Crazy Collection 1/CC-01.iso/GAMES_1/PIRATES/README.TXT

Text File | 1993-06-16 | 16.1 KB | 479 lines

╓────────────────────╖
║ INSTALLATION NOTES ║
╙────────────────────╨───────────────────────────────────────────────

   IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS INSTALLING PIRATES! GOLD, READ THESE NOTES.

   Topics covered are:
         MEMORY                    INSUFFICIENT MEMORY ERROR
         MEMORY MANAGER            GAME RUNS SLOW
         DOS EXTENDERS             VIDEO CARDS
         INSTALL "HANGS"           TECHNICAL SUPPORT
         MEMORY MANAGER ERROR

╓─────────────────╖
║ MEMORY MANAGERS ║
╙─────────────────╨──────────────────────────────────────────────────
   Pirates/Gold is compatible with a very wide array of PC memory
managers.  It will run with:
        HiMem           (DOS5/DOS6)
        HiMem/EMM386    (DOS5/DOS6)
        QEMM386         (Quarterdeck)
        386MAX          (Qualitas)

   It will also run with no memory manager at all, provided there
is 2Mb of available memory.

╓───────────────────────╖
║ MEMORY / DOS EXTENDER ║
╙───────────────────────╨────────────────────────────────────────────
   Pirates/Gold uses a "DOS extender" to allow easy access to the
large amounts of memory required for its high resolution graphics.
A DOS extender combines all DOS memories (conventional, EMS or XMS)
into a common pool for programs to use.  Pirates/Gold requires
2Mb of available memory of any type(s).  Usually a computer with
4Mb or more of total memory (RAM) will be sufficient.  However, if
you have used up all of your memory for RAM disks or disk caches,
you will have to reconfigure your machine to have 2Mb of memory
available for Pirates/Gold to run.  For example, you could remove
your disk cache program from your "config.sys" or "autoexec.bat",
thus freeing up the memory it was using for use by Pirates/Gold.

   DOS extenders are compatible with an extremely wide array of DOS
memory managers (HiMem, EMM386, QEMM386 or 386MAX) and their config
switches.  There are a few specific configurations that at present
can cause problems.  These are identified below along with our
suggested fix in parentheses.

    QEMM with NOEMS       (replace NOEMS with FRAME=NONE)

    386MAX with NOFRAME   (replace NOFRAME with EMS=0)


╓─────────────────╖
║ INSTALL "HANGS" ║
╙─────────────────╨──────────────────────────────────────────────────
   The install program runs a test program to see if your memory
manager and configuration is compatible with Pirates/Gold.  If you
have 386MAX with the NOFRAME option in your "386MAX.PRO" file this
will lock up the install.  Replace NOFRAME with EMS=0 and it will
work.





╓──────────────────────────────╖
║ *** MEMORY MANAGER ERROR *** ║
╙──────────────────────────────╨─────────────────────────────────────
   The install program tests your system to see if Pirates/Gold will
run with your current memory manager.  If it is not compatible it
will display a "*** MEMORY MANAGER ERROR ***" alert box allowing you
to abort the install if you wish.  If you think that you can modify
your memory manager later, prior to running the game, then continue
with the install.  If you are not sure, quit the install, read this
readme completely and try again when you have fixed the problem.

   If you want to see if your memory manager and configuration is
compatible with Pirates/Gold there is a test program on the first
install disk called "X32MEM".  If this disk is in drive "B"
just type:

        b:x32mem

at the DOS command prompt.  It will display your available memory
and video card information if it is compatible with Pirates/Gold.
If it is not it will display one of the following error messages:

   Previously installed software is neither VCPI nor DPMI compatible
   Fatal error, DPMI host does not support 32 bit applications
   Fatal error, 80386 processor is required

   The first message may be displayed if you have a 486 with QEMM
and the NOEMS switch.  To fix this, replace the NOEMS switch with
FRAME=NONE in your "config.sys".

   If you have 386MAX with the NOFRAME option in your "386MAX.PRO"
file, "X32MEM" will hang!  Replace NOFRAME with EMS=0 and it will
work.






╓─────────────────────────────╖
║ *** INSUFFICIENT MEMORY *** ║
╙─────────────────────────────╨──────────────────────────────────────
   The install program tests your system to see if Pirates/Gold will
run in your current configuration.  If it does not find sufficient
available memory it will display an "*** INSUFFICIENT MEMORY ***"
alert box allowing you to abort the install if you wish.  If you
think that you really do have enough memory, but just need to free
some up, then continue with the install and adjust your memory usage
later, prior to running the game.  If you are not sure, quit the
install and refer to this readme for help on freeing up more memory.

   If you want to see how much memory is available to Pirates/Gold
with your particular memory manager there is a test program on the
first install disk called "X32MEM".  If this disk is in drive "B"
just type:

        b:x32mem

at the DOS command prompt.  It will display your available memory
and video card information.  Keep freeing up memory until you have
at least 2000Kb available.




╓────────────────╖
║ GAME RUNS SLOW ║
╙────────────────╨───────────────────────────────────────────────────
   Pirates/Gold will abort with an "Insufficient Memory" error if you
do not have enough available memory (see above).  However if you have
just barely enough memory, the game will run but VERY VERY slowly. It
is swapping data in and out of memory from disk.  This is called
"thrashing" and as you can see it is not fun.  Freeing up a little
more memory (usually about 100Kb) will solve the problem.  Again, see
above for information of providing more available memory.



╓────────────────╖
║ VIDEO/GRAPHICS ║
╙────────────────╨───────────────────────────────────────────────────
   Pirates/Gold uses high resolution graphics (640 by 480) to present
its artwork as richly as possible.  It will run in either 256 color
mode or 16 color mode depending on your video adapter.  Normally the
install program will automatically select the correct mode for you.
However, if you run into problems, the following information may be
helpful.

   The 256 color mode is to be preferred as it allows more graceful
shadings with up to 256 different colors in each picture.  The game
is shipped with 256 color art and the install program will attempt
to configure the game for this mode on your computer.  However, this
mode requires an SVGA (Super VGA) video card.

   If instead you have a VGA video card you can still run Pirates/
Gold, but you must use the 16 color mode.  The install program will
detect the VGA card and at install time convert all of the artwork
to 16 color art.  While this can be a long process on some computers
(up to an hour) it is much faster than ordering new disks and less
confusing than two different versions of the same product.

   This conversion of artwork is a one-way process.  Should you later
upgrade your video system from VGA to SVGA, you must reinstall the
game from the distribution disks in order to switch to the 256 color
mode.

   For Pirates/Gold to run in the 256 color mode, it must be able to
identify your SVGA card.  Pirates/Gold is programmed for most of the
popular SVGA cards on the market and will automatically run on those
systems.  Should you own a video card that we do not support, or for
some reason we cannot identify, there is still hope. Pirates/Gold is
also programmed to support the VESA standard.





╓──────╖
║ VESA ║
╙──────╨─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   VESA is a standard for programming SVGA cards but requires that a
"VESA driver" be loaded on your system before using any of the high
resolution SVGA modes.  Each different SVGA card requires a custom
VESA driver which is usually shipped on the diskette that came with
your SVGA card.  If you can't find a VESA driver for your SVGA card,
contact either your SVGA card manufacturer or your computer supplier.
A list of SVGA manufacturers with phone numbers follows at the end of
this section.

   To find out what brand SVGA card you have, reboot your computer
and note the screen display.  Almost all SVGA cards will identify
themselves at the beginning of a reboot.  For your convenience the
following is a list of many popular SVGA card brands and their VESA
driver filenames.

        APPIAN:      apvesa.exe
        ATI:         vvesa.com
        C&T:         vesa452.com
        CIRRUS:      crusvesa.com
        EVEREX:      vesa.com
        GENOA:       vesa.com
        OAK:         67vesa.com
        ORCHID:      orchdvsa.com
        PARADISE:    vesa.exe
        SIGMA:       sigvesa.com
        STB:         stb-vesa.com
        TECMAR:      vgavesa.com
        TRIDENT:     vesa.exe
        VIDEO7:      v7vesa.com

   To load a VESA driver, first copy it from your video diskette into
some convenient subdirectory in your PATH.  Then you simply enter its
name as you would any other command or program name.  The VESA driver
is now loaded until you reboot your computer.  As a convenience, you
could add this VESA command to your "autoexec.bat" so that it would
be automatically loaded each time you reboot.  For example, if you
had a Video7 video card, just enter "v7vesa" on a separate line of
your "autoexec.bat" AFTER your path command.

   If you have an SVGA card that Pirates/Gold does not recognize and
you don't have a VESA driver, you can still run the game in 16 color
mode.  Just say YES when the install program asks if you want to run
in 16 color mode.  This will use one of the standard VGA video modes
that the SVGA card also supports.





╓────────────────╖
║ VIDEO CHIPSETS ║
╙────────────────╨───────────────────────────────────────────────────
   If you think that you have a video card that supports 640x480x256
and we cannot detect it for some reason, you can force Pirates/Gold
to use a particular chipset with a command line switch.  When you
start Pirates/Gold type:

        Piratesg V#

at the command prompt, where # is one of the following:

        1: VESA
        2: ATI
        3: Everex
        4: Compaq
        5: NCR
        6: Trident
        7: Video7
        8: Genoa
        9: Paradise
       10: Chips and Technologies
       11: Tseng 3000
       12: Tseng 4000
       13: Ahead "A"
       14: Ahead "B"
       15: AcuMOS
       16: Oak Technologies

   For example, if you want to force Pirates/Gold to use the Paradise
chipset, start the game by typing:

        Piratesg V9

at the DOS command prompt.

   Normally, Pirates/Gold will try to directly use your chipset even
if you have a VESA driver loaded.  We do this for two reasons.  First
it gives us faster response to video commands, and secondly we have
seen problems with VESA drivers built-in to some video cards.  Should
you wish to override this, select "V1".  This will use a VESA driver
if it is installed even if we can detect your chipset.

   If you want to see if we can detect your chipset there is a test
program on the first install disk called "X32MEM".  If this disk is
in drive "B" just type:

        b:x32mem

at the DOS command prompt.  It will display your available memory
and video card information.

╓─────────────────────╖
║ VIDEO MONITOR CLICK ║
╙─────────────────────╨──────────────────────────────────────────────
   Many monitors will make a clicking noise when switching into
high-resolution graphics modes.  This is normal and does not
indicate a problem.







╓─────────────────────────╖
║ 16 COLOR ART CONVERSION ║
╙─────────────────────────╨──────────────────────────────────────────
   Pirates/Gold will play on a standard VGA video card in 16 color
mode.  This requires that all of the 256 color art be converted at
install time.  Should you wish to perform this conversion after the
game has been installed, just go to the disk directory where you
installed Pirates/Gold and type "CONV".  This may take up to an
hour on slower machines.  This converts all of the 256 color sprites
in the "SPR" subdirectory to 16 color sprites in the "SPR16" sub-
directory, and all of the 256 color pictures in the "PCX" sub to
16 color pictures in the "PCX16" sub.  Normally, the 256 color
files are being deleted as the 16 color files are being created to
save disk space.  However if you wish to keep both versions of the
game (to compare or whatever) then type "CONV /NO" to start the
conversion.  The 256 color files will now not be deleted.

   To switch between the two versions, use the "CHVER" program.
After typing "CHVER 16" at the DOS command prompt, Pirates/Gold
will use 16 color art.  Typing "CHVER 256" will make it use 256
color art.





╓─────────────────────────╖
║ SVGA card manufacturers ║
╙─────────────────────────╨──────────────────────────────────────────

        Ahead Systems Inc.
        44244 Fremont Boulevard
        Fremont, CA 94538
        [phone]

        Appian Technology Inc.
        [phone]

        ATI Technologies Inc.
        3761 Victoria Park Avenue
        Scarborough, Ontario
        Canada M1W3s2
        [phone]

        Boca Research Inc.
        6401 Congress Avenue
        Boca Raton, FL 33487
        [phone]

        Chips and Technologies
        3050 Zanker Road
        San Jose, CA 95134
        [phone]

        Compaq Conputer Corp.
        [phone]

        Cirrus Logic
        1463 Center Pointe Drive
        Milpitas, CA 95035
        [phone]

        Diamond Computer Systems Inc.
        [phone]

        Everex Systems
        48431 Milmont Drive
        Frement, CA 94538
        [phone]

        Genoa Systems Corp.
        75 E. Trimble Road
        San Jose, CA 95131
        [phone]

        Headland Technology Inc.
        46221 Landing Parkway
        Fremont, CA 94538
        [phone]

        Hercules Computer Technology Inc.
        [phone]

        Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd.
        [phone]

        Micro-Labs Inc.
        [phone]

        Micron Technology Inc.
        [phone]

        MaxLogic Systems Inc.
        48350 Milmont Drive
        Fremont, CA 94538
        [phone]

        NEC Technologies Inc.
        [phone] ext.43

        Nth Graphics
        [phone]

        Number Nine Computer Corp.
        [phone]

        Orchid Technology Inc.
        [phone]

        Panacea Inc.
        [phone]

        Paradise
        see Western Digital

        Sigma Designs Inc.
        [phone]

        STB Systems Inc.
        1651 N. Glenville
        P.O. Box 850957
        Richardson, TX 75085
        [phone]

        Tecmar
        [phone]

        Trident Microsystems, Inc.
        321 Soquel Way
        Sunnyvale, CA 94086
        [phone]

        TrueTech Inc.
        181-B W. Orangethorpe
        Placentia, CA 92670
        [phone]

        Tseng Laboratories Inc.
        10 Pheasant Run
        Newtown Commons
        Newtown, PA 18940
        [phone]

        United Solutions Inc.
        [phone]

        ViewSonic
        [phone]

        Video Seven
        see Headland

        Western Digital Imaging
        800 E. MiddleField Road
        Mountain View, CA 94043
        [phone]

        ZyMOS Corp.
        477 N. Mathilda Avenue
        Sunnyvale, CA 94086
        [phone]








╓───────────────────╖
║ TECHNICAL SUPPORT ║
╙───────────────────╨────────────────────────────────────────────────
   Hopefully if you have gotten this far we have been able to solve
any problems you might have had and you are now enjoying playing
Pirates/Gold.  If we have not been able to solve your particular
problem, please call our technical support group ASAP at the number
listed below.  We'll get you into the action of Pirates! Gold.

    [phone]    Monday to Friday    9am to 5pm est/edt