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-
- ===========================================
- VIRTUAL POOL 2 Preview (tm)
- (c) 1997 Celeris, Inc. All rights reserved
- Virtual Pool 2 is a trademark of Interplay Productions
- All rights reserved
- ===========================================
-
- Thank you for downloading the Virtual Pool 2 Preview. This product
- was developed by Celeris, Inc. and published by Interplay
- Productions.
-
- This readme file contains important information about this preview.
- If you have any questions or are having problems, please read this
- first.
-
- ===========================================
- Setting Up the Virtual Pool 2 Preview
- ===========================================
-
- To setup the Virtual Pool 2 Preview create a new folder on your desktop
- and unzip the contents of the zip file into that folder. Double-click
- on your newly created folder and run the setup.exe.
-
- Note: If you have a previous DOS or Windows 3.x version of a Virtual
- Pool demo on your system, you should delete or uninstall it,
- respectively. If you wish to have both versions present on your
- system, make sure to install them into separate directories.
-
- Note: You MUST have DirectX 5 or later installed on your system to
- play the Virtual Pool 2 Preview. If you do not have DirectX 5
- installed, there is a link to Microsoft on our website. Download
- DirectX 5 and follow their instructions to instal DirectX 5 on your
- computer. Once installed, you may now play the Virtual Pool 2 Demo.
- Please see the Cautionary Notes below if this causes any problems on
- your system.
-
- =========================================
- Playing the Virtual Pool 2 Preview
- =========================================
-
- Once the Virtual Pool 2 Preview is installed, you can run the game
- from the Start Menu under Programs/Virtual Pool 2 Preview. After the
- screen shots appear, you will be asked to enter user name. Click on
- "New User", enter a name, and click "OK". "Hot Keys" are listed below
- in this readme file, or you can call up a quick reference guide in
- the game by hitting "Esc", clicking on "help" on the menu bar, and
- selecting "Help Topics"
-
-
- ===========================================
- Pentium Pro and Pentium II Optimization
- ===========================================
- The Virtual Pool 2 Preview has optional optimization for
- Pentium Pro/II processors which speeds up memory access to video
- memory by turning on Write Combining. The option is accessed by the
- Game Preferences dialog under the Preferences menu. Turning on this
- option can cause your system to crash, so shut down any other
- applications before trying it. You may notice no speed increase
- after enabling optimization. This is usually because the video
- driver has already enabled optimization. You can verify
- if optimization is working by the following test:
-
- 1) Start the Virtual Pool 2 Preview, change to 640x480x16
- fullscreen mode, and load the backroom_16.scn file.
- 2) Load the speed_test.vpg file in the TRICK directory.
- 3) Set your replay rate to 1 and replay the shot.
- 4) Bring up the Video Statistics dialog under the File menu
- and examine the following fields:
- Buffering - this should be set to Triple. If it isn't
- then you should buy a 2MB or larger video card.
- Buffer Memory - this should be Video
- Frame Rate (Last) - this shows your rate and will tell
- if optimization is enabled.
-
- For a 200 Mhz Pentium Pro the frame rate will be in the high twenties
- with no optimization. With optimization on the frame rate should be
- in the low to mid forties. These speed will vary slightly with
- processor speed and video card type. If you have Pentium Pro/II
- Optimization checked in your preferences and you turn it off you must
- re-boot your system for it to really turn off.
- If your system crashes when you try to turn optimization on:
- 1) Check your config.sys and make sure there are no memory
- managers like EMM386 or QEMM being installed. Windows 95
- does not need memory managers and they may cause the
- optimization code to crash.
- 2) Check your frame rate using the procedure described above.
- If it is already optimized don't worry, just leave the
- Virtual Pool 2 Preview's optimization off.
-
-
- ===========================================
- Cautionary Notes
- ===========================================
- * Uninstalling the Virtual Pool 2 Preview. If you want to uninstall
- the Virtual Pool 2 Preview, you must do it through Add/Remove
- Programs in your Control Menu. If you simply delete it from your
- system, the Registry files will remain and you will not be able to
- re-install the game. To uninstall, open your Control Panel which is
- located in Settings on your Start Menu. Double click on Add/Remove
- Programs located in the Control Panel. Scroll up and down through the
- list of programs until you find "Virtual Pool 2 Preview". Highlight
- this and click Add/Remove in the lower right hand corner.
-
- * Do not change color palettes, or the size of your Desktop Area while
- playing the Virtual Pool 2 Preview in a Desktop Window.
- The Virtual Pool 2 Preview can be played in 256 or High color modes.
- * Closing programs using the Ctrl-Alt-Delete End Task function can
- cause problems when attempting to run the program later unless
- Windows has been restarted. To exit the Virtual Pool 2 Demo, select
- Exit from the File menu.
- *All other programs which use the same sound card as the
- Virtual Pool 2 Preview must be closed in order for the Virtual Pool 2
- Preview to play sounds.
- *If your screen saver turns on while the game is running, it may be
- minimized on the task bar when the screen saver turns off. If clicking
- on the task bar does not recover the game, use the shortcut in the
- Start Menu to recover it.
- *Using the Windows CD player can cause the Virtual Pool 2 Preview
- to run slower. Use the CD player through the game(CD control under the
- Options Menu) for better game play. After activating the CD player in
- the game, your Windows CD player will not work until you exit the
- Virtual Pool 2 Preview.
-
- ===========================================
- TroubleShooting
- ===========================================
-
- Q: The gameplay isn't as smooth as I want it to be, what can I do to
- increase the performance of the game?
- A: First, you should try to run the Virtual Pool 2 Preview without any
- other applications running in the background. If you need the other
- apps running, try turning off the background (this option is located
- in Game under the Preferences Menu). Lastly, you can lower the
- screen resolution. If you are running full screen, pick a lower
- resolution in the Display Modes menu. If you are running in Desktop
- mode, you can either scale down the size of the window or lower your
- Windows resolution.
- Q: I closed the Virtual Pool 2 Preview by using an End Task.
- The next time I ran it I received an error that said:
- Preference data damaged.
- Restoring default user preferences.
- What's that mean and why is my preferences data getting damaged?
- A: If the Virtual Pool 2 Preview is terminated without properly
- exiting the game, it cannot properly de-initialize and save off user
- preferences. The game installation is OK and is not damaged, the
- preferences were not saved properly. Always remember to exit out of
- pool from within the game window or File menu.
- Q: I had to install DirectX 5, but after my system was restarted by
- the Setup program, I found out that some of my newer drivers were
- replaced by DirectX with older ones. What's going on?
- A: DirectX 5 has its own set of drivers that have been certified for
- use with it. In some situations, you may have a driver that is newer
- than the one from DirectX or one that isn't certified. If this
- occurs, you can either use DirectX's driver, or re-install your
- previous driver after DirectX has been installed.
- Q: I've read the readme and I'm still having problems. Where can
- I go to get more help.
- A: Never fear. Interplay Technical Support is always available to
- help. You can reach us via e-mail, the Interplay BBS, the Interplay
- Web Site, by telephone, or mail. See Section 4 of this readme for
- all the numbers and addresses.
-
-
- ===========================================
- Quick Reference
- ===========================================
-
- A: Aim
- B: Raise Butt of Cue
- C: Move Center Point
- E: English: Move Cue Tip
- F: Vary Tracking Force
- H: Select Another Ball To Move
- L: Toggle Table Lines
- M: Move Ball
- O: Overhead View
- R: Replay Last Shot
- S: Shoot
- T: Toggle Tracking
- U: Undo
- V: Change View
- X: Examine Table
- Y: Your User View
- Z: Zip To Result
- >: Toggle Amplify
- <: Toggle Fine Tune
- +/=: Increase Replay Rate
- -: Decrease Replay Rate
- / : Type Chat Message
- L Mouse: Zoom
- Ctrl-A: Set Adversary View
- Ctrl-B: Spot Lowest Ball
- Ctrl-C: Call Shot
- Ctrl-D: Draw Game
- Ctrl-G: Return To Game
- Ctrl-K: Kibitz Shot
- Ctrl-L: Load Saved Game/Position
- Ctrl-M: Miscall Last Shot
- Ctrl-P: Push Out
- Ctrl-Q: Quit Current Match
- Ctrl-S: Save Game Or Position
- Ctrl-T: Change Player Turn
- Ctrl-V: Return To Video
- Ctrl-W: Set User View
- Ctrl-[: Called Safety
- INS: Spot/Pocket Ball Menu
- ESC/ALT: Enter Menu System
-
-
-
- ===========================================
- Virtual Pool 2 Full Version Information
- ===========================================
-
- - 5 New Games
- - Real Time Photo-Realistic Animation
- - All New Physics Model, Even Allows Jump Shots
- - Tournament Mode with 128 Computer Opponents
- - Adjustable Table Characteristics
- - Full Motion Video Tutorial with "Hall of Famer" Mike Segel
- - Network, Modem, and Serial Play
-
- North American Orders:
- (800) 468-3775
- Be sure to mention code: VPE7
-
- European Inquiries:
- Phone: +44 (0) 1628 423666
- Fax: +44 (0) 1628 423777
-
- Or see your local software retailer for this and other great
- VR Sports titles
-
-
- ===========================================
- 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/
-
- ===========================================
- VR Sports Technical Support
- ===========================================
- Technical Support is always ready to help with any problems you may
- encounter. Please try to have your system information ready and be
- near your computer if possible.
-
- In the United States:
- Help is available 24 hours a day through our Automated
- Customer Service system and representatives are available during
- normal business hours.
- Telephone: (714) 955-9592
- Fax: (714) 252-2820
- Attn: Customer Service
- Internet E-Mail: support@vrsports.com
- World Wide Web: http://www.vrsports.com/
- BBS Modem Phone Number: (714) 724-4010
- Mail: VR Sports Customer Service
- 16815 Von Karman
- Irvine, CA 92606
-
- In Europe:
- phone: +44 (0) 1628 423723
- fax: +44 (0) 1628 487752
- address: Customer Support
- Harleyford Manor
- Harleyford
- Henley Road
- Marlow
- Buckinghamshire
- SL7 2DX
- England
-
-
- ===========================================
- Legal Information
- ===========================================
-
- Software Use Limitations and Limited License
- This special preview version of Virtual Pool 2
- (the "Software") is intended solely for your personal noncommercial
- home entertainment use. You may not decompile, reverse engineer, or
- disassemble the Software, except as permitted by law. Interplay
- Productions and Celeris, Inc. retain(s) all rights and title in the
- Software including all intellectual property rights embodied therein
- and derivatives thereof. You are granted a revocable, nonassignable
- limited license to create derivative works of this Software solely
- for your own personal noncommercial home entertainment use and may
- publicly display such derivative works to the extent specifically
- authorized by Interplay in writing. A copy of this authorization,
- if any, will be provided on Interplay's World Wide Web site, located
- at http://www.interplay.com, or by contacting the legal department
- Interplay Productions in the US at +(714) 553-6655. The Software,
- including, without limitation, all code, data structures, characters,
- images, sounds, text, screens, game play, derivative works and all
- other elements of the Software may not be copied (except as provided
- below), resold, other for-charge basis, or for any commercial purpose.
- You may make copies of the Software for your personal noncommercial
- basis, including, without limitation, bundling the product with any
- other product or service basis and any give away of the Software in
- connection with another product or service. Any permissions granted
- herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn by
- Interplay Productions at any time. All rights not expressly granted
- are reserved
-
- Acceptance of License Terms. By downloading or acquiring and then
- retaining this Software, you assent to the terms and restrictions of
- this limited license. If you acquired the Software and do not accept
- the terms of this limited license, you must return the Software
- together with all packaging, manuals and other material contained
- therein to the store where you acquired the Software for a full refund
- and if you downloaded the Software, you must delete it.
-
-