Below is some help on the basic systems within United Football. We hope this guide will make your introduction to United Football easier and more fun.

Joining A Game

When in the game lobby a player can join a game in the games list by either double clicking on the game name with the left mouse button, or by clicking on the game name and then clicking the Join button. If the game is password protected the player will be prompted to enter a password and if it is correct the player will be added to the pregame room. For team only games, players who are members of those teams in the game name may join.

Making A New Game

Clicking the New Game button will display the New Game window. To create a default game type in a game name, choose the duration or length of game you want, choose the maximum number of players you want in your game and then click Create Game.

You may choose or remove other options in this window such as AI bots, power-ups which are items you can collect to give you special skills on the field and fairground keepers. Fairground keepers are a little like the targets you see at the fairground which move backwards and forwards and fall over when hit.
The final option on this window is the Private Game, if you choose this option and type in a password before creating the game only people with the correct password will be able to join the game.

Making A New Team Game

Clicking the Team Game button will display the Team Game window. To create a game type in a game name, choose the duration or length of game you want, choose the maximum number of players you want in your game, type in the name, or part of the name, of the team you want to play against and then click Search.
Once the search is completed it will list team names that match your search. To choose one of these click on the team name and then click Create Game.

The only people who will now be able to join this game will be members of either your team or the team you chose in the list.

You may choose or remove other options in this window such as AI bots, power-ups which are items you can collect to give you special skills on the field and fairground keepers. Fairground keepers are a little like the targets you see at the fairground which move backwards and forwards and fall over when hit.

Chatrooms

Joining A Chatroom

When in the game lobby a player can join a chatroom in the chatroom list by either double clicking on the chatroom name with the left mouse button, or by clicking on the chatroom name and then clicking the Join button. If the room is password protected the player will be prompted to enter a password and if it is correct the player will be added to the chatroom. For team only chatrooms, only players who are members of the team in the chatroom name may join.

Making A New Chatroom

To make a new chatroom click on the New Room button. This brings up the New Chatroom window.

Type in a name for the room, choose a topic and then click Create Room.

If you want a private room then click the checkbox beside Private Room and then type in a password for the room.

Anyone who then tries to join this room will need the password.

Chatting

Once in a chatroom simply type your message in the text bar and then press enter. When enter is pressed the message is sent and up to this point you can edit the message as much as you like. 

Buddy List

The buddy list works like most major messenger systems, it allows you to add friends to a list and to message those friends when they are online and offline. Offline messages are collected once the friend logs into the game.

The buddy list is shown at all times except during the half time period of a game.

To activate the buddy list click the down arrow on the buddy list area.

This will expand the buddy list to show you all your friends, both online and offline, as well as pending messages. It will also show the Find Buddy button.

Adding Buddies

You can add a buddy in several ways. The first way is to hover the mouse over their name whilst in a chatroom and clicking the right mouse button. This will bring up a small menu window that allows you to add a buddy or to add that person to your ignore list. Adding them to the buddy list will then show their name in the buddy list, ignoring them will show them in the ignore area of your buddy list and prevent them from sending messages to you. Once you try and add someone this user will be sent a request to see if they want to be added to your list and you will be notified of their agreement or refusal.

The second way to add a buddy is to click on the Find Buddy button in the buddy list window. Clicking the Find Buddy button will show the Find Buddy window.

To find a buddy simply type in all or part of their username and then click the Search button. You will then be presented a list of buddies or a single buddy depending on whether or not you entered part or all of their username. Once you see the username in the list you want to add you can click on it to highlight it and then click the Add Buddy button. This user will now be sent a request to see if they want to be added to your list and you will be notified of their agreement or refusal.

Sending Buddy Messages

To send a buddy a message you simply open your buddy list window and double click on their username. This opens the Buddy Chatroom window. To send a message you type in the area with the flashing cursor and either click the Send button or hit the enter key on your keyboard. 

Receiving Buddy Messages

When someone sends you a buddy message you will see the buddy list flash and hear a beep.

When you open the buddy list you will see a flashing name. When you double click on the flashing name a Buddy Chat window will open and you will see the message.

To close the buddy list click the up arrow at the bottom of the list.


Useful Tips

Changing Nicknames

If a player wants to change their nickname without having to go into the Options screen they can use the /nick command in a chatroom, whether that chatroom is a normal chatroom, buddy chatroom, in-game chat or pregame chatroom. Wherever a user can chat they can use the /nick command to change their name. The full command is /nick nickname where nickname is the new name the user wants to use. A user cannot change to a nickname that is already taken.

Kicking Players

If a player is being a pain the host of a game can remove them using the /kick command. The host can use this command in either the pregame room or the in-game chat system. The full command is /kick username where username is the name of the player they want to remove.

In-game Chat

When a player is in-game and wants to talk to everyone on the field he can press T which will open a small chat bar at the bottom of the screen. They can then type what they want and when they press enter everyone in the game will see the text.

Team Only Chat

When a player is in-game and wants to talk to his team mates without the opposition hearing he can use the /team command before whatever he types and this will make sure that only members of his team see this text.