Classic Fond 54/ClassicFond54.iso/games/stars.rar/readme.txt

Text File | 1999-02-23 | 29KB | 651 lines

Starsiege
1.0
Readme File
2/23/99

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About This Document:
Thank you for purchasing Starsiege.
This document contains last-minute information about Starsiege and other
troubleshooting information not found in the manual. This README file
includes information pertinent to general problems and questions you may have
concerning this software or your computer. Should you experience any problems
with Starsiege, please refer to this file for additional help in answering
questions about the game and solving technical difficulties.
***********************************************************************

I: System Compatibility
II: OpenGL
III: Internet Service Provider
IV: Updates and Patches
V: Hosting A Game
VI: Network Performance Tuning
VII: Known Problems
VIII: Troubleshooting
IX: Contacting Sierra
X: Technical Support
XI: Warranty and Legal Information

Thank you for Purchasing Starsiege, the ultimate in giant mechanized combat!

I: System Compatibility

These are the minimum machine requirements needed to run Starsiege:
Pentium 166, 32 MB RAM with 3D Graphics Accelerator
Pentium 200, 32 MB RAM without a Graphics Accelerator
324MB Hard Disk space (full install)
264MB Hard Disk space (Buddy install)

Platforms:
Windows 95/98 w/DirectX6
Windows NT 4.0 w/Service Pack 4

Hardware Requirements:
LAN Card or minimum 28.8 kps modem, 4x CD-ROM
2D Graphics Card:
DirectDraw compatible card (minimum SVGA 640x480 @ 256 colors)
3D Graphics Card:
3Dfx Glide compatible 3D accelerator (recommended), or OpenGL
compatible card (see below for more information on OpenGL)
Sound Card Support:
DirectSound and Directsound3D compatible sound cards

Peripheral Support:
Mouse, Keyboard, Joystick, or any compatible DirectInput device

Network Support:
Internet, TCP/IP, IPX, minimum 28.8 Kbps modem

Starsiege requires DirectX to run properly on Windows 95/98. If you already
have DirectX, you may elect not to re-install it. Should you decide to
install it at a later time, run the dxsetup program located in the DirectX
folder on the Starsiege Disk #1. If you are running Windows NT 4.0, you must
have Service Pack 3 installed. If you do not have Service Pack 3 (or greater)
installed, you will need to download it from WWW.MICROSOFT.COM.

We recommend that you configure Windows with at least 200mb of virtual memory
before running Starsiege.

II: OpenGL

Starsiege supports OpenGL on video cards that use the nVidia Riva TNT
chipset. By the time you read this, other cards will be supported. Please see
www.starsiegeplayers.com for details.

To use OpenGL on a Riva TNT based card, you must have the latest drivers.
Currently these are the Detonator drivers located in the "\Extras\TNT
Detonator Drivers" folder on Starsiege Disk #1. To install the Detonator
drivers, double-click on the "tnt_detonator.exe" application (in the
aforementioned folder), and follow the on-screen instructions very carefully.

To run Starsiege in OpenGL mode, go to the Options screen from the Main Menu.
In the "Full Screen Mode" drop-down box, select "OpenGL". From the "3D
Hardware Type" drop-down box, select the chipset used on your video card.

If you experience problems running Starsiege in OpenGL, try reducing the
color depth of your desktop from 32 bit (True Color) to 16 bit (65536
colors), using the "Settings" tab in the "Display Properties" control panel.

If you are using OpenGL under Windows 95 and have your taskbar set to "Always
On Top" (which is the default), you will experience problems IF your taskbar
has been placed at the top of the desktop or at the left of the desktop.  The
solution is to drag your taskbar to the bottom of your desktop, or uncheck
the "Always On Top" box that is located in the "Taskbar Properties" dialog
box, which is available from the Settings menu in the Start menu.

III: Internet Server Provider

To enjoy Starsiege fully, you must be connected to the Internet via a
reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you do not currently have an
ISP, install the AT&T WorldNet(R) Service provided on the CD-ROM by running
the Starsiege setup program.

IV: Updates and Patches

Running the Auto-Update program from the Starsiege Start menu will check
automatically for any patches or updates to the game. You must be connected
to the Internet for this program to work correctly. We also recommend you
check the Starsiege web site at www.starsiegeplayers.com for the latest
information.

V: Hosting A Game

Hosting a game with more than a few players takes a fair amount of bandwidth.
Hosting over a 28.8 modem connection is not recommended. By default, all
hosted games are visible only to a network running the TCP/IP protocol such
as the Internet or a LAN. If you are connected to a LAN running only the IPX
protocol, you must select the IPX protocol from the connection type box in
the Create Game menu. Those of you with faster Internet connections may wish
to run dedicated servers. Information on how to configure and run a dedicated
server is included in the game manual.

There are two ways you can host a server: (1) by creating awhile running the
game normally, or (2) by creating a dedicated console server from the Windows
Start Menu or the MS-DOS command prompt. Because it doesn't have to draw
graphics, a dedicated console server requires far less computing resources
than a non-dedicated server. For this reason, dedicated servers may handle
many more players than non-dedicated servers. A single fast machine can
usually host 3-4 dedicated servers simultaneously.

When you are hosting a non-dedicated server (one you create from the user
interface), players who join your server may experience lag whenever you
perform operations (e.g. go into the vehicle lab) that cause your computer to
pause the game in order to load resources. For this reason, it is a good idea
to set up all the vehicle configurations you will use before creating a non-
dedicated server.

Starsiege multiplayer servers can run a single mission for up to 24 hours
(1440 minutes). If you set up a server to run a mission for more than 1440
minutes, it will automatically time out after 1440 minutes.
In a multiplayer game with a mass limit set, the maximum tonnage displayed in
the vehicle lab will be the lesser of the vehicle's maximum tonnage OR the
server mass limit.

V: Network Performance Tuning

If you have a reliable connection to your ISP, but are still experiencing
packet loss and lag in the game, you can use a Packet Rate option to help
tune the game. To adjust the packet rate, go to the Options-General screen.
We recommend that you decrease the packet rate if you are experiencing
problems. See Section 4: Modem Connection Problems, below, for more
information.

VII: Known Issues
Here is a list of some of the known problems and interactions with other
programs.
You cannot run Starsiege with the Windows Display Properties dialog box
present on your desktop. Please close the Display Properties dialog box
before running Starsiege.

Problems related to CD-ROM drivers can occur in Starsiege. If you experience
music not playing, jerky movies, or distorted sound, please make sure you
have the most up-to-date CD-ROM drivers from your manufacturer.

If Starsiege freezes for no apparent reason, try ejecting and reinserting the
CD-ROM. If this action succeeds in fixing the problem, you should make sure
you have the latest CD-ROM drivers.

Some machines experience significant game pauses when the CD-ROM drive
switches audio tracks. Note that you may turn off CD audio music in the
Options screen (available from the Main Menu).

Some machines experience crackling sound during gameplay. There may be
several possible causes. Make sure you have the most recent drivers for your
sound card AND video card (especially if you have a 3DFX Voodoo1 card). If
you use A3D, get the latest drivers form www.a