Zenith Saga
Demo Release 2.2
July 13th, 2001
(yes, we know it's a Friday)
Please check below for a list of bug fixes and enhancements!

Welcome, and thank you very much for choosing Destination Software, Inc as your major source of TI-RPG's for your TI. We are very pleased that you did such, and we hope that our games redefine the genre of the RPG for the TI community.

This document contains important information on installing and running Zenith Saga on your TI-89/92+. It is HIGHLY recommended that you read through this document, as it may just save your life. 

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
20KB+ of Main RAM Free Required

Zenith Saga (ZS) is a huge RPG. And, according to what we see, one of the biggest ASM games ever to grace the screen of a TI-89/92+. It is also a VERY complex RPG that requires quite a bit of space to run. With the main executable is pushing 60KB alone, we really recommend that you try not to have too much stuff stored in RAM to allow ZS function, as it should. ZS contains many large maps and graphics that are stored compressed, which means these graphics need memory to decompress into. We have tested ZS under many situations on the TI-89/92+, but because this is a public release of this game, we are aware that there are dozens of situations that we may have overlooked. Right now, ZS functions as it should under hardware 1 and 2 running AMS versions 1.01 to 2.05 on the TI-89/92+. ZS also runs on AMS 1.00, but do to issues with that AMS release, ZS could crash. We have tested ZS thoroughly on AMS 1.00 and have had no problems. It is also recommended that you archive any files you may have to free up system RAM.  Currently, ZS along with all the required libraries requires roughly about 139613 bytes of RAM to store on your calculator. All of this can, and should be archived. 

DO NOT archive the file "zssvlib", if you do, you will not be able to save your games!!!!


GETTING STARTED

There are two files, zshw1.zip and zshw2.zip.  The hardware 1 demo version of ZS runs on DoorsOS II v.99. This release of DoorsOS is unofficial, but runs fine and allows you to run ZS on AMS 2.05. This version of DoorsOS is included in the zip file for your convenience. The hardware 2 also runs on DoorsOS II v0.99. However, hardware 2 owners need the latest hardware 2 patch to run ZS, or most any other ASM programs. To run ZS, just install DoorsOS (HW2: install DoorsOS after you install the hw2 patch!) and then upload all the files included in the zip file to your calculator (.9xz /9xs for TI-92+ and .89z / 89s for TI-89). Then type "zs()" on the home screen. The game will do a RAM test, and then load up if successful. If there is not enough RAM, the game will halt, and inform you to delete or archive some files.

Link to latest hardware 2 patch for TI-89: http://www.ticalc.org/pub/89/asm/shells/hw2patch.zip
Link to latest hardware 2 patch for TI-92+: http://www.ticalc.org/pub/92plus/asm/shells/hw2patch.zip


KEY FUNCTIONS

NOTE: TI-92+ users, then ENTER key under the D-pad is used.

ZS uses the following keys on your TI-89/92+: F1-F4, the D-pad, ESC, APPS, 2ND (89) and ENTER (92+).
TI-89 Only: 2ND: This key is used mainly to progress through text. In some cases, it is used to select an option.
TI-92+ Only: ENTER: This key is used mainly to progress through text. In some cases, it is used to select an option.
F1-F4: Used in selecting options within the game and it's menu system.
D-pad: The up, down, left, and right arrow keys will control your character as you travel through the world of Xnoth.
ESC: Use this button to cancel any action.
APPS: Very important! This button will access the Main Menu in the game.

GENERAL NOTES

Zenith Saga will be released in two parts as Chapter One and Chapter Two. This is because ZS is a HUGE game and there's only so much memory on these things. The demo you are playing is a small portion of Chapter One. Chapter One is nearly complete and is slotted for a fall 2001 release. Chapter Two will follow shortly after. Most of what you see in this demo is final...however; keep in mind that certain things may change in the final version. If you encounter ANY problems or things you may think are strange (glitches) within the game, please contact Kodi at raistlnt@bellsouth.net. Leave him a description of the following:

Type of calc (89,92+), AMS version, hardware version, and what you did just before the bug or glitch, and what you did that caused the error. This will make things A LOT easier for him to correct the problem.

Remember most of all, we are doing this out of our own joy and to give you, the gamer, a great experience. =) So we would highly appreciate your feedback on our game, whether negative or positive. So when you get a chance, drop us a word! Your feedback is used to make better games!

Contact: Luis at mordeth@bellsouth.net 

       -Destination Software staff


HISTORY

This version of the ZS Demo Release 2 that you are playing includes the following bug fixes and enhancements:

TI-89/92+

- This new release has a slight increase in speed when traversing across maps. (Running at a rock solid 30 frames a second)
- The now infamous AMS 2.0x contrast bug has been fixed. Fading now works as it should.
- If you died and got a "Game Over" while fighting a boss, then continued your game from your last save, the game would crash in your next battle. This has been fixed. (Special thanks to Dan Englender for reporting this bug)
- When starting a New Game, if you saved RIGHT AFTER you talk to King Orion, quit, and continue, you are locked in his throne room by an NPC. This has been fixed.
- If you bought and used the "Life 1" item on Crein, the game would crash with an address error. Fixed.
- Faith can now be brought back to life with the item "Life 1."

TI-92+

- Faith's HP now refreshes after you use an item in battle.
- When talking to the guards after being taken to jail, the guards would seem to talk "twice." Fixed.


TI-89

- The much more convenient 2ND key is now used to progress through text and menus instead of ENTER.

