ESCAPE FROM OMICRON
by Sean Morley
from ZX Computing Jun/Jul.1984

Sean Morley of County Mayo challenges you
to escape or die in this exciting ZX81 game.


The planet of Omicron, graveyard of many fearless space
explorers, is about to claim another victim - YOU.

However, you have one last chance to survive - a shuttle has
been sent to rescue you; all you have to do is reach it. It
has landed at the opposite edge of a rocky plain that you
will have to cross, so you must leave the safety of your
cave and set off.

This would be an easy task were it is not for the savage
Crag who will give chase as soon as he sees you. You must,
of course, go around the rocks - inverse Xs (these are in
line 20 of the listing and have been listed as "x") - but
beware! Crag can chew his way through them!

To guide your man, use the cursor keys 5,6,7 and 8. Good
Luck.


Variables

A  Crag's vertical position.
B  Crag's horizontal position.
X  Your vertical position.
Y  Your horizontal position.
L  Level of difficulty.
A$ Key depressed.


Graphics

In line 20 rocks are represented by inverse Xs. In line 55
the shuttle is represented by a graphic Q and a graphic W.


How it runs

4         Goes to instruction routine.
5         Sets levels of difficulty.
6-30      Draws rocks at random positions.
31        Clears rocks printed around you before you start.
40-50     Initialises variables which hold your position.
55        Prints shuttle.
60-70     Initialises variables which hold Crag's position.
80        Tests for key depression.
81        Checks to see if you were eaten by the Crag.
82        Reduces Crag's movement depending on level of difficulty.
85-87     Calculates Crag's new position.
90-95     Calculates your new position.
100-110   PEEKS your position to make sure it's empty. If
          there is a rock there your move is cancelled.
120-130   Cancels your move from lines 100-110.
134       Erases you.
135       Erases Crag.
136       Prints you in original position after a cancelled move.
137       Returns to line 80.
140       Prints you in your new position.
150       Prints a space behind you depending on which way you moved.
153       Checks to see if the Crag got you.
155-156   Blanks out you and Crag.
160       Goes back to line 80.
1000-1010 Prints end routine after you have been eaten by the Crag.
1020-1030 Checks to see if Y or N was pressed for new game.
2000-2020 Prints end routine after you have reached the shuttle.
2030-2050 Checks to see if Y or N was pressed for new game.
4000-4020 Prints instructions.
4030-4055 Inputs level of difficulty and checks to see that
          it is between 3 and 10.
4065      Waits for 2 seconds.
4070      Waits for key to be pressed before continuing game.
4080      Clears the screen.
4090      Returns to game.


--
Another Fine Product transcribed by:
Jim Grimwood (jimg@globalnet.co.uk), Weardale, England
--
