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The Rocket Manual
Welcome to Rocket! This is a freeware game for two to eight players. Beta version. Rocket is a Gravity Force-style game in the tradition of Asteroids, featuring network multiplayer, team dogfight.
Hope you like this game, and let me know what you think! Start your engines! Have fun!
Installation
Extract the zip file. Make a new directory somewhere on your harddisk and move everything there, e. g. c:\games\rocket.
Single player test flight
You can try out the game without any network setup and connection by entering 1 after starting 'rocket.exe'.
Figure 1: Host, join or test flight?
Network setup
Since this is a network multi-player game only, you can only play it with at least two players on two networked computers. It is not possible for more than one player to play on one computer (e. g. using splitscreen). Up to eight players can join the game.
All players need to see each other in the Windows network. Tell firewalls not to block Rocket.
Start server
The Rocket Server must be running all the time. Start the server before any clients. The server can run on the same computer as one of the clients. Simply run 'rocket.exe' and press return when asked (Figure 1).
When there are some players logged in, it will look like Figure 2.
Figure 2: Server running
Start clients
Every player starts 'rocket.exe' and enters the server ip address (i. e. xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) or name (e. g. papabear) when asked. Then he can enter a name to use during the game.
For example, Hans wants to join the game hosted on server papabear. Hans starts 'rocket.exe', enters 'papabear' (or the corresponding ip '123.456.789.001') when asked, and enters his name ('Hans') (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Entering host name and player name
If there's a connection to the server it should say so in the main menu at the bottom line of the screen ('Connected to...') (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Client connected
Controls
In-game controls: Cursor keys or joystick to steer left (left), right (right), to shoot (up), and to drop bombs (down). Ctrl, space, return or joystick button one to accelerate.
Menu controls: Cursor keys or joystick. Fire to select. Alt, esc, or joystick button two to cancel.
In-game menu controls: Cursor keys and Ctrl, space, return, or joystick and joystick button one.
Connect joystick(s) before starting (not during) the game.
Goals and gameplay
Shoot everybody who is not in your team (Figure 5). The team that survives wins.
Figure 5: Teams (Rockets, Hot Rods, Gliders, Aces)
You can land on bases to rest and to change the configuration of your vehicle. You can drop bombs to erase little pieces of land (bombs do not harm players or erase bases). Do not collide with anything (except bases).
Sound and music
Sound effects are always switched on. Music can be toggled on and off. If you place a music CD in the drive Rocket will play tracks from it.
Levels
You can play different levels (just make sure everybody agrees on one level to play together - choose in the main menu (Figure 4)).
You might even edit the levels if you take a closer look at the files in the 'pics' directory (there are two graphic files for each level, 'field' and 'bases' - you cannot change the positions of the bases and the sizes of the levels, though). If you have created your favorite level, please send it to me, I might put it on the Rocket web-site and/or into the next game release.
Hardware and Software requirements
The hardware requirements are moderate. The game should run smoothly on Pentium III (or Athlon) computers. A Pentium II 300 MHz computer we tested the game with was notably too slow, though.
Rocket has been tested succesfully with Windows 2000 and Windows 98. If there's a problem on your computer (and it's not because of your paranoid security settings) please let me know.
About
Rocket was written by dace. It is freeware. Do not pay for it. Give it to your friends.
If you want to make a new level for Rocket or graphics, or sounds, let me know! Contact dace at Rocket's homebase at 0rigami.com.
Visit Rocket on the Net
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