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Difference between revisions of "Getting Started"

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Users that wish to register can simply do so on the BZFlag fourms at [http://my.bzflag.org/bb/profile.php?mode=register]
 
Users that wish to register can simply do so on the BZFlag fourms at [http://my.bzflag.org/bb/profile.php?mode=register]
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===Running the game===
 
===Running the game===
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====Main Menu====
 
====Main Menu====
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The main menu includes a number of menu items that lead to sub menus. The most important menu for new layers is the '''Join Game''' item.
 
The main menu includes a number of menu items that lead to sub menus. The most important menu for new layers is the '''Join Game''' item.
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|[[Image:MainMenu.png|right|thumb|200px|The Main Menu]]
 
|[[Image:MainMenu.png|right|thumb|200px|The Main Menu]]
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====Join Game Menu====
 
====Join Game Menu====
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Users wishing to join an internet game in progress should choose the '''Join Game''' item from the main menu.
 
Users wishing to join an internet game in progress should choose the '''Join Game''' item from the main menu.
  
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Once this information has been entered, the user must choose a server to play on. Servers are games of BZFlag that are hosted on the internet. There are over 200 servers to choose from. A listing of all the servers can be found by highlighting the '''Find Server''' menu item to bring up the server list.
 
Once this information has been entered, the user must choose a server to play on. Servers are games of BZFlag that are hosted on the internet. There are over 200 servers to choose from. A listing of all the servers can be found by highlighting the '''Find Server''' menu item to bring up the server list.
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|[[Image:JoinGame.png|right|thumb|200px|]]
 
|[[Image:JoinGame.png|right|thumb|200px|]]
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|-
 
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====Server List====
 
====Server List====
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The server list menu shows a listing of all publicly available internet games. The list is sorted by the number of players on each server at any time, and will dynamically change over time. The servers with the highest player counts will always be at the top of the list.
  
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If you want to see a list of current servers, move to the "Find Server" option.
+
The various servers can be highlighted using the arrow keys, and additional information about the highlighted game will be shown at the top of the screen. Once the user has chosen a server to join they must hit the enter key to select the server and return to the Join Game Menu.
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A second or two after you select this, a series of servers will appear on the list, with the most popular servers being first.
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Select one that sounds good, and you will be returned to the "Join Game" screen. Then select "Connect", and you will join the server. Once the join is complete, you will see a list of users, a server message, and any other info (such as chat), in the chat box.
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|[[Image:ServerList.png|right|thumb|300px|The Serverlist]]
 
|[[Image:ServerList.png|right|thumb|300px|The Serverlist]]
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|-
 +
|
 +
====Entering a Game====
 +
When a server is choosen from the Server List, it's information will be automaticly entered into the appropriate fields in the Join Game menu. The user may then choose a team color, or leave the setting on automatic if they wish the server to assign them to a team.
  
 +
When all the information is entered, the user simply has to choose connect menu item, and they will join the game. If additional textures or resources are needed to join the game, they will be downloaded automatically.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 +
====Playing BZFlag====
 +
Once the user has joined the game they will be able to enjoy the gameplay that has made BZFlag one of the most popular open source games in history.
  
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===Playing BZFlag===
+
=====Controls=====
 +
The basic controls for the game are rather simple.
  
−
Once you've joined a server, you are going to be playing with anywhere from 5-35 other people. Their names are listed on an in-game screen, which can be enabled or disabled by pressing "s". This list shows a few things:
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By default the mouse is used for movement. Moving the mouse up and down will move the tank forwards and backwards, while moving the mouse left and right will cause the tank to turn in that direction. Returning the mouse to the center of the screen will cause the tank to stop moving.
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* Current players
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* Player score (Kills, deaths, teamkills, etc..)
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* Current teams (Each color represents a team)
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* CTF Score (If the map is a CTF (Capture The Flag), then the current CTF score is in the top-right)
+
  
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====Radar====
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The left mouse button is used to fire the tank's weapon.
  
−
The Radar (In the bottom left), shows a top, 2d view of the map. This is useful for dodging bullets, and making sure no one sneaks up behind you.
+
Optionally the keyboard can be used. The arrow keys control movement in the same way as the mouse, and the space bar is used to fire the weapon.
  
−
====Mouse Box====
+
Some servers offer a feature that allows tanks to jump. The ''tab'' key is used to start a small jump into the air. When jumping a tank normally can not change it's speed or direction until it lands. Depending on the map, it may be possible for tanks to jump and land on various world objects and continue to fight.
  
 +
=====Objective=====
 +
BZFlag is a team game, and has various objectives depending on the game type.
 +
 +
The default game type is '''Free For All''', commonly abreviated as ''FFA''. This mode is similar to a team death match in other first person shooting type games. The objective is to destory as many tanks as possible on other teams, while minimizing your own losses. Tanks are destroyed by being shot, in most cases one shot is all it takes to kill an enemy tank.
 +
 +
=====Scoreboard=====
 +
Once a player has joined a server, they should notice a number of things, including the scoreboard.
 +
 +
Internet games commonly feature between 5 and 20 players. The names of these players will be listed in the scoreboard on the left hand side of the screen. The scorebored can be hidden and shown by using the ''S'' key.
 +
 +
=====Radar=====
 +
The Radar (In the bottom left), shows a top, 2d view of the map. This is useful for dodging bullets, and seeing where other players are in relation to the users' tank.
 +
 +
====Mouse Box====
 
The "mousebox" is used for a few things:
 
The "mousebox" is used for a few things:
 
* Helps you aim. The tiny rectangle in the middle shows where your bullets are going to go
 
* Helps you aim. The tiny rectangle in the middle shows where your bullets are going to go

Revision as of 00:52, 19 February 2008

Overview

This article covers the basics of getting started with BZFlag. It is intended for new players who have just found the game and require assistance. More detailed help can be found on our Getting Help page.

Getting Started

These simple steps have been designed to allow new users to begin playing the game as quickly as possible.

Downloading and installing the game

The main thing users need to play is the game software. Users can Download the software for a number of different systems.

Windows

The most common operating system for players is Microsoft Windows. A simple installer can be found at, http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/bzflag/bzflag-2.0.10.exe?download . Simply Double click the downloaded file to install the game.

Mac OSX

The next most popular system for players is Apple's MacOS X for the Macintosh famialy of computers. The version for macs can be found at, http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/bzflag/BZFlag-2.0.10.dmg . Simply drag the BZFlag icon from the extracted DMG to your hard drive to install the game.

Linux

The project does not distribute a premade binary package for linux, but many linux distrobutions have BZFlag in their package management systems ( APT, YUM, emerge, etc.. ). Linux users can always build the game from the source code. Please see the downloads page for more information.

Registering a callsign(Optional)

It is not mandatory to register a callsign ( the name a player uses in-game), but it is hihgly recommended.

A few of the benefits of registering are:

  • The callsign is reserved, and can not be used by any other player.
  • Registered users post on the BZFlag forums
  • Registered users can join global groups, and leagues.
  • Many servers require registration to play.

Users that wish to register can simply do so on the BZFlag fourms at [1]

Running the game

Once the game is installed, it must be run to play.

Windows

Windows users that have installed the game with the provided installer will find a shortcut to the game in the start menu, under program files. Users simply have to click this shortcut to start the game.

Mac OS X

Macintosh users simply have to double click the BZFlag icon that they draged to there computer to start the game.

Linux

Linux, and other unix based platforms can start the game by typing the command bzflag in a terminal.

Joining a game

When the game is first started it will show the main menu screen. Users navigate the menu by using the Up and Down arrow keys to highlight a menu item, and using the enter key to select and activate the highlighted item.

Main Menu

The main menu includes a number of menu items that lead to sub menus. The most important menu for new layers is the Join Game item.

The Main Menu

Join Game Menu

Users wishing to join an internet game in progress should choose the Join Game item from the main menu.

On the first run of the game software all the fields in the Join Menu will be empty. Players need to use the arrow keys to highlight the Callsign item and input a player name. This name will be how other players see the user. Registered users should use the same callsign that they registered when playing. Registered users should also enter in their password into the item marked password. This password is only used for to verify your identity and is NEVER sent to the game server.

The e-mail string is optional and usually left blank by many users.

Once this information has been entered, the user must choose a server to play on. Servers are games of BZFlag that are hosted on the internet. There are over 200 servers to choose from. A listing of all the servers can be found by highlighting the Find Server menu item to bring up the server list.

JoinGame.png

Server List

The server list menu shows a listing of all publicly available internet games. The list is sorted by the number of players on each server at any time, and will dynamically change over time. The servers with the highest player counts will always be at the top of the list.

The various servers can be highlighted using the arrow keys, and additional information about the highlighted game will be shown at the top of the screen. Once the user has chosen a server to join they must hit the enter key to select the server and return to the Join Game Menu.

The Serverlist

Entering a Game

When a server is choosen from the Server List, it's information will be automaticly entered into the appropriate fields in the Join Game menu. The user may then choose a team color, or leave the setting on automatic if they wish the server to assign them to a team.

When all the information is entered, the user simply has to choose connect menu item, and they will join the game. If additional textures or resources are needed to join the game, they will be downloaded automatically.

Playing BZFlag

Once the user has joined the game they will be able to enjoy the gameplay that has made BZFlag one of the most popular open source games in history.

Controls

The basic controls for the game are rather simple.

By default the mouse is used for movement. Moving the mouse up and down will move the tank forwards and backwards, while moving the mouse left and right will cause the tank to turn in that direction. Returning the mouse to the center of the screen will cause the tank to stop moving.

The left mouse button is used to fire the tank's weapon.

Optionally the keyboard can be used. The arrow keys control movement in the same way as the mouse, and the space bar is used to fire the weapon.

Some servers offer a feature that allows tanks to jump. The tab key is used to start a small jump into the air. When jumping a tank normally can not change it's speed or direction until it lands. Depending on the map, it may be possible for tanks to jump and land on various world objects and continue to fight.

Objective

BZFlag is a team game, and has various objectives depending on the game type.

The default game type is Free For All, commonly abreviated as FFA. This mode is similar to a team death match in other first person shooting type games. The objective is to destory as many tanks as possible on other teams, while minimizing your own losses. Tanks are destroyed by being shot, in most cases one shot is all it takes to kill an enemy tank.

Scoreboard

Once a player has joined a server, they should notice a number of things, including the scoreboard.

Internet games commonly feature between 5 and 20 players. The names of these players will be listed in the scoreboard on the left hand side of the screen. The scorebored can be hidden and shown by using the S key.

Radar

The Radar (In the bottom left), shows a top, 2d view of the map. This is useful for dodging bullets, and seeing where other players are in relation to the users' tank.

Mouse Box

The "mousebox" is used for a few things:

  • Helps you aim. The tiny rectangle in the middle shows where your bullets are going to go
  • Your altitude. The sides of the mousebox have markings, showing how high off the ground you are.
  • Reload time. To the left of the mousebox, there are small rectangles, each of which show how long until a shot is reloaded. The number of boxes depend on the number of shots on the server.

Sportsmanship

When playing BZFlag, keep a few simple rules in mind:

  • Don't shoot at people on your own team.
  • Make sure to not accidentally carry your team flag everywhere. (This is called flag running)
  • If you're nice to others, they will be nice to you. (Keep the language clean, be polite, etc..)
A typical server. This client has modified textures, so it will not look identical to yours.
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