------------------------------------------------------------------------ Interplay Productions - Virtual Snooker (v.1.1) - Celeris, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This file contains important information about Virtual Snooker. ====================================== How To Use This Patch (v.1.1) ====================================== The files contained in this patch will replace the files that shipped in Version 1.0 of Virtual Snooker. After unzipping the patch, copy these files into the directory where you installed Virtual Snooker. If you are unsure where Virtual Snooker was installed, check in \INTRPLAY\VSNOOKER. DOS: COPY SNOOKER.EXE C:\INTRPLAY\VSNOOKER COPY MODEM.INI C:\INTRPLAY\VSNOOKER COPY README.TXT C:\INTRPLAY\VSNOOKER The computer will ask you if you wish to overwrite the existing files, select Yes. WINDOWS: Drag the files (SNOOKER.EXE, MODEM.INI, and README.TXT) into the folder where Virtual Snooker was installed. Windows will ask you if you wish to replace the existing files with the new ones. Click on yes. After that, you are ready to play Snooker again. If everything went correctly, you will not have to reconfigure the game, you should be able to start playing again immediately. Changes to Version 1.1 - A rules violation occuring when a color was potted during a shot in which the cue went in/off was addressed. In this situation the ball was not respotted. This has been fixed, the ball will now be spotted back on the table. - The Windows Setup program was revised to allow setup to all Windows users. - Windows Setup now offers an Uninstall option as well. - A baud rate line has been added to the MODEM.INI file to allow users to manually adjust the data rate of their modem. Note that this rate is a maximum and your modem may adjust its rate down to compensate for slower modems. - The crash or hang occuring when a replay was called after the last ball on the table was hit in has been fixed. <<<< ORIGINAL README FILE >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Interplay Productions - Virtual Snooker - Celeris, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This file contains important information about Virtual Snooker. ====================================== Configuring Virtual Snooker ====================================== From DOS: Place the Virtual Snooker CD into your CD-ROM drive. From the command prompt, type d:INSTALL (where d: is the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive). Follow the instructions to install Virtual Snooker to your hard drive. When the game is finished installing, type SNOOKER to play. Note: you must have the Virtual Snooker CD in your CD-ROM drive to play. From Windows: Insert the Virtual Snooker CD into your CD-ROM drive. Select Run from your Start Menu (Win95) or your File Menu (Windows 3.xx). Type d:\SETUP (where d: is the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive. Follow the instructions to install Virtual Snooker. When the game is finished installing, double click the Snooker Icon to play the game. Note: you must have Virtual Snooker CD in your CD-ROM drive to play. The first time you run the game, a configuration program will allow you to set up your display and sound options. Just follow the on-screen instructions to set up your video driver, sound card, and mouse (if necessary). To change your configuration at a later time, simply select the Configure Virtual Snooker item from the Main Menu. ========================= Electronic Registration ========================= (U.S. release only) Please register Virtual Snooker. Its easy and it gets you all kinds of free stuff: * Save up to 40% off retail prices. * Buy and play our newest releases before others. * Get information about new product developments. ================================= Interplay's World Wide Web Site ================================= Interplay's World Wide Web site is an Internet service designed to give you the latest information about Interplay and our products. The site features our demos, upgrades, product information and ordering information. From your Internet account, point your favorite browser to: http://www.interplay.com/ ======================== Memory Managers ======================== Virtual Snooker does not require a memory manager, but should run ok with all of them in most configurations. You may have problems running Virtual Snooker with QEMM. To disable QEMM, push ALT while the system is booting. ======================== Sound Cards ======================== Virtual Snooker only uses Sound Blaster digitized sound for effects during the game. If you have a different sound card, make sure that its Sound Blaster emulation is turned on. Also, make sure that the BLASTER environment variable contains the correct settings. See your sound card's installation procedures for more information. ======================== Video Drivers ======================== Virtual Snooker can be run at higher resolutions with the 3DVX video drivers. The drivers are graphics chip specific. You should choose the driver which provides you with the highest resolution possible and still maintains a rapid update rate. You can turn off the room background or make the window smaller to increase the frame rate. Higher resolution drivers require more video memory. See the Memory Requirements section below. Current revisions of drivers do not check how much memory is on the card; so if it doesn't work, try a lower resolution. If you don't know what chip is on your video card, try using auto-detection in the config program. This program is not guaranteed to properly identify all chips. If you can't run with the driver selected by auto-detection, try pulling out your video card and looking for a name and ID on the graphics chip. The graphics chip will usually be the largest chip on the board. If a chip specific driver does not work, try the VESA Planar Multi Page driver. If that does not work, use the VESA Linear Single Page driver. If all else fails, use the VGA driver. Video memory requirements for drivers: 320x240 VGA driver 256 KB 640x480 3DVX chip specific drivers 1 MB 1024x768 3DVX chip specific drivers 2 MB 640x480 VESA Planar Multi Page 1 MB 1024x768 VESA Planar Multi Page 2 MB 640x480 VESA Single Page 512 KB 1024x768 VESA Single Page 1 MB New drivers will be made available on the Interplay BBS (see below). There are hardware bugs in some early versions of the S3801/805 chipsets. You may see pixels reversed in columns on the screen. The accelerator may not work on some chips. There is no fix for these bugs. The ET4000/W32 Accelerated chip will not work under WINDOWS. If you have a video card with this chip use the non-accelerated driver for Windows. Note that there is a different driver for the ET4000/W32P version of the chip. The ET4000/W32 driver will not work for the P version. If there isn't a driver for your board, let us know by posting a message on the Interplay BBS. If we get a sufficient number of requests for a chip, we'll try to write a driver for it. ISA graphics boards will not be supported because they lack the necessary performance at high resolution. The movie player uses a VESA mode. If you can't play movies and get a message that the graphics mode can't be set, try installing a VESA driver. ======================== Modem Play ======================== The Virtual Snooker Demo supports two players over a telephone line via modem. Virtual Snooker Demo comes with a file that specifies how to initialize your modem for gameplay. If you have problems getting your modem to connect, you can edit the MODEM.INI file in the Virtual Snooker directory. Use your favorite text editor (NOTEPAD in Windows, or EDIT in DOS for instance) and change the initialization string. Here are a few strings that have proved helpful: "AT&F &D2 &C1 S0=0" - This works best with USRobotics Sportster 28.8 and Multitech modems. "AT&F" "AT&F1" If you continue to have problems, please feel free to call Interplay's Technical Support for assistance. Phone numbers are listed below. ====================== Known Windows Problems ====================== The ET4000/W32 Accelerated Chipset will not work under WINDOWS. If you have a card with this chipset, use the non-accelerated driver if you are running under Windows. Some older Sound Blaster and Media Vision cards will not function under WINDOWS. If you're having problems getting the sound to work while playing from WINDOWS, and are getting a "sound device in use message", close any application that may be using sound. If you still get the message, the problem is a sound driver bug. You can probably download an updated sound driver from your board manufacturer. Creative Labs has a new driver for older Sound Blaster cards. Selecting Sound Blaster sound when configuring Virtual Snooker under Windows may cause the movie player to hang. If you configure Virtual Snooker in Windows and select Sound Blaster, restart Windows before playing any movies. You must hit ESC to bypass the movies at the start of Virtual Snooker. Some Windows users may experience difficulties switching between Snooker and other applications. The Virtual Snooker Demo will often experience video problems or in some cases cannot be restored. In some cases the Autodetect may not detect the video drivers correctly in Windows or in Windows 95. If this happens try using the 640 X 480 VESA Single Page driver. ======================== Technical Support ======================== European Inquiries: Call Interplay Productions on +44 (0) 1628 423666 or fax at +44 (0) 1628 423777. Or write to: Customer Support Interplay Productions, Ltd. Harleyford Manor Harleyford Henley Road Marlow Buckinghamshire SL7 2DX ENGLAND US Inquiries: Call Interplay Technical Support at (714) 553-6678 or call one of the services listed below: ======================== Interplay BBS ======================== Interplay operates a Multi-Line BBS running WildCat! Software for Customer Support, Questions, and game fixes. The number is 714-252-2822. Modem settings are 300-28.8k, V.32, V.42, 8-N-1. This is a FREE service. After logging onto the Interplay BBS, join the Virtual Snooker Conference, (conference 7). To do this from the MAIN MENU, first type "M" to switch to the MESSAGE MENU, then type "J" for "JOIN," then enter "7" to join Conference 7. Once you have switched to the Virtual Snooker Conference you can (R)ead Messages left by others, (E)nter New Messages to our resident Virtual Snooker Expert, and even download additional trick shots, (if you have the CD-ROM version of Virtual Snooker). To Download Files, join Conference 7 as described above, type "F" for the FILES MENU, and then enter "L" to LIST the available files in this area. ======================== IMPORTANT NOTE ======================== Different File Areas are available depending on which Conference you are currently in. If you're looking for Virtual Snooker files, be sure to (J)oin Conference 7 BEFORE you enter the (F)ile Area. ======================== America Online ======================== From AOL you can e-mail Interplay Customer Support at IPTECH. To reach our customer board in the Industry Connection, press CTRL-K for "Go to Keyword." Then type INTERPLAY in the keyword window. In addition to reading and leaving messages, you can download fixes and demos from the "Software Libraries." ======================== CompuServe ======================== On CompuServe we are located in the Game Publishers B Forum. Just type GO GAMEPUB at any ! prompt. Then select section 4 for Interplay Productions. You can leave technical support questions there. You can also download fixes and demos from Library 4 in the GAMEPUB. The best place for game play hints is in the GAMERS forum, (type GO GAMERS). If you are not already a CompuServe member, you can call CompuServe toll- free at 1-800-524-3388 and ask Representative #354 for a free introductory membership and a $15 usage credit. ======================== GEnie ======================== We are located in the Games RoundTable hosted by Scorpia. To get there, type M805;1 at any ? prompt. Then select "Category 13" for Interplay Productions. Demos and patches are available in the Libraries. ============================================== Prodigy (r) Interactive Personal Service ============================================== You may send e-mail directly to us from Prodigy at ID PLAY99B. ======================== Internet ======================== You can reach Interplay Technical Support over the Internet by addressing e-mail to: support@interplay.com Many Interplay demos and patches are also available at Internet FTP sites. ======================== Game Charter ======================== -Avoid playing when tired. Play for no more than one hour at a time. -Sit well away from the screen. -Play games in well lit areas. -Reduce the brightness of the screen to darken the contrast. -Use as small a screen as possible. -These tips will help you enjoy your games playing more and maximise your performance. Only 1500 people in the UK are photosensitive epileptics (sensitive to flickering lights). These are the only people who may develop an epileptic reaction to playing computer and video games. REMEMBER, COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES ARE FUN Issued by The European Leisure Software Publishers Association Station Road, Offenham, Nr Evesham, Worcestershire, W11 5LW ======================== Copying Prohibited ======================== This software product and the manual are copyrighted and all rights are reserved by Interplay and are protected by the copyright laws that pertain to computer software. The CD-ROM is not copy-protected. This does not mean you can make unlimited copies. NOTICE: Interplay reserves the right to make modifications or improvements to the product as seen or described in this manual and/or CD-ROM at any time and without notice. ========================= Virtual Snooker (v.1.1) =========================