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Text File | 1995-06-01 | 16.4 KB | 436 lines

TIE FIGHTER SPACE COMBAT SIMULATION READ.ME FILE CONTENTS: I) Known Problems with TIE Fighter. II) Using "Set Sound Board" to manually configure your sound board. III) Sound Support for GameWave and SoundWave 32 Users. IV) Sound Support for UltraSound Users V) Support for THRUSTMASTER WCS Mark II. VI) Not Enough Main Memory Problems. VII) Not Enough EMS Memory Problems. VIII) Making a Boot Disk. IX) Making TIE Fighter run faster and better. X) QEMM Stealth Mode Conflict XI) Digispeech Portable Sound Users XII) Miscellaneous I) Known Problems with TIE Fighter. 1) Some ships must survive earlier missions in order for later missions to be winnable. Usually, these 'key' ships are impossible to destroy. However, there are some missions in which these ships can be destroyed by the player. If the player does destroy a 'key' ship, they may not be able to complete a later mission. This is a rare condition, mostly associated with capital ships and the use of INVULNERABLE mode by the player. If you are interested in taking out every ship in a mission, we suggest you do so in the Virtual Combat Chamber or use the MANUAL BACKUP feature at the end of each battle to safeguard against being trapped in an unwinnable mission. Because some missions safeguard against 'key' ships being destroyed, the player may find capital ships that do not take damage. II) Using "Set Sound Board" to manually configure your sound board. After selecting the "Set Sound Board" option from the install program you will be asked to choose either Express Setup or Custom Setup. If the install program fails to configure your sound board automatically then you should choose Custom Setup. If you have added a new sound board to your system, or changed your sound board configuration, then select Express Setup and the program will attempt to set up your sound board automatically. From the Custom Setup Standard Menu you can choose from the sound standards supported by TIE Fighter and manually set the Port, IRQ, DMA, and Stereo Reverse settings. You can also test your configuration for both music and sound. In some cases, you may want to select the Advanced Menu. This menu allows you to select the Music and Digital Sound standards for TIE Fighter independently of each other. This is most useful for systems with more than one sound board, or sound boards which support more than one standard. Note: You can run the sound configuration utility directly by entering SETMUSE at the DOS prompt. III) Sound Support for SoundWave 32 Users. For best results with TIE Fighter you should set your board to SoundBlaster with General MIDI. To configure TIE Fighter to use General MIDI for music do the following: First select "Set sound board configuration" from the main menu of the install program. At the prompt, select Custom Setup and go to the Advanced Menu. Select General MIDI (set the port to match the setting for your board) for Music and Sound Blaster 2.0 for Digital Sound (you can use the "Detect" command to set the port, IRQ, and DMA). IV) Sound Support for UltraSound Users. For your convenience a version of Mega-Em (the UltraSound's Roland GM/Sound Blaster emulator) optimized for best performance with TIE Fighter has been included. To use, first select "Set sound board configuration" from the main menu of the install program. At the prompt, select Custom Setup and go to the Advanced Menu. Select General MIDI (port 330) for Music and Sound Blaster for Digital Sound (port=UltraSound SB base address, IRQ=UltraSound SB IRQ, DMA=1). Before starting the game type: MEGAEM <ENTER> EMUSET <ENTER> If you have any difficulties using Mega-Em, please call Advanced Gravis Technical Support at 604-431-1807. V) Support for THRUSTMASTER WCS Mark II. TIE Fighter includes a .ADV file for use with the THRUSTMASTER Mark II controller system. To program your THRUSTMASTER for use with TIE Fighter enter the following line at the DOS prompt: \MARK2\MK2LOAD \TIE\TIE2.ADV where MARK2 is the directory where you installed the THRUSTMASTER software and TIE is the directory where you installed TIE Fighter. If you have the older version of the WCS Mark II, the line above will not work. You need to contact THRUSTMASTER for an upgrade. You can print the TIE2.ADV file to make a quick reference sheet for using your THRUSTMASTER with TIE Fighter. To do so, enter: TYPE \TIE\TIE2.ADV >PRN: at the DOS prompt. Be sure to have your printer ready first. VI) Not Enough Main Memory Problems. TIE Fighter requires that you have 572K of conventional main memory available. You can check how much memory you have available by entering MEM at the DOS prompt. Look for the line which says "Largest Executable Program Size". The number on this line is the amount of conventional main memory currently available in your system. NOTICE: LUCASARTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR OTHER UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM CHANGES MADE TO SYSTEM CONFIGURATION FILES. NOTE: WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU PRINT THIS FILE BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES TO YOUR SYSTEM CONFIGURATION. ENTER "TYPE READ.ME >PRN:" AT THE DOS PROMPT TO SEND THIS FILE TO YOUR PRINTER. BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PRINTER READY FIRST. 386MAX USERS: If you are using 386MAX, you should run the Maximize utility to try and make more main memory available. Note: older versions of 386MAX did not include a Maximize utiltity, if you are using an older version, consult Qualitas Tech Support for assistance. QEMM USERS: If you are using QEMM, you should run the Optimize utility to try and make more main memory available. Note: older versions of QEMM did not include an Optimize utiltity, if you are using an older version, consult Quarterdeck Tech Support for assistance. SEE NOTE IX IN THIS FILE REGARDING STEALTH MODE WITH QEMM! NETROOM USERS: If you are using NetRoom, you should run the Customize utility to try and make more main memory available. Note: older versions of NetRoom may not include a Customize utiltity, if you are using an older version, consult Helix Tech Support for assistance. DOS 6.XX USERS: You should try using the MemMaker utility to make more main memory available. From the DOS prompt, enter MEMMAKER. NOTE: We don't recommend using MEMMAKER if your are using a multiple configuration setup in your AUTOEXEC.BAT and/or your config.sys files. DOS 5.XX USERS: Try to load as many of your device drivers and TSR's as possible into "HIGH" memory. To do this start by using the BOOTDISK utility (see below) or try following the steps below: 1) Backup. Save a backup of your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files by entering the following lines at the DOS prompt: C: CD \ COPY CONFIG.SYS CONFIG.BAK COPY AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOEXEC.BAK Be sure to type these lines carefully! At any time in the future you can restore your old configuration by doing the following: Hold down the CTRL and ALT keys and press the DELete key. When you see the message "Starting MS-DOS...", press the F5 key. At the prompt enter the following lines: COPY CONFIG.BAK CONFIG.SYS COPY AUTOEXEC.BAK AUTOEXEC.BAT Be sure to type these lines carefully! Now, hold down the CTRL and ALT keys and press the DELete key again, and your system will work as it did originally. 2) Load HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE. Add the following lines at the beginning of your CONFIG.SYS file: DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 2048 RAM 3) Load DOS high. Add the line DOS=HIGH,UMB to your CONFIG.SYS file. 4) Load device drivers high. Change any occurrence of the text DEVICE= to the text DEVICEHIGH= in your CONFIG.SYS file. 5) Load TSR's high. Try adding the letter LH followed by a space before the lines in your AUTOEXEC.BAT which load TSR's (Terminate and Stay Resident). For example, to load the MOUSE.COM TSR high you might change C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE.COM to LH C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE.COM in your autoexec.bat file. 6) Reboot your system. After changing your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files, re-boot your system by holding down the CTRL and ALT keys and pressing the DELete key (CTRL-ALT-DEL). If you see error messages stating that programs have not been loaded high, but have been loaded low instead, you should change the corresponding line in CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT from DEVICEHIGH= to DEVICE= or from LH xxx to xxx. 7) Check available memory. Run the install program to check if you have made enough memory available, or enter MEM at the DOS prompt. The number on the line "Largest Executable Program Size" is the amount of main memory available. If this number is over 572K you should be able to play TIE Fighter. If you have tried using one of the utilities listed above, and/or you can't make enough main memory available by modifying your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT, try making a boot disk. To do this read the section below called MAKING A BOOT DISK. VII) Not Enough EMS Memory Problems. TIE Fighter requires at least 900K of available EMS memory to run, and 2000K of available EMS memory is recommended. The install program lists how much EMS memory is currently available in your system. The largest amount of EMS memory required is 2500K. If the install program detects that you have no EMS memory at all then you must install a memory manager to provide EMS memory. You can either use the memory manager provided with DOS (called EMM386) or you can buy a memory manager utility from a third-party. To use the memory manager provided with DOS, do the following: At the beginning of your CONFIG.SYS, add the following lines: DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 2048 RAM DOS=HIGH and reboot your computer by holding down the CTRL and ALT keys and pressing the DELete key (CTRL-ALT-DEL). Run the install program to check if you have made enough memory available. If you are already using a memory manager, but the install program says that you do not have enough EMS memory available, consult the manual that came with your memory manager. Make sure you have specified the necessary options to provide EMS services and that you have specified 2048 as the amount of EMS to be provided. VIII) Making a Boot Disk. To make a boot disk, select the "Make a Boot Disk" option from the main menu of the install program. Make sure you have a floppy disk available to use as your boot disk. (Note: you must use the A: drive to make your boot disk). You will be instructed at each step of the process of making your boot disk. If TIE Fighter still does not have enough memory, even after you have booted your machine using the boot disk, try one (or more) of the following steps: 1) Remove the mouse driver. TIE Fighter can be played with only a joystick, the mouse is optional. To remove the mouse driver insert the word REM at the beginning of the line in the CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the boot disk which loads the mouse driver. Look for a line with the word MOUSE in it. For example, the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on your boot disk might contain the following line: C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE.COM Change that line to: REM C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE.COM and save the file on the boot disk. Reboot your computer and try TIE Fighter again. 2) Load devices high. You may be able to free up more main memory by loading device drivers high. In the CONFIG.SYS file on your boot disk, look for lines that start with DEVICE= Change the word DEVICE to DEVICEHIGH so that the lines start with DEVICEHIGH= Save the file on the boot disk and reboot your computer. Run the install program or the TIE Fighter game to see if you have made enough available. 3) Load TSR's high. You may be able to free up more main memory by loading TSR programs high. In the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on your boot disk, add the word LH at the start of any lines that are loading programs into memory. For example, you would change the line: C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE.COM to the line LH C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE.COM Save the file on the boot disk and reboot your computer. Run the install program or the TIE Fighter game to see if you have made enough available. IX) Making TIE Fighter run faster and better. Here are some tips on making your TIE Fighter playing experience more enjoyable. 1) Use a good joystick. We recommend the CH Products Flightstick line of joysticks, and the Thrustmaster line of products as well. 2) If you have room in memory, load SMARTDRV or some other disk cache software. A SMARTDRV cache as small as 256K can make a big difference. 3) Make sure you have enough EMS memory available for TIE Fighter. If you don't hear music while you're in combat, and/or you don't hear any "radio chatter" then you need to make more EMS memory available. 4) Use the RETURN (i.e. ENTER) key to match speeds with your target. 5) Use the 'r' key to target the nearest enemy. 6) Use the '.' key to remove the cockpit art when you are dogfighting a tough opponent. 7) Customize TIE Fighter to your preferences. Press ESC during a mission to customize the combat portion of the game. Any settings you change will stay that way until you change them back. 8) If the game gets too slow when there is a lot of action try using the ALT-D command to set the Graphics detail to LOW (or LOWEST). 9) If you are waiting for something, or simply have a long way to go in order to get to the hangar, you can use ALT-T to cause time to pass either 2 or 4 times as quickly (use the clock on your control panel to see how much time is passing in the game). 10) For a fun challenge, try flying the training course and using the ALT-T command to accelerate time. 11) If you're getting frustrated with a mission, don't forget about the SHIFT-S command which calls for reinforcements. There is a scoring penalty, but you may find it to be worth it. 12) Play the Combat Chamber missions in order of difficulty. In other words, play all the Mission 1 missions first, then all the Mission 2 missions, etc. X) QEMM Stealth Mode Conflict If you are experiencing problems running the game (i.e. lockups or QEMM exception errors during the opening cut scenes), then you must disable the Stealth Mode feature of QEMM. To do this, you must first locate the QEMM386.SYS device line in your CONFIG.SYS file and remove the ST:M or ST:F parameter. For example, change the line: DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM ST:M R:2 to the line: DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM R:2 in your CONFIG.SYS file. After making this change, you must reboot your computer for the change to take effect. You may need to re-run the OPTIMIZE utility if you receive error messages or if you don't have enough MAIN memory to play the game. XI) Digispeech Portable Sound Card Users The sound card detection system will incorrectly set the Sound Board option to Sound Blaster 2.0. In Custom Setup override this setting to choose Sound Blaster. XII) Miscellaneous 1) TIE Fighter tries to make disk access faster by keeping frequently accessed files open. This means that you must set a FILES=nn line in your CONFIG.SYS to allow DOS to have nn files open at once. We recommend you set FILES=30, but you may be able to use a lower number than that if you need just a tiny bit of extra main memory. Anything less than 15 is probably a bad idea, though. ---- END OF FILE ----