SIMISLE: Missions In The Rainforest

Last Minute Info 6 September, 1995
Ver. 1.0

Please read all of this document - it's important! Really!

I.   Technical Help
II.  Gameplay Issues
III. Manual Changes
IV.  How to Reach Maxis Technical Support

I. Technical Help

If you're having trouble running SimIsle or are getting error messages
(heaven forbid!), here are some tips concerning these issues.  These tips
were written by the Technical Support experts of Maxis and contain enough
information to make you an expert too.  You may also be bored and want to
make sure that we can actually spell and write documents with correct
syntax.  Read on, O Seeker of Knowledge...

	If SimIsle Crashes!
Some things you can try:
Increase the amount of memory available in DOS. See your DOS manual for
information on increasing the amount of memory available. See the section
"The SimIsle Boot Disk" on the quick start guide for more information on
memory.

	Sound and Music
SimIsle supports all sound cards that are compatible with Sound Blaster.
If you are not getting any sound effects or music in the game, first ensure
your speakers are connected properly.  If your sound card and speakers have
worked fine for other DOS based programs, run the SETSOUND program in your
simisle directory.  Let the program auto detect the sound card and re-run
the game to see if you have sound.  If not, manually set the sound card up
in SETSOUND.

	Video, palettes and pictures
Trident, Kelvin, Orchid and Cirrus Logic Chipsets 
If while playing SimIsle you experience a black bar  appearing in the
screen, do not worry, that is caused by old video drivers.  We have only
noticed this on the title screen, the Scenario Select screen after you
have selected an island, and when you call up the Save or Load box.  Once
these screens are refreshed, the bar goes away. Certain older drivers
shipped with the above video  cards may be incompatible with SimIsle.
Make sure you have the absolutely most recent versions of the video drivers
for your video card. See the section "SimIsle and your Graphics Card" in
the Quick Start Guide for more information on video compatibility.

	Memory Issues
SimIsle requires 500 K of conventional memory, and at least 6100K of total
available memory to  run properly.

	Setting Up
Here is an example of a minimum Config.sys file and Autoexec.bat file,
for a boot disk.

Config.sys

Device=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
(CD ROM DRIVER) **
FILES=30
BUFFERS=30
STACKS=9,256

AUTOEXEC.BAT

@ECHO OFF
PROMPT $P$G
C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE
(SOUND CARD SETTINGS (I.E. SET BLASTER=A220 DI 15 T4))
(CD ROM DRIVERS)**

** Refer to your CD ROM manual for information on drivers required in
the config.sys and autoexec.bat

	Boot Disk Maker 
The game comes with a premade utility that will create a general bootdisk
for you.  To run this program, go to the directory you installed SimIsle
to and type BOOTDISK.  This will run a utility that will analyze your
system,  format the disk, rebuild the autoexec.bat and config.sys file
and place the file on the disk.  If you want to make a bootdisk on your
own, type FORMAT A: /S (Assuming the A: drive is your boot drive.) Once
the disk is done formatting copy your config.sys file and autoexec.bat
file from the C: to the A: drive (copy c:autoexec.bat a:) and (copy
c:config.sys a:).  Once this is does, edit the files(edit a:config.sys),
and modify all the lines to look like the lines above.

II. Gameplay Issues
Here are some gameplay issues that have been changed since the manual
was printed.  Many of these changes have been made to increase gameplay
and enjoyment of the product.

1) If you negotiate with a fishing village, and fail twice, the third time
you negotiate, if you fail, it will raise the price, then buy out the
village at that price. Don't be so desperate next time.

2) If you have placed a construction agent, in the jungle, and select an
item to build, it is possible to get two pictures, in the agent picture
bar.  The two pictures are a jeep, and a building.  The jeep, just means
you are building on the exact location of the agent. A building means you
are building in a tile not occupied by the agent.

3) When a construction agent is done building an object, if the object
was not built right on them, you will hear the jeep sound effect.  This
is just the agent going into the building they just built.

4) If you try to send a construction agent to a tile that is
inaccessable, you will hear a beep.  The beep is sounded because they
cannot be placed more than one tile into the jungle.

5) Certain scenario's in the game require you to obtain a certain
amount of money, before you will win the scenario.  The money in
question, is the money you have in your possession (the Bank), not the
total money you have made to date.

6) The Title "Caravan Park" has been changed to "Tourist Accomodation"
in the game.

7) The number of tourists indicated in the stat's box, is only the
tourists that actually stay at a hotel.  If the tourists stay at the
port because they do not have a room, are not counted as tourists.

8) If you notice that your Oil Money is coming in unevenly, or in blocks
every other month, build another tanker at the oil rig.  Sometimes the
oil tankers spend all their time in transit and they can't keep up with
the supply.

9) Pollution feeds off of other pollution sources and the effects
magnify greatly.  The easiest way to slow this down is to spread your
industries out a bit.  Just don't make them too far away, because less
distance means higher efficiency.

10) Buildings that are placed too close together may clip each other
if the map is rotated.

11) A right click on a greyed button will act the same as a left click.
In the manual, the left click was described as having a different function.

12) Please note, only one random map may be in existence at any time.
Reloading a saved game from a previously generated map may cause
strange results.

13) If the message bar references "skill" when you right or left click on a
grayed out button. It is refering to agent skill.

14) When building an airport, and you see the words "Need enough room to
build" it is just reminding you that large airorts require quite a bit of
space to be built.

15) When a hotel is built near the beach, a beach attraction will be built
with the hotel sometimes.  This beach attraction functions similarly to other
attractions, and needs to be clicked on separately from the hotel to access
it.

16) Industries need to have a job applied to them (Apply Job button) before
they will build (or be able to import) that job.

17) Agents with Explorer skills can be really helpful to you.  However, for
them to be effective, they need guidance as to where they should be
exploring.  If you don't find anything your first time out, keep looking!

18) Pollution can be very dangerous to living things.  If you let your
pollution get out of hand it will kill the surrounding trees, and sometimes
the precious animals held there.

19) A very effective way to get an agent to a valuable mineral deposit, is
to send the agent to that location while still in the 2D map.

20) Cities have generally have four facilities attached to them, and these
all can be clicked on separately.

21) None of the scenarios start on Jan 1, they start just a bit later.

22) If you try to place a sea bound facility on a diagonal tile, there is
chance that it will be placed sideways, it will still function as normal
however.

23) Be careful if importing items when your industries are set to export.
There is a chance that the goods you just bought might be sold in hopes
of seeking profit.

24) Cities with adequate power, and superb facilities will make the
citizens very happy (very good).  Goods and cars will make them happier.
Fewer perks will upset them some.

25) Nuclear plants cost an amazingly high amount of EMU's to deconstruct.
This can be attributed to the fact that the local ecology could not handle
anything less than an amazingly careful disposal of the spent uranium.

26) Finding the secret of two ancient cities will only double the funds
received for exporting autos.  They both still function quite well as
tourist attractions however.

27) Machines with 8MB's run with the animations off.

III. Manual Changes

Unfortunately, while developing a project, the manual has to go to
printing prior to the game shipping to make the release date.  It is
to this end that usually there are changes made to the game that are
not documented or corespond to the released manual. Here are some changes
to the manual, that will give you the up to date scoop.

1) On page 15 of the manual it tells you to select a village just to the
left of the reserve park.  However, the village the photograph is pointing
to is obscured by trees in the game and cannot be seen.

2) On page 15 of the manual it tells you to train to get unskilled labor.
To create unskilled labor, it now requires a village population of 140.
The only way to get this is to click on train a few times and wait.

3) On page 19 of the manual it tells you to click on the College button to
build a College, but unforturnately you are out of wood.  You will need to
import lumber at the saw mill to make this happen.

4) On page 20 of the manual it says to use Mr. Moon. Bob is Mr. Moon.  All
the agents have lost their last names on the portrait screen.

5) On page 44 of the manual it said that Animation will default "off" when
install on a slow machine. There is not much of a difference between low
and high. Just the animation speeds.

6) On page 62 of the manual it says Bob has exploration skills. However he
does not.

7) The manual is wrong in how it describes a town going to a city.  The
process is a little more complicated then presented.  To find out the exact
procedures, click on the "I" in the town window to read the notebook
description.

8) All references to the free form island in the manual are wrong, it
is now called:  Island Generator.

                                 Scenario Difficulty Table

Scenario                     Difficulty         Mission

Tutorial                     Very Easy          Extinct Species
Buy out                      Easy               Prevent Sale of Isle
Big Ideas                    Hard               Built up and Exploit
Megatropolis                 Hard               Large City
Money Spinner                Medium             Get Rich
Motor City                   Hard               Produce X Goods
Tourist Haven                Medium             Tourists
Industrialization            Medium             Build Up Island
Drug It Up                   Easy               Stop Drug Lord
Happy Tourists Happy Locals  Easy               Happiness of Locals 
Tourism                      Medium             Tourism
The Development State        Medium             Build up Island 
Ripe For Tourists            Hard               Tourism
Deforestation                Easy               Deforestation for goods
Underdeveloped Villages      Medium             Ecology
Mystic Lines                 Easy               Exploration / Build up
City Blues                   Hard               Population / Ecology
Bigger and Brighter          Easy               Ecology
Up For Sale                  Hard               Growth / Ecology
Them Good Ol'e Boys          Hard               Build up Island
Baby Boom                    Medium             Population +
Goods a GoGo                 Easy               Consumer Goods 
Land Romp                    Easy               Deforestation
Pollution City               Hard               Ecology
Island Generator             N/A                Create your own Isle 


	Item Build Costs
	
Object          Cost (EMU's)    Building Materials      Other

Hotel           250             150                     N/A
Attraction      200             100                     N/A
Airport         1000            400                     N/A
Ferry Port      500             250                     N/A
Coal Mine       500             150                     5 U Labor / 5 H Mach
Logging Camp    250             0                       5 U Labor
Oil Rig         700             350                     4 S Labor / 8 H Mach
Oil Pump Stat   150             50                      N/A
Gold Mine       300             150                     5 U Labor / 5 H Mach
Silver Mine     300             150                     5 U Labor / 5 H Mach
Iron Ore Mine   300             150                     5 U Labor / 5 H Mach
Power Station   400             250                     8 H Mach
Hvy. Industry   300             300                     4 U Labor
Manuf. Plant    400             250                     4 S Labor / 10 H Mach 
Hi-Tech         650             0                       4 S Labor / 10 Q MG
Steel Mill      400             250                     5 U Labor  
Chemical Plant  250             150                     5 S Labor
Town            500             1000                    N/A
Saw Mill        400             0                       N/A
Warehouse       500             0                       N/A
Wind Plant      800             200                     10 H Mach
Nuclear Plant   2000            300                     50 H Mach
Church (City)   300             100                     N/A
Rec. Ctr (City) 350             50                      N/A
Hospital (City) 450             100                     N/A
College (City)  400             100                     N/A

       Cost for Upgrades on Buildings

Buttons         Cost (EMU's)    Building Materials

Hotel Ext       125             75            
Hotel Imp       100             50
Attract Ext     200             100
Attract Excite  250             75
Lg Airport      1050            550
Extra Tanker    700             N/A
Windmills +     900             200
Uranium +       100             N/A
Church +        100             N/A
Rec. Ctr +      50              30
Hospital +      150             60
College +       150             N/A

	Technical Support Numbers you might find useful.

ATi                     Tech support / BBS:     (905)882-2626 / (905)764-9404
( 9-7 EST M-F )         Technical Fax:          (905)882-0546

Diamond                 Tech support / BBS:     (512)250-1711 / (512)918-3411
( 7-7 CST M-F )         Technical Fax:          (512)918-3011

Genoa Systems           Tech support / BBS:     (408)432-8324 / (408)943-1231
( 8-5 PST M-F )         Technical Fax:          (408)434-0997

Gravis                  Tech support / BBS:     (604)431-1807 / (604)431-5927
( 9-4 PST M-F )         Technical Fax:          (604)451-9358

Orchid                  Tech support / BBS:     (510)683-0323 / (510)683-0327
( 7-5 PST M-F )         Technical Fax:          



III. How to Reach Maxis Technical Support

        What You Should Do Before You Call Technical Support

Before you call Technical Support, please be sure that you have read
this Readme file and any other appropriate material. When you are at
your wit's end, scratching your head and grumbling, read on to find out
what we would like you to have ready when you call, so that we can get
you running as quickly as possible.  It will save both you and our hard
working technicians lots of time and aggravation!

        What You Should Have With You When You Call:
 
1. Have a print-out of your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.
You can easily print all of these files by typing MSD {Enter} at the
C:\ prompt.  This will run the Microsoft Diagnostics program which will
allow you to print out a report of your system.  If you can't print out
your system files (you don't have a printer), it isn't the end of the
world, as long as you are at your computer when you call!  Make sure
that your computer system meets or exceeds the requirements defined on
the SimIsle system label.  The system label is located in the lower-left
portion on the front of the box.

2. If you are getting error messages or DOS 4GW 2001 errors, write down
exactly what you were doing at the time, and the unrelocated address
located at the bottom of the report.  That will help us diagnose the
problem.

3. Write down all of the steps you have taken to solve the problem.
If we know what you've already done, we may be able to get you running
faster.

4. Have your CD ROM, your manual, and your Addendum available and within
easy reach.

        Where You Should Be When You Call:

Please, please call us from your computer!  We need to have you at your
computer to explore your system to identify what is causing your problem.

        Let's Do the Numbers!

There are a number of different options that you can use to contact
Technical Support. The first is by telephone, but this may not be the
best option for you.  If you decide that you would like to call and hear
a friendly voice, you'll find the number and hours of operation for
Technical Support listed on the Maxis Maxims sheet, included in the box
your program came in. There is lots of other useful info there, so keep
your Maxis Maxims somewhere handy. The Maxis Maxims card also contains
all the new information on how to contact us online / by Mail and by Fax.

Make sure you register your software!  We've included a handy little
postcard for you to send in. This will entitle you to FREE Technical
Support for the life of the product.  The product life ends when a
new version is released or the product is discontinued.

Thankyou from the whole team for purchasing SimIsle. We truly hope you
enjoy this product as much as we had creating it.

SimIsle 1995 Maxis
