Besieger Readme DreamCatcher Games Table of contents: ============================== * 1. Introduction * 2. System Requirements * 3. Installation * 4. Troubleshooting * 5. Controls * 6. Technical Support * 7. Copyright 1. Introduction ============================== Welcome to Besieger, a real-time 3D strategy game by Primal Software (www.primal-soft.com ). This file contains the latest information about the game as well as a number of game play hints and tips. We recommend that you read through it before launching the game. 2. System Requirements ============================== OS: Windows 98/ME/XP/2000 CPU: 1.0 Ghz AMD/Intel Processor or Equivalent RAM: 256 MB CD ROM Speed: 8 X Video: 32 MB Direct3D Compatible Video Card (Geforce2 equivalent or higher) Sound: DirectX 9 Compatible Sound Card Hard Drive Space: 1.5 GB Recommended Requirements ============================== OS: Windows 98/ME/XP/2000 CPU: 2.0 Ghz AMD/Intel Processor or Equivalent RAM: 384 MB CD ROM Speed: 8 X Video: 64 MB Direct3D Compatible Video Card (Geforce4 equivalent or higher) Sound: DirectX 9 Compatible Sound Card Hard Drive Space: 1.5 GB 3. Installation ============================== The setup program should launch itself automatically when you insert the CD. If the Autorun option is turned off on your machine, please run the 'Autorun.exe' file located on the CD. After successful installation you can start the game from the Start menu. If you experience any problems with the game, please make sure your video, sound card and motherboard drivers are the latest versions available from their respective manufacturers. Older drivers can cause unexpected results. Supported Operating Systems: Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. In addition, DirectX 9 or later must be installed on your system. Note GameSpy Arcade utilizes additional ports. A list of those ports and other support for GameSpy Arcade can be found here: http://www.gamespyarcade.com/support/firewalls.shtml 4. Troubleshooting ============================== If you experience unexpected game crashes or your system freezes for several seconds and the sound is abnormal, it is possible that your sound card is not completely DirectX 9 compatible. Updating your sound card drivers can often solve these problems. You can also try lowering the Hardware Acceleration on your card. To do so, open the Windows Control Panel and select "Multimedia", "Playback Advanced Properties", "Performance". Set the Hardware acceleration to "None" or to a setting lower than the current rate. Some sound cards that might experience incompatibility issues include most ESS Technologies and Cirrus Logic (Crystal Audio) sound cards and most on-board sound cards that use the C-Media chip. Systems with Windows XP+SP1 may experience unresponsiveness while launching the game. This is related to a change in the video codecs included with Windows XP. Microsoft has provided a fix for this issue. For more information please visit the following link: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=327979 Multiplayer Troubleshooting ============================== For the best multiplayer experience we recommend games with a maximum of 2-6 players. Internet play on a PC behind a router/NAT system is not supported. For more information please contact your router manufacturer or system administrator. When loading a game through GameSpy Arcade loading times may vary. 5. Controls ============================== Camera There are three camera modes: * Advanced Camera Mode - a free-moving camera that you can turn or move in any direction. * Simple Camera Mode - very similar to Warcraft, camera can only be rotated temporary using the keys "Del" and "PgDn". When you release the control key, the camera moves back to its original position. * Follow Camera Mode - the camera attempts to follow units that you have selected. You can move the camera to any point on the map by clicking on the map panel. You cannot move the camera to places that are out of your units' line of sight (this method is more realistic and fun than the typical fog of war found in most real-time strategy games). Press and hold the mouse wheel and move the mouse to rotate the camera. Scroll the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. Use the cursor keys to move the camera. You can also move the mouse cursor to the edge of the screen to scroll the map and move the camera. Units ============================== The left mouse button selects units. A number of specialized group selection modes are supported, including: Shift-click (add clicked unit to those currently selected), Ctrl-click (invert selection--deselect all selected units and select all unselected units) and Alt-click (lasso selection--hold down the Alt key and drag the cursor on the screen--all units inside the defined area are selected). The right mouse button gives orders to currently selected units. Orders are context-sensitive, so selecting a few workers and right-clicking on a tree orders them to cut it down for wood. You can manually select an order by clicking one of the buttons at the bottom of the game screen. You can create groups of units and assign them to a number key for quick selection. To assign a unit to a group, select the unit, hold down the Ctrl key, and press the number key to which you want to assign the unit (1, 2, 3, etc.). You can select all units assigned to a key by simply pressing that key. To center on the unit(s) assigned to a key, press the key twice. Double click on any unit to select all units of the same type currently on the screen. Miscellaneous commands ============================== To pause the game at any time, press the Spacebar. You can give orders to your troops while the game is paused. Press Enter to center the map on the place of the last event such as "Building complete", "Enemy sighted", and so on. Press and hold "Z" key to highlight all units on the screen with colors of their teams. F6 quick-saves the game. F7 quick-loads the last game that was quick-saved. 6. Technical Support ============================== If you are experiencing technical problems with this software, and you have carefully followed the instructions in this readme and in the jewelcase booklet, you may find further support by visiting our Technical Support section of our Web site at: http://www.dreamcatchergames.com/dci/support/index.html We have posted common problems and solutions that may help you. We also suggest that you complete the Technical Support form located at our Web site. Please provide a detailed description of the problem you are experiencing (i.e. error message, where in the game the problem occurs, etc.). This will help our Representatives find a solution much quicker. All the hardware and software information can also be found by launching the DxDiag application, follow the steps below to do so: * Click on Start * Click on Run * Type dxdiag * Click on OK * Click on the Save Information button and save the file to your computer. You can either print the DxDiag window to have it ready when you call Technical Support or simply e-mail it to them. Phone Support 416-638-6151* If you would like to speak with one of our Technical Support Representatives, our hours of operation are from 9am to 9pm EST, Monday through Friday. Please have the following ready: 1) Information about your computer's configuration (i.e. RAM, MHz, video and sound cards). You may use the Technical Support form at our Web site as a guide. (Please see above on how to determine this information.) 2) A detailed description of the problem (i.e. error message, where in the game the problem occurs, etc.). 3) Immediate access to your computer so the Representative may walk you through the steps. 4) Pen and paper to take any notes. * Please note that Phone Support is located in Toronto, Canada. 7. Copyright ============================== Copyright (c) 2001-2004 Primal Software. Besieger (TM) is a trademark of Primal Software. All rights reserved. This product contains software technology licensed from GameSpy Industries, Inc. (c) 1999-2003 GameSpy Industries, Inc. GameSpy and the "Powered by GameSpy" design are trademarks of GameSpy Industries, Inc. All rights reserved. DreamCatcher Interactive Inc. © 2004