
			VIRTUAL COMBAT (WINDOWS VERSION)
			================================


LICENCE
    Copyright 1993-1996 by David Jameson
    All Rights Reserved
    This software may be freely distributed without restriction


INTRODUCTION

    This is the second release of virtual combat, a multi-user 3d
    game running under X11 and Windows.  The game is a battle
    simulation, with each player being represented by a 3d object.  The
    idea of the game is to be the last person left alive in the game.

    The following versions of the game are available:

    ftp.winsite.com:/pub/pc/win95/games/
	VIRCOM20.ZIP  -  Windows 95/NT version of client and server &
		         Windows 3.1 version of client

    ftp.x.org:/contrib/games/multiplayer/vircom/
	vircom-2.0-mips-ultrix.tar.Z  -  MIPS-Ultrix (e.g. DECStation) version
	vircom-2.0-intel-linux.tar.Z  -  Intel Linux (a.out) version
	vircom-2.0-sparc-solaris1.tar.Z  -  SPARC Solaris 1 (SunOs 4) version
	vircom-2.0-sparc-solaris2.tar.Z  -  SPARC Solaris 2 (SunOs 5) version

    The source code is not being distributed.


REQUIREMENTS

    - A UNIX, Windows 95 or NT machine to run the server on
    - Either an X-server or Windows (3.1, 95 or NT) PC to run the client
    - TCP/IP
    - Hardware floating point


AUTHOR
    David Jameson (freeside@dircon.co.uk)


HISTORY
    Version 1.0 (UNIX only), released November 1993.

    Version 2.0, released February 1996:
	- Windows versions of client and server written
	- Robots added
	- New 3d world designed
	- Improved 3d engine
	- Added configuration options to server
	- Added team games
	- Increased max number of players
	- Lots of minor bug fixes and improvements


INSTALLATION

    Type "pkunzip -d vircom20.zip".  This will create a directory called
    "vircom20" and will extract the archive into this directory.


STARTING THE GAME

    To start the server:
    Open a dos window, cd into the directory where the game is installed
    and type "combats".

    By default the server will also start up one robot player.

    To start a client:
    [1] On windows 95 open a dos window, cd into the directory where the
    game is installed and type "combat".  If you want sound effects,
    type "combat -s".

    or

    [2] On Windows 95 you can also use explorer - click on the "combat"
    icon.  If you want sound you will need to add "-s" to the arguments
    for the program.

    or

    [3] On Windows 3.1, click on the "combat16" icon using program
    manager.  Again, you'll need to specify the "-s" argument to get
    sound.

    You will be asked for a name and password - log in as "admin" with
    password "admin".

    Once logged onto the server, type "help" for more information.


SHUTTING DOWN THE GAME

    Either
    [1] If you have admin status in the game, type "shutdown".

    or

    [2] Press ctrl-C in the server window.

    Doing either of these will log off all players (saving their scores
    first), and shut down the server.


3D WORLDS
    
    The game comes with two 3d worlds: "compound" (the default world) and
    "platform" (a simple platform world).  The world used in the game
    can be changed by using the "world" command in the server, or by
    specifying a different world when starting the server.


KNOWN PROBLEMS/LIMITATIONS

    [1] If you are running the server and more than about 2 clients on
    the same Windows 95 machine, the updates between the clients and the
    server will drop to about 1 per second.  This will only cause a
    problem if you have computer controlled robot players in the game.
    The problem is caused by the braindead scheduling algorithm used in
    Windows 95.

    [2] You can't log into the Windows version of the server from
    standard input (i.e. from the window where you started the server) -
    you can only log in from a client.

    [3] In the Windows version of the server, passwords are stored in
    the savefile in plaintext format (whereas the UNIX version stores
    them encryped).


GENERAL

    You need to have winsock set up before running the program.  If
    you're using Windows 95 you will have to use the "internet wizard";
    if you're using a machine which isn't connected to a network, just
    enter bogus values during the setup.
