RELEASE NOTES FOR DESCENT (TM) 3 Version 1.4.0 ___________________________________ ! DO NOT DISTRIBUTE THIS GAME ! DESCENT 3 IS A COMMERCIAL PRODUCT See Section 13 for details ___________________________________ ______________________ TABLE of CONTENTS ______________________ 1. Introduction 2. Version Changes 3. System Requirements 4. Manual Addenda 5. Keyboard Controls 6. Multiplayer Game Types 7. Command-line Options 8. Compatibility 9. Maximizing Performance 10. Troubleshooting 11. Customer Service 12. Reporting Bugs 13. Legal Information ______________________ 1. INTRODUCTION ______________________ This file contains information about Descent 3 that is supplemental to what's in the manual. It includes information on version changes, troubleshooting, and reporting bugs. It also contains information about changes to the game made after the manual went to press. ______________________ 2. VERSION CHANGES ______________________ 1.0.0 - Initial release 1.1.0 - Win32 update; Linux dedicated server update 1.2.0 - Win32 update; Linux dedicated server update 1.2.5 - Initial Mac release 1.3.0 - Descent 3: Mercenary; Win32 update; Linux dedicated server update 1.3.1 - Mac Update 1.3.2 - Mac Update 1.3.3 - Mac Update 1.4.0 - Win32 Update; Linux dedicated server update; Mac Update Special thanks to Jason Leighton, Duane Johnson, and Kevin Bentley for their work on the 1.4 patch. Please check out the Descent 3 FAQ which is included in the 1.4 patch release. Known issues in Version 1.4.0: - Under Windows 2000, mouse buttons may not work properly. If you experience this problem, try selecting the checkbox for "Enable Logitech Mouseman Mode" on the Controls tab of the Setup dialog. - The scores list in the dedicated server will show only one digit for the number of kills, deaths, and suicides. This will not be fixed. - The network loss display shown to clients is not always strictly accurate. See "Network loss statistics" in Section 4, Manual Addenda. New features for Version 1.4.0: - Added IntelliVIBE support for VRF's Tactile Feedback System. See http://www.vrf.com for more info. - Added a limited auto-download option feature for game mods. See "Auto-downloaded game mods" in Section 4, Manual Addenda. - Increased MAX_SHIPS from 5 to 10 for allow more add-on ships. - Made several small speed improvements. Fixes for Version 1.4.0: - Fixed a parsing bug in the dedicated server configuration file that would crash on the MultiSettingsFile keyword. - Fixed a problem that caused old demos to sometimes crash or display incorrect objects. - Fixed a bug that could cause crashes when playing from a saved game from an earlier version. Note however that if a saved game from verion 1.2 or before was loaded in 1.3 and then re-saved, that saved game is probably corrupt and will not be playable. - Fixed a UI bug that caused the Terrain Detail slider to sometimes show incorrect values. - Fixed an effects problem that ocurred in low-memory conditions. - Fixed memory overwrite with long ship logo file names. - Fixed problem that caused unneeded sounds to not be deleted. - Typing ":" or "=" tokens in the dedicated server console no longer crashes the server. - The game info dialog on the game list screens now shows the correct difficultly level for the game. - Fixed memory overwrite bug in DMFC. - The SHIPBAN command in multiplayer settings files now works with the Black Pyro. - In the PXO game list, fixed a crash when sorting by ping. - In the PXO client, the game list is now cleared when joining a private lobby. - Improved multiplayer performance by increasing the size of the network receive buffer. - Fixed a sound system crash when playing audio taunts in the pilot menu before playing the game. - Fixed a bug that allowed the GuideBot to be killed in Mercenary level 5. - Added error checking in several places. - Fixed several memory leaks, including a big one in the dedicated server that would cause it to run out of memory after many level resets. - Fixed a bug in the lightmap system. - Miscellaneous Mac fixes. - Fixed a bug with out-of-bounds weapon indices. - Check for too-long player callsigns. - Fixed a string table problem in non-North American versions that caused netgame crashes. - Fixed a bug that caused multiple versions of audio taunts and ship logos to be sent from a client to a server. - To fix performance problems, secondary weapon firing no longer uses reliable packets. - Fixed phantom Napalm, Omega, and Vauss bugs. - Fixed a bug in the deadzone that caused the value to be decreased each time you the config dialog was used. - Added the -usesmoothing command-line option to address skipping problems with fast ships, such as the Phoenix. This option affects clients only; using it on the server has no effect. - Fixed a crash in Level 10. - Fixed keyboard ramping problems introduced in version 1.3. - Fixed the homing lock warning so it no longer happens when a weapon does not have a line of sight to the player. - Fixed a problem that caused a server to crash when a player with a corrupted logo file joined the game. - Added the -mousesens command-line option to adjust the mouse sensitivity when not using mouselook mode. See the description in Section 7, Command-line Options. - Fixed a crash caused by using a long team name. - Fixed a sporadic sound crash bug. - Fixed a Direct3D bug that may have (but probably didn't) cause a crash. - Fixed a screen clear problem on the ATI Rage Fury Maxx using dual-chip mode under OpenGL. - Added code to thwart a multiplayer cheat in which players could leave the mine and fire at other players with impunity. - Added code to prevent the player ship from going above the ceiling height. - Messages sent from the dedicated server console can now be be sent to individuals and team members in the same way as F8 messages sent by a player. - Fixed a problem that caused the Linux dedicated server to send corrupted stats to Parallax Online. - Fixed a Linux dedicated server crash for add-on table files that incorrectly specified full path names for data files. New features for Version 1.3.0: - Miscellaneous additions for Descent 3: Mercenary. - Significant memory savings, which should help performance. - If text for a particular langaguge is not found, the English text is used instead. - In the file dialog, double-clicking on a directory will open that folder. - Added the -mlooksens command-line option to change the mouse sensitivity in mouselook mode. Usage: -mlooksens . Scale determines how much the player moves when the mouse is moved. The default value is 9.1; smaller values give more precision. - Added the -mission command-line option. This causes the specified mission file to be loaded at program start, and makes that mission the default when starting a new game. Usage: -mission . - Added the ability for objects to cast "negative" light. See the DMFC documentation for more info. - Added new mission file keyword "SHIP" to override default ship. - Added support for add-on data that's not mission-specific. Fixes for Version 1.3.0: - Fixed randomness in ambient sound patterns. - Miscellaneous fixes for DMFC. See the DMFC readme. - Fixed a couple small bugs for add-on table files. - Fixed a byte-ordering problem with PXO, introduced in version 1.2, that caused stats to be lost. New features for Version 1.2.0: - Reduced network traffic in multiplayer games by not sending position packets for dedicated servers, dead players, and observers. - Additional Pentium III enhancements: motion blur on robots and powerup sparkles. - Under Linux, service mode (invoked with -service) now works like a true service. - Secondary weapon fire packets are now sent relialbly. - Added support for EAX 2.0. - Changed the controller (joystick) code to use by default the Windows API. Version 1.0.0 used the Windows API, but 1.1.0 used DirectInput. To use DirectInput under 1.2.0, use the "-directinput" command-line option (which does the same thing as the "-alternatejoy" option.) DirectInput should be used with joysticks that don't work with the Windows API, such as the Wingman Interceptor and other multiple-hat sticks. Fixes for Version 1.2.0: - Fixed a minor AI path-following bug. - Add-on table files now work correctly when pages in the add-on are dependent on other add-on pages. - Fixed an energy center problem in Entropy games. - Fixed a problem in CTF games picking up the flag in small rooms. - F7 no longer crashes when pressed immediately upon joining a netgame. - Fixed z-buffer rendering problems under OpenGL. - Fixed an OpenGL problem caused by setting the magnification filter to an invalid setting. - DMFC is now notified of player damage before the player is killed. - Fixed a menu problem that showed no ship logo selected when an OAF-format logo was selected. - Stats are now written to PXO when a server quits. - Fixed syncing problems in multiplayer when a guided missile is released. - Changed the Winsock packet buffer to be 16KB. - Removed the joystick sample-rate cap mistakenly added in version 1.1.0. New features for Version 1.1.0: - Added the -bumped command-line option to enable hardware bump-mapping on cards that support it, such as the Matrox G400. - Added the -NoRenderWindows command-line option. Some cards do not correctly render partially-transparent windows. If windows do not work correctly on your card, use this switch to cause all windows to be fully transparent. - The Pilot Info function on the PXO chat screen now shows the numerical ranking required to achieve the next named rank. - Increased the maximum joystick sensitivity. - In co-op, spewed powerups no longer time out. - Added the -deadzone0 & -deadzone1 command-line options to specify the size of the deadzone for a joystick. See the description in Section 7, Command-line Options. - Overhauled the PXO ranking system. One major effect is that players should no longer lose rank even when beating someone of lower or equal rank. - Reduced the delay between shots for the Fusion Cannon. - Added the -z32bit command-line option for cards that support a 32-bit z-buffer, such as the Matrox G400. - Added enhancements for Pentium III systems. - Added the "outlinem" cheat code to turn on outline mode (for level designers). - Added "renderstat" cheat code to see rendering statistics (for level designers). - A sound is now played when a player disconnects or leaves the game. - Added delete buttons to the ship configuration dialog to delete logos and audio taunts from within the game. - The user's pilot is now highlighted on the F7 stats screen. - Kills, deaths, and suicides are no longer reported to PXO for Co-op games. - Added several new features to the DMFC SDK; see the SDK Readme file for more information. - Added the "$scores" server command for Entropy and Team Anarchy games. - Added a token system for taunt macros. See the description in Section 4, Manual Addenda. - The typing icon is now not displayed to other players when entering a team message using Ctrl-F8. - Added the -autoexec command-line parameter. See the description in Section 7, Command-line Options. - Added Remote administration of a server via a client. See the description in Section 4, Manual Addenda. - Added the "$wait" server command. See the description in Section 4, Manual Addenda. - Added the "logout" server command to terminate a telnet connection. - In multiplayer games with a level time limit, a countdown timer is displayed starting 10 seconds before the level ends. - The status of the small rear view is now saved in the pilot file. - Added better support for the Madcatz Panther XL. Configuration is specified in the file PANTHER.CTL. - Added better support for the SpaceOrb 360. Configuration is specified in the file SPACEORB.CTL. - This version will work on systems running non-English versions of Windows. - Added a dedicated server command for Hoard to set the minimum number of hoard orbs needed to score. Usage: "$mincount ", where 'count' is between 1 and 12. - Room wind is now loaded from the level file (for compatibility with D3Edit). - Improved Aureal 2.0 support. - Added code to unzip auto-downloaded mission files. For details, see Section 4, Manual Addenda. - Added the -nooutragelogo command-line parameter. See the description in Section 7, Command-line Options. - The framerate is now capped at 50 by default. To remove this cap use the command-line option "-framecap 999". - Added the -httpproxy command-line parameter. See the description in Section 7, Command-line Options. Fixes for Version 1.1.0: - Corrected the legal text in Section 13 of the Readme file. - Fixed the section numbering in the Readme file. - Fixed z-buffer rendering problems under Direct3D on cards that don't support w-buffering. - When running a small install, restoring a saved game no longer requires inserting CD 1 if the level is stored on CD 2. - Music now works properly in the automap. - In multiplayer games with a time limit, the timer now does not start until after the "Waiting for Players" dialog has been closed. - When typing a private or team-only message that's longer than one line, the continuation line is now only sent to the recipient(s) of the first line. - Fixed glitches when the multiplayer game list screens updated. - The auto-download system for missions now works. - When going to a new level in a multiplayer game, the reticle is now reset correctly. - Removed the Matrox M3D from the list of supported video cards in the Readme file. - Fixed crashes on servers left running for a long time. - In multiplayer games, time spent in observer mode now doesn't count as time alive. - Fixed several crashes and other bugs in the demo system. - Fixed an occasional crash when clicking on the "Return to Chat" button on the PXO game list screen. - The program NETTEST.EXE, mentioned in the manual, is now included. - The GuideBot now does a better job of staying out of the way of player shots. - The GuideBot should not get stuck as often. - Improved anti-cheating code in the server. - Fixed parsing of the command line on dedicated servers to allow certain punctuation marks. - Fixed "$scores" command for CTF and Monsterball to list the team scores also. - Fixed the post-level results screens for CTF, Monsterball, Team Anarchy, and Entropy to display connected players before disconnected players. - Fixed F7 stats screen for CTF, Monsterball, Team Anarchy, and Entropy to display connected players before disconnected players. - Fixed the multiplayer post-level results screen to prevent text from going off the bottom of the screen. - Fixed a memory bug in the connection DLLs that could cause a crash. - Fixed a memory bug in the UI system that could cause a crash. - The D3 temporary directory (custom/cache) can now only be used by one process at a time. When running multiple copies of Descent 3 on the same machine, use the -tempdir command-line option to specify an alternative directory. - Fixed a Hoard bug that sometimes gave the player points when killed in the goal. - The key used to invoke the automap now will also exit the automap. - Mouse control no longer varies with framerate. - The game now works correctly on systems with multiple CD-ROM drives. - Fixed some odd behavior when the afterburner was mapped to more than one button or key on the same device. - Changed a multiplayer kill messages that wasn't gender neutral. - Changed the GuideBot's "Exit Ship" menu item to "Release GuideBot". - Keyboard sensitivity is now set correctly from the selected pilot file when starting the game. - In multiplayer, the typing indicator icon now draws correctly under Direct3D and OpenGL. - Fixed a bunch of memory leaks. - Fixed the manage system to support multiple add-on table files. - In DMFC, the timer interval function was called twice per frame. - Reduced the Winsock packet buffer to the larger of 2KB or the minumum for the installed network card. Fixes for Version 1.1.0, Linux dedicated server: - Fixed server shutdown when a client quits out of a telnet administration session. - Fixed crash due to typing certain keys, such as a colon. - Improved keyboard handling for non-SVGALIB keyboard processing. - Removed nearly all library dependencies. Libraries are now dynamically loaded when needed. - Fixed excessive redraw with 'raw' console support by not using the ncurses library. - Fixed backspace problems with 'raw' keyboard support. __________________________ 3. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS __________________________ The following minimum system configuration is required to run Descent 3: A 200MHz Pentium processor Windows 95, 98, or NT 32MB RAM 3D accelerator video card with 4 MB of texture RAM 4x CD-ROM drive 210 MB hard disk space DirectX 6 certified sound card If you have Windows 95 or Windows 98, DirectX 6.1 software If you have Windows NT 4.0, Service Pack 3 or greater The following hardware is recommend for a good Descent 3 experience: A Pentium II 300MHz processor 64MB RAM 500 MB hard disk space Of course, the faster the CPU and the more RAM your computer has, the better performance you'll get in Descent 3. We've tried to make Descent 3 work on a wide range of machines, so don't be suprised if you can't use the highest detail settings if you don't have the very latest hardware. _______________________ 4. MANUAL ADDENDA _______________________ The following are supplemental items and changes to the Descent 3 manual. CHANGES & CORRECTIONS Weapon Precedence: We've changed the way weapon precedence selection works. With the new system, you first click on the item you want to move, and then click on the spot where you want the item. The item will be moved to that spot, and the other items will slide down to make room for it. Mercenary mission: The single-player Mercenary mission does not support cooperative play. SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS Note about multiple missions: When starting a new game after a clean install or after creating a new pilot, Descent 3 will automatically start the training mission, and then proceed into the first level of the Retribution mission. To select another mission, you need to use Escape to abort the training mission, and then select New Game again. When launching Descent 3 via the Mercenary shortcut, the training mission will not be automatically selected, and you'll be able to start any of the available missions. PDF Manual: A PDF version of the Descent 3 manual is provided on CD 1. The file is D3Manual.pdf and is located in the root directory of CD 1. You can view this file with Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded from Adobe's web site at: http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html Brightness Control: Some video cards do not allow applications such as Descent 3 to adjust the card's brightness (gamma) setting. If you try to adjust the brightness in D3 and get no response, try adjusting the setting in the Windows Control Panel (under Display). Guide-Bot: Shift + the number keys (1 - 9, 0) will command the Guide-Bot to perform specific actions. See a the list in Section 5, Keyboard Control. FindFast: Microsoft Office installs a program called FindFast that makes it possible for Office applications to open files more quickly. This application, FindFast, runs in the background on your machine indexing the contents of your hard drive. If FindFast is running while Descent 3 being played, the game's performance can be significantly reduced. For this reason, the Descent 3 launcher will detect the presence of FindFast when the game is started and give you the option of disabling it. We STRONGLY recommend that you disable FindFast when starting Descent 3. If you terminate FindFast it may take your computer slightly longer to open files, but everything else will work normally. FindFast will be re-enabled the next time you start your computer. Shift Keys: Windows 95 & NT do not differentiate between the left and right shift keys when informing Descent 3 that one of these keys has be released. If you press both shift keys at the same time, Descent 3 will think that one key is still held down even after both have been released. Because if this, you may want to be careful when assigning the shift keys to functions in Descent 3. HEAT.NET: Descent 3 features direct support for HEAT.NET. To play a game of Descent 3 on HEAT.NET, select HEAT.NET from the Multiplayer menu in Descent 3, or use the Start Menu shortcut "Play Descent 3 Online at HEAT.NET". Multiplayer: CTRL-F8 can be used to send messages to your teammates in a team multiplayer game. This works just like the F8, but only your teammates will see the message. In a non-team game, everyone will see the message. When you receive a team message, the sender's name will be in brackets (e.g., "[Crucible]: look out!"). When using F8 to send a message, you can send a private message to a specific player by starting the message with the player's pilot name, followed by a colon. For example, typing "spike: look out!" would send the message "look out!" to the player Spike. You only need to type as many characters of the player's name as are necessary to differentiate it from other player names. When you receive a private message, the sender's name will be in angle brackets (e.g., ": look out!"). Level 13 ("CED Expediator Dreadnaught"): Because the way this level is scripted, it cannot be played in anarchy or other non-cooperative modes. If you attempt to play this level in an anarchy mode, the level will immediately terminate and the game will advance to the next level. DirectPlay Update: If you want to play Descent 3 over a modem or serial connection, you should download the DirectPlay 6.1a update from Microsoft. This is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/directx/developer/downloads/dplay.asp This update drastically improves the performance and reliability of DirectPlay and is highly recommended. PXO Stats: For games played on Parallax Online (PXO), the service keeps track of the kills, deaths, and suicides for each pilot. Since some types of multiplayer games are scored primarily on points or goals rather than kills and deaths (Entropy, Capture-the-flag), you may not want kills and deaths to be recorded when playing one of these. In this case, we suggest using an alternate pilot for those games. PXO Rankings: For games played on Parallax Online (PXO), Descent 3 supports a ranking system that computes a lifetime rank for each player. This system is similar to the rankings used in chess; here are some of the features of this system: * New players start at 400. * Your ranking will increase with each win and decrease with each loss, but will increase more if you beat a player with a higher ranking than you, and will decrease more if you lose to a player with a lower ranking. * The numerical rankings correspond to named ranks. Note that it may take a very long time to reach the higher ranks. The numerical rank needed for each named rank is shown below. 0: Cadet 600: Ensign 900: Lieutenant 1200: Lt. Commander 1500: Commander 1800: Captain 2100: Commodore 2400: Rear Admiral 2600: Admiral 3000: Demigod * When you achieve a new rank, you'll be notified via a HUD message. * You can see the rank of each player in a multiplayer game on the player list, viewable by pressing the F7 key. * You can view a list on PXO of all Descent 3 players sorted by numerical at http://www.pxo.net/. Dedicated Server: There is a new dedicated server command, "AudioTauntDelay