A Guide to the TrayGames Manager
The TrayGames Manager is your gateway to the TrayGames community. This client software is installed on your Windows XP or Vista computer.
With the TrayGames Manager you can:
- send instant messages - it's fast, easy, and free!
- play multi-player "pick up and play" games
- download new games
- try game demos
- find friends online
- make new friends
- get news on the latest games
- see your high scores
- compete on world or regional leader boards
Joining the Community
When you install the TrayGames Manager and start it up for the first time, you will be asked to Sign-In with your Account Name and Password. The Manager will remember your account information so that you can be signed-in automatically everytime your internet connection becomes available. This way your friends (and only your friends) can see your online status accurately. If you haven't created an account yet then then click the Click here if you don't a have a TrayGames Account yet link on
the Sign-In form. This will launch the Sign-Up form, and in 3 easy steps you'll have your own TrayGames account.
The Tray Icon and Menu
Your system tray is the location of one or more applications running in the background. If the TrayGames Manager is installed and running you will see the Manager icon in the Tray shown above-left. Right-clicking this icon will bring up a context menu shown below-right.
Some of the things you can do from the context menu are:
Show/Hide Manager - Make the TrayGames Manager window visible or hidden.
Sign In/Out - Connect or disconnect from the TrayGames Network.
Invite a Friend - Invite your friends to the TrayGames community.
Give us Feedback - Tell us what we can do to make your experience better.
Change Status - Select your online status.
Preferences - Change your personal settings.
About - Display the current version of the TrayGames Manager.
Exit - Disconnect from the TrayGames Network and closes the TrayGames Manager.
Getting Connected
If you are not connected automatically, you will see the Managers main window (left). Some of the thing you can do from here are:
Sign In - Connect to the TrayGames Network.
Sign in with a different Account Name - Enter a new Account Name and Password to Sign In with.
Minimize - Hide the TrayGames Manager window in the Tray. When minimized the TrayGames Manager is still connected and running.
Resize/Move the Window - Use the grip regions to size or move the window on your desktop.
If you are already connected to the TrayGames Network from another computer then that session will be ended before your new connection is established.
The Sign In button establishes a live persistent connection with the TrayGames Network. A connection to the TrayGames Network takes a few seconds during which time your session is authenticated. Once you're connected you can see information about your friends and their online status, the Manager window should look something like the image below.
The Manager
Your window may differ depending on what games you have, and who your friends are.
The Friends List in the
center of the Manager shows your friends and their online status. This is useful
for selecting a group of people to chat or play a game with. You will also
notice the Launch Bar (just above the Friends List) contain
plugins for the TrayGames Manager.
The Lobby button will start the Lobby Plugin. In here you'll find public chat rooms, where you can meet people, talk about specific games, get technical support, find new players to play a game with, and so on. It's fun and easy, so get into the lobbies and give them a try. Other plugins will become available soon. Just beneath the Friends List is the Status Bar which will routinely display activity status:
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Status Bar
The status bar will routinely display activity status. For example here it is showing that I have 7 friends and 1 pending invitation to a friend that has yet to accept or decline.
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Finally, on the left side of the TrayGames Manager is a tab which will slide out the Games Panel containing your list of games. The Games Panel shows the games that you bought or that are available to you for free. The Games Store (full version coming soon) will allow you to see new games, choose games to demo, and buy full versions of your favorite games.
Games Panel
The Games Panel shows you the games that are available to you. Clicking on the Play icon will allow you to Play a Game. So go play some games and have fun!
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