+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Klingon Honor Guard DEMO Release Notes +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Developed by: MicroProse, Inc. Hunt Valley Development Studio For the latest information and updates ====================================== Visit the MicroProse web site at: http://www.microprose.com/ Drivers ======= DirectX 6.0 and Direct3D drivers are now needed to use KHG in D3D mode. You can find them at : http://www.microsoft.com/directx/download.asp Technical Support ================= Please report any errors or problems with the DEMO by e-mailing a description of the problem to support@microprose.com. Also please be sure to attatch your khg.log file to your e-mail. Requirements ============ Minimum system requirement: - 166 MHz MMX Pentium class computer with 3D hardware acceleration. - 233 MHz Pentium for software only rendering. - 32 megabytes of RAM. - 2 megabyte PCI video card. - Quad Speed CD ROM Typical system: - 233 MHz Pentium MMX or Pentium II. - 32 or 64 megabytes of RAM. - 3dfx Voodoo class 3d accelerator. - Quad Speed or faster CD ROM Awesome system: - Pentium II 266 or faster. - 64 or 128 megabytes of RAM. - 3dfx Voodoo or Voodoo2 class 3D accelerator. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Troubleshooting ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Crashes ======= If KHG stops with a "KHG has run out of virtual memory" message, you need to free up more hard disk space on your primary drive (C:) in order to play. KHG's large levels and rich textures take up a lot of virtual memory. We recommend having 150 megabytes of free hard disk space for running the game. Video issues ============ Some older DirectDraw drivers do not support low resolution 16- and 32-bit color modes (for example, 320x240, 400x300, and 512x384). If you are playing KHG using software rendering, this is unfortunate because the higher resolution modes like 640x400 and 640x480 run significantly slower than the low resolution modes. If the only full-screen options shown in KHG are high-res, you might try obtaining a newer DirectDraw driver for your video card. Some video drivers do not properly support DirectDraw full-screen in 16- or 32-bit color at any resolution. If you are unable to play KHG full-screen, you should obtain a newer driver from your video board manufacturer. If you can't find a working DirectDraw driver, you can still play KHG in a window, though the performance and immersiveness are not as good as playing full-screen. On nearly all machines, KHG runs optimally in 32-bit color mode (rather than 16 or 24-bit color). If you set your desktop resolution to 32-bit color ( right click on the desktop and choose properties / settings), then KHG defaults to 32-bit color. To maintain a consistent frame rate despite a large number of translucent surfaces and/or explosion effects in software rendering, you might want to set "SlowVideoBuffering" to "True" in the "Advanced Options/Display" menu. This is especially helpful in Multi-player games. Known video issues: - In software mode due to engine limitations there is some clipping that occurs. In some areas from certain viewing angles objects and enemies can be seen through walls. - Some 3Dfx Voodoo based cards will generate a 'mutual exclusion' error when trying to run. You need to get the latest reference drivers from 3Dfx or your card manufacturer. Sound issues ============ The sound playback rate defaults to 22 kHz, which is optimal for Pentium machines with MMX. If you have an older, non-MMX machine, you can get better performance (though lower sound quality) by setting the playback rate to 11 kHz in the "Advanced Options" menu. If using an Aureal A3D 3D sound accelerator board such as the Turtle Beach Montego, you need to go into "Advanced Options/Audio" and turn on "Use3dHardware" to enable 3D sound card support. You need to upgrade to the latest version of Aureal's A3D drivers in order to get acceptable 3D sound performance. Using KHG in conjunction with earlier versions of the drivers causes severe performance problems (major slowdowns on the order of 30-50% while playing sound). If your computer is hooked up to a Dolby SurroundSound receiver, you should go into "Advanced Options" and turn on the "UseSurround" to take advantage of 360-degree Dolby sound panning, which rocks. Known sound issues: - A small number of computer configurations we've tested exhibit infrequent lockups when playing in full-screen DirectDraw (software rendered) mode using DirectSound for audio output. On most of these machines, going into "Advanced Options/Audio", and turning off the "UseDirectSound" option prevented the lockups. Playing in a window also prevented the lockups. - Because of the way the OS works, many Windows NT machines experience significant latency in their sound effects, sometimes up to 1/4th second. - Because of the way the sound system works CD audio volume needs to be manually adjusted using the Windows Volume Control Dialogue. This is usually a tray icon on your start menu ( looks like a little speaker). We have found that having the CD Audio volume slider two notches from the bottom works best with SFX at a reasonable in game volume level. ======================== Known Gameplay Issues ======================== - View bob - this has been limited in the game since the writing of the manual. There is now only the default bob. - Vortex on elevators - a vortex will not pull players into it when you activate it on an elevator, you must use the vortex outside of the elevators. - Magboots - If a player is wearing magboots he will have to deactivate them to enter the shuttlecraft. - If you experience a lock up during the install, deactivate all virus protection programs then re-run the install. After the install you may re-activate your virus protection programs. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Additional Features ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This section contains information about items and features who's function or implementation was changed after the printing of the manual. Changing Camera Views ===================== We do not recommend that you play at any camera view but the default. However we have included three other camera views that can be used to observe game action. They are as follows : Behind view - third person style camera view Overhead view - like the name says - overhead view of your character. Player Cam - Camera that is facing the player and follows them wherever they go. There are two ways to switch these views : 1. Type SwitchViewTo # at the console. The # 0-3 will switch camera position as follows : 0 - Normal 1 - Behind view 2 - Overhead view 3 - Player Cam You can also type the following at the console : Behindcam for Behind View Overheadcam for Overhead View Playercam for Player Cam View To toggle back to normal type the command again. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Performance tips ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Our focus in creating KHG has been to deliver a next-generation game that brings 3d gaming to a new level of realism using the Unreal engine. That is good. A side effect of this is that KHG also runs slower than past 3d games on older or low-end PC's. That is bad...but it's an inevitable result of the large quantity of high-detail artwork; open, realistic, and high-detail environments; and high-detail animations in the game. What follows are some tips on how to up KHG's performance on on machines where the game runs slowly. If you are having machine speed problems please refer to the Unreal engine optimization document, optimize.txt found on this CD in the Extras folder. Low Detail Settings =================== The "Advanced Options" menu contains many settings that enable you to trade off detail for performance. Here are the choices: Display / Low Detail Textures: Trades memory for texture detail (resolution). When on, reduces memory usage by 5 megabytes on average. Recommended for slow PC's and PC's with low memory. Audio / Low Sound Quality: Trades memory for sound quality. Turning this on reduces sounds to 8-bit, saving a significant amount of memory. Audio / OutputRate: Trades speed for sound quality. 11025 Hz: Medium sound mixing quality; best for non-MMX machines. 22050 Hz: High sound mixing quality; the default. 44100 Hz: Ultra high sound quality. Audio / EffectsChannels: Trades speed for sound realism. The default is a highly realistic 16 channels of sound. On slower machines, you may want to change this number to 8 or 12. Memory ====== KHG's performance is highly dependent on the amount of RAM you have in your machine, and the amount of memory that is available. Machines with less memory will access their hard disk more frequently to load data, which causes sporadic pauses in gameplay. Thus, if you have a 32 megabyte machine, you should make sure that you don't have other unnecessary programs loaded in memory when playing KHG. How KHG will perform under different RAM conditions: - Less than 32 megabytes: Unplayable. - 32 megabytes: Playable, but very frequent swapping to the hard disk. We highly recommend turning on "Low Detail Textures" and "Low Quality Sound" to reduce memory usage. - 32+ megabytes: Some swapping. - 64 megabytes: Great, with perhaps a teeny bit of swapping. - 128 megabytes: Nice and smooth! CPU Speed ========= KHG is also very sensitive to CPU speed, memory bandwidth, and cache performance. Thus, it runs far better on leading-edge processors such as Pentium II's than it does on older ones such as non-MMX Pentiums. How KHG will perform on different classes of machines: * MMX P166 class machines: Slow rendering; large frame rate variations. We recommend playing in 320x200 resolution if available. We recommend setting the sound playback to 11025 Hz. * P200 MMX: Good rendering speed; some frame rate variations. We recommend running low resolutions like 320x240 or 400x300. We recommend keeping the sound playback at 22050 Hz. * Pentium II: Very nice rendering speed; consistent frame rate. Software rendering runs smooth in 512x384, 32-bit color resolution. You might try 44 kHz audio for best sound quality if you have plenty of RAM installed.