The Alien: The Alien Instruction Manual

Game: The Alien
Platform: Commodore VIC-20
INSTRUCTIONS FOR 6621

                         The Alien
                
Copyright 1981 United Microware Industries, Inc.

GENERAL
You are the Alien, and can only survive by trapping the creatures
prowling the hallways of their home maze. Catch them by setting and
inflating traps, then deflating the trap before they bite their way
out. Be quick. They like nothing more than chomping you with one
happy bite and sending you like a little alien angel to heaven. The
game allows you fewer lives than a cat--five--and you may use them up
much more quickly than the average cat. This is a skilled fast action
game, especially when the creatures panic.

SCORING
Between 100 and 1,000 points for each creature you trap, and a flag
each time you clear the screen. The Alien records the highest score.
Roll through the alphabet using the A and S key, then press the RETURN
key to enter each initial.

LOADING THE PROGRAM
Please see the tape loading instructions, then follow screen
instructions.

STARTING PLAY
When you're ready to start, press any key. But first, pay careful
attention to the keyboard operation instructions. The S and A keys
inflate and deflate the traps, and the I, J, L, and M keys move you, as
follows:
KEY PRESSED                 ACTION                  With the Joystick
     S                      Inflate.          Press FIRE with the Joystick forward
     A                      Deflate.          Press FIRE with the Joystick back
     I                      Move up.                 Joystick forward
     J                      Move left.               Joystick left
     L                      Move right.              Joystick right
   M or SPACE BAR           Move down.               Joystick back
    
TO PLAY
Place your traps in the paths the creatures like to travel. But don't
make them wait! Then they panic, and your traps will work
instantaneously, but that may not be fast enough.

TO LOAD & USE YOUR VIC CASSETTE TAPE

1. Be sure your computer, tape cassette recorder and TV display are
   connected properly and powered on. The last message displayed by the
   VIC should be the word READY.
2. Place the tape cassette in the recorder with the label side up.
   (Programs are always recorded twice on one side of the tape).
3. To move to the beginning of the tape, press the REWIND switch on the
   tape recorder. When rewinding stops, press the recorder's STOP
   switch.
4. On the VIC's keyboard, type in LOAD and press the RETURN key.
   Notes: If  you have different programs on the same cassette, type
   LOAD"name of program" then press the RETURN key. (i.e., LOAD
   "AMOK"). For programs written in machine language, type: LOAD"name
   of program",1,1
5. Your TV will display PRESS PLAY ON TAPE. After you press the
   recorder's PLAY switch, the words OK and SEARCHING are displayed.
6. When VIC finds the program, it displays the word FOUND, followed by
   the name of the program, then tells you it's LOADING.
7. When you see READY, first press the STOP switch on the tape recorder,
   then on the VIC type in RUN and press the return key.
8. See the specific instructions for your program on how to proceed
   further.
   
IF YOUR TAPE DOES NOT LOAD, FIRST REPEAT STEPS 4 THRU 7 ABOVE. IF THE
PROGRAM STILL FAILS TO LOAD, TURN POWER OFF, THEN POWER ON AND REPEAT
STEPS 3 THRU 7.
IF PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST REFER TO YOUR MANUAL AND/OR YOUR DEALER.

      VIC is a trademark of Commodore Business Machines.