Rome: Total WarÖ DEMO README

Last Updated: 2004-09-08

INTRODUCTION

Refer to this document if you encounter difficulties with one or more aspects of installation or running the Demo of Rome: Total WarÖ game. Many of the most commonly encountered issues are covered here.

INSTALLATION & SET UP ISSUES

Minimum System Requirements

ò English version of Microsoft« Windows« 98SE/ME/2000/XP

ò Pentium« III 1.0GHz (1000MHz) or AthlonÖ 1.0GHz (1000MHz) processor or higher

ò 256MB RAM

ò 8x Speed CD-ROM drive (1200KB/sec sustained transfer rate) and latest drivers

ò 300MB of uncompressed free hard disk space

ò 100% DirectX« 9.0b compatible 16-bit sound card and latest drivers

ò 100% Windows« 98SE/ME/2000/XP compatible mouse, keyboard and latest drivers

ò DirectX« 9.0b

ò 3D hardware Accelerator Card Required - 100% DirectX« 9.0b compatible 64MB Hardware Accelerated video card and the latest drivers*.

ATI« Radeon 7200
ATI« Radeon 8500
ATI« Radeon 9000
ATI« Radeon 9500
ATI« Radeon 9600
ATI« Radeon 9700
ATI« Radeon 9800
All Nvidia« GeForce 2 and higher

Important Note: *Some 3D accelerator cards with the chipsets listed here may not be compatible with the 3D acceleration features utilized by Rome: Total WarÖ. Please refer to your hardware manufacturer for 100% DirectX 9.0b compatibility.

DirectX Installation

The Rome Total WarÖ installer does not check for the version of DirectX you have currently installed. If you don't already have DirectX 9.0b or newer you will need to install it by going to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx and installing the latest version of DirectX available.

VIDEO ISSUES

Monitor Display

Monitor display goes black when the game resolution is set to a value that the monitor cannot display. The game can only detect the video modes supported by the graphics card not the monitor. Should you find you have set the resolution and cannot run the demo, in order to reset the resolution open the preferences.txt file found in the demo installation directory.

Change the following lines to match the below;

STRATEGY_RESOLUTION:1024x768

STRATEGY_32_BIT:FALSE

BATTLE_RESOLUTION:800x600

BATTLE_32_BIT:FALSE

Screen Resolution

When setting resolution to 1280 x 768 the left half of the screen may be cut off about a quarter inch. To correct this you must manually adjust the monitor settings on the monitor itself. Please refer to the monitor manual for specific instructions.

GAMEPLAY ISSUES

Tutorial Battle Advice

When playing through the tutorial, if you complete the requested action before the advisor finishes speaking. The advisor will be interrupted and will move on the next piece of advice. To ensure that you hear all of what the advisor has to say, do not perform any actions until the advisor has stopped speaking. Please note that you will not be able to hear the advice again once you interrupt it.

If you go outside the boundaries of what the advisor has requested you to do, it is possible that scripting issues may occur which will prevent completion of the Tutorial battle. In the event of this exit the battle and restart.

 

WINDOWS« SPECIFIC OPERATING SYSTEM ISSUES

Windows 98

The will game will not play with Windows 98 First Edition or below.

Windows 2000/XP

If you are running Windows« 2000 or Windows« XP, you must have Administrator rights to properly install and play the demo.

 

DIRECTX ISSUES

Authenticated Drivers

If your drivers are authenticated by Microsoft, then DX9 may try to verify if they have expired by connecting to the following URL crl.Microsoft.com.á This is a Microsoft Certification check for expiration of Certificate site. This could be triggered when the demo is run, as it interfaces with the video and sound drivers installed in Windows.á This feature of Windows can be turned off in the following way:

Start Internet explorer and click...

ááááááááááá Tools | Internet Options

Click the ADVANCED TAB, then scroll down to Security:

UNCHECK the boxes that say "CHECK FOR PUBLISHERS CERTIFICATE REVOCATION" and "CHECK FOR SERVERS CERTIFICATE REVOCATION(requires restart)"

This will stop Windows from trying the verify if a certificated drivers certificate has expired or not.

This does not affect how the demo works and Firewall users can halt the connection and the demo will load as normal.

 

ROME INFO

This file requires Macromedia« Shockwave Flash« to play correctly. If you do not have Macromedia Shockwave Flash you can get it at the following location http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave

Total War Software ⌐ 2002 - 2004 The Creative Assembly Limited. Total War, Rome:Total War and the Total War logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Creative Assembly Limited in the United Kingdom and/or other countries. Published by Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision, Inc. All rights reserved. Portions utilize Microsoft Windows Media Technologies. Copyright (c) 1999-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.