VS Manual: 6. Getting Started Table of Contents

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6. Getting Started

6.1 Acquiring the Program

TO BEGIN playing Vega Strike, you will first need to obtain the program. You can do so in one of four ways:

Instructions on how to perform the last two actions are located at the Vega Strike How-To’s page (http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/phpwiki/index.php/VegastrikeHowtos). You’ll end up with an unstable developer’s version of the program - but, it’ll contain all the latest features (and bugs)!

6.2 Installing the Program

This manual was written, primarily, for the Windows version of Vega Strike. The instructions and commands contained herein, however, should be generally applicable to all platforms. Where there are differences, or points that are not addressed, please make a report and forward the information to the author or the editor. Or, make a report by posting on the Vega Strike forum. Suggestions or corrections will be included in future updates of this manual.

6.2.1 Windows Installation

  1. Vega Strike is packaged in a self-installable, executable program. Locate this file (either within your download or on the CD).
  2. Double-click on the self-installer file; it will begin verifying itself (be patient, this will take a short while).
  3. Read the License Agreement (a copy can be accessed online at the website, as well as in the program directories).
  4. Select the components to install. Note, that the Vega Strike files are required to play Vega Strike. The Music files are recommended for full immersion in the game.
  5. Select the directory where you’d like to install Vega Strike.
  6. Click Install. You will see the installer program extracting and installing all the necessary files and accessory programs to launch, configure and run Vega Strike.

6.2.2 GNU/Linux Installation

(ED: to be updated)

  1. Install the rpm/deb/tar files or compile the source.
  2. Run “vsinstall” from the terminal.

6.2.3 Mac Installation

(ED: to be updated)

  1. Drag “VegaStrike.app” to the "Applications” directory.
  2. Double Click on “VegaStrike.app”.

6.3 Configuring Vega Strike

6.3.1 Windows/Linux Configuration

To configure Vega Strike for your system, you will need to access the configuration settings. There are three ways you can do this:

  1. Run the Launcher program and select Game Settings.
  2. Directly open the program file “Launcher.exe” (Windows) or “vslauncher” (Linux).
  3. Directly edit the “vegastrike.config” file (recommended only for advanced users).

6.3.2 Mac Configuration

  1. CTRL-click or right-click the Vega Strike application.
  2. Choose Show Package Contents.
  3. Navigate to the “Contents/Resources/data/” subdirectory.
  4. It’s useful to drag an alias of this directory to your desktop while you’re editing Vega Strike.

6.4 The Launcher

6.4.1 Launcher (Windows/Linux)

Vega Strike uses a configuration program to load missions, create new games, load saved games, and configure itself. Both Windows & Linux operating systems use this program, with the only difference being the name (“Launcher” for Windows and “vslauncher” for Linux).

To load the Launcher program in Windows, either go to the Start Menu > Vega Strike menu and select Launcher, or navigate to the “bin” subdirectory and double click on “Launcher.exe”. In Linux run “vslauncher” from the terminal.

The Launcher program offers the following choices:

Figure 2 Figure 2: The Launcher

Start New Pilot

To start a new pilot (game) in the Vega Strike universe, select this button. Once you’ve typed a new name for your save-game, click OK and the game will automatically start.

Play Saved Pilot

Choosing this option starts Vega Strike with the selected saved pilot (save-game).

Continue Last Game

This option starts Vega Strike by automatically loading your last saved pilot (save-game).

Game Settings

Choose this option to access Vega Strike’s configuration settings. See Basic Configuration Settings.

Recover from Autosave

This option permits you to recover from a game gone awry. If you quit or died in your last game, it will restore and automatically load the selected save-game to the last saved position.

Change Scenario

This option allows you to select which scenario to play. If you ignore this option, the standard Exploring the Universe scenario will be loaded by default.

Note: the default scenario will utilize any save-games specified using the Play Saved Pilot or Recover from Autosave menu options. Most scenarios, however, will not. In these cases, every game will begin as if the Start New Pilot option were chosen.

Help

Displays some help text, containing the above information.

Exit Launcher

Exits the Launcher.

6.4.2 Basic Configuration Settings

Figure 3 Figure 3: The Game Settings Screen

Computer

Make a selection based on the available RAM (Random Access Memory) on your system. The amount of available RAM affects:

“< 256 Mb RAM”

“256 Mb RAM”

“512 Mb RAM + 256 Mb Swap”

“512 Mb RAM + 1Gb Swap”

“1024 Mb RAM”

Optimized

Determines how Vega Strike draws objects. “Display Lists” is the recommended choice. You should only select “Compiled Vertex Arrays” if you suffer from video driver code crashes. If problems persist, choose “Vertex Arrays”.

Difficulty

Determines the level of difficulty.

“Decelerated Game play”

“Relaxing Game play”

“Moderate Game play”

“Hasty Game play”

“Insane Game play”

“Impossible Game play”

Sound

Determines what sounds are generated in Vega Strike. Note, that “Linux” sound-settings are for Linux, only. The other settings are for Windows. (The Windows settings provide a higher volume level.)

“No Sound” No sound files played. Recommended when game performance is slow.
“My Sound Only” AI sound is deactivated; Sounds originate from you and your ship, only.
“All Sound” AI sound is activated
“My Linux Sound” AI sound is deactivated; Sounds originate from you and your ship, only.
“All Linux Sound” AI sound is activated

Music And Volume

The initial music volume. (The volume can be adjusted, later, in game.)

“High Volume” For loud, dramatic music!
“Medium Volume” For enjoying the music, but without it being too intrusive.
“Low Volume” Suitable setting for having music playing in the background.
“Music Off” Does not load the soundserver to play music. Recommended when game performance is slow.

Video

Determines the level of visual detail that the Privateer Remake mod will project onto your monitor. These settings affect the smoothness and rounding of objects, font-style and anti-aliasing, sun halos, maximum texture size capability and whether reflection capability is available.

“Extreme Detail” Highest detail available. Includes full smoothing, halo and texturing. Reflection capability is available. Cockpits can be activated. Only high-end video cards should use this setting.
“Very High Detail” The main difference, here, is that there’s a large reduction in the level of visual detail.
“High Detail” Further reduction in visual detail, as well as reduction in lighting capability.
“Medium Detail” Reduces visual detail by disabling nebula fog.
“Low Detail” Reduces visual detail by removing background detailing (black only). Cockpits are no longer available. All text is reduced in size, with no color-differentiation. Light-reflection is disabled, with no haloing effects.
“Retro Detail” Lowest detail. No texture usage (wireframe only).

Resolution

Sets the video resolution. It should be set equal to, or slightly lower than, your normal screen resolution. Please note, that the higher the resolution, the more processing power is required.

Per Pixel Lighting

Determines the number and type of visual lighting effects. Items farther down the list produce better visual effects, but require better hardware.

Color

Determines whether the game uses full, 32-bit coloration, or the more limited, 16-bit color-range. It also determines whether the game runs in full-screen mode or in a window.

“32 bit Fullscreen” 32-bit color, full-screen. (Note, that eMac users might not be able to use this setting.)
“16 bit Fullscreen” 16-bit color, full-screen. (Note, that eMac users might not be able to use this setting.)
“32 bit Windowed” 32-bit color, windowed.
“16 bit Windowed” 16-bit color, windowed.

Mouse: Control Method

Determines the method of mouse flight-control.

“Mouse Warping” Turns your craft in the direction of mouse movement. The turn continues only as long as your mouse is moving. To stop turning, stop moving your mouse.
“Inv Mouse Warping” Inverts the direction of “Mouse Warping”.
“Mouse Glide” Provides a ‘ghost’ targeting reticule that can be moved around the screen. The ship always turns toward the reticule. Re-centering the reticule causes the ship to cease turning. This option does not require you to continually move your mouse.
“Inv Mouse Glide” Inverts the vertical direction of “Mouse Glide”.
“No Mouse” No mouse-flight.

Mouse: Default Button Settings

Mouse: Cursor

Determines whether the mouse cursor is software or hardware-driven. Note, that non-nVIDIA cards, such as 3dfx, ATI and ATI Rage cards, often do not show the mouse cursor in software-mode.

“Software Cursor” The default setting. When set to this setting, the cursor should appear when at bases, and disappear again when in flight.
“Hardware Cursor” Select this option if the cursor never appears at bases.

Joystick: Control Method

Configures your joystick for flight. Joysticks can also be programmed directly by editing “vegastrike.config” (recommended for advanced users, only). Joysticks with multiple buttons default to the button options, below:

“No Joystick” No joystick-flight enabled.
“2 Axis Joystick” Enables a standard, 2-axis (x,y) joystick, with two buttons (0,1).
“Joystick Glide” Provides a ‘ghost’ targeting reticule that can be moved around the screen. The ship always turns toward the reticule. Re-centering the reticule causes the ship to cease turning.
“2 Axis Joystick And Throttle” Enables movement in the x- and y-directions, only. Enables throttle-control. Two buttons (0,1).
“3 Axis Joystick” Enables movement in all three directions (pitch, yaw & roll).
“3 Axis Joystick and Throttle” Enables movement in all three directions, plus the use of a throttle. Currently, throttle-control affects acceleration and deceleration, not velocity. Result: the set-speed is either maximum or zero.
“Joystick and Throttle Reversed” Reverses the settings for the third axis and throttle.

Joystick: Default Button Settings

Configures your joystick for flight-control. Joysticks can also be programmed directly by editing “vegastrike.config” (recommended for advanced users only). Joysticks with multiple buttons default to the button options, below:

6.5 Launching Vega Strike

6.5.1 Launching Vega Strike from the Command-Line

Vega Strike can take a single command-line parameter, indicating which mission it should load:

vegastrike explore_universe.mission - A valid mission call.

The “-j” flag (must be flush with the system) starts the game in a given star system:

vegastrike -jvega_sector/vega n_vs_n/confed/confed_2v2.mission - Loads the 2v2 mission in the Vega sector.

6.5.2 Launching Vega Strike in Windows and Linux

  1. Load the Launcher program.
  2. To begin play, click on Start New Pilot. Type a name for your new game. This will create a new set of folders with the same name.
  3. Click OK to begin playing. Please note, that when Vega Strike is launched for the first time, the game will generate BSP trees for the current star system. This could take several minutes. Subsequent launches should be quicker.

The default mission (“explore_universe.mission”) is recommended as an introduction to the Vega Strike dynamic universe. You do not need to choose Change Scenario from the Launcher to play this mission; a new game will automatically default to this mission.

As a final note, you can sometimes “drag and drop” the mission you want to play onto the Vega Strike executable (not the launcher, but “vegastrike.exe”, itself) or shortcut.

6.5.3 Launching Vega Strike for Mac

(ED: to be updated)

As “vegastrike” is a hidden directory, Mac users should do the following:


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