Vigilance(r) - Readme http://www.vigilance.com http://www.heat.net http://www.segasoft.com ABOUT THIS README: This Readme contains the latest info on Vigilance. Included are the latest additions and last minute changes that didn't make the manual; helpful suggestions for gameplay; and any other information we feel you need to know. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR SINGLE PLAYER GAMES The following are minimum system requirements needed to play Vigilance. Increased system capabilities will improve game performance. * Microsoft Windows(r) 95 or later * 166 MHz Pentium Processor with 32 MB of RAM with a 4X CD-ROM. (64 MB highly recommended) * 4 X CD-ROM drive * DirectX 5.0 (or greater) * Windows 95 compatible sound card Additional System Requirements For Multiplayer LAN Games The following are minimum system requirements needed to play multiplayer Vigilance on a LAN with up to 16 players simultaneously. Increased system capabilities will improve game performance. * IPX Based LAN Additional System Requirements For Multiplayer HEAT Games The following are minimum system requirements needed to play multiplayer Vigilance on HEAT with up to 8 players simultaneously. Increased system capabilities will improve game performance. * 28.8+ modem (recommended for HEAT.NET) * 64 MB of Ram highly recommended * Internet Browser: Java Enabled (Netscape Navigator 3.04+ or Internet Explorer 3.02A+) * Internet Connection: Internet Service Provider (ISP) PERFORMANCE TIPS: If you are experiencing performance issues in Vigilance, you can try some of the following tips: * Shut down all programs before starting the game, especially anti-virus programs, email, Find Fast, and internet messaging software. Hit and "End Task" to any memory resident programs and TSRs. * Vigilance will perform best when there is plenty of free hard drive space so it can create an appropriate swap file. If you experience a lot of hard drive activity, you may want to free up some drive space for better performance. * In the Video Options, try turning Graphics Quality to MEDIUM or LOW. * In the Video Options, set the Resolution to 320x200. * While in the game, you can hit the '-' (minus) key to decrease your window size and increase performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SPECIAL ABILITIES All characters in Vigilance have a different combination of special skills and statistics. Each character is unique, and posses these abilities to varying degrees. You will find that some characters are better suited for certain levels because of their abilities and statistics. In Deathmatch, there are 27 distinct characters, each balanced to suit a variety of gameplay styles. Sniper Allows you to zoom in with any weapon Recon Determine distance to next target (displayed on top right) Demolition Cause extra damage with grenades Speed Runs faster Stealth Moves silently. Also negates Recon Tough Additional health and/or strength Armor Always starts with armor Ammo Cache Can carry more ammo than others Assassin Damage modifier when using the G20 Silenced Pistol. Even more if from behind SAVING A GAME You can save a game in the Mission Briefing screen. After you complete a mission, continue to the Character select screen, choose an operative, and proceed to the Mission Briefing screen. You can save your game on this page. (Remember that you can still leave the Mission Briefing screen to choose a different agent for the mission at any time.) If you return to the Main Menu, you will lose your position in the game. LAST MINUTE CHANGES We wanted to give you ultimate flexibility when playing Vigilance, so we added a few options to the control system to allow you to customize your gaming experience. The first thing you will notice when you play Vigilance is that the control system is different from what you may be used to. The default controls give you a free moving cursor for precision targeting even when traveling in a different direction. To play Vigilance with more traditional controls, set the following: Crosshair Lock ON Auto Mouselook ON Always Run ON Crouch Toggle OFF (Remember, you can customize your keyboard, and set any key as you like.) Game Options Below is a detailed description of all control features of Vigilance. Some of these features were not covered in the manual at press time, so read the following descriptions carefully: Crosshair 1) Crosshair Size: Choose between a large or small crosshair. 2) Crosshair Lock: Locks the crosshair in the center of the screen. 3) Auto Center: Select this option if you want your view to always move to front and center while moving. 4) Edge Scroll: Turn on this option to have your view scroll as you move your cursor to the edge of you view. (Edge Scroll will temporarily disable when your Inventory Bar is up, so you can access your equipment. It will re-enable when the Bar is closed.) Mouse 1) Auto Mouselook: Enable this option to have mouselook always on. 2) Mouse Style: Select from allowing mouselook to turn your body (allows mouse steering), or just your head (to look in a different direction than you are walking). 3) Invert Mouse: Adjusts your mouse controls to an inverted (flight control) setting. 4) Mouse Speed: Allows you to adjust the speed of your mouse. Character 1) Always Run: Adjusts your character movement from a walk to a run. 2) Crouch Toggle: Adjust the Crouch key (defaulted as 'C') to either toggle between crouching and standing or allow the character to stand when you let go of the key. (Remember that some features will have no effect in conjunction with others. For example, 'Edge Scroll' will have no effect if you lock your cursor.) Launching Into A Mission Before starting a mission, you will need to select an agent. After the mission briefing, if you feel a different SION operative will be more effective, click the 'BACK' button to return to the Character Select page. Game Controls - Default Settings The following is a list of the default controls in Vigilance: Mouse Aim Weapon Mouse Left Click Fire Weapon Mouse Right Click Hold the Right Mouse Button to engage Mouse Look mode A (or Left Cursor Key) Rotate Left D (or Down Cursor Key) Rotate Right W (or Up Cursor Key) Walk Forward S (or Down Cursor Key) Walk Backwards E Strafe Right Q Strafe Left V Toggle Sniper mode (works only with Sniper rifle on those characters who do not have special sniper skill; works on all weapons with characters who have the special sniper skill) R Reloads a weapon C Toggles Crouch and Stand F Activate Flashlight X Auto Centers Body and Camera Z Review current status of mission objectives T Throw an item Backspace Drop an item Tab Next item Shift Run (hold while pressing direction keys) Caps Lock Toggle Run/Walk mode on or off Space Bar Jump F5 (or F1) Displays Weapons Inventory F12 (orF2) Toggle camera view between 3rd person removed, 3rd person close-up and 1st person perspectives. F8 Open and Close the Map. Use to bring up the Map centered on your character. -/+ Reduce/Enlarge the game window Control Activate items (keys, levers, virus CD, etc.) PLAYING VIGILANCE ON HEAT To play Vigilance on HEAT, follow the instructions below. If you are not already registered on HEAT, you must do so before playing. There are three ways to access HEAT: from the Vigilance multiplayer screen, from the Vigilance start-up screen following installation, and from the HEAT Start Menu. From there you can register for HEAT and play Vigilance. To play on HEAT, enter your password and user name and you will Launch into the Game Lobby where you will find a list of active games you can join, or you can create your own game. Important information on Multiplayer Characters: The first time you play Vigilance on HEAT, you must launch from within the Vigilance game at the Multiplayer screen in order to choose a character, and set your video options. This will set your default settings. Any time you wish to play with a different character or change your video settings, you must launch from here and not from the start menu or the Vigilance start-up screen. Until you do this, you will always play as Nikki Davis. Choose one of the 27 distinct Multiplayer Characters that best suits your style of gameplay. Each character has a unique skill set along with a default weapon that best suits them. Each is balanced with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some are not as proficient in their skills than others, but may be faster, stronger, or have a better starting weapon. A few have only one or no skills, but start with unique starting weapons, or have a lot of hit points. TIPS: * When you first play, start at Rookie, unless you think you are tough enough for Veteran. In the easier modes, you will have more hit points and enemies will have less. Also, targeting is more forgiving in Rookie mode. In Elite, you will have to be right on target. Elite is not for the faint of heart. * Damage is positional. A hit to the head does more damage than one to the arm. A Sniper shot to the head will drop all but the most resilient of foes. * Enemies will pick up 'Power-Ups'. Don't let them get your health packs and ammo. * Don't forget to hit the 'R' key to reload before going into battle. Nothing is worse than being surrounded by hostiles with an empty weapon. Hitting Reload also helps for those slow-to-reload weapons like Sniper Rifles or the 4Guage Shotgun. * Enemies react to sound. If there is a noise, they will investigate. (Is stealth sounding good yet?) * There are over 25 weapons in the game, and you can't carry more than 10 at a time, along with items like keycards or CDs. Choose your weapons wisely. You can rearrange the items in your Inventory Bar at any time. Hit F5 to bring up your inventory and use your mouse to drag and drop weapons to any number slot you wish. * Carrying too many items can make you heavy and weighted down. If you start to run slow, you may need to drop a few weapons. Stronger characters like Bluto or Fury can carry more than others. Remember not to throw away vital items like keycards or CDs. * If you drop a gun, you drop the ammo in it. * C4 is limited. Use it wisely. If you waste it, or miss an objective, you may fail your mission. * C4 makes a big explosion. Throw or place it and RUN. KNOWN ISSUES: * Vigilance will periodically check your CD for certain audio tracks. On some systems, you may notice brief pauses as the game looks for the tracks. To avoid this, always leave the game CD in your CD Rom drive, or turn Music OFF in the Audio Options. (Note: The Vigilance CD is not required to be in to play the game, feel free to put in any music CD to listen to while you play.) * Occasionally, if you load a level in software, then load one in 3dfx mode, some textures might get corrupted. Restart the game, load the level in 3dfx mode again, and your textures will be fine. * Occasionally with a locked cursor, when you enter Sniper mode, your target cursor may not align correctly. Press the Auto Center key (default to 'X') while in Sniper mode to readjust the target cursor. * Vigilance only supports 3Dfx Voodoo, Voodoo2 or Voodoo Banshee based graphic accelerators. Vigilance currently does not support Voodoo Rush or D3D boards. Check the Vigilance website for possible support for additional cards in the near future. Please check http://www.vigilance.com, or log onto HEAT at http://www.heat.net for the latest updates and patches for Vigilance. http://www.vigilance.com http://www.heat.net http://www.segasoft.com Need extra help? Check out the Official Vigilance Strategy Guide from Brady featuring complete specs, tips and walkthroughs.