Commodore Format Archive

• Frantic-paced two-player strategic alien battle game!
• FILE NAME: NOT EVEN HUMAN – INHUMANE EDITION.TAP
• 1 or 2 player (best with a friend). Joystick port 1/2 (see instructions for more. Highly recommended to enjoy this game to its potential!)
• An Onslaught/RGCD production

Back in 1977, the first Voyager probe was launched towards the far reaches
of our solar system bearing a golden disc containing information on our
species and the location of our homeworld. The disc also doubled up as a
vinyl record (the most popular media of the era), holding further
information on our civilisation in an audio format; an initial message to
any alien race whom was to discover it.

In 1985, we received an answer.

Data recently retrieved by renowned Astrophysicist Dr. Martin Wendt from
his contacts at the NASA archives revealed that the Atlantis intercepted a
capsule of unknown origin whilst in orbit around Earth on her maiden
flight (STS-51-J). The capsule had no obvious propulsion system and
analysis and carbon dating left experts puzzled – the object was less than
one year old. It was as if it had been carefully placed, knowing that the
shuttle would cross its path.

The report states that if the capsule was intended as a reply to our
Voyager, then it meant that the respondent had managed to somehow
translate our recording without interrupting the mission itself – the
onboard computers had not reported any interference since launch. The more
disturbing fact that this theory suggests is that the alien civilisation
must have been present in our solar system during the initial planetary
stages of the Voyager mission, as the probe didn’t even begin its
interstellar flight until 1990.

After much debate, the capsule was opened in 1986 at an unreferenced location back on Earth. Despite clearly being of alien origin and covered in detailed hieroglyphic-characters, inside scientists found an artifact that was instantly recognisable as a replica of a Commodore 64 data cartridge – a format that was widely used on the most popular computer of the period. The project thereafter became known as “Not Even Human”, named after what the main inscription on the cartridge and its container appeared to read.

Upon booting the Not Even Human (NEH) cartridge, the technical team noted
that the laboratory C64’s operating system was replaced by the alien
cartridge ROM and it seemed to load some sort of battle simulation. The
report shows that the purpose and meaning of this has been argued over for
years and even today remains unclear. Are the aliens preparing us for war?
Is it a simulation showing how their species functions? Or is it in fact
merely a child’s toy, highlighting the alien’s perception of human civilisation to be in its infancy.

Whatever the meaning, one thing was for sure. Not Even Human was fun.

In the early 2000’s, after no further contact from the alien civilisation,
NASA was forced to mothball the NEH project due to increasing government
budget cuts. After experiencing the NEH simulation first-hand, Dr. Wendt
decided to continue work on the project in his own time, dedicatedly
analysing and duplicating the machine code bit by bit from the alien ROM
and translating wherever possible.

Finally, after releasing his interpretation of the data for other
Commodore users to experience in 2008 (much to the US Government’s
displeasure), it was decided that the program should really be presented
to the public in the same format in which it was originally discovered.

In 2011, after a long legal battle and many failed US Government attempts
to ‘silence’ the project, RGCD and Onslaught are proud to present the
official cartridge version of Not Even Human (Inhumane Edition).

Playing Not Even Human – Inhumane Edition

Note that pressing the Spacebar will bypass the intro sequence.

NEH is a two player, real-time strategic battle simulation. Each player
controls a number of units and the aim is to kill your opponent.

The rules are simple. If two of the same unit types are grouped together, their energy increases. If two different unit types are grouped together, their energy decreases. When dead, a unit transforms into a deadly skull (that eventually fades away). Contact with any unit and a skull results in energy decrease.

Using the joysticks to move and fire to cycle through units, you’ll need
to surround your enemy with multiple units to ensure their energy depletes
faster than yours. It’s simple to learn, but takes time to master. When
there are only three units left, a siren will sound and the remaining
units will start to lose energy. The last player left alive will be
declared the winner.

Press the ‘H’ key at the title screen for a simple breakdown of game rules
and key commands.

Controls and Keyboard Commands

Joystick (Port 1) movement – move current player one unit.
Joystick (Port 1) fire – cycle through player one units.

Joystick (Port 2) movement – move current player two unit.
Joystick (Port 2) fire – cycle through player two units.

H (from title screen) – view instructions.
F1/F2 – Cycle forwards/backwards through colour schemes.
F3/F4 – Cycle forwards/backwards through colours (player one).
F5/F6 – Cycle forwards/backwards through colours (player two).
F7 – Toggle AI on/off for player two (practice mode).

Credits

The following people made this game possible.

Code & Design
Dr. Martin Wendt (RGCD/Onslaught)

Music & Sound Effects
Owen Crowley

Graphics
Sven Ruthner (Ptoing)

Box Design (original game)
Ilija Melentijevic (RGCD)

Project Management, Manual & PAL Testing
James Monkman (RGCD)

PAL & NTSC Testing
David Simmons (Onslaught)
Sven Ruthner (Ptoing)
Raymond Lejuez (C64 World)

Cartridge Hardware (original game)
Tim Harris (Shareware Plus)

Not Even Human – Inhumane Edition is an Onslaught/RGCD production. CF