PC Gamer 3.5/1997-08_Disc_3.5.iso/readme.txt

Text File | 1997-03-24 | 19KB | 485 lines

Sentient README file                                        v1.0      01/03/97
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.  Sentient Installation Instructions
2.  Installation Types
3.  Who am I ?
4.  Keyboard Controls
5.  Story Overview
6.  Hints and tips
7.  Common Questions Answered
8.  Troubleshooting
9.  Arrrggghh!!! I give up... how do I complete this damned demo ?
10. Direct 3D


Sentient installation instructions
----------------------------------

1. Windows version
   ---------------

   AutoRun.exe should run automatically upon insertion of the CD, and guide
   you through the installation process. You are given the choice of playing
   Sentient directly from the CD, installing Sentient to your hard drive, or
   Installing Microsoft's DirectX libraries.  If you do not already have
   Microsoft DirectX installed, you will need to install it from here for the
   game to work correctly.  We recommend that you install DirectX for
   Windows 95 installations... it vastly improves the performance of the game
   for the supported video and sound cards.

   If the AutoRun does not start by itself, you will need to run it manually:

   1. Start up an MSDOS prompt
   2. Change drive to your CDROM
   3. Type "setup" followed by <RETURN>

2. DOS version
   -----------

   1. Change drive to your CDROM
   2. Type "Install" followed by <RETURN>


Installation types
------------------

1. Minimum Installation
   This option installs only the Sentient executable (and the Windows 95 help
   file if you are installing for Windows).  This option requires around
   2Mb of disk space.

2. Medium Installation
   This option installs not only the Sentient executable, but all of the data
   files required by the game (except movies).  This option requires around
   160Mb of disk space.  Although considerably larger than the minimum
   installation, we recommend that, if you have the space, you should choose
   this option.  Sentient has such an enormous number of options with regards
   to plot choices that not all of it can be memory resident at once.
   Therefore, when the player is confronted with such choices, the game must
   access the data files.  If these files are on CD, then (on slower machines)
   there may be a slight stutter while the game loads the new data.  If this
   data is on your hard disk, then that time is vastly reduced.

3. Maximum Installation
   This option installs everything that the Medium installation does, but also
   installs all of the movies.  Generally, this is unnecessary, but if you have
   an extremely slow CD drive, you may have to do this.


Please note, that even if you install the Maximum Installation, your game CD
must always be in the CD drive during play.



Who am I ?
----------

Sentient is a first-person perspective adventure. You play Garrit Sherova.
You are in control of Garrit Sherova from the moment the intro. sequences end
and the game begins, and you see what Garrit sees.


Keyboard Controls
-----------------

All of the keys in Sentient PC are re-definable by the player.  The default
keyboard settings, however are

Move Forward                    Up Arrow
Move Backward                   Down Arrow
Rotate Left                     Left Arrow
Rotate Right                    Right Arrow
Slide Left / Previous Map       ',' (or '<')
Slide Right / Next Map          '.' (or '>')
Inventory                       'I'
Cancel                          ESC
Cursor Mode                     'C'
OK / Talk to person / Confirm   Enter
Access / Open                   Space
Pause                           'P'
Look Up                         Page UP
Look Down                       Page Down
Frown (Sad)                     'S'
Smile (Happy)                   'H'

NOTE: This description assumes the default control keys.
Garrit can be manoeuvred forwards, backwards, left, and right with the cursor
movement keys.

While on the move, the amount of turn is gentle which lends a fluid, realistic
feel to his walk. When Garrit is stationary, the cursor movement keys can be
used for quick turns on the spot.

Use the Page Up and Page Down keys to look up and down.



Story Overview
--------------

On the verges of stable space the universe continues to form, rolling out to
fill the void like a liquid. A thin black frozen liquid, carrying on its tides
the promise of new worlds and the possibility for minds which, in aeons to
come, may think as we think. And yet out here, where nothing should exist,
beyond the faint hopes of potential, we found Xexor.

There had been sceptics and I had been among them. But now---as I truly see it
with my own eyes---even I must consider that this tiny æAÆ type star could
truly be our last, brightest hope; and that despite all our efforts to
understand the universe, there are still phenomena which defy expectation.

The mystery of XexorÆs existence had been a short lived debate. Xexor is here,
it is bright, it is healthy, and (according to all stellar surveillance
reports) it is teeming with the Kenyon fields which have become the Hegemony's
main power resource since the depletion of all other fuels. In a matter of
mere decades, scientists had stopped asking each other why the star was here,
and had begun asking instead how best to mine this most valuable and sought
after energy.

To this end, the Council of the Collective enlisted their most brilliant minds
and the massive deep space corporation, InStar, to design and construct the
most ambitious corona raking station to date. The result was the ICARUS, the
largest self-regulating craft ever launched into space, and my present
destination.

The reports failed to shed much light on the details of my mission. It seems
the crew of the ICARUS are threatened by the risk of some kind of radiation
contamination. An illness which attacks the memory and accelerates cell decay.
According to the report, this effect is believed to be occurring as a direct
result of the stationÆs handling of Kenyon cultures far in excess of any
previously encountered magnitude.

The Icarus is raking deeper than any station has ever been able to mine
before. And itÆs uncovering things we havenÆt even begun to comprehend...


Common Questions Answered
-------------------------

Below are some common problems that you may come across while playing
Sentient. The answers should provide you with the information necessary to
get yourself out of trouble.

WHAT DO I DO IF I DIDN'T QUITE GET THE MESSAGE FROM A NON- PLAYER CHARACTER?

If you follow him and ASK A QUESTION then WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? he will give
you a brief summary of what you should do next. Or you may choose to use the
SAY AGAIN option from this list.

HOW DO I FIND A SPECIFIC NON-PLAYER CHARACTER?

You should ask another non-player character WHERE DO I FIND and then the name
of the non-player character you want to find.  He will tell you to the best
of his knowledge where to find your non-player character.  You can also ask
the non-player character to lead you to the non-player character you need to
see.

IÆVE BEEN TOLD TO GO TO THE ASTRONOMY LAB, HOW DO I FIND OUT WHERE IT IS?

There are two ways of finding your way to specific rooms quickly.
You can either ask an non-player character where the room is, or you can
GIVE A COMMAND and the non-player character will lead you to it.

IÆVE SAVED A GAME AND CANÆT REMEMBER WHAT I DID LAST OR WHAT IÆM SUPPOSED
TO DO NOW?

Use a notebook and pencil to keep track of information you receive during the
game because you will be receiving information all the time.


Cool Game... but its a bit hard... any hints ?
----------------------------------------------

Stuck in the docking station?
Lost in the labyrinthine levels of the space station?
Can't remember who's who?

You need Sentient : The Official Strategy Guide.

We'll provide you with the maps, the character descriptions, and the hints to
get you to all of the possible endings in this mammoth game.

The Captain's dead, and the Icarus is on a collision course with the Sun.

Can it possibly get any worse?
It can - unless you have this guide.


Prima's Secrets of the game's
-----------------------------

FOR ORDERS IN US
Call  1-800-531-2343


FOR ORDERS WITHIN UK
Computer Bookshops Ltd
205 Formans Road, Sparkhill
Birmingham
B1 3AX

RRP ú15.99

Ph. 44 (0) 121 778 3333
For additional packaging and postage charges before ordering.

To find a retailer near you, contact Computer Bookshops on
[phone].

ú15.99  *  US $19.99   *   ISBN 0-7615-1-75-3

FOR ORDERS OUTSIDE OF UK
The following options are available direct with Prima Publishing at a fee of
US $19.99 exc. shipping and handling.

1.  By calling Prima in the US at (your country code for U.S.) 916 632 4400
    and asking for the order entry department.

2.  By mailing your request to Prima Publishing, 3875 Atherton Road, Rocklin,
    CA 95765, U.S.A.  Attention: Order Entry Department.

3.  By faxing your request to Prima Publishing (at your country code for U.S.
    916 632 4405.

4.  By logging on the Prima Web page at http:/www.primapublising.com and
    selecting the order option.




I am encountering technical problems... what can I do
-----------------------------------------------------

Q. The game does not auto-run when I insert the game CD.
A. If you are in DOS (not Windows DOS Mode), then this is normal.  DOS does
   not support auto-run installations.
   If you are in Windows 95, then either
   a) You have the option disabled. (Some control panel applets allow you
      enable and disable this option)
   b) Your DOS CDROM drivers are still being loaded in the Windows 95
      config.sys file.  Try commenting out the line in your config.sys file
      which reads something like
        DEVICE=C:\ATAPI\CD_ROM.SYS /D:MSCD001
      by adding the characters    REM**   at the beginning of the line.

Q. The game displays a dialog requesting the game CD
A. Please check your CD drive, and that the game CD is correctly inserted.
   Even if you have chosen a maximum installation, the game CD is still
   required to verify that you have a legal copy.

Q. The sound appears to be fragmented, playing only one effect at a time.
A. If you are in DOS (not Windows DOS Mode), then please check that the
    sound driver settings that you chose during installation are correct,
    and that you have selected the correct sound card for your machine.
   If you are in Windows 95, then please ensure that the Microsoft DirectX
    drivers are installed on your machine.  If they are, then they may be out
    of date.  Check with your machine supplier, or sound card manufacturer
    for more up to date drivers.  Failing that, check the Microsoft WWW web
    site for any new DirectX drivers.

Q. Movies appear jerky, but I have a Pentium compatible processor installed
   (or Pentium Pro).
A. Check in your BIOS settings that you have the PCI->CPU Write buffers
   enabled, and your Internal and External cache's enabled.  Do not worry if
   you do not have these settings... BIOS's vary drastically with machine
   manufacturers.

Q. The game runs fine in a window, but its a little small.  If I zoom it,
   though, it runs too slowly. (Windows 95 Only)
A. Check that you have Microsoft DirectX libraries installed.  If you do,and
   are still having this problem, then it is being caused by your video card.
   Although DirectX speeds up many aspects of Windows 95 games, it can only
   do this if there is hardware support for them.  If your video card does
   not support hardware scaling, (BlitStretching for the techies), then the
   processor must emulate this mode, and so the game will become slower.
   Alternatively, you can reduce the size of your desktop display while you
   play the game, or select "Direct Draw" from the frontend or in-game menus.


Arrrggghh!!! I give up... how do I complete this damned demo ?
--------------------------------------------------------------

====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING
WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to complete the Sentient Demo.  We do
not recommend that you read it, but if you are really, really, really stuck,
then use it only as a quick reference.  Otherwise, you'll just spoil it for
yourself....

====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING
WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====WARNING====






















QUICK "WALK THROUGH" FOR THE SENTIENT DEMO.

1.     Use "Computer override device" (from inventory) on the computer on
    the left. (this unlocks the doors)
2.     Exit  through  the  door on to corridor/ring 1, and turn left, you
    will meet Mandanna, a female engineer
3.  Mandanna  will tell you to fetch a "Mechanical repair kit" Rhodey
    has in room 171, ask Rhodey for the kit.
4.     Take the kit to Mandanna and give it to her.
5.     She will rescue the two people locked in the room.
6.     Take the kit back off her and return it to Rhodey as soon as
    possible.
7.     Go to room 283, Garrilac will be unconscious.  Dania will ask you
    to help, he needs a Medical kit.
8.     Quickly  find  Lollie Downle and tell her Garrilac (or Dania) needs
    the kit. (you can take it yourself)
9.  When Garrilac is cured he will come and find you, he will ask you
    to help him with the shields, follow him.
10. He will take you to the Shielding Node and instruct you what to do,
    when he says  NOW! (not before or the ship will blow) you must push
    the node right up to full power.
11. He  thanks  you  for this and then you can leave.  Go to room 253
    where you will find Azirra waiting outside.
12. He  will  inform you that Stabelli has locked himself inside and
    wont come out.  What you will need to do is to find Jurrel.
13. Go  to  rm.  212  tell Jurrel where Stabelli is.  He will tell
    Stabelli to unlock the door and get him out.
14. Follow him and enter the room and pick up the Electrical repair kit.
15. Give  the kit to Rhodey when he asks for it.  He will fix the
    teleports if there is enough time left.
16. When the teleport is fixed use it to exit the deck and finish the
    demo.
17. OR,  tell as many people that the teleport is clear then use the
    teleport.  If  the  oxygen  runs out, use the Environment suit
    to get an extra minute of air.


DEMO ENDINGS

1. Running out of air.
2. Being hit by a flare - failing to fix shields
3. Getting shielding node wrong - by turning the wrong way or using
    before being told.
4. Standing  in the room where Garrilac was unconscious as the flare
    hits - the room will burst into flames.
5. Being locked in the room with Stabelli and Azirra when oxygen runs
    out - this is the only room with an oxygen supply.
6. Fixing the teleport and either exiting the deck yourself or telling
    others and then exiting which will give you a higher score.
7. Playing about with the broken teleport.


PRINCIPAL PLAYERS

Chief of Security               Ramin Jurell
Security Officer                Barno Stabelli
Head of Engineering             Mason Garrilac
Engineers                       Faree Lopan
                                Jerad Rhodey
                                Frebie Mandanna
Medical Chief                   Dania Luvey
Paramedic                       Lollie Downle
Chief of Science                Holman Azzira
Science officer                 Beemin Womak
Navigator                       Yehenna Ta
The Voice of Suzie              Ship's computer overhead announcements


LOCATIONS

The Lower Deck of Engineering.

OBJECTS INVOLVED

Medical Scanner              (player has this)
Medical Kit                  (Downle)
Radiation  Detector          (player has this)
Electronics Kit              (Shield Focus Area)
Computer  Override  Device   (player has this)
Environment Suit             (Equipment Storage Area)
Credentials                  (player has this)



Direct 3D
---------

If you own a graphics card capable of providing hardware acceleration through
Direct 3D, then you may wish to play the game in this mode. Bring up a DOS
prompt in Windows '95, then type the following,

        sentient /+d3d

This will run Sentient with Direct 3D supported. However, only two cards have
been directly supported, the Matrox Mystique, and the Creative Labs
3D Blaster.  Both these cards have slight differences, which can be tweaked
by running the game with the appropriate batch file:

Matrox Mystique                         mystique.bat
Creative 3D Blaster                     blaster.bat

These use the following command line options respectively...

        sentient /+d3d /d3d_card=mystique
OR      sentient /+d3d /d3d_card=3dblaster

Additional command line parameters, which can be used instead of the card
specific fixes to try and fix problems with othe 3D cards, are as follows,

/d3d_width=# - where #=smallest width for textures. This defaults to 4,
               but some cards can't cope with this. If the text looks
               screwy, try

    /d3d_width=8
or    /d3d_width=16

whichever is best.

/+d3d_stipple - turns on stippling for cards which do not support
                translucencies.

/+d3d_nozwrite - prevents Z buffering problems, currently only apparent
                on the 3D Blaster, however newer drivers should fix
                the problem.

If you choose to run the game with the /d3d_card option set, then all other
Direct3D parameters will be ignored.

Some cards, including the 3D Blaster, support texture smoothing. This can
improve the look of the game even further, at the expense of blurring small
objects slightly. To switch on this option, use

/+d3d_smooth

it is switched off by default.

If no options are set, then the default settings will be such that the
smallest texture width will be four, the nozwrite flag is set off, and
stippling is set to off.



Q. I don't own a 3D Blaster or a Matrox Mystique, will I still be able to try
Direct 3D?

A. Yes, in general.    Some cards we have tried have fundamental problems
which preclude them form working with Sentient, but others can be OK,
although you may have to experiment with the command line options for a
best fit.