BZFlag parameters

BZFlag Parameters

Usage

bzflag [-3dfx] [-no3dfx] [-anonymous] [-callsign <call-sign>] [-directory <data-directory>] [-echo] [-geometry <geometry-spec>] [-help] [-interface <interface>] [-joystick {yes|no}] [-joystickname <name>] [-latitude <latitude>] [-longitude <longitude>] [-list <server-list-url>] [-nolist] [-multisample] [-mute] [-port <server-port>] [-solo <num-robots>] [-team {red|green|blue|purple|rogue}] [-ttl <time-to-live>] [-version] [-view {normal|stereo|stacked|three}] [-window] [-zoom <zoom-factor>] [<server>]

Note that all parameters are case sensitive, and need to be entered in lower case.

Since most of the important commandline parameters can also be set in the GUI of BZFlag or in the BZFlag Configuration File, these parameters are rarely used.

Example

bzflag -callsign "Dutchrai" -latitude 1.367000 -longitude 103.800003 -geometry 640x400x60x40 -window

The above client configuration does the following:

Sets the player's callsign;
Sets the latitude and longitude for accurate celestial (moon and stars) calculation;
Sets the window size and position;
Runs the application in a window instead of fullscreen.

Explanation

-3dfx
For Mesa users with a passthrough 3Dfx card, e.g. a Voodoo or Voodoo 2 based card. This sets the MESA_GLX_FX environment variable to use fullscreen passthrough mode. Use -geometry to use a resolution other than 640x480 on the passthrough card. You should not use this option with -window.

-no3dfx
For Mesa users with a passthrough 3Dfx card, such as Voodoo or Voodoo 2 based cards. This unsets the MESA_GLX_FX environment variable so that the passthrough card isn't used. Use this option if MESA_GLX_FX is normally set in your environment and you don't want bzflag to use the passthrough card. This option is only a convenience; you can achieve the same effect by unsetting MESA_GLX_FX in your environment.

-anonymous
Uses the email address anonymous instead of username@hostname.

-callsign <call-sign>
Uses callsign as the player's callsign. The callsign is taken from the command line if provided. Otherwise the callsign used for the previous game is used. If that cannot be found then the callsign is the value of the BZFLAGID environment variable. If BZFLAGID is empty or undefined then bzflag will prompt for a callsign when joining a game.

-directory <data-directory>
Looks for data files in <data-directory> first. This defaults to a directory named data in the current directory. If not found there, the game looks for data files in the current directory, then in the default installation location.

-echo
Writes any text displayed in the message window to the shell (stdout); note that under Win32 you have to use a workaround: bzflag -echo > log.txt.

-geometry <{+|-}width{+|-}height{+|-}posx{+|-}posy>
This specifies the size and, optionally, the position of the window. It can be used with or without the

-window option. It may be necessary to use this on some systems when BZFlag cannot correctly determine the display size.

-help
Prints version and usage information and then exits.

-interface <interface>
Send all multicast packets through interface, which should be the IP address of one the host's multicast capable interfaces. Communication between players is normally via multicast as this is much more efficient than unicasting to all other players and more flexible and efficient than broadcasting to all hosts. The first multicast capable interface is used by default.

-joystick {yes|no}
Use a joystick {yes|no}.

-joystickname <name>
Specifies the joystick <name>.

-latitude <latitude>
The <latitude> used for celestial calculations. Use a floating point decimal notation (e.g. 55.42).

-longitude <longitude>
The <longitude> used for celestial calculations. Use a floating point decimal notation (e.g. 122.25).

-list <server-list-url>
Look for BZFLS servers using <server-list-url>. A built-in url is used by default (the same url is the default for BZFS). If url is default then the url is reset to the built-in url (the url is remembered across invokations of BZFlag). BZFLS servers keep a list of BZFS servers accessible from the internet and are queried when using the Find Server menu.

-nolist
Disables BZFLS server querying. See -list.

-multisample
Uses a multisample buffer for rendering. If multisampling isn't available then the application will terminate.

-mute
Disables sound.

-port <server-port>
Connect to server on <server-port> instead of the default. The server must be listening on this port (see the -p option on BZFS).

-solo <num-robots>
When you join a game, you'll also cause <num-robots> robots to join too. This is an experimental option and the robots are extremely stupid players. Robots are added to teams at random and appear with your name and a number appended to it. Using this parameter is fine if you want to practice shooting on your local or LAN server, but be extremely cautious when you bring robots along to an Internet game on someone else's server. Not all administrators appreciate robots and in general robots are considered uninvited guests. In fact, you might get kicked or banned from a server without any notice.

-team {red|green|blue|purple|rogue}
Choose your team as one of {red|green|blue|purple|rogue}.

-ttl <time-to-live>
Sets the maximum <time-to-live> of the inter-player multicast packets. Any site more than this many hops away will not be reachable. This value needs to be 32 or higher if you want to play on the internet.

-version
Prints version and exits.

-view {normal|stereo|stacked|three}
Chooses one of three possible display options:
Normal will render a single view to the entire screen;
Stereo will try to allocate a stereo (in-a-window) capable buffer and then draw a single view in stereo. Your system must support stereo-in-a-window buffers and stereo goggles;
Three will render the front view to the upper right quadrant of the display, a left view to the lower left quadrant, and a right view to the lower right quadrant. This is intended for systems capable of driving multiple moniters from various areas of the display surface, yielding a wrap around view.

-window
Runs the application in a window instead of full screen.

-zoom <zoom-factor>
Decreases image resolution by enlarging the pixels.
<server>
Specifies the host running the BZFS server. Multiple independent games can be run on a single network. Which server you choose decides which game you enter.