Frequently Asked Questions
General SRB2 Questions:
- Where do I download addons?
- How do I install addons?
- How do I use addons?
- How do I make addons?
- Will you port SRB2 to run on my game console?
- Where can I get the SRB2 source code?
- How do I use the console?
- How do I join a netgame?
- Why can't anyone join my netgame?
- Can I use the Master Server with old versions of the game?
- How do I turn on 3D models?
- How can I make the game run better?
- What if my question isn't on this page?
Windows Related Questions:
- Why won't my gifs/screenshots/replays save?
- The game appears too large!
- Why is my antivirus program saying SRB2 contains a virus?
MacOS Related Questions:
- How do I install the game?
- I can't open my game. It says it is not from a trusted developer.
- I don't have access to my administrator password or I have parental controls active.
- Where are the game's files?
- I can't load the addons I installed!
- How can I launch the game in OpenGL/use other command line parameters?
- I encountered a crash that prevents me from playing the game. Where should I report it?
- I'm having some other problem.
Android Related Questions:
- Where do I install addons?
- I can't update the app!
- Can I compile this?
- How do I edit my layout/add custom buttons?
- Can I use other input methods?
- Can I disable the touch controls?
- Why is the level invisible/there are black rectangles on everything in OpenGL?
If you need help on a system not listed here, your best bet is to ask about it on our message board or our Discord server. We don't support any other platforms, so we can't help you with them, unfortunately.
General SRB2 Questions:
Where do I download addons?
Check the Releases section on our message board for addons to download. You can use any search engine such as Google to find them too, but the addons on our message board all go through a vetting process to ensure quality and original work.
How do I install addons?
Once you’ve downloaded some addons, place them in the /addons folder inside your SRB2 folder.
How do I use addons?
The easiest way is to use the addons menu, which can be accessed from SRB2’s main menu. You can also use the addfile console command. Our community has also created launchers you can use.
How do I make addons?
Check out our wiki for tutorials and information about creating addons.
Will you port SRB2 to run on my game console?
We are not equipped with the knowledge or tools to port SRB2 to game consoles. However, you can do it yourself if you grab our source code. Click here to see community-made console ports.
Where can I get the source code?
You can find the source code on our GitLab or on GitHub. For versions before 2.1, the source code is contained in a self-extracting RAR called SRB2Src.exe, which is included with SRB2.
How do I use the console?
Press the ` or ~ key on your keyboard, usually located under the Esc key, to open the console. Type help and press Enter for a list of commands. You can scroll through the console using Page Up and Page Down. Cutting, copying, and pasting text in the console can be done as in any other program, too.
How do I join a netgame?
If you know the IP address of the computer hosting the game, you can use the connect console command or type or paste the IP in the “Specify IPv4 Address…” box, found in the Multiplayer menu on the title screen.
If you don’t know the IP address, you can use the server browser at the top of the Multiplayer menu. Make sure you select a room! You can check what files are added to each server at the web version of the server browser. You must not add any files to the game before you join! Only the netgame host can choose which files you play with.
If you can’t connect to the server browser, make sure you’ve set the master server address to https://mb.srb2.org/MS/0 using the server options menu or the masterserver console command.
Why can’t anyone join my netgame?
Check that you properly forwarded port 5029 UDP. General instructions for how to do this can be found here. If your game is not listed on the master server, set the master server address to https://mb.srb2.org/MS/0 using the server options menu or the masterserver console command.
Can I use the Master Server with old versions of the game?
Generally speaking, you can't. The Master Server is only compatible with prereleases and the latest stable versions of the game. You don't need the Master Server to play with others, though, so you can still play old versions of SRB2 online. Click here for details.
How do I turn on 3D models?
SRB2 comes with 3D models, and you can add more from the message board. To see them ingame, you’ll need to switch to the OpenGL renderer (since they don’t work in software mode) using the video options menu or the renderer console command. To enable 3D models, use the gr_models console command or on the OpenGL Options found at the bottom of the video options menu.
How can I make the game run better?
- Try both the software and OpenGL renderers to see which runs better. It varies from machine to machine.
- Try playing in a lower resolution. You can change the screen resolution in the video options (press Enter 3 times to make your selected resolution the default) or use the vid_mode console command.
- Try lowering the object drawing distance, which you can find under the “Level” header in the Video Options menu.
- If you are playing in OpenGL, try all the texture filters, disabling shaders, and decreasing bit depth and anisotropic filtering.
- Try disabling VSync.
- If you have added any file to the game that contains Lua (usually denoted with an “L” in the start of the file name), playing without these may be the only way to increase performance due to the extra overhead of the Lua interpreter.
What if my question isn’t on this page?
Check our wiki first. If you can't find answers there, then ask on our message board or our Discord server.
Windows Related Questions:
Why won’t my gifs/screenshots/replays save?
This is usually caused by SRB2 being installed in an unexpected directory. If you installed SRB2 on your Desktop, Program Files, or Downloads folder, try moving it somewhere else, such as your user folder or My Documents.
The game appears too large!
This occurs when you have increased the size of text, apps, and other items under Windows 10's display settings. To force the game to render at the correct size, do the following:
- Browse to your shortcut to SRB2 or the folder containing srb2win.exe.
- Right-click on the shortcut or srb2win.exe. Select "Properties..." from the menu that appears.
- In the Properties window, click on the Compatibility tab.
- Near the bottom of the window, click Change high DPI settings.
- In the new window that appears, click the box next to "Use this setting to fix scaling problems for this program instead of the one in Settings." The box should have a check mark in it now.
- Now, click the box next to Override high DPI scaling behavior. This box should also have a check mark in it now.
- From the drop down menu under that, select Application. You can close out of this window now.
- Click the Apply button at the bottom and try running the game to see if it works properly. If not, you may also need to click the box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" so that a check mark appears in it, then select Windows 8 from the drop down menu under it.
When you've got it working, click OK to exit the Properties window and enjoy!
Why is my antivirus program saying the SRB2 installer contains a virus?
Antivirus programs aren’t familiar with SRB2’s files, so they tend to give false positives. SRB2 has been malware-free since 1998, but feel free to scan our files anyway! We advise against downloading SRB2 from any third-party websites, since they may be hosting an infected or outdated version of the game.
MacOS Related Questions:
How do I install the game?
Simply drag and drop Sonic Robo Blast 2.app into your Applications folder, and double click it to start playing!
I can't open my game. It says it is not from a trusted developer.
Right click the Sonic Robo Blast 2 application and select "Open". It will ask you for your Mac's administrator's name and password to permit Sonic Robo Blast 2 to bypass unknown developer restrictions.
I don't have access to my administrator password/I have parental controls active.
Create a new folder in the directory where you want to store the game. Right click Sonic Robo Blast 2.app and select "Show Package Contents". Copy the Contents folder into your new folder. Rename your new folder to "Sonic Robo Blast 2.app". Your Mac will ask you to confirm that you want to change the extension; click OK. You now have a version of the application whose developer is yourself, so your Mac will trust it.
Where are the game's files?
The game's resource files (srb2.pk3, zones.pk3, player.dta, music.dta, etc.) and licenses can be found by right clicking the Sonic Robo Blast 2 application and selecting "Show Package Contents". They are located in Contents/Resources/. Your configuration files, screenshots/GIFs, and replays can be found in ~/srb2/, and your addons should be placed in ~/srb2/addons/.
I can't load the addons I installed!
Addons typically use the extensions .wad, .pk3, or .lua; if your file is a .zip or .rar, you need to extract it first. You should be able to accomplish this by double clicking the file, but if this does not work, we recommend downloading and using The Unarchiver from the App Store. (It's free!)
How can I launch the game in OpenGL/use other command line parameters?
Open Terminal.app and type "open /Applications/Sonic\ Robo\ Blast\ 2.app --args". You can then list any command line parameters from https://wiki.srb2.org/wiki/Command_line_parameters. For instance, to launch the game in OpenGL, you would use "--args -opengl". (If you didn't install the game to your Applications folder, you should replace "/Applications/" with the appropriate directory.)
I encountered a crash that prevents me from playing the game. Where should I report it?
Join the SRB2 Discord server and ask about it in the #mac-help channel.
I’m having some other problem.
Send a message to @Lach#9444 on Discord.
Android Related Questions:
Where do I install addons?
SRB2 is in a folder named “Sonic Robo Blast 2”, located at the root of your device’s internal storage. In that folder is another folder called “addons”. Usually, the path is something similar to “/storage/emulated/0/Sonic Robo Blast 2/addons”. Just move your addons in there and they should show up on the ingame addons menu.
I can't update the app!
If you already have SRB2 installed from another source, the APK signature may be different, and you will need to uninstall the app. If you installed v2.2.6 from srb2.org, you will have to uninstall it. If you decide to uninstall, you will lose all of your game's data (screenshots, config, add-ons, etc.) if you don't make a backup.
Can I compile this?
This port can be compiled with Gradle. Assuming you have the JDK and the Android SDK, you can use the Gradle wrapper (in the "android" folder of the repository) to build the project. Chances are you already did install Gradle in your build environment, so the wrapper is not necessary in that case.
In the Options, select Player 1 Controls > Touch Screen Options > Touch Controls. Disable the current preset - the "Use Preset" selection, by changing it to "None", if that isn't already the current setting - and select Customize.
Can I use other input methods?
You can connect joysticks/gamepads (wireless or not) and SRB2 will attempt to recognize them. You can also connect a keyboard and mouse if the device supports those.
Can I disable the touch controls?
Disable "Show Controls" in the "Touch Controls" submenu, found at Player 1 Controls > Touch Screen Options > Touch Controls.
Why is the level invisible/there are black rectangles on everything in OpenGL?
This can happen in some mobile GPUs due to SRB2's implementation of OpenGL. There is no fix for that yet.