glTron README
News
11.1.2000 - about the different camera modes
Since so many asked: There are three different camera modes
in glTron: the circling camera, a 'behind-view' (like in most racing games),
and a first person view (VERY hard to play with).
Press F10 to switch between them.
The circling camera is the default, because I think it make for the most
interesting gameplay. I agree, it's more difficult like that, but hey,
I want some challenge! I hope, the computers in the next version will be
smarter and they will have faster reflexes (of course you can set them
to 'I can win' then :-)
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Some windows users had problems running the current gltron version,
since I forgot to include the glut32.dll in the zip-file. Many people
have it, but some apparently don't. So if your computer complains about
a missing
glut32.dll, get it
here. Copy it either into your gltron directory, or into \windows\system.
I now included glut32.dll in the gltron-0.53.zip too.
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Ok, since I'm trying to port the mikmod mod-player on top of plib and
maybe the Unreal Tournament engine, I'll work less with gltron and so
I think I'll release what I have now. There are quite some (useful)
changes since 0.52. The most important things:
- randomized explosion vectors a bit, looks much better now
- explosion debris fades slowly
- new logo from David Banz
- accordingly, changed the color of the menu foreground and background
to fit the logo
- changed FPS code, added average / worst case FPS counter
- game finishes now after last crash is over (less abrupt)
- can't turn cycle after crash anymore
- added switch/option to capture mouse pointer (useful for Voodoo1/2 owners)
- added switch/option do disable lightcycle turning smoothly
- added switch/option to disable crash texture
- moved lightcycle option to video/options
- added bilinear filtering for wall & crash textures
(thanks David for pointing that out, I just forgot it)
I received one (1) idea for intro cinematics until now. Use your
imagination! Even if the idea sucks, send it in, maybe I can
piece something together if I get enough propositions.
If you like glTron, go and rate it at
happypenguin.org.
Currently it has three stars out of five. I'd love to get a solid 4/5.
And maybe you feel generous.
As always: Download it!
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I'm looking for some ideas for intro cinematics. It will be rendered with
the engine, but if it needs additional effects / textures that's no
problem. Send me your ideas!
4.1.2000 - 0.52 for Macintosh is here
Thanks to Darrell Walisser, we
have a new Macintosh build (and it's with sound). You might want to
check the readme file in the archive. It's available at the
download section.
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My computer and glTron proved Y2k safe! The current version adds some
eye candy: An exploding lightcycle model and a (hopefully) cool 'crash'
texture. I also changed the floor texture a bit. Just felt like it...
From the CHANGELOG:
- added crash texture
- +necessary files: gltron_crash.cgi
- added exploding lightcycle upon crash
- added rotating lightcycle when doing corners (still ugly)
- fixed lightcycle material alpha
- changed floor texture a bit
A note: I'm currently not supporting software rendering, i.e. some
graphically intensive options can't be turned off. I'll fix that in
the next versions (if I don't forget). If you can't wait, send mail
until I do it :-)
Download it!
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I configured a CVS server for the interested: Try
cvs -d :pserver:anonymous@www.ards.net:/usr/local/cvs login
The password is (you guessed it) anonymous. Then do
cvs -d :pserver:anonymous@www.ards.net:/usr/local/cvs co gltron
Later, you can just do a
cvs update
to retrieve the latest development version. Have fun! And send me your
patches :-)
For win32 users there's WinCVS.
I prefer the command line interface though.
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Ok, the windows binary is ready. Before I try to get it announced on
3dfiles or voodooextreme, I'd be glad if a few of you could test it a
bit and send mail so I know there are no problems. I
tested it on windows 98, a voodoo 3 and latest drivers from www.glsetup.com.
Download it!
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Ok, I'm not going to release every day from now on, but I think this was
worth it.
- fixed model coloring
- fixed a few win32 problems
- fixed chase camera (finally)
- moved to CVS (makes development easier)
Download it!
I could use some feedback on the menu interface.
After dinner, I'm going to build a win32 version.
Please do not link to these files directly, since new releases happen
fairly often. Link to
http://www.ards.net/Andreas/gltron.html#download
instead.
Is your favorite OS not listed here? Go, compile gltron and send me
the binary!
- Linux (source)
The
current sourcecode - 0.53 - no sound (about 80 kbyte) or
The
current sourcecode - 0.53 - with sound (about 550 kbyte)
You need
OpenGL or
Mesa and
Glut. Tested
with Mesa 3.0, Mesa 3.1 and Glut 3.7. Older versions may or may not work.
If you want sound, you also need
libmikmod . Make sure you
have at least version 3.17.
Note: Mesa comes with glut so, for you linux users there is no
need for a seperate download.
- addendum: I was told that
glut is not in MesaLib-3.0.tar.gz but in MesaDemos-3.0.tar.gz - so get
the demos too (recommended), or get glut seperately
- FreeBSD (binary)
You can get the FreeBSD binary from your nearest
mirror or from the FreeBSD
game ports page.
- Windows 95/98 (binary)
The
current windows version - 0.53 - with sound (about 650 kbyte)
Tested on win9x, though it might still have some issues - reported to run
on NT too (please send mail if not). Check out the README.txt after
you downloaded it!
The windows binaries are compiled by myself now, but I have not tested
them too much (I hate to boot windows).
Note: If you have a 3D accelerator and windows, go to
www.glsetup.com and get the
newest drivers. If you want fast software rendering, try the
SGI MMX
renderer. Attention! You have to rename it to opengl32.dll and
copy it into the gltron directory.
- Alpha (Windows NT - binary)
The Alpha port was compiled by
Jonas Gustavsson.
Since I don't own a Alpha station, it haven't tested this. It would be nice if
someone could confirm that it's running fine.
The alpha
port - 0.46 zip archive. Jonas got rid of the second executable since
the performance gain was neglectable (and you have only half as much to
download now).
- Macintosh (binary)
The
new macintosh version - 0.53, compiled by
Darrell Walisser.
I have not tested this (I have no Mac). Please report your
success story.
Apple has a OpenGL for Macintosh
page where you can get the latest OpenGL drivers.
I don't think 3dfx cards are supported by Apple right now, but you
Voodoo owners can get the
OpenGL drivers from 3dfx.
Macintosh owners don't need GLUT since the current version is
statically linked.
- BeOS (x86 binary)
The
BeOS version - 0.44, compiled by
Matt Wronkiewicz.
Get Glut for BeOS
too. As for the other ports, I have not tested this (I don't have
BeOS).
- Amiga (68060 / PPC binary)
The
Amiga version - 0.45 (no sound), compiled by
Oliver Schuler.
as for the other ports, I have not tested this (I don't have an Amiga).
- Old stuff
If, for some obscure reason, you're interested in the history of this
game, I moved the older versions into
the archive
- Documentation
The
newest version
of this document
(in case you don't read that on the web).
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Thanks for all those that gave me feedback! It's great to receive your
mails and encourages me to continue development!
I'm always interested in your opinion about the game: Here's a list if you
don't know what to write:
What do you think of
- the menu system? Is it easy to use? Has it all the functionality?
Are you missing something?
- the documentation? Had you troubles to find out something?
- the graphics? Do you like the textures? The lightcycle model?
- the music? Any ideas? (yes, I know, sound effects would be cool
but I can't make them myself - I'm a programmer)
- the gameplay? I don't think anyone plays this game for more than
15 minutes in a row, but from time to time it's still fun, or not?
Maybe you have some ideas on what I should implement too. Send your mails
to Andreas Umbach <marvin@dataway.ch>
!
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Future plans:
- improved computer opponent - more aggressive
- small 2d view (dots for players, no trails)
- network play
- sound effects (send me your wav-files!)
- non square arenas - that surely will defeat the boring always stay
close to the arena border strategy
- any ideas?
It would be nice if someone could think about how to add network play.
I'm a bit concerned about latency issues / client prediction stuff,
collision detection on server & client.
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gltron was inspired by the film tron - actually, more by all the
games that where inspired by the film tron :-)
It's a game for one to four players, the objective is not to drive into a wall.
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Type 'gltron -h' for command line switches.
Use the cursor keys (up/down) and Space/Enter to navigate the menus.
Press Escape to get up one menu-level / back to the game.
'q' exits the game immediately (a panic button, just in case...)
Press space to start/restart/pause the game
Controls for Player 1:
turn left: 'a'
turn right: 's'
Controls for Player 2:
turn left: 'k'
turn right: 'l'
Controls for Player 3:
turn left: '5'
turn right: '6'
Controls for Player 4:
turn left: Cursor left
turn right: Cursor right
Change View:
'F1': Single player view
'F2': Two player view
'F3': Four player view
'F10': Change Camera movement
Misc:
Safe settings: 'F5'
Cheats:
show 2D-Bitmap: 'd' toggles a 2D-bitmap
Have Fun!
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You want to check out the INSTALL file that comes with gltron too.
These instructions are rather confusing. Someone wants to help?
needed:
Mesa or OpenGL,
Glut and, if you want sound, libmikmod (see the
links section on where to get these packages)
recommended:
a 3D card that is support by linux. Software only users should
try the -wt1 switch or maybe even -wtb1
if you can run glQuake at reasonable speed, this should run fine :-)
If you are using Linux (and Mesa) and you want to compile without sound,
just type 'make'. If you want sound support, type
'make sound'. If you are using any other architecture
you will most probably have to change the Makefile. Some hints:
1) You probably won't need all the XLIBS stuff, try to remove those that
give you problems.
2) You probably will have to change '-lMesaGL -lMesaGLU' to '-lGL -lGLU'
If you manage to compile for another architecure besides Linux/Mesa,
please send me the Makefile so I can include it. I'm serious here,
please send me the Makefile (see how many Makefiles are included so far?)!
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Required Software
You need the following libraries to run gltron.
- The Mesa 3-D graphics library.
Better than many licensed OpenGL implementations.
You need Mesa if you don't already have OpenGL installed.
- Glut, the
OpenGL utility toolkit makes it easy to write platform independent OpenGL
software. Unfortunately it's not GPL'd, and development stopped a year ago.
Mesa comes with glut, so you'll only need glut if you don't have Mesa (or
if you have some Mesa RPM that does not contain glut or the glut include
files).
addendum: I was told that
glut is not in MesaLib-3.0.tar.gz but in MesaDemos-3.0.tar.gz - so get
the demos too (recommended), or get glut seperately
- libmikmod. Libmikmod is
a portable sound library, as well as a mod player. Make sure you have
version 3.17 or newer!
Libmikmod is only required if you build with sound.
Sites of interest
Quite a few sites link to my page now, so I want to link
back to them. Also listed are a few other sites that could be of interest.
- happypenguin.org,
a site dedicated to linux gaming.
- freshmeat, all the new software
- linuxberg, a lot of Linux software,
with ratings (gltron scored 4/5, future versions will hopefully get the
five penguins!)
- Tuxedo T. Penguin:
A Quest for Herring, an impressive 3D game with very cute graphics and
huge potential. If you have any talent in level design, music or art, go
and help them.
- Newtron.
Looks like some Amiga fans (yes, that thing still exists) are doing exactly
the same as I.
-
Tron 3D.
A very promising tron clone. Has a lightcycle model, sound effects ripped
from the movie, etc. It tries to stay very close to the movie scene.
Unfortunately it runs only under windows.
Other stuff
- If you are interested in OpenGL and want to support
gltron, buy a book
(the page contains links to amazon.com / amazon.de that will get me a
15% provision).
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