Instruction manual

ManualsBrandsSega ManualsGamesSeaman

Thank you for purchasing the Vivarium Seaman Kit!

Please note that this software is designed only for use with a Dreamcast

console. Be sure to read this instruction manual thoroughly before you start.

This package contains a Seaman habitat and one Seaman egg.

To begin with, let’s learn a bit more about Seaman, shall we? Historical

references to Seaman first appeared in the spoken folklore of ancient Egypt,

passed down from generation to generation. Until recently, it was assumed

that the Seaman creature did not actually exist (similar to the many other

mythical creatures of ancient Egypt). However, in 1997, the discovery of a live

Seaman in the Egyptian city of Old Alexandria disproved this assumption, and

Seaman came to be known the world over.

While the originally discovered Seaman specimen died shortly after being

captured, its remains were quickly rushed to the foremost biological research

institute in France where a number of eggs were discovered inside its body.

We at Vivarium were then able to assist in this endeavor by covering the

research and development costs in return for the sole distribution rights that

have enabled us to offer this product to you.

It is well known that as part of its genetic labeling, Seaman passes knowledge

on to subsequent human generations orally. Furthermore, Seaman is said to

have had a strong influence on the progression of ancient civilization, but the

details of exactly how this was done are not yet fully understood.

E L COME TO

A S S E

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A BO R ATO RY

A memory card [Visual Memory Unit (VMU) sold separa te ly] is

re qu i red to play Seaman. In order to save game data, the VMU to

be used must be fo rm a t t ed, have at least 64 memory blocks of fre e

space available and no other VMU applications save d .

Summary of content (17 pages)

PAGE 1
WELCOME TO DR. GASSE’S LABORATORY! Thank you for purchasing the Vivarium Seaman Kit! Please note that this software is designed only for use with a Dreamcast console. Be sure to read this instruction manual thoroughly before you start. This package contains a Seaman habitat and one Seaman egg. To begin with, let’s learn a bit more about Seaman, shall we? Historical references to Seaman first appeared in the spoken folklore of ancient Egypt, passed down from generation to generation.
PAGE 2
THE HISTORY OF SEAMAN Ancient Egyptian Papyrus Drawing Depicting the Divine Gift of a Living Creature 2 Fossil of a Seaman Discovered by Dr. Gassé at the Nile River The man who made the original discovery of Seaman was a F rench scientist by the name of Dr. Jean Paul Gassé (1899 -?). Dr. Gassé was a member of a special team of French biologists dispatched to Egypt by the French government in the 1930’s.
PAGE 3
BEFORE STARTING A GAME First Thing’s First – Reality Check Seaman is a one-player game. Once you begin raising Seaman, you are expected to assume complete responsibility for the care and upbringing of a living, breathing creature. So, before you begin with the initial set-up procedure, you are strongly recommended to double check with yourself that you are mentally prepared to assume this important responsibility. The fir st step you must take in preparation is to set-up the required equipment.
PAGE 4
CREATING A SEAMAN HABITAT Memory Card File Creation Once you have confirmed that the VMU to which you will create the Seaman habitat is firmly inserted into Expansion Socket 1 and the Microphone into Expansion Socket 2 (refer to the diag ram on p 4), you are just about ready. At this point you are advised to pause, relax and release any tension you may be feeling. Now, insert the Seaman disc into the Dreamcast and turn the power ON.
PAGE 5
MENTAL PREPARATION 8 The most fundamental requirement for successfully raising Seaman is daily care and maintenance. At the very least, you are kindly requested to attend to various custodial tasks such as providing oxygen, water, food, cleaning, etc., on a daily basis. Just as with a daily exercise program, it is important that you participate each and every day without fail. This concept is a prerequisite for being a guardian to Seaman.
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LET’S BEGIN (STARTING A GAME) At Long Last, We Begin. Beginning Operation (Day One) Once again, you are ur ged to review the set-up procedure starting on p. 4 and confirm that the VMU containing the Seaman habitat and storage matrix, as well as the microphone, are firmly and properly installed to the controller connected to Control Port A of the Dreamcast. Then, press the OPEN Button on your Dreamcast to open the Disc Door, place the Seaman disc inside and close the Disc Door.
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Analog Thumb Pad BASIC CONTROLS Use the Analog Thumb Pad to scroll the across the display (when the storage matrix is displayed, use this to move the hand icon). By pressing and holding while using the Analog Thumb Pad, you can zoom the camera in and out. Note that zooming is not possible when locked-on in a close-up ( ). Press again to unlock the close-up view to zoom. The Analog Thumb Pad can also be used to adjust the camera angle when you have grabbed and lifted Seaman for observation.
PAGE 8
HOW TO CONVERSE WITH SEAMAN Let’s Chat with Seaman, Shall We? Once Seaman has learned a reasonable vocabulary, try to initiate a conversation. In the beginning, it is generally acceptable to address Seaman with “Hey”, or “Seaman” to do so. A mature Seaman will often respond to phrases such as “Say something,” or “Talk to me”. If you observe Seaman’s manner closely, you will have no problems distinguishing when Seaman is ready to begin con versing.
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HOW TO INTERACT WITH SEAMAN Tapping the Glass Before you initiate a conversation with Seaman, first announce your presence and gain Seaman’s attention by using to tap the glass of the tank a couple of times. In the early stages of Seaman’s growth, prior to suf ficient vocabulary acquisition, this will be your first and only means of communication. Even as Seaman develops and matures, tapping will remain an important gesture.
PAGE 10
CARING FOR YOUR SEAMAN Creating a Suitable Environment for Seaman Use the D-Pad to operate the devices on the habitat operation panel. Because the analog design for this device is old-fashioned, you are only able to perform operations such as raising the temperature or increasing the oxygen level of the habitat, for the duration you press the relevant button. Once you release the button, the temperature will begin to decrease and the oxygen to dissipate with the passage of time.
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FEEDING YOUR SEAMAN Oxygen Supply Display the habitat operation panel and toggle until the word ‘AIR’ appears. Press and hold to supply a stream of oxygen into the tank. The oxygen supply will only continue to increase for the duration you press and hold . Just after the habitat is first created, the level of oxygen is 0. When the oxygen level is lower than 50, Seaman is in danger of suffocation.
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HOW TO SAY GOODBYE TO SEAMAN STARTING OVER WITH SEAMAN (Exiting and Saving) How to Reset the Habitat To exit the game, press the Start Button and select ‘ End’ from the displayed menu, then press . Wait until the save process is complete before turning the Dreamcast power OFF. Unlike most games in which you are required to save yourself, all of Seaman’s growth progress is automatically saved to the memor y card throughout your playtime. Note that you will be unable to return to a pr evious stage.
PAGE 13
LIVING IN HARMONY WITH SEAMAN EXCHANGING FOOD WITH ANOTHER RAISER Utilizing Your Storage Matrix Effectively If Seaman is in a bad mood, it will elect to discontinue conversing with you. Whether the cause of this mood swing is inadvertent or intentional on your part is of no relevance.
PAGE 14
ADVICE 26 Please realize that concepts such as goals or scores do not apply to this game. You are free to enjoy Seaman in whatever manner you find appropriate. However, if you endeavor to successfully raise and assist in Seaman’s evolution, there are a few points you must take int o consideration. First off, there is a strong relationship between knowledge acquisition and Seaman’s growth process.
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FINAL NOTES AND POINTERS Be sure to hold the microphone the recommended distance (as specified in the Microphone manual) away from your mouth when speaking to Seaman. Also, be sure to speak as clear ly and succinctly as possible at all times. Shouting is prohibited. Seaman is an honest and decent living creature who will ask you numerous questions. Please answer as truthfully as possible and never, ever lie. Seaman is only so cle ver, and as you will discover, patience is not its strong suit.
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US VERSION CREDITS MANUAL PRODUCTION STAFF Producer and Game Designer Translator/Writer/DTP Yoot Saito Monika Hudgins Supervisor US Development Director Music US Script Programming Team Product Marketing Arka Roy Narrator Seppo Helava Chris Craig Alex Genadinik Creative Services Leonard Nimoy PR Casting and Recording Webtone Localization Producers Mari N. Schaal Osamu Shibamiya Test Lead Steve Peck Assistant Test Leads Rick Ribble Jr.
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SEAMAN RESEARCH NOTES (c) 1999, 2000 Vivarium Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this software, including visual images, voice data, and transcripts of voice content, may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing.