KaMiKaZe v1.2 - Doomworld /idgames database frontend

Title:	KaMiKaZe v1.2
Filename:	utils/frontends/kamikaze.zip
Size:	39.45 KB
Date:	09/30/97
Author:	Lars Heimann and Markus Ansmann
Description:
Credits:	Special thanks to Markus Ansmann for helping me to become a better programmer, especially for the IPX-routines. Thanks for testing this program with me: Jago (Stony) Jens (Iceman) Markus (-=McAnsi=-) Hendryk (Rincewind) Sebastian (Doominator) Kai (Schnorki)
Base:
Build time:
Editor(s) used:
Bugs:
Rating:	(1 vote)

Download mirrors:

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View kamikaze.txt

***********************
                           **** KaMiKaZe v1.2 ****
                           ***********************

----------
 CONTENTS
----------

1) Legal stuff
 2) Features
 3) Installation
 4) How to use KaMiKaZe
 5) Troubleshooting
 6) Credits
 7) History

----------------
 1) LEGAL STUFF
----------------

KaMiKaZe is written by Lars Heimann and Markus Ansmann.

KaMiKaZe is Freeware, which means:
 You are free to copy this program, if you are not going to take any profit
 out of it, and as long, as the archive consists of these TWO files :
   1) KAMIKAZE.EXE   2) KAMIKAZE.TXT

The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential,
 which may result from the use of this program.
 In other words: Use this software at your own risk.

Shadow Warrior is (c) 3D Realms Entertainment.

Please e-mail any comments to: larsheimann@bigfoot.com

-------------
 2) FEATURES
-------------

* can be placed in any directory (does not have to be the SW-Directory)

* all options are saved in a seperate file (remembers last usermap etc.)

* usermaps can be launched from any directory (or directly from a Level-CD)

* can show up to 384 usermaps at once in a sorted list

* quickly find a Map by pressing its initial letter

* choose from a list of all resolutions your video card supports

* a variety of options:
   skill, playername, number of players, socketnumber, multiplayer type,
   original map warping, usermap selection, toggle monsters, toggle demo,
   change resolution, edit textmacros, launch external program (e.g.: BUILD)

* if external program is BUILD.EXE (that's what I added this for),
   BUILD is automatically launched with the selected usermap to be edited
   => therefore you can easily switch between editing and playtesting a map

* you can send and receive Maps using IPX without leaving KaMiKaZe

* you can enter comments for each usermap (description/rating)
   => these comments will be stored in KAMIKAZE.DSC in the KaMiKaZe-Dir

* can show you maps in a 2D-Preview 640x480 (like in Build)

* you will be warned if a map is corrupted or not made for
   Shadow Warrior to avoid crashes

* you can add commandline-parameters to KAMIKAZE.EXE, which are
   automatically passed to SW.EXE or COMMIT.EXE

* can show statistical information about a usermap (weapons,enemies etc.)

* you can launch Multiplayer games easily => Network or Modem/Serial

-----------------
 3) INSTALLATION
-----------------

Just copy KAMIKAZE.EXE and KAMIKAZE.TXT to any directory on your harddisk.
 The first time you start KaMiKaZe, you will be prompted for several things.
 You will have to enter the directory for your usermaps and possibly the
 SW-Directory, if you haven't put KAMIKAZE.EXE there.

KaMiKaZe will create a file called KAMIKAZE.INI, where these directories
 and many other options will be stored.
 I made this program as secure as possible, but if you encounter problems
 starting KaMiKaZe, please delete KAMIKAZE.INI - it will be recreated
 automatically.

------------------------
 4) HOW TO USE KaMiKaZe
------------------------

KaMiKaZe is controlled completely via the keyboard.
 You can access the different options in the MainMenu by pressing
 certain Hotkeys, which are printed in bright red.
 (I think, it's a lot faster than mouse control).

This should not be too difficult.
 If you need help, when you are in KaMiKaZe, press 'F1'.

To launch a game of Shadow Warrior, you can press 'F2'-'F4'.
 'F2' will launch a Singleplayer Game.
 'F3' will launch a Fake-Multiplayer (or CommBat) Game,
      where you can explore, how the maps look like in
      Multiplayer (in many cases there will be additional
      teleporters and more weapons/ammo/items).
      Fake-Multiplayer is very good for training purposes.
 'F4' will launch a Network Game with up to 8 players.
 'F5' will launch a Modem or Serial Game with 2 players.

Note on IPX:
   Sending and receiving Maps in the Usermap-Screen is
   only possible, if you have an IPX-driver loaded.
   If you want to send a Map (ALT-S) to any other player, the
   other computer has to be in Receive-Mode (ALT-R).
   Maps can not be send to multiple players simultaneously !
   If one player is sending, only one other player should
   be receiving or problems will occur.

--------------------
 5) TROUBLESHOOTING
--------------------

a) What you never should do :

- never modify the KAMIKAZE.INI with a text-editor
     (this can cause KaMiKaZe to crash)
   - never change the name of a usermap, started with BUILD
     from within KaMiKaZe, while editing it
     (because of internal copy routines)
   - never copy the file KAMIKAZE.INI from one computer to another,
     because in most cases the paths are not equal - create a new
     KAMIKAZE.INI on each computer

b) A note on demos :

- due to the complexity Shadow Warrior handles demos, in KaMiKaZe
     demos can only be recorded of original levels
   - if you want to record or playback a demo of any usermap, please
     use the standard commandline-parameters of SW.EXE
   - the last demo, you recorded within KaMiKaZe, will be played back
     automatically, when you launch the game without any original level
     or usermap specified (both set to 'none') and without having
     '( ) Record Demo' marked - if this is too complicated for you,
     just start SW.EXE and the demo will run automatically
   - if you delete a demo (*.dmo) manually, you must delete the file
     DEMOS.RUN as well or you will get an error message
     ('File ... is not a valid demofile')

c) A note on modem games:

- the basic modem setup must be made with the Shadow
     Warrior setup program, especially the choice of the
     modem type (in most cases the default setup will work).

- if you want to play a modem or serial game, it is very
     important, that both computers have the same settings
     for the com port speed (normally 19200) and the usermap.

- when you start a modem game, 'Players' (number of players)
     in the Main Menu will be ignored.
     Modem or serial games can only be played with 2 persons.

d) Frequently asked questions :

Q: I changed the socket number, but I can't remember the default
     settings. What can I do ?
  A: Press 'S' in the Main Menu for socket number input and
     hit the enter key. This will restore the default socket.

Q: How can I remove a comment I have entered for a usermap ?
  A: Hit insert in the Usermap Screen, while the cursor is on
     map, as if you would enter a new comment.
     Then just press enter and the comment will be removed.
     Alternatively you can modify the file KAMIKAZE.DSC in your
     Kamikaze-directory with any text-editor.

Q: Why doesn't KaMiKaZe warn me, if I try to launch or view
     a map, which was made for Duke Nukem 3D or Redneck Rampage ?
  A: The format of Duke or Redneck maps is very similar to that
     used for Shadow Warrior. And you really can play these maps in
     Shadow Warrior, assuming you have the right ART files or
     you would get some nasty hall-of-mirrors effects.

Q: I have thousands of usermaps, but KaMiKaZe can't show me
     all of them at once !
  A: KaMiKaZe can show you nearly 400 usermaps at once sorted
     alphabetically. If that is not enough, you can subdivide
     them in different subdirectories.
     Thinking of Duke Nukem 3D, in my opinion there are much
     less than 400 really good maps out there, so you normally
     should have no problems.

Q: The Main Menu in KaMiKaZe looks strange, something went wrong !
  A: Maybe you have a damaged or corrupted KAMIKAZE.INI - just
     delete it and start KaMiKaZe again, it will be recreated
     automatically.

Q: I wanted to launch a Modem Game, but there are no phone
     numbers in the list. What can I do ?
  A: In the Modem/Serial Game Screen press Insert to add a
     new name and phonenumber to the list.

Q: When I try to launch a Multiplayer game, Commit crashes
     to Dos with an error message ?
  A: In very rare cases it can happen, that your Commit data file
     (COMMIT.DAT) gets corrupted (not caused by KaMiKaZe !).
     If that happens to you, just delete the file COMMIT.DAT
     in your SW directory and the next time you launch KaMiKaZe
     or SW Setup, it will be recreated automatically.

Q: I build a new map and placed some monsters in it, but when I
     launch the map through KaMiKaZe, I don't see them.
     If I launch it normally (SW.EXE), the monsters are there !
  A: This is not KaMiKaZe's fault !
     If you place monsters in Build, they are assigned to hard skill
     (Who wants Wang) by default.
     To see them, when you launch the map through KaMiKaZe, you
     must set 'Skill' in the Main Menu to 3 (or 4).
     When you launch the map by starting 'SW.EXE -map ...',
     the skill level is 'Who wants Wang' by default, too. 
     Note: You normally want to change the monsters to appear
     in easier skill levels. To attain this, you must point
     at the sprite in 2D Mode and press F8.
     From the following menu, choose (1) and change the
     skill level to your likings.

------------
 6) CREDITS
------------

Special thanks to Markus Ansmann for helping me to become a better
 programmer, especially for the IPX-routines.

Thanks for testing this program with me:

Jago      (Stony)
    Jens      (Iceman)
    Markus    (-=McAnsi=-)
    Hendryk   (Rincewind)
    Sebastian (Doominator)
    Kai       (Schnorki)

------------
 7) HISTORY
------------

v1.0 -> Initial Release.

v1.1 -> * Better handling of demos
         * Added statistical info for usermaps (ALT-I)
         * Added Fake-Multiplayer Mode for training (F3)

v1.2 -> * Added Modem/Serial Game (F5)
         * Some minor enhancements

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