AMERICAN CIVIL WAR VERSION 2.00 - 5/2/97 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- README.TXT ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This contains the latest information about the current version of American Civil War from Interactive Magic. If you have additional problems or questions, contact Interactive Magic customer support as described in the game manual. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTALLATION The American Civil War Setup program allows two installation options. A 'typical' installation puts all game and multimedia files on your hard disk. This includes a full introduction to each scenario and various ending sequences. This installation requires about 58 MB (megabytes) of hard disk space. You can also select a 'compact' or minimal installation, which places an abbreviated introduction on your hard drive, with no other opening or ending sequences. This option requires about 23 MB of hard disk space. The 'custom' option simply shows these options in more detail. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SAVED GAME FILE FORMAT When you save a game, you MUST insure that the last four characters in the saved-game file name are: .ACW Overall, the filename cannot be longer than 12 characters, the first 1-8 characters being any combination of letters, numbers, and the _ character, and the last four always being .ACW . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CD-AUDIO MUSIC The American Civil War features a CD quality soundtrack. The soundtrack can be accessed directly off the CD through the game 'Settings' menu or through a standard CD audio player. Please note that tracks 1 and 2 are not to be played and should be skipped during playback. Due to compatibility issues in certain rare hardware environments, this music is initially OFF. Simply select "Settings" and the "Music" option to view the CD dialog that includes both sound effects and music controls. On some Windows 3.1 based systems, the CD player included with American Civil War may not function correctly. In this event, any Windows audio CD player can be used to listen to the music while playing the game. Remember to skip the first track. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ERROR MESSAGE: "Cannot write to device driver AUX Error" On certain system configurations running under Windows 3.1/3.11, this message may appear after the multimedia introductory sequence. Just click on the "Cancel" button and the game will continue normally. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ENSONIQ SOUNDSCAPE DRIVERS American Civil War may have difficulty running its multimedia sequences on Ensoniq SoundScape audio cards with older drivers. This problem can be fixed by updating the Windows sound drivers to at least version 2.00.27. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OPTIMUM SYSTEM CONFIGURATION American Civil War is both Windows 3.1 (or 3.11) and Windows 95 compatible. However, like many Windows programs, it runs more efficiently if certain Windows options are selected. The optimal video mode is 640x480 pixels with 256 ('8-bit') color. A 16-bit or better sound card will dramatically enhance the audio quality, especially the multimedia portions of the game. We strongly advise you to have at least 16 MB (megabytes) of RAM, more if you normally use 16-bit ("hi-color") or 24-bit ("true color") as your preferred graphics environment. Additional virtual memory, which is the default configuration for Windows, always helps (see "Memory & Resources" below for details). Note that more than 256 colors or resolution beyond 640x480 is adds nothing to American Civil War, and in many cases may make your game run more slowly! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- COLORS IN WINDOWS 3.1 Due to unchangeable limits in Windows 3.1 system resources, American Civil War may not run if you have Windows set to display more than 256 colors at one time. To determine how many colors are being displayed, and perhaps change it, you must locate the display driver controls that most systems install somewhere in Windows 3.1 (unlike Windows 95, there is no standard location). Typically the controls for such drivers are either found in the "Main" program group, in the "Accessories" program group, or in a separate program group. The control program usually has a title related to either the name or manufacturer of the display board. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MEMORY & RESOURCES Extremely slow operation with long periods of hard disk activity, and in extreme cases an "Out of Resource Error" message, can often be improved or solved with a few simple practices. Incidentally, these practices are useful in improving speed in many Windows applications, not just American Civil War. First, make sure all other Windows applications are closed before loading American Civil War. This is the single easiest and most useful technique to increase resources and speed. Second, expand the amount of overall memory available by insuring you have sufficient "virtual memory." Virtual memory uses extra hard drive space as extra memory. Therefore, virtual memory only works if you have free hard drive space at least equal to the virtual memory needed. If you have an 8 MB machine, we recommend at least 12 MB of hard drive space kept free for virtual memory. If you have a 16 MB machine, we find as little as 4-5 MB is fine. If your resolution is higher than 640x480, add at least 1-2 MB for each resolution increment increase. For each increase in colors, add at least 4 MB. If you use Windows, the default virtual memory system is so good that only expert users need to change any settings. To see if your Windows 95 is using the default system, select the "Start" button (normally on the lower left corner), the "Settings," then "Control Panel," which opens the Control Panel window. Double-click on the "System" icon, select the "Performance" tab option, then the "Virtual Memory" button. You want the "Let Windows manage my virtual memory..." option. Deselect "Let me specify my own virtual memory settings" unless you are confident of your ability to manage virtual memory directly. When you're done, just click "OK." Windows 3.1/3.11 has a less convenient virtual memory system. It is well worth the trouble to check the setting and insure sufficient memory is present for quick operation, especially on 8 MB RAM machines. To investigate virtual memory in Windows 3.11, double-click on the "Main" program group, then double-click on "Control Panel" which normally is found inside "Main." Then double-click on "Enhanced" or "386 Enhanced" (the name varies), then click on "Virtual Memory." Examine the "Swapfile Settings." The "Size:" indicates the current maximum size of your virtual memory. Every 1,000 KB equals 1 MB. With an 8 MB RAM machine, you will probably need to increase the size setting. Simply click the "Change" button and enter a new value in the highlighted area. Then click on the "OK" buttons until you return to the normal Windows. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MAIL PLAY DETAILS In mail play, both players must agree to the setup choices. To play any mail turn, quit any existing games and return to Windows Then load American Civil War and select the proper setup choices. Except for the initial Union player startup (see below), select "Saved Game" and load the appropriate saved game received from your opponent. The Union player starts all mail games. He must select the correct starting year (1861, 1862 or 1863), and must make the correct setup choices. He then gives orders for his first turn (week). Instead of selecting "Execute" (which is unavailable), he selects "Save Game" and enters a saved-game name. As noted above, the save game name cannot exceed 12 characters, and the last four characters must be .ACW . At this point, the Union player quits the game and sends the files to his or her opponent. The files to be sent are in the game directory (C:\I-Magic\CivilWar by default). The files can be copied onto a floppy and sent by traditional mail, transmitted by modem, or sent by e-mail (electronic mail). The files that must be sent are: [savename].ACW [savename].ACM battle.TXT where "[savename]" is name used when the files were saved. In a game with no battles yet, battle.TXT may not exist. If this file doesn't exist yet, just send the .ACW and .ACM files. In rare cases, Windows 95 may follow instructions from other software to hide certain file types. This could cause problems finding the files above. To prevent this, when using a Windows 95 program (such as Windows Explorer) to find and move files, select the "View" menu, then select "Options," then make sure there is NO checkmark in front of the option "Hide MS-DOS file extensions for file types that are registered." Incidentally, the best way to send files by e-mail is as "attached" files. It is also wise to mention in the letter itself the [savename] used above, as a convenience to your opponent. When you receive game files, copy them into your game directory (C:\I-Magic\CivilWar by default), load the game, select "Saved Game" and select the appropriate [savename].ACW file. The other files load automatically. When you load a mail game file, you actually receive the results of the last turn and (still hidden to you) enemy orders for the current turn. First select "Playback" from the Game menu to see movement and battles on the previous turn. Due to the complexity of activities and game logic, playback only shows major battles. Naval battles, fortress attacks, and other activities occur properly, but no special messages announcing them appear on the screen. Intensity options and analysis details are not available for any playback battle. Once you've seen the playback of the previous turn, you can now issue orders for the current turn, execute that turn, issue orders for the next turn, then save the game and send it to your opponent. If the saved-game you received was the Union player's first move, there is no previous turn, and thus no playback. In that case, just issue orders, execute the turn, issue orders again, save and send. Note that this mail play method means you relinquish intensity options and certain messages during your "playback" turn (the turn your opponent "executed"). This is a deliberate design choice because game play becomes at least 200% and often 300% faster, compared to traditional methods. ----------------------------------------------------------------------