New User Guide
Table of Contents
1. Getting Started
2. Joining a Game, Game Modes
3. In-Game Basics
Welcome to Spark, a 2d top-down perspective team-oriented shooter game. In Spark, players control spaceships that are armed with lasers and other special weapons to destroy their opponents. There are a few game modes available that enable teams to win in different ways. Those will be discussed in the next section. Here, we'll show you how to download Spark, how to launch the lobby, and give you a brief description of the lobby itself.
To download Spark and get started, click the "DOWNLOAD" button on the main page, or click here and select the appropriate file download (either Windows or MAC). Install it, and run the file "Launcher.exe" to get started. You will see a login window pop up. From here, click "New Account" and you will be directed to the registration page on the website. Fill out the appropriate information to make your account. Please be aware that spaces and punctuation are not permitted. Also, you may only use one email address for one account. You will have to use a unique email address for each new username you wish to register in the future.
Once name creation is complete and you have checked your email to verify your account, you may use this account to both login to the game itself, and to participate in our community Forums. So, login to the game lobby using your new account username and password.
Notice the main chat area and the lobby user list on the bottom section. Up top, you will see a list of available games, as well as a section for displaying players in a game once you click on a particular game. Go ahead and single click on a game to see who's playing and what the stats (Score, Kills, Deaths) are for the players. Up at the very top, you'll notice menu options: Lobby, Game, Options, Links, and Help. The lobby section allows you to join and leave chat rooms. The Games section allows you to join a game or create your own game. The options section enables players to change certain preferences, such as windowed mode vs fullscreen, ammo thickness, and much more. The Links section provides links to leagues and clans that may be of interest. The help section provides a comprehensive manual that goes more in-depth than this new user guide, and may be able to answer many additional questions that you may have.
For a much more in-depth lobby guide, see THIS GUIDE on our community forums.
Section 2: Joining a Game, Game Modes
So now you're ready to play. First, let me suggest some of the more popular maps that are consider "new player" maps. Try these:
1. SmearDaQueer
2. Basewarz
Basically, most maps that are NOT "401.9" are good for new players to get used to playing the game. 401.9 is considered by many as the top competitive map, and because of that, many of the elite Sparkers frequent there. Playing there early in your Spark days may just frustrate you. However, once you get used to the game, feel free to challenge yourself in that map against some of the game's greats!
Spark features several game modes. some are built in, and some are developed by some of our awesome community members. The game provides capture the flag, flip the switch, and assassin modes. In the first, teams will either have to capture their opponents' colored flags to win, or capture any number of neutral (white) flags to win the game. In the second game mode, teams must maneuver their ships over "switches" to flip the switches to their team's color. If a team flips all switches in a map, that team wins. In the assassin game mode, one player is designated as the "President" and it is the objective of a team to kill the other's president in order to win the game.
The game modes developed by community members over the years include: alamo, racing, and mission impossible. In alamo mode, one team is designated as "offense" and the other is "defense." The offensive team must charge the defensive team and cap the flag as soon as possible. Teams then switch, and the team with the best time wins. In racing mode, players race around tricky maps on high-speed conveyors and try to be the first to finish. In the final mode, mission impossible, players maneuver their ships around tricky moving conveyors while trying not to fall off of the path. Falling off the tricky path means starting over. These modes are featured in tournaments that are held almost daily. Ask a player with a "CTA" (Certified Tournament Administration) tag if you have any questions, or check out the CTA Website.
The maps I suggested above (smear and basewarz) are of the capture-the-flag type.
Double click a game to join, or go to "Game -> Join Game" when the game you want is highlighted by a single click. Once in a game, you will either be placed on a team, or on spectator mode if the game is full. When you're on a team, you will start in the holding pen. Once your holding time expires, you will enter the playing field. It should look something like this:
Check out the labels on the screenshot for explanations of the parts of the sidebar. Use your left mouse button to shoot lasers, and your right mouse button to shoot special weapons. Arrow keys are for movement. The ctrl button or mouse scroller can change special we
apons. Only the special weapon that is highlighted will work if you right click your mouse.
If you wish to change teams, first press F1 to view the players on each team. Don't make a switch that will make teams unfair (such as 2 vs 4)! Press F4 to bring up the team switch menu, and click on the color you wish to switch to.
The chat in the game is displayed on the left. Simply type (your text
will appear on the bottom), and press enter to display what you said in the chat. If you put a ";" before your text, only members of YOUR TEAM will see what you said. This is convenient for planning a strategy.
Now you're ready to start playing. If you have any other questions, our staff members in the lobby will be happy to help!