****************************************************************************** Powerslide patch, version 1.04 Copyright + 1998-1999 Ratbag Pty Ltd www.ratbaggames.com ****************************************************************************** This is a patch for Powerslide, which can be used to create Powerslide version 1.04 from versions 1.01, 1.02 or 1.03. The previously released patch was version 1.01 - versions 1.02 and 1.03 were not made available as patches. As of this version, there is no longer any distinction between the US/Australian and European versions of Powerslide. This patch can be applied to either installation. Note that if you have version 1.00 (the original release version), you must first apply the version 1.01 patch, before applying this patch. You must use the version of the 1.01 patch which is appropriate to the version of Powerslide you have (eg US/Australian or European). If you don't know which version 1.01 patch to apply, use the European one. 1. Added features 2. Bugs fixed 3. Command line options ****************************************************************************** 1. Added features (since v1.01) ****************************************************************************** - Added the ability to perform GameGauge speed-profiling tests, via a command-line option. - Support for higher resolution modes on the Banshee and Voodoo3 graphics cards. ****************************************************************************** 2. Bugs fixed (since v1.01) ****************************************************************************** - Voodoo3 cards are now detected as a Glide card, not a Banshee. This means that specular will work on a Voodoo3. - Problem with HRESULT errors on certain sound cards. - Problems with European copy protection not recognising certain types of CD drives. - Problems with the European copy protection crashing on some machines. - A command-line option to fix slow mouse movement on certain video cards. ****************************************************************************** 3. Command line options ****************************************************************************** This version includes a large number of new command line options. Most of these new options are used to perform GameGauge tests, or to set graphics options from the command line so that GameGauge scripts can be written. Command line options can be entered on the command line, or placed into the ps_clo.txt file in the Powerslide installation directory. A utility (ps_clo.exe) is provided to make it simple to edit this text file. A shortcut to this utility is in the Start Menu under the Powerslide group. The full list of Powerslide command-line options is: ****************************************************************************** GAMEGAUGE OPTIONS -ggfps This makes Powerslide do a GameGauge fixed demo loop, of the dam track. Powerslide will jump straight to the demo when run, execute the demo, output the results file, and then quit. You can press a key or mouse button during the execution of the demo to quit it early; the results file is still written for the amount of demo played. This (ie the dam track) is what we recommend is used for the GameGauge tests. However, if you wish to try a different track for comparison, the command line option is: -ggfpst Where is the name of the track to perform the demo on. This can be one of: speedway sandblaster urban dam mineshafted The approximate lengths of the demos (in seconds) are: speedway 58 sandblaster 71 urban 95 dam 48 mineshafted 105 Note that while you do need the Powerslide CD to be in the drive to actually run a race, you *DON'T* need the CD in order to run the profiling demo test. If the CD is present while running the profiling demo, then the CD music will be played, which might effect the frame rate. The GameGauge results file is called fps.txt, and is placed into the Powerslide installation directory. The format of this file is something like: 67.63 Powerslide v1.03 45 Min 100 Max 46 Second 1 ... The 67.63 is the average frame rate of the demo. The 45 and 100 on the Min and Max lines specify the minimum and maximum frame rates respectively. Finally, the '46 Second 1' line is repeated a number of times, showing the frame rate every second as the demo runs. These numbers are all calculated using the method which GameGauge requires. ****************************************************************************** GRAPHICS OPTIONS -forced3d As explained in the original readme file, forces Powerslide to use Direct3D, even if a Glide card is installed. -forceglide2 Also as explained in the original readme file, forces Powerslide to use the generic Glide graphics driver, even if a Banshee is detected. If a Banshee is detected, a different texture management system is used. At the time of this build, the latest available Banshee drivers still do not support multibase texturing, and so use of the -forceglide2 switch if you have a Banshee still produces a corrupted display. -res x (eg -res 640x480, or -res 1600x1200) This sets the resolution for rendering. Powerslide supports any resolution that the video card can support. If the resolution specified on the command line is not supported, the resolution is either set to a 'close' one, or is unchanged from the previous setting. -bpp Sets the desired bits-per-pixel for rendering. 16 or 32 are the usual choices. If you use -bpp without also using -res, the resolution will be set to 640x480 (at the desired bpp, if available). If you use -res without using -bpp, it will be set to 16bit (if available). -shadows Specifies whether to render shadows. should be 1 to render shadows, or 0 to not render shadows. -particles Specifies whether to render particles. = 1 to render particles, 0 to not. -trilinear Specifies whether or not to do trilinear filtering, on a Direct3D card. Under Glide, if trilinear is supported (ie a Voodoo 2 or 3 is being used), then trilinear filtering will be used automatically. = 1 to do trilinear filtering, 0 to not. -specular Specifies whether or not to put specular highlights on the cars. This is only supported on the Voodoo 2 and 3. = 1 to do specular highlights, 0 to not. -allow_d3d_3dfx Allows the use of secondary 3DFX video cards under Direct3D. This is most useful for comparing a 3DFX video card with a non-3DFX card in a GameGauge test. By running both cards under Direct3D, the tests both run the same Powerslide code, meaning that any speed differences are a result of the graphics card alone. -d3ddevice Specifies which device out of those enumerated by Direct3D to use. If is 0, the primary device is used, if it is 1, the secondary, and so on if other devices exist in your configuration. If this command-line option is not used, and -ggfps *is* used, then the demo will always default to the primary display device (if running under Direct3D). -autodetect Forces Powerslide to re-autodetect the optimal graphics driver based on your hardware configuration. -glide2vsync Forces the Glide 2.x graphics driver to wait for the vertical refresh. -d3dflip If using Direct3D, forces the code to wait for the card's vertical retrace. May remedy problems with certain cards. -d3d_3buf Sets whether the Direct3D graphics driver should perform triple buffering. should be 1 to perform triple buffering, 0 to not. -ddemulation Uses DirectDraw emulation for the game interface, which fixes the problem with slow mouse movement on certain video cards. ****************************************************************************** SOUND OPTIONS -nopollsound Due to incompatibilities between the beta and release drivers for the EAX sound card, the notification-driven sound system used in Powerslide 1.00 does not work with EAX sound cards (with release drivers). Therefore as of v1.01 a less efficient polling sound system is used. The -nopollsound option can be used to re-enable the more efficient notification-driven sound system, but will cause problems if you have an EAX sound card. -eaxfactor Can be used to change the level of reverb if you have an EAX sound card. The reverb levels are multiplied by , recommended values are between 0.5 and 3.0. ****************************************************************************** MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS -fflevel Can be used to increase the amount of force-feedback delivered if you have a force-feedback device. is an integer in the range 0 to 10; 0 means the default level of force, and 10 means 3.5 times the force. ****************************************************************************** Powerslide + 1998 Ratbag Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Published and Distributed by GT Interactive Software Corp. GT and the GT Games Logo are trademarks and the GT Logo is a registered trademark of GT Interactive Software Corp. Powerslide, Ratbag, the Ratbag logo, and the Difference Engine are trademarks.