ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º RELEASE NOTES FOR º º DESCENT º º REGISTERED/COMMERCIAL 1.0 º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE! REGISTERED DESCENT IS A COMMERCIAL PRODUCT See section 8 for details ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º TABLE of CONTENTS º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ 1. Version Changes 2. Manual Addenda 3. Tips for New Pilots 4. Using Thrustmaster controls, Logitech Wingman Extreme, Gravis Phoenix, or Logitech Cyberman 5. VR Helmet Information 6. Troubleshooting & Technical Support ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º 1. VERSION CHANGES º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ For Shareware owners, the following items have been fixed/added since Descent Shareware 1.1: Fixed: memory allocation problems in mouse.c sudden loss of joystick calibration UART detection problems lockups with certain TI/Cyrix chips lockups with PS/2 style mice Added: enhanced FM and MIDI soundtrack support for .MSN mission files improved enemy AI improved automap controls more fullscreen HUD info network support across routers support external controls for SpaceBall Descent FAQ 1.0 ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º 2. MANUAL ADDENDA º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ The following items were added after the game manual went to print: DESCENT and OS/2 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ To get Descent to run under OS/2, just increase your DPMI_MEMORY_LIMIT to 8 megs or more. Descent should then run perfectly with full sound. If your joystick behaves strangely under OS/2 try using the "-JoyPolled" command line option. Keep in mind that Descent does not officially support OS/2. DESCENT and Windows ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Use the following settings in your PIF file: Optional Parameters: -JoyPolled EMS Memory: KB Limit -1 XMS Memory: KB Limit -1 Display Usage: Full Screen Execution: Exclusive If you use a joystick, the -JoyPolled option uses an alternate method of joystick reading that should increase performance under Windows. Keep in mind that Descent does not officially support Windows. DESCENT and INTERNET HEAD-TO-HEAD DEMON (IHHD) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ While playing Multiplayer Descent through the IHHD software is possible, it is not recommended. The delay in packet delivery will almost certainly lead to strange results. You may see players jump around suddenly, or even disappear for several seconds at a time. You may also witness players not dropping powerups when killed, staying cloaked too long, or other unfavorable results. COMMAND LINE OPTIONS ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ The following command-line options were not mentioned in the manual: -RInvul New multiplayer option. Keeps the Main Reactor invulnerable until n minutes have passed where n is a value between 1-314. -AutoDemo Continuously cycles through all DEM files in directory. -NoMusic Disables music; sound effects remain enabled. -JoyPolled Reads joystick using the standard IBM PC polling method, instead of using the 1.19Mhz system timer. This is useful for multitasking operating systems, like OS/2 and Windows, which support the polling method. -JoyBios Reads joystick using BIOS function 15h. This will improve the joystick readings under certain operating systems and configurations. This is not normally recommended for DOS users. SCREENSHOT VIEWER ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Included in your Descent directory is PCXVIEW.EXE. This is a standalone utility that allows you to view any .PCX screenshots taken in Descent. PCXVIEW.EXE is public domain and freely distributable. See your Descent Manual for more information on screenshots. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º 3. TIPS for NEW PILOTS º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ In addition to the following tips, your Descent box includes a "walkthrough" for level 1. It explains in detail how to maneuver your way through level 1 and explains the basics of gameplay. Here are a few things that help new players adjust to the fully 3D world and intelligent robots of Descent. Heed these tips and you'll soon be blasting robot hordes (and your friends!) with ease. o Use a quality joystick. Thrustmaster, Advanced Gravis, and CH Products provide full lines of controls well suited to 3D flying. o If you use a two-button joystick, try keeping one hand on the A and Z keys to control your FORWARD and REVERSE. o If you're up against a wall, try using REVERSE to back away instead of turning around. o Learn how to SLIDE well. Using vertical sliding instead of pitching will help keep you upright. If your joystick has a Hat Switch, use it to slide. o Use SLIDE to evade enemy fire. This will help keep the robots in your sights. o Sweep fire side-to-side to hit evading robots. This is especially important on higher skill levels where robots evade faster. Also try using lasers and missiles simultaneouslly against an evading robot. o Rescue the hostages! If you rescue all hostages in a mine, you receive a full rescue bonus. But be sure you make it out after picking them up - if your ship's destroyed, so are they. o Try clearing a path to the exit before you attack the Main Reactor. You may run out of time if you're battling hordes of robots on your escape! o The blast radius of a concussion missile is very effective against tight groups of robots. o Look for secret doors. Weapons and ammo are often behind them. They can be a different color, or have small seams running down them. Keep in mind, Descent is fully 3D, and secret doors aren't only in the walls... o DON'T SIT STILL. The best way to stay alive is to keep moving. Using SLIDE to circle a target while you're firing is very effective. o Learn to use your ship's Automap. It can reveal things your eyes may miss. o Flares can help sniff out cloaked robots & players. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º 4. USING THRUSTMASTER CONTROLS, LOGITECH º º WINGMAN EXTREME, GRAVIS PHOENIX and º º LOGITECH CYBERMAN º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ Thrustmaster, Gravis Phoenix, and Logitech Cyberman controls are fully supported by Descent. The device control files (DESCENT2.ADV, DESCENT.B50, DESCENT.M50, and DESCENT.PHX) can be found in your Descent directory. If you have a Wingman Extreme, you should use the Thrustmaster FCS option. Thrustmaster FCS: Choose "Thrustmaster FCS" under Options/Controls. or Logitech This is for players _not_ also using the WCS. Wingman Extreme If you use the WCS throttle with the FCS, follow instructions for the WCS below. * Thrustmaster WCS: Load the DESCENT2.ADV file into your WCS. In Mark II Descent, choose "Joystick" under Options/Controls. Now choose "Configure Above" and change the THROTTLE entry to respond to the WCS (the Y2 axis). * Thrustmaster FLCS: Load the DESCENT.B50 & .M50 files into your FLCS. If you also use a WCS throttle, no program should be loaded into the WCS. Gravis Phoenix: Load the DESCENT.PHX file into your Phoenix. In Descent, choose "Joystick" under Options/Controls. Now choose "Configure Above" and change the THROTTLE entry to respond to the throttle slider (the Y2 axis). Logitech Cyberman: You must have the Cyberman MOUSE.COM driver loaded before you run Descent. If you have a standard mouse connected as well, you will need to use the "/dual" option when you load MOUSE.COM. See Cyberman docs for details. Calibration Note: When using one of the analog throttles listed here or the CH Flightstick, you will be prompted to calibrate your throttle as well as your joystick. * >> NOTE TO WCS and FLCS USERS: Because these devices intercept the keyboard signals, your ship may fly strangely when you also hold down keyboard keys (like 'A' and 'Z'). If you keep the WCS or FLCS on your system, it's recommended that you use those devices for throttle control and sliding, not the keyboard. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º 5. TROUBLESHOOTING & TECHNICAL SUPPORT ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ For the support for all your games bought through GOG.com, please visit our Support page at http://www.gog.com/support. If you're logged in, go directly to "Support" page, where you can see a list of all your Good Old Games, otherwise you can find the game you're looking for through the smart search. Choose the game that you have problem with, and see whether the solution isn't already posted. If not, go to the "Contact us" page, select "Technical issues with games" and hit "Continue" to send us a message describing your problem. Fill all the required fields with proper data - please enter as much details as you can, this will help us solve your problem faster. All your messages and our replies will appear on your "My Account" page. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ DESCENT IS COPYRIGHT (C) 1994, 1995 PARALLAX SOFTWARE CORPORATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DESCENT IS A TRADEMARK OF INTERPLAY PRODUCTIONS, INC. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -END OF FILE-