PC Gamer 3.9/1997-12_Disc_3.9_No._2.bin/PATCHES/woxlnetb.zip/Multiplayer Readme.txt

Text File | 1997-08-22 | 13KB | 347 lines

8/17/97

        Wipeout XL - Multiplayer (Beta) Patch Upgrade v0.9
        ==================================================

I.  Introduction

Thank you for purchasing Wipeout XL.  This is an upgrade patch for
Wipeout XL that allows multiplayer support for:

* IPX Networks
* TCP/IP Protocols
* Direct Connection
* Modem Connection

NOTE: this upgrade is designed for BOTH Wipeout XL and Wipeout 2097

Patch operation REQUIRES:

    -DirectX Version 3 or higher
    -At least one purchased copy of the Wipeout XL CD-ROM
    -Wipeout XL installed on all host and client machines
    -Computer that meets the minimum system requirements of the
         game

Files included in this archive:

    MULTIPLAYER README.TXT    Text you are reading
    NET-WOXL.EXE        Wipeout XL Network version
    WOLOBBY.EXE        DirectPlay launcher for NET-WOXL.EXE
    DSETUP.DLL        File used by WOLOBBY.EXE

II.  Features

1.  Multiplayer support for up to 15 players per session (IPX and TCP/IP)
2.  Muliplayer support for Direct Connect, Modem, other network protocols, and
    the Internet
3.  Unlimited access to tracks, weapons, and race vehicles
4.  Three types of races: Timed, Death Match, and Tournament
5.  Customization options for each race
6.  Race results screen ranks you according to race finish and number
    of kills

III. Installation and Operation

Make sure ALL of the above files are in your Wipeout XL directory.
This directory is usually - C:\Program Files\Wipeout XL.
This file is a zipped archived and you will need to unzip all the files
and copy them into the game's current directory.

The multiplayer game's main executable is NET-WOXL.EXE. Double click
on this file to play multiplayer games over an IPX network.  If you
want to play over other protocols, please read section five.

Upon running "net-woxl.exe" a startup window for the game will
appear on the desktop.  There are three droplist combo-boxes in this
startup window, they are:

Resolution - chose the graphic resolution for your game
Sound - chose the audio playback effect
Network - the Network droplist combo-box allows you to
chose between "Single Player" and "IPX Connection For DirectPlay"

"Single Player" runs the game as normal.
"IPX Connection for DirectPlay" will run the game in multiplayer mode
(assuming an IPX connection).

After all options are set, press ENTER or click on the "Play Game"
button in the startup window to begin playing.

Once in the game, you will be presented with the typical WOXL main menu.
This menu allows you to select any race craft.  If you are the HOST
(player creating the session), you can select the type of race.  You
can also select the race course.  All users have access to game options.

Pressing ENTER on the "start option" will bring
up a Multiplayer Race Menu.  In this menu, you can chose from
Join Session, Create Session or Change Player Name.

The "net-woxl.exe" application only shows IPX networks as an option.

Change Player Name
------------------
This is your race name, which will be saved to disk as a convenience.

Join Session
------------

Takes you to a Join Racing Session Menu which continuously searches the
local network for Wipeout XL sessions.  This menu can display a
maximum of 10 sessions and this list is navigated via the up and down
arrow keys.  Selected session will flash, and then press ENTER to try
to join the flashing session.  If you successfully joined a session,
you will be taken to the Lobby Menu.

Create Session
--------------

(this option makes you the HOST for that game session)

You MUST have a Wipeout XL CD in order to create a session for others
to join.  If you do not have a CD in the drive when you try to create a
session, you will get an error message.  The game checks the CD each
time you try to create a session, so you do not have to reboot to get
the game to acknowledge you - just try again with the game CD.

Once you create a session, you will be prompted to enter a name for
your session.  After entering a session name of at least one character,
you can press ENTER to proceed to the configure menu.

Race Types
----------

There are three types of Game Types available for Multiplayer
Games which can be selected in the Race Type Menu in the Main Menu.

      TIMED RACE: A Single Race in which players must cross all
          checkpoints within given time constraints or they are
          destroyed.

      DEATH RACE: A Single Race with no checkpoint time constraints.

      TOURNAMENT RACE: 8 consecutive races defined by the Session Host.
               No checkpoint time constraints.

After entering session name, you will proceed to Race Customization
Menu.  The cursor arrows navigate this Menu. ENTER selects/de-selects
certain options.  Highlighted options are effective session options.

Race Customization
------------------

Weapons - all weapons or none can be selected in this section
Laps - default to Five Laps
Lives - unlimited to Five
Piranha - allows the client racers to choose this ultra fast, but weaponless
          race craft

If you chose inside the Race Menu to play a TIMED or DEATH RACE game,
you will have a CREATE SESSION option at the bottom of your screen,
highlighting it and pressing ENTER will take you to the Lobby Menu,

If you selected TOURNAMENT game, you will have the option to
"CONFIGURE TOURNAMENT", this menu is navigated with the up and down
arrows, and highlighted track or class is changed with left and right
arrows.  Highlighting "CREATE SESSION" on the bottom of screen and
pressing ENTER will take you to the Lobby.

NOTE: at the bottom of screen are help captions for that option

Lobby
-----

When waiting inside the lobby, a current player list will be displayed.
All session players will sit at this screen until the session host
presses ENTER or they quit the session by pressing ESC and return
to the main menu.  Feel free to yell at the session Host to start
the game.  Once the Host presses ENTER, everyone in that session is
transferred from the menu system into the race.

Inside the Game
---------------

For TIMED and DEATH RACE games, upon completing the
number of laps for that race, a result screen will be displayed
showing position ranking, racer names, and number of racer kills.

Pressing TAB will return you to racing, pressing TAB while racing after
finishing all the laps will return you to the score display.

Pressing ESC at any time in these types of races will quit you
from the game and return you to the menu system.

TOURNAMENT games are slightly more complicated.  Upon finishing all laps
a score screen will be display, pressing TAB at that point displays
a tournament score screen which has cumulative scores for the
entire tournament.

Tournament Scores are as follows:

First place:    10 points
Second place:   5 points
Third place:    3 points

Player Kill:    1 point
Player Killed: -1 point

If you finish a tournament with over 80 points - you officially become
a Wipeout XL guru.

If player is the session Host, pressing ESC while tournament scores
are being displayed will begin the next race in the tournament.
Additionally, pressing 'N' at any time during the game, if you are the
session host, will begin the next race.

IV.  Tips and Troubleshooting

1. There are no AI ships in Multiplayer mode.

2. CD Music has been turned off in Multiplayer because it lowers
   the frame rate. (You can check the frame rate that Wipeout XL
   is getting on your 3D card by typing "FRAMERATE" any time
   during the game.

3. All weapons function except for AUTOPILOT.

4. Press ENTER to regenerate your ship after being destroyed in the game.
   You will not be able to regenerate if you have exceeded the maximum
   allowed number of lives as selected by the session host, at which
   point you can wait stretch those aching hands or quit the game.

5. When the session host quits the game, everyone is forced to quit
   the game.

6. If game runs sluggish or choppy, this is due to heavy network traffic.
   For best network game play, isolate your WOXL Multiplayer game from
   the rest of the network.  Make friends with the MIS person and ask
   them to do this.

7. During our testing, certain Rendition Chip boards displayed slow game
   frame rates in SVGA resolutions (640x480 or greater).  To increase
   speed, you can run the game in 300 X 240 resolution or run the game
   with reduced graphical detail (e.g. Filtering, Sky, Engine Trails)

8. Please check you 3D video card manufacturer to make sure you are using the
   latest video drivers.

9. The higher the class of race (e.g. Rapier, Phantom) the faster the ship velocity

10. Please Scan, Defrag, and Virus check your hard drive at least
    bi-monthly. (your computer will thank you!)

11. Running the game in Low Res, will obscure some of the menu text.  Sorry.


V. Wipeout XL Launcher

(for all other multiplayer options)

The Wipeout XL Launcher is used to play multiplayer Wipeout XL on
non-IPX networks. This includes direct serial connections,
modem-to-modem connections, TCP/IP or Internet connections, and
any other "DirectPlay Service Providers"

Simply launch WOLOBBY.EXE in the same directory as Wipeout XL.

Wipeout XL is DirectPlay "Lobbyable". This means that any program that
purports to be a DirectPlay lobby should be see that Wipeout XL is
installed and be able to help establish a session and launch Wipeout XL
into that session.

In order to enable this, a bare-bones lobby "Wipeout XL Launcher"
program is included.

If you are used to network gaming, this program is pretty
self-explanatory.  This program also makes the necessary registry
entries that lets other DirectPlay lobby programs work.
If it is not, ask your helpful MIS friend for the explanation.

This simple lobby program only creates a single session games. It is
best suited for two player games, although a multi-player game can be
achieved if one player hosts and all other players join.

MAKE SURE THE HOST LAUNCHES AND CREATES THE SESSION FIRST!
Otherwise, some impatient player will get DirectPlay timeout errors
when trying to join and will get grumpy.

Launcher Multiplayer Modes:
---------------------------

IPX:

    Not listed by WOLOBBY.EXE application. Use NET-WOXL.EXE directly
        to play    network games over IPX.

SERIAL CONNECTION:

    The game plays effectively on computers that are Laplinked or
        null-modem cabled together at 38400 baud or greater. (19200 may
        also work) This is the lowest latency connection possible and
        the play control is very smooth.

MODEM CONNECTION:

    Should work the same. If game is choppy, try connecting at
        14.4 instead of 28.8, or turning off data compression in your
        modem.

TCP/IP:

    If everyone is on a local TCP/IP network they shouldn't have
        to enter any values - plays pretty well.

INTERNET:

    Low-latency racing/twitch games on the Internet = Yuck! Try at
        your own risk.    Expect low frame rates and chopiness.
        Make sure the host notes his TCP/IP address and can somehow
        tell the clients so they can enter it in their dialog boxes
        when prompted.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

VI.  Legal Stuff

This patch upgrade is copyrighted Psygnosis. It may be freely
distributed, provided this file remain part of the archive.

This patch may not be sold for more than the cost of media without
the express written approval of Psygnosis.

VII.  Psygnosis Contact Information

NOTE: this patch is a BETA VERSION and may still contain some undetected
bugs.  Please report any consistent bugs to the below email.

USA Tech Support email - [e-mail]
UK Tech Support email - [e-mail]
Website - www.psygnosis.com
USA Tech Support Phone - 415-655-5683
UK Tech Support Phone - [phone]
USA 800 Sales - 800-438-7794 (hey, pre-order G-Police and Shipwreckers!)

VIII.  Credits

This patch was developed by STATIC.COM - "gamers online"
(www.static.com)
Visit their website for the ultimate in Internet gaming fun.

Credits:
Chris Thomas - lead programmer
Damien Stolarz - resident Static guru
Steve Rozner - talented new guy

Psygnosis US Testing daredevils

Jack Kealy, Chad Henry, Marco Alvarado, Chris Charles, Tom Akimeta,
James Altenburg, Eric Adams, Jim "Speed Racer" Drewry

Thanks for playing our games!

Eric Adams - US QA Manager

PS. If you read this far you deserve a cheat, in single player games,
    type PSYRAPID at the start of the game to get a permanent chain
    cannon with unlimited ammo.  Really makes driving fun....