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Text File | 1997-07-16 | 18KB | 425 lines

SODA Off-Road Racing DEMO README 07/14/97 _______________________________________________________________________ [ To read this file, select Edit/Word Wrap from the menu above ] TO ORDER: Please call Sierra On-line sales support at 1-800-757-7707 _______________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS I] MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS II] HOW TO START THE DEMO III] HOW TO PLAY THE DEMO I] MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ======================================================================= MINIMUM CONFIGURATION - Operating System: Windows 95 - Pentium 90 Mhz processor (P-90) or faster - 16 MB RAM - Double speed CD-ROM drive (MPC 2 Compliant) - 16-bit Windows 95 and DirectX3 Compatible Sound Card - VLB/PCI SVGA DirectX3 Compatible Graphics Adapter - Hard Disk (30MB) plus space for DirectX Drivers - Keyboard (not recommended for driving... get a joystick!) RECOMMENDED CONFIGURATION - Pentium 133 Mhz processor (P-133) or faster - Rendition based 3D-accelerator board with 4 MB video RAM - 24 MB RAM - Steering Wheel/Pedals (or at least a joystick) II] HOW TO START THE DEMO ======================================================================= DEMO Notes ---------- This is a DEMO version of SODA Off-Road Racing. The DEMO version differs from the full version as follows: - The DEMO is an ALPHA version (an unfinished version), and will be put on CD-ROM several months before the final shipping version of the game is scheduled to be completed. - Championship Series Mode is disabled. - All Multi-player modes are disabled (IPX, TCP/IP, MODEM, SERIAL) . - Records (such as best lap times) are disabled. - The 2x4 and 4x4 trucks are disabled. - 11 of the 12 tracks are disabled. - 2 of the 3 racing environments are disabled. - Damage is disabled. - The replay system is disabled. - The World Wide Ranking System is omitted. - The ability to generate a track is disabled in the Track Designer. Installation ------------ Insert the CD-ROM containing the DEMO version of SODA Off-Road Racing into your computerÆs CD-ROM drive. Start the installation process as follows: 1. Click the "Start" button on the Windows 95 task bar. 2. Choose "Run..." from the displayed menu. 3. Type the letter of your CD-ROM drive, followed by ":\soda\setup". For example, if your CD-ROM is drive D, type "D:\soda\setup". 4. Click the "OK" button to start the installation program. Follow the instructions provided by the installation program. RENDITION SUPPORT ----------------- This DEMO version of SODA Off-Road Racing has direct support for several Rendition 3D-Accelerator boards. Note that SODA requires the 2.0 series of display drivers. A temporary (pre-released and untested) set of drivers is included on this DEMO CD, but you may need to get your vendorÆs 2.0 display drivers. (NOTE: By the time this DEMO is released, newer drivers will probably be available. Do not install these BETA drivers over a newer version of the drivers that you may have already installed. The following boards are supported: - ScreaminÆ 3D from Sierra On-Line - Intense 3D 100 from Intergraph - Total 3D from Canopus - 3D Blaster PCI from Creative Labs - Royal Flush from Miro SODA will auto-detect the accelerator board once the correct drivers are installed. When one of the above boards is detected, a "Rendition Ready" logo appears after two seconds on the title screen, to let you know the game is running using 3D Acceleration. To disable 3D-Accelerator support in SODA, run offroad.exe with the /S command line option. If the "Rendition Ready" logo does not appear on the title screen, SODA is not using any 3D acceleration support. To install the BETA Rendition display drivers from the DEMO CD: 1. Click the Start button on the task bar, and choose Settings then Control Panel. 2. From the Control Panel select Display. 3. From the Settings tab push the Change Display Type button. 4. Under Adapter Type press Change. 5. Press the Have Disk button 6. Enter the drive letter of the CD-ROM, followed by "\soda\rendition", then Choose OK. 7. Select the Rendition Verite 1000 PCI RRedline pre-1.1d drivers, and push the OK button. 8. From the Change Display Type dialog push the Close button. From the Display Properties dialog push the Close button. Select Yes when asked to restart the computer. III] HOW TO PLAY THE DEMO ======================================================================= STARTING THE GAME ----------------- First, close all other applications running on your system. Windows 95 is a multi-tasking environment, and running other applications while playing SODA Off-Road Racing will definitely reduce performance. Two icons are installed for launching SODA Off-Road Racing, one for Full-Screen Mode and the other for Windowed Mode. Full-Screen Mode is recommended because it supports 3D-Acceleration, it exhibits a better frame-rate on many systems, and it is more immersive. The Windowed Mode (/W on the command line) is mainly provided to allow the game to run on some systems where Full-Screen Mode cannot work due to incompatibilities with the video card. If a compatible 3D-accelerator board is detected, SODA will display the Rendition Ready logo while starting to let you know it will use the accelerator board. If a compatible board is not detected, the logo will not be displayed. If problems are encountered when using a certain 3D-Accelerator board, the use of the acceleration features can be disabled by launching offroad.exe with the /S option on the command line. SCREEN NAVIGATION ----------------- Most menu, options, and record screens can be controlled by keyboard, mouse, joystick, or even steering wheel/pedals. Only a few name entry controls require the use of a keyboard. The following table describes the control options: Action Keyboard Joystick Mouse -----------------------------------------------------------------------| |Selecting | Tab key advances Button #2 Point | |Controls | to the next advances to and | | | control. the next control. click. | | | | |Selecting | Up/Down arrow keys. up/down | |Menu Items | Enter to select. Button #1 to select. Point | | | and | | | click | | | | |Buttons | Use the Spacebar Button #1 to Point | | | to activate the activate the and | | | selected button. selected button. click. | | | | |Lists | Up/Down Arrow keys up/down or left/right Point | | | for vertical lists. and | | | Left/Right Arrow click. | | | keys for horizontal | | | lists. | -----------------------------------------------------------------------| The mouse is recommended. Also, on many screens, two shortcuts are available - the Esc key will go to the previous screen (cancelling changes), and Enter key will advance to the next screen (applying changes). JOYSTICK, STEERING WHEEL, AND PEDALS SETUP ----------------------------------------- NOTE: The joystick calibration available from within the Windows 95 Control-Panel is not recognized by SODA Off-Road Racing. You need to use the calibration procedure described below. Before proceeding, and certainly before racing, you want to calibrate your controls. All analog input devices such as joysticks, steering wheels, and pedals need to be calibrated in order to work correctly with computer games. An incorrectly calibrated joystick may make it difficult or impossible to control your vehicle. This calibration procedure should be repeated regularly (at least once a week), especially if any control difficulties arise. At start-up, if the game detects that the joystick is too far from center, it will automatically bring you to the calibration screen, so you can perform the necessary recalibration. To calibrate your joystick, steering wheel, and/or pedals from the Main Menu Screen: 1. Select Options from the Main Menu Screen. 2. The Options Screen has a list of 4 pages along the bottom. Select the Control Options page. 3. On the Control Options Screen, push the Calibrate button. 4. Slowly move all of the connected joysticks, steering wheels, and pedals to their maximum extents, then center them (for pedals this means release the brake and accelerator). If you move the controls too quickly while calibrating it may result in a bad calibration, requiring the entire process to be repeated, so just be gentle. 5. If you are sure the calibration worked, push the OK button. However, we recommend that you instead push the Test button, and manually inspect the calibration, just to be sure. On the Test Screen you can actually see if your joystick is working and calibrated correctly. If you are satisfied with the calibration you can choose the OK button. If you wish to repeat the calibration, simply choose to Restart the calibration procedure. The Test Screen will also reveal any joystick malfunctions, such as the inability to return to center reliably or jumpy performance caused by wear and use. Both of these conditions can make it harder to drive. We recommend using high quality joysticks such as those listed in the installation instructions. CONTROL SETUP ------------- From the Control Options Screen you can configure the controls you want to use to drive and to change the camera view. Simply press the button for the desired action, and then provide an example input. For example, to use the joystick as the accelerator pedal, push the Accelerate button, and then push forward on the joystick. The words Joystick #1 Up should appear next to the Accelerate button, confirming your selection. If a control is already selected for another action, it cannot be reselected. Also, some keys cannot be used for driving actions because they are already assigned for other (non-driving) commands, or because they are not standard keys available on all keyboards. QUICK START ----------- Before your first race, at least make sure you have calibrated your joystick, steering wheel, and/or pedals, as described in the previous sections. Then, proceed as follows: 1. Select the Single Races command from the Main Menu. This mode is for racing one race at a time, and is good for practicing racing before trying to win a championship series. 2. Selecting Single Races will bring up the Vehicle Select screen. The Vehicle Select screen is where you choose which type of vehicle you want to race. In the demo version you may only select the two-wheel drive buggy. 3. After clicking on the buggy, click the right arrow button on the lower left of the screen. This is called the Next Button, and advances you one screen closer to racing. This takes you to the Track Select Screen. This is where you select the racing environment and then the race track. Along the bottom of the screen, select the Tropics environment (the only one available in the DEMO). Then, along the top left of the screen, select the track "Tropic Treat" (the only track available in the DEMO). 4. After selecting the track, enter the Garage to make sure your vehicle is setup for the race. Enter the garage by pressing the Wrench Button on the bottom left of the Track Select Screen. Once in the garage, set the tires to "Deep Tread" or maybe "Normal Tread" because Tropic Treat has a lot of mud. Then set the transmission as you desire (Automatic or Manual), but at first we suggest using an automatic transmission because it is simpler to control. DonÆt bother adjusting the suspension or gearing for now... you might want to experiment with these settings after you master driving. 5. Choose the OK Button (the button with a green check), to return to the Track Select screen. Then choose the Next button to actually start the race. DRIVING CONTROLS ---------------- The controls for driving the vehicle are configured in the Control Options screen. The defaults are as follows: Up Shift - Joytick Button 1 Down Shift - Joystick Button 2 Accelerate - Joystick forward Brake - Joystick backward Turn Left - Joystick Left Turn Right - Joystick Right Change View - Spacebar When the race first starts, your vehicle is in neutral gear. Even when driving an automatic transmission, you still need to up-shift (once) in order to get into drive. Once in drive, the transmission will automatically change gears for you. If you get stuck and need to go into reverse, you need to down-shift twice. The first down-shift will put you back in neutral, the second will get you into reverse. COCKPIT CONTROLS ---------------- To PAUSE the game while racing, press either the "P" KEY or the "Esc" KEY. This will bring up the paused menu. From the paused menu (in the demo version) you can do the following: Continue the race. Enter the garage to make changes to your vehicles setup. Terminate the race and return to the track select screen. Other commands that are available while racing are as follows: "1" Key - Change the ground graphics detail. "2" Key - Change the road graphics detail. "3" Key - Change the vehicle graphics detail. "4" Key - Change the trackside object graphics detail. "5" Key - Change the sky graphics detail. "7" Key - Turn on/off the map. "8" Key - Change the shadow graphics detail. "9" Key - Turn on/off the rear-view mirror. "R" Key - Ride with the next opponent. "T" Key - Return to your vehicle. "Z" Key - Move the camera forward (in some camera views). "X" Key - Move the camera backward (in some camera views). "C" Key - Move the camera upward (in some camera views). "V" Key - Move the camera downward (in some camera views). "B" Key - Move the camera left (in some camera views). "N" Key - Move the camera right (in some camera views). SPINNING OUT - DRIVING TIPS --------------------------- As in the real thing, many of the vehicles in SODA Off-Road Racing are over-powered. If you experience difficulty driving, try the following: - Reduce your vehicles horse-power in the garage to the minimum. - Turn into the slide. If your backend slides to the right, turn right. - Be very gentle with the accelerator. When driving the 800 HP trucks, you only need to push the accelerator very lightly to match the power from a "floored" accelerator of a normal car. - At first just try to drive 30 or 40 MPH until you master the track and vehicle. How many times have you cornered on a dirt road going 80 or 90 MPH with a 800 HP truck? - Always down-shift to first gear when starting from a stop. If you try to get going in third or fourth gear it is difficult not to spin out again. - Try not to accelerate or brake much while turning. Acceleration and braking reduce the available traction for cornering. - Make sure you have the appropriate tires for the track. Using mud tires on gravel, or gravel tires on mud will cause the vehicle to have less cornering ability, and may make the road seem excessively slippery. - Try not to lock the brakes up when slowing down. Be gentle with the joystick. When the wheels are locked up, all ability to steer the vehicle is lost. - If the vehicle starts to get too sideways, immediately stop accelerating, and try down-shifting or lightly tapping the brakes. This sometimes helps get the vehicle back under control. Acclerating when starting to slide will usually cause the backend to "break loose" even more, insuring you completely spin-out! - Reduce graphics detail to get the best frame-rate that your system can provide. When the graphics performance is slow or "jumpy" it makes it harder to drive. You want the animation to be as smooth as possible. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SIERRA ON-LINE, INC. DOES NOT WARRANTY OR PROMISE THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL WORK WITH ANY OR ALL COMPUTER SYSTEMS. SIERRA DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY, EITHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, FOR THE USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL DAMAGE TO OR LOST USE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE PRODUCTS, LOSS OF WARRANTIES, OR LOST DATA BY THE CUSTOMER OR ANY THIRD PARTY. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY SIERRA, ITS EMPLOYEES, DISTRIBUTORS, DEALER OR AGENTS SHALL CHANGE THE RESTRICTION OF LIABILITY OR CREATE ANY NEW WARRANTIES. IN NO CASE SHALL SIERRA'S LIABILITY EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE SIERRA SOFTWARE PRODUCT. SOFTWARE ALLIES, INC. DOES NOT WARRANTY OR PROMISE THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL WORK WITH ANY OR ALL COMPUTER SYSTEMS. SOFTWARE ALLIES DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY, EITHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, FOR THE USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL DAMAGE TO OR LOST USE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE PRODUCTS, LOSS OF WARRANTIES, OR LOST DATA BY THE CUSTOMER OR ANY THIRD PARTY. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY SOFTWARE ALLIES, ITS EMPLOYEES, DISTRIBUTORS, DEALER OR AGENTS SHALL CHANGE THE RESTRICTION OF LIABILITY OR CREATE ANY NEW WARRANTIES. IN NO CASE SHALL SOFTWARE ALLIES'S LIABILITY EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE SIERRA SOFTWARE PRODUCT.