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Robot Arena
Readme
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Robot Arena (tm)
Release Version 1.0.0.3
Release Date: 6/26/2001
Thank you for purchasing Robot Arena. We hope you enjoy battering and
bashing mechanical creations. For updates and more information following
the release of this game, please visit www.robotarena.com.
Contents:
1. Overview of this release
2. System Requirements
3. How to install
4. How to run
5. Technical Support
6. DirectX Install Problems
7. Multiplayer Notes
8. Additional Game Notes
9. File Changes
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1. Overview of this release
This release primarily updates the AI for the Practice and Tournament
Bots. Many of the bots have been reconfigured with additional
weapons and accessories to provide the player with a better challenge.
This is the first patch to the original robot arena game.
Changes in this Release
Reconfigured the practice and tournament robots with different weapons and order.
Nine tournament bots instead of seven.
New AI code for nearly all robots.
Lowered prize money winnings.
Added Head to Head gameplay for two people on one computer.
New weapon: chainsaw.
Added feature for using custom textures.
Fixed bug causing computer to crash without having IPX for Internet games
Fixed bug where Win95 users had to upgrade to Winsock2 (ws2_32.dll)
2. System Requirements
Required:
Windows 95, 98, 2000, Me
DirectX 7.0a or later
266 mhz PentiumII processor
32 MB RAM
100 MB free hard disk space
8x or faster CD-Rom drive
DirectX compatible video card with 4 MB RAM or more
DirectX compatible sound card
Recommended:
450 mhz Pentium II Processor
64 MB RAM
100 MB free hard disk space
DirectX compatible video card with 3D hardware and 8 MB RAM or more
A 3D hardware-enabled video card is strongly recommended for best
performance.
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3. How to install
Full Version:
To install the game, insert the CD-Rom into your CD-Rom drive. If autorun
is enabled on your computer, the installer will launch automatically. If
autorun is disabled, browse to your CD-Rom drive and run the program
called launcher.exe.
>From the menu shown, click the Install button to begin the setup program.
If you do not have DirectX installed, the setup program will prompt you
to install it. This is required for the game to run.
To remove the game from your system, use the same menu to select
uninstall, or run the uninstaller from your Windows Start menu under the
Robot Arena group.
Patch Version:
To install the patch, you must have first installed the original version
of Robot Arena. If not, you will need to install that before running
the patch. To install the patch, simply download the patch from
the Internet, or, double click the already downloaded .exe. Follow the
instructions on screen from that point onward. To uninstall Robot Arena,
you should uninstall each individual patch first, and then uninstall the
original version of Robot Arena.
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4. How to run
After you have installed the program, you can run the game from the
autostart menu that appears when the CD is inserted into the CD-Rom
drive. Or you may run it from the shortcut created in the Windows
Start menu under Robot Arena.
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5. Technical Support
You may also find FAQ and update information at www.robotarena.com
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6. DirectX Install Problems
If you receive an error installing DirectX, you may want to manually
install DirectX. You can do this by inserting the CD-ROM the game
was shipped on into your CD-ROM drive. Browse to the "directx" directory
and double click the "dxsetup.exe" file. Follow any instructions given
to install or re-install DirectX.
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7. Multiplayer Notes
Installing IPX/SPX:
LAN multiplayer games require the IPX network protocol. To install it, go
to your control panel, then open Network Settings. Windows 2000 will have
a menu to select a particular connection (if you have multiple network cards
or modem dialups), where you can then choose to view properties for that
connection. Windows 95 and 98 will show all network connections in the same
list. Click Add or Install, then select New Protocol, then select IPX from the
Microsoft heading. You may need your original Windows CD to install the files
needed. If you do not have this CD, go to the Microsoft website for more
information about installing network protocols.
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8. Additional Game Notes
While in the arena, you can press the F1 key to see your keyboard controls.
Use the Tab key to switch camera modes. Some cameras use the mouse to adjust
camera position, others are fixed with certain settings. Some cameras can
also use the mousewheel to zoom in and out.
In the Bot Lab, you may hit the $ key to get a bunch of money so you can
build everything you want. Of course, this is cheating, but we all like
to cheat sometimes, don't we?
To take a screenshot, press F8.
Using Custom Textures (Skins):
You may create custom textures for your robots by placing bmp or tga files in
a folder called custom in your robot arena directory. This means you may now
have unique textures applied to the same object (a different texture on each
of your four wheels, for example, or two separate robots with the same
chassis, but different skins). Most video cards require textures to be square
and sized in powers of 2 (16, 32, 64, 128, etc). It is best if you use the
existing textures as a template that you edit. (Remember to copy these to your
custom folder, don't just replace the existing texture in the models folder.)
To apply custom textures to a particular model, select the item in the bot lab
(list below the 3d view), then click the info button. You will see a customize
button. Click that and you will get a dialog box showing two lists. The top
list shows any textures currently applied to the object. Most objects have
only one texture, but a few have more than one. Select the texture you wish to
replace, then use the bottom list to select one of your custom textures. You
will only see files in your custom folder. After you have selected from both
lists, click the apply button to use the new texture. At any time you can
press the restore button to use the original texture for an object.
In multiplayer mode, the textures should be transferred to the remote player as
soon as you connect. There is no progress bar and the screen will pause while
transferring is in process. Modem users in particular may need to wait for a
bit until the custom images are copied. When the files are transferred,
players will get a ready to begin message in the chat window.
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9. File Changes
Removed Files:
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Practice1.bot
Practice2.bot
Practice3.bot
Practice4.bot
Practice5.bot
Practice6.bot
Components.txt
Updated Files:
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Robot Arena.exe
UrbanMenace.bot
Zombie.bot
Patriot.bot
Commando.bot
Executioner.bot
RedGiant.bot
Aquarius.bot
attachment_descriptions.txt
readme.txt
\Graphics\Credits\UI_Credits.bmp
\Graphics\Select Bots\UI_TournamentPreview1.bmp
\Graphics\Select Bots\UI_TournamentPreview2.bmp
\Graphics\Select Bots\UI_TournamentPreview3.bmp
\Graphics\Select Bots\UI_TournamentPreview4.bmp
\Graphics\Select Bots\UI_TournamentPreview5.bmp
\Graphics\Select Bots\UI_TournamentPreview6.bmp
\Graphics\Select Bots\UI_TournamentPreview7.bmp
\Graphics\Main Game\UI_FinalWinDialog.bmp
\Graphics\Help\UI_Help_selectgame.bmp
\Graphics\Help\UI_Help_selectrobots.bmp
\Models\Arenas\Theme1\th1l2.txt
\Models\Arenas\Theme2\th2l1.txt
\Models\Arenas\Theme2\th2l3.gmf
New Files:
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Pontoon.bot
ScooterPie.bot
SixPack.bot
TopKnot.bot
Triclops.bot
components.bin
\Graphics\Select Bots\UI_TournamentPreview8.bmp
\Graphics\Select Bots\UI_TournamentPreview9.bmp
\Graphics\Select game\UI_Headtoheadpreview.bmp
\Graphics\Botlab\UI_BL_Info_chainsaw.bmp
\Graphics\Botlab\UI_BL_Info_switchblade.bmp
\Graphics\Botlab\UI_BL_Att_chainsaw.bmp
\Graphics\Botlab\UI_BL_Att_switchblade.bmp
\Graphics\Botlab\UI_BL_CustomButton_C.bmp
\Graphics\Botlab\UI_BL_CustomButton_D.bmp
\Graphics\Botlab\UI_BL_CustomButton_N.bmp
\Graphics\Botlab\UI_BL_CustomButton_R.bmp
\Graphics\Botlab\UI_BL_CustomTexture_Dialog.bmp
\Graphics\Main Game\winlose_headtohead.tga
\Graphics\Main Game\winlose_headtohead.txt
\Models\Bots\wp_switchblade_bin.gmf
\Models\Bots\wp_chainsaw_bin.gmf
\Models\Bots\Maps\switchblade.bmp
\Models\Bots\Maps\buzzsaw.bmp
\Models\Bots\Maps\buzzsaw_chain.bmp
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\pontoon_hammer.tga
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\pontoon_chassis.tga
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\scooter_chassis.bmp
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\scooter_chassis.txt
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\sixpack_airram.tga
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\sixpack_chassis.tga
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\sixpack_airtank.bmp
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\triclops_treads.tga
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\triclops_treads_tracks.tga
\\Models\Bots\Enemies\triclops_chassis.tga
\Sounds\chainsaw_loop.wav
\Sounds\chainsaw_hitsloop.wav
\Sounds\switchblade.wav
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Robot Arena (tm)
Developed by Gabriel Interactive, Inc.
www.gabrielinteractive.com
Copyright (c) 2000 - 2001, Gabriel Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published by WizardWorks