Running Metaltech: Battledrome on DOSBox
The following instructions are for getting Metaltech: Battledrome to run on DOSBox. (These instructions have been tested on a computer running Windows 7 SP1 with DOSBox v0.74.)
Step 1 - Software
Download DOSBox and Metaltech: Battledrome:
DOSBox - 1.4 MB
Metaltech: Battledrome - 2.3 MB
Step 2 - Installation
Install DOSBox (Detailed instructions can be found here: http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Basic_Setup_and_Installation_of_DosBox#Installation)
Extract the Metaltech: Battledrome files to a folder.
Step 3 - Setting up DOSBox
Detailed instructions for setting up DOSBox can be found here: http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Basic_Setup_and_Installation_of_DosBox#Running_a_game
To make your life easier, I suggest setting DOSBox to automount the folder where your games are exracted. To do that, browse to your dosbox-0.74.conf file, which can be found here:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\DOSBox
Open the dosbox-0.74.conf file with Notepad and scroll to the very end of the document.
Below the autoexec setion you can place your mount path
[autoexec] # Lines in this section will be run at startup. # You can put your MOUNT lines here.
Your mount path should be in the format below:
Mount C Location of folder with games C:\
Replace the text that says Location of folder with games with the path to the folder with your games in it. For example, I put my Tribes games in C:\Users\Krogoth\Documents\DOS Games, so my .conf file will look like:
[autoexec] # Lines in this section will be run at startup. # You can put your MOUNT lines here. Mount C C:\Users\Krogoth\Docume~1\Dosgam~1 C:\
If your path has folder names that are longer than 8 characters, or has spaces in it, then the name must be shortened to 6 characters followed by ~1 as you can see in the above example.
The reason this makes your life easier, is because when you start DOSBox now, you will not have to mount the folder with your games in it, it will start with the folder mounted.
Step 4 - Starting the Game
Start DOSBox.
Change the directory to your Metaltech: Battledrome folder by using the cd command.
For example, I have my Metaltech: Battledrome files extracted to C:\Users\Krogoth\Documents\DOS Games\Tribes Universe\Metaltech Battledrome, so I will need to type:
cd Tribes~1 cd Metalt~1
Then type bd.exe to start the game.
Step 5 - Sound
If you don't hear any sound, you will need to run the soundset.exe first.
File:DosboxBattleDrome sound.png
Once you run soundset.exe, you will see a blue screen with white text. Make sure that Detect the Sound Card and Settings is highlighted with a gray bar, and press Enter on the keyboard.
File:DosboxBattleDrome sound1.png
Next, you will see a warning about testing the sound driver, just press Enter on the keyboard.
File:DosboxBattleDrome sound2.png
Next, an audio clip will be played, and then background music. Once the background music starts, press Enter on the keyboard, and the screen will change to say "TESTS COMPLETED!" Press Enter on the keyboard to continue.
File:DosboxBattleDrome sound3.png
You will now be taken back to the DOSBox command prompt where you need to type bd.exe to launch the game.
File:DosboxBattleDrome play.png
Step 6: Multiplayer
The following instructions and images were taken from: http://starsiege1.proboards.com/thread/791/metaltech-battledrome-plus-lan-instructions if you have any problems with the instructions, your best bet will be to ask on their forum.
Only LAN play works, but you can use Hamachi to play against people online, download the Unmanaged version of it here:
Edit the DOSBox Config File
Browse to your dosbox-0.74.conf file, which can be found here:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\DOSBox
Open the dosbox-0.74.conf file with Notepad and scroll to the very end of the document.
In the ipx section, change the ipx=false to true.
[ipx] # ipx: Enable ipx over UDP/IP emulation. ipx=false
Change the ipx section so that it looks like this:
ipx=true
Save and close the file.
Setting up Hamachi
If you haven't run Hamachi yet, do so now. When you start it for the first time, it should prompt you to choose a name.
If you're joining a network, go to the "Network" tab, and select "Join An Existing Network".
Type in the name of the network, and the password (if it's needed), hit 'Join', and you'll be all set.
If you're hosting, just make a network.
Name it whatever you feel like, as well as whatever password you want it to have.
Later on, if you want to, you can right-click the network in Hamachi, and disable the password protection, so anyone with the network name can join.
DOSBox
Now, open up DOSbox.
If you're not the one running the network in Hamachi, type "ipxnet connect", followed by the IP Address for the network owner's Hamachi client.
Just as an example, I'm using the address for the old Hamachi network's client. If you plan on joining my network, then use the most recent IP address, listed at the bottom of this post, or anyone else's if they've set up their own networks.
If you're the owner of the network, type "ipxnet startserver" in DOSbox.
Change the directory to your Metaltech: Battledrome folder by using the cd command.
For example, I have my Metaltech: Battledrome files extracted to C:\Users\Krogoth\Documents\DOS Games\Tribes Universe\Metaltech Battledrome, so I will need to type:
cd Tribes~1 cd Metalt~1
Then type bd.exe to start the game.
Battledrome is now running with an LAN connection enabled.
LAN Play
To play via LAN, at least two players need to connect simultaneously.
To initiate the network, just select the profile you want to use (create one, if you haven't already). Afterwards, select "Remote".
Next, hit Net.
You should end up on a screen like this one. Just wait for it to connect.
As long as you're connecting at the same time as at least one other player, you should end up at the main menu again, with the "Opponents" and "Herc" options no longer greyed out. Click "Opponents", and you can figure things out from there.
Thankfully, Hamachi has a built-in chat, so you can coordinate it more effectively than just setting a time and crossing fingers.
Network Information
I set up a network on Hamachi specifically for this, anyone interested in joining, the information is below.
ID: B.C.N.
PW: Gierling
IP ADDRESS: 25.218.243.109
Also, if you're offline/inactive on Battledrome for longer than an hour, I'll boot you off, so others can fill the spot.
Unmanaged Hamachi networks can only hold 5 people at a time, and I'm not paying for more people per network unless I know people will use it.
If you have any questions, visit: http://starsiege1.proboards.com/thread/791/metaltech-battledrome-plus-lan-instructions