Super EF2000 for Windows '95 (c) Copyright Digital Image Design Ltd., 1996 This document provides information for Super EF2000 which is not included in the documentation. CONTENTS 1. SETUP ISSUES 1.1 What has been altered in your machine configuration? 1.2 DirectX compatibility issues 1.2.1 Quickrez 1.2.2 Video refresh rates 1.2.3 General compatibility 1.3 Uninstalling Super EF2000 2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 2.1 Minimum specification. 2.2 Optimal specification. 3. GAME USAGE 3.1 Game Configuration 3.2 On-line help 3.3 Performance Tuning 3.4 Windows-Specific Keys 3.5 Windows Taskbar 3.6 Windows Shutdown 4. NETWORK PLAY 4.1 Novell Netware Requester 4.2 Uninstallation of Novell Netware 32-bit Requester Client 4.3 Network play 4.4 Leaving a network game 5. Mission debriefs on modem-linked machines 6. Some additional notes from Ocean QA department 1. SETUP ISSUES 1.1 What has been altered in your machine configuration? Due to the large performance requirements of all games it was necessary to ensure the installation of the Microsoft Games API. Also known as DirectX, this set of system utilities has also added functionality to the standard Windows '95 configuration 1.2 DirectX compatibility issues Microsoft's Games API supports the most popular video and sound cards. Certain problems have been noted with some of the lesser-known cards particularly video cards. Some of these issues can be resolved simply. 1.2.1 Quickrez A free, unsupported, utility has been distributed by Microsoft. This utility, named "Quickrez", allows the dynamic alteration of screen resolution. This program is NOT compatible with the version of the Microsoft Games API that we require (DirectX 3.0). All is not lost, however, as DirectX 3.0 has extended the functionality of the Display Settings tab control. Therefore uninstall Quickrez and then: i) Open the display settings tabbed control (Via Control Panel) ii) Select the "Settings" page iii) Ensure the "Show settings icon on Taskbar" checkbox is ticked iv) Click "OK" to close the settings and a Quickrez-like icon will be displayed on the Taskbar. 1.2.2 Video refresh rates The "Optimal" Refresh rate (under the Advanced Display options) is NOT compatible with full-screen graphics modes of 640x400 with certain video cards. This setting is usually "Adapter Default" so should not be changed unless you are sure it is compatible. 1.2.3 General compatibility Being reliant on the underlying Microsoft Games API we are assured that any compatibility problems should be directed to obtaining updated device drivers from the relevant hardware manufacturer. 1.3 Uninstalling Super EF2000 Select the "Add/Remove Programs" from the Control Panel and highlight the Super EF2000 component before clicking the "Add/Remove" button. All configuration settings and campaign features are removed. See section 4.2 "Uninstallation of Novell Netware 32-bit Requester" for more information if you have installed this component. 2.0 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 2.1 Minimum specification. Super EF2000 for Windows '95 requires at least the following system configuration: CPU: Pentium P75 or equivalent RAM: 16MB. HD SPACE: 20MB free (excluding Windows swap space). CD: 2 x CD-ROM drive. SOUND: Sound Blaster or Windows compatible card. MOUSE: Microsoft Mouse or other Windows '95 compatible device 2.2 Optimal specification. CPU: Pentium P120 or higher RAM: 32MB. HD SPACE: 70MB free (excluding Windows swap space). CD: 4 x CD-ROM drive. SOUND: Sound Blaster AWE32 card MOUSE: Microsoft Mouse or other Windows '95 compatible device For multi-player: MODEM: 2 players over minimum 9,600 BPS modem. A 28,800 modem is recommended. NETWORK: 2-8 players over Windows compliant network. 3. GAME PERFORMANCE 3.1 Game Configuration During the installation, several in-game options are considered, such as music/sound, detail levels etc. These can also be configured via the in-game options screen. The only exception to this is the minimal/full install option. If the alteration of this option is required then the "Install Again" option from the install program must be selected. 3.2 On-line help A major addition to Super EF2000 is the context-sensitive On-line help. This may be invoked through the usage of the ALT-F1 combination which is in the game. Many hours of thought has gone into this to make it an indispensable guide to flying tactics/hints and tips etc. Use it - it helps... 3.3 Performance Tuning Because Windows is a multitasking environment it is easy to cause a slowdown in applications when using this facility. Therefore several things can be done to ensure Super EF2000 plays at its best on your machine: i) Try not to run any other programs - i.e. playing Super EF2000 whilst using a database doesn't help either program. ii) Ensure there are no device conflicts. Use the System Properties tabbed control (System icon in Control Panel) - to ensure there are no yellow exclamation marks on the Device Manager page. If there are then you may be suffering a general performance loss iii) Ensure that your system is configured for optimal performance (Again this information resides in the System Properties only this time under the Performance tab). iv) Aim towards our optimal specification machine. v) Run the game full-screen (ALT+Enter) - this means Windows only needs to update our screen. vi) To help disk access speed on machines with 32Mb+ of RAM then the size of the internal disk cache in Windows '95 can be increased by: Opening the System Properties tabbed control (as described above) Click on the "Performance" tab Click on the "File System" button Change the typical role of the machine to "Network Server" Click OK until exit of this control 3.4 Windows-Specific Keys The left ALT key is reserved for Windows 95 functions. ALT-TAB is used for task switching and ALT-RETURN is used for full-screen switching. As Super EF2000 uses a high-resolution GUI there may be some switching of screen resolutions at points in the game. If you find that the display freezes for any length of time then pressing ALT-RETURN can sometimes rectify this problem. Likewise, the right mouse button is usually reserved for windows functions. In Super EF2000, the right mouse button is used for a number of things. If you experience problems (such as a constantly zoom-in, zoom-out cockpit) then clicking the right mouse button should rectify the problem. Use of the keypad for outside views will require NUMLOCK being turned off 3.5 Windows Taskbar On full screen setting in high resolution the taskbar may still be visible. To prevent this happening you should right-click on the task bar and select "properties" from the menu. This will bring up a Taskbar propertiws window. On the options tab, please deselect the "always on top" option. 3.6 Windows Shutdown If midi music is selected in Super EF2000 the music may carry on for a few seconds after the game has been shut down. Windows 95 should not be shut down until after the music has stopped. 4. NETWORK PLAY 4.1 Novell Netware 32-bit Requester The Novell Netware 32-bit requester is used for its greater efficiency. If you intend to play the network version of Super EF2000, you should install the 32-bit requester. 4.2 Uninstallation of Novell Netware 32-bit Requester Client Client 32 is a separate program and will not be deleted by uninstalling Super EF2000. If you wish to uninstall the program then you must delete the directory it is installed to. Please consult your network supervisor before attempting to remove any components of the Networking software. 4.3 Network Play When playing Super EF2000 over a network, all the players must have the "currently linked players" screen visible before the server selects a mission. 4.4 Leaving a network game If any of the players linked to a game in network mode decide to leave the game then the game must be restarted. All players should exit the mission they are on and the server machine must click on the reset network button on the multi-player screen. 5. Mission debriefs on modem-linked machines On modem-linked games you may experience inaccuracies between the game and the debriefs. This is due to the data transfer rate being low. A faster baud rate will improve the situation if it is available on both modems being used. 6. Some additional notes from Ocean QA department Graphical problems. If the user experiences any graphical problems whilst running Super EF2000, it is recommended that they try running the game in a resolution of 640*480 with 256 colours. Paradise 64 Video card When using the Paradise 64 video card, users may find that there are two cursors present whilst they are on menu screens. This does not cause any gameplay problems. Problems uninstalling game. If the user encounters any problems uninstalling the game via add/remove programs, they should manually remove any parts of Super EF2000 that are remaining. The instructions for deleting folders or deleting programs from the START menu can be found in the Windows 95 HELP files. NB Do not attempt to manually remove the files if you are in any way uncertain of what you are doing. DirectX When DirectX is installed by Super EF2000, users of some graphics cards that possess 'Powerdesk' utilities to change the machines display properties (E.g. Matrox Millennium video card) will find that the Powerdesk will have been removed. This will not affect the performance of the card and the user should still be able to set all the previously available screen resolutions and colour settings. Multi CD systems. If the game is being played on a machine with a multi-CD system then in order for the game to play with CD music the user will have to ensure that the Super EF2000 CD is the first one in the disk caddie. Installation Whilst the user is installing Super EF2000, it is recommended that they do not minimize the window. EF2000.$$$ Once the user has uninstalled the game, they may find that a file named EF2000.$$$ is left behind in the root of C:. If this is the case then the user should manually remove the file.