BOULDER DASH (TM) CONSTRUCTION KIT (TM)
BY EPYX
MAXX OUT! SERIES (TM)

Instruction Manual

for use with Commodore 64 (R)/128 (TM), Apple (R) II, IBM (R) PC and 
Compatibles, Atari (R) ST (TM) and Atari 800 Computers (TM)

Game Designed by First Star Software, Inc.



OBJECTIVE

You have two objectives in BOULDER DASH (TM) CONSTRUCTION KIT (TM), 
You can either play the pre-saved game provided on the program disk, 
or construct your own games with the construction kit.

If you play the pre-saved game, your objective in BOULDER DASH (TM) 
CONSTRUCTION KIT is to search through different caves to find as 
many diamonds as possible. You must rely on strategy and planning to 
guide you through each cave. With quick reflexes and careful moves 
you can avoid different obstacles and enemy creatures. You have a 
limited amount of time to mine each cave, and each cave has a limit 
to the number of diamonds you can mine.

GETTING STARTED

For the Atari (R) 800 (TM)

Set up your Atari 800 as shown in the owner's manual.

Plug in your joystick as shown in the owner's manual. If you are 
using the keyboard, refer to the KEYBOARD COMMAND CARD for key 
controls.

Turn ON your disk drive and wait for the busy light to go off.

Insert your BOULDER DASH CONSTRUCTION KIT disk into the disk drive 
and turn ON the computer.


Make your Selections

After the game is loaded, you will have a set of choices to make. 
First you must choose between using the BOULDER DASH Construction 
Kit (to create/edit your own mazes), or the BOULDER DASH Game Module 
(to play the pre-saved game.) Follow the directions on screen to 
make your selection.

Note: If you are unfamiliar with BOULDER DASH games, it is a good 
idea to start out in the Game Module mode. You will become familiar 
with the different objects and moving creatures and how they work. 
You can then create your own caves exactly as you like!

You must next select the number of players (1 or 2) you will play 
with, and the number of joysticks (1 or 2) you will use. Choose the 
number of players/joysticks by pressing Option.

The Game Module comes with one complete pre-saved game for you to 
start with. The Game, GAME1, consists of 12 caves and 3 
intermissions. Caves scroll to be 4 screens large. Intermissions are 
single screens, and allow you to earn bonus points. (Intermissions 
rewards you for getting through caves alive. If you lose an 
intermission, you still go on to the next cave.)

To play the pre-saved game, load it by pressing RETURN when asked 
for the game file. GAME1 will shift colors when it's loaded, and you 
can select a cave or intermission number (01-15) to play by moving 
the joystick up or down. Press the FIRE BUTTON when the number of 
your choice appears (and the game will begin).


Mining a Cave

In each cave you will find different obstacles and enemy creatures 
you will need to avoid or trap while mining for or creating 
diamonds. See Appendix A for a list and description of each obstacle 
and creature.


Start the Game

To start the game after you've made all your selections, press the 
FIRE BUTTON. Pause at any point in the game by pressing the SPACE 
FIRE. Restart the game by pressing the SPACE BAR again.

You will start with 3 lives, but will earn an extra life with every 
500 points you earn.


Scoring Information

At the top of the screen is a bar with numbers. The numbers stand 
for the following information (left to right):

The number of diamonds you are required to mine in the current cave 
	in order to exit.
The value of each single diamond.
The number of diamonds you have collected so far.
The time you have remaining to complete the cave.
The total points you have accumulated.

Earn points for:
Each diamond you collect.
Every second you have left on the timer when you exit the cave.
Every diamond you collect above the minimum number of diamonds 
required to exit (bonus points).


CONSTRUCT A GAME

>From the first menu screen, select the BOULDER DASH CONSTRUCTION KIT 
mode (#1). You will be given the following choices:

Edit An Existing Screen: Edit a game that is already created and 
saved to disk.
Create a New Cave: Construct your own cave from scratch.
Create a New Intermission: Create a single-screen cave that can 
later be inserted between regular caves.

You will then have a palette available to you from which you can 
select items to create a cave or intermission. The objects along the 
side of the palette contain the elements and obstacles that appear 
in BOULDER DASH Game Module. You will use the items in the palette 
to construct your own caves and intermissions.

With the CONSTRUCTION KIT, you can create games as wild as your 
imagination. A game can be as long or as short as you like. 
Remember, when you are constructing your games that caves scroll to 
be 4 screens large. You can see all 4 screens at the same time by 
using the Full Screen function (press F). Intermissions are single 
screens used for bonus points.

Construct your games, cave by cave, saving each cave as you create 
it. Use boulders, growling walls, butterflies, amoebas and other 
items to add risk and adventure to your caves. But remember always 
to add an entrance, an exit, and some diamonds (or means for 
creating diamonds) in your caves. Appendix A gives you a list of 
obstacles and creatures, and a list of commands for constructing 
your caves.

After constructing and testing each cave and intermission, you 
should Save it. You may change the sequence in which caves and 
intermissions are played at any time.

Saving A Cave

Select the M (menu) icon or press the M key.
Use the joystick to select SAVE;
Type in a NEW file name for your cave and press RETURN. (The name 
you use must be unique and the computer will give it an extension 
automatically. If you want to use a file name that already exists on 
the disk, you must first delete the existing cave or intermission.)

Game Sequence Options

When you are finished constructing and saving your caves and 
intermissions, select the word GAME from the menu. You will get the 
following options:

New: Clears the game sequence.
Files: Reads the catalog of caves and intermissions from the current 
disk.
Load: Loads a previously created game sequence. You must provide the 
name of the desired game sequence.
Save: Saves the current game sequence on your disk. You must provide 
a unique name for it.

Edit: This option allows you to put all the caves you have 
constructed and saved into the sequence of your choice. Three 
columns will appear on the screen. Take the following steps to put 
your caves and intermissions into a game sequence.


Highlight the ARROW in the Right column, and use the joystick to 
place it in front of the file you want to move. Then press the FIRE 
BUTTON.

Highlight the ARROW in the Left column and place it in the location 
you want the file from the Right column to appear (move the joystick 
up or down), and press the FIRE BUTTON.

Highlight the ARROW in the Middle column and toggle between Y (Yes) 
and N (No) by moving the joystick up or down. This will determine 
which of the caves and intermissions the player can select in the 
final game sequence you've created.

When you press the FIRE BUTTON, the file from the right column 
should appear in the column on the left at the position you 
selected. If a cave cannot be selected (No), then the player must 
earn the right to play it by winning the previous cave.

Disk Options: Provided for your convenience are the following items 
(not necessary to play or construct a BOULDER DASH game):

	Catalog
	Format
	Delete
	Rename
	Copy

These items are the usual disk commands. Please consult your disk 
manual for further instructions.


Appendix A

The following palette items and commands are accessed on the 
construction screen in the following way:

Position the highlighting box, with the joystick, over an item, 
creature or letter and press the FIRE BUTTON.

Position the highlighting box on the construction screen in the 
place you want the selected item to appear and press the FIRE 
BUTTON.


The Palette

Boulders: Will fall (when not supported by dirt areas or walls) and 
crush items beneath them. A single boulder can be pushed left or 
right into empty spaces by Rockford Ö.

Diamonds: Every cave must have a certain number of diamonds. They 
can be created from other elements in the palette (see Butterflies).

Enchanted Walls: This wall turns boulders into diamonds and diamonds 
into boulders. This milling process can be set to last a specified 
length of time when constructing or editing a cave.

Walls: Use these to build paths, strongholds, and obstacles for 
creatures and diamonds. They can be destroyed by explosions.

Titanium Walls: These are indestructible walls and nothing may be 
played on the walls i.e., you can't place an exit door on a titanium 
wall.

Growing Walls: These walls grow to fill any holes that Rockford digs 
at the end of the wall_ which can put him in a tight spot!

Extra Rockford: He doesn't move, so be sure to protect him from 
fireflies, butterflies, and falling boulders.

Dirt: Used as a filler and to support rocks and diamonds. Rockford 
digs a path as he walks, but butterflies and fireflies can't go 
through dirt.

Fireflies: They can destroy Rockford by landing on him and 
exploding. You can destroy them by dropping boulders on them. They 
always fly in a predictable direction.

Butterflies: Drop a boulder on them and they explode into diamonds.

Amoebas: This gooey stuff can grow through dirt, but can be 
contained by walls or boulders. If suffocated within walls, it will 
turn into diamonds. But if not contained, it will grow 
uncontrollably.

Slime: This slimy gunk is permeable so boulders and diamonds can 
fall through it. (When you are constructing a cave, you can set the 
time it takes for boulders and diamonds to fall through the slime.)

Hidden Exit Door: This door looks like a Titanium Wall, so remember 
where you put it when you're constructing your cave!

Exit Door: This door will be revealed as soon as the required number 
of diamonds are collected.

Entrance: This is the door that Rockford uses to enter the cave. You 
must remember that a cave is not complete without both an entrance 
and an exit!


The Commands (used in construction)

Lines: Select L icon from the construction screen (or press the L 
key). Then select an item or creature you would like to place in 
your cave. Press the FIRE BUTTON at the first place you want the 
item to appear, and move the joystick to the last place (on the same 
line or an exact diagonal) you want the item to appear. Press the 
FIRE BUTTON again and the item will appear in a solid line within 
the start and end points you set.

Random: Select an item you'd like to place randomly on the cave 
screen. Choose the Dice icon (or the D key) and 20 of your selected 
items will appear in the cave in random locations. To see the full 
cave with items, press the F key.

Erase: Select the Eraser icon (or the E key) to erase items you've 
placed on your screen and to create paths.

Test: Select the T icon (or the T key) to test a cave or 
intermission you've created.

Menu: Press the M icon (or the M key) to see the file menu. To 
choose one of the menu items, move the joystick to highlight your 
choice and press the FIRE BUTTON. From the Menu you can Save and 
Load your caves, or make a Games sequence. You can also access the 
Disk Options.

New Screen: Select the N icon (or the N key) to clear the screen.

Palette: Use the P icon to hide the Palette. Press the P key to 
bring it back.

Timers: Select the Clock icon (or the V key) to set values. For 
example, the speed at which Rockford moves through the cave, the 
time you have to finish the cave, and the time it takes boulders and 
diamonds to fall through the slime. When an item is highlighted, 
change the number by pressing the joystick up, down, left, or right. 
[Up increases the numbers by 10s, Down decreases by 10s; Left or 
Right increases or decreases by 1s.] Make your selection and move to 
the next item by pressing the FIRE BUTTON.

Full Screen: Press the F key to all four screens in a cave at the 
same time. Move the large cursor on the screen with the joystick, 
and press F again (or the FIRE BUTTON) to return to a single working 
screen in a new location.


Additional Keys

C: Gives you a color menu so you can change colors on the screen.
SPACEBAR: Pauses and Resumes the game (in the Game Module).


HELPFUL HINTS:

If Rockford gets in a tight spot and wants to grab a diamond or push 
a boulder without moving, press and hold the FIRE BUTTON, then move 
the joystick in the direction of the diamond or boulder. Rockford 
will remain in the same place, but the diamond will be pulled toward 
him, or the boulder will be pushed away from him into an empty 
space.


CREDITS

Game design by First Star Software, Inc. Published under agreement 
with First Star Software, Inc. Licensing arranged by International 
Computer Group. Commodore and Atari 800 versions programmed by Jeff 
Schneider. Apple conversion by Pat Montello. MS-DOS conversion by 
Ibid, Inc. Atari ST conversion by Data Byte and Paul Carr. Screens 
designed by Fernando Herrera. Based on the original Boulder Dash by 
Peter Liepa with Chris Grey.

BOULDER DASH, BOULDER DASH CONSTRUCTION KIT, and ROCKFORD are 
trademarks of FIRST STAR SOFTWARE, Inc. Audio visual material 
copyrighted 1984, 1987 FIRST STAR SOFTWARE, INC. All rights 
reserved. Commodore 128 is a trademark and Commodore 64 is a 
registered trademark of Commodore Electronics Limited. Apple II is a 
registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. IBM PC is a registered 
trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Atari ST 
is a trademark and Atari 800 is a registered trademark of Atari 
Corporation.

EPYX
P.O. Box 8020, 600 Galveston Drive, Redwood City CA 94063
(C) Epyx, Inc.

Part No. 3020A-60



BOULDER DASH (TM) CONSTRUCTION KIT (TM)
For the Atari (R) 800 (TM)
KEYBOARD COMMANDS

After loading Boulder Dash Construction Kit, start the game from the 
title screen by pressing RETURN. You will then have the following 
set of options: Choose the number of players (1 or 2) and the number 
of joysticks (1 or 2) by pressing the Option key. Load the pre-saved 
game by typing GAME1 and pressing RETURN.

When GAME1 is loaded, choose which cave or intermission you want to 
play by moving the joystick up or down. When the number of your 
choice is highlighted, press the FIRE BUTTON and the game will 
begin.

When playing the game, you can pause it at any point by pressing the 
SPACEBAR. Restart the game by pressing the SPACEBAR again.

Move Rockford up, down, left, and right by moving the joystick up, 
down, left, and right. If your Rockford (TM) gets stuck in a 
position, with no way out, press ESC to go to the next Rockford in 
the same screen.


Construct a Game:

KEY			FUNCTION
---------------------------------
Joystick up, down,	Move the cursor around the screen or palette
left, or right.
FIRE BUTTON			Select a highlighted icon or place a 
				selected icon
P key				Display the Palette On/Off
L key				Select the Line mode On/Off
D key				Place a selected icon randomly on the screen
T key				Play test a cave or intermission (ESC to abort the test)
E key				Select the Eraser icon
N key				Start a New Screen (Y or N to confirm)
C key				Select the Color mode
V key				Select the Value mode
F key				Toggles Full screen mode On/Off
---------------------------------
M key				Select the Menu mode
Joystick up, down,	Highlight an option
left, or right
FIRE BUTTON			Select and execute an option
ESC key			Exit a Menu or Sub-menu

To save a cave or intermission once you've finished constructing it:
Select the Menu mode
Highlight Save with the joystick, and press the FIRE BUTTON.
Type in a NEW name for your cave and press RETURN. (The file name 
must be unique.)

Make a Game Sequence:
Select the Menu mode
Follow the instructions in the manual for making a Game Sequence

30204D-62

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Manual transcribed by Jeff Lodoen 
(jlodoen@mega.megamed.com)