User manual GAMES PC EARTH & BEYOND

[. . . ] 25 GROUPING: THE BENEFITS OF COOPERATIVE PLAY . 26 IMPROVING AND EQUIPPING YOUR STARSHIP. 46 This product has been rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. For information about the ESRB rating, or to comment about the appropriateness of the rating, please contact the ESRB at 1-800-771-3772. INTERACTING WITH THE GALAXY . [. . . ] To help you remember your tasks and track your progress, we've included a mission journal for you. To access a skill, drag the icon from your skills list to your Shortcut bar. Skills you will learn in the future, but do not yet know, will not appear on this section until they are learned. When a skill is eligible to be upgraded, a small green arrow appears to the right of that skill's box. To upgrade the skill (or to simply learn more about it): 1. A box appears displaying more information on your skill. If you are eligible to upgrade your skill, an Upgrade button appears in this box. Select the Upgrade button to spend skill points and improve your skill. As you upgrade skills, you will receive new abilities. For example, the first level of the Recharge Shields skill allows the player to recharge his own shields, while level three allows recharging of another player's shields. To swap between active abilities, right-click on the skill's icon in your shortcut bar. To open your mission journal, click the Mission tab at the top of your character interface. A list of missions, both completed and current, is stored here. To obtain more detail about a mission, such as what you're supposed to do next, click on it. A new window opens that shows more detailed information about your current task. To forfeit a mission just select the forfeit button for that specific mission and it will be removed from your mission journal. Mission information automatically scrolls into view as you hold your mouse over the mission text. 24 25 GROUPING: THE BENEFITS OF COOPERATIVE PLAY Earth & Beyond is a social game, and though it is possible to make a powerful character playing alone, we've created many features to make your gameplay experience even more enjoyable when you share it with others. First among these is the way we've distributed skills among the various character types. No matter which profession you select, you have at least two skills that make your character an invaluable member of a group. For example, Tradesmen can recharge the shields of their group members, Explorers can Jumpstart incapacitated comrades, and a Warrior may use Gravity Link to slow a speedy enemy. Second, players who form a group gain access to a special Group interface. Once you've created a group, you'll be able to monitor the hull and shields of every group member, and will have access to a wide variety of group management options. To open the Group interface, target another player, then press the Group button on your targeting interface. This issues an invitation to the targeted player to join your group. [. . . ] At higher skill levels, Self Destruct spreads substantially higher damage over a wider radius. >>TIP: Because we're always improving the game, we keep our most recent manual online, at www. earthandbeyond. com. SHIELD INVERSION (ACTIVE) Availability: Warrior The Shield Inversion skill allows the player to turn his shield into a devastating energy weapon. At higher skill levels, the player inflicts even more damage, and eventually gains the ability to attack several enemies at once. SUMMON (ACTIVE) Availability: Defender The Summon skill allows the player to pull enemy ships away from their allies, to be destroyed at the player's leisure. At higher skill levels, the player gains the ability to pull friends away from danger. 44 45 CREDITS WESTWOOD STUDIOS PRODUCTION Executive Producers: Brett Sperry, Craig Alexander, Eric Wang, Rade Stojsavljevic Development Directors: Dan Elggren, Thilo Huebner Associate Producers: Ken Murphy, Tim Fritz PROGRAMMING Technical Direction: Philip Gorrow, Eric Wang Lead Programmer: David Montgomery Lead Graphics Programmer: Naty Hoffman System Programmers: Steve Clinard, Andre Arsenault, Neal Kettler, Chris Davis, Bret Ambrose, Demetrius Comes, Steve Tall, Steve Copeland Client Programmers: Scott Bowen, Daniel Teh, Hector Yee, Darren Schueller, Mike Lytle, Jani Penttinen, Kenny Mitchell Special Thanks: Jan Tian, Blain Hodge Additional Programming: Joe Bostic, Greg Hjelstrom, Patrick Smith, Ian Leslie, Byon Garrabrant, Maria del Mar McReady Legg, James Roberts, Douglas Warren, Brian Hayes, Eric Cosky DESIGN Lead Designers: Janus Anderson, Derek Sanderson Lead Content Designer: Chris Klug Senior Content Designers: David Dubord, Brian Heins, John Comes Content Designers: Alan Blaine, Scott Blinn, Greg Chapman, Steve Copeland, Scott Crawford, Chris Davis, Adam Isgreen, Mike Lightner, Darrin McPherson, James Walls Additional Creative Direction: Chris Plummer Additional Design: David Yee, Joe Gernert, Mike Hutchins, Darren Korman, Ken Murphy, George Ziets, Rob Powers, Dan Etter, Philip Gorrow Head Writer: Angela Ferraiolo Staff Writer: George Ziets Writers: Alan Blaine, Scott Crawford, Dave Dubord, Brian Heins, Adam Isgreen, Bill Kunkel, Darrin McPherson, Derek Sanderson, Mark Silcox Universe Created By: Adam Isgreen, Mike Lightner, Brett Sperry Original Story: Paul B. Robinson ART Art Direction: Gary Cox, Jeremiah O'Flaherty Ship Design: Doug Chiang Lead Artists: Ken Raschko, Alan Blouin Artists: Nghia Lam, Richard Vargas, Aaron Herzog, Tse-Cheng Lo, Tom Szakolczay, Elie Arabian, Beau Anderson, Mike Amerson, Stephen Cady, Richard Semple, Eric Kearns, Joseph Black Additional Artists: Melissa Gamez, Matt Hansel, Mark Leon, Jason Maier Ned Mansour, James Mestemaker Concept Artist: Gary Freeman Additional Concept Artist: Chris Hawkes Cinematic Intro: Todd Arson Communications MOTION CAPTURE Motion Capture Supervisor: David Washburn Motion Capture Direction: Jeremiah O'Flaherty Motion Capture Assistant: Todd Widup Motion Capture Performers: Tiffany Baker, Ivan Caulier, Maria Cina, Elena Nekrasova, Erin Avalos AUDIO Audio Director: Paul Mudra Audio Lead: Stan Neuvo Sound Design: Dwight Okahara, Michael Mancini Terran, Progen, and Miscellaneous Music: Frank Klepacki Jenquai Music: David Arkenstone Voice Over Producer-Director: Donny Miele Voice Over Cast: Admiral Diego Herrera ­ Earl Bohen, Ariad ­ Lenore Zann, Cailleach MacKellan ­ Roberta Farkas, Councilor Uja'da ­ Susan Silo, Computer Voice ­ Colette Whitaker, Gratis Augustus Var ­ Charlie Adler, Gray Feather ­ Charles Klausmeyer, Lady Katherine Isabella Olivia deWinter ­ Claudia Christian, Loric ­ John DiMaggio, Megan ­ Dorie Barton, Memnon ­ Alan Oppenheimer, Merjan Kathrada ­ Roberta Farkas, Procounsul Dionysius Kerr ­ John Vernon, P3889 ­ Jonathan Redford, Professor Nostradamus Smythe ­ Keith Szarabajka, Shou Tzu ­ Billy Brown, Silva ­ Darrly Kurylo, Tradesman Loren Lester, Theodoric Cassel ­ Andy Robinson, Vinda ­ Lori Tritel, Starbase Traffic Controllers - Vanessa Marshall & Gregg Berger, Net-7 Newscaster - Mari Weiss Dialogue Recording Studio: Buzzy's Recording ­ Los Angeles Additional Dialogue Editing: Wave Group Sound, Inc. 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