Manual

Table of Contents

> System Requirements
> Installation
> Menus
> Basic Laser Arena Rules
> The Game Screen
> Laser Gear
> Power-ups
> Game Types
> Tips from the Designers
> Technical Help
> Credits

System Requirements
OS: Windows 95/98/2000
CPU: P166MHz or better (200MHz recommended for software mode)
Memory: 16MB (32 recommended)
HD Space: 40MB
CD-ROM Drive
Audio: Windows Compatible Sound Card
Multiplayer: TCP/IP or IPX support
3D Accelerator recommended, but not required.

Installation

1. Place the Laser Arena CD into your CD-ROM drive and Setup will automatically begin.
2. Follow the instructions on screen to complete installation.
3. To run Laser Arena, select the Laser Arena icon from the Windows Start Menu.

Menus
To highlight the different menu options, use the ‘up’ and ‘down’ arrow keys. To adjust a particular selection, use the ‘left’ and ‘right’ arrow keys. You can always bring up the menu from within the game by pressing the ‘Esc’ key. To exit a menu at any time, simply press the ‘Esc’ key.

Ladder
In Ladder mode, you will face computer opponents in a challenging series of levels that will take you through all the different game types. Only when you defeat the last level can you call yourself a true champion.

Quick Game
In this mode, you can play a round of any game type. You have the choice of how many computer opponents to include, as well as which level you would like to play on. Great for practicing, or when you just want to jump in and kick some tail.

Multiplayer
In Multiplayer mode, you have the ability to play against other people that have bought Laser Arena, either on a Local Area Network (LAN) or over the Internet. To play on a LAN, one player needs to select New Game in the Multiplayer menu to create a game server that others can join. All the other players then need to select Join Game in the Multiplayer menu, and then select the appropriate game from the list of LAN games that appear to join the game.
There's two ways to play over the Internet, both require that you have an Internet connection and be connected to the Internet at the time. The first (and best) way to play over the Internet is to use GameSpy. If you don't already have GameSpy, you can install a trial version using the shortcut added to the Laser Arena start menu group. The second way requires you to know the Internet IP address of the person who’s game you wish to connect to (To find your IP Internet address, you can run Laser Arena and look in the Multiplayer section where it is listed for you). Then select Join Game, and manually type in the IP Internet address in the "Join Game At:" box and press Enter.

Options
The Options menu gives you the ability to adjust various game settings to your liking.

Exit
This will quit the game and return you to Windows.

Basic Laser Arena Rules

Laser Arena uses rules that are very similar to Laser Tag. Each player is equipped with a laser gun that is used to tag targets, laser turrets, and other players.

When a player is tagged, they deactivate (can't shoot, or be tagged) and reactivate after a few seconds, just Laser Tag. Unlike Laser Tag, though, each player has three energy containers, which are drained one at a time when tagged. When all of a player's energy containers are drained, they are considered "tagged out", and are teleported out of the arena. When tagged out, you are shown the current score board for the game. You are teleported back into the game when you press you "fire" key or "jump" key. Careful not to let opponents tag you out too much, because they get points each time they do.

To win each game, your team (or just you in Duel or Free-For-All) has to accumulate a certain number of points before the opponent team (player in Duel or Free-For-All) does. The number of points needed to win is set according to the type of game being played by the game or the person who started the game.

In team games, players win as a team, meaning that the team score is what matters, not the players' individual scores. Other players on the same team can not be tagged out by you with your laser blaster, but you can accidentally tag them out with laser grenades, so make sure you're careful with them.

Points can be earned in several different ways, some of which are only available in certain game types. Here's a list of all the various different ways you can get the points you need to beat the competition.

- 100 points are awarded each time you tag an opponent player, draining one of their energy containers, and deactivating then for a few seconds.
- 400 points are awarded when you tag out an opponent player, draining their third and last energy container and causing them to be teleported out of the arena.
- In Mega Target, 500 points are awarded for tagging a neutral base target.
- In Mega Target, 1000 points are awarded for tagging the enemy base target.
- In Mega Target, 5000 points are awarded for tagging the Mega Target.
- In Domination, 100 points are awarded for capturing a domination point.
- In Domination, 100 points are awarded for each domination point you control each second.

The Game Screen
Throughout the game information will be displayed on your screen that will let you know how you're doing and what's going on in the game.

1. Energy level – This is represented by three power canisters in the lower right of your screen. When all the canisters are empty, you will be transported to your own base in a team game, or to a random point in the level for a non-team game. Your power canisters are then refilled.
2. Powerup - When you have a power-up, its icon and time remaining will be displayed just above your energy canisters. When the power-up time runs out, its display will go away, and you will lose the power-up.
3. Laser Grenades – If you are carrying any laser grenades they will be displayed as icons along the right side of your screen. The maximum you can carry is three.
4. Score – Your personal score will be displayed in the top center of the screen represented by the big number.
5. Points Left - The number of points left to get to win for the player or team that is in the lead.
6. Team Score – In team games, both team scores will be shown in the upper left area of the screen, with the winning team on top.
7. Crosshair - The crosshair in the center of the screen will change to an X shape when you are deactivated. This is usually the easiest way to tell if you've been hit and are deactivated. While deactivated, your gun will also lower down and turn off. Remember that while you're deactivated you can't fire your laser blaster or be tagged.
8. Name Display - When your crosshair passes over another player, their name will be displayed just below it in a box the color of the team they are on.
9. Game status – The name of and information about the current game type is displayed in the lower left of your screen. This information will be different depending on the game type you are currently playing. In team games, the backdrop box for the game type name matches the team that you are on, meaning it's green if you're on the Green team, and red if you're on the Red team. This makes it easy to always know which team you're on no matter how chaotic the game gets.

Laser Gear

Laser Blaster
This is the standard issue Laser Blaster used in the game of Laser Arena. When fired, it emits a beam of light (default is the left mouse button to fire). When an opponent (or yourself) is tagged with the beam, it will drain one canister of their energy. The tagged player will then power down for a few seconds. In that time they cannot shoot, or be tagged. After a few seconds, that player will then power back up and be able to play as normal again. If the player's last canister is drained, they are teleported out of the arena, and then teleported back in at an appropriate teleport in location with full energy.

When you tag a target, you will see it flash briefly to show that it was tagged.

Laser Grenade
When thrown, the Laser Grenade will bounce around a few times before floating into the air and emitting its barrage of blue lasers. Great care should be taken when using grenades, as you can accidentally tag yourself, or your fellow team members if they are hit by it. To use a grenade, press the grenade key (default is ‘g’).

Power Ups

The following items may be found throughout the arenas to enhance your abilities. Some last only a short time before running out.

Power Canisters Power Canisters will replenish one canister of your energy. |
Rapid Fire Rapid Fire allows your Laser Blaster to shoot twice as fast. This power up will last for 30 seconds before running out. A chaotic swirl of purple particles will circle around a player that had rapid fire. |
Double Points While in effect, the Double Points power up will double the amount of points you are awarded. This power up will last for 30 seconds before running out. Two rings of blue will waver around a player while they posses double points. |
Double Blaster When you have this power up, any opponent you tag will have two Power Canisters drained instead of one. This power up will last for 30 seconds before running out. Two rings of yellow particles will spin a player in an X formation while they have double blaster. |
Laser Grenades This will give you one laser grenade to carry. You can carry no more than three at any time. When you throw a laser grenade with the grenade key, it launches out in the direction you're looking and bounces around for a few seconds before popping straight up a bit and then blasting everything around it with a barrage of lasers. Be careful when using these, as they will also tag you and your teammates. |

Game Types

There are five different types of games you can play in Laser Arena. Each has different goals for winning, and different ways to earn the most points to come out on top.

Free for All

This is a chaotic everyone-for-themselves match where your only friend is your laser blaster. All players are red in a free-for-all, and there are no teams.

Team Match

It's a straight out green vs. red tag race as two teams try to get the most points first by tagging out the opponent team players.

Duel

This is a one-on-one match where you slug it out with a single opponent to see who can tag the other out the most.

Domination

The focus of Domination is the control of three spots in the map called "domination points". These are captured by a player walking over one, causing it to turn the color of that player's team. A captured domination point will give a player's team 100 points each second that it's controlled by that team. These points can add up very quickly, making it much more important to control the domination points than to tag out opponent players.

Mega Target

Each map is made of four bases (two neutral, and one for each team) and a central room containing the Mega Target. The objective is to tag the two targets in each of the two neutral bases, and the target in the enemy base, which grants you "Mega Target Ability" for 45 seconds. You then have to get to the central room and hit the Mega Target before you're either tagged out, or run out of time. With the Mega Target giving you 5000 points each time you tag it, the main objectives in Mega Target matches is not only to hit the three needed targets and the the Mega Target, but also to prevent the opponent players from do the same thing. Each time a player gets Mega Target Ability, you will hear "red team, Mega Target" of "green team, Mega Target" depending on which team got it. If it's your task to stop opponents from scoring too many points, this is you cue to head towards the central room and try to stop them from scoring the 5000 point tag on the Mega Target.
Tips from the designers

- Constantly move. A moving target is always more difficult to hit.
- Grab power-ups, gameplay tends to revolve around control of the power-ups.
- Be cautious with grenades, you can hurt yourself and your teammates with them.
- Always beware of the turrets in Mega Target games.
- Make sure to listen. Sounds you hear in the game can tip you off to what's going on before you can actually see what's going on.

Technical Help
For technical help please visit our website at:
http://www.valusoft.com/
Or Email us at: support@valusoft.com

Credits

President:
Tom Kudirka
Producer:
Vince Zampella
Programming:
Robert “Frog” Field
Carl “General WarT” Glave
Mike “Mike” Milliger
Ken “Evolver” Turner
Artists:
Paul “Talon” Jury
Justin “Justin” Thomas
Animator:
Michael “Ghengis” Boon
Sound and Music:
Zack Belica
Christian Mock
Level Designers:
Todd “Stagger” Alderman
Steve “Forrest” Fukuda
Preston “Hexadecimal” Glenn
Benson “elmagoo” Russell
Michael “Karma” Heilemann
Zied “2am” Rieke
Testers:
Lance Cole
Brett Hickman
Chuck Handshy
Billy Scott
Chip Kachigian
Matt Leming
Bryan Kuhn
GameSpy:
Rick Raymo
Joost Schuur
David Wright
Todd Northcutt