 Launch
Flash Attack! |
As a Beta tester, you are volunteering to play and test Flash Attack and report defects and issues back to the author. When problems occur, it will also be necessary to email log files generated by the game to assist in debugging. You have been given the beta test login/password to download the application. You should not give it to anyone else. If you know someone else who'd like the join the beta, ask me to invite them. Aside from that, there really isn't anything to it.
Installing Flash Attack is quite simple, however it requires that your computer have a Java Virtual Machine (JVM - also called a JRE or Java Runtime Environment) installed which can add some complexity. I recommend Sun Microsystems' JVM mostly because they invented Java and because I know there are no issues with it. I have seen Flash Attack to work in win32, linux, and macOS. I think performance-wise it will run best in that order as well (if you have a choice, pick win32).
Java Web Start Method
I highly recommend this method. Java Web Start is really cool. If you have Sun's JRE 1.4.2 or higher you have support for it. If you don't have a JRE (eg. if the 'Launch' link doesn't work for you), you can do Step 2. below.
Basically you just click the link below. It will download and install it, and run it in one step. It keeps a local copy but checks for updates when you run it so you know you always have the latest version. You can always run it from here, but once it's installed you can also run it from the Java Web Start app. You will have to accept the security dialog.
Manual Install
1. If you have a JRE installed, you can skip ahead to Step 3 unless your version isn't 1.4 or higher.
2. Go to Sun's Java download site for Java 1.5. There's a link towards the top of page labeled "Download JRE 5.0 Update XXX" (XXX may be 6 or something bigger). Click that link and follow its download instructions. You have to "agree" to their terms, and pick your platform. On win32, installation is quite easy... probably MAC also. If you are doing it in Linux, well you'll have to figure it out yourself or drop me an email and I'll help you through it.
3. Download Flash Attack. I used to have .zip files, but now all you need is the .jar file. [Download flashattack.jar]
If the JVM is setup correctly, you can simply double click the file "flashattack.jar" to run the game. (Remember: If you are using Web Start, you can launch from this page or from the Java Web Start application installed on your computer.)
There is a dedicated server running on duranaki.com, which you are welcome to use (Join). You can also use Host mode to play solo games, fine tune your macros, or host your own network games. The readme.txt file includes details for the ports used in the game to aid in firewall/router configuration.
Flash Attack saves some files to your computer when it runs to preserve your macros and settings, and also log data for debugging purposes. All files are stored in a directory called "flashattack" under your home directory. This varies from system to system.. but in windows its usually like "C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\flashattack" and in Unix/Linux it will be in your home directory like "~/flashattack".
Flash attack generates a new log file on each run called fa.log. Old log files are automatically renamed like fa.log.1, fa.log.2, etc. If anything unusual happens, please email the latest fa.log file to me at duranaki@yahoo.com with a description of what happened. You can delete excess logs files as needed and it won't affect the game.
If you ever need to restore the original settings, you can delete the "flashattack" directory. You can also trade macros with friends if you like by exchanging the macros.xml file.
v0.1.6 - Fixed all paths to store files in your home directory. This will be a lot better, but if you played before you will need to move your macros.xml and settings.xml files to their new location.
v0.1.5 - Graphics changes. New splash screen and button graphics and a new more legible font.