MARTIAN MEMORANDUM PLAYERS MANUAL _________________________________ typed by Opus & The Sandman REQUIREMENTS: * Martian Memorandum will require * IBM PC,XT,AT,286,386,486,PS/2 or compatible * MSDOS 3.2 or higher * VGA or MCGA graphics card and color monitor. * 640 K with 530 K free memory * Hard Disk with at least 7.2 Megabytes free. MARTIAN MEMORANDUM SUPPORTS: * Mouse, joystick, and keyboard (mouse is recommended.) * Soundblaster, Adlib, Roland, IBM speech card, MSound and RealSound (PC speaker) RUNNING MARTIAN MEMORANDUM: * After installation, Martian Memorandum can be executed by: Switching to the directory containing MARTIAN MEMORANDUM. (e.g. type: CD\MARS [ENTER]) Execute the program by typing MM [ENTER]. CONFIGURING MARTIAN MEMORANDUM ------------------------------ The information to configure Martian Memorandum is contained in a small file called MM.CFG. This file contains information on sound boards, input device, and misc. other information. Martian Memorandum can be configured through two methods. AT STARTUP When first run, Martian Memorandum will ask you to select your computer's configuration from a list of possibilities. You will only be prompted for this information once. The information will be saved in the file MM.CFG. If you need to reconfigure Martian Memorandum, you may simply delete the file MM.CFG. You will then be prompted again for your computers configuration. THE DIRECT METHOD You can directly modify the contents of MM.CFG using any text editor. The file consists of five bytes representing input device, sound board, Soundblaster port, Soundblaster interrupt and music system. To modify a parameter simply change the corresponding byte to a new value and save the file back out. The byte values correspond to: Byte 1-Input Device: 1 = mouse (recommended) 2 = joystick 3 = keyboard Byte 2-Digital sound device: 1 = RealSound (PCspeaker) 2 = Adlib 3 = IBM speech card 4 = Soundblaster 5 = Msound 6 = None Byte 3-(Soundblaster only) Port: 1 = 210h 2 = 220h (default) 3 = 230h 4 = 240h 5 = 250h Byte 4-(Soundblaster only) Interrupt: 1 = 2 2 = 3 (default) 3 = 5 4 = 7 (default on newer boards) Byte 5-Music device: 1 = Adlib 2 = Roland 3 = None THE STORY --------- You are a classic, hard boiled private investigator in the year 2039. Marshall Alexander, head of Terraform Inc., had hired you to search for his missing daughter, Alexis Alexander. Your job is to search out clues (and do other P.I. stuff) that will lead you to Mr. Alexander's daughter and the secret of the Martian Memorandum. Easy? We'll see about that. Tex is a rugged, handsome P.I. with a typical P.I. attitude, which sometimes gets him in trouble. Even though the year is 2039, the mood, characterizations and ambiance are set in the typical style of the classic Hollywood detective movies. SEARCHING ROOMS --------------- Throughout the manual we will refer to user input through the generic term SELECT. For mouse users this means to place the mouse cursor over an item and press the left button. For joystick users this means to place the cursor over an item and press button #1. For keyboard users this means to move the cursor over an item (using the cursor keys) and press [ENTER] key. The majority of the game time will be spent searching for clues at various locations. There are several commands to use in searching and manipulating objects in rooms. LOOK - This command allows you to inspect an object. MOVE - This command allows you to move an object from one position to another. MOVE can be used to move an object form place to place, such as a pillow, or to change a state, such as flipping a wall switch. OPEN - This command allows you to open an object, such as a box or door. GET - This command allows you to pick up an object. USE - This command allows you to manipulate one object with another. The USE command always uses an item from inventory (see inventory section) on an object in a room (e.g. A door is locked and a key is resting on the floor. To open the door you must first GET the key. The key is now in your inventory. Next USE the key on the door. The door will now open. TALK - This command allows you to initiate a conversation with another charac- ter. TRAVEL-This command allows you to travel from location to location (see travel section). HELP - This command allows you to get hints to aid you in completing a search of a room. DISK - This command allows you to Load or Save a game to disk. To search a room, choose a command you wish to use (the command will highlight) and select an on screen object. The command will be executed. If nothing happens the object may not be affected by the command (LOOK will almost always return an answer if the object is defined). INTERROGATING CHARACTERS ------------------------ You will run across many characters that have valuable information. You must extract this information using your wit and charm. At different points during a conversation, you will be required to interact with the character. Simply select one of the on screen responses to speak the reply. Often you will be able to offer or ask about items (if the character allows it). There will be numerous subjects you will be able to ask characters about. Try to be very thorough when questioning. In addition, it's a good idea to go back and talk to characters, which were previously interviewed, when a new name appears on the ASK ABOUT list. Don't think that just because you've talked to a character once, you're done with them. MOVING THROUGH THE DUCT ----------------------- At some point in the game you will find yourself crawling through an air duct. The controls are simple. To move forward, select the arrow pointing to the top of the screen. To move backward, select the arrow pointing to the bottom of the screen. To turn left, select the arrow pointing left (if you're not at an intersection, selecting the left or right arrow will simply turn you around). To turn right, select the right arrow. You can tell if you're at an intersection when the area in the middle of the arrows shows a cross. When a cross is showing, is possible to turn in a new direction. Your current heading (north, south, east or west) is shown as a highlighted arrow. This highlighted arrow is the direction you are facing. If you want to travel in the direction you are facing, select the arrow pointing up, not the arrow that is highlighted. If you're still having difficulty and you've tried everything , see the "troubleshooting" section. USING YOUR COMLINK ------------------ Your secretary is your constant companion through the game via you COMLINK (if you find it). Your secretary is your information source and will keep you informed of events happening throughout the game. To access you secretary, select the USE command and select the COMLINK from your inventory. Your secretary will ask you what you would like to know about. Select an item from your ASK ABOUT LIST. Your secretary will return the information and it will automatically be entered into your TRAVEL or ASK ABOUT LIST if appropriate. TRAVELING --------- Tex may travel only when the situation will allow it (if Tex is tied up in the basement, he will not be allowed to get out by traveling). If you wish to travel, select the TRAVEL icon. A list of locations which Tex currently knows will be displayed (this changes as Tex gathers clues). To travel to a loca- tion, simply select one of the locations from the list (select the OK icon or select the location twice). Tex will arrive at the new location in a short time. INVENTORY --------- The inventory is where Tex stores items he picks up. When Tex uses the GET command on an object in a room or when a character gives Tex something, it goes here. The objects can be retrieved by either USING them in a room of OFFERING them to a character. The list will grow and shrink as Tex obtains or uses items. There is no limit to what Tex can carry, so it's a good idea to take everything you can, you never know when you are going to need it. ASK ABOUT LIST -------------- The ASK ABOUT system is similar to the inventory except that it stores names and intangible information as opposed to physical items. ASK ABOUT items are used during character interrogations or with your secretary. Items are auto- matically added to the ASK ABOUT LIST when Tex come across them. LOADING AND SAVING GAMES ------------------------ Games can be saved anytime during a room search. Select the disk icon from the command bar. To save a new game; click on the box next to the word FILE. A flashing cursor will appear signaling that it's waiting for you to type in a new name and press [ENTER]. Select the SAVE icon. To save over an old game; choose a file name by selecting a name from the list, and select SAVE icon. A box will appear to verify that you really want to save over the file. To load a file; either select a current file from the list of files of select the box to the right of the word FILE and type in a name. Select the LOAD icon. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU SAVE OFTEN, AND UNDER DIFFERENT NAMES, JUST IN CASE SOMETHING GOES WRONG. You can delete all saved games by switching to your Martian Memorandum direc- tory (\Mars is the default) and typing:DEL *.GAM [ENTER]. All saved games will be erased, so be very careful using this command. EXITING THE GAME ---------------- The game can be exited at any time by pressing the CONTROL and Q keys (CTRL-Q). Make sure you have saved your game before exiting or it will be lost. HINTS AND TIPS -------------- Game hints are available at any time while searching a room. Hints are con- text sensitive, meaning that the only hints available will be based on the current room the player is in. To access the hints, select HELP icon from the command bar and select the object you need help with. Hints are given at different levels- from vague to specific. You can stop at any point if you don't want the puzzle to be given away. To advance to the next hint level, select the same object again. Hint: press the [INS] key, [O] key, and move in any direction. This will get you out of the ducts. Hint: Read the READ.ME file on disk #1 for further information not covered in this manual. Hint: Call Access at 801-359-2900 for questions or comments. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ================================================================== Hope these dox to Martian Memorandum come in useful. Watch for many more quality dox from Opus and the Sandman in the future for most of the latest releases. Some quick greets goes to Hard Core, Zodact, the Langolier, Con Artist, TDT, and FairLight/USA. Also, be sure to call Ring of Fire at (703)243-0490! ================================================================== /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\