Instructions

Installation

Download

Get the packages you need from downloads section. There are Fedora Core 5 RPMs, Ubuntu Dapper DEBs and Windows .ZIP versions available. You need two packages - the binary package and data package.

Install

Install the packages. In Linux use the package management software of your distribution. In Windows just unzip the openbirds-x.x.zip somewhere on your hard drive and unzip the openbirds-data-x.x.zip under the newly created OpenBirds directory.

Configure

Configure OpenBirds. In Linux copy /etc/openbirds/*.conf to your home directory. Edit these files to suit your needs. In Windows the files are in OpenBirds directory.

Gameplay

Controls

Running the game

In Linux the game can be launched from games section of the start menu. In Windows double-click the OpenBirds.exe icon. Note: if you experience problems running the game, launch it from console to get text output useful for fault finding. Read the release notes for known problems.

After starting OpenBirds you can choose between Offline, H2H and Online game. Most commands are given with text console. Press enter to open console and write your command. The text console is used for chat in network games.

Offline

Play yourself. In a short while other planes "Spit 2", "Spit 3", etc will start taking off the field. Try to shoot them down.
Commands:
.spawn - (re)Spawn the vehicle
.despawn - Despawn

H2H

H2H is pretty much untested. You can connect to another OpenBirds player to play head to head.
Commands:
.host - Wait for connection from other player
.connect [address] - Connect to hosting player
anything else - Chat (when connected)

Online

Connects you to multiplayer server where you can play with other players.
Commands:
.connect - Connect to the server
.help - Help on commands
.who - List players on server
.spawn - Spawn to the game world
.despawn - Exit game world
.handle [handle] - change your handle
 
Anything else - Chat (when connected)

Other notes

Free view mode

Press v 2 times to enter free view mode. Use asdw to pan camera and arrow keys / stick to move camera. Note: physics engine does not usually like this, especially if your plane is on ground. So beware.