139 lines
5.4 KiB
Text
139 lines
5.4 KiB
Text
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1. What's this document about?
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---------------------------
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This document contains useful information about SNOWBALLS, NeL, Nevrax,
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technical requirements, and caveats about compilation and installation.
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It also includes a short "user manual" for the programs provided. It is
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highly recommended reading.
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2. What are NeL and Nevrax
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-----------------------
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NeL is a free software framework developped by Nevrax Ltd, for the purpose of
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building internet multiuser entertainment.
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Nevrax is a company dedicated to Free Software, which is why their tools are
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covered by the GPL. See the attached license file. They built NeL to create
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their massively multiplayer online role playing game called The Saga of Ryzom.
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You should visit our website at http://www.opennel.org/ for more information.
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3. What's in the package?
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----------------------
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The package contains:
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- The latest source code for the NeL client and server frameworks
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- The source code and data for a sample NeL game called 'SNOWBALLS'
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If you have a source distribution, you need to compile the source to
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produce the various executables. If you have a binary distribution,
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you have a pre-built exe client for Snowballs, but no source.
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The source code is provided as is, and reflects the state of the NeL
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framework at the release date. We have done our best to insure that the
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snapshot you are using now compiles and works correctly. However, we
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only test on a limited range of configurations, and the vagaries of
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OS and hardware means we cannot guarantee it compiles and executes
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correctly on your system at the time.
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If you are using SVN, you can keep in synch with the NeL Development Team
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as we have included the required SVN information. An update will give you
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current source. We do not guarantee that the source in SVN will compile
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and work correctly at all time as it includes the latest work in progress.
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4. Caveat
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------
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The sample client, server and data files provided do not accurately reflect
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our game currently in production. We do intend penguins and gnus to appear
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in the final game, but most of the gameplay you will see does not reflect
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what we will implement later.
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5. Compiling NeL and SNOWBALLS
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---------------------------
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TODO: update text.
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You will need a C++ compiler to properly compile and execute the NeL
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framework. The program compiles reasonably under a Unix/GCC environment,
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but it has been chiefly tested under a Linux environment.
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TODO: update text.
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The server has been compiled and executed on a Windows machine, but it
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is highly recommended that you run it on a separate GNU/Linux machine. The
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client has been compiled and executed on a GNU/Linux machine, but will
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probably not work on other unix compatible systems (yet).
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The client and server require an operating TCP/IP stack to communicate.
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The data files for the client and server should be in the ./data child
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directories of the directory in which the executables are located.
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See the INSTALL file for the requirements and installation instructions.
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6. Running SNOWBALLS client
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------------------------
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It is highly recommended that you run the client on a PC with plenty of
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main memory (128Megs+) and a 3D card that supports T&L in hardware and
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has 32Mb of memory. Lesser configurations will probably give you very
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poor framerates.
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TODO: rewrite completely, incorrect.
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You just have to execute nel_launcher.exe (and never snowballs.exe directly).
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The application will prompt you a login and password. If you enter
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a user name that has never been used before on the server that you are
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connected to then a new account will be created with the password that
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you enter at the 'PASSWORD' prompt. You'll need to remeber this password
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as you'll need each time you login in the future. Use only alphanumeric
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value for login and password, don't use space and other strange characters.
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WARNING: Password are not crypted so you should use 'dummy' password.
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TODO: rewrite completely, incorrect.
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After you have to select a shard if available, just click on the shard name.
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It patch if necessary and automatically launch snowballs game, just wait.
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TODO: rewrite completely, incorrect and extremely boring.
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You're now a penguin on an artic snowfield. You have snowballs which you
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can throw at other people. When you throw a snowball, you have a few
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seconds during which you gather more snow before you can throw the next
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one. If you hit someone, your score increases, and the snowed opponent
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becomes immune to further snowing (he flashes on the screen) for 5s. He
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cannot retaliate while invulnerable.
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Good luck.
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7. The controls in SNOWBALLS
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-------------------------
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Use the mouse to look around.
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Use arrow keys to move forward, backward, strafe left and strafe right.
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F3: switch on/off the wireframe mode
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F4: clear the chat window
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F5: switch on/off the chat text
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F6: switch on/off the radar
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F7: zoom out the radar
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F8: zoom in the radar
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F9: capture or uncapture the mouse
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F10: switch betweeon online and offline
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F11: reset player position
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F12: take a screenshot
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SHIFT-ESC: quit
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Left Mouse Button: throw a snowball
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Type text followed by ENTER to broadcast messages
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8. Contacting us
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-------------
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For comments and problems relating to SNOWBALLS or NeL
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you can go to the forums at http://www.opennel.org/jforum/forums/list.page
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or use the issue tracker at http://www.opennel.org/jira/secure/Dashboard.jspa
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