PC GAMER CD README FILE 2.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the latest installment of PC Gamer's incredibly action-packed CD! We've got a new look, some new uses, and more Gaming Goodness than ever! Please keep in mind that this interface is new, and as such we're continually making changes to it. If you have any suggestions, problems, or just want to give us some feedback, shoot an E-mail off to editor@pcgamer.com -- we'd like to hear from you! Remember, we can't provide technical support for the demos, patches, or addons on the CD -- these are things we get from game manufacturers, and as such, they know a lot more about their products than we do. So if you're having problems with a demo or a particular file, make sure you contact the manufacturer -- we've included technical support contacts with the demos, and you can always take a look in the Database on the CD to find the phone number for major game publishers. If you think the problem is related to a damaged CD (files won't read, demos don't install properly, etc.) then point your web browser to http://support.imaginemedia.com, and fill out the CD-ROM Replacement form to get a new CD shipped directly to you! For Customer Service inquiries, like renewing a subscription or getting back issues, you can write or call the numbers listed below: Customer Service PO Box 51199 Boulder, CO 80322 subscribe@pcgamer.com (800) 898-7159 Remember, all other inquiries should be directed to our support site at: http://support.imaginemedia.com Here are a few things to note about this month's CD: LONG LOAD TIMES You might experience a small problem where it takes a long time for a demo to load the installation program when you click "Install" from the interface. If it seems like it's taking an abnormally long time, just shut down the interface by clicking on the X at the top left corner after you click the Install button. That should speed up the installation routine. PERFORMANCE You might experience moments where animations in the interface seem to slow down or drop frames. This is most likely due to the speed of your computer, how much RAM is installed, and which other programs or tasks that your PC may be running in the background. For maximum enjoyment, we highly recommend quitting all other programs before launching the PC Gamer CD. 3D ACCELERATORS If you try playing a demo and you get an error message saying "Cannot find hardware device," or something similar, make sure you're not trying to play a demo that requires a 3D accelerator when you don't have one installed. Many demos produced by manufacturers are optimized to look their best, and are pared down to keep the file sizes small, which in many cases means a demo requires a 3D accelerator when the full version of the game does not. 3D accelerator cards are add-in cards that you put into your computer to run 3D games and other software. Common 3D accelerators use chips like the RIVA TNT from NVIDIA, the Voodoo, Voodoo II, and Voodoo III from 3Dfx, and many others. Each demo contains a requirements list that says whether or not you need a 3D accelerator card to play it -- be sure to check the system requirements section in our interface to see where you stand to make sure your computer is capable of playing the demo in question! Thanks for trying the PC Gamer CD!