"Lazy" Matrix 2+7/9

JadtheGerbil Productions © 2000 A.D.
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-=Author's Comments=-

This is the readme for Lazy Matrix 2 2+7/9, an update of Lazy Matrix 2.5, an updated version of Lazy Matrix 2, which in turn was an update of Lazy Matrix, which featured (and still does) three upcoming weapons from JadtheGerbil Weapons (JtGW) 1.5/2, along with a TON more neat thangs.

If you would like to use this in ANYTHING, (CD-ROM Mod/Mutator packs, Feature of the Week, TV Spot, E3 Booth Demo...) PLEASE Email me at JtG@planetunreal.com before you do anything rash. Besides, I like to know how famous my work gets, and I could hook you up with a special/annotated version, newer version, etc.

-=Thanks Section/Legal Disclaimer=-

• First off, thanks are due to the dozens of thousands (I think...) of people who downloaded LM2/2.5, and then were loyal enough to tell me what was wrong with it. You know what? 7/9 of this update's for you! Thanks guys!
  
• Second off, I owe SIRUS a Great Big Thank You for asking to beta-test the alpha of LM2+7/9 (wouldn't that mean he alpha-tested?), and finding a great deal of bugs, thereby prompting a vast debuggifying delay and also giving me more time to think of neat features and put 'em in! Thank you!
  
• Thanks are also extend to www.dailywav.com for having "The Matrix" sounds on there, and for still being free.
  

• And a Teensy-Weensy, itty-bitty bit of thanks go out to the Wachowski brothers and crew for making "The Matrix" a reality. Thanks guys! If you haven't seen it, then I'm gonna go Trinity-style on your head!
  
• Oh, and to Sony for making the XV-501 DVD Player have such a nice smooth slow-motion action, as well as excellent playback, a low price yet high quality, having such a handy scene-finder, and for being one of the few DVD Players that can handle the coolness of "The Matrix" (accepts a large bag w/ $$$ on the side from Sony). I couldn't have made the trails look so nice without you!

-=Version history=-

2+7/9:

• Streamlined the time-changing code, so it's less of a hack and more elegant. Plus, it sounds cool
• Added a "Shadow" behind players
• Added the option to turn off the sound clips
• Created a Random time option so that you aren't restricted to fixed periods of "Slow" and "Normal"
• Updated the menu to 1) allow for future expansions relatively easily and 2) stop being so darn big!
• FINALLY found a good bullet texture! Plus, you can make 'em shiny!
• Made it so when you run out of ammo, you throw the weapon away, just like in the Lobby scene!
• Included an option to have only Bullet-Based Weapon Battles, or Enforcer-Arena matches.
• Fixed a few issues involving the game returning to a game speed of 1.0 instead of whatever the game was before
• Made the weapon sounds more universal by eliminating the need for the game to be played at 1.0 for the sounds to sound "right"
• Introduced the Action-Based Slow option, which is activated whenever someone is hurt or dies
• Threw in a modular code-type doohickey, so future enhancements are made easier
• Made the bot's actually able to HIT you with some handy-dandy code refinements, which also let Aim Trainer right!
• Fixed a problem with Spectators not getting the messages (and therefore not understanding what's goin' on)
• Probably did some other things I've forgotten
• Fixed that darn .UMOD that kept bothering people by not installing correctly
• Slapped a big fat "+7/9" onto the back of the version to screw with the version history

2.5:

• Cleaned up the Replacement code, so the game can start faster
• Included the menu in the package, saving a tiny bit of download time for people
• Now EVERYTHING has some sort of sound-slowing involved, not just weapons
• Added LMtrxed Powerups making a more complete slow experience
• Added the ability for the Instant hit weapons to hit instantly when not slowed
• Made it so that the player's speed is seemingly not changed when in slow motion
• Fixed the Redeemer Double Explosion bug
• Fixed the Enforcer not being dropped thereby eliminating Double Enforcers
• Removed the LMtrxTranslocator. The original worked fine, the LMtrxed one did not.
• Made another new Readme
• Made the menu bigger
• Also, made another new .Zip/.Umod
• Slapped a big fat ".5" onto the back of the version

2.0:

• Changed the UT World (hopefully).
• Smoothed out Netcode
• Made the bullet prettier
• Added configurability via Preferences ("preferences" in the console, "~"/Tab in the game)
• Added support for ALL (and any upcoming) projectiles to have LM-style trails; configurable in Preferences
• Added Time-Slow feature (which functions on mostly all sounds); configurable via Preferences
• Added Time-Slow Smoothing, to re-create the bullet-time effect better
• Added Mutate functions to increase user-friendliness
• Added "The Matrix" sound bites for Time-slow
• Added support for ALL pre-existing UT Weapons with Time-Slow
• Made a new Readme
• Made a new .umod/.zip
• Tacked a " 2" onto the back of the last version
• Made the file size a few k bigger

1.0:

• Initial Release

-=Explanations of Features=-

Most of the important features in LM2 are configurable under Preferences, although I prefer that you use the Mod Menu instead. If you don't know how to access Preferences, simply open the console (press ~), and type Preferences. Open up Mutators, then the two LMtrx ?? things below.

LMtrx Bullets:

bShiny: Should the bullets be shiny and nice?
SmokeRate: Determines how often projectiles leave a trail, smaller is MORE often. (0.005 for EXTREMELY Good Looking/Unplayable trails)
SmokeSize: Determines how large LMtrx Bullets' trails are.
Speed: Determines how fast LMtrx Bullets travel through space.

LMtrx Mutator:

bSlowTime: Do you want Time-Slow enabled? Turning it off will return time to normal
bAllWeapons: Do you want all UT weapons replaced with LM equivalents? Turn off to use with other mods.
bSmoothTime: Do you want the change between Normal/Slow Speed "Tweened"?
bAllProjs: Should every projectile have LM-style trails?
bPowerups: Should all the Powerups be replaced?
bSmoothSpeed: Whether the players' speeds are left the same when slow
bSpeedBots: Should the Bots' speeds be changed?
bAllSlowTime: Have the game always run "slowed"
bSmartSlow: Should the game respond to damage/frags?
bNoShadows: Turn off the Shadow effect?
bNoSpeak: Turn off the slightly grating (for some) voice clips?
bRandomTime: Ignore the Slowtime and Normaltime, and just "kick it down a notch" whenever it feels like it
bStaggerSound: Tired of a slurred/smooth sound? Make it more pronounced with this!
SmoothTime: The amount of Smoothing that should be each step when "Tweening"; Higher = More = Faster
SlowTime: How long should the game remain slowed? (In seconds)
NormalTime: From the last one, I'm *pretty* sure that you can figure out what this means.
ChangeSound: The sound for Action-Based Slomo; Change it if you get tired of that staticy thing
SoundVolume: The volume of the Action-Based Slomo sound
ResetTime: The time after any damage effects before the game resets to normal speeds. (NOTE: Set this VERY LOW [like 0.5] for busy games. It will ramp up VERY fast])

LMtrx Mutator Mutate Functions: (Called by typing Mutate WhatEver in the console)

ToggleSpeed: Changes the current game speed to the other one (Slow to normal, vice versa)
I Realized Something: Since nobody seems to read the readme anyway, I just deleted most of the mutates. Hope you don't notice!

NOTE: Instead of Manually binding, PLEASE use the Options=>Preferences=>Control menu. Scroll down to the bottom of the list, and the keys will be available down there.