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readme.txt
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1997-02-21
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GAMER (Game Add-on Manager) developed by Sunstorm Interactive Inc. (1997)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you very much for purchasing a Sunstorm Interactive product. This help
file will aid you through running the GAMER program, as well as provide
helpful information should you come across any problems. Again, we thank you
very much, and hope you enjoy the levels as much as we enjoy bringing them to
you!
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Notes on running GAMER
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE INTERFACE
-----------------------------------
When you start up the GAMER there will be two windows that will appear, and
this is how you select the add-on packs you want to install (ACTIVATE is how
it is referred to in GAMER). The top, larger window will list all the add-on
packs (.SSI files) that you have installed, and for what game they were
developed for. For example:
DUKE NUKEM 3D 1.3D - DUKE IT OUT IN D.C.
The game it is developed for is Duke Nukem 3D version 1.3D, and the add-on
pack is `Duke It Out In D.C.'
The bottom window shows the details of the currently selected add-on pack.
It provides the title of the add-on, the long description, and its current
status (ACTIVATED or NOT ACTIVATED). When you select an add-on and install it,
the red NOT ACTIVATED message will change to a green ACTIVATED message. Easy
enough... right?
Just use the up and down arrows to move between the different add-on packs,
and when you have the one you want to activate or deactivate, then press
<ENTER>. You will be asked if you are sure, select yes to move on. When you
have activated an add-on pack, the white selection bar will change to yellow
when over the activated add-on pack. Plus, the normal text within the menu
for each activated add-on will be green instead of the default white. This
helps you to easily see what you currently have setup on your computer.
NOTES ON ACTIVATING, ETC.
-------------------------
The menu listing all the add-on packs will list every one installed, and for
every game. You can only have ONE add-on pack activated per game, but you can
have more than one add-on pack installed for different games. When you select
to activate an add-on pack for a certain game, GAMER will check to see if any
others are already installed, if they are it deactivates the current one and
then activates the one you selected. If you would like to deactivate an add-on
pack without activating another one, then just hit <ENTER> on the currently
activated add-on, and it will be deactivated and the game returned to normal.
When GAMER puts the new files in your game directory to activate the add-on,
it checks to see if there are any files that currently have the same name for
one of the new files. If it does, it will create a directory called
SSIFILES.BAK and copy those into that directory. When the add-on is
deactivated the files in that directory will be restored, and your game will
be returned to the exact state it was in before you activated the add-on.
MISC. NOTES
-----------
GAMER is a DOS based program. It does, however, run much faster under
Windows 95. It doesn't matter what environment you run it in, so just run it
under the same environment you need to run your game(s) in.
When an add-on pack is being referred to, it may be named add-on pack or
SSI file. They are both the same thing.
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How to remove an add-on pack if you delete GAMER or GAMER fails
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First of all, if you don't try to remove things by hand, and don't delete or
modify files without _absolutely_ understanding what you are doing, then
GAMER should not fail.
Also, if you choose to delete GAMER, then please, please, PLEASE make sure
that you have deactivated _all_ add-on packs before you do this. Otherwise you
run the risk of not being able to recover the original state of your games.
But, it is possible to fix if you do happen to do this. Simply follow these
steps.
1) Re-install GAMER, and whatever add-on pack is currently activated on the
game you need to restore to it's original state.
2) Now, when you enter GAMER, it will not list the add-on as being activated,
but that is OK. Go ahead and activate it. Now, don't chose to play the game.
Remain in GAMER and de-activate the add-on pack. This _should_ restore the
game back to its original state.
3) This can be done to any number of games/add-on packs. After you have done
this, you can remove GAMER safely.
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Problems, fixes, workarounds
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ERROR MESSAGES
--------------
- Err1: GAMER.INI could not be found!
This simply means that the initialization file named GAMER.INI is not in the
same directory as your GAMER.EXE program. Please just leave this file alone,
otherwise you could potentially disable GAMER and you won't be able to
install any of your add-on packs without reinstalling the entire GAMER
software, and even then it might not detect all of your add-ons.
- Err2: Error in GAMER.INI - Invalid directory specified!
This means that you probably moved the location of one of your games, and thus
GAMER can not install the specified add-on pack. Either don't move your games
around, or read the section below on updating your game information.
- Err3: Not enough disk space available to activate the SSI file!
You do not have enough hard drive space to activate the add-on pack. Simply
free up enough disk space and try to activate it again.
- Err4: No SSI files exist!
There are no SSI files installed on your computer. This will usually occur
if you attempt to remove SSI files without properly updating the GAMER.INI
file. Please read about updating your settings below.
- Err5: The currently activated SSI file could not be found!
This means that you activated an SSI file, and then deleted it before you
deactivated it. Shame on you. Go to the section above that tells you about
"How to remove an add-on pack if you delete GAMER or GAMER fails"
It will tell you how to restore you game to it's original settings. In the
future, please deactive an SSI file before you choose to delete it.
QUESTIONS, PROBLEMS
-------------------
-Q GAMER starts to load and then freezes on a blank screen.
-A This occurs when two add-on packs have exactly the same name. The only way
this could happen is if you copied an SSI file to a different name, thus
having the exact same file just with two different FILE names. Simply
remove one of them.
-Q I want to remove an SSI file, how would I go about doing this?
-A Go into the directory where the SSI file is located, and delete the one
that you want to remove.
If it is the only SSI file in that directory, then also remove that
directory. Then, open up GAMER.INI in DOS Edit by typing
EDIT GAMER.INI
You should find the section that refers to your game... for example for
Duke Nukem 3D version 1.3D you would see something like this:
DUKE NUKEM 3D 1.3D
DUKE3D13
NONE
C:\GAMES\DUKE3D\
Remove all four of those lines from the information. Now, go to the
second line in the file, and it should be a number. Just subtract one from
that and replace it. So, simple enough... if it is 3 change it to a 2.
-Q I moved my game directory, and now GAMER can't install for it.
-A You can either move your game back to its original location, or modify
the GAMER.INI file. To modify the GAMER.INI file, open it up in DOS Edit by
typing
EDIT GAMER.INI
Then, look for the section relation to your game. You should see the game
title, a subdirectory for the add-on packs, an add-on pack title (or the
word NONE), and then the directory where your game is located. Just
replace that directory with your new directory. Be sure to include the
drive letter, and make sure that you have the last \ at the end of it.
-Q I installed an add-on pack... and then deleted GAMER, and now I can't get
my original game settings back! How do I fix this?
-A Don't panic. Before you go starting to delete files from your game
directory, this a simple and easy way to restore the original game. Simply
reinstall the GAMER software, and the add-on pack that you last activated
for that game. Then, start up the GAMER software, activate that add-on
pack, and then deactivate it. This _should_ restore your entire game back
to its original settings, provided you didn't modify any files or move
anything around. The best solution is *always* to let GAMER handle the
activation and deactivation of SSI file add-on packs.
Should you continue to experience problems, feel free to contact us and we
will attempt to help you out. Read below to find out how to get support.
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How to get technical support for the GAMER software
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For technical support on GAMER, please contact:
WizardWorks Technical Support
2300 Berkshire Lane North
Plymouth, MN 55441
(612) 559-5301
9am - 5pm Monday-Friday
E-mail
support@wizworks.com
http://www.wizworks.com
Apogee/3D Realms does not provide support for this product.
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Credits
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Watch for more great add-ons from Sunstorm for cutting edge 3D games.
Stop by our website at www.888sunstorm.com to get the latest updates!
The GAMER add-on management program and all documentation was developed by
Charlie Wiederhold. Some artwork in Sunstorm's add-ons are created by 3DI
Software Inc. Stop by and see them at www.3di-soft.com
Duke Nukem is a trademark of 3D Realms Entertainment. All rights reserved.