OPERATION THUNDERBOLT INFO FILE ------------------------------- Operation Thunderbolt is a multi-level load game converted to run on the TS2068 with JLO disk v2.63+. A level loader trap has been added (to load levels from disk rather than tape) and a joystick trap has been added so that you can use the TS2068's joysticks in one or two player mode. AY chip fixes were added, but, sadly, it appears there is no AY music present in this 48K Spectrum version. The game data is contained in the six snapshots T1.SNA to T6S.SNA. T6S.SNA is a state save of Op-Thun. To get this game on your TS2068, you need to run sna2jlo which can be found using Hynek's search engine at http://drson.vse.cz/snapsearch/ (Do a search for nvg*2068). * TRANSFERRING OPERATION THUNDERBOLT TO JLO DISK Op-Thun takes up 37 cylinders on disk; the JLO disk you want to save this game on must have at least this much space available. 1. Format a fresh MSDOS disk compatible with your TS2068's disk drive. I use a 5.25" DSDD floppy, so I would format the disk with format b:/4. 2. Copy all the .sna files to the disk with something like copy *.sna b: 3. Take the disk to your TS2068 and load up sna2jlo with RUN /"$SNA2JLO"CODE ? 4. Format a new JLO disk (this will not be the disk the game is saved on; this will be a garbage disk to hold temp files). Using sna2jlo, transfer the files T1.SNA, T2.SNA, ..., T5.SNA to the jlo disk. 5. Run the newly transferred snapshots T1 to T5. Each snap contains level data and a save line that, after pressing enter, will cause all the level data to be saved on your new Op-Thun disk. 6. Using sna2jlo again, transfer T6S.SNA from the MSDOS disk to your Op-Thun disk using something like GO SUB /6,"%thun" (You must use this name unless you feel like editing the BASIC loader program). If all went well, a CAT of your disk should reveal these files: JLO SAFE V2.65 (C)1991, J. Oliger DISK NAME: OPERATION THUNDERBOLT FORMATTED @40 TRACKS, 2 SIDE(S) CAPACITY: 79 CYLS/395K BYTES FREE: 42 CYLS/210K BYTES FILENAME TYPE CYLS SIZE START -------------------------------- OP-THBOLT BASIC 1 291 1 ttitle BYTES 2 6912 16384 $thun BYTES 1 609 45000 ---thunllt BYTES 1 3377 32768 thun0.dat BYTES 3 13166 30000 thun1.dat BYTES 2 10082 43166 thun2.dat BYTES 3 14266 30000 thun3.dat BYTES 2 9921 44266 thun4.dat BYTES 3 14304 30000 thun5.dat BYTES 2 10203 44304 thun6.dat BYTES 3 14190 30000 thun7.dat BYTES 4 16355 30000 %thun STATE 10 49664 TOTAL FILES: 13 To run the game, just LOAD /"OP-THBOLT" or load in the file selector with LOAD and enter and choose "OP-THBOLT" from the menu. Naming convention: Files beginning with "$" are m/c programs loaded into the JLO shadow RAM with the RUN / command. Files beginning with "%" are state saves with a level loader trap buried inside. The file "---thunllt" contains the source code of $thun and details of the modifications made to Op-Thun. It is a Zeus Assembler file and must be loaded into Zeus to be viewed. (Search for zeus4jlo on Hynek's search engine). - Alvin Albrecht (sealbrec@acs.ucalgary.ca) 05/30/96 HINT: Before choosing joystick for control, define keys so that you know what to use for rockets, player 1 start and player 2 start. This version is based on the LLT by Russel Marks. Here's what he had to say: > Operation Thunderbolt > --------------------- > This needs the LEVEL_LOADER thingy in xzx. > This is absolutely the best shooting-gallery game ever, and anyone who > disagrees is wrong. :) Better still, it runs brilliantly on xzx. You can > occaisionally get a one- or two-pixel glitch in the centre of the screen on > horizontal-scrolling levels, but apart from that it's great. > I've taken the snapshot just after the first screen, as it makes you wait > for a fixed (long-ish) amount of time on that screen. The first screen > reads: > OPERATION THUNDERBOLT > NOTE: > 1. USE T, Y AND U TO PAUSE. > 2. ON A TWO JOYSTICK GAME > PLAYER 1 USES DEFINED KEY > FOR GRENADE AND PLAYER 2 > USES THE ENTER KEY. > (C) 1989 OCEAN (C) 1989 TAITO > If you're playing without any sound, you may notice that you have to press a > key twice on the main menu screen before it'll work. This is because the > first keypress stops the music, while the second actually does something. > It's the same with sound support, of course, I'm just presuming you'd notice > it then. :) > My hint is: play it two-player if you can. A lot more fun. As an added > bonus, you get to fight over who gets the extra bullets etc. ;) > The file thunder_title.gif is a GIF of the loading screen. > Have fun, > - Russell Marks (rm1ajy2@gre.ac.uk). > Here's a transcription of the tape inlay: OPERATION THUNDERBOLT ROY ADAMS IS BACK! Get the laser sight, or the bulletproof vest, but watch out for those air-to-ground missiles! GOOD LUCK IN YOUR MISSION. LOADING 48K - Type LOAD "" (ENTER). Each level will load separately - follow on screen instructions. Data is on side B of the tape. 128K - USE LOADER The first five levels load in one part, and the remaining levels are loaded as required - follow the on screen instructions. CONTROLS This is a one or two player game which is controlled by either Joystick or Keyboard which is fully redefinable. (All usual Spectrum joysticks). PRE-SET KEYS Q UP A DOWN O LEFT P RIGHT SPACE FIRE KEYS FOR KEYBOARD AND JOYSTICK T PAUSE GAME R FIRE ROCKET ENTER FIRE ROCKET - PLAYER 2 WHEN NOT USING KEYBOARD F START PLAYER 1 G START PLAYER 2 EITHER PLAYER MAY JOIN THE GAME AT ANY TIME. STATUS AND SCORING The Status Panel displays your Score, Life remaining, number of bullets remaining, number of magazines remaining, and the number of rockets remaining for either one or both players. Also shown are items held by either player. The item on the left is the bulletproof vest (if collected) and the item on the right is the Laser Sight (if collected). When either player's life level reaches zero then he will die but can restart by pressing his "player start" button. When both players' energy is zero there will be a continue play option. Points are achieved by shooting enemies. At the end of the game, if successfully completed, points are awarded for the number of hostages rescued and the life level remaining. GAMEPLAY The player, equipped with sub-machine guns and rockets must shoot all the enemies who appear on screen. Remember that your energy and ammunition are limited, and these can only be replenished by picking up objects such as magazines and power bottles that appear on screen or those parachuted down in crates. HINTS AND TIPS 1. Pick all objects that fall from the top of the screen by shooting them. These include magazines, power bottles, medical packs, bulletproof vests and laser sights. Animals if shot, will sometimes drop these items. 2. Try not to spray your opponents with bullets as your ammunition is limited. Pick your targets carefully. [This is not usually difficult. In one of the later levels, aim at a random point onscreen and shoot. You will hit a bad guy. :)] 3. Destroy the heavy vehicles before the soldiers as they inflict more damage. 4. If you are overwhelmed by soldiers and your energy is low, use your grenades. (C) 1988 Taito Corp. All rights reserved. (C) 1989 Ocean Software Limited. The Hit Squad, P.O. Box 350, Manchester. M60 2LX