Night Gunner

NIGHT GUNNER



NIGHT GUNNER is an action-packed arcade-style game

based on a Second World War scenario. You are the

gunner and bomb armer whose task is to defend your plane

against enemy attack and destroy the ground targets in 30

different missions. The rewards are high for the expert

marksman, but beware, the going get tougher on each

new mission!



LOADING



LOAD "ng"



When the program has loaded the user is prompted for a

Softlock security code. The response code is found in the

table on pages 4 and 5 of the instructions, and the reply is

entered using keys 0 - 9 and ENTER. The program allows

3 attempts for the number to be entered correctly. The

game is now ready for playing.



OPTIONS



The game options on the menu page are controlled using

keys 1 - 7.

1: Number of players 1 or 2.

2: Player 1 difficulty level, 1 to 4.

3: Player 2 difficulty level, 1 to 4.

4: Control type

- Keyboard

- Joysticks: Sinclair interface 2, Kempston, AGF

5: Number of joysticks 1 or 2.

6: High score table, blank or DI challenge.

7: Demonstration title page sound ON or OFF.



CONTROLS



Top row of the keyboard - Move sight/plane UP

Left five keys on second row - Move sight/plane LEFT

Right five keys on second row - Move sight/plane RIGHT

Third row of keyboard - Move sight/plane DOWN

Caps shift or space - Fire guns/release bombs

Symbol shift, B and N together - Hold

Symbol shift, X and C together - Reset



SCREEN DISPLAY



The score and number of lives left for each player is shown

at the top of the screen, player 1 on the LEFT, player 2 on

the RIGHT. The highest score of the day is displayed at the

center.

The plane's status panel at the bottom of the screen

displays the following information:

TT: Time to Target or end of mission,in seconds

BT: Time remaining during ground attack, in seconds

HIT: Illuminated when your aircraft is hit by enemy aircraft

or flak

CAPTAIN'S REPORT: Messages from the pilot during

mission

DAMAGE: Indicated by the aircraft symbol. GREEN - all

clear, YELLOW = damaged, RED = destroyed

WEAPONS: Ammunition, bombs and rockets shown to the

right of the aircraft symbol.



PLANE DEFEND



You must defend your plane against the attacking fighters

on the flight to and from the bombing target by shooting

them down. The gun sight is moved using the keyboard or

joystick movement controls and guns fired using the fire

buttons. Just like a real gun, there is a time delay from when

the bullet is fired to when it hits the target. This has to be

allowed for by aiming the gun in front of the moving target.

This is called deflection shooting.

The bullet delay can be seen by moving the sight and

firing the guns. The centre point of the bullets will be seen

outside the centre square of the sight.

Your score will increase each time you shoot down an

enemy plane, a barrage balloon or the bonus plane that

occasionally crosses the sky.



BOMBING OR ROCKET GROUND ATTACK



All 30 of the ground attack missions are different, alternat-

ing between high level bombing targets and low level rocket

attacks. The bombing/rocket sight allows for your plane's

movement when aiming at the targets but you have to make

an allowance for moving targets. The amount your score is

dependent upon how close to the centre of the target your

bomb or rocket hits and if the character is worth double

score.

Flak will be fired at you during ground attack missions, its

accuracy dependent upon how much you weave about the

sky. Long periods of straight and level flight during

bombing mission will result in you being illuminated by

searchlight. The will obscure your target and put you under

very heavy fire from flak. Escape frmo the searchlight by

manoeuvering your aircraft.

During high level bombing, control your plane using the

left, right, up and down controls. Climbing and diving will

affect your aircraft speed. During rocket attacks, the pilot

continually gives your height. Climb to get sufficient height

and then dive onto your target, release a rocket and pull out

of the dive. If you hit the ground you will lose a life.

The sight on the ultimate mission is different from all the

others. Adjust your height so that the two spots on the

screen for a figure 8, line up the two bars onto the centre

of the towers and release your bomb.



PLANE DAMAGE



This is caused by attack from the enemy planes or being hit

by flak on the bombing runs, the amount of damage being

indicated by the aircraft status symbol. Yellow areas on the

status plane indicate where the plane has been damaged

and red areas where it has been destroyed. If the damage

is serious you will crash and lose a life. The damage can be

divided into five areas: the flight deck, engines, wings,

tailplane, and gun turret.

Flight deck: Damage will result in random movement of

the plane during ground attack missions, making bomb and

rockte aiming difficult. When the flight deck is destroyed the

plane will crash.

Engines: If enough engines are destroyed or damaged

before the bombing run the bombs will be dropped. If 3

or more engines are destroyed then the plane will crash.

Wings or tailplane: If these are damaged it has no effect

on the performance of the plane, but if they are destroyed

then the plane will crash.

Gun turret: If this is damaged the sight will not move as

quickly as normal. When it is destroyed the sight has no

movement but the guns can still be fired.



Although the concept of NIGHT GUNNER is based upon

the Avro Lancaster four engined bomber, it is not intended

to be a simulation.