PC Gamer 2000 June/CD-Gamer_2000-06_10_cd.bin/Games/Daikatana/daikatan.exe/data1.cab/Static-E/readme.txt

Text File | 2000-04-20 | 23KB | 530 lines

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Daikatana DEMO
README.TXT by John Romero (C) 2000 Ion Storm, Inc.
Version 1.0
April 13th, 2000

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Thanks for downloading the demo version of Daikatana, I hope you'll
like it enough to buy the full version!  The demo features a lot of
single-player game time in episodes 1, 2 and 3.  I left out episode
four to keep the mystery quotient up...... what's in the fourth
episode???  Cool stuff -- so cool you'll need to go to the store
and find out! :)

Multiplayer-wise, there's no CTF or DeathTag in this demo version,
but there's Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Cooperative play.  The
first multiplayer demo of Daikatana was released over a year ago
and it only featured episode 1.  This demo has multiplayer in
episodes 1, 2 and 3, so you can play with all the weapons in those
eras and get a feel for the DM styles since they're a little diverse.

When you start playing the demo, you will see a loading screen that
has text on it.  This information is provided because the levels
in the demo do not normally flow from one to another, so I need
to give you the setup for that level.  When you play the retail
version, you won't see this text.

I recommend that you read this file for the most up-to-date
information about various features or technical issues with Daikatana
because we've really been cramming a lot of last-minute stuff in here.


1) General Information
   a) System Requirements
   b) Quake II Engine Enhancements
   c) Game Saving

2) Video Issues
   a) Brightness
   b) Window Switching

3) Sound Issues
   a) 3D Sound

4) Sidekicks
   a) Commanding the sidekicks

5) Skill System
   a) Gaining Levels
   b) Assigning points

6) Multiplayer Games
   a) DeathMatch Rules
   b) Team DeathMatch Rules
   c) Cooperative Rules

7) Console Commands

8) Map Editing

9) Technical Support


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1) General Information

a) System Requirements

   Minimum Specification               Recommended Specification
   ---------------------               -------------------------
   Pentium 233 or equivalent           Pentium II 300 or equivalent
   Windows 95/98/NT/2000           Windows 98/NT/2000
   32Mb RAM                            64Mb RAM
   200Mb Uncompressed HD space         450Mb Uncompressed HD space
   DirectX 6.0 or higher               DirectX 7.0
   4Mb OpenGL compliant video card     16Mb OpenGL compliant video card
   4x CD-ROM                           8x CD-ROM
   100% DirectX-compatible sound card  EAX Enhanced audio supported
   Keyboard and Mouse                  A3D Enhanced audio supported
   A brain capable of comprehending    Complete mastery over FPS games
    complex sidekick commands and
    composites and alloys


   Kickass Specification
   ---------------------
   PentiumIII 500+ or equivalent
   Windows 95/98/NT/2000
   128Mb RAM
   850Mb Uncompressed HD space
   DirectX 7.0 or higher
   32Mb OpenGL compliant video card
   16x CD-ROM


   Multiplayer Support
   ---------------------
   * Internet via TCP/IP with 28.8 or faster connection speed
     (I would suggest having DSL, Cablemodem, or a T1)
   * Local Network via TCP/IP
     (You should have a 100mb Network Card, too)
   * Enhanced play via EidosGames.com


b) Quake II Engine Enhancements

   Daikatana uses a heavily modified Quake II engine.  This means
   that although Quake II runs fairly quickly on today's computers,
   since we have modified the engine, Daikatana will run a little
   slower than Quake II on your machine.  Some of our engine
   modifications and enhancements:

   * Volumetric Fogging
   * Distance Fogging
   * Specular Lighting on Models
   * 32-bit Alpha-blended textures
   * Industry-standard Miles Sound Engine with 3D Audio support
   * Node-based AI System
   * Enhanced Sky Technology (tm)   EST!

c) Game Saving

   After the game loads a new map, your progress is automatically saved
   so after you die, you will come back to the beginning of the current
   map.  At this point, you do NOT need to use a SaveGem -- use it later
   on after you've traveled a ways.

   When you die, pressing FIRE will start you back at the LAST SAVE that
   was perfomed.  This will either be a SAVEGEM save, or a MAP CHANGE
   save.  In the LOAD GAME menu the auto-selected savegame will always
   be the last one saved.  If you choose to go back to the start of the
   current map instead of where you used a SAVEGEM, load up the game
   titled "Last Map Change".  There is no status information shown for
   this savegame though.


****************************************************************
2) Video Issues

a) Brightness

   There are 4 different ways you can use to brighten up Daikatana:

   1) Turn up the Brightness in the VIDEO MENU.  The maximum value is 130%
   brightness.  Some video cards remain unchanged by setting this.

   2) Turn up the Intensity in the VIDEO MENU.  The maximum value is 9.
   Usually, this method is the furthest you need to go as even a couple
   increments of Intensity can give you great results.

   3) Go into your computer's DISPLAY SETTINGS and turn up the OpenGL
   Brightness and maybe even the Gamma (make sure Contrast goes up too).
   Usually you have to click on ADVANCED to reach these controls.

   4) Geez.  You need to turn up the brightness on your monitor!

b) Window Switching

   If you experience problems with switching windows while Daikatana is
   running, click the 'no alt-tab' option in the options menu.



****************************************************************
3) Sound Issues

a) 3D Sound

   Due to programming difficulties, we do NOT have 3D Sound Support
   in this initial release.  We will issue a patch shortly that will
   fix this problem.  The game runs and sounds just fine without
   3D Sound, though.

****************************************************************
4) Sidekicks

   As you travel through Daikatana, you will meet up with two
   characters, Superfly Johnson and Mikiko Ebihara.  They will
   assist you in battling enemies and provide commentary as you
   travel through the game.

   Controlling them is easy.  You can use the Sidekick HUD (press
   the Swap Sidekick or HUD CYCLE key to activate) to give each
   sidekick commands: COME, GET, ATTACK, BACK OFF, STAY.  Press
   the HUD NEXT/PREV keys to cycle through the commands and press
   the HUD USE key to give the command.

   One important note: If the sidekick's status bar is not visible
   on the screen (next to your status bar), you CANNOT give that
   sidekick any commands because they are not close enough to you.
   You will need to find the sidekick before issuing any commands.

The Get Command:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  The get command will tell the sidekick that you want them to pickup a
  specific item.  There are several reasons why they will not pickup a
  specific item:

    1.)The item you have told them to pickup was never intended to
    work with the sidekick or was intended to be in the client's
    inventory.

    2.)They do not need that item.  In the case of telling them to
    pickup health, if they are already at 100% then they will tell
    you they don't need it.  In the case the health item is in a position
    they cannot reach they will tell you they cannot reach it.  This is
    the same with both armor and ammo.

  You will notice a red flare appear at the location that you are point at
  when you tell a sidekick to pick something up.  Make sure the flare is on
  the object you wish the sidekick to pickup.  The Mana Skull, Mega Shield,
  and Wraith Orb will affect all members in the party once picked up by the
  player.

The Come Command:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  The come command is used to tell a sidekick to come to some location
  close to your current location.  The sidekick will adjust his final position
  if you move around after you have instructed the sidekick to come.

The Stay Command:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  This can be good and can also be bad.  When told to 'stay' the sidekick
  will stay right where they are unless hurt by something.  This also means
  that the sidekick will not come to your aid if you are around the corner and
  it would require the sidekick to actually move to get a clear shot of the
  enemy you are currently engaged with.

The Attack Command:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  The attack command will instruct the sidekick that it is ok to attack.  If
  you are pointing at a monster when you tell the sidekick to attack a red
  flare will appear on the monster.  At this point, the sidekick's top priority
  is to kill this one enemy.  Be careful when telling the sidekicks to attack
  something.  They might not be able to kill the monster or might be too low
  on health and or ammo.  If the sidekick runs too low on either they will
  attempt to run away from any enemies present.

The Back Off Command:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  The back off command has dual purposes.  The primary purpose is to tell
  the sidekicks that they are not to attack ANYTHING.  Even if they can
  attack, when instructed to Back Off, the sidekick will evade any monster
  that is currently active and attacking the party.  In order to get the
  sidekick out of 'Back Off' mode one must only tell them to attack.  The other
  use for the 'Back Off' command is to make the sidekick move away from your
  current location.

  IMPORTANT: You can assign HOTKEYS to give the sidekicks
  commands instead of using the Sidekick HUD.  The Keyboard
  menu will let you assign hotkeys for each of the above commands.
  Pressing a sidekick hotkey will give that command ONLY to that
  one sidekick.  Holding down SHIFT while pressing the hotkey
  will give the command to BOTH sidekicks, if they are both
  present.

****************************************************************
5) Skill System

  In Daikatana, dispatching enemies will award you with
  experience points equal to the monster's toughness. If you have
  the Daikatana sword readied as your current weapon, the sword
  will gain the experience points, not your character.

  There are 5 skills you can assign points toward:
  POWER    -- affects the damage your weapons deal out
  ATTACK   -- affects the rate of weapon firing
  SPEED    -- affects your movement speed
  ACRO     -- affects your jumping height
  VITALITY -- affects your maximum health

  There's a maximum of 5 levels for each skill.  You are limited
  to being able to assign 2 skill points to any one skill during
  the first episode.  In each new episode, your skill point maximum
  is increased by one point.  In episode 4, you can assign up to
  five skill points (the maximum) to any of your skills.

a) Gaining Levels

  Kills made with the Daikatana apply experience to the sword, not your character's
  experience.  If the Daikatana is awarded EXP, displaying the scoreboard will
  let you see how close you are to gaining a Daikatana Level.  It takes 100 points
  to gain a Daikatana Level and you can see how close you are in the scoreboard.
  If it displays 1.50, you are halfway to achieving a Level 2 Daikatana.

  When the Daikatana achieves a new Level, you will be surrounded by blue upward-moving
  circles and lots of smoke and particles.

  Kills made with any other weapon apply to your character's experience.
  Experience gained is based on the enemy's hitpoints.  A small, easily killed enemy
  does not give you as much experience as a hard to kill enemy.  Enemies killed by
  your sidekicks do not give you experience points.  Skill points for both the Daikatana
  and your character become increasingly hard to achieve.  The first few points will
  come faster than subsequent ones.

  On the status bar's right-hand cell, there's an image of a person and your character
  level is shown next to it.  To the left of the 'person' there are some little dots.
  As you gain EXP, the dots will fill in vertically.  When the topmost dot is filled,
  you will gain a level and be awarded a SKILL POINT.

  In Multiplay, skill points for both the Daikatana and your character come much faster. The
  number of character skill points can be limited in the Multiplayer setup menu.

b) Assigning Points

  If you are using the Daikatana, the sword will automatically power up when it has reached
  the next level.  If you are using any other weapon, an alert indicator will pop up next to
  the skill attribute status bar, asking you to choose which skill attribute to assign the point
  to.  You can scroll through the attributes using your HUD-Next or HUD-Previous keys.  Press
  HUD USE to assign the point.


****************************************************************
6) Multiplayer Games

When you are connecting to a multiplayer game, you will see a
flashing red light under the LOADING graphic.  When you successfully
connect to a new server, the light will turn green and the map
data will begin loading.  If you are having a problem connecting
to a server, you can press CTRL-C to abort the connection.

IMPORTANT: You can press CTRL-C to abort a multiplayer connection.

a) DeathMatch Rules

   Deathmatch mode in Daikatana is exactly like DM in other games
   except that you can use Daikatana's SKILL SYSTEM to make your
   player more powerful as you score frags.  The person setting
   up the server has the option of using the SKILL SYSTEM or
   turning it off.  The game can end depending on frag limit,
   time limit, or level limit.

   There are many options available while setting up a server.
   You can turn on/off footstep sounds, fast weapon switching,
   respawning of certain items, etc.

   You can also run what is called a DEDICATED SERVER, which is
   a computer that has no one playing on it -- it just runs the
   game and has everyone connect to it.  This is the fairest way
   to play because any player who is playing ON the server machine
   has an advantage because they do not experience latency.  To
   start a DEDICATED SERVER you must pass a command-line parameter
   to Daikatana when you start it up: -dedicated

   RULES:

   (1) Players run around the map accumulating weapons, ammo and
   powerups.

   (2) Players fire upon other players and if they kill the opposing
   player, they get a FRAG.

   Simple. :)

b) Team DeathMatch Rules

   This mode is the same as normal Deathmatch, except that players
   can be on the same team and attempt to score higher than the
   opposing team.

c) Cooperative Rules

   You can play all the way through Daikatana in Cooperative Mode
   (COOP) with a maximum of three players, each one being one of the
   principal characters in Daikatana -- Hiro, Mikiko and Superfly.

   I would suggest first playing Daikatana in Single Player Mode,
   as Cooperative Mode does NOT play the cinematics.  It's intended
   to be the mode you play the game in AFTER you've beaten it --
   but hey, I can't stop you from disobeying my supreme orders!

   RULES:

   (1) In COOP mode, all players have to be at the level transition
   point to have the game progress to the next area.  This prevents
   one player from running straight to the exit and leaving while
   everyone else is still busy gathering items and smashing monsters.

   (2) There is no rescuing Superfly or Mikiko and the end
   of the game is changed slightly as well because of some things that
   I won't be telling you.

   (3) Whenever someone picks up a SAVEGEM, the person who HOSTED the
   game gets the SAVEGEM because only the HOST can save the game.  This
   means that DEDICATED COOP servers can NOT save the game, ever.  You
   MUST HOST a COOP game and play it on the same machine to be able
   to save the game.

   (4) All weapons will STAY on the ground for other players to pick up.

   (5) If a player disconnects (or gets disconnected), they will drop
   a backpack on the ground.  If they reconnect, they can pick up that
   backpack to get all their stuff back.

   (6) If a player connects to a COOP game while the game has
   progressed past the first few areas, they will appear with the
   weapons and ammo that they should have up to that point.

   (7) When everyone exits the level, the number of monsters and secrets
   is displayed.  Someone needs to press FIRE to progress to the next
   area.

f) Public Servers

   To make your server available to everyone on the Internet,
   you have to be a DEDICATED SERVER and have 'public' set to 1.
   Also, port 27982 needs to be open on your firewall if you
   are behind one.

****************************************************************
7) Console Commands

You can only enable the console by having "console 1" in your
AUTOEXEC.CFG, CURRENT.CFG or user config file.  You can also
enable it by passing "+set console 1" as a command-line parameter
to Daikatana.exe.

Here's a short list of some useful console commands:

CHEATS <value>          1 = cheats are turned on
GOD                     God mode/Invulnerable
NOCLIP                  Move through walls
NOTARGET                Monsters don't see you
MASSACRE                Kill all monsters and sidekicks
HEALTH <value>          Give yourself health
WEAPON_GIVE_<value>     Give yourself weapon in slot <value>
SCREENSHOT              Takes a screenshot in TGA format

More Technical Commands:

DEVELOPER <value>       1 = shows all messages from engine
FLUSHMAP <value>        1 = completely clean map load; no caching
R_SPEEDS <value>        1 = show rendering speeds
R_DRAWFLAT <value>      1 = draw flat-shaded polys only
R_FULLBRIGHT <value>    1 = no lightmaps on surfaces
GL_POLYLINES <value>    1 = display line drawing only (not on Voodoo)
TIMESCALE <value>       1 = normal time, 0.5 = half the speed, etc.
CAM_TOGGLE        Toggles 3 different camera modes
CAM_NEXTMON             Cycles through all characters on level
CAM_NEXTSIDEKICK        Cycles through sidekicks

There are about a hundred more of these to be found so check out
www.daikatana.com and eventually there will be a large list available.

You can also ALIAS commands just like you could in Quake2.  A simple
example for turning R_SPEEDS on and off:

alias g1 "bind f4 g2;r_speeds 1"
alias g2 "bind f4 g1;r_speeds 0"
bind f4 g1


****************************************************************
8) Map Editing

Our in-house editor, IonRadiant, is a modified version of QERadiant
by Robert Duffy.  You can get it from http://www.daikatana.com and
it has all the texture generating and map compiling utilities
contained in one ZIP.


9) - Technical Support

Please read the following section before calling technical support:

Because of the millions of different hardware and software combinations possible with
today's Personal Computers, you may still have to refer to your computer manufacturer of
software publisher to properly configure their product to run our game.

Contacting Tech Support

If you have technical questions about the game, our Technical Support Department is here
to help.  Our web site contains up-to-date information on the most common difficulties
with our products; this information is the same as that used by our support agents.  If
you are unable to find the information you need on our web site, please fell free to
contact us via e-mail, fax, telephone or letter.

If you need to talk to someone immediately, call us at [phone].  We are available
to take your calls Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific Standard
Time.  If possible, be at your computer when you call.  The support representative will
need specific information about your computer and may need you to access or change some
of the files while you are on the telephone.  If it is impossible for you to be at your
computer, be sure to have the following information:

->    A listing of your computer's hardware and the settings from Device Manager, including
    what sound and video card your system has. (Contact your computer manufacturer if you
    aren't sure.)
->    What version of Windows you are using.
->    How the game is currently configured.

Our tech support personnel will do their very best to get our software working on your
system, so please be patient with them. Certain times of the year (around Christmas, or
when we release a brand new game) the Tech Support lines can get rather busy. You may be
asked to leave a message about your problem and they will call you back. If you must do
this, please leave a 'best time to call' and our Tech Support people will make their best
efforts to contact you in that timeframe. If you need faster support please use our web
site and check the Tech Support web pages (see below). This is where the most common
problems can be fixed with easy step-by-step instructions, and we recommend trying it
before contacting the Tech Support line. The answer to your question just might be
sitting right there.

Hints and tips will not be given out over the Technical Support line, please refer to a
strategy guide for additional help.

Technical Support Fax
For your convenience, we also offer the option of faxing us with your technical questions
at:
415-537-0095 or 415-547-1202
When sending us a fax, please include your name, return fax number with the area code,
and a voice phone number so we can contact you if we experience any problems when trying
to fax you back.

World Wide Web Support
You may reach us on the web: http://www.eidosinteractive.com
or by e-mail at [e-mail].

Technical Support Mailing Address
Eidos Interactive
651 Brannan Street, 4th floor
San Francisco, CA 94107
Attn.: Customer Support


Eidos Interactive Company Store
For the latest and greatest Eidos merchandise, you can now visit the Eidos Interactive
Store. You can go to the web site at http://www.eidosstore.com