NHL POWERPLAY 96 Publisher : Virgin Interactive Entertainment Developer : Radical Entertainment Topics covered in this document _______________________________ 1. Minimum Requirements 2. General Technical Issues 3. Game Issues 4. Gameplay tips 5. Keyboard Controls _______________________________ MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ==================== Processor 486 /DX4 100 Operating System Windows 95 Memory 8 Mb RAM Controller Support Gravis game pads, Gravis GrIP Multiport system, other multiple button game pads, keyboard GENERAL TECHNICAL ISSUES ======================== * 4 button controller play (Gravis Gamepad): Since NHL PowerPlay 96 is a true Windows 95 product, it uses the joystick support built into the system. By following these steps you should be able to check if your joystick is enabled: - Click on START button from Win 95 task bar - Select SETTINGS - Select CONTROL PANEL - From the Control panel window, Double click on Joystick icon - Joystick 1 should be set to GRAVIS GAMEPAD (if you have that plugged into your computer) - Follow the instructions to calibrate and test * Using the Gravis GrIP Multiport system to play Using the 8 button GrIP system allows you to configure your controller for maximum user features allowing fast and controlled gameplay. With the extra buttons you can CHANGE LINES, FLIP PUCK and DROP PASS. If the green light on the multi-port doesn't go on after installing all the GrIP software do the following. - Click on START button from Win 95 task bar - Select PROGRAMS - Select GRAVIS GRIP MULTIPORT - Select GRAVIS UTILITIES - Click on the GrIP Controller icon - Follow the instructions to calibrate and test Please see the GrIP documentation for more detailed help with installations and trouble shooting. After calibrating and exiting, the light should turn green. Follow the GrIP Multiport install manual carefully to ensure that your GrIP system is working properly before calling up NHL PowerPlay 96. If your GrIP system is NOT installed properly and you execute NHL PowerPlay 96, the screen options may NOT be accessible. * Installation of Direct Draw components When the game is initially installed, NHL PowerPlay 96 setup will autodetect if you have DirectDraw components already on your computer. If the installed version is older, the PowerPlay setup will install over it. If the installed version is newer the setup program will not overwrite it. * Installing and Uninstalling NHL PowerPlay 96 Installing - In set-up you have the choice to pick COMPACT, TYPICAL and CUSTOM install. The only difference between these three options are the amount of hard drive space that gets used up. ALL THREE INSTALL FULL GAME FEATURES. Uninstalling NHL PowerPlay 96 - To uninstall this game make sure the PowerPlay CD is in the drive and do the following : - Click on "Start" button from the Win 95 task bar - Select the "Settings" option - Select the "Control Panel" - Double click on Add/Remove Programs - Select NHL PowerPlay 96 - Click on "Remove" button * Video NHL PowerPlay 96 accesses your video card through the standard Windows 95 video drivers. If your system is properly configured to run Windows 95 NHL PowerPlay 96 should function well. You cannot play this game in a window, it must be full screen only. GAME ISSUES =========== * Game is too slow If you find that the game is too slow, there are a number of things you can do to speed up the frame rate. These features affect the "in game" frame rate the most. - SOUND - ANNOUNCER By turning these options OFF in the Game settings Menu you can speed up your "in game" frame rate. * Can I Alt-Tab during the game ? Yes. Although you can Alt-Tab during gameplay it is best to PAUSE the game first and then Alt-Tab. This will freeze and minimize the game while you do your work in Windows. To get back to your game, click on the "PP96" button on the task bar or Alt-Tab back to your session. * Saving your Season, Tournament or Playoffs This game will save out games in these three formats - season , Tournament and Playoffs. The number of games saved is only limited to the available disk space you have on your drive. The saved files are written to "C:\PP996\SAVES" directory. Use Windows Explorer if you need to save it out to a disk. NOTE: NHL PowerPlay 96 will overwrite same named files within each of three game type categories. ie. AAA.sea (saved season) will overwite AAA.sea (another saved season) but not AAA.tou (a saved tournament) . * Quitting out of a Season/Tournament/Playoff IF you decide to "QUIT" before the completion of a Season, Tournament or Playoff game, you will forfeit that game and it will be recorded as a loss. GAME PLAY TIPS ============== * Powerplay Situations When you are on the powerplay, control of the puck is your goal. Take advantage of the fact that the other team has one or two less players than you. They will automatically fall into a defensive posture and will settle down and form a defensive box. Their goal is to intercept one of your passes or to force you to make a bad pass. But be aware that if you hold onto the puck too long they WILL attempt to check you. Patience in setting up the right pass for a one-timed shot will be rewarded. * Short handed Situations When you are playing short-handed, the computer team will attempt to set up the Powerplay box in your end. Your goal is to force the puck carrier to pass off the puck quickly. Be sure you don't over commit yourself on the check and pull yourself out of a good defensive position. Try and keep yourself between the shooter and the net. If the computer player takes a shot on your net and you are in the path of the shot, the player you are controlling will attempt to BLOCK the shot automatically. Icing isn't called on short handed situations so shoot the puck whenever you can. * Shooting When you are far away from the net, taking a slapshot is the best way to score. When you are in close to the goalie, take a wrist shot and be sure to aim by using the d-pad. The chances to score improve if you deke the goalie. * One-timers By far the most fun and effective way to score is to one-time the shot by passing the puck to a player and pressing the shot button before the puck gets to its target. The player recieving the pass will shoot. * Banking the puck off the boards in your own end If you are near the boards in your own zone you can bank the puck off the boards by pressing the wristshot button. The intensity and the direction of the wristshot will depend on your current direction and speed. KEYBOARD CONTROLS ================= * Left Keyboard 1) Directions down - X down and left - Z left - A Upper left - Q Up - W Upper right - E Right - D Down and right- C 2) Player actions Left CTRL - Pass / Select Player Left SHIFT - Wrist shot / Hooking CAPS LOCK - Slap shot / Poke check Left ALT - Fast Skate / Body check 3) Player Lines Space Bar - Activates Line change menu 1 - 7 - Chooses the lines * Right Keyboard 1) Directions (Number pad) down - 2 down and left - 1 left - 4 Upper left - 7 Up - 8 Upper right - 9 Right - 6 Down and right- 3 2) Player actions Apostrophe - Pass / Select Player Right SHIFT - Wrist shot / Hooking ENTER - Slap shot / Poke check SLASH - Fast Skate / Body check 3) Player Lines Insert,Home,PgUp,Del,End,PgDn - Activates Line change menu F1 - F7 - Chooses the lines