  
                 ===========================================
                         VIRTUAL POOL 2 Preview (tm)
                 (c) 1997 Celeris, Inc.  All rights reserved
            Virtual Pool 2 is a trademark of Interplay Productions
                            All rights reserved
                 ===========================================

Thank you for downloading the Virtual Pool 2 Preview. This product     
was developed by Celeris, Inc. and published by Interplay 
Productions.

This readme file contains important information about this preview.  
If you have any questions or are having problems, please read this 
first.

===========================================
Setting Up the Virtual Pool 2 Preview
===========================================

To setup the Virtual Pool 2 Preview create a new folder on your desktop 
and unzip the contents of the zip file into that folder. Double-click 
on your newly created folder and run the setup.exe.   

Note: If you have a previous DOS or Windows 3.x version of a Virtual
Pool demo on your system, you should delete or uninstall it, 
respectively. If you wish to have both versions present on your 
system, make sure to install them into separate directories.

Note:  You MUST have DirectX 5 or later installed on your system to
play the Virtual Pool 2 Preview.  If you do not have DirectX 5 
installed, there is a link to Microsoft on our website. Download
DirectX 5 and follow their instructions to instal DirectX 5 on your
computer. Once installed, you may now play the Virtual Pool 2 Demo.
Please see the Cautionary Notes below if this causes any problems on 
your system.

=========================================
Playing the Virtual Pool 2 Preview
=========================================
 
Once the Virtual Pool 2 Preview is installed, you can run the game 
from the Start Menu under Programs/Virtual Pool 2 Preview. After the
screen shots appear, you will be asked to enter user name.  Click on
"New User", enter a name, and click "OK".  "Hot Keys" are listed below
in this readme file, or you can call up a quick reference guide in
the game by hitting "Esc", clicking on "help" on the menu bar, and 
selecting "Help Topics"
  
           
===========================================               
Pentium Pro and Pentium II Optimization
===========================================
The Virtual Pool 2 Preview has optional optimization for 
Pentium Pro/II processors which speeds up memory access to video 
memory by turning on Write Combining. The option is accessed by the 
Game Preferences dialog under the Preferences menu. Turning on this 
option can cause your system to crash, so shut down any other 
applications before trying it. You may notice no speed increase 
after enabling optimization. This is usually because the video 
driver has already enabled optimization. You can verify 
if optimization is working by the following test:

1)	Start the Virtual Pool 2 Preview, change to 640x480x16 
              fullscreen mode, and load the backroom_16.scn file.
2)	Load the speed_test.vpg file in the TRICK directory.
3)	Set your replay rate to 1 and replay the shot.
4)	Bring up the Video Statistics dialog under the File menu
           and examine the following fields:
           Buffering - this should be set to Triple. If it isn't
           then you should buy a 2MB or larger video card.
           Buffer Memory - this should be Video
           Frame Rate (Last) - this shows your rate and will tell
           if optimization is enabled.

For a 200 Mhz Pentium Pro the frame rate will be in the high twenties 
with no optimization. With optimization on the frame rate should be 
in the low to mid forties. These speed will vary slightly with 
processor speed and video card type. If you have Pentium Pro/II 
Optimization checked in your preferences and you turn it off you must 
re-boot your system for it to really turn off.
If your system crashes when you try to turn optimization on:
1)	Check your config.sys and make sure there are no memory
managers like EMM386 or QEMM being installed. Windows 95
does not need memory managers and they may cause the
optimization code to crash.
2)	Check your frame rate using the procedure described above.
If it is already optimized don't worry, just leave the
Virtual Pool 2 Preview's optimization off.
    
                             
===========================================
Cautionary Notes
===========================================
* Uninstalling the Virtual Pool 2 Preview.  If you want to uninstall 
the Virtual Pool 2 Preview, you must do it through Add/Remove     
Programs in your Control  Menu. If you simply delete it from your     
system, the Registry files will remain and you will  not be able to   
re-install the game. To uninstall, open your Control Panel which is   
located  in Settings on your Start Menu.  Double click on Add/Remove   
Programs located in the Control Panel.  Scroll up and down through the 
list of programs until you find "Virtual Pool 2 Preview".   Highlight 
this and click Add/Remove in the lower right hand corner.

* Do not change color palettes, or the size of your Desktop Area while 
playing the Virtual Pool 2 Preview in a Desktop Window. 
The Virtual Pool 2 Preview can be played in 256 or High color modes.
* Closing programs using the Ctrl-Alt-Delete End Task function can 
cause problems when attempting to run the program later unless 
Windows has been restarted.  To exit the Virtual Pool 2 Demo, select 
Exit from the File menu.
*All other programs which use the same sound card as the 
Virtual Pool 2 Preview must be closed in order for the Virtual Pool 2 
Preview to play sounds.
*If your screen saver turns on while the game is running, it may be
minimized on the task bar when the screen saver turns off.  If clicking 
on the task bar does not recover the game, use the shortcut   in the 
Start Menu to recover it.
*Using the Windows CD player can cause the Virtual Pool 2 Preview 
to run slower. Use the CD player through the game(CD control under the 
Options Menu) for better game play.  After activating the CD player in 
the game, your Windows CD player will not work until you exit the 
Virtual Pool 2 Preview.

===========================================
TroubleShooting
===========================================

Q: The gameplay isn't as smooth as I want it to be, what can I do to
increase the performance of the game?
A: First, you should try to run the Virtual Pool 2 Preview without any 
other applications running in the background.  If you need the other 
apps running, try turning off the background (this option is located 
in Game under the Preferences Menu).  Lastly, you can lower the 
screen resolution.  If you are running full screen, pick a lower 
resolution in the Display Modes menu.  If you are running in Desktop 
mode, you can either scale down the size of the window or lower your 
Windows resolution.
Q: I closed the Virtual Pool 2 Preview by using an End Task.  
The next time I ran it I received an error that said:
Preference data damaged.
Restoring default user preferences.
What's that mean and why is my preferences data getting damaged?
A: If the Virtual Pool 2 Preview is terminated without properly 
exiting the game, it cannot properly de-initialize and save off user 
preferences. The game installation is OK and is not damaged, the 
preferences were not saved properly.  Always remember to exit out of 
pool from within the game window or File menu.
Q: I had to install DirectX 5, but after my system was restarted by
the Setup program, I found out that some of my newer drivers were
replaced by DirectX with older ones.  What's going on?
A: DirectX 5 has its own set of drivers that have been certified for
use with it.  In some situations, you may have a driver that is newer
than the one from DirectX or one that isn't certified.  If this 
occurs, you can either use DirectX's driver, or re-install your 
previous driver after DirectX has been installed.  
Q: I've read the readme and I'm still having problems.  Where can 
I go to get more help.
A: Never fear.  Interplay Technical Support is always available to 
help. You can reach us via e-mail, the Interplay BBS, the Interplay 
Web Site, by telephone, or mail.  See Section 4 of this readme for 
all the numbers and addresses.
 

===========================================
Quick Reference
===========================================
  
A: Aim
B: Raise Butt of Cue
C: Move Center Point
E: English: Move Cue Tip
F: Vary Tracking Force
H: Select Another Ball To Move
L: Toggle Table Lines
M: Move Ball
O: Overhead View
R: Replay Last Shot
S: Shoot
T: Toggle Tracking
U: Undo
V: Change View 
X: Examine Table
Y: Your User View
Z: Zip To Result
>: Toggle Amplify
<: Toggle Fine Tune
+/=: Increase Replay Rate
-: Decrease Replay Rate
/ : Type Chat Message
L Mouse: Zoom
Ctrl-A: Set Adversary View
Ctrl-B: Spot Lowest Ball
Ctrl-C: Call Shot
Ctrl-D: Draw Game
Ctrl-G: Return To Game
Ctrl-K: Kibitz Shot
Ctrl-L: Load Saved Game/Position
Ctrl-M: Miscall Last Shot
Ctrl-P: Push Out
Ctrl-Q: Quit Current Match
Ctrl-S: Save Game Or Position
Ctrl-T: Change Player Turn
Ctrl-V: Return To Video
Ctrl-W: Set User View
Ctrl-[: Called Safety
INS: Spot/Pocket Ball Menu
ESC/ALT: Enter Menu System



===========================================
Virtual Pool 2 Full Version Information    
===========================================

- 5 New Games
- Real Time Photo-Realistic Animation
- All New Physics Model, Even Allows Jump Shots
- Tournament Mode with 128 Computer Opponents
- Adjustable Table Characteristics
- Full Motion Video Tutorial with "Hall of Famer" Mike Segel
- Network, Modem, and Serial Play

North American Orders:
(800) 468-3775
Be sure to mention code: VPE7

European Inquiries:
Phone: +44 (0) 1628 423666
  Fax: +44 (0) 1628 423777

Or see your local software retailer for this and other great 
VR Sports titles
         

===========================================
 Interplay's World Wide Web Site
===========================================

Interplay's World Wide Web site is an Internet service designed to 
give you the latest information about Interplay and our products.
The site features our demos, upgrades, product information and 
ordering information.

From your Internet account, point your favorite browser to:
http://www.interplay.com/

===========================================                     
VR Sports Technical Support
===========================================
Technical Support is always ready to help with any problems you may
encounter. Please try to have your system information ready and be 
near your computer if possible.

In the United States:
Help is available 24 hours a day through our Automated
Customer Service system and representatives are available during 
normal business hours.
Telephone: (714) 955-9592
Fax: (714) 252-2820
Attn: Customer Service
Internet E-Mail: support@vrsports.com
World Wide Web: http://www.vrsports.com/
BBS Modem Phone Number: (714) 724-4010
  Mail: VR Sports Customer Service
         16815 Von Karman
         Irvine, CA 92606

In Europe:                           
phone: +44 (0) 1628 423723        
fax: +44 (0) 1628 487752         
address: Customer Support            
Harleyford Manor              
Harleyford
Henley Road
Marlow
Buckinghamshire
SL7 2DX
England


===========================================
Legal Information
===========================================

Software Use Limitations and Limited License
This special  preview version of Virtual Pool 2
(the "Software") is intended solely for your personal noncommercial 
home entertainment use. You may not decompile, reverse engineer, or 
disassemble the Software, except as permitted by law. Interplay
Productions and Celeris, Inc. retain(s) all rights and title in the 
Software including all intellectual property rights embodied therein 
and derivatives thereof. You are granted a revocable, nonassignable 
limited license to create derivative works of this Software solely 
for your own personal noncommercial home entertainment use and may 
publicly display such derivative works to the extent specifically 
authorized by Interplay in writing. A copy of this authorization, 
if any, will be provided on Interplay's World Wide Web site, located 
at http://www.interplay.com, or by contacting the legal department 
Interplay Productions in the US at +(714) 553-6655. The Software, 
including, without limitation, all code, data structures, characters,
images, sounds, text, screens, game play, derivative works and all
other elements of the Software may not be copied (except as provided
below), resold, other for-charge basis, or for any commercial purpose.
You may make copies of the Software for your personal noncommercial
basis, including, without limitation, bundling the product with any
other product or service basis and any give away of the Software in 
connection with another product or service. Any permissions granted
herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn by 
Interplay Productions at any time. All rights not expressly granted
are reserved

Acceptance of License Terms.  By downloading or acquiring and then 
retaining this Software, you assent to the terms and restrictions of 
this limited license.  If you acquired the Software and do not accept 
the terms of this limited license, you must return the Software 
together with all packaging, manuals and other material contained 
therein to the store where you acquired the Software for a full refund 
and if you downloaded the Software, you must delete it.

