Welcome to NBA Live 99 for Windows(r) 95/98 DEMO VERSION. Contents: 1) General 2) Running the demo 3) Gameplay controls 4) Performance Issues and Trouble shooting a)Memory Tips b)Video Tips c)Sound System Tips d)Game Controller Tips e)CD-ROM Tips f)3D Accelerator Tips g)Gameplay Performance Tips 5)System requirements a)Minimum requirements b)Recommended requirements c)Multi-Player requirements d)Supported 3-D graphic accelerators e)Supported input devices =========================================================== 1) General =========================================================== IMPORTANT! The graphics for NBA Live 99 establish a new level of quality previously unseen in a PC basketball game. To achieve this, we have taken advantage of the power of the newest high-speed CPUs. We recognize that not everyone has one of these powerful machines, so we have included numerous graphics detail options that allow the game to be enjoyed on slower machines. We strongly recommend that you experiment with these options to find a display speed that lets you enjoy the game to its fullest. =========================================================== 2) Running the demo =========================================================== To run the NBA Live 99 demo, go to the directory in which you installed the demo. Double-click on NBAWIN.EXE to run the standard software version. If you have a 3D accelerator card supporting the 3Dfx Voodoo or Rush chipsets, double-click on NBA3DFX.BAT to run the 3D accelerated version. =========================================================== 3) Gameplay controls =========================================================== Default gameplay controls DEFAULT GAMEPLAY CONTROLS It's best to play NBA Live 99 with a controller with ten buttons, such as the Gravis GamePad(tm) Pro. The default controller options are listed here. In addition to your gamepad, you can select from 2 default keyboard configurations (i.e., Keyboard 1 or 2). Many of the controls are user- defined so that you customize your keyboard controls. EA TIP If you're using a two or four-button controller, assign the main functions like SHOOT and PASS to the buttons. You can assign other controls to the keyboard as a secondary controller. General game controls: GENERAL ACTION GAMEPAD KEYBOARD 1/2 2-BUTTON JOYSTICK Move player D-Pad Arrow keys/ Move joystick DirectPass/Switch mode Button 5 User-defined Turbo (player runs faster) Button 6 User-defined Playcalling mode Button 9 + User-defined button assigned to set/play Pause game Button 10 Escape TIP-OFF Jump Button 4 Right Shift Button 2 OFFENSE-WITH THE BALL ACTION GAMEPAD KEYBOARD 1/2 2-BUTTON Crossover dribble Button 1 User-defined Pass Button 2 Control Button 1 (press cont. to choose receiver) Shoot Button 3 Right Shift Button 2 DirectPass Button 5 User-defined DirectShoot Button 7 User-defined (control dunk or layup) Fake moves Button 8 + User-defined appropriate button Call for a pick (tap) Button 9 User-defined DirectPass Button 5 + to a specific player Button 1-4 DirectShoot (near basket) Button 7 + Button 1-4 Jump for rebound or tip-in Button 4 OFFENSE-WITHOUT THE BALL (PLAYER LOCK ENABLED) ACTION GAMEPAD KEYBOARD 1/2 2BUTTON Make computer Button 1 User-defined Ball handler shoot Call for pass from Button 2 Control Button 1 Ball handler Hand check Button 3 Right/LeftShift Button 2 Post up when near the basket Button 7 User-defined Jump to rebound or Button 4 User-defined tip-in after shot DEFENSE ACTION GAMEPAD KEYBOARD 1/2 2-BUTTON Steal Button 1 User-defined Switch players (press to choose player) Button 2 Control Button 1 Hand check Button 3 User-defined (Button 6=hard hand check) Jump to rebound/block shot Button 4 Shift Button 2 Face up your opponent Button 8 User-defined To DirectSwitch to a defender Button 5 + Button 1-4 To switch to the defender nearest the basket, press Button 7. =========================================================== 4) PERFORMANCE ISSUES AND TROUBLESHOOTING =========================================================== ----------------------------------------------------------- a) Memory Tips ----------------------------------------------------------- > WINDOWS 95/98 MEMORY NBA Live 99 requires 32 MB RAM and Virtual Memory Enabled. We advise that you let Windows 95/Windows 98 manage the amount of virtual memory automatically (the default setting), and that you have at least 70 MB free hard disk space after installation. ----------------------------------------------------------- b) Video Tips ----------------------------------------------------------- > WINDOWS 95/98 VIDEO PROBLEMS Choppy or stuttering video or audio problems while running in Windows 95/98 may be corrected by adjusting the CD-ROM read-ahead caching. This option is available by right-clicking on your local drive, selecting Properties, then Performance, File System, CD-ROM and choosing "Optimize access pattern for quad-speed or higher" from the menu. The "Supplemental Cache Size" should be set to minimum. Setting this to maximum will not improve performance in NBA LIVE 99, and may actually harm performance by reserving RAM that would otherwise be available for the game. >Diamond Viper Pro You may experience problems with the Diamond Viper Pro video card with some of EA's games. If you are experiencing difficulties, you can disable PCI burst mode transfers in your PC's BIOS setup. If your PC's BIOS does not have this feature, Diamond supplies a utility that you can use to disable PCI burst mode transfers. If you have access to the Internet, you can download the utility at Diamond's FTP site at ftp://ftp.diamondmm.com/pub/misc/burst.exe. >Oak Driver Package 6.01 We have experienced problems using Oak Driver Package 6.01 with NBA LIVE 99. Avoid using this version of the driver package. Use Oak Driver Package Version 4.01 for best results. >Tseng Labs W32p PCI Video Card We have experienced poor performance problems using the Microsoft provided "Tseng Labs ET4000/W32 PCI" drivers with NBA LIVE 99. We recommend that you use the latest Tseng Labs provided "Tseng Labs ET4000/W32 PCI" drivers for better results. >Trident TGUI9680 Video Card With this Trident card, we have experienced problems with the driver installed by DirectX 6. Please use your standard Trident TGUI9680 driver for better results. >Sierra Screamin 3D PCI Drivers We have experienced problems when NBA LIVE 99 is run with the "Sierra Screamin'3D PCI" v.4.03.00.9001-1.13 driver. This can be taken care of when DirectX 6.0 is installed. At that time, DirectX 6 will prompt you to replace the existing drivers with the Certified "Rendition Verite 100" drivers (which work with NBA LIVE 99). Direct X6 will recommend that you choose YES and replace your existing drivers. This will correct the problem. If you choose not to replace the drivers, you will continue to experience problems running NBA LIVE 99. Keep in mind that this only happens with the driver listed above. If you use the more recent driver "Sierra Screamin'3D PCI" v.4.03.00.9001-2.10.06, the game will work properly. ----------------------------------------------------------- c) Sound Tips ----------------------------------------------------------- > WINDOWS 95/98 SOUND >NBA Live 99 requires a sound card with DirectSound support. If your sound card driver does not have DirectSound support you may experience choppy or stuttering sound, or sound that cuts in and out. If your sound card driver does not support DirectSound, we recommend obtaining updated drivers from your sound card manufacturer. INSTALLED SOUND CARD, BUT THERE IS NO SOUND - Make sure your speakers or headphones are plugged into the appropriate jack and the volume control is turned up. GENERAL SOUND CARD INFORMATION - During DirectX installation, the DirectX setup program will attempt to install a sound driver which has DirectSound support for your sound card. If your sound card driver does not support DirectSound, the DirectX setup program will attempt to replace your existing sound card driver. Please consult your sound card manufacturer for updated drivers if DirectSound drivers are not available for your sound card in DirectX 6.0. ----------------------------------------------------------- d) Game Controller Tips ----------------------------------------------------------- A Microsoft compatible mouse is required to navigate through the front end screens and menus of NBA LIVE 99. It is also required to operate the Pause Menu and Instant Replay during gameplay. >GRAVIS GAMEPAD AND 4 BUTTON CONTROLLERS Although NBA Live 99 supports multiple buttons when using a single controller, you are limited to 2-button support when using two gamepads (or other 4-button controllers) with a Y-cable adapter. Joystick Calibration in Windows 95/Windows 98 You must calibrate your joystick from the Control Panel for the joystick to be recognized within the game. To install or calibrate your joystick in Windows 95/Windows 98, access the Control Panel, and launch the Game Controllers applet. Note that some gaming devices use their own applets or software for installation and calibration. Gravis GrIP Users - Make sure the Gravis MultiPort is connected to the joystick port correctly. - Make sure the Gravis MultiPort switch is in the left position for GrIP support. - Make sure that the Gravis GrIP drivers are installed. If they are not, please refer to your GrIP documentation for installation instructions. - Make sure that the Gravis GrIP controls are calibrated under Windows 95/Windows 98 >To calibrate the Gravis GrIP in Windows 95/Windows 98: To install or calibrate your joystick in Windows 95/Windows 98, access the Control Panel, and launch the Game Controllers applet. Once the steps are complete the green light should activate on the left wing of the Gravis MultiPort. NOTE: In Windows 95/Windows 98, the Gravis GrIP requires the Gameport Input/Output range to be set to 0201-0201. Otherwise, the GrIP may stop functioning after the current use upon rebooting, and you may need to re-install the Gameport and GrIP drivers. To set your joystick Input/Output Range: 1. From the Control Panel, choose the System icon. 2. Select the Device Manager tab and double-click the Sound, video and game controllers option. 3. Double-click the Gameport Joystick option and select the Resources tab. 4. Make sure the "Use Automatic settings" checkbox is cleared and select the Change Setting button. 5. Change the Input/Output range to 0201-0201. Some Plug and Play sound cards do not allow this setting to be modified. Please contact your sound card manufacturer or Gravis for a resolution. For best results when using any Gravis product, obtain the latest Gravis GrIP drivers from Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd. at http://www.gravis.com. ----------------------------------------------------------- e) CD-ROM Tips ----------------------------------------------------------- > CD-ROM REQUIREMENTS A quad-speed or faster CD-ROM drive is required to run NBA Live 99. Receive "File not found" error message when installing or running the game - Make sure that the CD is in the CD drive. The CD must be in the drive to install or run the game. - Make sure that the CD is not scratched or damaged. > CD-ROM Performance Problems Be sure that you are using a 32-bit native Windows 95/Windows 98 driver to control your CD-ROM drive. These drivers can be configured from the Device Manager in the Control Panel>System Properties. Do not use a DOS-based 16-bit driver (loaded in CONFIG.SYS) to control your CD-ROM. Performance may be significantly reduced. Choppy or stuttering video or audio These problems may be improved by adjusting the CD-ROM read-ahead cache. To adjust the read-ahead cache: 1. At the Windows 95/Windows 98 desktop, right-click the 'My Computer' icon, then choose Properties from the pop-up menu. 2. Click the Performance tab, then click File System 3. Click the CD-ROM tab, then click in the Optimize access pattern for: box, and choose QUAD-SPEED OR HIGHER. 4. Move the Supplemental cache size: slider to SMALL, then click Apply. >WINDOWS CD-ROM SETUP Ensure that you are using 32-bit native Windows 95/98 drivers to control your CDROM drive. These drivers can be configured from the Control Panel of Windows 95/98. Do not use a DOS-based 16-bit driver (loaded in CONFIG.SYS) to control your CD-ROM. Performance may be significantly reduced. ----------------------------------------------------------- f) 3-D Accelerator Tips ----------------------------------------------------------- Some Direct3D cards do not support as many features as others. Sometimes it is a limitation of the card, but sometimes it is a limitation of the drivers. If something is not working properly, try updating your drivers first. If your video card manufacturer does not have newer drivers available, you can also check with the chipset manufacturer (example: 3DFX, 3D Labs, etc.). If there are still some things not working right, you may try disabling the corresponding Details setting(s) from the menu within the game. If this doesn't address the problems, contact EA Technical Support. If you don't see the name of your card in the 3Dsetup program, it is not directly supported by the game (although you aren't prevented from using it). If you experience video problems, you may try disabling Details from the menu within the game, or running the game in Software rendering mode. >VOODOO GRAPHICS BOARDS NBA LIVE 99 requires that you have the Glide run time drivers for the Voodoo Graphics chipset installed on your system. If you do not have the Glide run time drivers for the Voodoo Graphics chipset installed or you have drivers older than version 2.43, the NBA LIVE 99 installation program will start the Glide 2.43 installation which will install the Glide 2.43 driver to your system. Alternatively, you may contact your board manufacturer to obtain the latest drivers for your board. If you are using a version of the Glide run time drivers later than 2.43, no Glide drivers are installed. >VOODOO RUSH BOARDS NBA Live 99 requires that you have the Glide 2.43 or higher run time drivers specific for the Voodoo Rush chipset installed on your system. If you do not have the Glide run time drivers for the Voodoo Rush chipset installed or you have drivers older than version 2.43, the NBA Live 99 installation program will start the Glide 2.43 installation which will install the Glide 2.43 driver to your system. Alternatively, you may contact your board manufacturer to obtain the latest drivers for your board. >VOODOO2 / VOODOO BANSHEE BOARDS If you have a 3Dfx Voodoo2 accelerator, you may experience problems in game-play if you are using Glide 2.54. We suggest that you use Glide 2.53 instead or the version of Glide on the NBA game CD (2.43) If you do not have a Glide 2.4 or higher run time driver installed on your system, please contact your board manufacturer. Note: There is a limitation with the 3Dfx detection function in the Glide 2.43 Installer which will prevent it from detecting your 3Dfx properly. When you install the game, if you get a message that reads "Error: Can not detect hardware", press OK until the setup continues and install the game as normal. If you get the error message, you will also not be able to install Glide 2.43 from the CD-ROM. In this case, if you have problems running NBA Live 99, please download the newest version of the Glide drivers from the 3Dfx web site at www.3dfx.com. >S3 SAVAGE 3D NBA Live 99 requires that you have S3 updated drivers for Savage 3D (Beta 12 drivers or better). Please look for the most updated S3 Savage 3D drivers from S3 at www.S3.com >3D LABS PERMEDIA2 NBA Live 99 was tested using Permedia2 drivers provided by 3DLabs (v4.10.01.4604). NBA Live 99 has experienced problems with Permedia2 driver versions other than v4.10.01.4604. Please contact 3D Labs should you experience any problems with the most recent updated Permedia2 drivers available at www.3dlabs.com >DIAMOND VIPER V330 If you are experiencing problems with this video card and NBA Live 99, ensure that you are using the Diamond Viper V330 drivers provided by Microsoft in Windows 98. If you are still experiencing problems contact EA Technical Support. ----------------------------------------------------------- g) Game-play Performance Tips ----------------------------------------------------------- If game-play is not as smooth or responsive as desired, there are several things that can be done to improve performance. In general, your computer's CPU speed will be the most important measure of performance, but memory configuration and CD-ROM configuration can also affect performance. Refer to Memory Tips and CD-ROM tips earlier in this document. > WINDOWS 95/98 PERFORMANCE To ensure maximum performance, ensure that no other Windows 95/98 applications are running. Look at the Windows Task bar and close any applications that are currently running. > DETAIL SETTINGS To improve speed and responsiveness in game-play, you can use the "Details" screen in the Pause menu and Front End to toggle various options on or off. Details that may improve game-play performance: - Change video mode to Low Resolution in Software Rendered mode only (640 x 240) - Change the Player detail - Change the Shadow detail - Turn off the court floor textures - Turn off the crowd - Turn off the reflections =========================================================== 5)SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS =========================================================== ----------------------------------------------------------- a) Minimum Requirements ----------------------------------------------------------- > OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 95/98 (Windows NT is not supported) > CPU 166MHz or faster Intel Pentium, Cyrix 6x86, or AMD K6 processor > MEMORY 32 MB RAM > HARD DRIVE SPACE 90 MB free hard disk space (20 MB install, 70 MB swap drive) plus space for saved games (additional space required for DirectX(tm) 6 installation) > GRAPHICS High Color (65,535 color) capable 2MB PCI or AGP video card with DirectDraw(tm) compatible driver. > CD-ROM 4X CD-ROM drive (600K/second transfer rate) using 32-bit Windows 95/98 CD-ROM driver > AUDIO Optional sound card with DirectSound support > INPUT DEVICES Microsoft(r) Compatible Mouse Windows 95/98 compatible joystick Windows 95/98 supported gamepad (10 or more buttons recommended) Gravis GrIP(tm) 4-player adapter ------------------------------------------------------------ b) Recommended Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------ >266 MHz Pentium II processor or faster >32 MB RAM >165 MB free hard disk space (150 MB install, 15 MB swap drive) plus space for saved games (additional space required for DirectX 6 installation) >8x CD-ROM drive using 32-bit Windows 95/98 CD-ROM drivers >3-D graphics accelerator using the 3Dfx Voodoo(tm) Graphics, Voodoo Rush(tm), Voodoo 2(tm) or Voodoo Banshee(tm) chipsets. >Gravis Gamepad(tm) Pro >DirectX 6 compatible sound card with DirectSound(tm) support. ------------------------------------------------------------ c) Multiplayer Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------ >NETWORK (8 Player - 2 PCs) IPX compliant network 1 NBA Live 99 CD per PC >MODEM (8 Player - 2 PCs) 100% Hayes compatible 28800 bps or faster modem; high speed (16550 UART) serial port 1 NBA Live 99 CD per PC >SERIAL PLAY (8 Player - 2 PCs) Null modem cable High speed (16550 UART) serial port 1 NBA Live 99 CD per PC ------------------------------------------------------------ d) Supported 3-D Graphic Accelerators ------------------------------------------------------------ >3Dfx Voodoo 2, 3Dfx Banshee, 3Dfx Voodoo, 3Dfx Voodoo Rush, NVidia RIVA 128, Intel i740, Rendition V2100/V2200, Chromatic Mpact 2, ATI Rage Pro, 3DLabs Permedia 2, Matrox G200, S3 Savage 3D, NVidia TNT. ------------------------------------------------------------ e) Supported Input Devices ------------------------------------------------------------ > Mouse, Keyboard, Windows 95/Windows 98 supported gamepad (10 or more buttons recommended), Windows 95/Windows 98 supported joystick.