Readme.txt
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 			  GLADIATRON 3D (2000)
                       a Bitmap Brotherz game
**********************************************************************


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

- Windows 98 (possibly 95, only if the OpenGL dll's listed below are
   installed)
- 3D Graphics Accelerator Card with **OpenGL** support (sorry, no Voodoo 2) ;(
- Opengl32.dll and Glu32.dll inside your WINDOWS\SYSTEM folder
   (If you don't find these in that folder, you can download them off
    the internet for free at www.isdn-net.de/ado/treiber/dll/o/opengl32.zip
    (for opengl32.dll) and www.isdn-net.de/ado/treiber/dll/g/glu32.zip (for Glu32.dll).
    If this page goes out of existence, try finding it by searching www.altavista.com - 
     Type "download opengl32.dll" or "download glu32.dll" in the blank search field).

- Microsoft DirectX 7.0(or later) installed on your system
  (if you don't have DirectX, you can download the latest version off
   the internet for free at:  www.microsoft.com (go to DOWNLOADS section). 
- 233Mhz processor or above
- 32Mb RAM or above
- any type of sound card



INSTALLATION:

- Double-click the pong.zip file to unpack(decompress) the file.
  
- Inside WinZip click on the EXTRACT button and type in a folder name and path
   of your choice in the field.  This is where all the game files will be sent and stored.

- MAKE SURE that the pong.exe, .bmp files, and .wav files are in the
   SAME folder that you named when you previously extracted them under
   WinZip.  DO NOT create subfolders for pictures, sounds, etc. - the game
   will not work.  Just dump everything into the same folder and everything
   should be fine.

- Double-click on blue window executable ( .exe)  and it should start the game.



PERFORMANCE HINTS:

- Make sure that your destop settings are 640x480 or higher and your color settings
  are in 16 BIT MODE.  This color info is important!  You will see a 10 fps increase if
  you use 16 bit color.  I can't tell the difference in 32 bit mode and it just slows down
  the game.  

- For your convenience, the frame rate will be displayed at the top of the game's window
   (i.e. "fps: 60.4" or so).  The bigger the window is, the slower your frame rate will be.
   The game always starts up in 640x480 mode.  On my 400 Mhz computer, the framerate
   hovers around 60 to 70 fps.  When the game is paused, you can change the window's
   size.  Maximizing it to full screen will generate maybe 50 fps.  So, if your frame
   rate drops below 30 and is too chunky, make the window smaller so the game will have
   less area to update each split second.


GAME INFO:

- This is a 2 player game only.  You can fool around with it by yourself, but when you're
  ready to play, grab a friend or co-worker - that's where the real fun begins!

- Both players can have different camera views at the same time.  Just go under Player..
  Player 1 camera->  in the game's menu.

- If you are wanting a REAL challenge, go under Game.. Effects -> in the menu and turn ON
   the darkness.  This turns off the outside lights so you have less time to see an upcoming
   wall.  Your reflexes have to be quick for this one! NOTE - you must be in 1st person
   or 3rd person to be able to see anything.  If you switch to skycam, you won't even be able
   to see your own cycle because it's so dark!

- All the controls are under Help.. Instructions-> in the game's menu.  Basically, Player 1
   uses the mouse and NumPad - Player 2 uses a 4 button joystick.  If you don't have a
  joystick, not to worry - Player 2 can use the left side of the keyboard (so as not to 
  interfere with Player 1's controls).  

- Press Esc to pause the game.  While it is paused, your mouse pointer will return and you
   can select different options from the menu.  To get back into the game, press Esc again.

- Maybe someday instead of split-screen, I will write network code for this game and my
  other games, so you can play a friend over a network or internet .  But I haven't got
  around to learning DirectPlay yet.  I bought this one tutorial book on network games and 
  the examples from the CD didn't even work on my network computers - and this was a PRO game 
  programmer's code!  Scary.  But, maybe someday I'll try delving into the world of network
  games.  



Comments, suggestions, or problem reports are welcome.  Email us at brianlof@swbell.net
If you want to download more Bitmap Brotherz true 3D games, or just want to check out the
latest news about our upcoming projects/games, please visit our website at
http://home.swbell.net/brianlof/game.html  -  Thank you for playing our games!

