=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- WHERE IN SPACE IS CARMEN SANDIEGO? FAQ/Strategy Guide by Rebecca Skinner AKA Karpah Version 1.1, 12th June 2006 =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- "I'd be careful if I were you." =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- TABLE OF CONTENTS =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Author Information 2.0 Game Basics 2.1 Aim Of The Game 2.2 Menus and Screen Layout 2.3 Our Solar System 3.0 General Hints and Tips 3.1 Stolen Items 3.2 Acme Rankings 4.0 VAL 9000 4.1 Database 4.2 Dossiers 4.3 Game Options 5.0 Closing =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- 1.0 INTRODUCTION =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- Hi there :) Welcome to my latest FAQ, this one for Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego? I'm sure we've all heard of the Carmen Sandiego series of games, designed for children to be not just educational, but fun. And that, they are. I used to love playing all the incarnation of these wonderful games, learning a lot as I did so. Seeing as I got into a nostalgic mood today, I decided to download and play this one, which was my favorite in the series, as I was always interested in astronomy :) If you're interested in getting this game for yourself, you can download it from: --- http://www.the-underdogs.org/ --- (or http://www.the-underdogs.info/ while the original site is down) Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego? is (c) Br¿derbund, 1993. ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- 1.1 Author Information ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- Well, hopefully at time of publishing, this will be my twelfth guide. I've also written guides for games like Final Fantasy VI, Donkey Kong Country 3, and ClockWerx. But if you want to know about me, well.... *waves hello* As the header would indicate, my name is Rebecca Skinner. I'm a 19 year old Piscean from Melbourne, Australia, and my hobbies include listening to music, playing my PS2, and going out with friends... oh wait, this isn't supposed to be a personals ad ;) I love getting e-mail from people who want to discuss the game, my guide, my other guides, or other random stuff. I know my descriptions arent the best sometimes, so if there's something you're stuck on, gimme a holler and I'll try to help. My e-mail address isssssssss... --- faqs@karpie.net --- This guide is (c) to meeeee, Rebecca Skinner AKA Karpah, 2004-2006. You can read it, download it, print it off, e-mail it around unaltered, whatever. But you wanna post it on your own site? That's a no-no, sorry. This guide can ONLY be found on the following sites: --- http://www.gamefaqs.com --- --- http://www.neoseeker.com --- --- http://www.ign.com --- --- http://www.honestgamers.com --- Any other sites you find it on, lemme know so I can send some nasty e-mails to webhosts. I like doing that. --------- Go download Army, by Ben Folds Five, as you read this. ------------- =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- 2.0 GAME BASICS =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- Kinda important, right? You'd like to know what this game is about? ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- 2.1 Aim of the Game ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego follows a similar vein to each of the previous games, except set over the solar system instead of say, the world, Europe, time, or America (all different games in the series). In this game, you are working for the local crime authroity known as Acme. You're on the hunt, hunting down a notorious criminal who has committed a heinous crime such as stealing all the potatoes from Phobos. *gasp!* All of the criminals are part of the organization known as VILE, the leader of whom is the famous (infamous) Carmen Sandiego. Only one is reponsible for the crime in question, so you must use all your resources to determine the identity of the criminal, while following them around the solar system to their ultimate hide-out. Seeing as we're in space, we're mainly dealing with groovy little aliens here. Once you've discovered the criminal's identity, by getting clues to their identity such as their gender, the number of eyes they have, or their method of movement, Acme will give you a warrant for their arrest. Once you've found them, launch a probe for their arrest, and presto, you've completed a mission :) ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- 2.2 Menus and Screen Layout ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- In the main console window, below your area graphics: On the left, your "Star Map" button. Loads up the star map (wow), and the longitude and latitude bottons below it are used to locate various constellations. Rotate rotates the map clockwise and anti-clockwise, not really useful. I haven't worked out a use for the polar bearings graph. On the right, VAL 9000 both in graphic and button form. VAL 9000 can be a bit of a smarty pants, as I type this with the game open in the background, she says 'Warning, warning, there has been a leak in our nuclear reactor... just kidding.' The dials below her serve no use whatsoever. The main window houses the "Orbital View" and "Travel Map" buttons. If you've entered VAL 9000 for any reason, press Obital View to get out and back to where you were, be it questioning witnesses, or viewing your current location. Travel Map opens up a map of the solar system, where you can choose your next destination if ready to depart. "Launch Probe" will launch a probe onto your location. If you have a warrant, it will attempt to send a Capture Probe, to arrest the criminal, if not it will simply launch a Suspect Probe, to look for information. Star Date and Fuel Gauge are also found at the bottom of screen. Star Date keeps track of the current year, so you know how much time you have left to complete your mission. The Fuel Gauge depletes when you travel from place to place - if it empties before you arrest your criminal, you fail your mission and they escape. Details on each of these buttons are located below in the General Procedure section. ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- 2.3 Our Solar System ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego? covers most of our own solar system. All nine planets are visitable (and inhabited by some rather strange folk), as well as the Sun, the Asteroid Belt, Halley's Comet, and many moons. The full list is as follows: - The Sun - Mercury - Venus - Earth - Moon - Mars - Phobos, Deimos - Asteroid Belt - Jupiter - Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto - Saturn - Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan, Iapetus - Uranus - Miranda, Arial, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon - Halley's Comet - Neptune - Triton - Pluto-Charon Each of these planets, moons, and other bodies has their full details in the Database FAQ. =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- 3.0 GENERAL HINTS AND TIPS =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- When you load up Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego?, you'll be prompted to enter your name. All of your mission outcomes are saved under your name, and as many different names can be saved as you wish. Once you've been identified by Acme, you'll be taken to the chief's office for a meeting. He will have a mission for you involving a certain crime, at one of any of the locations in the system. Once you've recieved your mission, you'll be told how long you have to complete it, in terms of Star Years. => Hint: You have 6-7 star years on average, to complete each mission. After your briefing, you'll go straight to the scene of the crime, in Orbital View. Now, on the Activity List, you have four options: Question Witness: Talk to a local, usually non-human, in your current location. This will usually net you information about where the criminal has gone, by naming some fact about their destination. This may be the name of a major crater, a neighbouring moon or planet, or related info. Occasionally this will give you hints about the criminal themselves. => Hint: If the witness doesn't know what you're talking about, you're off on a red herring and not in the right location. => Hint: If the witness says "I'd be careful if I were you", or talks about a thieve's reunion in town, you're right in their hideout and can send out a Capture Probe for their arrest. Tap VILE Encrypted Frequencies: Hack into the secure transmissions between VILE members. This usually also nets you information about where the criminal has gone, by naming some small fact about their destination. Star Search: Get some information from the stars. You'll be given the co-ordinates (longitude and/or latitude) of a distant constellation, so bring up your star map and find it. The transmission will usually be a more blatant clue about the next destination, in case you couldn't pick it up from tapping the frequencies or the witness. => Hint: Star searches take up a long time, and should only be used if you're really stumped as to what to do. Contact Informant: In each place, Acme has an informant who will meet you in a seedy bar. (As informants do.) The informant will usually give you an encrypted clue as to the identity of the henchman, by referencing one of the dossier listings, ie. "She told me she needed a new monocle". => Hint: If you're given the name of a crater for the location, or something similar, look it up in VAL 9000 for your next destination. Once you've determined the next stop on the criminal's path, load up your travel map for a list of 'ion paths', ie. places there have been departures for recently. => Hint: While you can travel to any place in the solar system by clicking on the name, your next destination will always be one of the ion paths. => Hint: There will usually be 2-3 stops in between the crime scene and the apprehension point, ie. 3-4 movements from your original destination. Select your destination from the ion listing, and then you're back to the Activity List for more information-gathering. => Hint: If you've moved to the right location, you'll see a VILE henchman (with cute animation) when you select something from the Activity List. Determining the identity is important, because if you don't have a warrant when you arrive in their hide-out, you're sunk. Sometimes the Capture Probe will launch automatically, so you need to be prepared. Here are some tips for determining identity: => The first witness will be able to tell you the gender, by the use of he/she/it. Each narrows the field to one-third of the fifteen suspects. => Some witnesses will make references to purchases the criminal has made, and if you can work out which category on the dossier refers to, you can usually make a match. For example, buying a wood stove would infer that the criminal eats Earth cuisine. Buying a monocle would infer that the criminal has one eye. => Informants are the best sources for information relating directly to the criminal. => Any four of the categories filled in on the dossier will give you an ID on the criminal. Sometimes less may be required. Once you've determined the identity of the criminal, it's time to zero in on their hide-outs. You can safely ignore the informants from then on, and simply tap the frequencies and question witnesses to hurry from place to place. => Hint: Keep your probes handy until you get to the hide-out. As soon as you've determined the location of the hide-out, either by hearing of a thieves' re-union, being advised to be careful, or hearing the thief planning a quick getaway (which kinda contradicts the first point but oh well), you can send out a probe. Sometimes probes will get launched automatically, other times they won't. => Hint: The first probe sent out will usually be a Suspect Probe. If you're positive you're in the hide-out, as the results of the first probe will usually indicate, send out another one straight-away for the arrest. Make sure you have a warrant! If you've identified the criminal correctly and obtained a warrant, the suspect will be apprehended immediately and hauled off to Jailhouse Rock. Watch as they get put behind bars by a big Frankenstein-wannabe guard. Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of that guy! The cheif will congratulate you on your arrest, promote you if you're ready, then immediately assign you to another mission. Rinse, lather, repeat process to your heart's content :) The rest are some nice little lists of information I've collated from the game: ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- 3.1 Stolen Items ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- Some of these are just plain silly, and too funny not to share :) Since I've started playing the game again, these are the thefts that have been committed in our solar system: (extra items contributed by SakanaUshi) - Neil Armstrong's footprint from Earth's Moon - The spokes from Saturn - The moon buggy from Earth's Moon - Macbeth Crater from Uranus' Moon Oberon - Vesta from the Asteroid Belt - The pock-marks from Saturn's Moon Rhea - The nitrogen geysers from Neptune's Moon Triton - The ghosts from Saturn's Moon Dione - The tempest from Uranus' Moon Miranda - Yuty Crater from Mars - The ears from Saturn (o.O) - The lava from Jupiter's Moon Io - The potatoes from Mars' Moon Phobos - The nucleus from Halley's Comet - The electric blankets from Pluto - The crown from Saturn's Moon Titan - The Sphinx from Earth - The Eiffel Tower from Earth - All the thermometers from Mercury - Trident from Neptune - Ionosphere from Triton Some of them... so very odd.... ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- 3.2 Acme Rankings ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- Yes, you can get promotions within the Acme organization, after completing a certain number of missions successfully. The rankings go as follows: (extra rankings also contributed by SakanaUshi) Missions | Rank ----------------------------- 0-4 | Star Tracker 5-9 | Warp Rider 10-14 | Galaxy Maverick 15-24 | Satellite Deputy 25+ | Cosmic Sheriff =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- 4.0 VAL 9000 =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- If you've played this game at ALL, you know that VAL 9000 is your computer, which stores all your information on the suspect you're apprehending and is also a great source of information. VAL 9000 contains an extensive database of information on basically everything in the game, and is your first resource when you receive mysterious clues. A lot of the information is technical information about planets and moons, and will be submitted by yours truly as a 'Database FAQ' (as it is very lengthy, and mostly non-game-related but good solid fact.) VAL 9000 also contains suspect information, included under the 'Dossier' heading. Once you learn things about the criminal, you can select them to narrow down the pool of suspects. Each suspect has their own personal profile, which also goes here, as some of the stuff is quite original and quirky :) Also in the system are the options for the game, which are important so also get a mention. This will undoubtedly be the largest section of the guide, so I hope it provides useful information for you! ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- 4.1 Database ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- Wherever you found this file, go back and look for a separate Database FAQ. ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- 4.2 Dossiers ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- There are fifteen suspects in the game, to decide between on each mission. (Even if you arrest one, they're right back out and ready to re-offend.) Each has their own little dossier and profile, which I have coped down here nicely :) The dossiers are funny, and the profiles are useful. There we go. (listed in the order they appear in the game) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hanover Fist ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Male Number of Eyes: Many Feature: Hair Locomotion: Fly Favorite Writer: H.G. Wells Astronomer: Galileo Galilei Food: Toxic Waste Occupation: Spaceship poacher and crackerjack mechanic Hanover was born with a socket wrench in one hand and a screwdriver in the other. And a soldering iron in the other and wirecutters in the other. A child prodigy, Hanover could take apart and put together a Ford V8 engine when he was ten. He was hotwiring DC-10s at 13, and joy-riding Supersonic Transports before graduating high school. Hanover now steals shuttles and spaceships from interplanetary parking lots, strips them for parts, and builds customized getaway rockets for Carmen and the gang. When not working, Hanover relaxes by reading the novels of H.G. Wells. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Avery Littlebit Phelps ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Male Number of Eyes: Many Feature: Scales Locomotion: Fly Favorite Writer: Arthur C. Clarke Astronomer: Maria Mitchell Food: Toxic Waste Occupation: Mascot and apprentice pickpocket Just now learning the tricks of the trade, Avery is the 'go-fer' for Carmen and the gang. He runs errands (or flies them), and takes everything Carmen says literally. When Carmen asks for the time, Avery steals half-a-dozen wristwatches. When she asks him to call her a taxi, he shouts out "Hey boss, you're a taxi!" His innocent looks allow him to sneak into places he really shouldn't be. Like the luggage compartment of the Inter-Galactic Tour Bus ("Leave the Launching To Us") where he regularly makes off with cameras, jewelry and laser guns by the daypack-full. Like many youngsters, Avery has a sweet tooth. He is especially fond of ice cream bathed in a toxic mercury syrup and dusted lightly with pesticide. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nebulus Doolittle ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Male Number of Eyes: One Feature: Gills Locomotion: Slither Favorite Writer: H.G. Wells Astronomer: Maria Mitchell Food: Toxic Waste Occupation: Professional obstacle He has been described as woefully inert, pathetically sluglike, the next-thing-to-comatose, and just plain lazy. Indeed, Nebulus's inactivity makes your average couch potato seem like a hyperactive whirling dervish. Hired by Carmen to be a lookout, Nebulus is good at keeping his one eye peeled for 'the fuzz'. Unfortunately, he rarely summons up enough energy to warn the gang. Used more and more frequently as just a roadblock, Mr. Doolittle is the very definition of 'immovable object'. Vain as a movie star, Nebulus is constantly struggling to 'keep his figure'. Determined to maintain his weight under a ton, he is on a strict daily diet of three dozen fried toxic waste pancakes, which he washes down with five gallons of Orange frappes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enzo di Galaxy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Male Number of Eyes: One Feature: Gills Locomotion: Swim Favorite Writer: Arthur C. Clarke Astronomer: Galileo Galilei Food: Earth Cuisine Occupation: Aquatic show-off A native of Red Spot Hollow, Jupiter, Enzo once signed up for a summer job as lifequard at the Sea of Tranquility, where he hoped to impress the babes on Earth's Moon. Since the Sea of Tranquility is nothing but rocks and craters, Enzo was like a fish out of water. In fact, he WAS a fish out of water. (Duh!) So he headed for Earth, where Carmen almost speared him one day while scuba diving in the Caribbean. Enzo now mostly hangs out in shallow coastal waters where he terrorizes windsurfers, hijacks catamarans, and hustles unsuspecting college students into water polo. Enzo is also an amateur astronomer, and claims to be a descendant of star-gazing superstar Galileo Galilei. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morton U. Bargandfore ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Male Number of Eyes: One Feature: Hair Locomotion: Slither Favorite Writer: H.G. Wells Astronomer: Galileo Galilei Food: Earth Cuisine Occupation: Silver-tongued salesman Wanted posters throughout the solar system display Mort's likeness - handsome as the day is long with a personal magnetism to match. Formerly a televangelist and then an ad executive, Mort has fraudently sweet-talked beings from numerous heavenly bodies to give up hard earned money in exchange for dreck-like moon rocks, out of orbit satellites and first generation computers. He once even sold a used lunar landing module to a Venetian - and Venus has no moons! A strict vegetationist, Mort is especially fond of trees. He enjoys munching on a nice, four-foot-thick Douglas Fir for dinner, then scarfing up a baby Spruce sapling for dessert. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bea Miupscotti ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Female Number of Eyes: None Feature: Scales Locomotion: Slither Favorite Writer: Ursula le Guin Astronomer: Edwin Hubble Food: Earth Cuisine Occupation: Nightclub entertainer Even criminals need relaxation, so Carmen hired this so-called 'lounge lizard' who puts on song-and-dance shows like nobody's business. Influenced by such groups as the Moonglows, the Starlighters and Bill Haley and the Comets, Bea's repertoire now includes songs in twenty-one languages from seven planets, sixteen moons and two asteroids. Unfortunately, when it was discovered during a recent concert on Venus that Bea wasn't realy singing - only lip-synching to an off-stage cassette tape - Bea barely escaped with her life. She rode a beam of light back to her space-trailer, while irate Venutians pelted her with pomegranates, nipped at her tail, and screamed for her scalp (not to mention refunds). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Verna-Lee Kwinox ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Female Number of Eyes: Zero Feature: Hair Locomotion: Slither Favorite Writer: H.G. Wells Astronomer: Nicolas Copernicus Food: Earth Cuisine Occupation: Macrobiotic microbiologist Verna-Lee's credo: "Life is more endearing through genetic engineering." Hoping to create a brand new universe by cross-breeding microbes inter-galactically, Verna-Lee recently developed a virus that infects only galaxy cops, security guards and junior high school hall monitors. Verna-Lee can be seen slithering hither and yon in her laboratory, trying to concoct a vaccine against bad karma, of which she has practically cornered the market. A strict vegetarian with bland taste, Verna-Lee's favorite dishes are "prairie grass and weeds", poison ivy with shredded maple leaves", and "mesquite-boiled wheat straw". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marcy Bo Koo ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Female Number of Eyes: Two Feature: Tail Locomotion: Walk Favorite Writer: Jules Verne Astronomer: Percival Lowell Food: Space cadets Occupation: Spaceship flight attendant extroadinare Ever since Marcy saw a video of Man landing on Earth's Moon, she dreamt of a life in service of the space program. Recruited by Carmen from one of Saturn's moons, Marcy comes from a civilization centered around the cirtues of hospitality - where 'having people over for dinner' is considered a highest form of social engagement. A dedicated worker, Marcy spends her every spare moment with her nose in the book "Serving Mankind". An amateur chef, Marcy has a particular fondness for Southwestern cuisine. She can often be seen lurking in and around NASA Headquarters in Houston, searching for ingredients. Oh yes - it should be mentioned that the aforementioned book, 'Serving Mankind', is a cookbook (subtitled: "In 101 Tasty Dishes") Marcy's Earthlings in Black Bean Sauce is a four star treat. Try it, you'll like it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rita Laboudit ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Female Number of Eyes: Two Feature: Hair Locomotion: Walk Favorite Writer: H.G. Wells Astronomer: Edwin Hubble Food: Space cadets Occupation: Ace investigative reporter for the Mercury Mercury Rita is relentless in her crusade to debunk popular myths. Famous for her scoop that the moon was not, in fact, made of green cheese ("mozzarella is more likely", she wrote) Rita has since discovered that Mars' 'canals' do not have locks (nor bagels) and Saturn's rings did not come about as a result of a wedding proposal ("perhaps a Superbowl victory", Rita theorized). Rita moonlights for Carmen as a private investigator, investigating Acme private investigators, and hounding them to the outer reaches of the solar system. Owner of a voracious appetite, Rita eats space cadets for breakfast, usually accompanied by a glass of powdered OJ and a side order of freeze-dried scrambled eggs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Carmen Sandiego ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Female Number of Eyes: Two Feature: Hair Locomotion: Walk Favorite Writer: Ursula Le Guin Astronomer: Nicolas Copernicus Food: Earth cuisine Occupation: Inter-galactic crime overlord No longer satisfied with the riches on Earth, Carmen has fashioned her empire into a network of criminal franchises on nine planets, twenty moons, and the outer ring of Saturn. With underlings doing all the dirty work, Carmen mostly kicks back and lives the good life. She flies mach-10 spaceships for sport, indulges in mud baths at health spas throughout the galaxy, and eats chocolate -covered cherries while personal valets give her foot massages every afternoon at three. Inspired by the writings of Ursula le Guin, Carmen recently recruited an outlandish collection of crooks. Her gang members now come from four corners of the universe, but unfortunately, no two of them speak the same language, so heist co-ordination has become a real pain in the neck lately. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Liebsen Bounz ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Androgynous Number of Eyes: Many Feature: Antennae Locomotion: Bounce Favorite Writer: Jules Verne Astronomer: Percival Lowell Food: Radiation Occupation: Ex-basketball star, current kangaroo burglar Kicked out of basketball for shattering too many backboards, the embittered former "Doctor Dunk" turned to a life of crime. Used by Carmen as a getaway vehicle, Liebsen not only leaps tall buildings, but also cities, forests, and even mountain ranges in a single bound. Departing from Mt. Kilimanjaro, Liebsen recently escaped Earth's orbit with one jump and spent it's vacation in orbit, taking in the constellations and reading Around The World In 80 Days by its main man, Jules Verne. Liebsen does have a bit of a problem in small spaces, like any building with a low clearance. The sight of Liebsen bouncing back and forth endlessly between floor and ceiling causes its crime partners to laugh uncontrollably, making them all sitting ducks for security guards, galaxy cops, and opportunistic tabloid photographers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Infinity McMath ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Androgynous Number of Eyes: One Feature: Antennae Locomotion: Bounce Favorite Writer: H.G. Wells Astronomer: Maria Mitchell Food: Toxic waste Occupation: Certified cosmic accountant At the speed of light, Infinity calculates the risk factor, projected profits and likely-goof-ups-due-to-the-stupidity-of-gang-members of Carmen's inter- stellar capers. It also divvies up the take afterwards, making sure Carmen gets at least twice her fair share. McMath was created by a crazed hacker out of a prototype Macintosh computer, four 'plumber's helpers' and an abandoned '57 Chevy convertible. Although clearly the 'brains' of Carmen's outfit, Infinity has led a sheltered life. Physically uncoordinated, it is left behind on all heist jobs. In fact, Infinity rarely leaves Earth, even on vacation. It fantasizes a lot, though, and has read the First Man On The Moon (by its fave, H.G. Wells) several dozen times. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ G. Whiz Bang ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Androgynous Number of Eyes: Zero Feature: Tail Locomotion: Fly Favorite Writer: Jules Verne Astronomer: Percival Lowell Food: Radiation Occupation: Electronic messenger and part-time computer virus Invisible to all but the highest powered microscopes, Whiz is the speediest transporter of communications known to humankind. Whiz attaches itself to radio waves, quantum particles, and other real or theoretical bundles of energy, then uses its tail to inch forward, thereby actually travelling faster than the speed of light. Carmen uses Whiz's unique talents for intergalactic communication, always keeping one step ahead of the space police. Whiz moonlights as a computer virus, gumming up the works of bank security systems, stock brokerage houses and junior high school teachers' grading systems. Living on a strict diet of radiation, Whiz often gets ill because it is always eating on the fly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kit Incaboodle ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Androgynous Number of Eyes: Zero Feature: Tail Locomotion: Swim Favorite Writer: H.G. Wells Astronomer: Maria Mitchell Food: Liquid Hydrogen Occupation: Hospitality waystation and loot sanctum Possessed of an inviting mound-shaped head, lethargic disposition and complete lack of brains or talent, Kit serves as a safe and comfortable rest stop for travel-weary inter-planetary crooks. Once described as 'half life raft, half whoopie cushion, half mushroom and half witted', Kit feels quite at home in and around the nothingness of space. The only member of Carmen's gang to rival Nebulus Doolittle in inactivity, Kit has nonetheless served as a successful (and totally unsuspected) vessel for storing stolen goods from over 500 Sandiego space heists. Not one for the spotlight, Kit is often seen reading H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Astro Fizzix ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gender: Androgynous Number of Eyes: Zero Feature: Antennae Locomotion: Walk Favorite Writer: Arthur C. Clarke Astronomer: Maria Mitchell Food: Liquid hydrogen Occupation: Mad scientist robot Possessed of the most devious mind of the 21st (or any other) century, Astro is a brilliant, conscience-less, criminal-minded robot who invented itself. Designed (per Carmen's specifications) to be a smarter, cheaper thief, willing to work endless overtime for minimum wage, Astro still has a few bugs in its system. Like its all-too-human heart. On a recent caper Astro fell head-over- heels in love with and ran off with an automatic teller machine. In fact, Astro has ended up costing Carmen a pretty penny, doe not only to its soft heart, but also its unusual diet, which calls for a daily tureen of lobster bisque made from a soup stock of liquid hydrogen. ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- 4.3 Game Options ---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=---=---=*=-- Selecting the Game Options option of VAL 9000 will let you tweak the settings of the game. You can also save and quit, and abort your mission at will. Detective Roster: Lets you see every player that has registered with the game, and their number of complete missions and commendations. Hall of Fame: Lists all the officers of Acme who have reached the highest rank in the organization. As of now, I'm not sure how many missions complete that is but believe me, I'LL FIND OUT. Abort Mission: Lets you select a new mission, or switch players without exiting the game. Quit Game: Dumps you back to DOS, or your DOS shell if the case may be. You can choose whether or not you save before you quit. Sound: On/off. This is for sound effects such as flying between planets, aliens' voices, and probes. Ambient Music: On/off. Let's face it, the music of the game is not the best, so turn it on or off at will. Star Map Options: You can choose to display the constallation names, constellation lines (joining the stars), and the star map equator (0 latitude). Or you can turn any or all three off. =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- 5.0 CLOSING =-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=-=-=+=- Oh, I love my trips through nostalgia, playing and writing for games like this. I'm trying to uncover hidden gems for the world to see, you see, lemme know if I succeed ;) Thanks go out to the following people/objects/places: => Patrick Heddles For being my support over the last few weeks. I know I was a pretty shitty best friend for a while in there, but you stood by and helped me through my crap. You make me laugh, you make me smile and you make me wanna slap you silly most of the time too :-P => www.the-underdogs.org I love you guys. All these old long-forgotten games that you guys host, bringing back wave after wave of childhood memories, and endless enjoyment :) => SakanaUshi For the great e-mail contributing some more kooky stuff to this kooky guide for this kooky game :P Make me want to play it again, you do! => CJayC and GameFAQs You guys > all except for the aforementioned people/sites. 'Kay, I'm outta here, other hidden treasures to find, play, and write for :) Feel free to check out some of my other guides: http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/22431.html , _ /| / | | |__/ __, ,_ _ __, | | | \ / | / | |/ \_/ | |/ \ | \_/\_/|_/ |_/|__/ \_/|_/| |_/ /| \| --- Rebecca Skinner AKA Karpah --- --- faqs@karpie.net ---