_    _                             
   / \  | |__  ___  ___ _ __   ___ ___ 
  / _ \ | '_ \/ __|/ _ \ '_ \ / __/ _ \
 / ___ \| |_) \__ \  __/ | | | (_|  __/
/_/   \_\_.__/|___/\___|_| |_|\___\___|

Simply double click ABSENCE.EXE to start the game. It runs just like the original Wolfenstein 3-D. It has been optimised with the aim of providing an enjoyable experience on a variety of computers. By default, all options except "FPS Counter" and "Crosshair" are enabled. If the game performs poorly, try disabling one game option after another until the game runs acceptably on your computer.

If you've Windows 2000 or XP, the AdLib sound effects and music won't run properly. In order to hear these, you'll need to use DOSBox or VDMSound 2.1 Public Beta (2.0.4 should also work).

• C - Display character statistics
• O - Display intermission screen
• T - Reset digitized sounds and display game version
• X - Use portable first aid kit
• F11 - Game options menu
• F12 - Take a screenshot

The US government has decided to start a secret project for genetic and robotic experiments. For this purpose an underground lab called the "Sigma Complex" was built in the state of New Mexico. One year after the start of the project something terrible happened down there. The connection to the lab complex was lost. No one knows what happened, but someone has to find out! The government decided to send you, an elite soldier, specially trained for army operations like this, into the complex. The first priority of your mission is to find the last known documents about Professor Tom Baker's experiments and then destroy the complex. The second priority is to eliminate all failed lab experiments, and see if anyone (or anything) has survived. You arrive at the access point into the lab complex and enter the elevator that transports you to the entrance hall. You step out of the elevator and hear animal-like growls and computer-like beeps echoing through the distant corridors. They know you're here. There's no turning back now. Time to kick some metal ass!

id Software - for releasing Wolfenstein 3-D and then the source code

Team:

• Metal Overlord - most of the object sprites, some guard sprites, providing the voice for the end boss, suggestions, testing
• JoeWolf - all weapon graphics and some object sprites
• JackaL - most of the walls and the status bar head graphics
• WLHack - some guard sprites and some object sprites
• mbender - text sub-editing
• AlumiuN - testing
• bl00dlust - testing
• Lozer_42 - testing
• Schabbs - testing

Everyone was a tremendous help. I could not have hoped for a better team!

Additional graphics, sounds, and inspirational sources:

• Doom 1-3 and Quake by id Software
• Heretic by Raven Software
• Planet Strike by JAM Productions
• Operation Body Count by Capstone
• Descent by Parallax Software
• Rise of the Triad by Apogee Software
• Duke Nukem 3D by 3D Realms
• Star Wars: Dark Forces and Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II by LucasArts
• System Shock and System Shock 2 by Looking Glass Studios and Irrational Games
• Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri by Looking Glass Studios
• Blackthorne by Blizzard Entertainment
• Shadowrun by Beam Software
• Action Doom by Scuba Steve
• Spear Resurrection and End of Destiny by MCS Amsterdam and AReyeP
• Tekkoudan by Ben "dla_one" Blaufarb
• Endoskeleton, Proto Man and Ubermorder by Majik Monkee
• Sabaoth 2 by RGamesINC
• Ultra Zombie by Joshua Moore

If I've forgotten anyone, please don't sue me!

Website: http://www.hwolf3d.tk
Mail: havoc7@gmx.de

• Version 1.0 - September 9, 2008
• Version 1.1 - September 10, 2008
  • Tweaked enemy strength a bit
• Version 1.2 - December 24, 2008
  • Fixed some exploits
  • Fixed map 17