Classic Fond 1/ClassicFond01.iso/simulato/x-wing.zip/READ.ME

Text File | 1993-02-15 | 13KB | 323 lines

                         X-WING SPACE COMBAT SIMULATOR

                                 READ.ME FILE


CONTENTS:

    I) Notes on Gameplay

   II) Undocumented Keyboard Functions

  III) Other Undocumented Functions

   IV) FlightStick Pro and Thrustmaster Flight Control System

    V) Memory Requirements

   VI) SoundBlaster Issues

  VII) ProAudio Spectrum 16

 VIII) Installing on Removable Hard Drives (Bernoulli, Syquest, etc.)

   IX) Miscellaneous


I) NOTES ON GAMEPLAY

Unlimited weapons mode:

  The unlimited weapons setting gives your craft an unlimited supply of
  missiles or torpedoes.  You are limited, however, to 16 missiles and/or
  cannon bolts active at once.  As they hit their targets or expire, more
  may be fired.


II) UNDOCUMENTED KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS:

Some keyboard functions were left out of the printed documentation. These
functions are summarized below.

  The "o" (the letter "oh") key will turn the targeting computer and the
  CMD display OFF.

  The ";" (semi-colon) key functions exactly the same as the Shift-F9 key,
  that is to say, it transfers partial energy from the Shields system to
  the Laser/Ion Cannon system(s).

  The "'" (apostrophe) key functions exactly the same as the Shift-F10 key,
  that is to say, it transfers partial energy from the Laser/Ion Cannon
  system(s) to the Shields system.


III) OTHER UNDOCUMENTED FUNCTIONS

Some other (non-keyboard) functions were left out of the printed document-
ation.  These functions are summarized below.

  At the Pilot Registration Desk, there is an extra button labeled "Modify
  Pilot".  Clicking on this button will bring up a window with three more
  buttons, "Revive", "Delete", and "Cancel".

    Clicking on "Revive" will cause an inactive (either dead or captured)
    pilot to become active again.  Revived pilots will have a score of 0,
    but will otherwise be the same as they were when they were killed or
    captured.

    Clicking on "Delete" will cause the currently selected pilot's file to
    be deleted from your hard drive.  A deleted pilot cannot be revived and
    will no longer appear in any pilot selection screen.

    Clicking on "Cancel" will do nothing, except close the window.


IV) FLIGHTSTICK PRO AND THRUSTMASTER FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM

Some newer joysticks have extra buttons on them which allow more functions
to be performed without using the keyboard.  X-Wing's use of these extra
buttons is summarized below.

FlightStick PRO:
  The gray button on the top of the stick is equivalent to the "r" key.
  That is, it will select the nearest enemy starfighter as your current
  target.

  The lower gray button is equivalent to the "." key. That is, it turns
  the cockpit instrument panel either ON or OFF.

  The "hat" or "cooly" on the top of the stick has the following functions:

    Pressing FORWARD on the "hat" (labeled "D") is equivalent to the "w"
    key. That is, it cycles through your weapons systems, selecting Lasers,
    Ion Cannons, Torpedoes, and Missiles, as available.

    Pressing BACKWARD on the "hat" (labeled "U") is equivalent to the "s"
    key. That is, it cycles through the three possible Shield System
    settings, Full Shields Forward, Full Shields Aft, and Shields Even.

    Pressing to the RIGHT on the "hat" (labeled "R") is equivalent to the
    Shift-F10 or "'" (apostrophe) key. That is, it transfers partial
    energy from the Laser/Ion Cannon system(s) to the Shields system.

    Pressing to the LEFT on the "hat" (labeled "L") is not very useful.
    This is equivalent to pressing the trigger and the top button at the
    same time.  The result is to fire your weapons and to either target
    any enemy in your sights or activate your "Roll" thrusters.

ThrustMaster Flight Control System:

  The second thumb button is equivalent to the "r" key. That is, it will
  select the nearest enemy starfighter as your current target.

  The bottom "pinky" button is equivalent to the "." key. That is, it
  turns the cockpit instrument panel either ON or OFF.

  The "hat" or "cooly" on the top of the stick does not perform any
  useful function.

Two Joysticks or other sticks with extra buttons:

  Joystick 2, button 1, is equivalent to the "r" key.
  Joystick 2, button 2, is equivalent to the "." key.
  All buttons simultaneously is equivalent to the "w" key.
  Both buttons on stick1, and stick2,button1 is equivalent to the "s" key.
  Both buttons on stick1, and stick2,button2 is equivalent to the Shift-F10
  key or the "'" (apostrophe) key.


V) MEMORY REQUIREMENTS

EMS MEMORY:

  On IBM PC's there are three basic kinds of memory, Main memory, Extended
  (XMS) memory, and Expanded (EMS) memory.
  If you have DOS 5.0 (or higher) you can use the DOS command "mem" to see
  how much of each of these three types of memory you have available.
  In addition, the Install program included with X-Wing will tell you how
  much Main memory, and how much EMS memory you have available.

  X-Wing CAN use Main Memory and Expanded (EMS) memory, but it CANNOT use
  Extended (XMS) memory.

  If you have Extended (XMS) memory available, but no Expanded (EMS) memory
  available, you may wish to convert some (or all) of your Extended (XMS)
  memory into Expanded (EMS) memory.  If you have a 386 or 486 CPU, you
  can use the DOS 5.0 device driver EMM386 to accomplish this.  If you do
  not have DOS 5.0, or you prefer, you may use a third party device driver
  such as 386MAX or QEMM386, to obtain Expanded (EMS) memory.  Consult the
  documentation for DOS 5.0 or for your third party software for more info-
  rmation on how to set up your system to make EMS memory available.

  NOTE: Some older software or hardware may have a version of Expanded
  Memory which is incompatible with X-Wing.  The X-Wing Install program
  will warn you if this is the case.

LOW MEMORY:

  Under certain low memory conditions, X-Wing may disable features such
  as digitized sound effects, or even all sound and music.  The various
  low memory conditions and the related consequences are summarized below.

  NO EMS MEMORY, OR EMS MEMORY <= 64K:
    Main Memory > 602,000 bytes.  Digitized speech and sound effects are
    disabled always.

    Main Memory < 602,000 bytes and > 571,000 bytes.  All sound and music
    disabled.

    Main Memory < 571,000 bytes.  X-Wing will not run.

  EMS MEMORY >= 80K and < 256K:
    Main Memory > 543,000 bytes.  Digitized speech and sound effects are
    disabled always.

    Main Memory < 543,000 bytes and > 512,000 bytes.  All sound and music
    disabled.

    Main Memory < 512,000 bytes.  X-Wing will not run.

  EMS MEMORY >= 256K:
    Main Memory > 563,000 bytes.  All features enabled.

    Main Memory < 563,000 bytes and > 543,000 bytes. Digitized speech and
    sound effects are disabled always.  Music is disabled during flight.

    Main Memory < 543,000 bytes and > 512,000 bytes.  All sound and music
    disabled.

    Main Memory < 512,000 bytes.  X-Wing will not run.

EMS MEMORY REQUIREMENTS DURING FLIGHT:

  During flight, EMS memory is used to store music, digitized sound
  effects and speech, and the various cockpit interiors.

  The music requires 384K of EMS memory.

  The digitized sound effects and speech require 320K of EMS memory.

  The cockpit interiors can use as much as 192K of EMS memory.  If EMS
  memory is not available, the cockpit interiors are loaded from disk as
  needed.

  X-Wing attempts to load the music first, then the digitized sound and
  speech, and lastly the cockpit interiors.

  X-Wing does not attempt to load music if the MUSIC OFF option has been
  selected.

  X-Wing does not attempt to load digitized sound and speech if BOTH the
  Digital Sound Off and Speech Off options have been selected.

  To hear both music and digitized sound and speech, you must have 704K
  of EMS memory available.

  NOTE: X-Wing will not use more than 896K of EMS memory.


VI) SOUNDBLASTER ISSUES

There are several hardware compatibility issues related to SoundBlaster
sound cards.  These are summarized below.

  DELAY WHEN FIRING WEAPONS.
    If you experience a brief but noticeable delay whenever you fire your
    weapons, then you should select the "Digital Sound Off" option in the
    Inflight Options screen (press ESC during flight).  This delay is due
    to the chip on your sound card, which is not as fast as more modern
    boards.  If you notice this delay at other times during flight (when
    a TIE fighter comes close by, or when another pilot speaks) then you
    may want to select the "Digital Speech Off" option.

  DMA CONFLICTS.
    While playing X-Wing, it is possible to trigger a digitized sound effect
    or speech and then immediately thereafter to cause an access to your
    hard drive.  If your sound board and your hard drive controller are
    both configured to use the same DMA channel (usually channel 1), then
    this may cause your system to lock up, or to freeze for a period of
    time.

  TESTING FOR A DMA CONFLICT.
    On some systems a DMA conflict may occur during the opening sequence
    or at the registration desk.  If your system locks up at any of these
    points, try disabling digitized speech and sound (see OPTION 2, below).
    If your system no longer locks up, then you have a DMA conflict.
    If your system still locks up after you have disabled digitized sound
    and speech, call LucasArts Product Support for assistance.
    If your system does not lock up at any of these points, but does lock
    up occasionally during flight, we suggest you perform the following
    test:  Enter a mission in which you have a wingman, and there are enemy
    fighters present (for example, Y-Wing Historical Mission #2).  Press
    the "r" key to target an enemy fighter.  Press Shift-A to order your
    wingman to attack (this will trigger a digitized speech).  While
    your wingman is talking, press the "c" key to turn your camera on (this
    will cause your disk drive to be accessed).  If your system locks up or
    behaves strangely, then you have a DMA conflict.

  WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A DMA CONFLICT.
    If you have a DMA conflict, you have three choices.  First, you could
    disable digitized sound and speech in X-Wing, thereby avoiding the
    problem.  Second, you could re-configure your sound board to use a
    different DMA channel.  Third, you could re-configure your hard disk
    drive controller to use a different DMA channel.  Most people prefer
    the second option, but all three are discussed below.

    OPTION 1, DISABLE DIGITIZED SOUND AND SPEECH.
      Run the X-Wing Install program (to do this change to the directory
      where you installed X-Wing (usually C:\XWING) and enter INSTALL).
      Select "Set Sound Board Configuration" from the MAIN MENU.
      Select "AdLib and Compatibles" (or "Roland" or "GMIDI" if appropriate)
      from the menu.
      Select "Exit" from the MAIN MENU.
      No digitized speech or sound will be triggered.

    OPTION 2, RE-CONFIGURE YOUR SOUND BOARD.
      If you have a SoundBlaster, you cannot change the DMA channel.  Try
      Option 3 or Option 1.
      If you have a SoundBlaster PRO, you can try either changing the DMA
      channel jumpers, or enabling DMA sharing.  See the SoundBlaster PRO
      documentation for details.
      If you have a ProAudio Spectrum 16, you can change the DMA channel
      by running the ProAudio Spectrum Install program.
      If you have some other SoundBlaster compatible board check the
      documentation that came with your board.

    OPTION 3, RE-CONFIGURE YOUR HARD DISK DRIVE CONTROLLER.
      This is a pretty risky thing to do to your system, just so you can
      hear digitized speech in a game.  If you really want to try, however,
      consult the documentation for your hard drive controller.


VII) PROAUDIO SPECTRUM 16

Please note that when you use this sound card with X-Wing, you must have
installed the ProAudio Spectrum software that came with the card.



VIII) INSTALLING ON REMOVABLE HARD DRIVES (BERNOULLI, SYQUEST, ETC.)

X-Wing's Install program will not allow you to select a removable disk
drive for installation.  If you want to install on a removable drive,
such as a Syquest cartridge, or a Bernoulli drive, you must specify the
removable drive you want to install X-Wing on when you start the install
program.

You can do this by using the following command:

A:INSTALL ON DRIVE D

where, A: is replaced by the drive letter of the floppy drive you are
installing from, and D is replaced by the drive letter of the removable
drive you want to install X-Wing on.



IX) MISCELLANEOUS

SCREEN SPARKLING/SNOW -- If you see "snow" on the screen during flight, and
it bothers you, it can be removed by setting the Engine Glow Off in the
inflight options screen (press ESC during flight).