Download and installation
In order to install and play Need for Madness Multiplayer: DS-addons pack, you will need to have the Java 8 runtime installed and enabled on your computer. A proper installation of Java should let you start Java applications (.jar files) via a double-click, or by using the command java -jar NfmM-DSaddons.jar in the command prompt.
Note
Java 11 has been tested to work with the game launcher, but versions from 11 onward are not intended for installation as part of your operative system anymore. If we targeted that version, we would bundle it with the download instead. Also, due to how it was originally coded, the game completely breaks past Java 8.
With Java enabled and working, you may now download the game launcher. This tool allows us to provide updates automatically each time you start the game. Updates usually take no more than a minute because of how the game has been built.
Important
Some browsers tend to show warnings about Java executables when you download them. In this case in particular you can disregard these warnings, since the inbuilt protection from Windows and Linux should be enough to make sure the launcher does not touch any files it's not meant to have access to. For more information, search about User-Access Control and SmartScreen.
Once you've got the game launcher downloaded, open your downloads folder and double-click the file in order to start it. You will see the following window:
Here you will be offered two ways to setup NfmM DS-addons: a managed one (traditional, with a target folder and stuff) and a portable one (for those who like to run their programs from a single folder without installation). For ease of access, we recommend choosing the Managed Installation, so click that button to continue.
Since you chose Managed Installation, you will be given an option to change the location where the game will be installed. By default it uses its own folder inside your user directory, which should be easy to reach from the start menu or file explorer. You can also enable the use of web proxies if any has been setup on your computer, and schedule an import of your data, cars and stages from an old installation of Need for Madness Multiplayer, if you ever played that before.
Tip
Try not to change the game's location, since keeping it guarantees no conflicts with your system's inbuilt protection. Also, some faulty Windows updates tend to erase the installation settings of DS-addons pack, so if you ever face this problem, it can be solved by simply running the managed installation setup again with all settings on default. The game launcher will simply pick up everything where you left it.
Once you've adjusted the settings to your liking, or left them as they were, click OK to save your settings and finish the installation. The game launcher will then start.
If this is your first time starting the game, or if there are any updates available, the launcher will proceed to download all the files it needs in order to start the game. This process may take a couple of minutes, and it's recommended to avoid closing the launcher while its doing its work. Once everything is ready, the Start Game button will be enabled, you can then click it to start playing!
There is also a Settings button; it will take you to the same settings you saw before, plus a shortcut to the folder where the game files are saved. This folder includes your cars, stages and any custom content you can create for it.
From here you can also change the Java runtime to use for the game. As stated above, Java 8 is needed. You can choose between using the copy of Java you have installed, providing your own installation folder for Java, or letting the launcher download its own copy of Java. If you followed the instructions correctly until now, going with the default option (Inherited) should be your best choice.
Now that everything has been setup and you can update and run the game at any time, all that's left to do is taking that NfmM-DSaddons game launcher you downloaded and pasting it somewhere visible, like in your desktop. Next time you want to play, just double-click it again, and the launcher will start directly.
If you prefer to have everything inside a single folder you may delete later in order to uninstall DS-addons in one key press, make sure to paste the game launcher you downloaded inside the folder of your choice before beginning the setup. Next, choose Portable Instalation and adjust the settings like in the prior step. You will not need (nor be able) to change the game's folder in this mode, since the location of the launcher and settings file will be used as reference instead.
Once you're done, click OK to save your settings. From now on, double-clicking the file you downloaded will start the game.
Regardless of the kind of installation you went through, you will find the following folder tree inside your game folder:
Tip
Don't forget you can quickly reach this folder from the Settings window in the game launcher.
- Inside app/, you will find the game's assets. They're just there for the game to work, so you don't need to touch them.
- Inside custom/ you have some space to place your own assets, in case you want to use them instead of the game's own. Instructions included inside.
- Inside data/ you will find your user content, grouped in folders. The most relevant ones are mycars/, mystages/, replays/ and screenshots.
- Inside runtime/ there will be a copy of Java downloaded by the launcher for use in the game. It will only be present if you adjusted your launcher to download Java on its own.
In general, any custom cars and stages you may want to fetch from the game will be available somewhere inside the data/ folder.