Motocross Madness: Contents of the Readme.txt File
  
PSS ID Number: Q191646
Article last modified on 09-05-1998
 
WINDOWS:1.0
 
WINDOWS
 

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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft Motocross Madness, version 1.0
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SUMMARY
=======
 
This article contains a copy of the English language version of the
Readme.txt file included on the Microsoft Motocross Madness CD-ROM in
the Lang\Usa\Help folder.
 
MORE INFORMATION
================
 
Microsoft Motocross Madness
Final Readme
June 1998
 
(c) Copyright 1998 Microsoft Corporation
========================================
 
Welcome to Microsoft Motocross Madness!
 
This file contains important information about version 1.0 of
Microsoft Motocross Madness.
 
NOTE: For the best readability, maximize this window.
 
=============================================
 
Other Sources of Information for Motocross Madness
 
The online Help file includes information on playing the game and
maximizing your computer's performance. Check out the Motocross
Madness Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross/ for
late-breaking information on patches, riding tips, and other cool
stuff.
 
=============================================
 
Contents
 
1. System Requirements
 
2. Optimizing Performance
 
3. 3-D Accelerator Notes:
 
    - How to Tell If You Need to Install New Video Drivers
 
4. Installation Notes
 
5. General Issues and Troubleshooting:
 
    - Configuration
 
    - Controls
 
    - Gameplay
 
    - Sound
 
    - Multiplayer
 
    - Track Editor
 
6. Late Game Changes
 
=============================================
1. System Requirements
=============================================
 
To play Microsoft Motocross Madness, you need:
 
 * Multimedia PC with 133 MHz or higher processor
 
 * Microsoft Windows 95 operating system
 
 * 16 MB of RAM (32 MB recommended)
 
 * 50 MB of available hard disk space (180 MB recommended) NOTE: The
   Track Editor installation requires an additional 7 MB.
 
 * Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
 
 * Microsoft Direct3D-compliant 3-D graphics accelerator with
   at least 2 MB of VRAM for a 166-MHz system or 4 MB of VRAM
   for a 133-MHz system
 
 * Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
 
 * Windows 95-compatible sound board
 
 * Headphones or speakers (recommended)
 
 * Force feedback hardware compatible with Microsoft Direct Input
   API (optional)
 
=============================================
2. Optimizing Performance
=============================================
 
To speed the performance of the game, reduce resolution. Motocross
Madness supports resolutions as low as 320 X 200.
 
To change resolution:
 
1. On the main menu, click Options.
 
2. Click Graphics Options, and then select a display resolution.
 
3. Click OK.
 
Also, cards with less than 4 MB of video memory may require
that you limit the number of computer-generated riders to fewer
than 5 in order to achieve acceptable performance.
 
You can also improve performance by turning off the Graphics Quality,
Shadow, Particles, Sky, Stadium, and Lighting Effects options.
 
To change Graphics Options:
 
1. Start Motocross Madness.
 
2. Click Options, and then click Graphics Options.
 
3. In the Graphics Options dialog box, click a check box to
   turn an option on or off.
 
4. Click OK.
 
You can also change Graphics Options during a race:
 
 * Stadium and Sky: Press F8.
 
 * Particles: Press F9.
 
 * Shadow: Press F10.
 
 * Graphics Quality: Press F11 repeatedly.
 
=============================================
3. 3-D Accelerator Notes
=============================================
 
Motocross Madness requires that you have a DirectX-compliant
3-D graphics accelerator installed to run the game. For the game to
run correctly with your accelerator, you should have the most
up-to-date drivers installed. For information on 3-D accelerator
and video driver issues (including how to get and install drivers),
please see the Drivers.htm page.
 
To display the Drivers.htm page:
 
1. Insert the Motocross Madness compact disc into the CD-ROM drive.
 
2. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
 
3. Click the plus sign next to the CD-ROM drive, click the plus sign
   next to the Help folder, and then double-click Drivers.htm.
 
HOW TO TELL IF YOU NEED TO INSTALL NEW VIDEO DRIVERS
====================================================
 
Motocross Madness Setup is designed to detect most common video
driver problems and inform you as much as possible of potential
problems. However, Motocross Madness cannot detect or remedy
every video problem. Problems--including the game doesn't start,
the game crashes and sends you back to the desktop, the riders
or bikes appear all white, the overlays do not appear, the shadows
don't mirror your shape, the particles are the wrong color
(for example, pink or blue instead of gray and brown), there are
random blue polygons or blue dots on the ground, some of the
computer-generated rider names do not appear above their heads,
a computer-generated rider appears in the sky, and the game
display is streaked or splotchy--are all indications that you
probably need to install a new video driver from the Motocross
Madness compact disc. If the problem persists after you install
the new driver, go to your 3-D accelerator manufacturer's Web
page and get the most up-to-date drivers.
 
When you do upgrade your drivers, Motocross Madness will default
to 640 X 480 resolution. To change the resolution, go to the
Graphics Options menu and select a different resolution. 'Nuff said.
 
To install a new video driver:
 
1. Insert the Motocross Madness compact disc into the CD-ROM drive.
 
2. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
 
3. Click the plus sign next to the CD-ROM drive, click the plus sign
   next to the Help folder, and then double-click Drivers.htm.
 
4. Select the specific driver you need to install, and then follow
   the instructions.
 
=============================================
4. Installation Notes
=============================================
 
To install Motocross Madness, you must be using Microsoft Windows 95
or later or Microsoft Windows NT 5.0.
 
To install Motocross Madness:
 
1. Turn on your computer and start Microsoft Windows 95, or later,
   or Microsoft Windows NT 5.0.
 
2. Insert the Motocross Madness compact disc into the CD-ROM drive.
 
3. If AutoPlay is enabled, click Install, and then follow the
   instructions that appear on the screen.
 
   -or-
 
   If AutoPlay is disabled, double-click the My Computer icon on
   your desktop, double-click the icon for your CD-ROM drive, and
   then double-click the Setup.exe icon. When the Setup screen
   appears, click Install, and then follow the instructions that
   appear on the screen.
 
=============================================
5. General Issues and Troubleshooting
=============================================
 
CONFIGURATION
=============
 
If you have a Diamond Stealth 3D 2000 3-D accelerator, you may see
an error message that says that you do not have a 3-D accelerator.
You must upgrade your video driver with the self-extracting driver
on the Motocross Madness CD-ROM, or from the Diamond Web site at:
 
   http://www.diamondmm.com.
 
Here are handy instructions on how to install the self-extracting
driver:
 
1. Insert the Motocross Madness compact disc into the CD-ROM drive.
 
2. Launch Windows Explorer, click the plus sign next to the
   Motocross Madness icon, click the plus sign next to the Goodies folder,
   and then click the plus sign next to the Drivers folder.
 
3. Click the plus sign next to the Diamond folder, and then click
   the 3d2000 folder.
 
4. Double-click the .exe icon, and then follow the instructions.
 
NOTE: After updating your driver and rebooting your computer, you
may see another error message. Please click More Info to disable
the Fog option.
 
If you have a Matrox Productiva G200, and are experiencing periodic
hangs, check the Matrox Web site at
 
   http://www.matrox.com/mgaweb/drivers/drivers2.htm
 
and the Microsoft games Web site at
 
   http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross
 
for updated drivers.
 
To install Motocross Madness, your desktop color depth must be set
to 16 bit.
 
To change your color depth to 16 bit:
 
1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
 
2. Click Settings, and then select High Color (16 bit) in
   the Color palette box.
 
On some accelerator cards, the "loading" screen is not persistent.
Don't worry: Your game hasn't hung! The screen will come back when
the game is fully loaded.
 
The Stunt Quarry may stutter for the first couple of minutes of play.
 
When you start up Motocross Madness for the first time, it may take
several minutes to profile your system (this may also happen when you
change your card or driver).
 
Some systems may require you to restart your system after creating
a profile and before playing. Starting the game immediately after
creating a profile will cause the game to hang. If this occurs, reboot
your system and you will be fine.
 
Are you seeing blue dots on the ground while racing in the Stunt Quarry?
If so, you can try nVIDIA's AMDTweak.exe tool that came with your original
software, or visit their Web site at http://www.nvidia.com/home.html under
Products/Drivers/Downloads.
 
If you have a Dell system with an STB accelerator, you must upgrade
your drivers from the Dell Web site at http://support.dell.com/filelib/,
not from the STB Web site. Upgrading with non-Dell drivers may
cause graphics problems in the game.
 
Do not press ALT+TAB to minimize a game, especially if you have a
Diamond Stealth II S220, Matrox MGA Mystique PowerDesk (NOTE: drivers
later than version 4.3.0.3100 are okay), or a Matrox M3D accelerator;
using these controls causes problems. We warned you: If you insist on
using ALT+TAB, don't call Microsoft Technical Support.
 
Motocross Madness will not play on a NEC 3FGX monitor with a
Millenium II card at 320 X 240 resolution. Don't worry: Just choose
another resolution and you can play.
 
On Cyrix CPU machines, you will experience poor game performance unless
you turn off the in-game sounds through the Sound Options menu.
 
On the Matrox Millenium II AGP PowerDesk, you may lose graphics
textures after long periods of gameplay. Restore the textures by
pressing ALT+TAB several times.
 
If you are not using your primary video card to run Motocross Madness,
when you finish a race as a finalist, you will go directly to the Race
Results screen and you will not see the podium sequence.
 
CONTROLS
========
 
You cannot map the Taunt function to any button on a
joystick or game pad.
 
If you change your controller while in calibrate mode, you
will have to manually select it in the options screen. If you
change your input device at any time after the game starts,
you may have to manually select it from the Control Options menu.
 
Using the Rider Cam, you won't see your bike's handlebars or
dust trails or exhaust fumes from your opponents' bikes.
 
If you're using a CH Products Flightstick Pro, you cannot remap
your throttle.
 
GAMEPLAY
========
 
While slowly going up a steep incline, be sure to lean forward;
otherwise, you may flip. Leaning forward also keeps your front
wheel on the ground, enhancing your ability to steer precisely
when you hit the apex.
 
SOUND
=====
 
Some sound cards do not allow you to change the volume settings in the
user interface. You must use the volume control on your speakers to adjust
the sound levels.
 
Some sound cards may experience sporadic sound loss. If this occurs,
please see your manufacturer's Web site for update drivers.
 
With a Minimum install, the music may stop just after you launch a
game. Don't worry: Press CTRL+M twice to turn the music off and then
back on again.
 
MULTIPLAYER
===========
 
Motocross Madness does not display your IP address.
 
To get your IP address:
 
1. To switch to Windows, press ALT+TAB.
 
2. Click Start, click Run, and then type winipcfg.
 
If a player is disconnected during a multiplayer session,
it may be up to 2 minutes before everyone receives notice.
 
Do not press ALT+TAB to EXIT a multiplayer game; on some systems
this causes problems. We warned you: If you insist on using ALT+TAB,
don't call Microsoft Technical Support.
 
Before starting a multiplayer game, be sure you know your IP address.
You may need to press ALT+TAB to minimize Motocross Madness in order
to access your dial-up network for Internet play.
 
TRACK EDITOR
============
 
NOTE: You will need an additional 7 MB of hard disk space to
install the Track Editor.
 
If you are using large fonts as your Windows default, you may
not be able to place some tiles on track pieces in the Track
Editor. To access these tiles, just rotate the track.
 
=============================================
6. Late Game Changes
=============================================
 
 * Lens Flares have been deleted from the game, although the
   online Help file refers to them in the Options section.
 
 * Pressing 0 on the numeric keypad when you're not catching
   hang time centers your default camera's view onto the rider
   and centers him in the field of view. Press the 0 key again
   to restore your default view.
 
 * Pressing CTRL+G toggles the Gas Gyro feature. If you have
   Gas Gyro on and you throttle while in the air, the rear wheel
   drops quickly. Conversely, if you have Gas Gyro on and you
   press the brake while catching air, the front wheel will drop
   before the rear wheel.
 
 * Pressing CTRL+N toggles rider name labels.
 
 * Pressing N cycles through several shades of text and background
   for the rider name labels above their heads.
 
 * Pressing CTRL+A toggles the Automatic Level of Difficulty
   (ALOD) feature. Turning on ALOD slows down computer-generated
   riders when they get close to lapping you. Conversely, turning
   off ALOD makes the computer-generated opponents as tough as they
   can be--Get ready for a computer-generated spanking!
 
 * Pressing F6 toggles visual cues including the final lap indicator,
   the green arrow that points to the next Baja waypoint gate, and
   other on-screen cues.
 
 * Pressing 5 on the numeric keypad while the game is loading will
   change your camera view, but you won't see the camera view names
   on the loading screen.
 
Additional query words: 1.00 msgame mcm readme.doc readme.wri text document
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Keywords          : kbreadme kbimu msgame 
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.