Client Manual

	This article needs checking.
	Reason(s): This is a work in progress. Some aspects of the mod haven't been finalised yet (e.g. installation) and will need to be added later.

Introduction

Multi Theft Auto: San Andreas is the latest in a series of fan-created multiplayer modifications for the Grand Theft Auto games (PC versions only). For the GTA3 and Vice City versions that run on the old core, visit http://www.multitheftauto.com. This mod is not endorsed by Rockstar Games or Take 2 Interactive.

Please note that MTA:SA is a beta, which means it could crash or cause unexpected results.

Before you start

Before you install Multi Theft Auto: San Andreas, first make sure that there are no modifications to GTA:SA installed. These will conflict with MTA. If you would like to keep your single player mods, you can create two installations by reinstalling San Andreas to a second folder on your hard drive.

Also make sure that you are running Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Vista or Windows Server 2003 and that your machine is capable of running the game in single player. Note that if you are running single player on the absolute minimum requirements, you will experience slowdowns in MTA as it takes up extra processing power.

Note: MTA:SA will only work on GTA:SA v1.0. If you bought the game recently, it is likely that you have a later version.

Installing the game

This section will need to be updated when we get an installer

1. If you haven’t already, go to http://light.mtavc.com and download the MTA:SA client.
2. Run the installer. You will be given an introductory dialog, then presented with the End User License Agreement (EULA). You must agree to this in order to continue installation.
3. You will then be asked which components to install.
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   • MTA Core interfaces with the game and is a required component.
   • MTA Race is the race mod and is a required component in order to play.
   • MTA Map Editor is used to create new races. This is an optional component.
4. You are then asked for a folder in which to install the mod. You must set this to the same folder that San Andreas is installed in. The default location is: C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas\. Click the Install button to commence installation.
5. When it finishes installing, you will be given the option to start MTA: San Andreas straight away. Choose your option and then press Finish.

Running the game

1. Start Multi Theft Auto by clicking the icon located in your Start Menu under MTA:San Andreas.
2. GTA: San Andreas will start and once it is loaded, you will be presented with the MTA:SA main menu. Here you will find several options:

	Quick connect – this allows you to connect to a server that you already know the IP address or URL and port of. This is useful if you know precisely which server you want to join so that you don’t need to scroll through the whole server list.
	Browse servers – this allows you to receive a list of available servers to play on.
	Map editor – this allows you to create your own maps, complete with checkpoints, ramps, pickups and other objects. These can then be uploaded onto a server so that you can play them with other people.
	Settings – this allows you to change your in-game nickname, customize controls and adjust display settings.
	About – this gives you a list of contributors to the project.
	Quit – this returns you back to your Windows desktop.

The easiest way to play the game is to click Browse Servers on the menu. A new window will appear:

Will need to be updated

If servers have not appeared already, press the Refresh button and MTA will scan for servers, displaying them as a list.

• Under the Name tab, each server's name is displayed.
• Under the Players tab, the number of players and the maximum capacity of the server is displayed, in the format of [Used Slots] / [Maximum Slots].
• The Ping tab displays the ping, or latency, between your machine and the server. Ping is a measure of the time it takes for "packets" of data to be received back from the server after sending them, so a higher ping means that you will experience more lag on that particular server. Generally, servers closest to your location should have the lowest pings.
• The Host is the IP address of the server. You can use this address in future to connect to the same server via the Quick Connect option on the main menu.

Each tab can be clicked to arrange the respective column in ascending or descending order.

For optimal performance and gameplay, look for the best balance between players and ping.

Once you have picked a server, select it and click the Connect button in the top right-hand corner of the dialog. If all goes well, you should connect to the server and automatically join the game.

How to Play

MTA:SA offers a comprehensive scripting system that allows map creators to customize many elements of the game in order to create their own innovative game modes. The game incorporates as many single player elements as possible but some aspects are different.

There are no pedestrians and no AI traffic on the road. The only other people on the map are your opponents, or allies if it is a team game. You can talk with them using the chatbox located in the left-hand corner of the screen by pressing T. To chat only to your team members, press Y.

MTA's map editor allows map creators to add various GTA objects to their maps including roads, exploding barrels, ramps, buildings, hills and more. Not only this, but the objects can be scripted to move, change model and disappear. This offers a great deal of fun and variation to the gameplay.

Upon entering the server, you may be asked to login to your MTA Center] account, depending on the settings that the server administrator has set up. This feature allows the map to save settings to your account, such as high scores, player clothes and other statistics. The map will then load these settings next time you join the server. To set up an MTA Center account, click here.

Holding Tab will display the scoreboard. By default, only names and pings are displayed, but scripts can add extra columns that are specific to the particular gamemode being played. For example, a deathmatch game mode would definitely have a column listing total kills, but the map creator may choose to add extra columns for the number of deaths you have and how long you have been playing for, in order to put your score into perspective.

Controls

In-Game Keys

• F5 - Console
• F11 - Take a screenshot
• T - Chat
• Y - Team Chat
• ~ (tilde) or F8 - Console
• TAB - Player List

Console Commands

bind defaults Binds control defaults in the settings menu

Press ~ (tilde) or F8 to access the console, then type a command followed by any neccessary parameters (if applicable) then press Enter.

maps

This displays a list of all maps available on the server.

nick [nickname]

This changes your nickname whilst in-game to whatever you specify in the parameters.

msg [nickname] [message] or pm [nickname] [message]

This sends a private message to the person you specify in the [nickname] parameter. Only the person you specify can see the message. Both msg and pm perform the same function.

quit or exit

This disconnects you from the server and returns you to the Windows desktop. Performs the same function as the Quit button on the main menu.

ver

This displays the version number and copyright information for the software.

time

This displays the current time.

disconnect

This disconnects you from the server and returns you to the main menu.

say [text]

This enables you to continue talking to people in the chat box whilst the console is open.

ignore [nickname]

This will not display any text typed by the player you wish to ignore. To stop ignoring a player, type ignore [nickname] again.

rcon_login [password]

This allows a player to log in as an administrator in order to access to administrative functions such as kicking and banning players whilst in-game. This requires the server to be configured for RCON access.

rcon [command] [arguments]

This allows an admin who is logged into RCON (see rcon_login) to perform administrative functions within the server. These include kicking, banning and freezing players.

Tip: You can use these commands in the chatbox by putting a / (forward slash) in front of them.

A list of console commands can be seen by typing help into the console and pressing Enter. The current map may also have extra commands which can be accessed by typing commands into the console.