MEK ARENA 1.30 Science-Fiction Warfare Version 1.30 11/6/93 (c)1993 CIOE Corp * Installing Mek Arena 1.30 To begin installing Mek Arena, make sure that all of Mek Arena's files are in the same directory. If the door came to you as an archive, you will need to decompress the files into the same directory. Usually, decompression is performed with a command-line such as the following: PKUNZIP MEK130.ZIP C:\DOORS\MEK If you are installing onto an older release of the game, you must still uncompress the new files over your old version. Your .DAT files, the game in progress, will not be overwritten. This enables players to continue with their games without interruption. * File Manifest A manifest of the files which should be included in your package follows. Data files (*.DAT) will be created as the game is being played. Display Resource Files INS.RIP - Instruction Screen Resource MSCR01.* - Title Screen Resource MSCR02.* - Out Of Time Resource MSCR03.* - Starport Resource MSCR04.* - Casino Resource MSCR05.* - Casino Bouncer Resource MSCR06.* - Amateur Night Resource MSCR07.* - Victory Resource MSCR08.* - Defeat Resource MSCR09.* - Merc Office Resource MSCR10.* - Prepare! Resource MSCR11.* - Bank Screen Resource MSCR12.* - Nick's Used Meks Reosource MSCR13.* - Chop Shop Resource MSCR14.* - Sly Resource MSCR15.* - Parts Menu Resource MSCR16.* - Merc Contract Resource MSCR17.* - Strike Resource MSCR18.* - Mekless Resource Data Files *.MEK - Mek information files Executable Files MEK.EXE - Executable file Icon Files MEKICONS.ZIP - Mek Icon files If you already have a DOOR.CFG file for the game, you will not need to create a new one. Otherwise, follow the directions as follows for the creation of a DOOR.CFG file. The DOOR.CFG needs to be created in the same directory as the door files. This configuration file tells Mek Arena about your BBS setup. Line 1 - Door file type Line 2 - Door file path Line 3 - BBS Name Line 4 - Sysop Name Line 5 - Locked Baud Rate Line 6 - Path to DSZ, with file name The door file type is specified on line one and can be any one of the following formats. GAP Door.Sys PCB PCBoard.Sys RBBS DorInfo1.Def WC Callinfo1.Dat SF TRIBBS WWIV Wildcat 3.0 and later users should specify GAP for their DOOR.SYS File. The second line informs the door where to find the door user file, such as DOOR.SYS or DORINFO1.DEF. The third line is reserved for the BBS's name, this is where Mek Arena will look for the BBS name when searching for registration information. The forth is for the name of the sysop. If the sysop locks the baud rate on his modem, that rate must be specified on line five. If the baud rate isn't specified, then a '0' must be entered for the line. This line must be entered correctly for the door to work properly. The following is a sample door configuration file: GAP C:\WC30\CIOEGAME\MAJYK Joseph Drasin CIOE InfOrder 19200 C:\WC30\DSZ.EXE Mek Arena can also be run locally outside of the BBS by adding '/L' after the configuration file parameter in the DOS command line. The local user will then be prompted to enter his name. Nonstandard IRQs can be used with Mek Arena by specifying the IRQ after the configuration parameter in the command line. Such as the following: MEK DOOR.CFG 2 Lastly, Mek Arena will automatically detect if RipTerm or Ansi is available, ignoring the values passed by the door config file. This was done to allow the door to be played on BBS systems which may or not have Rip available. If, for some reason, Mek Arena cannot detect either ANSI or RipTerm, the user is prompted to force either ANSI or RipTerm sequences. Users should only do this if they do indeed have either ANSI or RipTerm, but did not have their terminal options properly detected. Users must have RipTerm or an ANSI-compatible terminal program in order to play. Once the config file is set up, the door can usually be executed with the DOS command MEK DOOR.CFG. This will usually be placed within a batch file such as the following: C: CD C:\DOORS\MEK MEK130.EXE DOOR.CFG CD C:\BBS The door will initialize itself when the first player successfully logs in. The will automatically create a GAMEDAT.MAP file. Deleting this file will reset the game. Rip Icon Files For RIP players, a set of icon files must be provided for download. These icons are the unit and flag displays on the map field. The map will be unreadable without them. (The instructions for RIP players provide a test for these icon files.) When Mek Arena loads up, it will query the remote user for the existance of the icon files. If it doesn't find them, it will default the game into ANSI mode. Please place the included MEKICON.ZIP file available for public download. * Introduction MEK ARENA is a science fiction combat game where each player assumes the role of a mek pilot, warriors controlling giant robot fighting machines. The overall goal of the game is to gather funds and maintain a constant supply of powerful meks. Of course, there are others trying to stop you as well, and your meks will have to resist the onslaught of many multitudes of power-hungry mek pilots. The game has been designed to work with either RipTerm (and compatibles) or ANSI (and compatibles). RipTerm is highly recommended. * Game Play Instructions for this game can be found in the INS*.TXT files. These docs are further explained for registered users in the printed documentation. The Starport is the hub of all the major events inside the Mek Arena. There are ten things to do within the starport, and each will be expained at length below. *Version History 1.30 - 6 November 1993 Icons can now be downloaded as a user enters the door through DSZ support. Mek Arena now has greatly expanded and more detailed documentation, both on-line and not. Sly now resides at the chop shop, looking for "special pilots" and making "special deals" with them. Bank has been added which will hold funds and accquire some interest. By popular request, users can select whether or not they want those nifty RIP sound effects when they enter the game. Game will now automatically query for the existance of the Mek Icon files. Mercenaries now get salvage rights on each mek they defeat in combat. The salvage rights are a percent total of the worth of the enemy meks. Many new ANSI and RIP screens, to give the game a better look and feel. The game will now check if the user has fewer than five minutes remaining, inform that user, then end the game. There was a problem with "long-playing" users beforehand. Added several new meks, including the heavy Avengers and Crusaders, and the light Grasshoppers, Racks, Hornets and Falcons. All meks within the game are available in Nick's. This includes amateur night meks, and the meks of all warring governments. M4s,M6s, and Inferno Missiles are now available in the Chop Shop. Missile prices have also been raised (by popular request). Scanners will now bring up the cockpit information of the targeted mek during combat. Scanners also allow the player to change targets. Missions will now sometimes provide multiple opponents. New Equipment : Missile paks, Machine Guns, Defense Cases have been added. Some minor bug fixes: Phased movement system now calculates moves correctly, Critical Hit redisplay only occurs when a component is actually displayed. 1.20 - 18 September 1993 Casino added, allowing novice players to earn "gamble" a few extra bucks. Level restriction for Amateur Night has been removed. New, easy to use registration scheme added. Some minor bug fixes. .90 - Unregistered Beta Release First release, made for playtesting. Only distributed as an unregistered release. * TECHNICAL SUPPORT If you have any questions about Mek Arena or any other CIOE products, you can reach us by mail, voice, or by our network system. CIOE InfOrder 207 North Street, Suite 102 West Lafayette IN 47906 Voice: (317)743-3487 BBS:(317)743-4487