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THIS LEVEL REQUIRES STARSHIP TROOPERS TC TO FUNCTION OR LOAD PROPERLY.
Download the TC and more maps from www.dukeworld.com/starshiptroopers
© Bgame Productions and Berislav Markovic (aka Moloch)  1998  -  2000.
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THIS LEVEL IS NEITHER MADE BY OR SUPPORTED BY 3D REALMS OR BGAME.

* Basic Information *

Title                 : Before the Storm	
Filename              : bts.map, btssnow.map
Release Date          : 16.04.2003
Author                : Markus Friebe aka SalaciusCrumb
E-mail                : m_friebe@gmx.net
ICQ UIN               : 113918660
Odigo UIN             : Never heard of that one
Web Page              : -
Misc. Author Info     : Move on, nothing to see!
Other SST TC Levels   : SST SP: Gamma Inferno
                                Trapped
                                Mercator Mission
                                Zeta II Reticuli (Secret Level)
                        SST MP: L.W.C.S.
                                Landing Platform
                        SST user map:
                                Operation Devil's Dance  
Other DN3D Levels     : Nothing that has been released.
Description           : Several weeks before the ultimate strike against 
                        the bug colony in the Mercator system, you are
                        ordered to reconquer a small transfer outpost
                        on Mercator 3. Although the main strike will
                        be coordinated outside of the Mercator system,
                        the regain of this outpost is vital for fleet
                        movements and ground troop support.
                        Heavy snowfall and wind almost on tornado level
                        on higher atmosphere layers makes a focused 
                        bombing strike from the orbit or the deployment 
                        of a larger group of dropships impossible. So 
                        your objectives are to clean the base from bugs
                        and prepare the base for the safe landing of the 
                        stations personal. You will be dropped on the 
                        secondary landing platform of the complex. Reach
                        the ComTower in the north to get further briefing
                        and situation analysis.

Hints, Tips & Tricks  : -First of all...Don't mess around with the 
                         almighty Plasma Bug! You really don't want to 
                         spend more quality time with some Warrior
                         fellows, do you?

                        -Throw a grenade into everything that just looks
                         like a bug hole. Might save you some trouble
                         in the long run.

                        -Don't pick up every supply at first sight. 
                         Instead, try to do a basic plan for case of 
                         emergency. So you know the locations where ammo
                         and health is and can replenish when you need it.

                        -You know the old codex:
                         Peacemaker: long distance
                         Corroder: short distance

                        -You might have to unlock another obstacle in 
                         order to activate the landing beacons.

                        -When death comes from above, pay attention to 
                         shadows on the ground. This might give you
                         the reaction time you need to survive.

                        -I don't have to tell you, that you're fubar 
                         without the supplies you get at the beginning?

Additional Credits To : -Kuffi & Alejandro for supporting my level with
                         newsposts on their great websites 
                        (www.planetduke.com/kef & www.planetduke.com/amc)
                        -Moloch for providing the batch file and general
                         support.
                        -Alejandro for providing excellent beta-testing
                         feedback.
                        -Greetings to the people @ AMC and Gamingforce
                         forums!  

                        Musical support during the design of this level
                        was provided by:

                        -Rammstein: Mutter
                        -Brian Tyler: Children of Dune Soundtrack
                        -GreyFox & Blackannis: Silent Hill Fan Soundtrack
                        -Onimusha Warlords 2 Orchestral Soundtrack
                        -Depeche Mode: Ultra
                        -Mychael Danna: A Celtic Romance
                        -Star Ocean - Till the End of Time Vol. 1
                        -Mychael Danna: Hearts in Atlantis Promo
                        -Misc. remixes from remix.overclocked.org
                        -Resident Evil Zero rip by Parjay
                        -Kenji Yamamoto: Metroid Prime rip by Plasuma!!!
                        -Howard Shore: The Two Towers Soundtrack
                        -Gary Numan: Exile & Pure
                        -Nick Cave: Boatmans Call
                        -and some more I forgot... 
                       
                        This map is a tribute to Retro Studios, the team
                        behind Metroid Prime. This game is exceptional in
                        its atmosphere, playability, art design and
                        dynamics. But in the first place, it is a masterpiece
                        and as near to the term "art" as a game can be and 
                        should be an inspiration for everyone who wants to
                        create new worlds, be it for PC or video games.   
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* Play Information *

Single Player          : Yes
DukeMatch 2-8 Player   : No
Cooperative 2-8 Player : No
CTF 2-8 Player         : No
Difficulty Settings    : No
Difficulty Level       : Hard
Plutonium Pak Required : Yes
New Art                : Yes, mission briefing screens
New MID Music          : No
New WAV Music          : Yes, a great piece from the cancelled 
                         Babylon 5 PC Game "Into the Fire" by
                         Christopher Franke 
New Sound Effects      : No
New .CON Files         : No
Demos Replaced         : No
Required TC Version    : 1.0
Minimum System Req.    : without snow: Pentium 100+
                         with snow: Pentium II 300+ 
                         

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* Construction *

Base                   : New level from scratch
Tool(s) Used           : Build
Construction Time      : This level was started on 02.08.2002 and finished
                         on 16.04.2003.
Known Bugs/Problems    : -Some clipping problems with spritework in the main
                          cargo hall.
                         -When you finished all objectives and are back in 
                          the ComTower, you HAVE to stand in the middle, in
                          front of the screen AND touching it to end the 
                          level. Hey, don't blame me! Build made me to do
                          this...and that monkey on my shoulder ;)
                          

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* Important Information *

Installation           : 1. Unzip all files in bts.zip in the SST TC folder

                         2.-If you want to play the map without snow:
                            *Run bts.bat (recommended for low-end systems)

	                   -If you want to play the map with snow:
                            *Run btssnow.bat

Important Notes        : The bat starts SST TC with HighRes settings.

Copyright/Permissions  : EVERYTHING you do with this map except playing and
                         distributing for non-commercial purposes (of course,
                         this zip is left to be untouched, so NO file 
                         changing/adding/removing!) is STRICTLY prohibited!