MindRover: The Europa Project
V1.07 - Release Notes
10/11/00
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Copyright 2000, CogniToy, LLC.
SciTech GLDirect(TM) graphics driver technology
copyright 1997-2000, SciTech Software Inc.
All rights reserved.
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The most up to date information can be found at
our website. Please read this file and then come
to our website for updates:
http://www.mindrover.com
Also, please look on the CD in a directory
called MRExtras for add-ons and example
vehicles.
NOTE:
First time users should go through the
tutorials in the game.
Use the F1 key to get help on components
and scenarios in the game.
Contents of Release Notes:
- System Requirements
- Install Instructions
- Graphics Card Settings
- Uninstall
- Running MindRover
- Graphics Card Support/OpenGL
- Gamma (Brightness) Control
- Scripting Support
- Known Bugs
- Contact Us
===============================================
System Requirements
===============================================
The minimum system requirements needed to run
MindRover are:
* 200MHz PC running Win95/98/NT/Win2000
(300Mhz recommended)
* 3D graphics accelerator card
(such as Voodoo1, Voodoo2, Voodoo3,
Riva TNT, TNT2, ATI Rage 128 and Rage Pro
series, Matrox G200/G400, Permedia2,
GeForce)
* OpenGL driver for graphics card (optional)
* DirectX7.0a drivers from Microsoft
* 32M RAM (64M recommended)
* 70M hard disk space
* 4x CDROM
* 16 bit color mode
* Sound card
NOTE: OpenGL is an evolving standard, and
graphics card manufacturers are constantly
updating their support. Please see below for
more information on 3D graphics options.
===============================================
Install Instructions
===============================================
To install MindRover for the first time, place
the CD in your CDROM drive. If you have autoplay
enabled, the MindRover autorun program will start
automatically. If not, run the AutoRun.exe file
on the CD to install MindRover. This will
extract files to the directory you specify or to
the default directory: c:\games\mindrover.
Mindrover adds files only to its install
directory; it does not touch your system
directories.
If you have a demo version already installed
you should install the full version in the same
directory, which will be the default.
As part of the installation, you will get a
chance to modify your graphics card settings
(see below).
===============================================
Graphics Card Settings
===============================================
As mentioned in the system requirements,
MindRover requires a hardware 3D accelerator
card.
We have included a program called Settings.exe,
which will run at the end of the installation.
You can also run this program later to test
your 3D drivers and set the desired screen
resolution. You can find Settings.exe in your
MindRover install directory or you can find it
through Start Menu, Programs.
When you run the settings program it will
display a spinning cube on your monitor using
OpenGL drivers or simulated D3D. Try the OpenGL
setting first since that will usually result
in the best performance.
After 10 seconds, you will get a message asking
if you saw the spinning cube. If not, you
may need to install OpenGL drivers, or
you can try the simulated OpenGL setting. Save
the settings once you determine what works for
you. The recommended settings are 800x600 with
16 bit color.
You will also get a frame rate reading from
the Settings program.
Frame rate, measured in frames per second, is an
indication of how fast your graphics are being
displayed. The MindRover Settings program reports
the frame rate it calculates while spinning a
simple cube with the settings you chose. These
frame rates will be higher than what you
will see in the actual game. You can compare the
frame rates that you get using various settings
to decide what settings you want for the game.
If you use the windowed (not full screen) option,
you will get the best performance by ensuring
that your color depth (16 bit or 24 bit) is the
same for both MindRover and your desktop.
===============================================
Uninstall
===============================================
To uninstall MindRover use the 'MRuninstall.exe'
program, which can be found in Start Menu,
Programs. Alternatively, you can run this program
directly from your MindRover install directory.
===============================================
Running MindRover
===============================================
To start MindRover, insert the MindRover CD in
the drive. If you have autorun enabled, the
MindRover AutoRun program will start up
automatically. From here you can click Play
to start the game, or click on Movies to see
the introduction and tutorial movies.
You can also start MindRover by clicking on the
Windows Start Menu, Programs, and navigating to
the MindRover folder. Click on the MindRover
entry to start the game.
The MindRover CD MUST be in the drive when the
game is started.
We strongly recommend that you close down as many
other programs as possible before running
MindRover, especially if your machine has only 32
megabytes of RAM.
There is an in-game tutorial, MindRover Basics,
that will prompt you through your first use of
MindRover.
The next tutorial, Getting Started, takes you
through the creation and programming of your
first rover. There are three more tutorials after
that for more advanced topics.
Please come to our website to exchange ideas, make
comments, get help and download new components
and scenarios:
http://www.mindrover.com
=================================================
Graphics Card Support/OpenGL
=================================================
We have tested this release of MindRover on a
wide range of 3D graphics chipsets.
Most video cards are now supported by glsetup.exe,
which is a program that loads OpenGL drivers for
many graphics cards on Win98.
Version 1.0.0.117 of this program is on the MindRover
CD, in the drivers directory. A newer version may be
available at:
http://www.glsetup.com
If you are not sure of the status of your OpenGL
installation, please run glsetup and follow
directions.
Note that glsetup requires DirectX7 to be
installed. If you need it, you can find it on the
MindRover CD in the drivers subdirectory as well.
You can also get the latest DirectX drivers from
Microsoft's web site. You cannot install DirectX7
on a WinNT machine. Also, glsetup currently does
not work for Win2000. You should go to your
manufacturer's website for latest drivers, or
try the simulated OpenGL setting from the
Settings program.
MindRover's default graphics resolution is
800x600. If you have a Voodoo I or another
graphics card that only runs 640x480, then you
can change this resolution by running the
Settings program as described above under
"Graphics card settings". Note that some
fonts are difficult to read in 640x480.
---- Voodoo III ----
At the time that we are writing this Readme, the
released voodoo III drivers for Win98 will crash when
you exit MindRover or the Settings.exe program.
3dfx has fixed this, but has not yet released the
new drivers. You may want to try the simulated
OpenGL setting. You can go back to the hardware
accelerated OpenGL settings when new drivers
are released.
We recommend 800 x 600 with 16 bit color.
---- WinNT or 2000 installations --
WinNT and Win2000 drivers are not supported through
the glsetup program. Please go to the website of the
chip manufacturer to get latest Win2000 or NT
drivers, or try the OpenGL simulation setting
from the settings program.
=================================================
Gamma (Brightness) Control
=================================================
If the game screen appears too dark, then login
to the game, click on the Options button in the
upper left and adjust the gamma setting.
The smaller the number, the brighter the game
will appear. The default setting is 1, so you
can get a brighter picture by choosing a value
between .6 and .8. Greater than 1 will be darker.
The gamma setting will be saved automatically
and reused on your next use of MindRover.
Note: This does not work on WinNT or Win2k.
=================================================
Scripting Support
================================================
Scripting allows you to run multiple scenarios
automatically. This can be used for running
contests. Supported commands include:
Login <username> - log in as the given user (must
be before the first LoadScenario)
LoadScenario <scenarioname> - makes the named
scenario the current scenario. Scenario name must
be the full scenario filename, including the path
to the scenario. Looks like this:
scenarios/s_goldrush.vmf
LoadVehicle <team> <slot> <vehiclename> - loads
the named vehicle into the team and slot for the
current scenario (teams are 1 and 2, slots are
1 and 2 per team). Vehicle name is the full
filename:
vehicles/username/vehiclename.vmf
StartScenario <seed> - equivalent to hitting the
GO button with the specific seed. The seed is an
optional integer. Useful if you want to run all
of the matches in a tournament with the same
starting configuration.
SetConsoleLog <logname> - all messages sent to
the console get recorded in
MRInstallDir/logname.log. If logname is empty,
console messages are not recorded (the default).
ReturnOnEndScenario <1/0> - if true (default is
false), when the scenario ends the scenario
automatically returns to the console.
Clearslots - clears the vehicles from the slots.
This is important when you are running the
same scenario with the same vehicles in opposite
locations back to back. First clear the slots
before loading the second set of vehicles.
Exec <scriptname> -- executes the given script.
This is a subroutine call; when the exec
terminates, the previous script is continued.
Rem <any text> -- This command is ignored. Used
for placing remarks in the script file.
SetScenarioTimeOut <seconds> - will force a
scenario to end after the specified number of
seconds.
Quit - exits back to the operating system
Example script file:
Login Tournament1
ReturnOnEndScenario 1
SetConsoleLog Tournament1.log
SetScenarioTimeOut 300
LoadScenario scenarios/s_hotpotato.vmf
LoadVehicle 1 1 vehicles/Tournament1/contestant1.vmf
LoadVehicle 2 1 vehicles/Tournament1/contestant2.vmf
StartScenario
Clearslots
LoadVehicle 1 1 vehicles/Tournament1/contestant3.vmf
LoadVehicle 2 1 vehicles/Tournament1/contestant4.vmf
StartScenario
Quit
It is used with the /exec command line parameter
or the Exec console command.
The command file MUST reside in a subdirectory
of MindRover (you may want to create a subdirectory
for this purpose), and you must specify its path
relative to the MindRover root:
mindrover /exec commands/test.cfg
Or pop up the command console within MindRover
(found at the bottom of the command screen) and
type:
exec commands/test.cfg
===============================================
Known Bugs
===============================================
The Voodoo III drivers crash when you exit the
game. It is recoverable without a reboot.
The shift-0 (free-flying) camera can get lost in
space. Simple workaround is to press 1 and the
camera will fly back to watching your vehicle
automatically.
The gamma setting in the Options screen doesn't
work for NT or Win2000.
There is a bug forum and known bug list available
at our website. If you would like to report a bug,
please visit the player's forums and add your
comments.
http://www.mindrover.com/players/players.htm
===============================================
Contact Us
===============================================
There is a players forum for posting questions,
comments, and ideas. If you have a question, you
might get the best response by posting it on the
forum:
http://www.mindrover.com/players/players.htm
If you would prefer to send us a direct email
use one of these addresses:
[email protected] (for problems/bugs)
[email protected] (general support issues)
[email protected] (general website support)
Or call us at our toll free number (US and
Canada):
888 788-1792
Or our regular phone number (and international):
978 264-3945