Gambler 30 B/GAMBLERCD30B.BIN/ABRAMS/README.TXT

Text File | 1997-02-27 | 16KB | 341 lines

                          i M 1 A 2    A B R A M S
                         America's Main Battle Tank

                          Designed for Windows 95

                Copyright (c) 1997 by Interactive Magic, Inc.
                             All Rights Reserved.

                          http://www.imagicgames.com

                    Developed by Charybdis Enterprises, Inc.


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INSTALLATION & AUTOPLAY

This product is fully AutoPlay enabled. This means that each time you insert
the CD an options screen appears.

If autoplay is disabled on your system, insert the CD, click the Start
button and select "Run..." Next delete anything in the entry area labelled
Open and click the Browse button. Double-click on "My Computer" and look for
the Interactive Magic logo with the "Abrams" name beside it. Double-click on
that, and then double-click on the icon labeled "setup.exe"

DirectX Version 3 and the Indeo Codec Version 4.1 are required to run this
product. The information on page 3 of the manual describes what these are.
You can determine if you have these and your current version manually by
inserting the CD, quiting from the options, and then doing Start - Run -
Browse - My Computer (as described above) and then RIGHT-clicking on the
Interactive Magic logo. On the menu that appears select (Un)install DirectX
or (Un)install Indeo, as appropriate.

If you lack autoplay, the procedure to determine your DirectX version
(if any) is slightly different. In this case, use Windows Explorer to
locate your CD-ROM drive, open the DirectX folder, and double-click on
the Dxsetup.exe (sometimes it appears as just Dxsetup) entry to see what
version (if any) is installed on y our machine. This is the equivalent
to selecting (Un)install DirectX on machines with autoplay.

Once you install DirectX and Indeo, they remain permanently on your system.
This is their intended operation in Windows 95; even if you de-install iM1A2
Abrams we recommend that you leave both DirectX and Indeo on your system.


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ACROBAT READER & ON-LINE MANUAL

An electronic version of the manual is included on the CD. You can read
this using the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not elect to install
the Acrobat Reader along with your game, you can always install it later
by using Windows Explorer to navigate to the folder "Manual" on the CD-ROM,
and then double-clicking on the file "ar32e30.exe" which starts the install
process for Adobe Acrobat Reader.

The electronic manual has exactly the same contents as the printed manual.


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VIDEO MODES

The 320x240 mode is supported on most video cards, but some with older
drivers (most notibly some S3-equipped cards) don't support this mode
properly for our usage. Therefore, some machines may report an error when
entering the simulator using 320x240. In this case you're automatically
switched to 640x480 and the loading continues. Updating your video driver,
available from your video card manufacturer, may resolve this problem.


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GAME SPACE and VIRTUAL MEMORY

We recommend having at least 20 MB of free hard disk space when you start
the game on a machine with 16 MB of RAM. This allows standard Windows 95
virtual memory to run correctly.


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QUICKSTART & INVULNERABILITY

The Quickstart game only makes you invulnerable for the first two (2)
minutes of the battle. After that your M1A2s are vulnerable to damage.
In single missions or campaigns, if invulnerability is "on" you get the
benefits for the entire battle.


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JOYSTICK & SHIFT KEY

You can speed turret rotation by holding down the shift key while using
the joystick, just as you can with the keyboard or mouse.


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BATTLEFIELD SELECTION

When you start a single battle or any campaign battle, the FIRST thing
you must do is select a battlefield. In a campaign your choices are
limited by the campaign situation. In single battles you can choose any
battlefield in the theater. To choose a battlefield, click any town name
with a colored circle around it.


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CAMPAIGNS & TROOP QUALITY

Once you begin a campaign the troop quality for each side is "fixed" for
the remainder of the campaign. Changing troop quality on either side has
no effect in the campaign, although it will take effect in any single
battles you fight while the campaign is in progress.


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A SECOND M1A2 PLATOON

You are allowed to operate tanks of a second M1A2 platoon if you have one
in the battle, AND if the configuration option "Viewable from Support" is
set to "on."


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MULTIPLAYER NOTES

IMPORTANT: Due to limitations in this version of Microsoft's DirectPlay
drivers (part of DirectX), after EVERY multi-player battle you must exit the
entire game back to Windows 95, then restart the iM1A2 Abrams program. We
appologize for this inconvenience, and hope that a future Microsoft update
of DirectPlay will allow you to continue from one battle to another without
quitting the entire simulation.

HOST STARTUP: Remember, to start a multiplayer game, as described on page
19, the host player must wait until everyone has joined the battle, and then
must click "Deploy." The deploy button appears already depressed, but
nevertheless you must click it again.

Cooperative games are not possible using modems or direct serial connec-
tions. You must be use a local area network (LAN) with either an IPX
or TCP/IP protocol. This is because the large number of vehicles, shells
and missiles flying around from all the support vehicles outstrips the
capabilities of a modem or serial line. Competitive games are still
possible because the overall number of vehicles and related ordnance is
much lower.

When playing a competitive multi-player game, after the leader for the Red
side joins the game, the Red leader can examine the mission available to his
side (Missions button) and choose one. The Blue (host) player only controls
the missions for his side.

In cooperative games, note that the enemy and friendly force lists are reset
when each player joins. Wait until all players have joined before selecting
additional friendly and enemy forces.


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MULTIPLAYER HOUSE RULES

Experiments with multiplayer games have produced various "house rules"
that you might enjoy. We're interested in hearing about yours as well;
some may even appear as software options in future versions.

(A) No STAFF Competition: Outlaw the use of STAFF in competitive games.

(B) Tag Deathmatch: You can turn a competitive game into a "death match"
of everyone against everyone (i.e., you can shoot your teammates). Players
of the same color may NOT shoot at each other until at least one enemy-
color vehicle is visible on the map. This prevents an instant bloodbath
among former teammates). The winner is the last surviving tank. If two or
more tanks are immobilized and out of ammo, they are co-winners.

(C) Gunners' Holilday: Always select "cease fire" at the start of each
battle, and never, ever select "fire at will" or "group fire." This means
you must do all the shooting for all your tanks, while the computer-
controller gunners take the day off.


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ABRAMS INTERNET PLAY

Interactive Magic is in the early stages of adding sufficient technology to
extend the multi-player game options to include play across the internet. The
"Abrams Internet Play" option within multiplayer is the beginning of this
process.

To enable internet play, you must have an internet world wide web browser
(such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer) installed and functioning,
which means you must have an on-line account with an internet service
provider that supports a world wide web browsers. If you don't have this
already installed, selecting this option either exits the game or does
nothing at all.

If you do have a functioning internet browser, selecting this option will
connect you to an internet site with internet gaming options. As of March
1997, internet gaming for iM1A2 Abrams is not yet functional, but it may be
by the time you read this. In any event, at this site you'll learn what's
available now, what's coming, and how to play. You'll also find links to
various other internet games available through Interactive Magic.


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SAVING a PERSONA or a HALL OF FAME

All information about a persona is stored in a x.TC file where "x" is the
name of the persona. You can copy this file to any computer with iM1A2
Abrams installed to continue to with that persona.

When you retire that persona is marked as unplayable, but still can be
viewed. A great way to show off your accomplishments is to "retire" the
persona and give the x.TC file to your friends. They can view the file
in their game, but cannot change it.

The Hall of Fame is stored in Abrams.HOF. You can also copy this file to
another computer, give it to your friends, etc. To erase the Hall of Fame
just delete the Abrams.HOF file.


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SCREEN CAPTURE

For technical reasons, the "Print Screen" Windows 95 screen capture utility
generally does not work in iM1A2 Abrams. Instead we have installed our own
special utility. Press Ctrl+K anytime inside the game and a SNAPxxxx.BMP
file is created in the same directory as the game, where xxxx is 0000 for
the first file, 0001 for the second, etc.

You can view these screen shots in any program that reads .BMP files,
including the "Paint" program that normally comes with Windows 95.

Note: Animated scene sequences cannot be captured using this Ctrl+K utility.


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WEAPON DATA UPDATE

The GSh-30-2 twin 30mm cannon on the Mi-24 Hind has an effective range of
1,000m, not the 800m quoted on page 135 of the manual.

The 12.7mm machinegun on the OH-58D has an effective range of 700m. Only
the OH-58D Kiowa and the M1037 Avenger have this limitation. Other 12.7mm
guns can reach further, depending on how they are mounted.


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ACCESSING OVERWHELMING ARTILLERY SUPPORT

In very rare circumstances you may have so many artillery support units
that some appear unavailable when you click on the "Support" and "Arty"
buttons on the tactical map. However, if you select the first artillery
unit by clicking its name, you can then toggle through all available
artillery using the Tab key.


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CIRCLING A-10s

The extremely aggressive pilots in A-10s can sometimes end up circling a
target so closely that they cannot line up their attack. The best way
to solve this problem is to move the A-10 away from the target by
giving it a target elsewhere. Once the A-10 leaves the "circling" area,
give it orders to attack the original target. The A-10 should now have
enough distance to line up a proper attack run.


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ALTERNATE POSITION BUTTONS

On page 50 of the manual the three Alternate Position buttons are not
fully explained. These have two functions. First, click the button to
move to that position. Second, if something that's controlled or used
from that position is damaged, the button blinks for a short period of
time. If the crew position is entirely destroyed, the button remains
lighted and you can no longer more to that position.


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VICTORY and DEATH

Your persona is killed in battle if the turret crew of tank #11 is killed.
If this occurs, after the battle you'll see a special sequence and have an
option to resurrect yourself with a Purple Heart, as described on page 98.

There is no score penalty for personal death, above and beyond the
normal points the enemy receive for damaging or destroying an M1A2.

Bear in mind that your Company Team could still win the battle, even if
you were killed. In fact, it's the ultimate in self-sacrifice to achieve
a major victory followed by the scenes of your final trip home and the
military cemetary.


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CLIFFS

We are aware that it's much harder to perceive cliffs and other extreme
terrain in iM1A2 than in real life. Modern computer graphics still have
some limitations. Until we can develop some significant improvements, our
current compromise between realism and playability is this: you can "fall"
down a cliff and end up in some very surprising (and often unpleasant)
situations, but you aren't damaged by the "fall" itself. Needless to say,
it's impossible to climb up cliffs with any vehicle.


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EYEBALLS vs COMPUTERS

As mentioned on page 175 of the manual, the realistic (but long) ranges
depicted in 3D display system for iM1A2 Abrams can cause some peculiar
visual effects. In addition to "floaters" there is a very rare situation
where tanks seem to disappear down into the terrain. None of these effects
bother your computer-controlled gunners. Therefore, the best policy in
these rare cases is to leave the gunner's position and let the computer-
controlled gunner do the job for you. You can "encourage" the gunners to
hit the target you want by going to the tactical map and giving your
platoon the "Engage" tactic against that enemy unit (see page 72 for
details).


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CUSTOMER SERVICE

If you have questions or need additional assistance with this or any
other Interactive Magic product, feel free to call our Customer Service
Department at [phone], between 9AM - 9PM Eastern.

Customer service email addresses are:
Internet:                [e-mail]
Compuserve:              75162,1202
America Online (AOL):    ASKIMAGIC


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'Windows 95' and 'Explorer' are registered trademarks of Microsoft
 Corporation.
'Pentium' is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
'Adobe' and 'Acrobat' are trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc.
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