=========================================== VIRTUAL POOL 2 Preview (tm) (c) 1997 Celeris, Inc. All rights reserved Virtual Pool 2 is a trademark of Interplay Productions All rights reserved =========================================== Thank you for downloading the Virtual Pool 2 Preview. This product was developed by Celeris, Inc. and published by Interplay Productions. This readme file contains important information about this preview. If you have any questions or are having problems, please read this first. =========================================== Setting Up the Virtual Pool 2 Preview =========================================== To setup the Virtual Pool 2 Preview create a new folder on your desktop and unzip the contents of the zip file into that folder. Double-click on your newly created folder and run the setup.exe. Note: If you have a previous DOS or Windows 3.x version of a Virtual Pool demo on your system, you should delete or uninstall it, respectively. If you wish to have both versions present on your system, make sure to install them into separate directories. Note: You MUST have DirectX 5 or later installed on your system to play the Virtual Pool 2 Preview. If you do not have DirectX 5 installed, there is a link to Microsoft on our website. Download DirectX 5 and follow their instructions to instal DirectX 5 on your computer. Once installed, you may now play the Virtual Pool 2 Demo. Please see the Cautionary Notes below if this causes any problems on your system. ========================================= Playing the Virtual Pool 2 Preview ========================================= Once the Virtual Pool 2 Preview is installed, you can run the game from the Start Menu under Programs/Virtual Pool 2 Preview. After the screen shots appear, you will be asked to enter user name. Click on "New User", enter a name, and click "OK". "Hot Keys" are listed below in this readme file, or you can call up a quick reference guide in the game by hitting "Esc", clicking on "help" on the menu bar, and selecting "Help Topics" =========================================== Pentium Pro and Pentium II Optimization =========================================== The Virtual Pool 2 Preview has optional optimization for Pentium Pro/II processors which speeds up memory access to video memory by turning on Write Combining. The option is accessed by the Game Preferences dialog under the Preferences menu. Turning on this option can cause your system to crash, so shut down any other applications before trying it. You may notice no speed increase after enabling optimization. This is usually because the video driver has already enabled optimization. You can verify if optimization is working by the following test: 1) Start the Virtual Pool 2 Preview, change to 640x480x16 fullscreen mode, and load the backroom_16.scn file. 2) Load the speed_test.vpg file in the TRICK directory. 3) Set your replay rate to 1 and replay the shot. 4) Bring up the Video Statistics dialog under the File menu and examine the following fields: Buffering - this should be set to Triple. If it isn't then you should buy a 2MB or larger video card. Buffer Memory - this should be Video Frame Rate (Last) - this shows your rate and will tell if optimization is enabled. For a 200 Mhz Pentium Pro the frame rate will be in the high twenties with no optimization. With optimization on the frame rate should be in the low to mid forties. These speed will vary slightly with processor speed and video card type. If you have Pentium Pro/II Optimization checked in your preferences and you turn it off you must re-boot your system for it to really turn off. If your system crashes when you try to turn optimization on: 1) Check your config.sys and make sure there are no memory managers like EMM386 or QEMM being installed. Windows 95 does not need memory managers and they may cause the optimization code to crash. 2) Check your frame rate using the procedure described above. If it is already optimized don't worry, just leave the Virtual Pool 2 Preview's optimization off. =========================================== Cautionary Notes =========================================== * Uninstalling the Virtual Pool 2 Preview. If you want to uninstall the Virtual Pool 2 Preview, you must do it through Add/Remove Programs in your Control Menu. If you simply delete it from your system, the Registry files will remain and you will not be able to re-install the game. To uninstall, open your Control Panel which is located in Settings on your Start Menu. Double click on Add/Remove Programs located in the Control Panel. Scroll up and down through the list of programs until you find "Virtual Pool 2 Preview". Highlight this and click Add/Remove in the lower right hand corner. * Do not change color palettes, or the size of your Desktop Area while playing the Virtual Pool 2 Preview in a Desktop Window. The Virtual Pool 2 Preview can be played in 256 or High color modes. * Closing programs using the Ctrl-Alt-Delete End Task function can cause problems when attempting to run the program later unless Windows has been restarted. To exit the Virtual Pool 2 Demo, select Exit from the File menu. *All other programs which use the same sound card as the Virtual Pool 2 Preview must be closed in order for the Virtual Pool 2 Preview to play sounds. *If your screen saver turns on while the game is running, it may be minimized on the task bar when the screen saver turns off. If clicking on the task bar does not recover the game, use the shortcut in the Start Menu to recover it. *Using the Windows CD player can cause the Virtual Pool 2 Preview to run slower. Use the CD player through the game(CD control under the Options Menu) for better game play. After activating the CD player in the game, your Windows CD player will not work until you exit the Virtual Pool 2 Preview. =========================================== TroubleShooting =========================================== Q: The gameplay isn't as smooth as I want it to be, what can I do to increase the performance of the game? A: First, you should try to run the Virtual Pool 2 Preview without any other applications running in the background. If you need the other apps running, try turning off the background (this option is located in Game under the Preferences Menu). Lastly, you can lower the screen resolution. If you are running full screen, pick a lower resolution in the Display Modes menu. If you are running in Desktop mode, you can either scale down the size of the window or lower your Windows resolution. Q: I closed the Virtual Pool 2 Preview by using an End Task. The next time I ran it I received an error that said: Preference data damaged. Restoring default user preferences. What's that mean and why is my preferences data getting damaged? A: If the Virtual Pool 2 Preview is terminated without properly exiting the game, it cannot properly de-initialize and save off user preferences. The game installation is OK and is not damaged, the preferences were not saved properly. Always remember to exit out of pool from within the game window or File menu. Q: I had to install DirectX 5, but after my system was restarted by the Setup program, I found out that some of my newer drivers were replaced by DirectX with older ones. What's going on? A: DirectX 5 has its own set of drivers that have been certified for use with it. In some situations, you may have a driver that is newer than the one from DirectX or one that isn't certified. If this occurs, you can either use DirectX's driver, or re-install your previous driver after DirectX has been installed. Q: I've read the readme and I'm still having problems. Where can I go to get more help. A: Never fear. Interplay Technical Support is always available to help. You can reach us via e-mail, the Interplay BBS, the Interplay Web Site, by telephone, or mail. See Section 4 of this readme for all the numbers and addresses. =========================================== Quick Reference =========================================== A: Aim B: Raise Butt of Cue C: Move Center Point E: English: Move Cue Tip F: Vary Tracking Force H: Select Another Ball To Move L: Toggle Table Lines M: Move Ball O: Overhead View R: Replay Last Shot S: Shoot T: Toggle Tracking U: Undo V: Change View X: Examine Table Y: Your User View Z: Zip To Result >: Toggle Amplify <: Toggle Fine Tune +/=: Increase Replay Rate -: Decrease Replay Rate / : Type Chat Message L Mouse: Zoom Ctrl-A: Set Adversary View Ctrl-B: Spot Lowest Ball Ctrl-C: Call Shot Ctrl-D: Draw Game Ctrl-G: Return To Game Ctrl-K: Kibitz Shot Ctrl-L: Load Saved Game/Position Ctrl-M: Miscall Last Shot Ctrl-P: Push Out Ctrl-Q: Quit Current Match Ctrl-S: Save Game Or Position Ctrl-T: Change Player Turn Ctrl-V: Return To Video Ctrl-W: Set User View Ctrl-[: Called Safety INS: Spot/Pocket Ball Menu ESC/ALT: Enter Menu System =========================================== Virtual Pool 2 Full Version Information =========================================== - 5 New Games - Real Time Photo-Realistic Animation - All New Physics Model, Even Allows Jump Shots - Tournament Mode with 128 Computer Opponents - Adjustable Table Characteristics - Full Motion Video Tutorial with "Hall of Famer" Mike Segel - Network, Modem, and Serial Play North American Orders: (800) 468-3775 Be sure to mention code: VPE7 European Inquiries: Phone: +44 (0) 1628 423666 Fax: +44 (0) 1628 423777 Or see your local software retailer for this and other great VR Sports titles =========================================== Interplay's World Wide Web Site =========================================== Interplay's World Wide Web site is an Internet service designed to give you the latest information about Interplay and our products. The site features our demos, upgrades, product information and ordering information. From your Internet account, point your favorite browser to: http://www.interplay.com/ =========================================== VR Sports Technical Support =========================================== Technical Support is always ready to help with any problems you may encounter. Please try to have your system information ready and be near your computer if possible. In the United States: Help is available 24 hours a day through our Automated Customer Service system and representatives are available during normal business hours. Telephone: (714) 955-9592 Fax: (714) 252-2820 Attn: Customer Service Internet E-Mail: support@vrsports.com World Wide Web: http://www.vrsports.com/ BBS Modem Phone Number: (714) 724-4010 Mail: VR Sports Customer Service 16815 Von Karman Irvine, CA 92606 In Europe: phone: +44 (0) 1628 423723 fax: +44 (0) 1628 487752 address: Customer Support Harleyford Manor Harleyford Henley Road Marlow Buckinghamshire SL7 2DX England =========================================== Legal Information =========================================== Software Use Limitations and Limited License This special preview version of Virtual Pool 2 (the "Software") is intended solely for your personal noncommercial home entertainment use. You may not decompile, reverse engineer, or disassemble the Software, except as permitted by law. Interplay Productions and Celeris, Inc. retain(s) all rights and title in the Software including all intellectual property rights embodied therein and derivatives thereof. You are granted a revocable, nonassignable limited license to create derivative works of this Software solely for your own personal noncommercial home entertainment use and may publicly display such derivative works to the extent specifically authorized by Interplay in writing. A copy of this authorization, if any, will be provided on Interplay's World Wide Web site, located at http://www.interplay.com, or by contacting the legal department Interplay Productions in the US at +(714) 553-6655. The Software, including, without limitation, all code, data structures, characters, images, sounds, text, screens, game play, derivative works and all other elements of the Software may not be copied (except as provided below), resold, other for-charge basis, or for any commercial purpose. You may make copies of the Software for your personal noncommercial basis, including, without limitation, bundling the product with any other product or service basis and any give away of the Software in connection with another product or service. Any permissions granted herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn by Interplay Productions at any time. All rights not expressly granted are reserved Acceptance of License Terms. By downloading or acquiring and then retaining this Software, you assent to the terms and restrictions of this limited license. If you acquired the Software and do not accept the terms of this limited license, you must return the Software together with all packaging, manuals and other material contained therein to the store where you acquired the Software for a full refund and if you downloaded the Software, you must delete it.