Rocket Mania! Deluxe is a game developed by Nuclide Games and published by PopCap.
Partner.xml File#
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This needs some investigation. |
Present in almost every PopCap game is partner.xml. partner.xml allows PopCap, as well as PopCap's partners, to easily modify small details of the game without the need to recompile the game or access to the game's source code. This file has been edited numerous times through multiple partners and PopCap themselves, and later revisions of the game added more features to it. Also present is a checksum check, so not every user can make any changes they want. If the checksum fails, an error message appears, and the game either fails to boot up or boots up with default values, typically enabling the trial or registration system. Below is an attempt to list the features for partner.xml in Rocket Mania! Deluxe.
Boolean Value |
Effect |
|---|---|
DefaultWindowed |
On a fresh installation, start the game in Windowed or Full Screen. |
DontUpdate |
Toggle the in-game update system. |
CheckForUpdates |
Toggle the automatic checking for updates. |
NoReg |
Toggle the registration system. Configurable through MaxPlays |
Integer Value |
Effect |
|---|---|
NumOptionsLinks |
Display a link button in the options menu. Configurable through string OptionsLinkText0 & OptionsLinkText0 |
MaxPlays |
Max amount of times allowed to play before forcing registration. |
String Value |
Effect |
|---|---|
OptionsLinkText0 |
The text that the link button on the options menu will say. |
OptionsLinkURL0 |
The URL that the link button will redirect the user to. |
RegistryKey |
Path to the game's registry. |
Revisional Differences#
Version History
- 1.0 - Initial release!
- 1.01 - Bug fixes.
- 1.02 - Bug fixes.
As always, versions are a bit of a mess. Some installers claim to be versions that they are not. Not a lot of revisions were made for this game, it seems.
Title Screen#
August 8, 2003 |
Steam |
February 26, 2007 |
August 28, 2007 |
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Unlike many PopCap games, this one is quite interesting. For some reason, a build from 2003 is already using the newer logo, but with the URL still below it. 2007 saw the usual minor changes, such as the removal of the URL, and trademark changes.
1.0 (Old Installer, PopCap.com, August 5, 2003)#
- First known compiled version of the game
- The trial system is not yet present; only the registration system, which allows a limited amount of plays, and restricts certain content, such as High Scores.
- The build information using -version marks version 1.0 as build 64 dated Tuesday August 5, 22:16:29, 2003
1.01 (Installer, PopCap.com, September 8, 2003)#
- The trial system is now implemented, which allows unrestricted gameplay for a limited time (usually 60 minutes). This is set in partner.xml
- The build information using -version marks version 1.01 as build 84 dated Monday September 8, 22:30:57, 2003
1.02 (Installer, Zone.com, November 6, 2003)#
- The build information using -version marks version 1.02 as build 137 dated Tuesday November 6, 18:04:47, 2003
Partner Versions#
Partner versions are setups of the game distributed by other companies that have partnered with PopCap. These setups typically have a similar or special build of the game that makes use of the partner.xml file to make small changes to the game. Furthermore, upon booting the game, the partner's company logo can be found on the title screen, which was added by editing the loadinggraphic image. Often, these partner versions come with the company's own DRM system, which forces users to purchase the game after a short period of free time. Some partner versions are also full versions of the game, distributed through physical media.
Shockwave.com |
Yahoo! |
Oberon Media |
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RealOneArcade |
Zone.com |
GameHouse |
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Command-Line Parameters#
The game's executable mentions developer command lines for starting the game, it's not friendly with commands using spaces so use = instead, starting from this method forces the game to act like it's in "Trial" mode. Note this does not work on Mac OS as the framework port didn't support them at the time. These are:
- -play: Plays popcap.dmo if it's present, if not present, an error is shown. -demofile can also be used to choose the name and location of the file.
- -recnum: Records demos with Popcap.dmo and Popcap#.dmo if that's taken on every boot.
- -playnum: Plays demos with Popcap.dmo and Popcap#.dmo from -recnum if that's taken on every boot.
- -record: Records a demo named Popcap.dmo and saves after shutdown of the game.
- -demofile: Specifies filename for recorded demos.
- -crash: Crashes the game immediately with an Access Violation error.
- -screensaver: Makes the game act like it's a screensaver, any movement or key presses will immediately force close the game.
- -changedir: Changes game installation directory, for the current boot.
- -version: Shows the product name, version, build number and build date with a popup instead of starting the game.
Debug Commands#
Pressing CTRL + ALT + D will play a sound (c:\windows\media\Windows XP Menu Command.wav) to indicate debug key input is enabled, allowing options of typing unique keys for debugging displays or mechanisms, another use will disable it.
- F2 : Start/Stop perf timing.
- F3 : Toggle FPS display.
- ⇧ Shift + F3 : Toggle FPS/mouse coordinate display.
- F8 : Toggle 3D acceleration.
- F9 : Show current Video Stats (mostly used to see if 3D acceleration is currently on).
- F11 : Dumps all the game's images loaded in memory to a folder named _dump, which is located in the game's directory. It also automatically generates an HTML file named imagelist.html. The HTML file contains a list of the images dumped as well as their properties.