1 NET3D Net3d client, a networked, multiplayer 3d combat game. Version 0.02 Net3d can by played in each single or multiplayer modes. To start a single player game, just type : $ net3d ... For example, if you type $ net3d map2.i heli.i then you will be flying a helicopter around a simple 3d map. Controls for the vehicle you are piloting will be displayed before the game starts Under OpenVMS, you can set def under NET3D_DIR: directory or specify NET3D_DIR in the file's path names: $ net3d NET3D_DIR:map.i .... 2 KEYS_BINDING rotate left - left rotate right - right accellerate - up decellerate - down climb - a dive - z halt - s gun left - o gun right - p gun up - i gun down - k fire - return lock on - l eject - j quit - q wireframe toggle - w build menu toggle - b long range view - 1 view from stationary point - 2 view from behind vehicle - 3 inside view - 4 above view - 5 turret view - 6 short range view - 7 missile view - 8 interesting thing view - 9 rotate left - left rotate right - right accellerate - up decellerate - down climb - a dive - z halt - s gun left - o gun right - p gun up - j gun down - i fire - return lock on - l eject - j quit - q wireframe toggle - w build menu toggle - b long range view - 1 view from stationary point - 2 view from behind vehicle - 3 inside view - 4 above view - 5 turret view - 6 short range view - 7 missile view - 8 interesting thing view - 9 Not all controls will be appropriate for all vehicles. For example, a vehicle like a tank (in tank.v) cannot fly, so the climb and dive keys have no effect. Similarly, in a vehicle with no separate gun turret, the keys for contolling the turret won't do anything. Using the controls, you can fly or drive a vehicle around the game world. Most objects in the game, including the hills, will cause damage if your vehicle hits them. Also, other computer controlled vehicles may open fire on you or accidentally collide with you. 2 FEATURES Locking on ---------- When in viewing mode 4 or 6, the lock key (usually 'l') will lock on to the closest vehicle in your gunsights. A short description of the vehicle you have locked onto is displayed, and if your vehicle is armed with missiles, then any missiles fired will home in on the target you have chosen. Leaving your vehicle -------------------- At any time you can eject from the vehicle you are driving, if it is a tank, helicopter or other similar piloted machine. Once you have ejected, you will be controlling a small fish (until I can create something better). Outside your vehicle you are extremely vulnerable, however you can board any unoccupied vehicle and collect trees for later use in building things. Leaving a helicopter or other flying machine at a high altitude is not recommended. Building things --------------- The 'menu' key brings up a row of buttons along the bottom of the screen, for building various types of walls. If you have enough resources, then clicking the mouse button on one of the icons will construct the item chosen in front of your current vehicle. In addition to walls on various angles, it is also possible to build mines (which explode when hit) and autocannons (which fire at the nearest target, apart from the vehicle that created them). Resources for building can only be obtained by collecting trees, as described above. Head-up displays ---------------- When in view-mode 4 (pilot view) or 6 (gun view), the following are displayed on screen : lock information (top left) radar (top right) hit points (below radar) ammunition (below hit points) resources (below ammo) velocity (bottom left) altitude (top right) 2 VEHICULE_FILES Several vehicle files are provided with net3d, some of which define vehicles for players to drive and some which define worlds with scenery to fly/drive around. There are also files that combine a map and a number of vehicles, for easily starting a multi-player battle. Under OpenVMS they are located under NET3D_DIR: directory The scenery files are: map.i - A complex, mountainous world with several buildings and roads, as well as a few strange creatures inhabiting it. Good for multi-player games on fast machines. map2.i - A simple map, suitable for machines with less processing power to throw around. map3.i - A coastal area, with a few buildings and flying creatures. Good for air combat. The battle files are: battle.i - Fought on map.v, between a helicopter, two tanks and a cosmosphere. Includes an initially unmanned helicopter on a helipad in the top right corner of the map. battle2.i - Fought on map2.v, between a tank and two helicopters. Good for a simple multi-player game. battle3.i - Fought on map3.v, between 3 helicopters and a speedboat. Also includes a large battleship with 2 cannons a short distance out to sea. space.i - A space battle between 3 starfighters. At the moment there isn't much scenery in this one, though this will change when I create a few more suitable vehicles. The vehicle files are: amigaball.i - A bouncing red and white amiga beachball. Useful for scenery, but not much else. eye.i - A flying eyeball with a tail and wings. Armed with a light tracer weapon firing from it's tail. heli.i - A small helicopter with gun turret, firing homing missiles. tank.i - A small tank with gun turret and reasonably heavy armour, and armed with a cannon. boat.i - A small speedboat with a roof mounted gun fish.i - A large, flying fish. Used in map.v as scenery, where it chases small birds around. glassfish.i - Like fish.i , but made of transparent polygons m2.i - A lightly armed armoured personell carrier. Has a turret mounted machinegun. cosmosphere.i - A huge, flying cosmosphere, inspired by the lunatic rantings of McElwaine. :) gunship.i - A more heavily armed helicopter, but without a gun turret. ptero.i - A flying pterodactyl-like bird. Used as scenery in map.v and map3.v stingship.i - A small spacegoing fighter, armed with a plama ball cannon. 2 STARTING_A_MULTI-PLAYER_GAME 1) Choose a machine that you want to be the game server, and on it run : $ net3dserv ... For example, to start a simple game, you might run $ net3dserv battle.v 2) Each person who wants to join the game should run : $ net3d on their machine, where is the address of the machine the server was run on, and is the name this player wants to use in the game. If is omitted, then net3d uses your current login name. For example, to connect to a server on the machine foo.cc, using the name Joe Smeg in the game, type : $ net3d foo.cc "Joe Smeg" 3) The server will receive connections from players and display info about each new player on the screen. When the requiered number of players is reached (2 by default), the server sends information about the game world and vehicles to each player, assigns vehicles to players and starts the game. If there are not enough vehicles for players, then vehicles are assigned on a 'first- come, first-served' basis. 4) Once the game begins, the players can fight it out until only one only remains, who will be informed of victory by a message in their window. Once that final player hits the 'quit' key, the server and all the clients will exit. 2 COMPATABILITY_PROBLEMS This version of net3d will almost certainly fail on anything other than a 8-bit pseudocolour display, as it's the only kind of display I've got access to. Hopefully, the next version will include support for 24-bit displays, as well as grey-scale. 2 LEGAL_STUFF Net3d is freely distributable and modifyable, on the condition that no fee is charged for it's distribution (except for the cost of a disc or other media). In other words, you can't sell net3d for profit. Net3d comes with no warranty, so if something goes horribly wrong with the program, causing your computer to explode... tough :).