M E T A L   F A T I G U E
Readme.txt

Thank You for purchasing Metal Fatigue!

For the latest Metal Fatigue information, go to http://www.metalfatigue.net

Feb. 11th, 2000

================================================================
     Table of Contents
================================================================
     I. Installation

    II. DirectX

   III. Running the Game

    IV. Uninstalling Metal Fatigue

     V. Standard Hardware Requirements

    VI. Tutorial

   VII. Addendum to User Manual

        A. Hosting and Joining a Multiplayer Game

        B. Surrender Modes 

        C. Active Crew Limit

        D. In-Game Multiplayer Options (CTRL-M)

        E. Solar Resource Gathering

  VIII. Hints and Tips
    
    IX. Troubleshooting

     X. How To Contact Technical Support

    XI. Legal Info

================================================================
     I. Installation
================================================================
	To install Metal Fatigue on Windows 95/98:
	* Begin at the Windows 95/98 desktop.
	* Insert the Metal Fatigue Disk 1 CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive
	* The Metal Fatigue Startup window will appear on your desktop and lead you through 
	  the installation process.
	NOTE: If your "Auto insert notification" is not enabled in your CD-ROM drive
	property settings, then the Metal Fatigue Startup window will not appear when
	the CD-ROM has been inserted.  You will need to double-click the "My Computer" 
	icon on your desktop, next double-click on your CD-ROM drive label, then 
	double-click on "Setup.exe" file in the Metal Fatigue directory.

	---- 3D HARDWARE CHIPSET SUPPORT / DRIVERS ----

	PLEASE download the latest drivers for your sound and video card! Metal Fatigue DOES
 	NOT WORK with some older drivers, so it is important that you have installed the 
	latest drivers. Many popular card drivers that have been tested to work with Metal 
	Fatigue are included on the Metal Fatigue CD in the "Drivers" folder of disc 1. These are 	
	drivers that have been provided by the chip manufacturers, and not the video card 	
	manufacturers (sometimes these are the same company), and will run Metal Fatigue as
 	well or better than the driver that was installed when you purchased your computer 
	or video card.

	When Metal Fatigue installs it will attempt to pick the best API for your card.
 	Please use the recommendation it gives *marked "Set to use"*. If you have any 
	trouble running the game, simply run "Hardware Detect" again from Start Menu/ 	
	Programs/Psygnosis/Metal Fatigue and try other options. NOTE: If you installed the 
	Metal Fatigue shortcut into a different directory during the Installation, you will
	need to click on the "Hardware Detect" icon in that location. 
 
	In general follow these rules:
	- First try the one it picks. If you have a 3dfx base card, GLIDE should be the 	
	  default. For anything else, D3D should be the default.
	- If Glide (3dfx only) or D3D is not working, try OpenGL. Although OpenGL is not
 	  officially supported  by Metal Fatigue, some cards do run the game well through it.
	- SGL is only for use with older PowerVR cards. If you have a Videologic Neon250, 
	  use D3D.
 
	Metal Fatigue should run well on almost any Direct3D compatible 3D accelerator card
 	that supports Z-Buffering, Bilinear Filtering, and Alpha-Blending. Metal Fatigue has
 	been tested with and supports the following 3D accelerated graphics cards:

	3Dfx:        Voodoo Graphics, Voodoo Rush, Voodoo Banshee, Voodoo 2, Voodoo 3
	NVidia:      Riva128, TNT, TNT2
	ATI:         All-in-Wonder, XPERT, Rage Pro, Rage 128, Rage Fury
	3DLabs:      Permedia 2 and 3
	Intel:       i740 and i740 with video capture
	Matrox:      G200 and G400
	PowerVR:     PowerVR (PCX2) and PowerVR250 (use D3D not SGL)
	Rendition:   V2100 and V2200
	S3:          Savage 3 & 4

================================================================
      II. DirectX
================================================================
	Metal Fatigue requires that DirectX version 7.0 or above be installed on your 
	machine before running.  For questions regarding DirectX, refer to Microsoft's
	website at http://www.microsoft.com/directx

================================================================
     III. Running the Game
================================================================
	After successfully installing the game, a window will appear every time the CD-ROM
	is inserted into the CD-ROM drive.  Choose "Play" from this window's menu options to
 	run Metal Fatigue.  If this window does not appear when the CD-ROM is inserted, you
 	may click on the shortcut icon that appears on your desktop (if you chose to install
 	it) or you may click on the Start button from the Windows desktop, select Programs/
 	Psygnosis/Metal Fatigue/Metal Fatigue icon.  NOTE: If you installed the Metal 
	Fatigue shortcut into a different directory during the 	Installation, you will need
	to click on the Metal Fatigue icon in that location.

================================================================
      IV. Uninstalling Metal Fatigue
================================================================
	If you need to remove Metal Fatigue, begin at the Windows 95/98 desktop.  Click the
 	Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the
 	Add/Remove Programs icon.  Click the Install/Uninstall tab and select Metal
 	Fatigue from the list of programs. Click the "Add/Remove Programs" button and then
 	click the Yes button to remove the program. Click OK to clear the screen.  You may
 	also remove the program by clicking the Start button, then select Programs/Psygnosis/
 	Metal Fatigue/Metal Fatigue Uninstall icon. NOTE: If you installed the Metal Fatigue
	shortcut into a different directory during the Installation, you will need to click 
	on the Metal Fatigue Uninstall icon in that location.

================================================================
       V. Standard Hardware Requirements
================================================================
        --- Minimum Requirements ---
        Pentium(r) 200 
        32 Mb RAM
        6x CD-ROM
        Win 95/98 with DirectX7.0
        32mb free disk space
        Voodoo1 or comparable 3D accelerator with 4mb VRAM. 
     
        --- Recommended Requirements ---

        Pentium(r) II/233 or better
        32 Mb RAM
        8x CD-ROM
        Win 95/98 with DirectX7.0
        430mb free disk space
        Voodoo2 or better 3D accelerator with 8mb VRAM

================================================================
      VI. Tutorial
================================================================
Please check your Psygnosis/Metal Fatigue Start Menu Directory and select "TUTORIAL"
The tutorial contains a valuable walkthrough of the first three Rimtech missions as well as play
and technical tips!  The tutorial should be viewed in 800x600 or higher screen resolution.  If
the tutorial seems offset or cramped when you open it, you are probably running in 640 X 480 
screen resolution.  To change your screen resolution, from your desktop click on 
START/Settings/Control Panel/Display.  Next click on the "Settings" tab and use the "Desktop Area" 
slide bar to increase your desktop to the new desired setting.  We suggest at least a resolution
of 800 X 600 to view the tutorial.  A resolution of 1024 X 768 yields the best results.


**********************************************************************************************
**                                                                                          **
**   VII.               ADDENDUM TO THE USER MANUAL - Changes and Additions                 **
**                                                                                          **
**********************************************************************************************


================================================================
     VII A. Hosting and Joining a Multiplayer Game
================================================================
-- Hosting a Multiplayer Game --
1) Select MULTIPLAYER from the main menu.
2) Select HOST button from Select Game screen
3) Type the title of the multiplayer game (or leave the default name) and select CREATE from the 
Host Game screen.
4) A game has now been created using the title you provided and you are presented with the 
Multiplayer Setup screen.
5) Adjust options to your liking and change the map by clicking on the Map name (top center).
6) You may add AI opponents, as you would in Skirmish, by clicking on the field that reads 
"OPEN" next to each player number, until the desired General's name appears.  There are a number of
different Generals -- each one's name reflects their playing style.
7) If you wish to close a player slot, to limit the number of players entering your game, you 
may click on the player name slot (where "OPEN" is displayed) until it displays "CLOSED."  
8) If you wish to ally with someone in the game, click on the player number (under your own 
player name) that corresponds with their player number.  This button will turn yellow and 
flash yellow on their screen.  They must click on your flashing yellow number to accept the 
alliance.  The button will now turn green.  If they do not wish to ally, then they should not 
click on the flashing yellow button.  Alliances may be formed and broken during gameplay as 
well.
9) The Multiplayer setup screen has a chat window at the bottom of the screen where you may 
chat with everyone, just enemies, or just allies to discuss your plan of attack.  To send a 
chat message, simply type something and then hit the ENTER key on the keyboard.  To change 
to whom the messages are being sent, click on the button to the right of the text that 
reads "Messages Sent To."
10) When everyone is in the game and they have all clicked on their "READY" buttons 
(their player numbers will highlight), you may launch the game by selecting the "START" 
button.  This button appears where the "READY" button appeared before pressing it.

NOTE: If you would like to "drop" an undesirable player from the Multiplayer screen, simply 
click on the player's name until "CLOSED" appears.  Continue to click this slot until "OPEN"
appears if you'd like someone else to join in that position.

-- Joining a Multiplayer Game --
1) Select MULTIPLAYER from the main menu.
- If you are attempting to join a game that is hosted from your Local Area Network, the game 
will appear under the "Now Scanning Local Network" field.  Choose the appropriate game from 
this list and press the "JOIN" button. 
- If you are attempting to join a game hosted outside of a LAN, select the field above 
"Search IP" and type the host's IP number.  When you are finished click on the "SCAN" button 
or hit ENTER on your keyboard.
2) When the game appears under the "Now Scanning Local Network" field, select it and click 
on the "JOIN" button.
3) You are now confronted with the Multiplayer setup screen, on which the game options are configurable 
only by the host.  You may, however, choose your Corponation, color, allies, and chat using 
the chat menu found at the bottom of the screen.
4) When you are ready to play, click on the "READY" button.  

-- Map Select Screen --
The "Players" field displays the maximum number of players this map can accommodate.  
The "Size" field displays the physical size of the map.
The 3 minimaps display the orbit, surface and underground layers of the selected map.
Use the blue arrows to scroll up and down to see the 30 Multiplayer maps available.
Click the "OK" button when you have decided on the selected map.

================================================================
    VII B. Surrender Modes
================================================================     
There are three types of Surrender Modes in Metal Fatigue: "NORMAL" and "FORCED" and 
"NONE".

NORMAL - A player must destroy all of another player's Matter Converter(s) and 
have more than 4 times that player's total offense to force them out of the game.

FORCED - Much stricter and more complex rules apply.  This setting basically waits
until there is no way a player can come back into a fight before they can be forced out.
This setting is to prevent players who like to drag games out by fleeing a unit or two
around a map for minutes or hours even though they know they've lost.

================================================================
     VII C. Active Crew Limit
================================================================
Active Crew Limit is defaulted to None, which means there are no limit to the number of
Combot Crews or Combots a player can build during the game.  If the user changes this 
option to, say, 5 then a player cannot have more than 5 Combot Crews alive at any one time.
This means that they cannot have 5 manned combots at any one time either, however, they can
stockpile parts in the Assembly Bay. 

================================================================
     VII D. In-Game Multiplayer Options
================================================================
Press and hold CTRL and M to bring up the In-Game Multiplayer options.

The In-Game Multiplayer options allow players to ally, break alliances, force other 
players to surrender, transfer units, transfer Metajoules and change chatting options.

ALLY - To ally during gameplay, bring up the MPO (Multiplayer Options), select the player 
you wish to ally with and then  select the button on the left (under the ALLIES heading).  
This button will change to a yellow flag on your MPO and change to a waving yellow flag 
on theirs.  The other player must select this yellow flag, which changes it to a green 
flag, to create the alliance.

BREAK ALLIANCE - To break an alliance during gameplay, bring up the MPO, click on the 
player's name you wish to break the alliance with and then click on the green flag until 
nothing appears.  The alliance is over and your units will now fire on each other.

CHATTING - To alter chat settings, bring up the MPO and notice the 'chat' boxes that 
appear atop the player colors next to the player names.  These represent players that 
will receive chat messages when you type a message and hit the ENTER key on the keyboard.  
If you would not like some of these players to receive your messages, simply click on 
the 'chat' box atop their color so that it disappears.  They will no longer receive your 
messages.  While in this window, typing anything on the keyboard, followed by hitting 
'ENTER', will send your messages.

TRANSFERRING UNITS/COMBOTS/STRUCTURES - To transfer units to another player, you will 
first need to select the units you wish to transfer, then you will need to bring up the 
MPO (NOTE: Units cannot be selected or deselected while the MPO is up).  Next, select 
the player's name from the MPO and select the "TRANSFER UNITS" button.  These units will 
now change to that player's color and be under his/her control.

TRANSFERRING METAJOULES - To transfer Metajoules to another player, bring up the MPO, 
select the player's name, then type the amount of Metajoules you wish to transfer and 
hit the "TRANSFER MJS" button.  If you entered a valid amount, the funds will be 
transferred.

FORCING A PLAYER TO SURRENDER - To force another player out of the game, bring up the 
MPO, select that player's name, and select the "FORCE ENEMY SURRENDER" button.  If this 
button is gray and not selectable then that player is not ready to surrender.  
NOTE: This feature is only available if the host chose either "NORMAL" or "FORCED" 
surrender mode from the Multiplayer setup screen.  When a player is forced out of the 
game, all of their units are destroyed.

================================================================
     VII E. Solar Resource Gathering
================================================================
Solar panels that are located within a defense grid gather 30% more solar energy than ones
outside of a defense grid.





**********************************************************************************************


================================================================
    VIII. Hints and Tips
================================================================

Engine and technical tips:
-------------------------

TIP: We recommend running Metal Fatigue in 640 X 480 resolution (this is the default) for 
all 3D graphics cards, for optimal visual and gameplay performance.  The game's toolbars 
and menus look best at 640 X 480.

TIP: Recommended PING times.  We don't recommend playing or hosting a Multiplaying 
game with anyone with a ping greater than 300. You may play with people having pings 
of 300-500, but may experience problems.

TIP: If you find the game to be running slowly on your machine, you can turn off some 
of the special effects from the Options Screen. Turning off Shadows, Super Zoom,  and 
Dynamic Lighting could help significantly.

TIP: Although some NVidia Riva 128 cards may be able to run Metal Fatigue at higher 
resolutions, we recommend running the game at 640 X 480 for optimal performance.

TIP: For internet Multiplayer games, please ensure that you start your connection to
the internet before loading Metal Fatigue.  The game will try to start a connection
when you get to the Multiplayer screen, but if your system is not able to complete the 
connection in the background, you will not be able to join any games.

TIP: After starting Metal Fatigue from the desktop icon or Start Menu, we don't recommend 
selecting any other desktop icons while the game loads.  This has been known to cause the
loss of cursor control in the main menu on some machines.

TIP: For Multiplayer games over modems, we suggest playing with a maximum of 4 players (human
and/or AI players).

TIP: We don't recommend running any other programs in the background while Metal Fatigue is 
running.  Also, we don't recommend using ALT-TAB to switch to another program while Metal
Fatigue is running, because it may make the game unstable and/or unrecoverable.

TIP: If you experience any problems while playing Metal Fatigue, like an overly choppy menu 
cursor or a lockup or crash, we highly suggest rebooting your system before loading the game 
again.

TIP: For TNT 1 and TNT 2 users, we suggest setting the Texel (or Texture) alignment option in
the Windows/NVidia 3D settings, or Display/BlasterControl/Tweak/Advanced, to the top left.
WARNING: Altering this setting has the potential of causing problems with other software 
programs on your system.  If you experience any problems, we suggest changing this setting 
back to it's original configuration.

TIP: For NVidia GeForce users, we suggest running the game under OpenGL if Direct3D causes the
game to crash immediately or fails to appear on the driver list.

Gameplay tips and strategies:
----------------------------

TIP: Use SHIFT QUEUING to maneuver hovertrucks around crowded lava pits to mine.  
If you send a hovertruck to mine lava from a crowded lava pit (many hovertrucks already 
mining), sometimes the hovertruck will have difficulty finding an open spot and move 
from spot to spot before it settles and begins to mine.  You can give the hovertruck 
waypoint commands (holding down SHIFT while clicking on locations to move) to maneuver 
to an area near an open side of a lava pit and then selecting on the lava pit itself for 
mining.  The hovertruck will move to the first location, then turn and move to the next.  
You can queue up to ten different waypoints for any unit.

TIP: Multiple Combot Part Factories will automatically split up the build queue amongst 
themselves. So, if you have 3 factories, select one of them and queue 3 parts. Each 
factory will build 1 of those parts automatically. This way you can control your entire 
production from one factory.

TIP: In Metal Fatigue, all weapons do a mixture of Energy-based (laser, plasma, etc.) and 
Kinetic-based (bullets, missiles, etc.) damage.  Likewise, all units, structures and Combot
parts have a certain percentage of defense against Kinetic and Energy attacks.  For example, 
MilAgro's weapons deliver mostly Kinetic damage, and their defenses work best against Energy-
based attacks.  Conversely, Neuropa's weapons are made to deliver mostly Energy damage and their 
shields mostly protect against Kinetic damage.  As you can see, it is vitally important for them 
to gather severed and lost enemy Combot weapons from the field, as they are usually more damaging 
than weapons they already have.  Rimtech has weapons that only slant slightly more one way or the
other in terms of the kind of damage it delivers or protection that it offers against Kinetic-
or Energy attacks, and so you must choose wisely when building your Rimtech Combots. 

TIP: If you set a Hovertruck to patrol in an area where Combot parts are lying in the field, in 
addition to repairing any units and structures in their path, they will automatically pick up 
Combot parts and place them in your Assembly Bay!

TIP: The RALLY button found on the toolbar of the Vehicle Factory and Aircraft Hangar can be used 
to send units to a designated area immediately after they are built.  Click RALLY from the toolbar,
then right-click on the location you wish all newly built units to move to immediately after their
construction.  Rally points can be changed at any time during the game.

TIP: We don't recommend playing Skirmishes using the objective "Capture and Hold the Enhancer". 
You may find playing a Skirmish with these settings to be too easy, since the AI's only objective 
on these missions is to destroy the enemy.

TIP: Don't underestimate the value of recon poles. They reveal fog on both the surface 
and underground when built on either of these layers, and make great "spotters" for your walls 
and artillery (since these units have a firing range that extends much farther than they can "see" 
through the Fog-of-War by themselves).  Build some underground near the perimeter of your surface 
base, and an attacking enemy on the surface will be visible to you early. Also, remember that 
Recon Poles will negate Neuropa's cloaking torso ability.

TIP: You can save a Combot configuration by selecting that Combot and holding CTRL 
and any FKey between F5 and F12. Hit the FKey by itself to queue parts 
from that saved Combot configuration (each time you press an FKey that has a Combot
configuration stored on it, your Parts Factories will receive another request for 
all those parts). Don't forget to build more Combot Crews!

TIP: Combot parts all have a weight associated with them. Also, each pair of legs 
has a preset amount of weight it can carry before it will start to slow down below 
its top traveling speed.  Some parts, like those that are heavily armored, may 
slow your combot down significantly.

TIP: In Multiplayer games, try to come out of prebuild with a few hovertrucks on your 
asteroid. While you build solar panels with one truck, send the other to build defensive 
walls on unguarded asteroids. Taking over as many asteroids as early as possible is a key 
to keeping an edge on resource gathering. 

TIP: In addition to grouping units, a great way of keeping units together in a specific
order is by setting them to guard the unit you'd like to keep in front of them.  For 
instance, if you have a column of tanks that you like to keep behind a couple of Combots;
select the tanks, then click "Guard" and click on one of the Combots.  These tanks will
now lag slightly behind the Combots.  If you have artillery that you'd like to line up 
behind the tanks; select the artillery, then click "Guard" and select one of the tanks.
You now have three columns of units.

TIP: If someone is holding the underground, one method of breaking through is to send 
Nemesis vehicles down an elevator. Although they can't directly attack, they do damage 
things within a certain radius when they are killed. Sending a few of these before your 
main assault force can help. 
 
HINT: Elevators are neutral structures which can be used by any player.  The fog of war
surrounding the elevator will be cleared for whichever player travelled through it last,
regardless of which player built it.

HINT: The quickest way to complete the second mission of the Rimtech campaign is by 
building mostly underground defense relays across to the archeology station.

HINT: The easiest way to complete the fourth mission of the Rimtech campaign is by 
flying several hoverjets over the Enhancer at once until it is inspected.  Guard the 
right side of your base with multiple mobile walls and Combots.  Click on your 
Matter Converter and be sure to keep the mobile walls within the defense grid shown.  
Widen your grid by building defense relays.  Last of all, build recon poles above and 
beneath the surface to give your mobile walls more visual firing range.

================================================================
      IX. Troubleshooting
================================================================
PROBLEM:  I have no control over the game's music volume.

SOLUTION: This is a problem exclusive to particular machines running Windows95.  
This can be solved by upgrading to Windows98.


PROBLEM:  I don't see the opening movie, the Intro button doesn't function, or I see 
the movie but there is no sound.

SOLUTION: This problem can be fixed by upgrading to Windows98, or by installing the 
Intel Indeo AVI Codec found at www.intel.com.


PROBLEM:  I am receiving an "Exceeded Max number of units" message and I can't build 
anything.

SOLUTION: Metal Fatigue outputs this message when your machine is running low on memory.  
Make sure you have the minimum required 32mb in your machine. We also recommend you 
close any background applications such as ICQ that may be using lots of memory.  When 
this message is displayed, it will still be possible to build units, after 
other existing units have been destroyed (any player's units).


PROBLEM:  Every time the music track changes, the screen pauses and jumps.

SOLUTION: Unfortunately, the Windows CD-ROM driver pauses the machine while switching 
music tracks.  The effect varies greatly from one CD-ROM to the next, but it may effect 
your ability to scroll the game screen using the mouse.  If you have a system where this is 
problematic, we suggest turning the music option off from the Options menu.  


PROBLEM:  I saved a game while viewing the orbit layer and when I loaded it back up the 
asteroid was black.

SOLUTION: This is a rare problem that occurs on a few video cards. Change to a different 
layer and then back again.  The asteroid should appear normal.  


PROBLEM:  The game's graphics appear corrupt and/or blocky in higher resolutions.

SOLUTION: If the problem only appears on the menu's at high resolution, we suggest that 
you switch back to 640x480 to solve the problem.  If the problem appears on the in-game
graphics, you may also try a different driver such as OpenGL.


PROBLEM:  Occasionally when I play Metal Fatigue, it runs much slower than normal. 

SOLUTION: Often, Microsoft's DirectPlay does not shutdown properly.  If you happen to 
have a crash during a multiplayer or Skirmish game, please reboot your machine before 
restarting the game.


PROBLEM:  Metal Fatigue will not run properly under Windows NT or Windows2000.

SOLUTION: Metal Fatigue officially requires Windows95 or Windows98.  Windows NT will not 
work.  You may be able to run Metal Fatigue under Windows2000, but we do not support this 
officially.


PROBLEM:  Metal Fatigue will crash if I click on another Icon after double-clicking the
Metal Fatigue icon.

SOLUTION:  Dont do that! Seriously though, we only see this on a few machines and there is not
a whole lot we can do about it. 


PROBLEM:  Occasionally when joining a multiplayer game, as you start to come into the setup 
menu it will drop you back out to the join screen. 

SOLUTION: This is due to a bug in Microsoft's DirectPlay,
and there unfortunately is little we can do about it. If you try to rejoin the game you should
get in just fine (in some cases people have had to re-join a few times). Note: If you are manually
joining a specific IP address, you'll have to scan it again to get the game to appear.


================================================================
       X. How To Contact Technical Support
================================================================
         ---- IN NORTH AMERICA ----

         E-mail: psygtech@psygnosis.com
         Phone: 310-399-7022 (M-F, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., PST)
         Fax: 310-399-1166

         Or by writing to:

         Psygnosis Technical Support
         2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, Ste.126
         San Mateo, CA  94403


         ---- IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ----

         For the UK, technical support is available online from our web site at
         http://www.psygnosis.com, or from:

         E-Mail: help.line@psygnosis.co.uk
         Tel:	+44(0)151 282 3333 (Open 9:00am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday (GMT))
         Fax:	+44(0)151 282 3565

         Customer Services
         Psygnosis Ltd
         Napier Court
         Stephenson Way
         Wavertree Technology Park
         Liverpool
         L13 1HD
         UK

================================================================
      XI. Legal Info
================================================================
(c) Psygnosis, Ltd.
Psygnosis, and the Psygnosis logo are (tm) and (r) of Psygnosis, Ltd.  All rights reserved.

Developed by Zono, Inc.
Zono, and the Zono logo are (tm) of Zono, Inc.


