|     --     |\     ----     |--\    |    |   |     | |     |  -----  |--\   \    / |    /  \    | \    |        |   |   |    |   |\    | |\    |  |      |   |   \  / |   |    |   |  |   |---     |--/    |    |   | \   | | \   |  |---   |--/     \/ |   |    |   |  |   |        |  \    |    |   |  \  | |  \  |  |      |  \     /\ |    \  /    | /    |        |   \    \  /    |   \ | |   \ |  |      |   \   /  \ ----  --     |/     -----    |    \    --     |    \| |    \|  -----  |    \ /    \ ====================================================================================== =                                                                                    = =               LODE RUNNER X                                                        = =            Created by Mike Doty                                                    = =                                                                                    = =                May 12, 2006                                                        = =                                                                                    = =         http://mikdot.allhyper.com                                                 = =                                                                                    = ====================================================================================== ====================================================================================== =                                                                                    = =  I.  Introduction                                                                  = =                                                                                    = =  Thank you for downloading LRX.  I hope you enjoy it!                              = =                                                                                    = =  I created LRX because I wanted to play Lode Runner again.  I couldn't find a      = =  good version on emulator; some ran too quickly, some ran too slowly.  Some        = =  worked well but didn't let you skip levels and made you start at level 1          = =  every time.                                                                       = =                                                                                    = =  Soon, this project became much more than a Simple remake of Lode Runner. It       = =  evolved into what you see now:  LRX.                                              = =                                                                                    = =  This README will explain how to get started in the game.                          = =                                                                                    = ====================================================================================== ====================================================================================== =                                                                                    = =  II.  Controls & Settings                                                          = =                                                                                    = =  LRX supports most gamepads and joysticks.  If you'd like to use one,              = =  you might wish to configure which button does what in the options menu            = =  before you being.                                                                 = =                                                                                    = =  To do this, choose "Preferences" from the Main Menu.  THen, select the            = =  "Controls / Options" item.                                                        = =                                                                                    = =  Now you will be able to customize your joystick or gamepad.  To input a new       = =  button, simply left-click on any action and then press the desired button on      = =  your joystick or gamepad.                                                         = =                                                                                    = =  If you have been a fan of Lode Runner since its Commodore 64 roots, you know      = =  Lode Runner was meant to be played with a joystick.  :)                           = =                                                                                    = ====================================================================================== ====================================================================================== =                                                                                    = =  III.  Single Player                                                               = =                                                                                    = =  LRX provides a very extensive single player component.  To enter single           = =  player mode, begin by selecting "SIngle Player" from the Main Menu.               = =                                                                                    = =  In Single Player mode, you can either begin a New Game -- click "New Game" to     = =  do this -- or you can load a specific level.  If you were already in a game,      = =  you can choose the "Resume Game" option to return to the game immediately.        = =                                                                                    = =  In LRX, you can play the levels in any order you like.  The game presents a       = =  total of 55 official Single Player levels.  These levels in particular earn       = =  you gold to spend in the Cheats Menu. (You can access the Cheats Menu by          = =  entering the "Preferences" section from the Main Menu.)                           = =                                                                                    = =  LRX also offers a very large number of additional "Custom Levels."  Right now,    = =  all of these Custom Levels come in the form of multiplayer levels or extra        = =  levels.  However, when you create levels with the built-in Level Editor, you will = =  find your saved levels in the "Custom Levels" section.                            = =                                                                                    = =  You will also notice a tab labeled "Downloaded Levels.'  In addition to the       = =  vast number of levels prepackaged with the game, LRX gives you the option of      = =  downloading even more levels.  Use the "CHeck Updates" button on the Main Menu    = =  to check for new updates (including levels).  Any new downloaded levels will      = =  appear in the "Downloaded Levels" section.                                        = =                                                                                    = ====================================================================================== ====================================================================================== =                                                                                    = =  IV.  Multiplayer                                                                  = =                                                                                    = =  As you master LRX's Single Player mode, you will begin to look for new chall-     = =  enges.  You will find these new challenges in the form of LRX's                   = =  Multiplayer Mode.                                                                 = =                                                                                    = =  In Multiplayer Mode, you can either team up with up to 3 friends and work         = =  together to defeat the enemies and solve each level, or you can spar with those   = =  same 3 friends in a large variety of deathmatch game modes.                       = =                                                                                    = =  To play LRX Multiplayer Mode, you will need to either create a game or join a     = =  game.                                                                             = =                                                                                    = =      A.  Create a Game                                                             = =                                                                                    = =      If either no game is avaliable to join or you simply want to create           = =      your own game, select the "Host Multiplayer" option.  You will see            = =      an in-depth setup screen.  From here you can customize nearly every           = =      aspect of the multiplayer experience.  Assign the number of                   = =      lives each player has, add enemy bots, set kill goals, or use any             = =      number of other settings to make your own unique mulitplayer game.            = =                                                                                    = =          1.  Kill Goals                                                            = =                                                                                    = =          When you set a Kill Goal, you're specifying the number of kills           = =          a player must achieve to win.  If you set Player Kills to 5,              = =          then that player must kill the other player(s) 5 times to                 = =          win.  The same idea applies to Enemy Kills and Total Kills.               = =                                                                                    = =              a)  Self Kills                                                        = =                                                                                    = =              It seems silly, but you can even set a kill that requires             = =              a player to kill themself a certain number of times to                = =              win.  One game idea that incorporates this setting is                 = =              "Goalie Mode."  Here, one player must kill themself                   = =              a number of times, while the other player must kill the               = =              first player a number of times.  Thus, the second                     = =              player must essentially stop the first player from killing            = =              themself by killing them  first.  Cool, huh?  :)                      = =                                                                                    = =          2.  Gold Capture                                                          = =                                                                                    = =          In Gold Capture, a player must capture a certain number of gold           = =          bars in order to win.  If you set this value higher than the              = =          number of gold bars that actually exist in a level, the game will         = =          automatically reduce it to the number of gold in the level when           = =          the round officially begins.                                              = =                                                                                    = =          If any player has to pick up gold in a level, any player who              = =          does not need gold cannot pick it up; this allows the player              = =          who does need it the chance to actually get it.                           = =                                                                                    = =          3.  King of the Hill                                                      = =                                                                                    = =          LRX also sports a King of the Hill mode.  This mode requires              = =          you to stand alone in the hill (highlighted by a green box) for           = =          approximately 20 seconds.                                                 = =                                                                                    = =          To enable King of the Hill mode, simply set the KOTH goal for any         = =          player to a nonzero value.                                                = =                                                                                    = =              a)  Warning Time                                                      = =                                                                                    = =              You can leave the hill (voluntarily or by death)                      = =              for up to 10 seconds at a time.  A progress meter at                  = =              the bottom of the rectangle will show you how close to                = =              10 seconds you have come.  Once you have exceeded this                = =              warning time, the hill resets to default and anybody can              = =              claim it once again.                                                  = =                                                                                    = =              b)  Possession                                                        = =                                                                                    = =              TO gain time on the hill, you must be alone on the                    = =              hill; no enemy or player can be on the hill with you.                 = =                                                                                    = =              c)  Movement                                                          = =                                                                                    = =              The game itself decides upon the hill's location.  Each               = =              time a player captures a hill, the hill will move to                  = =              another location.                                                     = =                                                                                    = =          4.  Keep the Flag                                                         = =                                                                                    = =          In Keep the Flag mode, you must maintain possession of the flag           = =          for a certain number of minutes.  Your time remains cumulative;           = =          thus, you can lose the flag at one time, pick it up later, and            = =          resume from the time you left off at.                                     = =                                                                                    = =          To enable Keep the Flag mode, simply set the Flag MInutes goal            = =          for any player to a nonzero value.                                        = =                                                                                    = =              a)  Picking up the Flag                                               = =                                                                                    = =              To grab the flag, you only need to run over it.                       = =                                                                                    = =              You cannot drop the flag until you are killed.                        = =                                                                                    = =          5.  Starting Lives/etc.                                                   = =                                                                                    = =          Here, you will decide how many lives each player will have at             = =          the beginning of the game.                                                = =                                                                                    = =          Similar settings include the number of bombs, ropes, and gas              = =          cans each player will begin with.                                         = =                                                                                    = =          6.  Turbo Mode                                                            = =                                                                                    = =          If a player is operating in Turbo Mode, they will move at 2x              = =          normal speed!  Watch your step!                                           = =                                                                                    = =          7.  Dark Mode                                                             = =                                                                                    = =          In Dark Mode, all but a small portion of the action in a level            = =          appears hidden from you.  You only can see a small circle                 = =          around your player.                                                       = =                                                                                    = =          This mode can be fun in gold collecting modes; make one                   = =          player play in Dark Mode and have to find all of the gold                 = =          while another player without Dark Mode hunts them down.                   = =                                                                                    = =          Another fun preset mode, "Alone in the Dark," places all                  = =          players in dark mode and at the mercy of several unforgiving              = =          Bomber Enemies.  May the last survivor win!                               = =                                                                                    = =          8.  Must Reach All Limits                                                 = =                                                                                    = =          If you want a player to have to reach 2 or more goals in a game           = =          -- for instance, 10 Player Kills along with 2 minutes with the            = =          flag -- you can check this box.  This box requires the player to          = =          reach each and every goal in order to win.                                = =                                                                                    = =          On the other hand, if you leave this box unchecked, you can set           = =          a variety of goals and only need to reach one of them to win.             = =                                                                                    = =          9.  Additional Enemies                                                    = =                                                                                    = =          Use this setting to add up to 4 of each type of enemy to the              = =          game.  More enemies will require more bandwidth, so if                    = =          you find having 8 enemies slows the game down, just lower it to           = =          a lower number (say, 3 or 4) and everything should work fine.             = =                                                                                    = =          10.  Load Map Items                                                       = =                                                                                    = =          By default, LRX loads all items -- bombs, ropes, etc. -- onto a           = =          map.  If you want to play a game without those default items, you         = =          can uncheck this option.                                                  = =                                                                                    = =          11.  Respawn Items                                                        = =                                                                                    = =          Again by default, all items will respawn after a short while.  If         = =          you prefer that items do not respawn, simply uncheck this                 = =          option and they will respawn no more.                                     = =                                                                                    = =          12.  Load Default Enemies                                                 = =                                                                                    = =          Generally, multiplayer maps do not contain any predefined                 = =          enemies; most maps leave it to the user to decide how many, if            = =          any, enemies to add.  If you want to play deathmatch on a                 = =          single player level without enemies, though, you may need to              = =          uncheck this option.                                                      = =                                                                                    = =          13.  Cooperative Mode                                                     = =                                                                                    = =          To enable Cooperative Mode, check this option.                            = =                                                                                    = =          In cooperative mode, you cannot begin with any extra items.  You          = =          only have one life, also.  The game will continue until all               = =          players have died or any one player has reached the exit.                 = =                                                                                    = =          14.  Presets                                                              = =                                                                                    = =          To help you get started quickly, LRX provides a variety of preset         = =          game scenarios.  To access these, simply click the "Preset"               = =          button.  Click on any listed mode to load that particular preset.         = =                                                                                    = =              a)  Saving your own Presets                                           = =                                                                                    = =              You can also create and save your own custom preset modes.            = =                                                                                    = =              To do this, first set all of the options and settings you             = =              need (everything is saved). Then, in the chat box, type:              = =                                                                                    = =                /save [name]                                                        = =                                                                                    = =              Here, [name] represents the name of your preset mode.                 = =              For instance, you might use /save MyCoolMode.  Then, you              = =              can load MyCoolMode from the Preset list the next time                = =              you play a game of multiplayer.                                       = =                                                                                    = =                (Note:  YOu must return to the Main Menu and in turn                = =                return to the Multiplayer setup screen for your new                 = =                Preset to appear.)                                                  = =                                                                                    = =      B.  Join a Game                                                               = =                                                                                    = =      To join a game of multiplayer, first choose the "Join Multiplayer" option     = =      from the Multiplayer Menu.                                                    = =                                                                                    = =      You will now see a box without any games listed.  Click the "Get Games"       = =      button at the bottom of the box. LRX will then search for any current         = =      games of LRX.  It will list any game it can find in the box.                  = =                                                                                    = =          1.  Direct Connect                                                        = =                                                                                    = =          If you feel certain that a game exists on a friend's computer but         = =          it does not appear in the game list, you can connect to that              = =          other computer directly.  Simply enter the IP Address fo the              = =          computer you wish to connect to and click "Go!".                          = =                                                                                    = =      C.  Stat Tracking                                                             = =                                                                                    = =      One of the most fun elements of LRX Multiplayer Mode lies in its vast         = =      stat tracking capabilities.  LRX can record the result of each game           = =      you play for later perusal at the official LRX website.                       = =                                                                                    = =       Website: http://mikdot.allhyper.com                                          = =                                                                                    = =      To take advantage of this great feature, however, you will need an            = =      account, and you will have to login to the account quickly before you         = =      begin.  You can visit the website to register an account easily; logging      = =      in proves even simpler.                                                       = =                                                                                    = =      When you first enter the Multiplayer Menu, you will see a box at the left.    = =      Simply enter your username and password (case sensitive:  e.g.,               = =      johndoe is different than JOHNDOE), and then hit enter or press "Submit."     = =      As long as you correctly entered your information, the game should            = =      log you in immediately.                                                       = =                                                                                    = ====================================================================================== ====================================================================================== =                                                                                    = =  V.  Level Editor                                                                  = =                                                                                    = =  LRX comes with a built-in, completely functional level editor.  I used it to      = =  create every level in the game.                                                   = =                                                                                    = =  The editor is very easy to use.  To access the editor, select the "Level          = =  Editor" option on the Main Menu.  There, you can either edit an existing level or = =  create your own level.                                                            = =                                                                                    = =    Note:  You cannot edit Single Player levels.                                    = =                                                                                    = =  Once you are in the editor, simply follow the easy-to-understand instruc-         = =  tions.  A scrolling tip box at the left will provide you with additional hints.   = =  You will use the "Select Brush" option predominantly.                             = =                                                                                    = =     A.  Sharing Levels                                                             = =                                                                                    = =     If you have some levels you would to share, you have 2 options.                = =                                                                                    = =         1.  Send them to Me                                                        = =                                                                                    = =         If you would like, you can e-mail the levels to me at:                     = =                                                                                    = =           tetratris@yahoo.com                                                      = =                                                                                    = =         I will be happy to play them and even add them to the download             = =         list for everyone who plays the game to download.                          = =                                                                                    = =         Feel free to add a help sign to any level you make with your name          = =         iisted as the author!                                                      = =                                                                                    = =  Remember, you will find any new levels you make in the "Custom Levels" section    = =  of the Load Level screen.                                                         = =                                                                                    = ====================================================================================== ====================================================================================== =                                                                                    = =  VII.  Etc.                                                                        = =                                                                                    = =  I'd like to thank you again for trying my game, and I truly hope you enjoy it.    = =  I would also enjoy battling you in a game of multiplayer if you ever have a       = =  chance; of course, I'd be perfectly willing to play a peaceful cooperative        = =  game as well.  :)                                                                 = =                                                                                    = =  All content in the game has been created by me.  I can't lay claim to the concept = =  though.  Doug Smith created the original Lode Runner.  You can read a fun recap   = =  of the history of Lode Runner at the LRX Official Website.                        = =                                                                                    = =  If you have any questions, comments, concerns, complaints, compliments,           = =  queries, or anything else, feel free to e-mail me at tetratris@yahoo.com.         = =                                                                                    = =  Remember to use the "Check Updates" feature to check for new levels; I'll be      = =  adding more all the time!                                                         = =                                                                                    = =  Thanks again for trying my game; I very much appreciate it.                       = =                                                                                    = ======================================================================================