I have created a screen saver which launches W:A replays. There's a number of configuration options. For example, it can play games randomly from your \Games\ folder, or you could specify a different folder of replays and play them in sequence. The configuration is saved to an .xml file in the same directory as the screen saver.

Download. (http://www.bloopy.org/files/Worms_Autogaming.zip) Requires Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 and preferably a version of W:A that can play replays.

Please post any problems or suggestions you have!

very nice bloopy :) very very nice.

good job man :)

Shame it won't work well as a screensaver if the W:A disc isn't in the drive.

Good job though.

Shame it won't work well as a screensaver if the W:A disc isn't in the drive.

The simple solution is to make an ISO of your WA CD and mount it in Daemon. Then you never need to think about it.

Sounds very nice!
Now I can have a wormy screensaver with ultra-high resolutions.
(Opposite to T17's original WA screensaver)

n00b alert!

How do I install it?

To have a screen saver always show up in Display Settings, put it in the \windows\system32\ directory.

or in the windows folder i think if your using win9x.

Or in the attachment of an e-mail if you have added some virus or worm. ;)

Updated. (http://www.bloopy.org/files/Worms_Autogaming.zip)

Now you can choose to change the volume to a different level while the screensaver is running (100% is maximum Windows volume level, 0% is mute). Also added a preview button to the configuration screen, so you can preview the current settings before saving them.

I put it in the correct folder and I get an error that says:

'Unable to find a version of the runtime to run this application'

do you have .net framework 1.1 installed? that could be the issue.

Yes. Any other suggestions?

<ego>Wicked, now i'll be sure that at least one of the players is kicking ass!</ego> :cool: Nice job bloopster

I put it in the correct folder and I get an error that says:

'Unable to find a version of the runtime to run this application'

What version of Windows are you using?

Could you go to Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and take a screenshot of which versions of Microsoft .NET Framework are installed? (To take a screenshot, open the window, press alt-PrtScrn, go to Paint and paste, save as png)

Here you go.

Hmm, most likely something to do with the 64bit I guess.

Unzip this file and put it in the same directory as WormAuto.scr, and see if it works after that.

Didn't work. Didn't even show up in display settings under the tab screen saver.

But did you try running the screen saver? Put WormAuto.scr.config (which I attached above) and WormAuto.scr in the same directory, and try double clicking WormAuto.scr to run it. If you do that, does it give the same error about not being able to find a version of the runtime to run the application?

Haha sorry I only put the new file in there but after putting in both files I still get the same error

Well, if it's definitely the same, then I haven't got any more tricks up my sleeve to help you right now... there's not much online about the error. I might be able to provide one that works for you once I've got a newer version of Visual Studio. :cool:

Ok thanks.

'Tis be very snazzy, i must say (out of curiosity, have you been using Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition to do all this malarky?).

Only wee problem: When you go into the config for the screensaver, then onto browsing the location of .WAgame files/WA.exe, you can't browse your directories. The "Browse" button is obsolete.

(Very nice other than that - Hate to end on a bad note)

When you go into the config for the screensaver, then onto browsing the location of .WAgame files/WA.exe, you can't browse your directories. The "Browse" button is obsolete.
Both "Browse" buttons work flawlessly for me.

'Tis be very snazzy, i must say (out of curiosity, have you been using Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition to do all this malarky?).
No, I've been using 2003. I'll upgrade to 2005 at some point, but I'm not in a hurry.

Only wee problem: When you go into the config for the screensaver, then onto browsing the location of .WAgame files/WA.exe, you can't browse your directories. The "Browse" button is obsolete.

Ok, in the case of WA.exe, I can see how it would be useful to be able to select a different executable which isn't named WA.exe. :) I'll change that! But for .WAgame files, I disagree. If you want to playback a specific set of replays, group them in a seperate folder and select that folder. Also, I think obsolete is the wrong word to use. Obsolete suggests that the features used to be useful but now they're too old, and I don't think that makes sense! :p

Isnt there any way it can work without .NET framework?
I'm just not going to install that for a F-ing screensaver, however nice I think it is.

Isnt there any way it can work without .NET framework?
Why not?
That's only a 23MB download and there are already a few other tools for Worms that use it.
Otherwise Bloopys screensaver would probably be 23MB larger in size.

How do you figure that? T17's original screensaver is 8 megs and only that much because it has ALL content in it. This one only has to read .WAGame files. I'm sure it could never get larger than a meg.

And the reason why I dont like to install .NET is because after I do, I get a user choice in Windows @ every startup even when theres only 1 user. I like my comp to startup to desktop immediatelly...

And the reason why I dont like to install .NET is because after I do, I get a user choice in Windows @ every startup even when theres only 1 user. I like my comp to startup to desktop immediatelly...
You might want to disable/delete all unused guest and maintenance accounts.

And the reason why I dont like to install .NET is because after I do, I get a user choice in Windows @ every startup even when theres only 1 user. I like my comp to startup to desktop immediatelly...

There's the Tweak UI powertoy for Windows XP which lets you set the autologon option (plus 100s of other otherwise hidden options).

There's the Tweak UI powertoy for Windows XP which lets you set the autologon option (plus 100s of other otherwise hidden options).
Erm.

All you have to do is:
1) in Start -> Run, type control userpasswords2, click OK
2) uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer, click OK
3) enter your default username, click OK

ZOMG holy crap... i never knew there is such a thing as a standard user under windows XP home... ive only been able to choose from admin/restricted... which was ghey...

thank for this its something i never knew existed heh... shame i still dont have the policy manager -.-..... but eh i can log in with no password ^_^

edit: what is the diff between a power user and an admin? as in can you provide some specifics?

An administrator can basically do anything. A power user can't install things or change some settings, basically they can't make changes that affect the OS.

well then whats the difference beween a standard user and a limited account?

Limited accounts have some..limitations..on what they're allowed to do. In theory, what one limited user does should not affect other users. This means no tampering with things owned by the OS or other users. A limited user or a program running on a limited user's account can (on a secure system at least) only break that account, not the entire computer or anyone else's account. Ideally, day-to-day operations shouldn't require altering the OS or other people's files so using a limited account should make your computer more secure and reliable without disrupting things too much.

Unfortunately, limited accounts cause problems for some Windows programs because Windows did not always have this feature and even now it's not widely used. It's not widely used because it causes problems. It's a vicious cycle that Microsoft hopes to break with Vista.

On Unix-like systems, most everyone uses a limited account except when they have to use root (administrator).

does a standard user suffer from the problems limited users suffer from?

There's no such thing as a "standard user". There are only administrators/root, limited users, and (on Windows) power users.

it definably does say standard user... but in the brackets it also says power user -.-

IIRC, Power Users are pretty much the same as Administrators. The few things Power Users cannot do are unimportant and do not reliably prevent them from breaking the system. No other OS has a category like this because it isn't needed.

that is a known bug and it can be solved/worked around, try googling for it.

I don't think I understand. The existence of the "Power User" is a bug? Just like the rest of Windows then, I guess.

Also, should it be necessary to go through all that 'fuzting around' just to get a screensaver? For some people 23 MiB is a large download. Granted, I haven't the faintest idea how you could steal input from the WA replay program for stopping the screensaver, but don't think this should be .NET stuff.

haha i changed my account to a standard account (power user) and it disappeared :P i could not access it from any of the user configuration areas within windows at all no matter what account was used (including administrator) but windows said the account still existed... it said that when i tried to recreat it... only soloution i found was to restore to a system restore point from yesterday... it scared the crap outta me...

im never changing meself from admin :P

Hmm according to wikipedia, a Power User can promote itself to Administrator. So yeah, in terms of security it's no different. I don't know what the purpose is..

Also, should it be necessary to go through all that 'fuzting around' just to get a screensaver? For some people 23 MiB is a large download. Granted, I haven't the faintest idea how you could steal input from the WA replay program for stopping the screensaver, but don't think this should be .NET stuff.

The .NET Framework is for running all programs that have been developed using .NET, so you're hardly downloading something just to get a screen saver. If you want to live in the past instead of getting it, then it's your choice. I think Windows might come standard with the .NET Framework these days. I develop in .NET at home and at work as well, and if I was using something different then you would probably need to download some other runtime instead...

I don't steal input from W:A, however this could be done using a hook. Instead I just use Windows' GetAsyncKeyState function, which works alright for what I need.

.NET v1.1 sp1 comes with windows xp sp 2... but you have to install it after you install windows.

.NET is just a programming language and some people just find it easier to code in then for instance c++ (granted thos 2 languages are pretty diverse from each other)

.NET is just a programming language and some people just find it easier to code in then for instance c++ (granted thos 2 languages are pretty diverse from each other)FRANPA ALERT: ORANGE (Total Misinformation)

Franpa, stop talking about things you don't understand.

Lex: Isn't he ALWAYS on that alert level? :D

Franpa: What lex said.

Isn't he ALWAYS on that alert level? :D

I know no one asked me but..no, I've seen him give information that is both worthwhile and correct.

thanks MadEwokHerd i do try my best to give accurate and helpful info but alas i fail quite a bit :D... maybe try harder?

its pretty cool having a folder on the nsrt site dedicated to you...

Franpa, you just need to learn to put checks in your sentences and suchlike. When you're talking about something you're not exactly sure about, don't say it as if it's confirmed information.

For example, compare the following two statements.

"No, Exampleperson, the sky is red in the day time."

"Exampleperson, I think the sky is red in the day time, but I'm not completely sure. Could someone please correct me if I'm wrong?"

You are using the first style of information rather than the second. The second allows you to state your knowledge as you understand it without misdirecting other people as you have been misdirected, then being ridiculed.

i'll try my best :D (lol is that better?)

.NET v1.1 sp1 comes with windows xp sp 2... but you have to install it after you install windows.
Thanks for confirming that, I thought that might be the case. :)

.NET is just a programming language and some people just find it easier to code in then for instance c++ (granted thos 2 languages are pretty diverse from each other)
.NET is a programming/runtime environment. You can program .NET apps using C++ if you wish. :p

I don't think I understand. The existence of the "Power User" is a bug? Just like the rest of Windows then, I guess.

Also, should it be necessary to go through all that 'fuzting around' just to get a screensaver? For some people 23 MiB is a large download. Granted, I haven't the faintest idea how you could steal input from the WA replay program for stopping the screensaver, but don't think this should be .NET stuff.

good thing microsoft just released .NET framework v3.0 :D happy updating.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=10cc340b-f857-4a14-83f5-25634c3bf043&DisplayLang=en

W00t got it loaded properly now. Turns out the folder for 64-bit is different. It's SysWOW64 not system32.

Well it loaded, but when it launches it just has a pic of a worm and text that says we are the worms and we've come to win the war or something and then the screen saver closes down.

EDIT: I then tryed it with the config file but sill didn't work.

The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135).Click on OK to terminate the application.


WTF?!

Well it loaded, but when it launches it just has a pic of a worm and text that says we are the worms and we've come to win the war or something and then the screen saver closes down.

EDIT: I then tryed it with the config file but sill didn't work.

64-bit doesn't seem to work sorry.

The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135).Click on OK to terminate the application.


WTF?!

It looks like you need to install the Microsoft .NET Framework Redistributable which is available from Windows Update or here (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en).