Welcome to Forced Alliance!
The minimum configuration for this game is a 486DX 100Mhz machine
with 16Meg RAM, sound card, mouse, Windows 95, and a 640x480 256-color
graphics card.
If you have a 3D Accelerator card with 4Meg+ memory, read the
section on 3D Hardware Acceleration to configure the game to use
these cards. These cards can be configured in the game by going
to Main->Settings->Graphics.
Installation
------------
The Autoplay Menu provides several options to install the game.
Install Game - Installs Forced Alliance onto your hard drive.
The setup program will allow you to install
DirectX 5.0 from this selection. Always reboot
your machine if you have installed DirectX 5.
Install DirectX 5 - A second way to install DirectX 5. This is
helpful when you change sound or graphics cards
and need to install additional DirectX 5 drivers.
New Game - Starts a new game. This should be done after
installation.
Resume Game - Resumes a current game. This option appears
when a game is active.
Cancel - Cancels the autoplay menu.
Click on "Install Game" to install the game to your hard drive.
Please see the installation instructions for further details.
You can find the game later in the Windows 95 Start Menu under
the folder "Orbital Studios".
Be sure to configure your joystick in the "Game Controllers" section
of the control panel. All joystick calibration is done through this
applet.
Be sure to look at the troubleshooting guide for answers to other
questions when playing the game.
3D Hardware Acceleration
------------------------
Forced Alliance takes advantage of 3D Accelerator Graphic Cards with
4Meg or better memory! What you will get includes 16-bit textures,
gouraud-shading, and more! When you are ready to launch a mission,
select the "Settings" group under "Main", then select the "Graphics"
tab. If your graphics board has been found, it will be listed.
Select it to activate this card. Not all 3D cards work the same way,
so be sure set other options for...
Monster/Righteous - Many recent DirectX drivers have a bug that
(and other 3Dfx) causes heavy pixelation around the heads-up
display and stars, rendering the display
unreadable. Set the "Heads-up Display/Stars"
to "Shifted" if this becomes a problem.
3D Blaster/others - Many cards do not perform smooth (gouraud)
shading in Forced Alliance, leaving invisible
objects in space. Set your Texture Shading mode
to flat for displayable performance.
2Mb Graphic Cards - Most 2Mb cards will work in the Fast Render
or Primary Display-Software modes. If you have
problems starting the game, try starting from
a lower Windows resolution.
We also have a software-only 16-bit shaded engine. This engine
replicates the visual detail with 3D cards, but uses your own processor
to render the graphics. Due to the heavy graphic demands, you should
definitely have a fast (200Mhz) machine for optimum performance.
Joysticks
---------
We have provided several joystick configuration features, including
throttle control, configurable buttons, and different response curves.
You can even make "Up means Up" for those uncomfortable with
airplane-style controls.
The response curves provide the following...
Linear - A straight response from minimum to maximum.
Log Low (default) - Slower center response, faster at the edges.
Log High - A variation of Log Low.
Sinusoidal - Slower center, fast middle, and slower at edges.
Sound and Music
---------------
The game music files have been arranged to work on most sound cards.
Special notes are of importance to the following sound card...
Gravis UltraSound - MIDI music has been optimized for 1Mb of 16-bit
instrument data. Lower-capacity GUS boards will
tend to lose some instruments from the optimum
arrangement.
Starting Missions
-----------------
As a Cadet, you will be launching five training missions off of SACS.
You may launch a training mission by moving to the Simulator Bay and
clicking on the Simulator Pod. Once you have graduated and promoted
to Pilot, you'll initiate missions by clicking on the launch doors
in the Ready Room.
Landing at the End of a Mission
-------------------------------
To land on a carrier, select Communications ('C'), then select the
the landing location. For the training missions, you will be landing
at SACS. Later, you will land at the Lafayette carrier. Request
permission to land, then fly to within 1500 meters, and you will
land automatically.
Where to find more information
------------------------------
Updated information and demos can be found on the Internet at
www.ripcordgames.com and www.orbitalsi.com.
Thanks for playing!
- The Forced Alliance Team
Forced Alliance (C)1997 Ripcord Games and Orbital Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Forced Alliance:The Glarious Mandate is a trademark of Orbital Studios, Inc.
Orbital Studios is a registered trademark of Orbital Studios, Inc.