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What is Torpedo Bay™?
Torpedo Bay™ is a location-based naval battle game. You use your mobile phone to shoot various aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines. The ships are shown on a map (where you are). As well there are health and ammunition packs also shown on the map.
Why is this different from other mobile phone games?
Torpedo Bay™ uses GPS (Global Positioning System), the latest in mobile location technology. With this game you have to move around to play successfully. For example, you may have to move 70 meters west or 40 meters south to get more ammunition or health.
How do I play?
For Boost Mobile subscribers, you need a Motorola iDen i450, i730, i830, i830 Roxy, i835, or an i855 mobile handset provisioned for the Boost Mobile network and subscribed to data services. If you are a Nextel subscriber, you need a Motorola iDen i265, i275, i355, i355 TTS, i710, i730, i733, i736, i830, i836, i850, or an i860 mobile handset provisioned for the the Nextel network and subscribed to data services. Torpedo Bay™ will be available for more models in the near future. If this is your first time playing the game, please view our terms and conditions.
Always proceed with caution moving to a new area when playing the game. Do not play this game while driving a car or operating any other type of moving vehicle, including bicycles, motorcycles, ATV’s, skateboards, and boats. Always pay attention to your immediate surroundings.
Select “New Game”. If this is the first time you playing the game, you will be asked to enter an alias of up to five characters. This alias will allow you to track your scores and rank amongst other players on the Torpedo Bay™ website. Next, the game will begin by flashing “Acquiring Position.” This may take up to 3 minutes or longer depending on the quality of the GPS signal. If a GPS location is obtained, the screen will change to a top-down view of a map with ships, ammunition, and health. If no GPS location is obtained, the game will prompt you to retry. Follow the instructions to get the best location performance from your handset.
What do I need to do?
To download the game, please refer to your mobile carrier’s instructions for downloading mobile content. Your privacy is important to us. Please view our privacy policy or contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Where can I play?
Torpedo Bay™ is a network game. You must be in an area where Boost Mobile or Nextel has mobile network coverage. Log into the Boost Mobile or Nextel websites to check for coverage in your area.
It takes a long time to start the game. Why is that?
The hardware on the mobile handset may take up to three minutes or longer to initialize the location. Once the location is initialized, game play will be very quick. A location icon appears in the right hand corner of the screen when the handset is able to receive good GPS locates.
The best place to play Torpedo Bay™ is in an outside area with a good view to the southern sky. For example, if you are blocked by large buildings, you may not be able to get a GPS locate. You should find that your location on the map is very accurate, but you may find minor discrepancies if your view of the sky is blocked by obstacles.
What is GPS?
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. GPS was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to allow the U.S. military to accurately determine their precise location anywhere in the world. GPS uses a constellation of 24 satellites positioned in orbit to allow someone who has the proper equipment to determine their precise location. A good primer on GPS is at http://www.peakbagging.com/Gpsart1.html
Are these real battle ships?
Well no……. It's a game. The ships are virtual but loaded with artificial intelligence – so they're smart.
Where do I find the high scores?
Both personal and national high scores are available through the main menu of the game. National high scores are also available by visiting the Torpedo Bay™ high scores page.
What is that circle in my scanner?
The circle in your scanner is the area where your health or ammunition packs are close enough to be received.
How do I get where the ammunition or health packs are?
The map will assist you by indicating the real-world locations of the ammunition or health packs. First, you must move to those areas to pick up the health or ammunition packs. Then when you believe you are in the approximate area of the health or ammunition pack, scan again. The scanner screen will be updated with your current location, and if health or ammunition packs are within the circle of the scanner, you will have picked up the health or ammunition pack.
What happens when I hit the Play button?
You now have to destroy the enemy ships. You are presented with a 360° periscope view of the bay and enemy ships. Ships in the bay are presented relative to you in distance and direction, and reflect their location in the scanner screen. Ships that are further away are more difficult to destroy.
HINT: Moving closer to the location of enemy ships in the scanner screen will make them easier to destroy.
How do I shoot the ships?
To shoot the torpedo, you must set the distance and direction of your torpedo shot.
To set the torpedo shot distance, press the OK button of your handset. This loads the power meter, which indicates the power at which the torpedo is charged. The further the distance of the shot, the more power is required. The white indicator moves up and down the power bar; press OK again to set the indicator and the distance of your shot.
Next, the direction indicator will load. The indicator moves left or right to indicate the possible direction of the torpedo shot. Press the OK button again to set the direction of the torpedo shot. A torpedo will be fired at this point.
HINT: If there has not been enough power to the torpedo, it will explode before it reaches its target. The closer your shot is to the middle of the ship, the quicker you will sink it. It may take multiple tries to sink a ship.
How can I tell how much health or ammunition I have?
The bottom right of the gameplay screen indicates the remaining ammunition. The remaining health is located at the lower left of the screen.
I keep getting sunk. What should I do?
Practice is required to destroy and sink all of the enemy ships. Make sure when you are playing that you have enough ammunition and health. If you are getting low in health or ammunition, switch to the scan screen and move to pick up more health or ammunition. You can continue to play even if you have been sunk.
Do I have to physically move to get to the ammunition or health packs?
If your scanner indicates there is no health or ammunition packs in range, then you must move to the real world location of health or ammunition to pick it up. And yes, that means walking or running where the packs are located.
When I have sunk a ship I see a red arrow on the screen. What does that mean?
Those red arrows show you the direction of the next ship that is firing at you. Use your direction buttons to scroll to the direction of the attacking ship.
The ship firing at me is flashing red. How come?
This is the ship that is firing on you. Try to sink it.
How do I post my score?
Your score is automatically added to the high score listing. You can see the five top scores in a single game and cumulative scores on your handset by going to the main menu and selecting scores. You can see your personal accumulated high scores or go to the national high scores and see who has done the best.
If you wish to see more scores regionally go to the Torpedo Bay™ high scores page.
I am trying to play but I get a message “Satellites not in view”. What should I do?
Large buildings around you may affect your satellite reception. As well, if you are in a shielded area, such as a basement, elevator, subway or tunnel, you may be affected. The game will play best in areas where the southern sky is generally visible to you. If you get this message, you will not be charged for the scan(s) that failed.
In your mobile handset, you must also ensure that the GPS function is turned “ON” or GPS Privacy setting is set to “Unrestricted” for the game to work. To do so, you must go to the handset’s GPS Location Options setting menu. If you are unsure about enabling GPS for 3 rd party applications within your handset, please refer to your handset’s manual.
I received a network error. What do I do?
Torpedo Bay™ is a network game. If the network is down, you cannot play until the network is available.
How do I turn the sound “ON” or “OFF”? Vibration “ON” or “OFF”?
There is an “Options Menu” in the game, which allows you to customize these settings.
I am playing outside. The screen is hard to see. What do I do?
Certain mobile handset displays are superior to others in outside conditions. Try to keep your back light on and adjust the contrast if your handset model allows this. Shading the screen from the sun may also help.
My backlight keeps going out. What do I do?
You can set your backlight to various configurations using your handset’s “Phone Settings” menu. Unfortunately, this cannot be done within the game.
Can I quit during a game?
Yes, there are several ways you can do this. You can hold the “End” key down at anytime to exit or follow the instructions on the screen to exit. If you have a “flip” style handset, closing the handset will also end the game.
Can I receive calls or test messages while I am playing or will I miss them?
You can receive incoming calls or text messages at any time during play of the game. After a call or message, you can resume playing by selecting "resume" from the handset’s menu.
I am a rookie to location-based games - any hints?
Here are a few tips and tricks:
- Do not let your health or ammunition number get too low. Sometimes it is best to get more ammunition and health for a tough battle.
- Start shooting the closer ships first. They are easier to hit.
- Bigger ships may take more shots to sink.
- Look at the map and go to the correct positions to get more health.
- Keep practicing. Wear good shoes and eat healthy. This game can be a good work out.
- If you do not know which way is north, please use a compass.
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