Download & Install Instructions

How To Install Sociolotron

First of all please note, that you need a username and password to access the website's download area. Both are sent to you with the automatic confirmation email that you receive after you signed up for Sociolotron. Just copy/paste the download username and password into the fields in the dialog in your webbrowser that pops up when you download the Sociolotron software. Please note that these username and password are different from the password you chose when signing up! Your game ID and game password have nothing to do with the username and password you need to access the download area! Make sure that you don't include any spaces when copy/paste!
The install process is relatively simple, although it is not yet fully automated, so you have to do some things manually, but in general its' very simple. So let's get started.

1. Download and store the setup file from one of the following mirrors. You need to download only one of the following files since they are all identical. Some people may have to Right-Click this filename and select Save Target As, others can just leftclick the filename and a Save-Dialog will pop up, depending on your browser. The browser will then pop up a dialog asking for the download username and password. Enter the following username and password:

   Username: socio
   Password: hYT65UFh4FDjfd
    

   Filename	Mirror Server
   socio_setup.exe	Mirror 1
   socio_setup.exe	Mirror 2
   socio_setup.exe	Mirror 3
   socio_setup.exe	Mirror 4

   
    

2. If you are having trouble staying connected, you should try out a download manager. These programs help restore a download that was previously interrupted without downloading the parts of the file that are already on your machine. Many download managers install ad or spy ware on your computer, so this might be a risk. However we have managed to find an old version of GoZilla 3.9 which was free of spy ware, although it installs some advertise ad-ons. Or you can use Freedownloadmamager which is somewhat easier to use and also, at the present time, free of adware. Many user consider the actual versions inferior so we strongly recommend using the older version provided here and not the actual version. Use it only if you are having problems downloading the client with your pure browser. When you install it, don't let it download the newer version, since it checks for updates!
3. Once you have downloaded the setup file, double click it.The install dialog will open and guide you through the rest of the setup process.
4. In case you get a file error during step 1 you will have to download the file again. Make sure you delete the faulty socio_setup.exe file first. Also, go to your browsers options dialog and "delete temporary internet files" which is done differently in every browser. This makes sure that the browser does not use faulty data that is cached on your computer and instead initiates a fresh download.
5. Make sure your Windows screen resolution is set to at least 1024 * 768 or greater before you start Sociolotron! Also you should have 24 or 32 bit colordepth set.
6. Sociolotron uses DirectX 8.1 and higher. If your DirectX Version is 8.0 or below, you need to download and install the latest Direct Version here. However, nowadays, nearly all computers will have a more recent DX version installed so we did not include DX in the setup package. Most users will not have to install DX when installing Sociolotron.
7. If you want to check your computer for ad and spy ware, we recommend Ad Aware which can be downloaded here. This can also be used to remove the advertise manager installed by the above version of Gozilla which gives you an ad - free Gozilla.

Be sure to visit the forum every day since the game is constantly changing and this is your source of vital information. You also have the chance of influencing the development of the game by discussing planned features. If you are having trouble accessing the forums you can get Java Virtual Machine for your Windows System here

 

How To Run Sociolotron Once it is Installed

Once the program is installed on your computer you should always start it by running the shortcut in your program group  in your start menu which you created during the installation. This program makes sure, that the patch application is started first so that it may check our server for a newer version of the program or the data.

Please note that there are two update servers to chose from, in case you have trouble reaching one of them. Both deliver the same updates

However there is always the possibility that something goes wrong and messes up your installation. In this case you should reinstall the game after you have uninstalled the old version first. Sociolotron does not use the registry so you can simply delete the game directory in your explorer or use the uninstall link in the program group.

Starting Sociolotron for The First Time

When you start the program for the first time or for the first time after there was a graphic update, the startup process takes some time depending on the speed of your computer. The reason for that is, that a lot of of graphic data is to be unpacked and converted to the color depth setting of your Computer. These converted graphics are stored in a sub directory called GRAPHICBUFFER under your installation directory.

The next time you start the program, the startup process is much faster, since the prepared graphic can be loaded. If you change the color depth of your graphic card however, you may encounter visual disturbances. In this case you can delete the GRAPHICBUFFER directory  which will cause the program to initiate a new conversion process the next time you start it.

Learning The Basics

Please visit this site where you find the manual and a Newbie Tutorial. Please be sure to read it!

How To Join IRC Chat

Please visit our Contact Site to learn how to join our IRC chatroom or simply click the MIRC link in your program group.