Frequently Asked Questions

1. OS Specific Questions:
1. Windows:

1. Q:	Ack! Why is the windows executable so big?
   A:	I think it is because it is statically linked against some big libraries, but I am not sure. (Don't moan. You can choose: static linkage => big executable or dynamic linkage => I have to include many big DLL-files.) Compiling with MSVC++ helps, but I am not allowed to distribute the binaries I produce with that...

2. Linux:

1. Q:	Immediately after ArmageTron opens it's window, it crashes. What's wrong?
   A:	First, check Question 1.2 for the OS independent answer to that problem. Special Linux case: maybe you use the 3Dfx-version of Mesa and need to bee root to run 3Dfx-programs. Try running ArmageTron as root; if that works, go to http://linux.3dfx.com/open_source/drivers.htm and download the device driver that allows you running ArmageTron and other 3D applications non-root.

2. Q:	The textures and fonts don't seem to work.
   A:	Recheck your IMGLib installation; it probalby can't load PNG images. The included show-program has to be able to display the PNG images from the textures folder.

2. generic stuff:

1. Q:

   When I start Armagetron, the screen turns black and the game exits shortly afterwards. (Or similar right-after-start problems) What can I do?

   A:

   New Answer: just try again about four times; Armagetron should notice that the first attemts failed and try some other screen modes (with different color depths, initialisation methods as in fullscreen and window). If that fails (Armagetron should give you an error message when it has run out of options), try the Old Answer: Try starting Armagetron in windowed mode. To do that, start it with the "-window" command line option, or copy this file into your Armagetron directory if you are using Windows; if you are using Linux, you have to install it at "~/.ArmageTronrc" (upper/lowecase sensitive!). Or, you may try downloading the version for the other variant SDL; It uses a different way to initialise the screen. Note that on some graphic cards, OpenGL acceleration is only available in 16bit color depth; switching the Windows desktop to 65K colors sometimes does the trick. If one of the two solutions above works, be sure to mail me (don't forget to tell me which graphic card, SDL version and OS you are using)! I'll need the info for future versions.

3. network play:

1. Q:	Sometimes, I see players (esp. me) passing through walls. Is that a bug?
   A:	Probably not; it is the normal effect of network latency (Laaaag!) when your client does not yet have the latest information from the server.

2. Q:

   Someone is cheating! I keep cutting off his way right before him, and that kills me, not him!

   A:

   Again, this is not cheating, but a network latency effect that happens when you disable "Prediction" from the network game menu. Then, you see the other players not at the place they are probably now, but where they were a little while ago. So while you thought you were ahead of your opponent, he was in reality a bit ahead of you. By trying to cross him, you ran directly into his wall. Eather turn on prediction or the "Lag-O-Meter" that shows where your opponent may in fact be NOW. Learning to handle these effects is one of the skills you need to kick your opponent's ass.

This document was created by Manuel Moos.

Last modification: Don Nov 16 21:34:29 CET 2000