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| = Testing FAZ Beta =
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| This entry is intended to help you get the latest allegiance [[R5]] build running so you can help test FAZ beta. To simplify the instructions, the entry assumes you don't even have the release build (regular) Allegiance installed on your computer.
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| == What is this all about? ==
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| Free Allegiance Zone Beta is similar to Shadow Allegiance. Shadow Allegiance was used by [[MSRG]] during their development of the game. It allowed for people "in the know" to connect to a lobby that automatically updated the client and artwork to a pre-release version. This let MSRG developers get feedback from a select few and help decide to release the updated versions to the masses or go back to the drawing board.
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| == Why is testing important? ==
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| The number one reason testing is important: developers require timely and constant feedback. There are many more obvious reasons, one of them being to check if the next update will be compatible with your computer.
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| == How should I assist development? ==
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| Carefully follow the instructions that have been conveniently placed here all in one location.
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| == When should I test? ==
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| It's usually not necessary to test by yourself unless you are a developer or you are helping a dev. with a specific test case. To organize other people to play test with, the FAZ Beta team has scheduled weekly events on Wednesdays. There is more tester activity throughout this day of the week than any other and tries to make testing a more enjoyable experience. Sometimes larger scale beta events will be held on the weekends, watch the home page for information regarding these.
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| == Where do I report bugs/suggestions? ==
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| If you know a specific developer was working on a similar issue, send them a private message:
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| http://www.freeallegiance.org/forums/index.php?act=Msg&CODE=01
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| Bugs that don't effect game play, remember to search first:
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| http://allegzilla.alleg.net:8080/
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| Suggestions or "Bugs" that effect game play if "fixed":
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| http://www.freeallegiance.org/forums/index.php?showforum=87
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| == Who is responsible for FAZ Beta? ==
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| The [[Free Allegiance Zone Dev Team]].
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| = Getting Started =
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| == Downloads ==
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| This section lists all the downloads you may need to run the latest allegiance build for FAZ beta. Download and install the libraries. Download and install your latest video card driver.
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| === Visual C++ libraries ===
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| Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
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| http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a5c84275-3b97-4ab7-a40d-3802b2af5fc2
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| === DirectX libraries ===
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| DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer
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| http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2da43d38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3
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| === Video card drivers ===
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| Use the most recent versions with FAZ Beta.
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| ====ATI====
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| http://support.amd.com/us/psearch/Pages/psearch.aspx?type=2.4.1&contentType=GPU%20Download%20Detail
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| ====Nvidia====
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| http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx
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| ====Intel====
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| http://downloadcenter.intel.com/
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| Choose Graphics->Products->Desktop graphics controllers or Laptop graphics controllers
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| === Allegiance client ===
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| http://fazdev.alleg.net/FAZ/Allegiance_R5beta_090724.zip
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| ==== The artwork ====
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| http://freeallegiance.sourceforge.net/Artwork_R5test.exe
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| == Setup ==
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| This section provides instructions to configure your computer to run the latest allegiance build for FAZ beta. Ensure you have first installed the libraries and drivers from the links provided.
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| === Files & Folders ===
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| Extract the client and artwork downloads into a new empty folder.
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| When you execute the artwork file it will create the artwork sub directory and dev sub directory for you, point the extraction to the same folder you extracted the client to.
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| Do not manually create an artwork folder, do not manually create a dev sub directory, do not manually create a beta sub directory.
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| Simply extract the client and artwork to the same folders, it can be wherever you want.
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| === Windows registry ===
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| If the registry edits scare you, run this small utility and you're done:
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| http://freeallegiance.sourceforge.net/betareghlp.exe
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| If small utilities scare you, the source code has been made available:
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| http://alleg.pastebin.com/f6ee919a2
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| Do it manually, like an "IT pro":
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| Open regedit, in Registry Editor:
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| Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft.
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| From the menu bar choose Edit->New->Key. Type Microsoft Games then press enter.
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| Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Games.
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| From the menu bar choose Edit->New->Key. Type Allegiance then press enter.
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| Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\Allegiance.
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| From the menu bar choose Edit->New->Key. Type 1.1 then press enter.
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| Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\Allegiance\1.1.
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| From the menu bar choose Edit->New->String Value. Type ArtPath then press enter.
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| Double left click your new ArtPath entry (in the right-hand side pane), type the full path to your artwork folder that was created when you extracted the zip file. i.e. C:\test\artwork (note: no trailing slash) then press enter.
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| From the menu bar choose Edit->New->String Value. Type CfgFile then press enter.
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| Double left click your new CfgFile entry (in the right-hand side pane), type or copy/paste http://fazdev.alleg.net/FAZ/FAZR5.cfg (note: case sensitive) then press enter.
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| Close regedit.
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| == Troubleshooting ==
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| This section provides tips for common errors when following these instructions.
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| === ASGS ===
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| It is not necessary to use ASGS when testing FAZ Beta nor is it recommended. To launch the game just double click the Allegiance.exe (the application file with a red icon) or your shortcut. A shortcut to the application is recommended, see the testing tip "Use multiple clients".
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| === Artwork ===
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| It is highly recommended that you have "clean" artwork. Clean artwork being an unmodified artwork folder, one can be found in the downloads section above. Testing FAZ Beta with custom mods, chat packs, etc. can have unexpected results and may prevent you from launching the game, connecting to the lobby, joining a server and piloting/commanding.
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| === Downloads ===
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| If you have strange issues with the client or artwork download, verify it's integrity. To do this compare the check sums from your download with the ones here. If they don't match up, clear your browser's cache and download them again. The tool used to verify the check sums can be found here:
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| http://downloads.activestate.com/contrib/md5sum/Windows/md5sum.exe
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| Allegiance_R5beta_090724.zip md5sum: 750d05dbab426c930e91bce8f936ce1d
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| Artwork_R5test.exe md5sum: 34be934cf1382fccbdd24e51535fb93b
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| === Vista ===
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| The Allegiance.exe beta is built with "Require Administrator". This should make it easier for Vista users as the UAC dialog will appear. You will need a username and password for an account in the Administrators group if you're not logged in as one already.
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| = Playing the game =
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| This section gives you background on what's changed and provides instructions for testing specific issues.
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| == Change log ==
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| The list of changes can be found here:
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| http://freeallegiance.org/FAW/index.php/R5#Changelog
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| == Test cases ==
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| Zapper is currently writing test cases? He can provide a link to his entry here!
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| {{Stub}}
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| == Testing tips ==
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| ===Use multiple clients===
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| Create a shortcut to launch Allegiance with the -multi and -windowed command-line switches. After creating a shortcut, right click on it then left click properties. Append (add to the end) of the target -windowed -multi after the quotes (if any).
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