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|CrimsonFire|
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Michael Turitzin <turitzin@stanford.edu>
December 4th, 2002
(final project for CS248)
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Background and Introduction
---------------------------
In the year 3000, robots have enslaved humanity and, predictably, have
created a deadly game solely for their evil amusement. They call it
CrimsonFire, a name representative of the bloody, fiery deaths experienced
by its losers. In CrimsonFire, human contestants are forceably strapped
into a UFO-like craft (the robots find it more funny this way) and must
maneuver using propulsion jets through a series of rings that appear over
a lush but overcast island. Crashing into the terrain means instant death;
so does getting hit by a projectile fired by turrets that the robots have
so carefully placed around the island. CrimsonFire includes many levels,
five difficulty levels, and an awesome sound system including a tribal
drumming soundtrack you will grow to love (it is a robot favorite). Enjoy!

Gameplay
--------
At the beginning of the game, choose a difficulty level (this determines
what game level you start on).  I highly recommend "Too Easy", as
CrimsonFire can be a very difficult game for new players.  I should note
that the game is intentionally challenging and will take a while to
master.

When the game starts, you start in a pre-game state, where you can look
around.  Fire thrusters to begin actual gameplay.  To complete a level you
must fly through 10 checkpoints, which are red rings that appear above the
terrain.  A red arrow rotates around the screen to indicate the direction
toward the next checkpoint.  Bars on the left of the screen indicate the
number of checkpoints remaining in the level.  A fuel gauge is on the
right of the screen--when your fuel runs out, you will crash and die very
quickly.  Luckily, your fuel is refilled every time you run through a
checkpoint.  On levels after the first, turrets will appear on the terrain
(in increasing number) which will fire homing projectiles at you.  Listen
for them, and dodge accordingly...or die instantly!  Wind on the
boundaries of the island will blow you back toward the island--this can be
used to your advantage (or disadvantage).

You start with 5 lives, and the game is over when you die that many
times.  Points are acquired in two ways: moving through checkpoints, and a
time bonus at the end of the level which awards more points for faster
times.  As levels increase, your craft burns fuel more quickly, turrets
increase in number, and turret projectiles fly more quickly.

Controls
--------
CrimsonFire's controls take a little while to get used to, and the game
gets much more fun (and easy) when this has been accomplished.

spacebar - fire thrusters downward (to move upward against gravity); VERY
important--it is impossible to not die very quickly without using this key
(spacebar also moves to next level, respawns when dead, etc.)

arrow keys - move forward/backward/left/right by firing thrusters in the
opposite direction

w, s, a, d - rotate chase-camera around craft (w = look up, s = look down,
a = look left, d = look right)

o - toggle sound on and off

escape - quit game
