Armagetron Advanced - User contributions [en]

Debug Recording

2008-01-09T19:00:27Z

134.95.67.143: /* Windows */

== What is it? ==
Armagetron Advanced 0.2.8+ has a feature to record a play session. This session can later be used by developers to find and squash bugs.
== What is it not? ==
A tool to record games and make the recording available for others or yourself to watch later. Feel free to use it as such, but be aware that
the for the debug recordings to actually be a help in finding bugs, it has to have these limitations:

* you can't play the recording back in any other version of Armagetron than you recorded it with
* you can't even reliably play it back with the same version on a different machine
* you can't play the recording back at any framerate your client can manage
* you can't skip backward
* you always have to watch a long recording from the beginning, there is no really fast way to skip to the middle
* the recording contains your configuration and forces it on the one playing it back (apart from some graphics settings)

These restrictions are fundamental and can't be worked around. Other limitations would be technically possible to work around, for example it would be possible to switch the camera to different players or have a fast forward hotkey or to allow "cut" files that automatically play a recording back, skipping the parts that were cut out; in some special cases, it may be possible to get rid of the last limitation. But the first two limitations are so severe that it plainly doesn't make sense to improve the usability of debug recording playback into that direction, and the changes would all make more code aware that a debug recording is running, which is a bad thing for debugging. You don't want code to know it's getting debugged. What you really want is a different kind of recording, which may or may not materialize in the future.

== Creating a Debug Recording ==

=== All Platforms ===

Use your shell to pass some command line arguments to armagetron:

To record: <code>armagetronad --record filename</code><br />
To playback: <code>armagetronad --playback filename [--fast-forward SECONDS]</code>

where <code>filename</code> is the name of the file to be recorded to / played back.

(On windows, you can issue shell commands by entering them in startmenu->run. Remember to give the full path to armagetronad.exe if you do that.)

=== Mac OS X ===
Use the helper application included with the game to start or playback an Armagetron Advanced recording. The application has a feature to compress a recording using bzip2 after Armagetron Advanced quits, so you can upload to the forums easily. It also will decompress a bzip2 or zip file for playback.

=== Windows ===

The installer creates links in the start menu to record/playback to/from a file called ArmagetronAdvancedDebugRecording.aarec that is located directly on your desktop. To attach it on the forum, you'll need to either rename it to have an accepted extension (best choice: ArmagetronAdvancedDebugRecording.aarec.not.zip) or, better, really compress it with a zip program like WinZip or WinRar.

As of version 0.2.8.3 and the test versions for that, you can play back a recording simply by doubleclicking on it.

IRC Channel

2007-03-15T12:46:54Z

134.95.67.143: /* Joining the IRC Channel */

We have an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat IRC] channel on freenode that gets some traffic. There's a fair amount of development talk there, but there's plenty more to be had.

== Joining the IRC Channel ==

Pick your favorite [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IRC_clients IRC client] and connect to freenode. You can connect to the server irc.freenode.net, then join #armagetron using the user interface of your IRC client or the command "/join #armagetron"

Alternatively use an easy web interface such as [http://www.armagetron.nixda.net/cgi-bin/irc.cgi?adv=1 Joda's web interface], [http://www.irc4u.com/?irc_server=irc.freenode.org%3A6667&irc_channel=%23armagetron%2C+%23arma-ladle the irc4u interface], [http://durdur.freehostia.com/irc/arma-irc.html Durka's IRC Web Applet], [http://durdur.freehostia.com/irc/arma.html Durka's CGI:IRC Chat] or [http://java.freenode.net/index.php?nick=Program&channel=armagetron this Java Applet run by Freenode].

Once there, you'll find plenty to talk about, I'm sure. There is one thing you should not do, however: enter the channel, say "hi!", maybe ask a question, and leave after a minute of getting no response. If there is no discussion currently going on, everyone has their chat windows in the background and simply won't notice you in time. Have some patience.

== The Armabot ==

There's a bot there that gives some additional features. For a list of stuff, type:

#list

Then, for example for the Weather module, do:

#list Weather

This combination will register you as a user of the bot and give you access to more features, such as a welcome message (herald):

<nowiki>/msg armabot register <username> <password></nowiki>

After registering you need to identify to armabot using

<nowiki>/msg armabot identify <username> <password></nowiki>

You can leave a note for another user like this:

#message Lucifer_arma You're a prick

When the other user comes into the channel and says something armabot will automatically deliver the notes as private messages. To see which users have notes waiting to be delivered use

#notes

You can also get RSS feeds, math calculations and conversions, coin-flipping, and other neat things. It's intended that we'll provide a module to query servers and see who's playing where, but that's not yet implemented. You can get a list of servers and the number of users playing there with the command #armaservers (somehow unreliable, but usually it works) or get help on a console command in arma using #armaconfig.

So have fun with it!

AFL Servers

2007-03-13T12:43:12Z

134.95.67.143: /* Servers Available */

{{AFLTbl}}

Here is a list of servers available for the league. If you'd like to contribute a server, please add yourself to the list.

== Servers Available ==

{|- style="width: 100%;" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|- style=" background: lightgray;"
| '''Server''' || '''Location''' || '''Administrator'''
|-
| Swamplords AFL Server || Austin, TX || [[User:Lucifer|Lucifer]]
|-
| Z-Man's AFL Server (custom connect to l23.thp.uni-koeln.de:4540) || Cologne, Germany || [[User:Z-Man|Z-Man]]
|-
| Your server? || ||
|}

== For Administrators ==

To facilitate administration, we ask that you share with team captains who wish to declare your server as their home server the admin password for your server. Obviously you should change the password to the one you intend to share before the game, and change it back to your private password after the game. However, we also prefer servers to be setup within our own network of game servers, thus they will not show in the master server list. It would also be nice if you make your servers available 24/7 like you do your regular server, so that teams can practice. Ideally, the teams who call your server home are teams that consist mostly of players that regularly play your server and already have established good relations with you.

More information on how we'd like servers to be administered for the league will appear here as it becomes available, however you do not *have* to provide a separate server for the competition. To help out, all you really need to do is make sure the server you are contributing will run the appropriate settings for the games when they are scheduled, and that it will be available for the games it is scheduled for.

Debug Recording

2007-02-08T15:42:18Z

134.95.67.143: /* What is it not? */

== What is it? ==
Armagetron Advanced 0.2.8+ has a feature to record a play session. This session can later be used by developers to find and squash bugs.
== What is it not? ==
A tool to record games and make the recording available for others or yourself to watch later. Feel free to use it as such, but be aware that
the for the debug recordings to actually be a help in finding bugs, it has to have these limitations:

- you can't play the recording back in any other version of Armagetron than you recorded it with

- you can't even reliably play it back with the same version on a different machine

- you can't skip backward

- you always have to watch a long recording from the beginning, there is no really fast way to skip to the middle

- the recording contains your configuration and forces it on the one playing it back (apart from some graphics settings)

These restrictions are fundamental and can't be worked around. Other limitations would be technically possible to work around, for example it would be possible to switch the camera to different players or have a fast forward hotkey or to allow "cut" files that automatically play a recording back, skipping the parts that were cut out; in some special cases, it may be possible to get rid of the last limitation. But the first two limitations are so severe that it plainly doesn't make sense to improve the usability of debug recording playback into that direction, and the changes would all make more code aware that a debug recording is running, which is a bad thing for debugging. You don't want code to know it's getting debugged. What you really want is a different kind of recording, which may or may not materialize in the future.

== Creating a Debug Recording ==

=== All Platforms ===

Use your shell to pass some command line arguments to armagetron:

To record: <code>armagetronad --record filename</code><br />
To playback: <code>armagetronad --playback filename [--fast-forward SECONDS]</code>

where <code>filename</code> is the name of the file to be recorded to / played back.

(On windows, you can issue shell commands by entering them in startmenu->run. Remember to give the full path to armagetronad.exe if you do that.)

=== Mac OS X ===
Use the helper application included with the game to start or playback an Armagetron Advanced recording. The application has a feature to compress a recording using bzip2 after Armagetron Advanced quits, so you can upload to the forums easily. It also will decompress a bzip2 or zip file for playback.

=== Windows ===

The beta release installer creates links in the start menu to record/playback to/from a file called recording.aarec that is located in the program directory.

Debug Recording

2007-02-08T15:20:20Z

134.95.67.143: /* What is it? */

== What is it? ==
Armagetron Advanced 0.2.8+ has a feature to record a play session. This session can later be used by developers to find and squash bugs.
== What is it not? ==
A tool to record games and make the recording available for others or yourself to watch later. Feel free to use it as such, but be aware that
the for the debug recordings to actually be a help in finding bugs, it has to have these limitations:

- you can't play the recording back in any other version of Armagetron than you recorded it with

- you can't even reliably play it back with the same version on a different machine

- you can't skip backward

- you always have to watch a long recording from the beginning, there is no really fast way to skip to the middle

- the recording contains your configuration and forces it on the one playing it back (apart from some graphics settings)

These restrictions are fundamental and can't be worked around. Other limitations would be possible to work around, for example it would be possible to switch the camera to different players or have a fast forward hotkey or to allow "cut" files that automatically play a recording back, skipping the parts that were cut out; in some special cases, it may be possible to get rid of the last limitation. But the first two limitations are so severe that it plainly doesn't make sense to improve the usability of debug recording playback into that direction. What you really want is a different kind of recording, which may or may not materialize in the future.

== Creating a Debug Recording ==

=== All Platforms ===

Use your shell to pass some command line arguments to armagetron:

To record: <code>armagetronad --record filename</code><br />
To playback: <code>armagetronad --playback filename [--fast-forward SECONDS]</code>

where <code>filename</code> is the name of the file to be recorded to / played back.

(On windows, you can issue shell commands by entering them in startmenu->run. Remember to give the full path to armagetronad.exe if you do that.)

=== Mac OS X ===
Use the helper application included with the game to start or playback an Armagetron Advanced recording. The application has a feature to compress a recording using bzip2 after Armagetron Advanced quits, so you can upload to the forums easily. It also will decompress a bzip2 or zip file for playback.

=== Windows ===

The beta release installer creates links in the start menu to record/playback to/from a file called recording.aarec that is located in the program directory.

Ladle-8/Challenge Board

2007-02-05T17:20:35Z

134.95.67.143: /* Fortress Challenge Board */

{{Ladle-8}}

The Challenge Board is designed to make the pairing of teams easy for Sunday 4th February with finals at 9pm UTC. You might wish to '''create a wiki page of for your team or place expected teammates in brackets on the Challenge Board.''' There may be a choice of servers to allow predominantly American teams an opportunity to play in a low-ping grid.

{| border="2" cellpadding="2" style="text-align:center"
! || UTC/GMT || PST || EST
|-
| '''Quarter Finals''' || 7:30pm || 11:30am || 2:30pm
|-
| '''Semi Finals''' || 8:15pm || 12:15am || 3:15pm
|-
| '''Finals''' || 9pm || 1pm || 4pm
|-
|}

All Challenge Boards will be locked at 0:00 am UTC on the day of the event Sunday 4th February.

== Fortress Challenge Board ==

* Team 1 is... [http://www.oops-clan.org °°ps] (AshitakA, Redice, Manta, Hay-Lin, Ñë®D, Plato)
* Team 2 is [http://www.sp-clan.com ~*SP*~] (k3nNy, PsYkO, Speed!, Sasha, freaky!, Obli, viper, whatup, demon, omega, cyclo, ...)
----
* Team 3 is... '''[http://www.xclan.net.tf -¦x¦-]''' (FoFo,Hoax,$ubzero,W4z3r,inf,Sticky)
* Team 4 is...
----
* Team 5 is...
* Team 6 is...
----
* Team 7 is... [[Tronic Monkeys]]^tm (visit wiki page to get on the team... only 2020 so far )
* Team 8 is... [http://tui.owns.it TuI] (Crack, Shrooms, Lacrymosa, X, ketamine, GHß, SmAcK, f, purple kush, os, djt, ... ) <-- probably it

{| border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" rules="all" style="margin:1em 1em 1em 0; border:solid 1px black; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:95%; empty-cells:show; text-align:center;"
! | Quarter Finals !! | Semi Finals !! | Final
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px double" | 7:30 PM UTC || style="border-bottom:3px double" | 8:15 PM UTC || style="border-bottom:3px double" | 9:00 PM UTC
|-
| style="border-bottom:0px" | team 1
|-
| style="border-top:0px; border-bottom:0px; border-right:0px" | '''@ Z-mans Fortress''' || style="border-left:0px" | Winners: ~*SP*~
|-
| style="border-top:0px" | team 2 || style="border-bottom:0px" | team 1/2
|-
||| style="border-top:0px; border-bottom:0px; border-right:0px" | '''@ Z-mans Fortress''' || style="border-left:0px" | result
|-
| style="border-bottom:0px" | team 3 || style="border-top:0px" | team 3/4
|-
| style="border-top:0px; border-bottom:0px; border-right:0px" | '''@ 2020 team challenge''' || style="border-left:0px" | result
|-
| style="border-top:0px" | team 4 || style="border-bottom:0px" | || style="border-bottom:0px" | team 1/2/3/4
|-
| style="border-right:0px" | || style="border-left:0px; border-top:0px; border-bottom:0px" | || style="border-top:0px; border-bottom:0px; border-right:0px" | '''@ Z-mans fortress''' || style="border-left:0px" | Winners: TuI
|-
| style="border-bottom:0px" | team 5 || style="border-top:0px" | || style="border-top:0px" | team 5/6/7/8
|-
| style="border-top:0px; border-bottom:0px; border-right:0px" | '''@ wild-west fortress''' || style="border-left:0px" | result
|-
| style="border-top:0px" | team 6 || style="border-bottom:0px" | team 5/6
|-
| || style="border-top:0px; border-bottom:0px; border-right:0px" | '''@ fortress cafe''' || style="border-left:0px" | result
|-
| style="border-bottom:0px" | team 7 || style="border-top:0px" | team 7/8
|-
| style="border-top:0px; border-bottom:0px; border-right:0px" | '''@ fortress cafe''' || style="border-left:0px" | result
|-
| style="border-top:0px" | team 8
|}

== Speeders and Crazy Tronners Challenge Board ==

A similar tournament can be run for Speeders and for Crazy Tronners Fortress, to be run on the same day and at the same times. It just needs to be set up by players...

{{Ladle-8}}

Moviepacks list

2007-01-29T16:36:15Z

134.95.67.143: /* Armagetron Advanced Classic v0.1 */

Instructions on moviepack installation can be found in [[Customizing_the_game]], instructions moviepack creation in [[Moviepacks]].

== Armagetron Advanced Classic v0.1 ==
;Author
:z-man (?)
;Description
:It's still a work in progress, to be finished in time for the final release of 0.2.8, so that players can still use the classic look of the game if they prefer. It won't work with older versions, so don't try to install it into anything but 0.2.8. It won't even work with rc2! But for the old versions, you don't need it, because it's just the graphics from them.
;Archive
:[[:Image:Classic_0_2.zip|Download this pack]]

== ArmagetronAd Blue Floor ==

[[Image:Armagetronad Dark (Moviepack Screenshot).png|thumb|Armagetron Dark]]
[[Image:Armagetronad Bright (Moviepack Screenshot).png|thumb|Armagetron Bright]]
;Author
:joda_bot
;Description
:This moviepack is a "waste" product of the search for the new default textures for 0.2.8. The texture consists of the word "ArmagetronAd" in plain text and as a barcode. The floor is closely colored after floor of the light cycle game in the tron movie.
;Archives
:[http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=3011 Dark floor]
:[http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=3061 Bright floor]
;Original Posts
:[http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?t=3951 Dark floor]
:[http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?t=3941 Bright floor]
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== armarocktron v 1.0 ==

[[Image:Armarocktron (Moviepack Title Screen).jpg|thumb|Armarocktron title screen]]
[[Image:Armarocktron (Moviepack Screenshot).jpg|thumb|Armarocktron]]
;Author
:DrJoeTron
;Archive
:http://www.ilikehubcaps.homestead.com/files/Armarocktron1.0.zip
;Original Post
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?p=13894#13894
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Forest ==

;Author
:klax
;Archive
:http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/klaxnek/forrest.zip
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Heaven's Art ==

[[Image:Heaven's Art (Moviepack Screenshot).png|thumb|Heaven's Art]]
;Author
:LukeSky
;Archive
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=5581
;Original Post
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=5591
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Hell's Dungeon ==

[[Image:Hell's Dungeon (Moviepack Screenshot).png|thumb|Hell's Dungeon]]
;Author
:LukeSky
;Archive
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=2849
;Original Post
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?t=3461
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Hell's Kitchen ==

[[Image:Hell's Kitchen (Moviepack Screenshot).png|thumb|Hell's Kitchen]]
;Author
:LukeSky
;Archive
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=2762
;Original Post
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?t=3330
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Invid Mod v0.1 ==

[[Image:Invid Mod v0.1 (Moviepack Screenshot).jpg|thumb|Invid Mod v0.1]]
;Author
:CristalCube
;Archive
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=824
;Original Post
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?t=1462
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Japanese Confusion ==

[[Image:Japanese Confusion (Moviepack Screenshot).jpg|thumb|Japanese Confusion]]

;Author
:neoneogi
;Archive
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=2752
;Original Post
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?t=3287
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Linear ==

[[Image:Linear (Moviepack Screenshot).jpg|thumb|Linear]]
[[Image:Linear (2) (Moviepack Screenshot).jpg|thumb|Linear]]
[[Image:Linear (3) (Moviepack Screenshot).gif|thumb|Linear]]
;Author
:K
;Archive
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=187
;Original Post
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?t=597
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Lucifer v0.2 ==

;Author
:Lucifer
;Description
:This thing hasn't been named, it's just a collection of stuff I submitted to be considered for default artwork in Artemis. It requires a newer version of the game, because it uses the default model. As of writing, it requires a version compiled from the branch labeled b0_2_8_0, which will become the final 0.2.8 version, but it doesn't work in any release candidates. It will work in rc3 and later, when it is released.
;Archive
:[[:Image:lucifer-0_2.zip|Download this pack]]

== Mentat ==

[[Image:Mentat (Moviepack Screenshot).jpg|thumb|Mentat]]
[[Image:Mentat (2) (Moviepack Screenshot).jpg|thumb|Mentat]]
;Author
:pertinax
;Archive
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=4651
;Original Post
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?p=80421#80421
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Stars ==

;Author
:klax
;Archive
:http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/klaxnek/stars.zip

== Tronsector Blue Floor ==

[[Image:Tronsector Dark (Moviepack Screenshot).png|thumb|Tronsector Dark]]
[[Image:Tronsector Bright (Moviepack Screenshot).png|thumb|Tronsector Bright]]
;Author
:joda_bot
;Description
:This moviepack is a "waste" product of the search for the new default textures for 0.2.8. The texture consists of a big tron sector map and the word "ArmagetronAd" as a barcode. The Grid Map is used with permission by author David "Auric" Hernly. The original image can be found at http://www.tron-sector.com (used as background).
;Archives
:[http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=3101 Dark floor]
:[http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=3081 Bright floor]
;Original Posts
:[http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?t=4191 Dark floor]
:[http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?t=4181 Bright floor]
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

== Unamed ==

;Author
:edd keefe
;Screenshots
<gallery>
Image:Unnamed (Moviepack Screenshot).gif|Unnamed
Image:Unnamed (2) (Moviepack Screenshot).gif|Unnamed
Image:Unnamed (3) (Moviepack Screenshot).jpg|Unnamed (newest version)
</gallery>
;Archive
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=872
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=873 (without the light cycle)
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/download.php?id=2799 (newest version)
;Author's Web Page and Files
:http://www.a1eddie.com/fun2.htm
;Original Post
:http://forums.armagetronad.net/viewtopic.php?p=20708#20708
<div style="clear:right;"></div>

FAQ

2007-01-25T13:46:11Z

134.95.67.143: /* Where are the server sources? */

Following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions. Obviously, this is what people ask us the most. Before asking a question, you should give this list a good read. If your question isn't answered here, then by all means come to irc or the forums or something and ask it. However, if your question is answered here, don't be surprised if you get an abrupt or downright rude response.

While we try to give the best answers to the questions asked regardless of pretty much anything else, however there are some general guidelines to follow when asking questions not on this list:

* Don't ask stupidly. Ex: Why can't I get color on my walls? (Good example: How do I have a cycle and wall color that are different from each other?)
* Provide as much information as you have that's relevant to the question. Ex: Why doesn't my server work? (Good example: My server starts, then stops. Here's the errors from the console. Any idea why it's shutting down right away?)

For a more detailed discussion, check [http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html this page], with two important points. First, the page linked is not in any way affiliated with Armagetron Advanced and therefore they '''can't answer your question'''. Second, the article is probably a bit more negative than it actually works around here. For the most part, if you can't ask the question in the smartest possible way, we'd rather you ask the best way that you can than live in the dark and suffer. Even if you're an idiot, we still want you to be a comfortable idiot.

If you think your question is actually a bug report and you've only just started with the game, chances are it's not. We'll not pretend the game is bug-free, but it is very stable and efficient. The chances that a new player to the game has discovered a previously unknown bug in a stable release are very very slim. Astronomically slim, in fact. In any case, if you wish to continue thinking you have done so, please start with a question that describes what you see and ends with "Is this expected behavior?" That's much more likely to get a satisfactory response than "This game sucks! It has this bug and that bug and it just doesn't work. I downloaded it today for the first time on my Windows box, do you not care about Windows?" Also, since you suspect you found a bug, include all the information a bug report should have. If you're unsure, please [http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html consult this page] for the best results. Note, the author of that page is also unaffiliated with Armagetron Advanced, and therefore he will reject any bug reports you send him about our program.

Finally, this FAQ, like all FAQs, is a work in progress. If it's not as big as you're used to seeing, it's because it's probably a younger FAQ than what you're used to seeing. That's ok. We'll add to it over time, and it'll get bigger and bigger until the server explodes with so many frequently asked questions that all of the developers decide to pitch in and buy a Caribbean island. Mmm, coconuts.
= What is Armagetronad =

[[About | Please read this.]]

= Terminology =

== What is a client? What is a server? What's the difference? ==

Simply put, the game client is the program you run on your computer. The game server runs on somebody else's computer. The difference between the two is like the difference between, say, a lawyer and his client. The lawyer would be the server, the one who knows all about law and stuff. So the difference is just like in real life where the terms come from. The client requests a service from someone who serves. In our case, that service is a game that is served from a machine running a program called a "server", but if you requested the same service from a person in a casino, you'd still be running a game client.

== My client can be a server, though, it says so right here. ==

That's not a question. In any case, the game client can act as a server if you press "Host Game" from the Internet Game menu. So technically the client is a client/server hybrid, but let's not get too technical.

== So are all game servers just clients where people pressed "Host Game"? ==

No. This is where people get really confused, even to the point where they complain to server operators for doing exactly this thing. No, most, if not all, game servers available through the master server run a special version of the program that has no graphical display, and no player can play on directly. That is the server, commonly called the "dedicated server". You can run it too, if you'd like. Server operators chose to run this instead of the regular game client because it has a number of modifications that make it work better as a regular server, just like a mail server or a web server. It is more convenient and makes for a more reliable game server to do so.

= Installing the Game =

== Where can I download Armagetron Advanced? ==

That depends on what version you want to get. The current stable version is always available [http://www.armagetronad.net/downloads.php on the main web page] or [http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=110997 sourceforge]. The latest testing version on [http://beta.armagetronad.net AABeta].

== I'm running Windows, how do I install? ==

Find the exe file you downloaded from the question and answer above this one and double click on it. Answer all dialog boxes with Yes/Next/Finish, whatever applies. On Windows XP, when you first run the game and try to connect to the Internet, a firewall warning will pop up; set it to allow access.

== So, should I get the latest stable or latest development version? ==

If you're really asking this question and are not just browsing the FAQ, get the latest stable version.

== Ok, but there are still so many different files to get, which one is right for me? ==

See [[FAQ#Terminology]] for choosing between Client and Server download. If in doubt, choose the Client. If you're running a PC with Windows, get the exe format, GCC or VC6 should not matter (please report it if only one of them works for you). If you've got a Mac, get the dmg; there is a special buld available for versions 10.2.8 of OS X. If you're running 32 bit Intel Linux, get the x86(_32) "package". If you're running 64 bit AMD Linux, get the x86_64 "package".

== I'm running Linux, but don't know whether it is 32 or 64 bit. How can I find out? ==

On a console/terminal, type <pre>echo $MACHTYPE</pre>
If the output starts with x86_64, you have a 64 bit system. If it starts with i386, i486, i586 or i686 or possibly just x86 or x86_32, you have a 32 bit system. For anything else, we don't provide binary packages, you have to build from source. If the output is blank, the method failed. Then, see whether you have got the directory /usr/lib64 on your system. If yes, you have a 64 bit system, if no, it's 32 bit.

== I have a Mac, how do I install? ==

Mount the dmg file, and drag the Armagetron Advanced application to your hard-drive.

== I have Linux, how do I install a binary? ==

That depends on the distribution you are running. Check out the [[Linux Distribution Field Report]] for details.

== I run a non-Linux UNIX or Linux on hardware not supported by your binary packages or the binaries don't work, how do I install from source? ==

Basically, you fetch the .tbz2 source archive and do as the superuser root
<pre>tar -xjf <path to the tbz2 source archive you just fetched>
cd armagetronad-<VERSION>
./configure
make
make install</pre>
The configure script will tell you what you are missing. In this mode, you always need the 'development' packages of our dependencies on most distributions.
The [[Linux Distribution Field Report]] may have some hints. Ask us if you get stuck.

== I'm working on a Linux PC administered by someone else and don't have the root password, can I still install the game? ==

Yes. The "package" binary files can install everything in your home directory. If you have to build from source, proceed as in the last FAQ,
but pass '--prefix=$HOME/usr' to ./configure and run the game later with
'~/usr/bin/armagetronad', or run the game from the build directory with 'make run'.

== Where are the server sources? ==

The server sources are the same as the client sources. You compile a server from them by giving the additional command line option '--disable-glout' to ./configure.

== I heard about moviepacks (graphical modifications), how do I install them? ==

See [[Customizing the game]].

= Playing the Game =

TODO

= Troubleshooting =

== ArmagetronAd is unplayable on my AMD Dual Core X2 System (might affect other Dual Cores) ==

Symtoms:
*The console displays "Timer hick up"
*FPS are usually ok (above 30).
*might only occur in network games
*Game performance is very bad

Atleast three solutions for this problem are available:
* To fix this problem use your TaskManager to set ArmagetronAd.exe's cpu affinity to a single CPU.
* Disable Cool & Quite in BIOS
* Install the neccessary Microsoft Hotfixes and depending on your System you might have to update your bios and drivers too.

Links (TODO replace links with links to better instructions!):
* [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;896256 Microsoft Knowledgebase Articel about Q896256]
* [http://www.amd.com/en-us/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_13118,00.html AMD Dual Core Optimizer] The fix is similiar to Microsofts, but only fixes a small part of it. The Microsoft patch also addresses power saving bugs (of Windows XP).

*Details: Armagetron Advanced 0.2.8.x(?) or later uses the high precision timer on Windows if avaiable. (TODO confirm) This can be a problem on the new Dual Core Systems or malfunctioning Multiprocessor System. The Timer of each core runs at different speeds which results in a jumping timer! The AMD X2 Systems are affected because they have two separate timers for each CPU (Intels Core Duo CPUs share a single timer). The AMD X2 Systems are only affected with Cool & Quite power saving enabled otherwise both cores have the same timer speed. The Windows kernel schedules Armagetron Advanced between both cores which results in a jumping timer form Armagetron perspective.

= Running a Server =

== Which should I run? The client in hosting mode, or the dedicated server? ==

Generally this depends on how long you want the server to run at a time. If you just want it running when you're playing, run the client in hosting mode, it's easier to deal with. If you're running at a LAN party, you might also want to run the client in hosting mode. But if you want to run a server that operates on the internet, reports to the master server, and runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (8 days in a leap week), then you should run the dedicated server.

== I've started the dedicated server, but I don't see it listed in the master server. What's wrong? ==

You need to add the line <pre>TALK_TO_MASTER 1</pre> to your configuration files to publish your server on the internet. The server needs to be up one or two minutes before it can appear in the server browser, the master server checks whether it is reachable before it gets published.

== I did that, but my server still is not listed. What else can be wrong? ==

Get your server's IP address; if it is running on the same computer you use for browsing right now, check http://www.whatismyip.com to get it. Fire up the Armagetronad client, enter the internet server browser, wait half a minute, exit the server browser, enter it again, and look for your server's IP. If it appears (having the list sorted by server name my pressing "right" once helps), you really want to ask [[FAQ#I see my server's IP in the master server browser, but it says "Unreachable". What's wrong?]]. Otherwise, this is the right section for you. This is also the right section if you see your server just fine, but nobody else does.

If your server is connected to the internet via a router box and not directly via a "modem" of sorts, it is likely that network packages from the internet can't get to your server because the router blocks them. You need to tell your router to forward UDP port 4534 (or whatever SERVER_PORT is set to) to the server. On [http://www.portforward.com], there are nice instructions how to do that for a lot of router models. If the UDP port 4534 thing confuses you, just follow [http://www.portforward.com/english/applications/port_forwarding/F-22Lightning3/F-22Lightning3index.htm these instructions for a different game] that uses a similar connection method. Of course, you need to find out what router model you have, some under-the-table-crawling and cable following may be required for that if you can't remember what you bought or got the router from your ISP.

== My server still isn't listed. This sucks, it's hard to find out where the problem is. What can I do? ==

You can ask people to connect to your server directly by giving them [http://www.whatismyip.com your IP] and the port your server is running on. A perfect place to ask is our IRC channel(#armagetron on irc.freenode.org) because you'll get a real-time answer there. Less perfect is the support section of the [http://forums.armagetronad.net forums]; you'll need to make sure your server is up and running when people read your post, which can be well 48 hours after you post it. If people can't connect to your server that way, it means you probably need to set up port forwarding (see last question) correctly.

== Gaaa! This FAQ is useless! Can't YOU help me get my server up? ==

Sure. Post your trouble on the support section of the [http://forums.armagetronad.net forums]. Be sure to
* describe exactly what you already tried, and please don't just say "everything the FAQ told me"
* state the [http://www.whatismyip.com your IP] your server is running on, we need that to check the master server's logs
* state your port if you modified SERVER_PORT
* state your server's name, others need that to check for your server in the browser
* post the complete output of your server from the moment it is started
Without that info, we can't help.

Setting up a server is complicated sometimes; don't be too shy to admit you didn't understand some part of the process. A lot of trouble comes from people silently skipping steps they don't understand.

== I see my server's IP in the master server browser, but it says "Unreachable". What's wrong? ==

Probably the answer is "Nothing is wrong". A bug in some routers or the NAT specifications (at least, that's how Z-Man sees this) causes the response to the server query packet used in the server browser to come from the LAN address of your server, not the public address it was sent to. The packet gets ignored then. A workaround will be available in 0.2.8.3, but right now, that means most people can't see their own servers. Come to the IRC channel (#armagetron on irc.freenode.org) and ask people there if they can see your server.

[[Category:Game Help]]