Duke Nukem 3D for Windows Menu
Version 0.3.2

Contents

About

This is a front end program to JonoF's Duke Nukem 3D port and EDuke32. It provides a graphical interface where you can select a game / add-on, various settings, and start up Duke 3D with them. It eliminates the requirement to create batch files, shortcuts, or manually have to type in commands each time you load Duke 3D with different parameters.

There is also a HTML document included containing a list of all the episodes and levels, numbered and named to help you choose on the "Start on episode/level" option.

A discussion of this utility is happening at 3D Realms Forums.

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Release Notes

This application was written in VB.net using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional. You will require the Microsoft .NET Framework (which is free) to run this application (available from Microsoft's Windows Update site).

Although the program reads and writes the configuration file, the effects of stange manual editings to the configuration file have not fully been tested.

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Installation

Although installing this couldn't be easier, somebody is bound to mess it up so here are the instructions:

  1. Download and install JonoF's Duke Nukem 3D port and/or EDuke32 if you haven't already (not included with this, but they are free).
  2. Download and install the Microsoft .NET Framework from Microsoft's Windows Update site (also free) if you don't have it already.
  3. Extract all the files from the ZIP archive you downloaded to your Duke Nukem 3D folder.
  4. That's it. Just run the EXE file. Make a shortcut to it if you wish (recommended).

Why is there no installer? An application this small and simple couldn't possibly require one - it would just be stupid!

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Help - Game Tab

This is where you choose which port and modification you would like to use (if any).

You have the option to use JonoF's port or EDuke32 (both the game and map editor). Use which ever one you prefer (or have installed).

The list box on the left contains all the configured games. Click the Game Management link to create, modify, and remove game configurations.

A default configuration set comes with the program, which you may wish to keep a backup copy of.

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Help - Game Management Form

Ah yes, this rather complicated looking form, which allows you to create, modify, and remove game configurations.

Let's start with the listbox on the left. This contains the configurations that have been created. Above are two links, one to make a new game, and the other to delete the current game. You can rename a game below this list.

Now over to the right frame. The first listbox contains all the groups/ZIP's within the game folder and it's subfolders.

The second listbox contains a list of all the groups/ZIP's which will be used in this game, and loaded in this order.

There are 4 buttons in the middle to control these list boxes.

Finally, the combo box below allows you to select the CON file being used for this game. Make sure you select a game CON file, not a user or defs one!

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Help - Game Configuration File Format

This section is strictly for experts only. It is not part of the utility directly. Please skip this section if you don't know what it's about.

Since many of you want to know how the configuration file works (if it's not obvious enough already by reading it), here is how it works.

The basic format is: Game Title TAB Groups TAB Game CON NEWLINE

You can specify multiple groups, by seperating them with a semi colon ( ; ) like this:

mygroup1.grp;hrp_update110.zip;duke3d_sd.zip

The groups will be loaded in the order specified. Here is an example line:

Duke it out in D.C.	groups\DC.GRP;groups\dukedc_hrp.zip	DCGAME.CON

Some things to note:

As I said before, the program makes this file for you. You won't need to modify it yourself. I have not tested the effects of things like having less or more than 3 columns, I'd imagine it gets stuck in an infinite loop looking for a character that won't appear.

In case you mess it up, I suggest you keep a backup copy of my original before modifying it.

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Help - Options Tab

This is where you choose what start-up options you want to use. By default, all of these are switched off - you start on the title screen.

First, you get the option to start on a specific level. You can either select:

  1. Title screen - the default option, gives you the game's main menu.
  2. Episode and level - choose an exact episode and level number for this game. Click the level guide button to open a HTML document with a complete listing of levels.
  3. Custom map - choose a custom map file to start on.

If you choose not to start on the title screen, you get to select a difficulty level to play on. You will not see the main menu when the game starts.

Now you get some other options, some of which are cheats.

  1. Disable monsters - tick this to turn off all monsters in the game, which is cheating during single player or co-operative play.
  2. No sound - disables all game sound effects, without modifying the game configuration.
  3. No music - disables all level music, without modifying the game configuration.
  4. Respawn - you can make certain objects respawn after time, select from the list what you want. This is cheating in single player. You will see a spinning coloured metal radiation circle where items will be respawning. Green = nearly here, yellow = wait longer, red = go find something elsewhere.
  5. Record demo - records a demo of the first game you play during this session so you can watch how much you own (or suck) later on.

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Help - Multiplayer Tab

If you want to play single player, untick multiplayer and move on; otherwise read this section.

JonoF's port and EDuke32 both have support for multiplayer games over TCP/IP, which the original game did not. There is also the option for a "fake" multiplayer game, where you play against bots.

Firstly, tick Multiplayer game. The list box on the right allows you to choose what multiplayer mode should be used.

  1. Server - start up a new TCP/IP game.
  2. Client - connect to an existing game over TCP/IP.
  3. Fake - start a non-networked game with bots.

Support for peer-to-peer connections is not supported, and most likely never will be. You can still set this up in the additional parameters if you really want, but I recommend you use client-server multiplayer mode.

Let's go over the server settings first.

  1. Total players - the expected number of players to join this game.
  2. Port - the TCP/IP port you want to host the connection on. Default is 23515.

The only client setting is the IP address of the game server you're connecting to. You do not have to specify a port, only if the server is not using the default (23515).

And now the fake settings.

  1. Total players - yourself and the number of bots to play (6 = 5 bots and you).
  2. Enable A.I. - if you untick this, the bots will have no brain (not move, shoot, use, or do anything). If you are testing the start points of a map, you may want to untick this. There is no other reason to disable it, unless you suck against them.

If you are using the server or fake mode, at the top right you can choose the type of game you are starting.

  1. Dukematch (with spawning) - a deathmatch where weapons, ammo, inventory, and monsters respawn after time. You will see a spinning coloured metal radiation circle where items will be respawning. Green = nearly here, yellow = wait longer, red = go find something elsewhere.
  2. Co-operative - play through the levels as a team (not one for the bots, eh?).
  3. Dukematch (without spawning) - a deathmatch where weapons, ammo, inventory, and monsters DO NOT respawn after time. This may result in sucky games once all the weapons are collected!

The start-up settings in the Options tab take effect when hosting a game. Disabling monsters overides the difficulty level setting. You may wish to disable monsters in deathmatches, although they are fun and useful at times.

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Help - Launch Tab

Now that you've fiddled with all the settings, now you are ready to launch. But wait, don't you want to specify any parameters?

Use the text box labeled additional parameters to specify any other parameter you like. If you have no idea what this is, leave it blank.

Now you can use one of the four fancy buttons I placed to start up.

  1. Duke 3D - starts up the game, the main purpose of this program.
  2. Map Editor - starts up the Build or Mapster32 map editor, depending on the port you've selected.
  3. Configuration - starts up the game setup program. Remember NOT to start the game from it, options from this application do not take effect there.
  4. Game Folder - opens the Duke 3D folder for you (isn't that nice?).

You will be notified if any application you are launching is not found.

There is a listbox underneath, which can set the launcher to automatically minimize or close when you launch the game or map editor. Do nothing means just put the launcher in the background (out of focus).

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Update Check

I have finally created a system for you to easilly check for updates.

  1. Click About to open the about form.
  2. Click Check for updates.
  3. Your default browser will open, going to my home website. Wait a few seconds.

Once the page loads, your version will be compared with the one I have on my webserver. You will be told whether you need to update or not.

To update (if you're told to), download the file as instructed, and overwrite the existing program files you extracted from the previous version.

Make sure you closed the application before you attempt to overwrite!

To check if you updated correctly, open the application, click About, click Check for updates, and see what it tells you.

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End

Thanks for your interest in my software.

Find more software from me at my website: http://reecehome.homeip.net.

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Page by Adam Reece.