
 Crimsonland documentation
 for version 1.4.0
 16.09.2002 (dd.mm.yyyy)


 (For more current online information please visit 
  http://crimsonland.10tons.org)



1. Introduction
2. Gameplay
 2.1 Controls
 2.2 Weapons
 2.3 Perks
 2.4 Two player game
 2.5 Maps/Levels
 2.6 Highscores
3. Command line parameters and grim config
4. Feedback & Q&A
5. Disclaimer
 

 
1. Introduction

This is a short documentation for Crimsonland. Visit the 
website http://crimsonland.10tons.org for more updated
details.

Crimsonland is a freeware game in which your goal is to
have as much fun as you can while killing the eeevil
monsters.


2. Gameplay

For highscore survive as long as possible by any means.
All weapons do more damage when shot in short range.
For example a bullet shot from another side of the screen
might only scratch an enemy while bullet shot point-blank
is guaranteed to make 'em bleed really bad.

There is also a two player game mode. In this mode you
can fight cooperatively with your friend on same computer
against the monsters. (Note that the two player game mode
is coded in a bit hurry and is not exactly what I had in
my mind.. This will be addressed in Crimsonland2 :)


2.1 Controls

You can select the controlling method and the aiming device
from the options menu. First select the player for whom
you are going to select the settings. Then select the wanted
controls. Try out the control/aiming methods to see the 
difference. Notice that you can control/aim for both 
players with mouse by redefining the same keys for both
players and controlling both of them with the mouse.
Twice the fire power. Neat.

Also notice that by selecting Redefine controls, you are
asked to give keys for the BOTH players, there is no way to
skip the other. The pressed keys are not "checked" in any
way, so it is possible to select same buttons more than
once although that might not be very sane. :)

The aiming with keyboard is based on the controlling method
you have chosen. In static control mode the shooting direction
is locked when the FIRE button is pressed down. In relative 
control mode the shooting direction is always rotated one 
sixth of the pi to the right compared to the walking direction.

You can aim in two ways with a mouse too. Static mouse aiming
is propably the method you want to use as relative method
is suited more for some laptop-in-build-mouses (tappihiiri =)
and some game pads with analog hat acting mouse kind of thingie
on them.

The movement method with joysticks is always like the static
keyboard method. The aiming with joystic is controlled with
either POV (or 'hat') of the joystic or the same way as in
keyboard static method. You can calibrate your joystic either
from Microsoft's DirectInput configurations in Windows control
panel or with the small calibration system in Crimsonland's
options menu.

Default control keys are listed below. You can define your
own custom keys from options -> Redefine controls option.

Default keys for player 1:
 A/D 				turn left/right
 W/S				walk forwards/backwards
 TAB				fire

Default keys for player 2:
 left/right arrow		turn left/right
 up/down arrow			walk forwards/backwards
 right control			fire
 
In single player game you can use both of the keysets as you
see fit.

You can quit the game anytime (except at startup) by 
pressing ALT+Q.

You can take a screenshot anytime (except at startup) by 
pressing F12 in fullscreen mode. Taking shots in windowed
mode may not work. Images are saved in current work directory
encoded in .BMP format. They are named screenshot_x.bmp where
x is running number starting from 1 and incrementing by one
with every screenshot. Note that every time the game is
restarted the x starts again from 1.


2.2 Weapons

There are total of 17 weapons currently in the game.
Though posession of three of them cannot be gained just by
picking weapon bonuses. :)

As far as I know, no one has figured out -- yet -- how
to all of the secret weapons. Good luck hunting. =)
(See the Q&A section for more info..)


2.3 Perks

When you gain enough experience to gain an experience level
you are entitled to one (1) perk. You can select the perk
by clicking the "+Level Up" sign on bottom right corner
of the screen or by pressing "+" or space bar key on the
keyboard.

In two player game the both players have "shared perks".
That is, you only pick the perks for player 1 and player 2
gains the same perks automaticly. Some of the perks are
disabled in two player game for they don't really fit
in to the two-player-game nature. For example Grim Deal
perk is disable.

Vampyrism perk is disabled in versions 1.2.4 and greater.


2.4 Two player game

Some of the game elements are different in the two player 
game. Some of them have been mentioned in previous chapters:
shared perks and some perks disabled.

Read other gameplay chapters for more info on how things
work in two player game. :)


2.5 Maps/Levels

NOTE: levels have been disabled for this version of the
game. Don't ask. I'll enable them for the next version:
guess this wasn't the final one afterall :I

(There are some "levels" in this version of the game. 
However, the "the main point" of the Crimsonland is
the career and survival mode -- not the maps.
That is why they must be activated by pressing down
the left control key and typing "levels". When done
so, a new game mode is unlocked: Gamemode LevelTest.

In this game mode you will be given a few levels
to play without any greater meaning. You can play the
level by selecting Begin from the main menu. In all
levels your objective is to find all of the creatures
and slay them.)


2.6 Highscores

There are separate highscore hall of fame lists for
each game mode with each number of players. The highscore
files are now "crypted", so if the game insist your
highscore file is corrupted you might have the files
from a older version. I'm sorry about that one. The 
highscore file format is now final though, so the 
future versions of Crimsonland will be able to load
them.



3. Command line parameters and grim config

When you start up the game you'll be shown a dialog where
you can select screen resolution and bit depth.

Crimsonland is meant to be played in 640x480x32 resolution.
You can however select higher graphic modes but some of
the game graphics may be a bit off position.

"Pure software" in grim config means that no 3d accelerator
polygon rasterization functions is used to draw the graphics.
With DirectX8.1 version of Grim API this means that D3D
Reference Rasterizer is used as a D3D Device. In practice this
means the game is way too slow to be played even if you've got
todays high end computer config.

There are also some command line parameters available.
At command prompt (in directory where crimson.exe is :) type

For no sounds:
crimson.exe nosound

For safemode:
crimson.exe safemode

For no sounds & safemode:
crimson.exe nosound safemode



4. Feedback and Q&A

All feedback is definetely welcome. Just email me (temper@mbnet.fi and/or
tero.alatalo@uta.fi). (preferable to just one of them tho =)

Q&A:

Q: The game ain't working, what should I do?
A: Check the System requirements section in http://crimsonland.10tons.org
   for the most updated info. If you think your hardware passes the requirements
   try updating your 3d accelerator drivers and maybe DirectX should there be
   newer versions available.

Q: How can I get those perk thingies?
A: Read chapter 2.3 Perks

Q: Why does the game say that my highscore file is corrupted?!
A: Read chapter 2.6 Highscores. Sorry about that.

Q: How come gauss rifle bullets spill so much blood around 
   although they actually shouldn't?
A: Gauss rifle in this game shoots magic bullets that do
   this extra effect.

Q: But this game ain't realistic at all! Why?
A: It is not meant to be realistic. I have tried to make
   it as playable and fun as possible with the time and 
   resources I've had.
     
Q: I heard there are secret weapons in the game; puh-leeeze tell me
   how to get them!
A: Eh, no. This is kind of test to see if anyone can come up to how to
   get them. You you're _that_ interested you can check out the binary
   form of the game and trace the process there ;) So I'm not telling
   anyone. Because I'm mean. One thing I'm saying though; you can get
   the weapons just by honestly playing the game -- not with some
   fancy press-down-100-keys-simultaneously cheats :)

 
5. Disclaimer

This game is Freeware. You can distribute it freely as long as
it stays in its original package form (the packages available
at http://crimsonland.10tons.org)

You use this software at your own risk. We are not responsible
for any damage this software may or may not cause to you or
to your computer.


2002  (c)    temper / 10tons entertainment
tero.alatalo@uta.fi / http://www.10tons.org
