CyberStorm 2: Corporate Wars Version 1.0 Readme File 4/14/98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT: Thank you for purchasing CyberStorm 2! This game has been a labor of love for all those who worked on it. We strived to make our gameplay outstanding and our application immersive enough to remove your worries for a time. We truly hope this game quickens your heart, puts a smile on your face, and makes you assume the thinking pose. Now on to the info: this document contains last-minute information about CyberStorm 2 and other information about the program not found in the manual. This README file includes information that pertains to general problems and questions you may have concerning this software or your computer. Should you experience any problems with CyberStorm 2, please refer to this file for additional help on answering questions about the game and solving technical difficulties. Hmmm...is that a cloaked Herc behind you? - CyberStorm 2 Development Team ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FEELING OVERWHELMED? If you're feeling a little overwhelmed and aren't sure how to get started, then try our training missions. Here's how: 1. Start CS2. 2. Select QuickStart from the Main Menu. 3. On the lower right hard part of the screen, pick Training Missions. 4. Select Launch and have fun! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Minimum Requirements II. Notes To Enrich Your Gaming Life III. Contacting Sierra ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS * Windows(R) 95 or NT 4.0 or higher * IBM PC-compatible with a 133 MHz Pentium processor or better * 24 MB of RAM * 4x CD-ROM drive * 50 MB of free space on your hard drive. * Local bus SVGA card with at least 1 MB of Video RAM. * Windows(R) 95 compatible sound card * DirectX(TM) 5 is required for sound and multiplayer functions. NOTE: Additional hard drive space may be required,depending on your system configuration. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ II. NOTES TO ENRICH YOUR GAMING LIFE Yes, that's right, it's time for a word from your witty development team. Thought we got lost in the corporate shuffle, ey? Naw...we're leaving that to you in our newest brainchild: CyberStorm 2: Corporate Wars. Quite frankly, for game developers writing a readme is very similar to writing a thesis: it's long, boring, and not many people read it anyway. So here's our various and sundry notes, not compiled in any particularly pleasing fashion because, quite frankly, you should be playing the game and not reading about it. WINDOWS Unlike most Windows applications, CyberStorm 2 is designed to be an immersive application. This means it tries to take your whole screen and make your forget about work for awhile. Thus, if you task-switch (Alt-Tab) out of the game you may find the Windows Taskbar is visible when returning to the game. The best solution to this is to not task-switch out of the game. If you really like to task switch, tell CyberStorm 2 this by selecting the Run In A Window option in the Windows Preferences. This will make CyberStorm 2 behave like a normal Windows application. Otherwise, if you want an immersive experience (c'mon, you know you do!) then choose any other Windows option and the Stay On Top option and forget about your worries for awhile. If you ever want to restore all your preference settings to default, delete the file STORM.SET from the directory where STORM.EXE resides. The next time you run the game, a new STORM.SET with the default values will be generated. WINDOWS LIMITATIONS Yes, as you know, there are some. But these comments have to do with the CyberStorm 2 Preferences/Windows tab: CyberStorm 2 does not support the Run In A Window option if your desktop resolution is set to 640X480 pixels. This is because CyberStorm 2 is designed to run in a minimum resolution of 640X480 and so we don't have enough additional space on your screen to show the window title bar. If you try to force this change, your game display resolution will be reset to Default. CyberStorm 2 does not support the Smallest Display Resolution ( 640X480 ) if your desktop is using Large Fonts. There just isn't enough screen space for us to show all the cool art AND large fonts. If you try to force this change, your game display resolution will be reset to Default. If you really want large fonts and a lower game resolution, try putting CyberStorm2 in Medium Display Resolution ( 800 X 600 ). AUTOSAVES There are two kinds of AutoSaves: campaign autosaves (titled "autoXXXX.cbs", where XXXX is the autosave game counter) and combat autosaves ( titled "BattleStart.cbs"). Campaign autosaves happen at the end of every strategic turn after returning from combat. These autosaves help you recapture the state of your herc force and overall career. Combat autosaves happen at the beginning of combat, before any casualties occur. Even if you are in turn-based combat, there is only one combat autosave per combat session, not every combat turn. These autosaves can help you to try different strategies in the same combat situation. Note that AutoSaves have no overwrite confirmation, so if you restore to a saved game that was saved early in your current campaign and continue playing from that point, autosaves for later strategic turns will be overwritten. Plus, there is only one BattleStart.cbs at any given time. In general, the AutoSave feature is meant to enhance the game playing experience by giving you fallback saved games in case your campaign moves in an unanticipated direction. However, AutoSave is no substitute for smart saves. Remember that campaign autosaves are always at the end of a strategic turn, and so contain damaged stuff from the previous battle (if any). FINDING HELP IN THE GAME There is help available throughout the game. The rule of thumb is that if passing the mouse over an object causes a description to flash in the CyberStorm Status Line, then clicking the right mouse button on that object will bring up detailed help. For example, while looking at the main Hercbase screen, move the cursor over the Command Center. You will see text saying something like "Enter Command Center" in the Status Line. Now right click on the Command Center and a message box will pop up with detailed information about the Command Center. GENERAL STUFF If you are running CyberStorm 2 on a computer that is close to our minimum requirements (see above), you may benefit from running CyberStorm 2 in a 256 color mode (as opposed to High Color or True Color). CyberStorm 2 runs a bit faster that way, and you won't miss out on any cool art as all the game art is in 256 colors. Due to device driver variations, setting the volume of background music in the General section of the Preferences may not always work. If it doesn't, try using the control panel in Windows. The CyberStorm Install will use a cooler background bitmap if your machine is running in a higher color mode than 256 colors (like True Color). Similarly, the CyberStorm Autoplay will show an additional slick animation in color modes greater than 256 colors. However, note that the Game itself runs faster in 256 color mode. Oh, and _real_ CyberStorm fans endure the credits. III. CONTACTING SIERRA A) Customer Service B) Technical Support C) Legal Information A. CUSTOMER SERVICE, SUPPORT AND SALES ------------------------------------------ United States U.S.A. Sales Phone: (800) 757-7707 International Sales: (425) 746-5771 Hours: Monday-Saturday 7AM to 11 PM CST, Sundays 8 AM to 9PM CST FAX: (402) 393-3224 Sierra Direct 7100 W. Center Rd STE 301 Omaha, NE 68106 United Kingdom Cendant Software International Limited Main: (0118) 920-9111 Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fax: (0118) 987-5603 Disk/CD replacements in the U.K. are £6.00, or £7.00 outside the UK. Add "ATTN.: Returns." 2 Beacontree Plaza, Gillette Way, Reading, Berkshire RG2 0BS United Kingdom France Cendant Software International Limited Phone: (01) 46-01-46-50 Lundi au Vendredi de 9h à 19h Fax: (01) 46-30-00-65 Parc Tertiaire de Meudon Immeuble "Le Newton" 25 rue Jeanne Braconnier 92366 Meudon La Forêt Cedex France Germany Cendant Software International Limited Tel: (0) 6103-99-40-40 Montag bis Freitag von 9h - 19Uhr Fax: (0) 6103-99-40-35 Robert-Bosh-Str. 32 D-63303 Dreieich Germany On-Line Sales CompuServe United Kingdom: GO UKSIERRA CompuServe France: GO FRSIERRA CompuServe Germany: GO DESIERRA Internet USA: http://www.sierra.com Internet United Kingdom: http://www.sierra-online.co.uk Internet France: http://www.sierra.fr Internet Germany: http://www.sierra.de THE SIERRA NO-RISK GUARANTEE The Promise: We want you to be happy with every Sierra product you purchase from us. Period. If for any reason you're unhappy with the product, return it within 30 days for an exchange or a full refund...EVEN IF YOU BOUGHT IT RETAIL. (Hardware ordered direct must be returned within ten days.) Please send back your product, signature required if mailing via US Postal Service. The Only Catch: You've got to tell us why you don't like the game. Otherwise, we'll never get any better. Send it back to us and we promise we will make things right. (If you bought it at a retail outlet, please send your original sales receipt.) * Returns valid in North America only. Disk and or Manual Replacement: Product Returns: Sierra On-Line Returns 4100 West 190th Street Torrance, CA 90504 Sierra On-Line Fulfillment 4100 West 190th Street Torrance, CA 90504 NOTE: To replace your disk(s) please send only Disk #1 (or the CD) and copy of your dated Receipt, if less then 90 days. After 90 days please include a $10 handling fee along with Disk / CD #1. For Documentation, please include a $ 5.00 handling fee and a photocopy ONLY of disk #1. Payment should be made at the time of your request. Sorry, no credit cards. * Returns to this address valid in North America only. B. TECHNICAL SUPPORT ------------------------- North America Sierra On-Line offers a 24-hour automated technical support line with recorded answers to the most frequently asked technical questions. To access this service, call (425) 644-4343, and follow the recorded instructions to find your specific topic and resolve the issue. If this fails to solve your problem, you may still write, or fax us with your questions, or contact us via our Web site. Sierra On-Line Technical Support P.O. Box 85006 Bellevue, WA 98015-8506 Main: (425) 644-4343 Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.- 6:45 p.m. PST Fax: (425) 644-7697 http://www.sierra.com support@sierra.com United Kingdom Cendant Software International Limited offers a 24-hour Automated Technical Support line with recorded answers to the most frequently asked technical questions. To access this service, call (0118) 920-9111, and follow the recorded instructions to find your specific topic and resolve the issue. If this fails to solve your problem, you may still write, or fax us with your questions, or contact us via our Internet or CompuServe sites. Cendant Software International Limited 2 Beacontree Plaza, Gillette Way, Reading, Berkshire RG2 0BS United Kingdom Main: (0118) 920-9111 Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fax: (0118) 987-5603 http://www.sierra-online.co.uk France Cendant Software International Limited Parc Tertiaire de Meudon Immeuble "Le Newton" 25 rue Jeanne Braconnier 92366 Meudon La Forêt Cedex France Téléphone: 01-46-01-46-50 Lundi au Vendredi de 9h à 19h Fax: 01-46-30-00-65 http://www.sierra.fr Germany Cendant Software International Limited Robert-Bosh-Str. 32 D-63303 Dreieich Deutschland Tel: (0) 6103-99-40-40 Montag bis Freitag von 9 - 19Uhr Fax: (0) 6103-99-40-35 Mailbox: (0) 6103-99-40-35 http://www.sierra.de Spain Cendant Software International Limited Avenida de Burgos 9 1º-OF2 28036 Madrid Spain Teléfono: (01) 383-2623 Lunes a Viernes de 9h30 a 14h y de 15h a 18h30 Fax: (01) 381-2437 Italy Contattare il vostro distribotore. C. Sierra Warranty & Legal Information ----------------------------------- You are entitled to use this product for your own use, but may not copy, reproduce, translate, publicly perform, display, or reduce to any electronic medium or machine- readable form, reproductions of the software or manual to other parties in any way, nor sell, rent or lease the product to others without prior written permission of Sierra. You may use one copy of the product on a single computer. YOU MAY NOT NETWORK THE PRODUCT OR OTHERWISE INSTALL IT OR USE IT ON MORE THAN ONE COMPUTER AT THE SAME TIME. UNAUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIONS: SIERRA WARRANTS ONLY THAT THE PROGRAM WILL PERFORM AS DESCRIBED IN THE USER DOCUMENTATION. NO OTHER ADVERTISING, DESCRIPTION, OR REPRESENTATION, WHETHER MADE BY A SIERRA DEALER, DISTRIBUTOR, AGENT, OR EMPLOYEE, SHALL BE BINDING UPON SIERRA OR SHALL CHANGE THE TERMS OF THIS WARRANTY. IMPLIED WARRANTIES LIMITED: EXCEPT AS STATED ABOVE, SIERRA MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THIS PRODUCT. SIERRA DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY THAT THE SOFTWARE IS FIT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE NINETY (90) DAY DURATION OF THIS LIMITED EXPRESS WARRANTY AND IS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. NO CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES: SIERRA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES, EVEN IF SIERRA IS ADVISED OF OR AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THIS MEANS THAT SIERRA SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR LOST PROFITS OR REVENUES, OR FOR DAMAGES OR COSTS INCURRED AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF TIME, DATA OR USE OF THE SOFTWARE, OR FROM ANY OTHER CAUSE EXCEPT THE ACTUAL COST OF THE PRODUCT. IN NO EVENT SHALL SIERRA'S LIABILITY EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS PRODUCT. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. Copyright (1998 Sierra On-Line, Inc.) Customer / Technical / Hints Support Phone Numbers and Addresses