Copyright (c) 1999-2005 Astraware Ltd.
All rights reserved.

Introduction

If you enjoy Biplane Ace, please take the time to enter a review at PalmGear HQ, Handango or EuroCool.

How To Install

Use an extractor program such as WinZip or Stuffit Expander to get at the Biplane Ace files.

Install the game by double-clicking the .prc file, which opens the Palm Install Tool or Quick Install program.

If one is available, users with Palm OS® 5 devices may wish to install the music file as well. Double click on the .pdb file (or files, if there is more than one) to install it in the same way as installing the .prc file. Please note that not all Palm OS® 5 handhelds support music, for more information please refer to our knowledgebase here.

Use the HotSync button as usual to install the game onto your handheld. If you have a handheld with an expansion card, you can then move the game over to it. Do this before you register the game!

Now run Biplane Ace and tap the screen to play the game!

If you've got any queries about Biplane Ace or the registration process, first check out our knowledge base on our website (you must be connected to the internet to access this). If this doesn't help, get in touch with us at support@astraware.com. If you've got any questions (or suggestions, we love those) about the game itself, please get in touch with us at the email address at the top of this page.

Known Problems with Hacks

Speed Up Hacks
There are quite a few hacks available ( Afterburner, Tornado, etc) which allow you to change the speed your main processor runs at. At the expense of some battery life (about 20% less). Your palm can run faster by overclocking. This does not cause any problems with Biplane Ace, and many users use these hacks to make the game run faster (or slower) than normally allowed by the standard speed settings. 

Playing Biplane Ace!

Install and run the game on your Palm.
Tap the screen to start a game.

The control buttons can be fully customised if you wish, by selecting the 'Controls...' menu option! 

Once you start the game, you will see two aircraft climbing from the ground. The one one the left is yours! (Colour users will see their plane depicted in red, greyscale users will see that their craft is unmarked. The opponent's plane has a bar on each wing to help you identify!)

As soon as they reach their maximum height, the fight is on! You must twist and turn by using the left and right buttons, and try to get behind your opponent! As soon as you do, shoot, and your machine gun should cause damage to the enemy! If you need to make a tighter turn, try slowing down, and you'll turn just a bit quicker to get an edge! When you need to make up ground, press the 'faster' button and push your engine to higher revs.

As more and more damage gets done to either plane, smoke will pour out. If you take either two or three hits, the smoke will be grey and white. If you take another hit, your engine is damaged and you will get thick, oily black smoke pouring out! One more hit, and you're done for - only option left is to bale out before your plane explodes.

Any pilot who is downed, parachutes safely to the ground and quickly procures another plane - and then its back up into the skies to do battle once more!

If you take out an enemy three times, he is replaced by another pilot, who knows a few more tricks. You'll find that the later pilots are quite adept at out-flying you - even though you both have the same type of aircraft! You'll have to learn to use the 'faster' and 'slower' button to keep up with them.

Two Player IR Dogfighting

Instructions for Playing a Two Player Game
1) Make sure the IR ports on the two machines are in line.
2) Select 'Host IR Game' on one machine then select 'Join IR Game' on the other machine. If the connection fails try leaving an re-entering the game on both Palms.
3) Play the game as normal (making sure the IR ports stay lined up), the first player to be shot down three times is the loser.
4) If the connection is lost an icon will be shown in the top left of the screen and it if is not restored the game will be abandoned.

Tips for a good connection

• Use the slowest machine for the the HOST machine.
• If the CLIENT lags behind the HOST try turning off the clouds or background on the CLIENT OR turn on the clouds and background on the HOST.
• If the plane on the CLIENT jumps backwards or seems to slow down then rush ahead occasionally try turning on the background or clouds on the CLIENT OR turn the clouds or background off on the HOST.
• Try using different game speed to find the one that works best, if the CLIENT rushes ahead then using a faster game speed can help. If the CLIENT constantly lags behind then try using a slower gamespeed. You must change the game speed on both machines since they will both run at the speed of the lowest setting.
• By finding a suitable combination of speed, clouds and background on both machines you can maximise the game performance.

Registering

In Demo form, you can play 10 games of Biplane Ace for free, as you decide whether you like it or not. After these games are up, the program will display a short message reminding you to register each time you play!

If you beam a demo to someone else, and they also like the game, then they can register it either by purchasing a copy from a local store or by purchasing online.

Registering Online:

For those that like the speed and convenience of buying via the internet, when you register for the game you'll get a code which will unlock the game and remain valid for future upgrades. Go to the web page at http://www.astraware.com/palm/ace/ for more details.

You'll need to know your HotSync ID which you can find by running Biplane Ace, opening the menus, and selecting the 'Register...' option. Your HotSync ID will be filled in for you below.

When you register, Astraware will generate a key based on your ID, which will normally be sent out by email within 48 hours of registering. When you receive your key, go to the same register option, and enter the key into the space provided.

Astraware Products

You can find out about Astraware and the product range we have for mobile platforms by visiting our website at www.astraware.com.
Here are our top products at time of writing:

Release Revision History!

• Support for two player game over Bluetooth

• Updated to use latest Astraware Libraries
• Change to code system to reduce cheating.
• Improved compatibility with new devices.
• Faster loading

• GamePad support added
• Improved the 'flow control' routines to make two player games much smoother.
• Improved AI at later levels - enemies continue to shoot and fly harder!

• Two Player IR dogfighting enabled.
• Minor bug fix (two pilots crashing at the same time would swap planes!)

• First Public Release
• Beta Timeout removed

Feedback

If you've got suggestions for Astraware Biplane Ace, or wish to report any problems you've had, then please contact us!

Biplane Ace enquiries/feedback: support@astraware.com
Registration problems: registrations@astraware.com
General Astraware enquiries: feedback@astraware.com  

Software License Agreement

1. Grant Of License
   This License permits you to use Biplane Ace on any single computer, provided the software is installed on only one handheld device at any time.

2. Copyright
   The software is owned by Astraware Limited and is protected by United Kingdom copyright laws, international treaty provisions, and all other applicable national laws. You may not modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or otherwise attempt to discover the code and algorithms of the software.

3. Other Restrictions
   You may not rent or lease the software, but you may transfer your rights under this license agreement on a permanent basis provided you transfer all copies of the software and all written materials and the recipient agrees to the terms of this license.

4. No Warranty
   The software is delivered as is and Astraware Limited makes no warranty as to its use or performance. Astraware Limited does not, and cannot warrant the performance or results you may obtain by using the Software or its documentation. Astraware Limited makes no warranties, express or implied, as to noninfringement of third party rights, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. In no event will Astraware Limited be liable to you for any consequential, incidental or special damages, or for any claim by any third party.

Legal

Astraware Limited takes no responsibility for any adverse effect that this software could cause to your machine or the data on it: backup important data before using Biplane Ace. Biplane Ace is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Biplane Ace is licensed, not sold.

You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble this software.

Astraware’s and its suppliers’ entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at Astraware’s option, either (a) return of the price paid, if any, or (b) replacement of the product that does not meet the warranty and which is returned to Astraware with a copy of your receipt. This warranty is void if failure of the product has resulted from accident, abuse, or misapplication. Any replacement software product will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer. These remedies are not available without proof of purchase from an authorized source.

Written permission must be obtained before distribution of this game, either in demo form or full form, through any online or offline methods. You may link to the product specific page, but not directly to the files (as these will change and as the programs are updated) 

Copyright (c) 1999-2005 Astraware Ltd..

Astraware and the planet logo are trademarks of Astraware Limited All rights reserved.