[7] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
NEW OS/2 GAME: Parahill Productions' Overthrow
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (bbrown@eecs.wsu.edu)
Thu Jul 20 20:36:41 1995
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 1995 09:58:45 GMT
From: bbrown@eecs.wsu.edu
Reply-To: bbrown@eecs.wsu.edu
Submitted by: Brian Brown (bbrown@eecs.wsu.edu)
Source: Brian Brown (bbrown@eecs.wsu.edu)
Date received: 1995 July 3
Date posted: 1995 July 16
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OVERTHROW
by Parahill Productions
Mailing List
Volume 1
This is Volume 1 of the official Overthrow Mailing List. It contains
information about the new action wargame for OS/2, Overthrow.
Overthrow is an action wargame developed exclusively for the OS/2
operating system, in which you control rebel troops seeking to overthrow
an evil, tyrannical government. The game is a multithreaded PM application,
and takes full advantage of OS/2's built-in MMPM/2 sound support.
Overthrow will be available in two forms: Shareware and Registered.
The shareware version will be freely available on the Internet, and will
contain several demo missions. The registered version will contain the
complete set of missions, as well as a number of customization options
for added challenges. The registered version will only be available
directly from Parahill Productions. The price is not yet determined, but
will probably be in the neighborhood of $25-$30 (US). Overthrow will
be released before the end of the summer.
Overthrow is an "Action Wargame," which means that it is grounded in
wargame-style strategy, but everything happens in "real-time." There are
no turns or long periods in which you can plan out moves, because everything
happens before your eyes. Armies march and fight, and they will not stop
if your attention is diverted elsewhere. You can think of the action in
games like Populous or SimCity for an idea of what it is like.
At the end of this document are some common questions and answers about
the game. If you have a question that you think might be of general
interest, send it to the address listed below.
***** PARAHILL AND OVERTHROW ON THE INTERNET *****
Parahill Pictures can be reached on the Internet in the following ways:
E-mail: bbrown@eecs.wsu.edu
Home Page: http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/~bbrown/overhome.html
The home page on the World Wide Web will always contain the latest
information about Overthrow. This includes the information in this
document, as well as other data as it becomes available. Eventually,
you will be able to download screen shots and the shareware version of
the game (when it is released) from this site.
***** THE STORY *****
The story is an ancient one, yet we must face it today. It is a common
story, yet each time it happens, it seems extraordinary. Each time is the
same, yet each time is vastly different. The story is one of politics,
of power, and of corruption.
Your country has fallen under the rule of an oppressive totalitarian
regime. It started out slowly, political groups professing to know how
to cure the ills of society, and that they should be allowed to do
it. Simple and common. That is the point of politics, after all -- to
convince people that you are the one who can govern them best.
These groups slowly gained power, their members filling posts and getting
elected. It took many years, and nobody noticed much, until one day they
held all of the important positions. Then, in one swift stroke, they threw
away the government in which they had spent years working for their power,
and siezed control of the country.
With their taxes, they controlled the worldly goods of the citizens. With
their armies, they controlled the behavior of the people. And with their
cunning and intelect, they worked to control the very thoughts of the
people. That is how they rose to power in the first place, and that way
how they were going to keep that power.
Their leader was named Samuel Filbourg. He was tall, handsome, and talked
with a deep, booming voice that entralled those to whom he spoke. He
wore the face of honestly and sincerity, and of concern. Perhaps he really
thought of himself like that, that he did care for people and was only
doing what he thought best for them. He was arrogant, but he always had an
understanding smile ready. He was manipulative and deceitful, but he always
seemed sorry when he destroyed people's hopes, dreams, and sometimes their
very lives. Perhaps he was sorry, but he did it anyway.
As Filbourg and his minions tightened their grip on the country, the people
grew increasingly restless and unhappy. Underground groups of dissenters
formed, and the country moved to the brink of civil war. Finally, the
strongest group emerged publicly, and ignited the passions of the
citizenry. The move to overthrow the evil rulers and restore peace to the
land had begun.
It is your job to command the military forces, such as they are, that the
rebels have mustered. It will be a long and painful process, for you will
always be out-numbered, out-gunned, and out-classed. However, you have the
strength of righteousness on your side. The people are with you, and will
be your support during the struggle. You will have to recruit troops, train
them, keep them fed, and lead them into battle. Only when the rulers have
been overthrown and freedom restored to the people will your job be
complete. If you fail, one can only imagine what will happen to the people
and the country you love so much. And you can only imagine the worst...
***** COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS *****
Q: How much detail is there? Will I control the individual battles, or
just the large-scale troop movements?
A: All of the game takes place on a single scale. You will control units
of troops (armies, for purposes of the game, but they can contain
thousands of troops or just half a dozen.) You have no control over
individual battles, other than giving attack or retreat orders. Being
the armchair general that you are, you will see a battle only as two
armies clashing on the map. Your concern is overall strategy, not
precise control of a few recruits.
Q: What do I do in the game? Just move troops around and fight? Or is
there other stuff?
A: The idea of the game is to overthrow your government. Rebellions are
not won simply by fighting. You will have to worry about what Joe
Average thinks. You will have the support of some people, and others
may hate you. You will start off with no real military forces to speak
of, and have to recruit troops. You will have to train your troops,
and you will have to keep them fed. You will have to choose between
gorilla tactics and stand-up fights, and sometimes you will have to hide
when the enemy gets too close. In short, there are lots of things to
do besides fight.
Q: Will there be a network or modem/serial link version of the game?
A: No. The game will be released as single-player only.
Q: Can I be a Beta Tester for Overthrow?
A: A small group of Beta testers will be chosen from the people subscribed
to the mailing list. To subscribe to the mailing list, send e-mail
stating you would like to be added. A call for beta testers will be
announced only on the mailing list, and candidates will be consided only
at that time. Any mail asking to beta test before that time will be
ignored.
Q: This sounds like a cool game. Are you going to make a Windows 95 version?
A: Not in this lifetime.
