
SATCOM instructions
(Atlantis Software, 1987)

from Crash 79 (Aug.1990) cover tape issue


* Hacking away with Atlantis!

* Do you remember that fabbo movie War Games? It
was all about saving the world by hacking into
mega- computers at NASA and stuff. Don't you wish
you could play at that? Well, now you can - thanks
to Atlantis and their superb cracking game Satcom!

Right, lets check out the situation. Hell! It
doesn't look good: someone's plugged a rogue
mega-computer into the controller of a US
laser-armed satellite. With control over two other
satellites as well it's wreaking havoc in the
heavens!

Every two hours a satellite is wiped out. Somehow
the self-destruct mechanism of the laser-armed
satellite controlled by the mega- computer must be
triggered!

You decide to help. But what if you don't do it
within the next two hours? There's no time for
panic - you tear the only clue available out of
the morning paper - a telephone number discovered
by the FBI: 515-626160 - and set out on the most
important hack of your life!!

The FBI haven't got a clue what to do. The
telephone number connects to a company called
Global Atmospherics UK. But a director of GA
maintains there's no connection between them and
the current crisis ...


HOW TO PLAY

When Satcom has loaded, press a key and the
program generates its codes - these alter with
every game (unless you're playing a saved game).
Press a key, when prompted. An Icon Menu is
displayed - this is your working screen. The first
icon allows you to dial out, the second is the
logic analyser, the third is the data screen and
the fourth is the save/load facility.

To step through the menu, press SPACE (also used
to close the phone link, the data screen and the
save/load facility). To action an icon hit ENTER.
When you've dialled a telephone number the
computer at the other end of the phone usually
asks for a password code in numbers so you can
gain further access. Virtually all the codes can
be cracked with the help of the logic analyser.
Once you've dialled into another system the logic
analyser grabs as much information as it can. So
if you don't know the password, cut the telephone
call and return to the main menu and put the logic
analyser into action. The information from the
logic analyser is then fed to the data screen for
you to examine and will consist of the following:

HIGH, MID, LOW, or SAME

ODD (1,3,5,7,9) and EVEN (0,2,4,6,8)

For example: The data screen provides you with the
first three numbers of a code. Let's say they were
1, 2 and 3. You have to work out the next three
numbers (codes are always six figures). The data
screen shows the total sum of the the final three
digits - let's say it was 15 and your clues to the
actual figures are:

EVEN/LOW
ODD/MID
EVEN/HIGH

From this you can work out that the complete code
is either 123456, 123078 or 123258. All of which
conform to the above data. Then log back on with
the computer you were attempting to gain access to
and use your six figure password to access its
data.


RIGHT, OFF YOU GO!

Because this style of game may be new to a lot of
people we'll give you a guide to start playing.

1. Well, the only clue you've got is that phone
number 515-626160. So select the phone icon and
input the number when prompted.

2. If you've accessed Global Atmospherics'
computer you're now asked for the coded password.
You don't know it, do you? No, but the logic
analyser has grabbed lots of info. So cut the
phone call (press SPACE) and return to the main
screen.

3. Get the logic analyser going by selecting it
and pressing ENTER and wait until it has organised
its data.

4. When it has finished go to the data screen and
work out the last three digits of the password.

5. Now you have a six figure password. Dial up the
GA computer and enter the password. If you've got
it right - you're IN!

6. Check through options 1 and 2 on the GA screen.
Nothing much there is there? Wait - a new option
appears! Option 3: a list of phone numbers. If it
hasn't appeared just go through options 1 and 2
again - it appears eventually.

7. Write down all the numbers and start dialling!!

8. That's all we're saying. Try the phone numbers,
get more access codes; but most of all - SAVE THE
WORLD!!


--
Another Fine Product transcribed by:
Jim Grimwood, Weardale, England
--
