
Net Tank
Copyright (C) 2006 Jeremy Zeiber


Description
-------------------------------------
Net Tank is a multiplayer network game, for 2 to 8 players, where each player
controls a tank on a small battlefield.  Players drive their tank around trying
to shoot the other players' tanks.  Obstacles and random powerups allow for the
use of tactics to defeat the opponents.  Players can communicate with each
other through text messages.  Clients connected to the game can be dynamic, in
that any client can exit or join a game in progress at any time.


Installation and execution
-------------------------------------
Unzip the archive into a directory of your choice.  Run the game by double
clicking on nettank.exe.  If the game cannot start due to an unsupported color
depth or window mode, you can manually edit the nettank.ini file and change
these values.  Valid modes are "windowed" and "fullscreen".  The color depth
can be set to whatever your computer supports.  Also, the default network ports,
17500 and 17501, can be changed in this file if they conflict with another
piece of software. Please note that all clients that are going to connect to
each other need to be using the same port numbers.  Also note that any clients
behind a NAT device will need to port forward the appropriate ports to their
computer in order to be reachable from the internet.


Command line options
-------------------------------------
By default, the game will look for and connect to games that are currently
being played on your local network.  If you want to connect to a game outside
of your local network, you will need to specify it on the command line when you
run the executable.  The option can be specified with:
nettank -s xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
Where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the IP address of a client running the game.


How to play
-------------------------------------
When starting the game, you will be asked to enter your name.  There is a 15
character limit here.  After typing in your name, the game will attempt to
connect to a game running at a specific IP address if you have specified one on
the command line, or will look for games on your local network.  If a game is
found, and there is a player slot available you will be connected to the game.
Otherwise, you will enter the game alone and must wait for another player to
connect to your game.

Key Controls:
Arrow Keys	- move your tank
SHIFT		- stop your tank
CTRL		- shoot
ESC			- close the game
You can also type a message and press enter to send the message to the other
players.  Pressing delete will erase the message you have started.

Joystick Controls (only 1st joystick detected by Allegro is supported):
axis 1		- move your tank
button 1	- shoot
button 2	- stop your tank


Powerups will appear on the battlefield from time to time.  Some are beneficial
to you, while others will hinder your tank.  Powerups are represented by a box
with a ? on it.  You can pick it up by simply moving over it.

Powerups:
Bulletproof			- makes you invulnerable to regular bullets, but not rockets
Super Speed			- makes your tank move faster than normal 
Rocket				- instead of bullets, you shoot rockets which fly much faster
Invisible			- your tank becomes invisible to everyone else, but a collision
					  with an obstacle will kill you
Slug Speed			- makes your tank move slower than normal
Reverse Controls	- makes your tank move the opposite way of your input

A player can have 1 powerup at a time.  If you run over a new powerup while one
is active, you will lose the old powerup.  Immediately after respawing, you
will have the bulletproof powerup for a few seconds to allow you to get away
from danger.
