
                          METALTECH: BATTLEDROME
                         Version 1.0 Release Notes

Thank you for purchasing Metaltech: Battledrome (BD).  While we have
made an effort to provide you with complete documentation, some last
minute additions and changes did not make it into the manual.  The
following information should be considered an extension of the
Battledrome Simulation Manual.


I.  Manual Errata
   
    CHAT MODE: 
    On page 16 the artwork for the chat window is incorrect.
    The title above this window reads "Chat", not "Communication status."

    NEGOTIATIONS:
    The "victory terms" SURRENDER option appearing on page 24 has been 
    removed. In its place is a PRACTICE option. If you choose practice, 
    all wagering, points, and damage information from the current match
    is ignored. This option is useful if you wish to fight multiple 
    matches against a remote opponent without having to repair your
    Hercs.

    VIEW/CONTROL STATUS DISPLAY

    On page 33 there is an illustration of the control status display
    that displays an incorrect "ATT" (attached) message for the COCKPIT
    camera view. This area will be blank whenever you are in the cockpit.

    BAUD RATE

    On page 15 of the manual, the "Baud Rate" button was not included 
    in the setup menu. You can select speeds of 2400, 4800, 9600, and 
    14,400 baud. Battledrome will attempt to connect at the highest 
    speed supported by both modems, however, some modems may require the 
    baud rate to be stipulated by both players to effect a connection. 
    The Packard bell 2400 baud internal modem is one modem that requires 
    this: both players must have the "2400 Baud" button selected or it 
    will not connect.

    GAMMA CORRECTION

    A gamma correction feature has been added to Battledrome. Press F8
    to toggle gamma correction if your monitor picture is too dark. 
    Note: if you select or accept the "LOW VISIBILITY" option in
    negotiations, you will not be able to see objects until they are
    very close to you, even with gamma correction enabled.
  
    ADDITIONAL CREDITS

    Rick Overman: Network drivers and additional programming

    QUALITY ASSURANCE

    Andrew Binder
    Scott Gilbert
    Chris Medinger
    Indra Suryanata
    Gary Stevens


II. CONNECTIVITY

    General Notes:
    
    Battledrome synchronizes connected computers at the maximum speed
    of the slowest machine. A player with a fast CPU attaching to a
    slower computer will notice a substantial speed decrease compared to 
    individual play. Two players with fast computers may notice a slight 
    decrease in performance when connected via a modem or network
    compared to stand-alone play.
    
    Local Area Network:
    Only 2 players can connect at a time. You must have an IPX
    compatible network (such as Novell) to run a Battledrome net game.
    Both players must be on the same network server to run a LAN game.

    MODEM CONNECTIVITY

    Battledrome performs best on a 9600 baud or higher modem. You must
    have at least a 2400 baud modem to make a remote connection.


    COM 3 and COM 4
    
    Battledrome supports COM 3 and COM 4 at the following addresses:
   
        COM 3 at 3E8
        COM 4 at 2E8
    
    If your internal modem does not match this configuration you may
    have to change the port address or reassign it to COM 1 or COM 2.
    If you cannot get your modem to connect on COM 3 or COM 4, try
    reassigning it to COM 1 or COM 2. 
    
    IMPORTANT:

    We strongly recommend you disable the error correction features 
    (e.g., MNP) when attempting a modem game. Battledrome will allow 
    two modems to connect with error correction, however you will
    experience extremely poor performance over a modem connection if
    error correction is enabled. You may experience difficulties
    connecting if one player has error correction enabled and the other
    does not.
    
    For optimum performance we recommend you also disable the data 
    compression and software flow control features of your modem. 
    Due to the lack of industry standards for extended AT commands, the 
    modem init strings needed to accomplish this varies widely by 
    manufacturer and modem type. 
    
    See the appendix at the end of this readme for a list of some common
    modem AT commands (init strings). If you cannot locate the init
    string for your modem, consult your modem documentation or contact
    your hardware manufacturer.
   
    NOTE to 2400 Baud Modem Users:

    Most 2400 baud modems do not support special error correction or
    data compression protocols.  Battledrome will only run at a maximum
    speed of 6 frames per second over a 2400 baud connection (provided
    you have a clean line and your CPU is powerful enough to run the
    game at that speed).

    "Screen Locks"
    If Battledrome detects an error during a remote connection there may
    be a brief pause (3/10th of a second) while it waits for the two
    machines to resynchronize. If you experience a large number of
    "freezes" it is an indication that you have not entered the correct
    init string to disable error correction on your modem, or that you
    are experiencing a great deal of line noise due to a poor phone
    connection.
     
    Special init string characters:
   
   , (comma). When placed in a dial string, it adds a 2 second pause.
    
   ! =  Battledrome parses this like a "return" character in a modem 
        string.  It is useful separate individual commands in a modem
        string:
        e.g.,
                AT/N! AT%C0! AT&K0!

        Normally, if you enter an incorrect AT command, the entire
        string will be discarded. If you add an "!" at the end of each
        command, Battledrome will send each one individually to the
        modem. If an error is generated by a single command, Battledrome
        will still be able to send the remaining commands to your modem.


    MAKING A MODEM CONNECTION:

    We have found that some modems types will connect immediately with 
    little or no configuration necessary while others may require you
    to enter special AT commands (init strings) in Battledrome's 
    communication SETUP window to effect a connection. Here is a three
    step process you can try to connect your modem to another user.

    1) Attempt a remote connection with no special init string. If you
       can dial up and connect, then go ahead and optimize your remote
       connection by disabling error correction, data compression, and
       flow control with the appropriate AT command (init string) in
       Battledrome's communication SETUP window (described on page 15 of
       the manual).

    2) If you cannot get the modems to connect, make sure that both
       players have specified the same connection speed (baud rate) in
       the "Setup" menu and that this speed is supported by both modems.

    3) If you have tried steps 1 and 2 and still cannot get the modems
       to connect you may have to use a special AT command (init string)
       to force a modem connection at a baud rate supported by both
       modems.  Refer to your modem documentation or contact your
       hardware manufacturer for the correct AT command for your modem
       type.


    LAN CONNECTIVITY (IPX)

    The simulation portion of Battledrome is very sensative to 
    lost packets over a network. Theoretically, a network should not
    lose ANY packets, however, we have found a few instances where
    this has happened. So far these have all been traced to flaky 
    network cards, incorrectly configured LAN software and problems
    in the LAN server. If your network goes "down" on a regular basis
    you are likely to have difficulty with a Battledrome NET connection.
    
    If you can connect up in the shell, but get a "REMOTE CONNECTION
    FAILED" message when you enter combat, it is a strong sign that
    your network is losing packets.



III. INCOMPATIBILITIES

    TSR VIRUS DETECTION PROGRAMS AND "UNDELETE" UTILITIES:
    When installing or operating Metaltech: Battledrome, we recommend
    that you disable any "undelete" utilities including Norton 
    Smartcan or Mirror.  You will also want to disable any TSR Virus 
    Detection programs as each of these utilities might cause install 
    problems or random lockups during game play.  An easy and effective 
    way to accomplish this is to create a boot disk using the install 
    program's boot disk creator.  For more information, please refer 
    to your simulation documentation.

    MEMORY MANAGEMENT:
    Metaltech: Battledrome runs in 32-bit protected mode and may
    suffer from incompatibilities with older memory managers including
    QEMM 6.02 and early versions of EMM386.  If you experience lockups
    or other problems when running the simulation, try the following
    suggestions:

    a)  Make a boot disk using the boot disk creator option in the
     install program.  This option will create a custom boot-up
     configuration on a floppy disk and allow BD's own 
     memory manager to better utilize all of your computer's
     available memory.  Once the BD install routine has
     successfully created the boot disk, restart your computer
     with this disk in your A drive.

    b)  Try an updated or newer memory manager.  Many of the updated
     memory managers work more effectively with 32-bit protected mode
     applications.  Check with your memory manager manufacturer for 
     upgrade information.

    MOUSE DRIVERS
    In order to insure complete mouse compatibility within BD, we 
    recommend that you use one of the following mouse drivers:

     - Microsoft Mouse driver version 8.20a or above
     - Logitech Mouse driver version 6.23 or above 
    
    The above mentioned mouse drivers have been tested and found to work
    effectively within this simulation.  Other drivers may cause program
    lock-ups, video distortion (in the form of white lines on the
    screen), or mouse control problems.
    
    SOUND BLASTER 16 AND BOOT DISK CREATOR:
    On occasion, the boot disk creator might not copy the SBCONFIG.EXE
    line onto the AUTOEXEC.BAT file of the boot disk.  This may result
    in the introduction and the game running without any sound or music.
    If this occurs, you will need to manually insert the SBCONFIG.EXE 
    line from your standard boot-up configuration into the AUTOEXEC.BAT
    file on the boot disk.  Below is an example of how the line should
    look:

    C:\SB16\SBCONFIG.EXE /S  
    
    NOTE - the above line should appear immediately after all other 
    Sound Blaster statements within the AUTOEXEC.BAT file of your 
    boot disk.  For assistance or more information about completing 
    this step, please refer to your sound card documentation or call 
    Creative Labs Technical Support.


IV. MISCELLANEOUS

    SOUND CARD PROBLEMS
    While we have made every effort to support as many sound cards as 
    possible, there are a few sound cards that are not supported
    directly within Battledrome.  You may have to configure your card 
    for Sound Blaster emulation if you have a card that is  not 
    directly supported by the game drivers.  Some Sound Blaster 
    emulation utilities might not work properly with Battledrome.
    NOTE - not all sound cards are compatible with the Sound Blaster
    card.  Check your hardware documentation to determine if your
    card is compatible.

    SOUNDSET SOUNDCARD DETECTION

    Soundset's autodetection feature is highly dependent on having
    the correct environment variables set and device drivers loaded in
    your autoexec.bat file for some kinds of cards. If soundset
    does not detect your card make sure that you have installed your
    soundcard properly in your machine and that you have run the 
    installation software that came with your soundcard. If all else 
    fails, you can set the parameters for your soundcard manually in
    soundset.
    
    GRAVIS ULTRASOUND

    Gravis Ultrasound and Ultrasound Max cannot be detected from
    Soundset.  There is a utility called GRAVBD.exe in your
    BattleDrome directory that will properly configure your
    resource.cfg for the Gravis cards.  At this time the Gravis
    drivers only supprt digital effects not MIDI music.

    CREATIVE LABS AWE-32

    You cannot adjust the volume of the midi music on an AWE-32.

    ROLAND MT-32

    The SRL on Battledrome's box is incorrect. Battledrome does not
    directly support the ROLAND MT-32. However, you can still use the 
    MT-32 as your music output device.  To configure Battledrome for 
    the MT-32, select MPU-401 for your MIDI music driver in Soundset.  
    This sets MIDI music output to go to a General MIDI output device.  
    Because the MT-32 is not a true General MIDI device, you may 
    experience some missed or substituted instruments in the MIDI music 
    track, however most tracks will play fine.

    SCSI DRIVERS
    If your system is equipped with a SCSI hard drive, you will need to
    make sure that you are loading the appropriate SCSI driver in your
    CONFIG.SYS file.  For additional information or instructions on
    how to accomplish this task, please refer to your hard drive or
    SCSI controller documentation or manufacturer.

    To run BD on a 4 Meg machine, you will most likely need to
    make a boot disk or remove your high memory driver from your 
    config.sys file.  BD doesn't require a high memory driver, and 
    such drivers can take up enough memory to cause BD not to run.


    CONFIGURING YOUR JOYSTICK
    The first time you run Battledrome after installing it onto 
    your computer, you must manually select and calibrate your 
    joystick.  Once you have done this, the computer will 
    automatically remember your settings.  

    THRUSTMASTER DEVICE SUPPORT

    We have added additional key combinations that Thrustmaster users
    may wish to use in .adv files for the WCS Mark II or in .B50 files
    for the FLCS. BD does not support the WCS MK I.

    Thrustmaster throttle keys:
    Ctrl-9 toggle fwd/reverse gears
    Ctrl-8 max fwd throttle
    Ctrl-7 3/4 fwd throttle
    Ctrl-6 1/4 fwd throttle
    Ctrl-5 all stop
    Ctrl-4 1/4 rev throttle
    Ctrl-3 3/4 rev throttle
    Ctrl-2 max rev throttle    

    There is a default BD.ADV file for the WCS Mark II shipped with
    Battledrome. A .B50 file for the FLCS was not available at the 
    time of duplication.

    You can reach Thrustmaster technical support at (503) 968-3400
    9-5 Pacific time weekdays if you have questions about Thrustmaster
    controls. 

    GRAVIS GAME PAD
    We have found that BD works well with the Gravis Game Pad.  To
    use this device, select and calibrate the pad as 1 Standard
    Joystick.  Make sure you set the game pad to ANALOG rather than 
    DIGITAL.  Check your game pad documentation for instructions on 
    how to accomplish this.

    CONTACTING SIERRA CUSTOMER SERVICE:
    Since the manual was printed, the customer support and direct
    sales address has changed.  The new contact information is:

     Sierra On-Line Direct Sales   Sierra On-Line Customer Service
     P.O. Box 3404                 P.O. Box 3404
     Salinas, CA  93912            Salinas, CA  93912

     Phone: (800) 757-7707         Phone: (800) 743-7725 
     Fax:   (408) 644-2018         Fax:   (408) 644-2018

    NOTE - Sierra On-Line Technical Support, Patch Disk Dept.,
    Refund/Exchange Dept., and Disk/Doco Replacement Dept. is 
    correctly documented in the game manual.
    
    CUSTOMIZING YOUR BOOT DISK
    Because Metaltech: Battledrome uses a 32-bit DOS extender,
    you do not need to load a memory manager as outlined in the
    game documentation on page 68.  The automatic boot disk 
    creator in the install program will create a boot configuration
    that is optimized to run this game.  It will allow BD's built
    in memory manager to optimize your full computer's memory to run
    the game as effectively as possible.  

    IMPROVING PERFORMANCE

    To increase performance, try the following:

    -Use a smartdrive if you have enough memory in your machine
    -Decrease the arena detail in the simulation (F12 or Control-P)
    -Avoid selecting arenas with "Many" obstacles or blaster turrets
    -Take only 1 or 2 camera probes into combat
    -Select "None" for sound and music in the install program
   


V.  APPENDIX 
    
            ****PARTIAL LIST OF MODEM INIT STRINGS****
         
        IMPORTANT NOTE: These init strings represent the best
        information available to us at the time of duplication. Not all
        modem models were available for testing. This information was
        provided to us by the modem manufacturers. If you cannot get the
        initialization strings to work, consult your modem documentation
        or contact your modem manufacturer directly for updated
        information. We have provided the tech support numbers several
        of the major modem manufacturers in addition to the init
        strings.

Vendor          Model                   Init string     Notes


AT&T            4024                    \n1     
800-222-0400    Dataphone II            \n1     
                DataPort                %c0 \n1 
                                
Bestdata        SmartOne 2400 i         - DC,EC, and FC not supported.
818-773-9600    SmartOne 2400e          -       
                SmartOne 9624FQi        -       
                SmartOne 9642b          &k0 &q0 n0      
                SmartOne 2442b          &k0 &q0 n0      
                                
Boca            2400E MNP5              \n %c0 &k0      
407-241-8088    2400I MNP5              \n %c0 &k0      
                2400E v.42bis           \n %c0 &k0      
                2400I v.42bis           \n %c0 &k0      
                14.4E v.42bis/fax       \n %c0 &k0      
                14.4I v.42bis/fax       \n %c0 &k0      
                14.4I (alternate)       \n %c0 &k0      
                                
Cardinal        2400i                   &k0         Does not support EC
                                                    or DC
717-293-3124    9600 v.42bis            &k0 &q6 &q6 Turns off EC and DC
                                
Compaq          9696 MNP5               %c0 \g0 %m0     
800-345-1518                            

                        
Comp. Periph.   HI-FI hookup 2400s      - Tech claims these models 
805-499-6021    Viva 24i                - do not support DC,EC,or FC    
                Viva 24e                -       
                Viva 24i/fx             -       
                Viva 2400 MNP5          n0 \n1 &k0      
                Viva 2442ef v.42bis     n0 \n1 &k0      
                Viva2442if v.42bis      n0 \n1 &k0      
                Viva 14.4 v.42bis ext   n0 \n1 &k0      
                Viva 14.4 v.42bis int   n0 \n1 &k0      
                                
Digicom         Connection+                     
800-833-8900    Eagle+ v.42bis/fax      *E *F0             
                Scout+ v.42bis/fax                      
                                
Gateway 2000    Telepath 2400           &k0 EC0 &q0     
800-248-2031    Telepath v.32           &k0 EC0 &q0     
                                
Hayes           Accura 2400ext                 
404-446-6336    Smartmodem 2400B i             
404-441-1617    Smartmodem 2400B e             
                Smrtmdm Optima9600      &q6 &k0 
                Smrtmdm Optima14.4      &q6 &k0 
                Personal Modem 2400            
                PersonalModem2400+      &q6 &k0 
                VSmartmodem2400         &q6 &k0 
                VSmartmodem9600         &q6 &k0 
                                
Infotel         9600                    %c0 \n0 &k0     
800-972-8822    9600 v.42bis            %c0 \n0 &k0     
                FM144/144HVI int fax    %c0 \n0 &k0     
                                
Intel           2400EX                  &f  \n0 \g0     
503-629-7000    9600ex                  &f  \n0 \g0     
                14.4ex                  &f  \n0 \g0     
                SatisFAXion 100         &f  Does not support EC or DC,
                                            default is FC=off.

                SatisFAXion 200         &f  \n0 \q0     
                SatisFAXion 400         &f  \n0 \q0     
                14.4 (alt)              &f  \n0 \q0     
                                
Logicode        QUICKTEL 2400 int       &k0     
805-388-9000    QUICKTEL 9624           &k0     
                QUICKTEL 9600 v.42      \n1 %c0 &k0     
                                
                                
Packard Bell    2400                    No Error correction or data 
800-733-4411    2400/fax                compression supported        
                                
Practical       2400 ps/2               &k0     
805-496-7707    2400                    &k0     
                2400 v.42bis            &q0 s46=0 &k0   
                2400EFX                 s46=0 &k0       
                2400EFX SA              &q0 s46=0 &k0   
                All others              &q0 s46=0 &k0   
                                
Supra           All Supramodems         &k0     
503-967-2400    All SupraFAXmodems      &k0 \n  
                                
Telebit         t1000                   s58=0   
408-734-5200    t2500                   s97=0 s106=0s58=0       
                Trailblazer             s97=0 s106=0s58=0       
                Trailblazer+            s97=0 s106=0s58=0       
                t1600                   s190=0 s106=0 s58=0     
                t3000                   s190=0 s106=0 s58=0     
                Qblazer                 s190=0 s106=0 s58=0     
                WorldBlazer             s190=0 s106=0 s58=0     
                                
US Robotics     All models              &k0 &m0 &h0     
708-982-5151                            

Wang            2400i                   %c0 &k0 Tech says that error
                                                correction can not be
800-323-9264    9600v.42bis             %c0 &k0 turned off
                14/14                   %c0 &k0 
                                
Zoom            All models              &f &c1 &d2 &q0 %c0 &k0  
617-423-1076                            

