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Text File | 1995-10-04 | 15.2 KB | 360 lines

============================================================================= Tyrian v1.1 Shareware Version Copyright (c) 1995 Epic MegaGames Inc. and Eclipse Software ============================================================================= * Instructions/Troubleshooting Info * ============================================================================= Requires: ■ A 386-33MHz or faster IBM-compatible PC ■ VGA graphics ■ Hard disk ■ 4 Megabytes of RAM ■ 200 KB conventional memory free (360 KB for network/modem play) Also supports: ■ Ad Lib, Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro, Sound Blaster 16, Gravis Ultrasound, and 100% compatible music cards. ■ General MIDI (MPU-401) compatible music cards. ■ Joystick or Mouse ■ Enhanced Pentium mode for ultra-cool detail Recommended hardware: ■ 486/66 or faster CPU for smooth play at high detail. ■ Sound Blaster ■ Mouse Version History --------------- ■ 1.0 - First shareware release of Tyrian ■ 1.1 - Second release of Tyrian shareware and first release of the registered version. - Fixes control problems caused by the joystick routine - Fixes weapons that don't show up on the "purchase" screen - Fixes some random crashes and runtime errors - Added sopport for DMA 3 and MIDI port 300H - Added command line parameters (see below) - Added some nice little secrets NOTE: For multiplayer games, different versions of Tyrian are not compatible. Make sure both players have the same version of Tyrian before starting a multiplayer game. To start Tyrian --------------- 1. Switch to the drive where the game is installed (C:) 2. Switch to the subdirectory where the game is installed (CD \TYRIAN) 3. Before running Tyrian for the first time, you should run SETUP.EXE to configure the sound and music settings. Note: If you have a Pentium processor, make sure you choose "Pentium" in the Detail menu section to get added graphical effects. 4. After configuring your sound card, exit the setup program, then type TYRIAN to begin the game. ============================================================================= Common problems and solutions ============================================================================= Running with Windows --------------------- Tyrian does not work reliably under Windows 3.xx with sound on. Please run SETUP from DOS and select "No Music" and "No Effects" under setup if you need to run Tyrian from Windows. If you still have problems, exit Windows and run Tyrian from DOS. Tyrian should work under Windows 95 on most computers. However, if you have any problems running under Windows 95, you'll have to run Tyrian from MS-DOS Mode instead. If you are running TYRIAN through Windows, make sure you change the keyboard configuration in the options menu, so the ALT key will not be used. Windows has specific uses for the Alt key that may interfere with the game. Running with OS/2 ----------------- Though Tyrian may work reliably under OS/2 on some computers, we don't recommend this because it might result in the game locking up. Please run Tyrian through DOS, instead. ============================================================================= HOW TO BOOT YOUR COMPUTER CLEAN ============================================================================= If you're having problems running Tyrian, you might be able to get it up and running by "Booting your computer clean." By this, we mean starting your computer without loading all of the memory managers and device drivers that might interfere with the game. It's a relatively simple process, so please bear with us. If you have DOS 5.0 ------------------- Please skip this section if you have DOS 6.0 or later! You need to create a "boot disk" to allow you to start your computer without loading all the TSR's and memory managers that take away memory. Here's how. A. Put a blank disk in your A: drive and format it as a DOS disk. (Don't do this in your B: drive - it won't work!) To do this, type the following command: FORMAT A: /S B. Wait while your computer formats the disk. C. Label the disk "Boot Disk" and keep it handy. You'll need this disk whenever you want to start TYRIAN. Now, you can reboot your computer and play Tyrian: A. Put the boot disk in your A: drive. B. Restart your computer, either by pressing CTRL-ALT-DELETE, by hitting your reset button, or by turning it on. C. Wait while your computer boots from the boot disk. D. After a little while, your computer will stop and give you the A> prompt. E. Now change to your hard disk by typing "C:". F. Go into the Tyrian directory by typing "CD \TYRIAN". G. Begin by typing "TYRIAN". If you have DOS 6.0 or later ---------------------------- Reboot your computer by pressing RESET or Ctrl-Alt-Del. Wait for the message "Starting MS-DOS..." to come up. Now press the [F5] key. This will cause DOS 6.0 to bypass all of your TSR's, memory managers, and other programs which normally occupy main memory. Now change into the TYRIAN directory and begin the game. ============================================================================= GENERAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ============================================================================= Q: When I run Tyrian, the game refuses to start and gives me the message "You do not have enough free memory." A: To run Tyrian, you'll need: * At least 220K(360K modem/network game) of free conventional memory * At least 2.5 Megs of other memory. Here's what you need to do: 1. Make sure you have at least 4 megabytes of memory installed in your computer! You'll need this much in order to have 2.5 Megs free. 2. If you are trying to run Tyrian from Windows, completely exit Windows and try running it from DOS. 3. If you are trying to run Tyrian from "DOSSHELL" or any other menu program, please exit from the menu program. Then, run Tyrian from the DOS prompt. Menu programs often occupy enough memory that there won't be enough left for the game. 4. If none of the above help, you can solve this problem quickly by "Booting your computer clean". See above for details! Q: When I run Tyrian, the computer locks up or reboots. A: Run SETUP and verify that your settings are correct. If you are not using a sound card, make sure that SETUP is set for "No Music" and "No Effects." If you are using a sound card, verify that your sound card has no address, IRQ, or DMA conflicts with other peripherals in your system. If your sound card works properly with other games, you can assume that there are no conflicts. However, if your sound card does not work with other games, you have a conflict. See your sound card manual for details on fixing this. Q: Tyrian runs slowly on my 386 or 486 computer. What can I do? A: Your computer or VGA card isn't as fast as the game would like. You can speed up the game by running SETUP and changing the Detail setting to a lower value. Q: While playing, I get dumped back to DOS with an error message. A: This means that either (1) Tyrian is conflicting with your memory managers and TSR's, or (2) you need more free memory to run Tyrian. Try booting clean and running Tyrian. Q: I can't seem to get ANYTHING on the screen. I type Tyrian and the system "hangs". What now? A: Make sure you have the system requirements mentioned earlier in the manual. If you do, you may have TSR's that conflict with Tyrian. Remove the TSR's and try running Tyrian with a "clean boot" from a DOS diskette. Also try running Tyrian without sound, to determine if there is a sound-related conflict. Q: While playing Tyrian, my ship pulls to one side, like a joystick is not calibrated properly - but I'm not using a joystick! A: Try typing FILE0001.EXE NOJOY to run Tyrian. Doing so will disable the joystick routine and should correct the problem. Here's a list of command line parameters: Parameter Function --------- -------- NOJOY Disables joystick detection. NOKEY Forces Tyrian to send keystrokes to the BIOS just in case another device driver needs input. Tyrian still uses the keyboard driver though. MAXVOL Forces Tyrian's SETUP program to set the card's main volume to it's maximum, instead of reading the current volume setting. JUKEBOX Takes you directly to the Jukebox. Only works on SETUP.EXE. All command line parameters (except JUKEBOX) are used by typing the parameter after the executable FILE0001.EXE (e.g. FILE0001.EXE MAXVOL ). Note: Network, modem, and serial games will only work when the TYRIAN.EXE file is run. Therefore, it's not possible to use command line parameters in modem, network, or serial games. We're sorry for the inconvenience. ============================================================================= SOUND CARD NOTES ============================================================================= Since new models of sound cards are always being manufactured and revised, sometimes a new sound card will come out that's not compatible with Tyrian. To determine whether you are having a sound-related conflict, try setting up Tyrian for "No Music" and "No Efeects." If Tyrian works without sound, but locks up with sound on, chances are that you are having a sound-related conflict. Here's how to contact the top sound card makers for information about sound card problems and obtaining the latest driver files. Company Sound Card Phone BBS CompuServe GO ------------- ------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------- Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum 800-638-2807 510-770-0527 MultiVen (12) Creative Labs Sound Blaster 405-742-6622 405-742-6660 Blaster Gravis Ultrasound 604-431-1708 604-431-5927 PcVenB (14) ============================================================================= TWO PLAYER MODEM/NETWORK GAME ============================================================================= Advanced Setup Options ---------------------- For Modem, Network, BBS, or serial games, you can specify advanced setup options where necessary. Just choose the method of play you wish and choose "Advanced Options." The following is a list of parameters possible for the advanced options line. Parameters: -ACCEPT Accept calls in the background as game plays. -ADDR You can specify a nonstandard port address for a device with this command. -ANSWER Wait for a call then answer the phone. -ANSWERNOW Answer immediately. -BAUD <baud> Set baud. 2400, 9600, 14400, 28800, 19200, 38400. -COM <1/2/3/4> Use COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4. Default is COM2. -DIAL "<phone>" Dial this phone number. -INIT "<string>" Your modem's init string (Default is "ATZ") -IRQ # For nonstandard IRQs, you can specify your modem's IRQ in this string. Just replace the "#" symbol with the IRQ used. -ONLINE My modem is already connected and online. -SERIAL Use direct serial link, not modem. -SET <8N1/7E2> Set data bits, parity, stop bits. Default is 8N1. -TERM Go into terminal mode so you can manually log in. Speeding up Net/Modem/BBS play ------------------------------ There are many factors that can cause Tyrian to run slowly over a network, modem, or BBS. The following is a list of suggestions for how to play Tyrian at an acceptable speed. Game options: Speed - Because some slowdown is inherent in Modem/Network games, you may need to turn you "Speed" setting up. Video Options - Turning detail levels down will also make gameplay faster. Modem/BBS link: Make sure your init string turns OFF both Error Correction and Data Compression. Consult your manual for details. Modem/Net Problems ------------------ Q: Tyrian plays really slow over modem/BBS link. How can I speed it up? A: Some suggestions are listed above in the "Speeding up Net/Modem/BBS Play" section. Some factors which may slow down the game that you cannot control are: line noise, the speed of your opponent's computer, your opponent's connection (baud rate and line noise on his/her end). Q: Help! I can't seem to connect with my friend by modem to play Tyrian. A: Check to see that your init string is valid and each command in it is performing the desired function (turn off error correction, for example). Consult your manual for details regarding your init string. Also try connecting at various baud rates. Q: Net/Modem Tyrian won't recognize my modem because it's not using a standard IRQ. What can I do? A: Include the line: -IRQ # (where "#" is the IRQ which your modem uses) in the Advanced Options section where you set up your modem for Tyrian. Other Advanced options are listed in this document or by typing NETMODEM -? at the TYRIAN> prompt. Q: I can connect with a friend to play Tyrian, but it "times out" or locks up during the game. A: Make sure you and your friend are running under the same operating system. Tyrian will not work over network/modem/serial play if one computer is running under Windows and another under DOS. If one person is using Windows 95, rebooting into MS-DOS MODE should allow Tyrian to work with another DOS system. ============================================================================= CONTACTING EPIC'S TECH SUPPORT ============================================================================= If you need further assistance, please call our tech support department: In the USA: voice: 301-983-9771 fax: 301-299-3841 In the Europe: voice: +44 (0) 1767-260903 fax: +44 (0) 1737-262043 In Germany: voice: 0130 822887 fax: 0130 822886 You can also contact us online: CompuServe: GO EPIC WorldWide Web: http://www.epicgames.com/ Internet Mail: help@epicgames.com Internet FTP: ftp.uml.edu Internet News: We answer questions in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action America Online: We answer questions posted in the PCGames (keyword) area MicroSoft Network: We answer questions in the Computer Game Forum GEnie: We answer questions in the Games Roundtable EXEC-PC BBS Contact: Epic MegaGames 2400 Baud: 414-789-4210 14.4K Baud: 414-789-4360 ============================================================================= Epic's Email list: To subscribe to Epic's email list and receive late-breaking news from Epic every month or so, just send an Internet message to list@epicgames.com with the subject: SUBSCRIBE EPIC