Transcript
VanetX user guide Index 1. Main menu 2. Start a new game 2.1. Game rules configuration 2.2. VESPA configuration 2.3. Advanced network configuration 2.4. Advanced map configuration 2.4.1. Adding a new map 3. Join an existing (network) game 3.1. Advanced network configuration 4. Options 5. The game 5.1. Game modes 5.1.1. Capture the flag 5.1.2. Capture the red cars 5.1.3. Solve the tasks 5.1.4. Task endurance survival 5.2. Controls 5.3. Elements 5.3.1. Cars 5.3.2. Terrains 5.3.3. Interesting places 5.3.4. Others 5.4. HUD 5.4.1. VESPA radar
1. Main menu
In the main menu, we can choose between starting a new game, which leads us to config and subsequently start a single or multi player network game, or joining an existing game, which allows us to join a currently playing network game. We also can modify several options (such as volume, controls and game folder) by clicking in Options.
2. Start a new game
In the start new game section, we must set our nickname and select the map and game mode we want to play. Also, we can view our IP address (both public IP and private IP) by clicking in the view IP button. Clicking on this button again will switch between showing public and private IP addresses. People wanting to join to your game will need this public IP address, so write it somewhere or remember it. In this menu screen, there are four configuration buttons. The first one, Game rules configuration, will allow us to change some options such as the difficulty, the number of teams, and the number of neutral cars (traffic). The second one, VESPA configuration, will allow us to change VESPA related constants, values and modes, and also set the percentage of cars equipped with VESPA systems. The third one, Advanced network configuration, will allow us to change the port on which our server listens to the connecting clients, as well as the port we use to connect from our client to our server. It is important that you make sure the ports selected are open in your NAT/firewall both in tcp and udp modes.
The fourth one, Advanced map configuration, leads us to a new menu where we can add, remove and preview the maps. When we set all options as desired, we should click the “Start” button to start the game. If we want to return to the previous screen, we must click the “Go back” button.
2.1. Game rules configuration
In this menu, on the left side, we can customize the difficulty by changing the difficulty factors separately. Note that when we are the persecutor the damage value is reverted. Example: A low car damage value, in a game mode in which we are fleeing from the computer controlled cars means that we have more resistance, and in a game mode in which we are pursuing the computer cars means that they have less resistance and so on is more easy to us chase them. On the right side of the screen, we can change the number of (maximum) teams, the number of neutral cars (traffic), the number of enemy cars, and the number of rounds in competitive modes., and also the overall difficulty of the match. Below, we can set the time limit for the game modes and the break time between rounds.
2.2. VESPA configuration [Section pending]
2.3. Advanced network configuration
In this menu screen there are two text fields. In the top one, we can set the port we use to connect to ourselves. (It is needed as the application is separated internally in a server and a client, even when single player gaming). In the second one, we can set in which port the application will be listening to the players wanting to connect to our match.
Note that is important that you check that the ports selected are open in your NAT/firewall both in tcp and udp modes.
2.4. Advanced map configuration
In this menu screen we have two separated sections. The right side, in which we can search for an address, preview the area, and finally add the map, and the left side, where there is a table of the added maps, and in which we can preview and remove them.
2.4.1. Adding a new map Adding a new map to the game is very simple. All we need is type the address we are looking for in the Address keywords text field and click on the Search button. If there are results, they will appear in the Search results combo box. Now, we have to select the map size (using the Map size slider). In the Alias text field, we must type a representative alias in order to recognize the map. Also, we can preview the address selected by clicking the View map button. Finally, in order to add the map to the map list, we must click the Add map button. Hint: when searching for an address, the results are limited in number. For this reason, if we are searching for a very common address name, and we aren’t obtaining the desired results, we should enter a more detailed description. Hint: The smaller the map, better frame rate will obtain. Moreover, very detailed maps will not be able to be loaded in large or even medium size.
3. Join an existing (network) game
In this screen, we can join an ongoing network match. To do this, we must type the host public IP address in the server IP field, and enter a nickname so that other users can recognize us, and click the Join button. Additionally, in this menu screen, we can change the ports the application uses by clicking the Advanced network configuration button.
3.1. Advanced network configuration
In this menu screen there are two text fields. In the top one, we can set in which port the application will be listening to the match host server. In the second one, we must enter the port in which the host are running the match. Note that is important that you check that the port selected in the top field is open in your NAT/firewall both in tcp and udp modes.
4. Options
In this menu screen we can set the music volume (top slider) and the sound effects volume (bottom slider). Also we can view and change the controls, and select the game folder where maps and config files are stored.
5. The game 5.1. Game modes There are five different game modes: Capture the flag, Capture the red cars, Solve the tasks and Task endurance survival. All of them available in both cooperative and competitive mode. The first three game modes work with rounds. When we start a round, we have a predetermined number of seconds to drive freely before the objectives and pursuiters appears. But be careful because we can take damage by crashing to other traffic cars. After those seconds, the chase starts and a countdown will start. We have a predetermined time to complete the objectives.
When completed, the chasers (if there were any) will disappear, our health will fill up, and the round finish. In cooperative modes there are infinite rounds, but in competitive modes there are a limited number of rounds than can be set at game rules configuration menu. Depending on the selected difficulty, we must care of the fuel, trying to reach a gas station before we run out of fuel. Note: to replenish our fuel in a gas station, we must be stopped.
5.1.1. Capture the flag In this game mode, we must get all the flags (usually five) while we flee from the red cars that will try to chase us. We take a little damage by crashing to the traffic cars, and a lot by crashing to the red cars. Red cars have infinite health.
5.1.2. Capture the red cars In this game mode, we must chase all the red cars, which are trying to flee from us. We only take damage by crashing to the traffic cars while the red cars only take damage by crashing with us.
5.1.3. Solve the tasks In this game mode, we must complete several tasks before the time expires or we get busted by the red cars. There are differents kinds of tasks: Go driving to a local business or place of interest. Park near a business or place of interest. Go walking to a local business or place of interest.
5.1.4. Task endurance survival This game mode has a game mechanic totally different from the other game modes. The other game modes use a strict round system in which if the round is successfully accomplished, enemies disappear and you advance to the next round, and if a round is failed, the game ends, however, in this game mode, enemies will not disappear between rounds and neither the game will end if you fail in a round, you have simply missed the opportunity to win the round reward. The game will end when all teams have a negative amount of money (While at least one team has money, everybody will continue playing). If a round is successfully accomplished, all cars that are still alive will recover a 50% of health, and the dead cars will recover the 100%. In both cases you will lose money recover health is more expensive if you was dead than if you was only damaged. In each round you will be summoned to perform a task, that may be achieved driving, walking or parking in one of the 3 nearest parkings (as specified in the task), and in which you can be asked to go to a street o to a local bussiness of a particular type (e.g. go to a pharmacy).
5.2. Controls There are very simple controls. We only use the arrow keys and the space bar of the keyboard.
The arrow keys are used to control the car: Up arrow key accelerates. Down arrow key decelerates. Left arrow key rotates counterclockwise (turn left) Right arrow key rotates clockwise (turn right)
The space bar is used to create a puff of smoke. Control key is used to park and exit/enter the car
5.3. Elements 5.3.1. Cars There are several kinds of cars: Player cars: recognizable for being blue. They are the cars handled by the players.
Red cars: recognizable for being red. They are the cars controlled by the computer that, depending on the game mode, are trying to chase us or fleeing from us. We can also hear their engine sounds when nearby.
Ambulances: recognizable for being an ambulance and having a red and blue strobe light. We can also hear their siren when nearby. Controlled by the computer.
Traffic cars: all cars that doesn’t match with the above descriptions. Controlled by the computer.
5.3.2. Terrains [Section pending]
5.3.3. Interesting places There are some important places that you must recognize because they can be the objective depending on the game mode. Flags: A flag you must take to get points and refill your smokes.
Gas stations: A place where you can fill up your fuel.
Business: places such as: ● cafe ● fast food ● bank ● pharmacy ● school ● shop ● hostel ● motel ● hotel ● museum They are recognizable by a green circle with the business’ name painted in red letters
Parking spaces
5.3.4. Others Puff of smoke: is a temporary element created by the players, that causes cars touching it to slow down. It remains only ten seconds since it is created.
5.4. HUD The “Head Up Display” shows useful information while we are playing.
Information is as follows: 1) Score: it shows how many points we have achieved. 2) Health indicator: shows how damage the car has taken. It change gradually its color from green to red as we take more damage. 3) Puff smokes available: it shows how many smoke left. Its maximum is five. 4) Timeleft: it shows the remaining time to achieve the objectives. 5) Current street: it shows the name of the current street. If we are on an intersection, it will show the name of all the streets of that intersection. 6) Fuel meter: it shows graphically how many fuel left. 7) Radar: it shows a mini map where VESPA events are represented. More detailed information in section 5.4.1.
8) FPS indicator: it shows the current frame rate. 9) Arrows: they are colour arrows that shows in which direction are the objectives and the persecutors (if any). The red ones means persecutor, and the green ones means objective.
5.4.1. VESPA radar The VESPA radar shows graphically the events considered relevant by the VESPA system.
Each signal represents an event. We can receive several different events referring to the same incident, because several cars may have detected it. Therefore, we don’t receive a unique point in the place when the incident took place, but several points near to that place. Those are the icons allways visible: : our player : petrol station
: target (place or address) Those are the VESPA event icons: : flag
: accident or obstacle in road : emergency service : other player car : enemy car : free parking
