Getting Started

Spring is a project that was started by the Swedish Yankspankers that aims to create a fully customizable 3D real time strategy game Engine.

TA Spring is the current project focus, which is supposed to port the original Cavedog game "Total Annihilation" to the still developing Spring engine. It uses formats and gameplay elements from the original game and, at this point, can display most Mods and Units designed for the orriginal game to different levels of playability.

The most important thing to note however is, YOU CAN ACTUALLY DOWNLOAD AND PLAY A WORKING VERSION OF THIS GAME RIGHT NOW AND PLAY ONLINE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

Getting To Your First Game

STEP 1: Is your computer ready?

Currently Spring is only compatible with Windows Operating systems, there is a Linux Port in the works, join the mailinglist if you like to know how it's progressing. In theory it's compatible with all 9x or later OSes, but since we're still beta, we'll call it "hit and miss".

You will need some kind of 3D hardware acceleration, it needs to have the latest OpenGL drivers (which means, providing the card is recent enough, the latest drivers from your cards manufacturer).

You will need some kind of DirectX installed because the game uses DirectSound for that part of it.

STEP 2: Download the Current Installer

Click Here to go to the downloads page. Download the Regular installer option. Run it and install it somewhere on your computer. In theory if, at this point, you read the stuff in the "docs" folder, then you will know what to do next.

STEP 3(Optional): Make Sure the Engine Works on Your Computer

Browse to the installation folder and double-click "spring.exe". Choose "yes" on the "do you want to be a server" dialog, choose the "Commanders" script with the arrow keys and enter, choose a map with the arrow keys and enter, press enter to force start the game.

Shift-Middle Click to change views, middle click activates free-look, arrows keys, moving your cursor to the edge and the scroll wheel controls your camera. If you've ever played Total Annihilation before in it's default control mode, you will know what to do next. Otherwise visit the Exaustive Using_Spring Page (which doesn't exist yet).

Don't bother going online until you figure out how to make your Commander build buildings and your buildings build units, and manage to find and kill the other Commander on the map and get the "You Win" message.

STEP 4: Playing Online - TASClient.exe

Playing is quite simple. Just make sure you are connected to the internet, then double-click on the tasclient icon (it may have been put on your desktop, but it will definitely be in your start menu). Once you are in the client app, you will need to use the options button at the top of the window to set up an account. From there, just click the little button in the upper left section of the screen to connect to the server. Assuming your firewalls aren't excessively paranoid, it will make a noise and you will be put into the main discussion channel. You can then choose a game from the bottom pane, or chat in the top one.