======================== 3DVX Video Drivers ======================== Overview The drivers files included in this update are the latest 3DVX drivers for Virtual Pool. See the section on driver history for an update history. Also included is the latest chip detection program. These files should be copied into the VPOOL directory. They will overwrite and update any existing files. Virtual Pool has customized 3DVX video drivers for some video graphic chips. These drivers increase drawing performance. Not all chips have the required performance, functionality, or programming information to support a 3DVX driver. We have written drivers for the most popular graphics chips that meet these requirements. Choosing a driver You should choose the driver which provides you with the highest resolution possible and still maintains a rapid update rate. You can turn off the Virtual Pool room background or make the window smaller to increase the frame rate. Higher resolution drivers require more video memory. See the Memory Requirements section below. If you don't know what chip is on your video card, try using auto-detection in the config program. This program is not guaranteed to properly identify all chips. If you can't run with the driver selected by auto-detection, try pulling out your video card and looking for a name and id on the graphics chip. The graphics chip will usually be the largest chip on the board. If a chip specific driver does not work, try the VESA Planar Multi Page driver. If that does not work, use the VESA Linear Single Page driver. If all else fails, use the VGA driver. Memory Requirements Video memory requirements for drivers: 320x240 VGA driver 256 KB 640x480 3DVX chip specific drivers 1 MB 1024x768 3DVX chip specific drivers 2 MB 640x480 VESA Planar Multi Page 1 MB 1024x768 VESA Planar Multi Page 2 MB 640x480 VESA Single Page 512 KB 1024x768 VESA Single Page 1 MB Known Bugs There are hardware bugs in some early versions of the S3801/805 chips. You may see pixels reversed in columns on the screen. The accelerator may not work on some chips. There is no fix for these bugs. The ET4000/W32 Accelerated chip will not work under WINDOWS. If you have a video card with this chip use the non-accelerated driver for Windows. Some Vision 864 and Vision 964 chips do not display the status area in 1024x768 resolution. You can select the "Bug Accel" driver to get around this problem. The status area text will be a touch ragged but the game play area will look fine. Driver History Date Driver Update Description 6/14 MET4HA.D Original 1024x768 ET4000/W32 Accelerated driver. 6/14 MVESA1M.D Original 640x480 VESA Single Page driver. 6/14 MVESA1H.D Original 1024x768 VESA Single Page driver. 6/19 MVESA1M.D Bug fix for crashes when chat messages were received. 6/19 MVESA1H.D Bug fix for crashes when chat messages were received. 8/9 MS38HA.D Original 1024x768 S3 Vision 864 Accel driver. 8/9 MS38BHA.D Original 1024x768 S3 Vision 864 Bug Accel driver. Has a work around for 864 chips that don't display the status area. 8/9 MS39HA.D Original 1024x768 S3 Vision 964/968 Accel driver. 8/9 MS39BHA.D Original 1024x768 S3 Vision 964/968 Bug Accel driver. Has a work around for 864 chips that don't display the status area. 8/9 MS39TA.D Original 1024x768 S3 Vision Trio 32/64 Accel driver. 8/9 MARKMA.D Original 640x480 ARK 1000/2000 driver. Miscellaneous The movie player uses a VESA mode. If you can't play movies and get a message that the graphics mode can't be set, try installing a VESA driver for your board or an after market driver such as UNIVESA. Support If there isn't a driver for your board, let us know by posting a message on the Interplay BBS. If we get a sufficient number of requests for a chip, we'll try to write a driver for it. ISA graphics boards will not be supported because they lack the necessary performance for Virtual Pool at high resolution. Problems? Call Interplay Technical Support at 714.553.6678 or call one of the services listed below: ======================== Interplay BBS ======================== Interplay operates a Multi-Line BBS running WildCat! Software for Customer Support, Questions, and game fixes. The number is 714-252-2822. Modem settings are 300-28.8k, V.32, V.42, 8-N-1. This is a FREE service. After logging onto the Interplay BBS, join the Virtual Pool Conference, (conference 7). To do this from the MAIN MENU, first type "M" to switch to the MESSAGE MENU, then type "J" for "JOIN," then enter "7" to join Conference 7. Once you have switched to the Virtual Pool Conference you can (R)ead Messages left by others, (E)nter New Messages to our resident Virtual Pool Expert, and even download additional trick shots, (if you have the CD-ROM version of Virtual Pool). To Download Files, join Conference 7 as described above, type "F" for the FILES MENU, and then enter "L" to LIST the available files in this area. ======================== IMPORTANT NOTE ======================== Different File Areas are available depending on which Conference you are currently in. If you're looking for Virtual Pool files, be sure to (J)oin Conference 7 BEFORE you enter the (F)ile Area. ======================== America Online ======================== From AOL you can e-mail Interplay Customer Support at IPTECH. To reach our customer board in the Industry Connection, press CTRL-K for "Go to Keyword." Then type INTERPLAY in the keyword window. In addition to reading and leaving messages, you can download fixes and demos from the "Software Libraries." ======================== CompuServe ======================== On CompuServe we are located in the Game Publishers B Forum. Just type GO GAMEPUB at any ! prompt. Then select section 4 for Interplay Productions. You can leave technical support questions there. You can also download fixes and demos from Library 4 in the GAMEPUB. The best place for game play hints is in the GAMERS forum, (type GO GAMERS). If you are not already a CompuServe member, you can call CompuServe toll- free at 1-800-524-3388 and ask Representative #354 for a free introductory membership and a $15 usage credit. ======================== GEnie ======================== We are located in the Games RoundTable hosted by Scorpia. To get there, type M805;1 at any ? prompt. Then select "Category 13" for Interplay Productions. Demos and patches are available in the Libraries. ============================================== Prodigy (r) Interactive Personal Service ============================================== You may send e-mail directly to us from Prodigy at ID PLAY99B. ======================== Internet ======================== You can reach Interplay Technical Support over the Internet by addressing e-mail to: support@interplay.com Many Interplay demos and patches are also available at Internet FTP sites.