Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 - PC port
Version 0.6.1

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 for Xbox Live Arcade, statically recompiled to
run natively on Windows with the ReXGlue SDK.

Source code and issue tracker:
https://github.com/saulob/geometry-wars-retro-evolved-2-recompiled


NO GAME FILES ARE INCLUDED
--------------------------
You need your own copy of the game: the Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox
Live Arcade package. This port only runs this exact release:

  Title ID:      584108FF
  Game version:  0.0.1.2 (Xbox Live Arcade)

Any other version is refused with "Different version of Geometry Wars: Retro
Evolved 2".


REQUIREMENTS
------------
- Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit
- A DirectX 12 capable graphics card
- The latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2015-2022 (x64). Most PCs
  have it. If Windows reports a missing VCRUNTIME140.dll or MSVCP140.dll,
  install it from https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe
- Your own Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox Live Arcade package, plus about
  50 MB of free disk space next to the program for the game files


INSTALL
-------
1. Extract the ZIP anywhere you can write to (not "Program Files").
2. Run geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe. The launcher opens.
3. On the Play page, click "Install from package...".
4. Select your Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox Live Arcade package. It is
   one file with a long hexadecimal name and no extension. On an Xbox 360 hard
   drive it is in Content\0000000000000000\584108FF\000D0000\
5. Wait while the launcher checks the package and copies the game files into
   the "game" folder next to the program.
6. When the Play page says "Ready to play", press PLAY.

To repair the game files, use "Reinstall from package..." on the Play page.
Your settings and saves are kept.


UPDATES
-------
The launcher checks the project's GitHub releases once per start. When a newer
release exists, an update banner appears in the header; nothing is installed
until you choose UPDATE NOW and then RESTART TO UPDATE. The update replaces
only the port's own program files. Game files, user_data, saves, settings,
logs and caches are kept.


UPGRADING FROM 0.1.0
--------------------
Version 0.1.0 kept your profile, scores, achievements and settings in
Documents\geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2. The first start of this version moves
that folder into "user_data" next to the program, and the old folder in
Documents is removed once the move has succeeded. If the move fails, the old
folder is left untouched and used, and the move is tried again at the next
start. If "user_data" already holds data, it is used and the old folder is left
alone. If the program folder cannot be written to, the old Documents folder is
used for that run.


WINDOWS SMARTSCREEN
-------------------
The first time you run geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe, Windows SmartScreen
may show a warning, because the program is not digitally signed. If you
downloaded the release from the project's GitHub releases page, choose "More
info", then "Run anyway".


PLAYING
-------
- F11 in the game switches between Windowed and Borderless Fullscreen. F11 in
  the launcher switches only the launcher; the launcher remembers its position,
  size and state, separately from the game.
- In gameplay, mouse activity shows the cursor and keyboard or controller
  activity hides it. Mouse-driven overlays and the launcher always show it.
- Xbox controllers work without setup.
- The keyboard works too; the Controls page lists the keys.
- Frame rate: the Gameplay page offers 30, 60, 90, 120, 144, 165, 240 and
  Unlimited. 60 is the original game. Game speed stays the same at every rate.
- F2 shows or hides a frame counter in the corner of the window.
- F7 opens the achievements list.
- F10 opens the Cheats menu (Invincible, Infinite Shield, Infinite Bombs,
  Movement Speed). All are Off by default. Choices made in the menu last for the current session;
  the launcher's Cheats page saves them.
- F1, or L3 + R3 (both sticks pressed in), opens the Options menu: the launcher's
  own settings, changed while playing. A setting the game reads while running
  applies at once; the others save and offer a restart (Y or R).
- Scores, leaderboards and achievements are kept on this PC only. There is no
  Xbox Live connection and no online play.
- To open the launcher again after turning it off, hold Shift while starting.


WHERE THINGS ARE
----------------
- Game files:     the "game" folder next to geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe
- Logs:           the "logs" folder next to geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe
- Settings, profile, scores, achievements and launcher settings:
                  the "user_data" folder next to geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe
                  (created the first time it is needed)

Copy the whole program folder to another PC to take your profile, scores,
achievements and launcher settings with it. To update, extract the new version
over the old folder, or move "user_data" (and "game") into the new one:
deleting the old folder deletes "user_data" with it.

If the game does not start or crashes, please attach the newest file from the
"logs" folder to a report at
https://github.com/saulob/geometry-wars-retro-evolved-2-recompiled/issues


LICENSE
-------
The original project code of this port is licensed under the GNU General
Public License v2.0 only (GPL-2.0-only). The full text is in LICENSE.

Third-party components keep their own licenses. Their license files and
notices are in the "licenses" folder: ReXGlue-LICENSE.txt and
THIRD-PARTY-LICENSES.txt.

Game files are not included and are not covered by this project's license.
This port is not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers or publishers of
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2.
