Stratosphere - Conquest of the Skies README.

TXT
February 6, 1998 Version 1.00
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System Requirements
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Required
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Microsoft Windows 95
DirectX Version 5 (available on Stratosphere CD)
Mouse
Processor: Pentium 133 or better
CD-ROM: 4x speed
RAM: 32 Megabytes
Video: DirectX v5 compliant video card with
2MB for non-3D accelerated, 4MB with 3D accelerator.
Sound: DirectX-compatible sound card
IPX or TCP/IP LAN or 28.8 Modem for multi-player
Recommended
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Processor: Pentium 166 with MMX
3D Accelerator: 3Dfx, Voodoo Rush, Matrox Mystique, Matrox Millenium II,
Diamond Viper V330, Rendition V1000/V2x00,
ATI Rage Pro (XPert@Work, XPert@Play)

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Installation
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Stratosphere can be installed using the autoplay feature. Place the
Stratosphere CD into your CD-ROM Drive and you will be given the
option to choose from three install types when you select 'Install'
from the startup program.
The typical install is the one we recommend for the best balance of
performance and hard drive space. It will install the sound files and
the most commonly used game resources to your hard drive.
The compact install will install the files critical files needed in
roughly 45MB of hard drive space, but is not recommended
because the game may experience pauses or slow load times while files
are being accessed from the CD. The full installation will speed up
the load times between levels but takes a considerable amount of hard
drive space (over 340MB).
Stratosphere requires DirectX 5, which is included in the Strat CD.
If DirectX is not already installed on your computer, or you are not
sure, select the 'Install DirectX' button on the startup program.
After DirectX has been installed, select 'DPlay Patch' to install a
Microsoft patch for Direct Play. The 'DPlay Patch' is especially
relevant if you are going to play TCP/IP or modem multi-player games.
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Video Settings
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When first running Stratosphere it is important to correctly adjust
your video settings to ensure maxiumum performance. The video settings
are accessed by clicking on the 'Game Options' servant in the main
screen, then selecting the 'Performance Options' option.
If a 3D accelerator card is installed in the system, it should
be selected under the '3D Driver' option as it will yield the highest
possible performance. 'Primary 3D' indicates that the main video
card in your system has hardware 3D support. 'Secondary 3D' indicates
an add on card, such as a 3Dfx, can provide 3D acceleration. Under
DirectX 3D video cards may incorrectly report their capabilities and
cause problems when running the game. If your video card is not
listed in this file, it may cause problems in the game ranging from
visual inconsistencies to game crashes.
When using software based 3D drivers the largest performance gains
are achieved by turning down the 'Terrain Detail' level. Additional
performance gains in the software driver are realized by turning off
'Unit Textures' and turning down the 'Model Detail' level. On most
video cards setting 'Buffers' to 'Video Memory' with the software
driver should be faster. However, certain cards may work faster
using 'System Memory' for the 'Buffers' option. Please refer to the
Stratosphere manual for complete details.
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Video Drivers
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If you experience any video problems with the game, it is important to
make sure you are using the latest video drivers from your hardware
manufacturer. If your are experiencing slow frame rates, a new video
driver can make a significant difference. We have experienced a
doubling in speed just by upgrading the video drivers on several of
our video cards. We would highly recommend checking the web site
for your video hardware.
Also, if you choose to install DirectX from the Stratosphere CD, the
installer will run the DirectX setup program. It will show you which
versions of DirectX you have installed on your system. We recommend
reinstalling DirectX even if the DirectX setup tells you that you
have drivers installed. We have experienced some problems running
the game when the drivers were not updated that were solved once
the new drivers were installed.
Several cards require newer drivers for proper operation, including;
ATI (All-In-Wonder Pro, XPERT@Play, XPERT@Work)
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The ATI cards listed above require a version 5.0 or later driver.
The version 4.0 drivers do not support transparency correctly,
however, the game will still function.
ATI's drivers can be accessed on their web site at:
www.atitech.com.
STB Velocity 128
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Driver versions dated prior to the end of January 1998 will not
function correctly with Stratosphere. Symptoms include game
crashes between levels. Please update to a driver named
v128_132.zip or later.
STB's drivers can be accessed on their web site at:
www.stb.com
Diamond Viper 330, Monster 3D and Stealth II 220
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Newer drivers for these cards will increase performance and
enhance compatibility.
Diamond's drivers can be accessed on their web site at:
www.diamondmm.com
Matrox Mystique and Millenium II
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Newer drivers for both of these cards will increase performance
and enhance compatibility. While both of these cards can support
fog, it is highly recommended that fog be disabled under the
'PowerDesk' option under Display Settings. The Display Settings
can be accessed by running the Windows Control Panel and double-
clicking on the 'Display' icon. Visual quality is greatly
reduced when fog is enabled, and transparent objects will not
appear correctly.
Matrox's drivers can be accessed on their web site at:
www.matrox.com
3Dfx and Voodoo Rush based cards
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Stratosphere has been tested on a variety of 3Dfx and Voodoo Rush
based video cards. If you experience display problems with a 3Dfx
or Voodoo Rush based card, please obtain the latest drivers before
contacting technical support.
Rendition V1000 and V2100 based cards
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Stratosphere has been tested on a variety of Rendition Verite V1000
V2100 based video cards. If you experience display problems with a
Rendition based card, please obtain the latest drivers before
contacting technical support.
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Single and Multiplayer Missions
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These missions are arranged by valley, and contain text fields that
allow you to specify forts for either human or computer control.
Single missions are found in these valleys:
Greyvale
Charcoal Basin
Rincon Butte
Queens Valley
Glacier Bowl
Swallowed Land
Lava Lake
Crystal Pass
Multiplayer missions are found in these valleys:
Greyvale
Charcoal Basin
Sawtooth Rim
Queens Valley
Glacier Bowl
Swallowed Land
Lava Lake
Meadow Vale
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Troubleshooting and Tips
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Inserting CD's while playing Stratosphere
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Some video drivers will incorrectly display a hour-glass cursor when
a CD is inserted in the drive while playing the game. If you wish to
listen to a CD while playing the game, insert it before starting the
game. Note that the Stratosphere CD must be present in order to play
single player missions, the fortress builder, and to host a multi-player
game.
System Agent & other programs
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Stratosphere requires almost all of the machine's system resources to
run effectively. If another program, such as the System Agent, attempts
to take control of the machine while the game is running, the screen
may become corrupted and the game unplayable. Please exit Stratosphere
before attempting to run other applications. The System Agent can be
disabled from it's icon on the taskbar.
Direct Draw and 16 and 256 color modes
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Direct Draw requires that your Windows desktop be in a 256 color mode
or greater for proper functionality. In addition, certain Direct Draw
drivers may require that the Windows desktop be in a High Color or
greater mode. If you receive an error running Stratosphere relating to
desktop color depth, the desktop color depth can be changed by running
the Windows Control Panel and double-clicking on the 'Display' icon.
More info
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For the most up-to-date troubleshooting tips, visit our web site at
www.kodiakgames.com or www.stratospherepc.com. We will be adding to the
troubleshooting section as problems come up.
Thanks for playing Stratosphere, we hope you enjoy it!!
-- The Stratosphere Team, Kodiak Interactive