Impossible Creatures 
Microsoft & Relic Entertainment Inc
Readme File

ã Copyright and (P) 2002-2003 Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved.
ã Copyright 1998 - 2002 Relic Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
Relic and the Relic Entertainment Logo are trademarks of Relic Entertainment Inc.
Impossible Creatures and the Impossible Creature Logo are trademarks of Relic Entertainment Inc.
Microsoft, Direct3D, DirectX, MSN, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other Countries.
Uses Miles Sound System, Copyright ã 1991 – 2002 by RAD Game Tools, Inc.
Uses Bink Video. Copyright ã 1997 - 2002 by RAD Game Tools, Inc.
MPEG Layer-3 playback supplied with the Miles Sound System from RAD Game Tools, Inc. MPEG Layer-3 audio compression technology licensed by Fraunhofer IIS and THOMSON multimedia.

Welcome to Impossible Creatures!

This file contains late-breaking information not included in the in-game Help or printed manual.

CONTENTS
A.	DirectX Troubleshooting
B.	Audio Troubleshooting
C.	Video Troubleshooting
D.	Performance Troubleshooting
E. Impossible Creatures Control Information
F.	Impossible Creatures Information

A. DirectX Troubleshooting

DirectX® 8.2 or later must be installed on your computer before you can play Impossible Creatures. Impossible Creatures Setup will install the correct version of DirectX on your computer, if it is not already installed.

If you experience sound or video problems using DirectX, go to http://support.microsoft.com/support/directx/ for the latest troubleshooting information.

You should also check with your video or sound card manufacturer for the latest DirectX-compatible drivers.

B. AUDIO TROUBLESHOOTING
•	Creative SoundBlaster Extigy
A warning dialog may display during Setup stating that Impossible Creatures could not detect an audio device if the power to your SB Extigy is off.  Exit Setup, turn on the power to your SB Extigy and relaunch Setup.

C. VIDEO TROUBLESHOOTING

•	Ati Radeon DDR 
o	Compatibility issues cause incorrect graphics and menu display. Please update to latest drivers.
o	These video cards do not support color options in cursors so the cursor color will default to black and white.

•	Compaq GeForce 2MX
Textures may be inconsistent. Please update to latest drivers.

•	Elsa Erazor III (TnT2)
You may experience display issues. Please update to latest drivers.

•	Nvidia
o	You may experience display issues. Please update to latest drivers.
o	You may experience your mouse pointer displaying as black and white instead of color. Please update to latest drivers.
o	You may experience problems launching the game if you have a TNT2 card running on Windows 2000 SP3.  Reboot your machine and relaunch the game.
o	Low end systems running Win2K with lower end graphics cards (example: Riva TNT 2) may experience problems running the demo.  These may include failure to launch or a hardlock on launch.  If these problems occur, please reboot and try again.  If the problem persists, try upgrading your video drivers.

•	VooDoo 4500
There may be a display issue for ground and water when dynamic shadows are enabled. Please update to latest drivers.

D. Performance Troubleshooting

There are several ways to improve the game's performance. For example, the game will run faster if you use the least demanding game settings, such as:

·	Setting the screen resolution to 800 x 600.
·	Setting the color depth to 16.
·	Setting the texture detail lower.
·	Setting the shadow detail level to Off.
·	Setting the object level lower.
·	Setting the creature detail level lower.
·	Setting the preferred frame right higher.
·	Setting the terrain detail level lower (available in-game only).

These improvements can be made from within the game. On the main menu, click Options, then click Graphics. You can choose Low-End System Settings, or customize each setting individually. If you are playing a game, click the Menu button, and then click System Options. Please note that some of these options, at their lowest settings, can affect ease of play.

FRAMERATE
If you are experiencing frame jitter, lower your Color Depth and/or Resolution on the Graphics option Screen.

INCREASING THE VIRTUAL MEMORY OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM
You may wish to increase the virtual memory of your operating system (Impossible Creatures requires 256 MB of virtual memory). 
1.	Right-click My Computer, or click Start->Control Panel->System.
2.	Click the Advanced tab.
3.	Under the Performance heading, click Settings, then click the Advanced tab.
4.	Click the Change button in the section titled Virtual Memory.
5.	Enter 256MB into the Initial Size field.
6.	Click OK.

E. Impossible Creatures Control Information

For a full list of the controls for Impossible Creatures, view the “IC Controls” document located in the “Goodies” folder on the CD.

F. Impossible Creatures Information

For more information about Impossible Creatures, visit either of the following Web sites:

•	http://www.microsoft.com/games/PC/impossiblecreatures.asp
•	http://www.relic.com/product/impossiblecreatures/