FreeUniverse ------------ 1) What is FreeUniverse? FreeUniverse is a free, open source space simulation game. It was inspired by the Microsoft game FreeLancer, but also incorporates features from my last game 3059. Everything is randomly generated on-the-fly, including items, space stations, planets and ships. You can roam freely in all directions at all times, and everything stays persistant. Much effort was placed in making FreeUniverse's universe feel natural and active. 2) What do I need to play/compile FreeUniverse? First, install OpenAL. This is the sound library that FreeUniverse uses. You can download this through "www.openal.org". All other libraries (.DLLs) are included in the FreeUniverse package for Windows-based systems. If you are compiling this game for another operating system, many packages are required: * libpng libraries * SDL, SDL_mixer, SDL_image * zlib * ogg/vorbis libraries * OpenGL libraries (Derelict/ArcGames) FreeUniverse was compiled with Digital Mars D (DMD) compiler. Additional tools were used to help compilation: Build (now called bud) and Poseidon (D editor). 3) How do I play? Start with a new game. You will have to enter a name for this game; everytime you undock from a planet or station, your game will be saved to this name. You will start in a neutral "zone", next to a populated planet where you can buy a better ship and equipment, if desired. Here are the keys: UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT: Simple navigation (Engines, Turning) "B": Air Brakes "C": Hold to engage cruiser engines (if equipped) "1": Select facing general object "2": Select facing ship "3": Select facing enemy "4": Select facing dockable object "5": Select facing item Spacebar: Afterburners (if equipped) "F": Hold to fire weapons and bad modifiers (if equipped) "A","S": Strafer engines left/right (if equipped) "M": Hold to fire good modifiers (if equipped) "D": Attempt to dock to selected dockable object "P": Attempt to pickup selected item "G": Attempt to group with selected ship "U": Ungroup with selected ship ENTER: Select yourself "O": Check current job/quest information, if any "E": List any active effects and their durations from modifiers "L": Toggle cloaking device, if any Move mouse to top of screen: See target information Move mouse to left of screen: See and manage item status Item status: Here you can see what items (utilities, cargo and weapons) you currently hold. The "quality" and "charge" of the item is displayed as a horizontal bar. When the "quality" of an item goes to zero, that item is completely broken. "Charge" of an item relates to the speed at which an weapon or utility activates. Also listed is the "counter" for that item (e.g. generator energy, missles remaining). Further controls that can be done using the items status bar: Hold "I" while clicking item: Display that item's information Hold "J" while clicking item: Jettison item into space Clicking an item without holding a key: Toggle item's activation status 4) What are these "faction" thingies? Factions are like teams; objects of the same faction are your friends, while objects of other factions are your enemies. 5 factions exist, which consist of two warring extremes (Pure Rogues vs. Pure Alliance) and 3 "in-between" factions: < Pure Rogues - Relaxed Rogues - Neutral - Relaxed Alliance - Pure Alliance > Killing and attacking your faction pushes you away from that faction, while doing jobs and giving good modifiers pulls you toward that faction. Only ships of your own faction can become grouped with you. A green selection box signifies a friendly faction, while a yellow selection box signifies an unfriendly faction. 5) What is this stuff floating around me? * Planets: You can dock to these if they are a friendly faction. Planets offer the most services and equipment. You can buy ships, get jobs, trade commodities, repair and buy equipment, or just sit out a space storm. * Stations: Much like planets, but offer fewer services and no ships. * Transpaths: Dock to these to quickly travel between important locations. * Telegates: Dock to these to instantly travel between zones. * Ships: Other ships go about their life around you. Treat them as you wish. * Space Rocks: Feel free to blow these up, they may have goodies to mine. * Port Holes: Rare objects you can "dock" to be sent "somewhere". 6) What is this HUD? (Heads Up Display) The bottom center of the screen displays your energy, shields and armor. If armor reaches zero, you are destroyed. Energy supplies many things, like your radar sensors, engines and shield generators. To the bottom right is your radar display. You are at the center of the display. In between the radar display and your status bars is the target status bars (if a target is selected). Moving the mouse to the top of the screen will show your target's information. Moving the mouse to the left of the screen will show your item management and status pane. Objects in space are selectable with the mouse pointer, or by using the auto-selection keys 1-5.