function gadget:GetInfo()
    return {
        name      = "base spawner",
        desc      = "spawn start units based on config files (rather then on startpos set in lobby)",
        author    = "knorke (inspired by game_spawn.lua by Tobi Vollebregt and reusing parts)",
        date      = "May 2011",
        license   = "GNU GPL, v2 or later or a horse",
        layer     = -9000, --so unitscripts works
        enabled   = true,
    }
end
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- synced only
if (not gadgetHandler:IsSyncedCode()) then
    return false
end
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
luamsgpre = "tpMSGBOX"
local mapconfig_fn = Game.mapName .. "_startpos.lua"        --name of map config files
if (VFS.FileExists(mapconfig_fn)) then
    Spring.Echo ("tp_startbase_spawn.lua: found" .. mapconfig_fn .." in mod root folder or map")
    startpos = VFS.Include(mapconfig_fn)
else
    if (VFS.FileExists("mapconfigs\\" .. mapconfig_fn)) then
        Spring.Echo ("tp_startbase_spawn.lua: found " .. mapconfig_fn .. " in mod mapconfigs folder")
        startpos = VFS.Include("mapconfigs\\" .. mapconfig_fn)
    else
        Spring.Echo ("tp_startbase_spawn.lua: found " .. mapconfig_fn .. " NOT FOUND AT ALL.")
        Spring.Echo ("THIS MAP IS NOT SUPPORTED")
        Spring.SendLuaUIMsg (luamsgpre .. "THIS MAP IS NOT SUPPORTED")
    end
end


function spawn_player (x, z, teamID)
    x, z = 8*math.floor((x+4)/8) , 8*math.floor((z+4)/8)
    y = Spring.GetGroundHeight(x, z)
    local facing = math.abs(Game.mapSizeX/2 - x) > math.abs(Game.mapSizeZ/2 - z)
        and ((x>Game.mapSizeX/2) and "west" or "east")
        or ((z>Game.mapSizeZ/2) and "north" or "south")
    Spring.CreateUnit("tphq", x, y, z, facing, teamID)
    local dx,dz=0,0
    if (facing=="north") then dz=-200 end
    if (facing=="south") then dz=200 end
    if (facing=="west") then dx=-200 end
    if (facing=="east") then dx=200 end
    Spring.CreateUnit("tpgripper", x+dx, y, z+dz, facing, teamID)
    Spring.SetTeamResource(teamID, "ms", 99999999999999999999999)
    local startingmetal=4000
    local modOptions = Spring.GetModOptions()
    if (modOptions) then startingmetal = modOptions.startingmetal or 4000 end
    Spring.SetTeamResource(teamID, "m", startingmetal)
end

--function gadget:GameStart()
function gadget:Initialize()
    --Spring.SendCommands ("cheat") --***
    if (startpos == nil) then Spring.Echo ("tp_startbase_spawn.lua: Did not find startpositions. No units are spawned.") return end
    local gaiaTeamID = Spring.GetGaiaTeamID()
    local i = 1
    local gm = get_game_mode ()
    if (not startpos[gm]) then
        Spring.Echo ("NO SUPPORT FOR THIS MATCH SETUP:" .. gm)
        Spring.SendLuaUIMsg (luamsgpre .. "NO SUPPORT FOR THIS MATCH SETUP:" .. gm)
    end
    for _,teamID in ipairs(Spring.GetTeamList()) do
        if teamID~=gaiaTeamID then -- don't spawn a start unit for the Gaia team
            local teamNum,leader,isDead,isAiTeam,side,allyTeam = Spring.GetTeamInfo(teamID)
            --local x,y,z = Spring.GetTeamStartPosition(teamID)
            local x,z = startpos[gm][i].x, startpos[gm][i].z
            spawn_player (x, z, teamID)
            i=i+1
        end
    end
end

function get_game_mode ()
    teamn = #Spring.GetTeamList() -1
    if teamn == 2 then return "1v1" end
    if teamn == 3 then return "1v1v1" end
    if teamn == 4 then return "4" end
    return "UKNOWN"
end