********* Welcome to Project 64! The goal of Project 64 is to preserve Commodore 64 related documents in electronic text format that might otherwise cease to exist with the rapid advancement of computer technology and declining interest in 8- bit computers on the part of the general population. Extensive efforts were made to preserve the contents of the original document. However, certain portions, such as diagrams, program listings, and indexes may have been either altered or sacrificed due to the limitations of plain vanilla text. Diagrams may have been eliminated where ASCII-art was not feasible. Program listings may be missing display codes where substitutions were not possible. Tables of contents and indexes may have been changed from page number references to section number references. Please accept our apologies for these limitations, alterations, and possible omissions. The author(s) of the original document and members of Project 64 make no representations about the accuracy or suitability of this material for any purpose. This etext is provided "as-is". Please refer to the warantee of the original document, if any, that may included in this etext. No other warantees, express or implied, are made to you as to the etext or any medium it may be on. Neither the author(s) nor the members of Project 64 will assume liability for damages either from the direct or indirect use of this etext or from the distribution of or modification to this etext. ********* The Project 64 etext of the Tass Times in Tonetown book, revision A. Converted to etext by anonymous. Formatted for Project 64 by the Basic Bombardier. The original etext was transferred from ftp://robot.asimov.net/pub/apple_II. The information in this Apple etext is assumed to be close enough to the Commodore version until a CBM manual can be converted, which is likely to be called TASS10B.TXT. TASS10A.TXT, December 1995, etext #6 ********* TASS TIMES in TONETOWN (TM) THE BOOK Tass Times in Tonetown was created by Interplay Productions. Designed by Brainwave Creations. Produced by Pam Levins. Directed by Brian Fargo. Graphics by Todd Canasta and Curt Toumanian. Music and sound effects by Dave Warhol and Russell Lieblich. Programming by William Heineman, Steve Nielsen, Jay Patel, and Troy P. Worrell. Special thanks to R. S. F. Lehrberg. Tonetown Times by Paula Polley. Tass Times in Tonetown: The Book by Steven Young. LET'S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER We're working hard to design the kind of computer software you want, and we'd love to hear your comments. So drop us a note. We'll put you on our special mailing list. If you'd like to find out about our newest computer software, call 800-633-4263 (recorded message). If you have questions about using one of our products call (in California) 415 940-6044/5 or (from outside California) 800 227-9759 between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Friday. Or write: Consumer Relations Activision, Inc. P.O. Box 7287 Mountain View, CA 94039 COPYING PROHIBITED This software product is copyrighted and all rights are reserved by Activision, Inc. The distribution and sale of this product are intended for the use of the original purchaser only and for use only on the computer system specified. Copying, duplicating, selling, or otherwise distributing this product without the expressed written permission of Activision are violations of U.S. Copyright Law and are hereby expressly forbidden. (C) 1986 Activision, Inc. All rights reserved. Amiga, Kickstart, and Workbench are trademarks of Commodore-Amiga, Ltd. Apple is a registered trademark and Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Atari is a registered trademark and ST is a trademark of Atari Corp. Commodore 64 and 128 are trademarks of Commodore Electronics, Ltd. IBM is a registered trademark and IBM PC and PCjr are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. Tandy is a registered trademark of Tandy Corp. CONTENTS Are You Tass? Are You Tone? 1 Let the Tass Times Roll 2 Tonetown Travel, Tonetown Talk [ 3 ] [ Getting Around Town 3A ] [ The Talk of the Town and Other Tass Pastimes 3B ] Evil Lurks [ 4 ] If You're Called Out of Town [ 5 ] Function Key Shortcuts [ 6 ] Getting the Lowdown in Tonetown [ 7 ] [ Warrantee 8 ] [ Section 1 ] ARE YOU TASS? ARE YOU TONE? Are You Tass? Are You Tone? Somebody's vanished -- through a hoop -- into the unknown. Or have you been here before, under a triangular moon? Do you wear a Troppo look or is it Jonboi Waltune? Sleuth out the cabin. The clues may unjar you. Where the Dogwonder leads leaping -- will you follow? The mystery unravels in a different dimension, But your guide by your side is none other than "The Legend." Tonetown is hometown if you're ultra plus chic. In need of some styling? Just visit the 'Tique. Bangle up some hooplets, lay down some picks, Jump on a jumpsuit, then to Freddie's for kicks. But wait -- read the Times -- enigma on enigma. The truth? Wrapped in darkness. Something to dig for. And evil lurks -- snarly, underworldly-wise, Three ways times three ways he plots your demise. So get to unriddling, stop fiddling around. If you're here as a tourist, Tonetown's not your town -- If you loop through the hoop, you must loop it alone. Are You Tass? Are You Tone? [ Section 2 ] LET THE TASS TIMES ROLL Here's how to load Tass Times in Tonetown into your computer. Amiga (TM) Computers 1. Turn on your computer and monitor. 2. When so instructed, insert the Kickstart (TM) (version 1.1) diskette in your disk drive. 3. When instructed to insert the Workbench (TM) diskette in your disk drive, insert the Tass Times diskette. Apple (R) II Series Computers 1. If you have one, connect a joystick or mouse to your computer. 2. Insert the Tass Times diskette in your disk drive, label side up. 3. Turn on your computer and monitor. 4. When instructed to do so, remove the diskette from your disk drive and re-insert it, label side down, then press RETURN. Apple Macintosh (TM) Computers 1. Insert the Tass Times diskette in your disk drive, label side up. 2. Turn on your computer. Atari (R) ST (TM) Computers 1. Turn on your computer and monitor. 2. Insert the Tass Times diskette number 1 in disk drive A, label side up. If you have two disk drives, insert diskette number 2 in drive B. Open (click twice on) file drawer A. 3. After the diskette loads, click twice on TASS.PRG. 4. If you have only one drive, exchange diskette number 2 for number 1 when instructed to do so. Commodore 64 (TM) and 128 (TM) Computers 1. Plug a joystick into port 2 of your computer. 2. Turn on your computer, disk drive, and monitor or TV. 3. If you have a Commodore 128, type GO64 and press RETURN. When the prompt ARE YOU SURE? appears, type Y and press RETURN. 4. Insert the Tass Times diskette in your disk drive, label side up. Type LOAD "*",8,1 and press RETURN. 5. When instructed to do so, remove the diskette from your disk drive and re-insert it, label side down, then press RETURN. IBM (R) PC (TM), PCjr (TM), Tandy (R) 1000, and Compatible Computers 1. Connect a joystick or mouse, if you have one, to your computer. 2. Insert the Tass Times diskette in your disk drive and turn on (or reset) your computer and TV or monitor. Following the title and credit screens, press any key to start the game If you're resuming the adventure at some point where you left off previously, see "Saving and Loading the Adventure" [ Section 5 ]. [ Section 3 ] TONETOWN TRAVEL, TONETOWN TALK To travel, talk to people, and solve the mystery in Tass Times, you use your computer keyboard and -- if you have one -- a joystick or mouse to enter commands. Each screen of the adventure is arranged like the one shown here, with a few slight variations on some computers. The elements shown are explained in detail in the following pages. For saving and loading games in progress (the words Save and Load do not appear on all computers). Command icons: {diagram of the screen} [top line]: Command line [text under scene]: The story [box in upper right corner]: Inventory box. [arrows below]: Compass (UP and DN not on all computers) [RETURN]: Equivalent to pressing RETURN on the keyboard (not on all computers) [mouth]: Talk to [hand holding object]: Get [hand with picks]: Buy [hand releasing object]: Drop [people talking]: Tell me about [glove marked KO]: Hit [man opening door]: Enter [eye]: Look at If you have a joystick or mouse: In the information that follows, "click on" means "place the cursor over the object or icon on the screen and press the joystick or mouse button" (the left mouse button on Atari ST and Amiga computers). Also, if the word Return appears on your screen, you may click on it as an equivalent to pressing RETURN (or Enter) on your keyboard. Because of the many types of mouse and joystick available, it's impossible to describe the exact use of each type in Tass Times. The descriptions that follow are based on the most commonly used types. If yours differ, a quick test of your joystick or mouse with Tass Times should give you a good idea of how to use it in Tonetown. If you don't have a joystick or mouse, read the information in this book for joystick and mouse operations anyway. It may offer you some valuable clues -- or at least some ideas for getting at some valuable clues. When you're using the keyboard, whatever you type appears on the command line on the screen. To erase or "edit" part or all of a command line, use the Delete, Backspace, or horizontal arrow keys, depending on which computer you're using. End every command you type in by pressing RETURN (on your keyboard it may be labeled Return or Enter). If you have a joystick or mouse and the word Return appears on your screen, you may also click on the word to end your command. Remember that the key words in your command are the verbs, nouns, and prepositions -- for example, TALK TO MAN or CLIMB UP LADDER. When you combine more than one action in a single command -- for example, CLIMB UP LADDER AND TALK TO CREATURE -- keep in mind that the actions will be performed separately, not simultaneously. In other words, if you climb the ladder and the creature pushes you off, you may not get a chance to talk to him -- ever. If you type in a command and don't get any action, try using different words to express what you want to do. Especially when you're around the people of Tonetown, you'll find that they can be a little finicky about certain matters of style and etiquette. You can use the function keys on your computer as "shortcuts" on a few important commands; see [ Section 6 ]. [ Section 3A ] GETTING AROUND TOWN With a joystick or mouse, you can move in any direction simply by clicking on the corresponding point of the on-screen compass: North, South, East, and West. If you want to climb up something or descend, you can click on UP and DN if these appear on your compass. With the keyboard, you can type the first letter of the direction you want to go, then press RETURN. On Amiga, Atari ST, IBM, Tandy, and compatible computers, you can also use the directional arrow keys -- up, down, right, and left -- to move north, south, east, and west, respectively. If you like, you can make one long move over several directions by typing in a series of directions, separating them with periods, before pressing RETURN. For example, you might type N.E.N. to move north, then east, then north again. During such a series of moves, you won't miss -- or avoid -- whatever might happen to you while moving in any one of the specified directions. If you want to climb up something or descend, and UP and DN do not appear on your compass, you must type what you want to do from the keyboard. [ Section 3B ] THE TALK OF THE TOWN AND OTHER TASS PASTIMES With a joystick or mouse, you can use the command icons to talk to characters and perform other common actions. Simply click on the icon for the action you want to perform. In some cases you can then click on the object or person you want to act on or talk to; in other cases you may find that you have to type in the name of the object or person from the keyboard, then press RETURN. If you don't have a joystick or mouse, read the following information about the icons anyway. Each one stands for an action verb that you'll probably want to use often in your commands (see "Function Key Shortcuts" on [ Section 6 ]). Also, the various ways the icons can be used may give you some ideas for making your trip to Tonetown more tass. Here are some tips and special notes on using the icons. [hand holding object] Get. Use this to place items that you want or think you may need in your inventory. For example, there are clues to be gathered, special items that may come in handy later on, and things that will help you "fit in" in Tonetown. In some cases you can click on the Get icon, then click on the thing you want in the scene on the screen; in other cases you may find that you have to type the name of the object from the keyboard -- for example, when the object is not visible on the screen. And of course there may be some things that you just can't take with you. One special use of the Get icon: you can click on it twice to collect everything in a scene. Typing GET ALL from the keyboard will also do the trick. [hand releasing object]: Drop. The opposite of the Get icon, this removes items from your inventory. Just as with the Get icon, you may be able to click on the item you want to remove, or you may have to type its name from the keyboard; and you can click twice on the Drop icon (or type DROP ALL from the keyboard) to remove everything from your inventory. As you'll see, your inventory is just like any piece of luggage: it can't hold everything. When your cup runneth over and you want to add something to it, you'll have to drop something first. [glove marked KO]: Hit. When nothing but force will do, click on this to strike a blow -- to another character or to an object -- then click on the poor creature or thing you want to hit or type its name from the keyboard. [eye]: Look at. Click on this for a detailed description of someone or something that interests you, then click on the object of your interest or type its name from the keyboard. One special use of the Look icon: you can click on it twice for a description of the entire scene on the screen. [mouth]: Talk to. Use this icon to start a conversation with somebody, then click on the person you want to talk to or type his or her name from the keyboard -- if you know it. Some Tonetownians are particular about being addressed by name. So get to know who's who. The local newspaper is a good source of information. [hand with money]: Buy. Yes, there are things to buy in Tonetown, even though the coin of the realm may seem a bit strange to you. Use this icon in the usual way: click on it, then click on the object you want to buy or type its name from the keyboard. Anything you buy goes into your inventory. [people talking]: Tell me about. Once you're involved in a conversation with someone, you can ask him or her to tell you about -- well, anything or anybody you see (or have seen) on the screen. Although of course Tonetownians are just like most folks in at least one respect: not everybody knows everything about everything and everybody. [man opening door]: Enter. Click on this to go through a door, into a building, or wherever you want to go -- if you're sure you want to go there, that is -- then specify where "there" is by clicking on it or typing its name from the keyboard. TALKING TO PEOPLE WITH THE KEYBOARD. Again, Tonetownians can be very particular about being addressed by name. If you want to have a pleasant (and informative) conversation with someone, you must start your statements with the name of the person you're talking to -- for example, CHAZ TELL ME ABOUT THE BOOK. [ Section 4 ] EVIL LURKS Not everything that goes down in Tonetown is totally tass. In fact, there's a good chance -- make that several good chances -- that you'll find yourself pushing up the moonflowerets before you have a chance to say "Jamac's Salon." In which case you'll have to start all over again. You may not be able to avoid taking a fall or two or nine, but you can avoid the frustration of having to start over every time. When you sense danger, type QUICKSAVE and press RETURN before making another move. This will store your progress so far. If you then meet your demise, type Y, then type QUICKLOAD and press RETURN to resume play where you were when you got dusted. You can make a QUICKSAVE and QUICKLOAD even quicker -- see "Function Key Shortcuts" [ in Section 6 ]. [ Section 5 ] IF YOU'RE CALLED OUT OF TOWN If you wish to stop play while in the middle, you can save your progress so that you can pick up where you left off at a later time. You can save at least eight separate games on most systems, assigning each one a number. The words Save and Load appear automatically in the upper-left portion of the screen in Commodore 64/128, Apple II, and Macintosh versions. Simply use your mouse, joystick, or keyboard to carry out the command. Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC/PCjr, and Tandy 1000 users must first place the cursor above the picture. TO SAVE A GAME WITH A JOYSTICK OR MOUSE, click on the word Save with the joystick or mouse button (the right mouse button on Amiga and Atari ST computers) and hold the button down. Holding the button down, use the joystick or mouse to "pull down" the Save menu and highlight a game number for the game to be saved, then release the button. TO SAVE A GAME WITH THE KEYBOARD, type SAVE GAME and press RETURN, then follow the instructions on the screen for assigning a number to the game you're saving. TO LOAD A GAME WITH THE JOYSTICK OR MOUSE, click on the word Load with the joystick or mouse button (the right mouse button on Amiga and Atari ST computers) and hold the button down. Holding the button down, use the joystick or mouse to "pull down" the Load menu and highlight a game number for the game to be loaded, then release the button. TO LOAD A GAME WITH THE KEYBOARD, type LOAD GAME and press RETURN, then follow the instructions on the screen for specifying the number of the game you want to load. [ Section 6 ] FUNCTION KEY SHORTCUTS If your computer has function keys, you can use them as handy shortcut to several common commands. Amiga, Atari ST, IBM, Tandy, and compatible computers have 10 function keys; if you have a PCjr, you must hold down the Fn key while pressing the corresponding number key, 1-10. With Apple II computers, you must hold down the SHIFT key while pressing the corresponding number key, 1-9. Commodore 64 and 128 computers feature function keys 1-8. The Macintosh does not have function keys. FUNCTION KEY COMMAND 1 Save game 2 Load game 3 Repeat last command 4 Tell me about 5 Drop 6 Get all 7 QUICKSAVE 8 QUICKLOAD 9 Talk to 10 Look at [ Section 7 ] GETTING THE LOWDOWN IN TONETOWN To solve the mystery -- and have an ultra-tass time while you're at it -- take some tips from the great investigative reporters, canine and otherwise. * Be curious. Look at everything, and don't forget to look inside things. Talk to everyone. * Write things down -- good reporters take notes. Drawing a map of Tonetown and environs isn't a bad idea, either -- it might come in handy if you want to backtrack or move fast from one place to another. * Place as many things as you can in your inventory, whether you can just pick them up or have to buy them. There's no telling what you might need later on. * Read the Tonetown Times cover to cover -- it contains a wealth of information on the local scene, and you might just pick up a tidbit or two that will be crucial down the line. * Take chances. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained -- and with the QUICKSAVE option (see [ Sections 4 and 6 ]), you don't even have that much to lose. [ Section 8 ] ACTIVISION LIMITED 90-DAY WARRANTY Activision, Inc. warrants to the original consumer purchaser of this computer software product that the recording medium on which the software programs are recorded will be free from defects in material and workmanship for 90 days from the date of purchase. If the recording medium is found defective within 90 days of original purchase, Activision agrees to replace, free of charge, any product discovered to be defective within such period upon receipt at its Factory Service Center of the product, postage paid, with proof of date of purchase. This warranty is limited to the recording medium containing the software program originally provided by Activision and is not applicable to normal wear and tear. This warranty shall not be applicable and shall be void if the defect has arisen through abuse, mistreatment, or neglect. Any implied warranties applicable to this product are limited to the 90-day period described above. If the recording medium should fail after the original 90-day warranty period has expired, you may return the software program to Activision, Inc. at the address noted below with a check or money order for $7.50 (U.S. currency), which includes postage and handling, and Activision will mail a replacement to you. To receive a replacement, you should enclose the defective medium (including the original product label) in protective packaging accompanied by: (1) a $7.50 check, (2) a brief statement describing the defect, and (3) your return address. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH ABOVE, THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NO OTHER REPRESENTATION OR CLAIMS OF ANY NATURE SHALL BE BINDING ON OR OBLIGATE ACTIVISION. IN NO EVENT WILL ACTIVISION BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM POSSESSION, USE, OR MALFUNCTION OF THIS PRODUCT, INCLUDING DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL INJURY, EVEN IF ACTIVISION HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS AND/OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS AND/OR EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. NOTE APPLE COMPUTER, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE ENCLOSED COMPUTER SOFTWARE PACKAGE, ITS MERCHANTABILITY OR ITS FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES IS NOT PERMITTED BY SOME STATES. THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY PROVIDES YOU WITH SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS. THERE MAY BE OTHER RIGHTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. ProDos ((C) Apple, 1983) is a copyrighted program of Apple Computer, Inc., licensed to Activision, Inc. to be distributed for use only in combination with Tass Times in Tonetown. Apple software shall not be copied onto another diskette (except for archive purposes) or into memory unless as part of the execution of Tass Times in Tonetown. When Tass Times in Tonetown has completed execution, Apple software shall not be used by any other program. WARNING Any attempt to duplicate this product may damage it. Such damage is not covered by the warranty. Please see above for complete warranty. U.P.S. or registered mail is recommended for returns. Please send to: WARRANTY REPLACEMENTS Consumer Relations Activision, Inc. 2350 Bayshore Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043 ********* End of the Project 64 etext of the Tass Times in Tonetown book, revision A. *********