : 2nd September, 2002

  • Support for the latest devices

Release 1.52 : 17th June, 2002

  • Much better handing of low memory requirements

Release 1.5 : 26th April, 2002

  • Enhanced Sound Support added for Sony T-Series!
  • Improved Speed Support for new devices - Treo, M125/130/505/515, Sony Clies
  • Improved Memory Handling
  • Combined Registration System - Codes for Zap!2000 and Zap!2016 work on either version.

Release 1.45 : 18th January, 2001

  • Better memory management, should give more help when the handheld runs out of memory
  • Uses less working space on a Palm III which doesn't have much heap memory
  • Better backgrounds, as used in Zap!2016
  • WorldwideWidgetWorks GamePad support
  • More help for user registration

Release 1.3 : 9th September, 2000

  • Zap!2000 has now been Platinum Certified by Palm to be one of the most stable and usable games on the Palm.
  • Using the 'Find' facility when in Zap!2000 no longer crashes the machine.
  • No longer accesses screen memory directly
  • Better handling of low memory conditions 

Release 1.2 : 21st June, 2000

  • Two new levels for registered users, with new bosses, turrets, canyons, alien launchers, mines!
  • Save game available at end of each level, resume game restores you to the start of the next level with all lives and power-ups preserved
  • Tapping the top of the screen now opens up the menu, which is behaviour that Palm OS 3.5 users expect
  • Better compression techniques mean that the full colour 7-level version of Zap!2000 is now the same size as the old 5-level version was
  • Better error messages if game runs low or out of memory

Release 1.12 : 10th April, 2000

  • Auto-fire (only available in registered version)
  • Now compatible with Chrome alternate colour settings on Palm IIIc
  • Now only loads graphics when needed - much quicker to load
  • Fix: used to crash when you tryed to use 'Reset Highscores'
  • Fix: used to crash if you cheated to jump past level 5

Release 1.1 : 10th March, 2000

  • First colour release for Palm IIIc
  • Completely configurable controls (map any button to any action)
  • Shields countdown clock
  • Ability to turn scenery off and on for a faster game

Release 1.01 : 25th February, 2000

  • Palm OS 3.5 compatibility (Palm IIIc and Palm IIIxe)
  • Removed duplicate printing of Game Over
  • Added 'Zap!2000 is loading' message

Release 1.0 : 1st January, 2000

  • New completion screen
  • Redesigned highscore page
  • Boss aliens are harder to defeat
  • Shields
  • Nuke bomb (registered version only)
  • Fix: aliens don't disappear anymore

Feedback

If you've got suggestions about how to improve Astraware Zap!2000 - or with reports of any problems you've had, then please contact us!

Zap!2000 enquiries/feedback: zap2000@astraware.com
Registration problems: registrations@astraware.com
General Astraware enquiries: feedback@astraware.com

 

Contributors

Zap!2000 was based on an original monochrome game for Palms called "Zap!", written by Howard Tomlinson.

Zap!2000 was created by David Oakley, who made the game able to run in Greyscale, and then Howard and David worked together to add more aliens, levels, effects, and overall much more gameplay, ready for release on the first day of the year 2000!

The evolution of Zap! and Zap!2000 was also helped by...

  • Kevin Mohinani - for input to the design of graphics, and for providing some raw ship graphics to work with.
  • Pete Moss for the endless constructive feedback on how to improve the game.
  • Tim Adams for testing and nitpicking ;-)
  • All the beta testers who fed back with comments.

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 Zap!2000 on a device or software emulator.

  1. Grant Of License
    This License permits you to use Zap!2000 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 Zap!2000. Zap!2000 is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Zap!2000 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. 

Copyright (c) 1999-2003 Astraware Ltd. All rights reserved..

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