The first alpha build for my online game is ready! It is about 85% done, but it's core functionality is there so it is playable.
If you want to try it, download Here
editLink removed. Found some nasty bugs....
/edit (36.7 megabytes size is because it includes most the pictures too; when I release updates it will be closer to 1 MB / update)
While most the important stuff should work, I make no guarentees, and I don't want to hear complaints, unless you want to also give me source code fixing your complaint. I know something might be broken, because it isn't finished yet!
Anyhow, disclaimer out of the way, here is how it works. First, you will want to install it; this is currently as simple as unziping the file you download from me.
This will make a folder called 'Windows' (it is called Windows as opposed to Linux on my computer, adn I just zipped up mine). Open this folder and you will see 3 things:
1) oracle.cdb This is the cards listing. Do not edit it and don't move it! If it is not where the program expects it to be, the program will choke.
2) A folder called 'pics'. This has pictures off almost all the cards from alpha up to the end of the Kamigawa block (I don't have the newest block at this time; I intend to get these pictures in about a week)
3) A folder called 'bin'. This holds the program itself and it's needed .dll files (these .dlls are the Qt library, from Trolltech)
Inside the bin folder is the program you want to run, called cardgame.exe. Run it from inside this folder, don't move it.
When the program starts up, you should see somthing like this:
Picture
On the left is a listing of the cards found in the database. You can use the text box above the list to search for a card name. When you click a card, it's text will appear in the middle. If you double click a card, it's name will be added to the list on the right.
The list on the right is your deck list. You can save and load deck lists by using the deck-> open and deck->save menu options.
You cannot remove cards from a deck list yet. That feature should be unstalled next tuesday
The view menu will let you turn off parts of the main windows to save screen space.
Once you have a deck ready, you can click game->listen, and two game windows will pop up (one might be under the other, just pull it out.)
Do not do anything on the game windows until you are connected to someone else! Don't click, don't press a key, nothing!
Now, have your opponent connect to you. Have him create a deck, and press game-> connect. It will ask for the IP address of the player acting as the server.
Once he presses in your IP address, the game window should pop up on his screen. Once that happens, you can begin playing the game. (You will have to communicate with your opponent through IM or something to tell him when the connection is established. The automatic connection notifier will be installed tuesday)
When you are connected, you can start the game. Drag and drop cards off your deck (the Magic card back found in the lower left of the screen) to draw cards.
You want to drop these cards directly to the right of your deck. If the middle of the card is below the top of the deck and anywheres to the right, you can see it, bu your opponent cannot (this is your hand zone).
You can drag and drop cards throughout the playing field to move them. Right clicking a card will tap or untap it.
When you move the mouse over a card on the board, the card's text will be displayed in the main window.
The life spin counters on the little window that accompanies the game window works automatically. Just use these to control your life; your opponent's life is the number to the right of yours.
The text box under your life tells you about some things that happened, for example every time your opponent shuffles his deck or searches it for a card.
You can type into the line edit under the text box and hit enter to send a message to the other player's text box.
And again, I know this is not perfect, because it is not done. But you should be able to get some playage through it. Any questions, feel free to ask here, and keep your eyes on this thread; I hope to finish it enough to call it Beta by tuesday.
People still play that?!
