BLOCKADE RUNNER

 BLOCKADE RUNNER

AN INTERPHASE (TM) VIDEO ADVENTURE!

----- Five unique reasons why Blockade Runner is out of this world! -----

1 3-D EFFECTS!

BLOCKADE RUNNER gives you a commander's eye view in three dimensional form as

asteroids and ice crystals realistically flash by the nosecone of your spaceship.

2 PROGRAMMABLE CONTROLS.

BLOCKADE RUNNER is versatile because players can choose their own particular

control functions.  (Ideal for left-handed players!)  You get to select your own

button functions at the beginning of each game.  Just follow the instructions as

they appear and choose your very own controls.

3 A TRUE TWO PLAYER GAME.

Although BLOCKADE RUNNER can be played by one person, it is also ideal for a

player team.  One person controls the firing of missiles, while the other takes

charge of the ship's velocity and its steering.  Players don't have to alternate

as they do with other video games.

4 VARIABLE SKILL LEVELS.

BLOCKADE RUNNER skill levels are continually variable and may be altered at any

time of the game.  The player controls the degree of difficulty which is

determined by the velocity of the spaceship.  Players may choose to relax

slightly before more active periods of warfare.  A time-out mode is also provided

to bring game play to a temporary stand still by pressing buttons 1+9 or 3+7.

Skilled players will find that they'll attain more points at higher speeds.

5 SELF ADJUSTING SKILL LEVELS.

BLOCKADE RUNNER will adjust its own difficulty level with the continuing

performance of each player.  If a skilled player is gaining points quickly, the

game will get increasingly difficult.  A lesser skilled player who may not be

scoring a high number of points will find that the game will adjust itself to

make play less frustrating.  BLOCKADE RUNNER will also attempt to judge whether

you're skilled or just lucky ... and adjust game difficulty to compensate.

----- Introduction -----

You're the commander and pilot of a merchant space freighter fleet.  Your command

ship is IVS 103.  You have four ships in your fleet.  Your cargo contains vital

supplies for your home base on the planet Earth but your path is blockaded by an

alien fleet.  Your only chance of running past the blockade is to travel through

an asteroid belt to escape detection by enemy radar. You're viewing the galaxy as

it unfolds before you.

----- THE DANGERS -----

Asteroids will damage the ship upon collision.  The enemy has also placed robot

space mines along your route.  Should you get by there dangers, there are still

enemy ships waiting up ahead when the asteroids thin out!

----- YOUR SHIP'S POWER -----

Nuclear fusion powers your ship.  High velocity jets of water are used as fuel or

reaction mass.  When your supply of water runs low (listen for the audible

alarm), watch for clouds of bright blue ice crystals and steer into them. Your

water supply will then be replenished.

----- DEFLECTOR SHIELDS -----

Your ship is protected by deflector shields which convert the kinetic energy of

asteroid collisions into heat.  The more collisions, the higher the temperature,

but don't worry, commander ... your shields cool slowly with time elapsed and

with collected ice crystals.  But watch your shields' temperature ... if they

overheat, your ship will be destroyed.  The further you travel into the asteroid

belt, the more energy delivered by each rock collision. Excess steering to avoid

collisions will rapidly deplete your fuel supply.

----- ALL ABOUT ROBOT MINES -----

When you encounter robot mines, you must attack within 10 seconds, or they will

explode.  Just prior to explosion, they will pulse bright blue.  Use your limited

supply of missiles to shoot them down.  These missiles will follow any object in

the crosshairs at the instant you press the firing button.  You can also blow up

rocks, but you'll waste a valuable missile.  Your ship's stores can deliver more

missiles, but only at a limited rate.  Audible and visual advance warnings are

given (crosshairs flash red) whenever robot mines are ahead.  Note that powering

down on your reactor confuses robot mines causing them to disappear.  However,

this tactic means that you can't steer your ship and you'll have to accept rock

collisions while you wait for the mines to disappear.  If your shields are hot,

this may not be a good move!

----- ALIEN SHIPS -----

Alien ships may appear from behind without warning, but they must turn and face

your ship before they can fire their plasma weapons.  Each hit on your ship by a

plasma cloud will heat your shield by another 30% towards an explosion on board,

but you can evade the clouds with good space commander steering techniques.

Alien ships are tricky as they may remain outside your missile range, while their

plasma weapons are well within striking distance of your ship. So be cautious!

You may be able to trick them by slowing down your ship, allowing them to advance

while you suddenly accelerate and fire before they have time to retreat.  But be

careful, because the alien ships have shields, too.  A single missile hit will

not destroy them.  Three hits will usually destroy them.  (Watch for their shield

colours changing from grey to yellow to purple.  Do not ignore alien ships

because they will eventually blow up, taking your ship with them.

----- Preparation for play -----

1. Make sure your BLOCKADE RUNNER game cartridge is firmly placed label side up

in the cartridge slot.

2. Turn on your TV and tune it to the same channel as the Channel Select Switch

on your game console (channel 3 or 4).

3. Turn the game console ON/OFF switch to ON.

4. Once the "Interphase Presents Blockade Runner" title appears on your TV, press

the round disc on the hand-held controller.

5. Your TV will now display the CONTROL OPTIONS for playing BLOCKADE RUNNER.

Unlike most video games, BLOCKADE RUNNER is designed for one person or a team of

two people to play, and the controls are programmable for ease of operation.

These programmable controls govern the speed of the ship (FAST and SLOW) and

missile launching (FIRE).  Check the diagrams and experiment to find the

combination best for you.

Control Option #1    Control Option #2

<- FIRE   FIRE ->    <- FIRE   FIRE ->

<- SLOW   FAST ->    <- FAST   SLOW ->

Control Option #3    Control Option #4

<- FAST   FAST ->    <- FAST   FAST ->

<- SLOW   FIRE ->    <- FIRE   SLOW ->

6. Once you have decided on the control configuration you like best, push button

1, 2, 3 or 4.  Then press ENTER to begin your quest to Earth!

7. To start another game, press any key.

NOTE:  Make sure your game console is off before removing or inserting a game

cartridge.

----- Control of your ship -----

BLOCKADE RUNNER has programmable controls.  At the beginning of the game, you

will see the functions of all your controls.  You can decide on the functions of

your four side buttons as follows:

----- Slow -----                        ----- Fast -----

This control will slow down your        This button will accelerate your ship.

ship.  If you hold this button down     If your reactor is shut down, the

beyond the minimum throttle point,      pressing of this button will

your reactor will shut down.            automatically start up the reactor

                                        before the throttle moves.

----- Fire -----

This launches your missiles which will be needed during your perilous voyage. If

the control function positions are acceptable to you, just press ENTER to begin

your battle in space.  If you want to try other control function positions, just

press options 2, 3, or 4.  Option 1 will return your controls to their original

setting.

----- Scoring -----

<B>You Gain</B>                 + Points    <B>You Lose</B>           - Points

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

Each unit of distance                + 5    Each second passed            - 50

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

Each refuelling with ice          + 1000    Each collision               - 250

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

Each enemy ship destroyed         + 5000    Each mine that explodes     - 1000

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

Each mine destroyed               + 2500    Each loss of a ship         - 5000

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

For reaching your destination    + 10000

WARRANTY

Interphase Technologies Inc. warrants to the original consumer purchaser of this

Interphase video game cartridge that it will be free from defects in materials

and workmanship for 90 days from the date of purchase.  If any cartridge is

discovered to be defective within the warranty period, Interphase agrees to have

it either repaired or replaced (at the company's option), free of charge upon

receipt of the cartridge, postage prepaid, with proof of date of purchase, at the

company's Customer Service Center.

This warranty is limited to both electronic and mechanical parts and does not

apply to normal wear and tear.  It is not applicable if the defeat has arisen

through abuse or modification.

This warranty is in lieu of any other express warranty or representation.

Interphase is not liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages

resulting from use of this cartridge.

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----- INTERPHASE (TM) -----

Interphase Technologies Inc.

6391-F Westminster Hwy, Richmond, B C., Canada V7C 4V4  (604) 270-8222

                                                             Printed in Canada