Classic Fond 1/ClassicFond01.iso/strategi/serfcity.zip/README.TXT

Text File | 1994-05-24 | 9KB | 203 lines

Last minute information

1. World Size

If your system is equipped with more than 8 Mb RAM, you can ignore this
paragraph. With 4 Mb memory, the world's size is generally limited to 5.
But don't feel sad, because even with this size, a game will last several
days. If you want to play in SVGA mode (see 2) with 4 Mb memory, the
world's size is automatically reduced to 3.


IMPORTANT :
If you only have 4 Mb memory and you don't want to use the SVGA mode,
or if your system does not support it (see 2), you can turn off this
mode when loading the program.
To launch the program, type "settlersn" or "quickn" instead of
"settlers" or "quick".
The program will then use less memory for the graphics, and you will
be able to play in larger worlds (usually size 5).


2. SVGA mode (640x480 Super VGA mode).

To use this mode to its maximum, you will need the following hardware and
software:

-       graphic card with 512 Kb RAM minimum, able to display 256 colors
    in 640x480
-       Vesa driver (see below for more information)
-       a fast PC (80486-50 Mhz or faster)
-       a fast interface with the graphic card (Vesa Local Bus or PCI Local
    Bus at 8 Mb/s or faster)


IMPORTANT :
Don't forget that if you launch the game with "settlers" or "quickn"
(see 1), you will not be able to activate the SVGA mode!

Your graphic card is probably sold with a Vesa driver. If this driver is
installed, the program will automatically detect if this type of
graphic card is installed on the system.
If you do not have a Vesa driver, try the one given with the game.
Enter UNIVBE after opening the directory where The Settlers was
installed. This Vesa driver will detect most of the graphic cards
generally used.

You do not have to use a driver with some graphic cards, because the
software is already included with the card. This configuration generated
hardware conflicts with sound drivers on a testing system. But if you
launch UNIVBE before running the game, these conflicts will disappear.

If you play in SVGA mode with a slow system, the computer-controlled
opponent will "lose intelligence", and the game will also run slower
in your own colony, because the system will not have enough time to
handle the graphic screens. You should not use the SVGA mode if the
game is running slowly.

3. World's size

It is difficult to know exactly the speed of a PC system, because it
depends on many factors (processor, cache, graphic card, system buses,
etc...). This is why an automatic limitation of the world's size was not
included in the program. But the 80386-40 systems are not adapted to
size 5 worlds, where 60.000 settlers can live. With a 80386 system, you
should be able to play size 5 worlds.

4. Controlling the second player

(The text in parenthesis is not yet 100% definitive_)

The joystick can be fine tuned once the menu for the second player has
been completed. It will be furthermore possible to use a second mouse,
thereby giving the second player more control over the game play.

The controls menu can be accessed by activating the "right side" text in
the options menu (for player 2). This option can be activated both before
and during the game.

You can choose the control mode for the second player in the upper section
of the controls menu. The following choices are available:

-       joystick
-       Microsoft compatible mouse (2nd mouse)
-       Logitech compatible mouse (2nd mouse)

The following information is displayed when the parameters for the
joystick are entered:

-       speed
-       tolerance limit

The speed corresponds to the cursor's maximum speed on screen.
This parameter can be increased or decreased.

The tolerance limit (25% by default) corresponds to the amount of movement
required by the joystick before the cursor on screen will move. This
option is extremely important as the player will often nudge the joystick
a little when he or she is pressing the fire button.

The cursor would jump at the slightest movement of the joystick if there
were no tolerance limit. If the cursor won't stop moving around and you
are not moving the joystick (and a different calibration has no effect),
then increase the tolerance level of the joystick.

A PC joystick must be calibrated in order to work correctly during the
game. The program will automatically ask the player if he or she wants to
calibrate the joystick (when the game is in 2 player mode). Press the "J"
(or Y) key to calibrate the joystick during game play. The program will
ask you to move the joystick in different directions while pressing the
fire button. If you make a mistake during the calibration, you must start
the calibration process over again.


Playing with a second mouse:

Playing with two mice on a PC is rather complicated as a PC was not
designed to handle two mice. The game, however, will be much more
enjoyable in 2 player mode if you use a second mouse.

You will need the following material in order to play with a second mouse:

- Another Microsoft compatible mouse (or Mouse Systems compatible).
(most of the mice available today are either one or the other).

The Microsoft compatible mice have two buttons (the Mouse Systems mice
usually have three buttons). Several other mice can be configured to
function in "Microsoft emulation" mode.

As there are different data formats for 3 buttons mice, we suggest you
choose a Microsoft compatible mouse when buying an extra mouse.

- An open Com port. A PC usually has 2 Com ports (this subject is dealt
with in more detail later on).
- If the mouse plug does not fit into the Com port, you will have to use
an adapter.

A PC normally has 2 Com ports: COM1 and COM2.
Some configurations have two additional Com ports: COM3 and COM4. A Com
port has either a 9-pin or a 25-pin plug; the only difference between the
two being the number of pins. If you have a 25-pin Com port, you can use a
mouse that has a 25-pin plug, or you can use a mouse with a 9-pin plug and
an adapter. Don't mix up the type of port and the type of plug when you
buy a second mouse or adapter.

The COM1 port is usually equipped with a 9-pin plug that can be used with
a "normal" mouse. The COM2 port is usually equipped with a 25-pin plug.

Once the mouse has been plugged in, the program will ask you to enter two
new parameters in the controls menu:

-       COM port
-       IRQ number of the COM port

On some PC's, the Com port's name is indicated next to the port itself. If
it is not indicated, and if you are not familiar with your configuration,
you will have to determine the information yourself by experimenting.
There is an IRQ for each Com port on a PC. Without this IRQ, the Com port
would be inaccessible. Generally, the Com ports have the following IRQ's:

         Com port 1: IRQ 4
         Com port 2: IRQ 3
         Com ports 3 & 4: no established standards

As with all areas concerning the PC, there is always an exception to every
rule. If you don't have a good grasp on the IRQ parameters or your
configuration is different from the above example, you can always try
"fiddling" around until you find a configuration that works.
If you entered faulty parameters, the program MIGHT freeze up. If this
happens, launch "The Settlers" again and change the parameters BEFORE
starting the game.
If you click on the "SAVE" option in the controls menu, the configuration
will be saved AND reused. If you click on "EXIT", all of your
modifications will be ignored. When a game is saved, all the options (and
all the parameters in the options menu) will be saved. All your
configurations from the previous game will be automatically re-established
when you launch the game again.


5. Gravis Ultrasound Card:
In order to use a Gravis Ultrasound card, you must install the program
provided with the card on your computer.

Follow the manual instructions to install the game. With the installer
sound configuration options, turn OFF the sound drivers.

Exit the installation program and open the directory where "The Settlers"
was installed (Example: C:\BLUEBYTE\SETTLERS), then launch the batch file
"ULTRASND.BAT". This batch file will save a special configuration file for
your Ultrasound card and will launch the driver.

You can then launch the game following the manual instructions.

IMPORTANT:
Before launching the game, you must launch LOADPATS.EXE. You can then
launch the game as usual.

NOTES:  Customers using certain mouse driver versions, may have to reboot in
between sessions of Serf City.  If you find your mouse does not work in Serf
City, and you are sure that the mouse driver is loaded, try rebooting.

             Have a lot of fun!!!