Digital Themes

NOTICE: This Theme is for non-commercial use only.

Author: Jeffrey W. Johnston
E-Mail: webcoder@digital-themes.com
URL: http://www.digital-themes.com


IMPORTANT #1
ALL of the Digital Themes Themes now require Microsoft's Media Player to be installed. What is Media Player? It is a streaming audio/video process very similar to RealAudio/Video (which is more well-known). Media Player comes into play with the sound clips that we are using. It uses a codec (compression format) named 'ACM Waveform' with the option of 'MPEG Layer-3'. Many other programs use the 'ACM Waveform' but Media Player is one of the few to implement the 'MPEG Layer-3' option. Using this Waveform together with the codec compresses the sound files without losing as much quality as other compression codecs cause. This, in turn, enables us to provide you with top quality Themes in a small package.

A simple example is probably welcome....so take the 'Red Baron Start.wav' file. It is now 154KB at 22,050Hz 16-bit Stereo! At the same recording quality but using the normal codec, the file size is 1.4MB! As you can see (and hear), there is no reason not to use this codec. Once you have downloaded and installed Media Player (if necessary) and possibly the bug patch (see below), you will more than make up for the time with future Themes from the Digital Themes site.

Click here to find out whether or not you already have Media Player on your system: Sound. If YES....you're good to go. If NO....then click here Media Player to download your copy FREE!

If you have trouble hearing the sounds associated with the Theme even after installing 'Media Player' then you'll need to install the PATCH located in the 'MP3 codec' subdirectory. Double-click and reboot and you'll be set till the next bug pops up :(

INSTRUCTIONS
Settlers 3 History and Thoughts: Had to do a Theme on this game. I've played all three and this is the best by far. The graphics are the best part of the game. Sure the resource management and various items are cool as well, but to be honest this part as well as the combat mode isn't all that different from Settlers 2...just more variety. All in all, I find it interesting to fool around for an hour or so watching my settlement grow, save the game, do some work or even have it running in the background, come back and find a whole different landscape that sort of pulls me in to explore and build more. Blue Byte has got a demo out for those of you who don't have the game yet...why don't you grab it? It's got Internet multiplayer functions as well but I haven't tried it yet as I can't guess what it would be like spending several hours online waiting to build up my forces...

SPECIAL NOTE: If you are running Windows95 you MUST use the '.Theme' files located in the 'Win95 Theme' subdirectory. If you are running Windows98 you MUST use the '.Theme' files located in the 'Win98 Theme' subdirectory. 2 reasons for these instructions: #1 is that Win95 cannot understand the new icon placement coding Win98 writes to the '.Theme' file. #2 is that Win98 uses graded colors (2 colors flowing into each other) for the Active and Inactive Title Bars. Win95 does not have this and if you are running Win98 but use the .Theme files for Win95 you will loose this extra visual enhancement.

1. Extract the 'set3.exe' file directly to your '\Plus!\Themes\' directory. Your directory structure after doing so will look like this: '......\Plus!\Themes\Setlers 3\Logos, MP3 codec, ScreenSaver, Win95 Theme, Win98 Theme\'.
2. Move either 1 or all of the 'Settlers 3 (high color) 9X.Theme' files to the your '\Plus!\Theme\' directory...DO NOT MOVE ANY OTHER FILES OR ELSE THE THEME WILL NOT BE USABLE. Read the SPECIAL NOTE above again if you're not sure which files to move.
3. Feel free to delete this 'Read Me IMPORTANT' file after installing the Theme as well as the example 'XXX.wav' file.
4. Next, double-click on the 'Set3.exe' screensaver file. It will automatically be installed and set up as your default screensaver. After installation please delete the previous 'Set3.exe' screensaver file as well as the subdirectory is was in.
5. Next, you're ready to install the 'Startup', 'Waiting' and 'Shutting Down' screens. Simply double-click on the 'Settlers 3 Logos.exe' file to automatically back up your current logo files and install the new Settler 3 Logos.  If you wish to remove these logos later, just double-click on the 'Settlers 3 Logos.exe' file again to remove the Settlers 3 Logos and restore your original logo screens.
6. Finally, go to 'My Computer', 'Control Panel', 'Desktop Themes' and select the just-added Theme.
7. Now you're set. Enjoy!
8. Word of Caution: Sometimes Win98 doesn't reset the 'Link Select' cursor correctly so after loading the Theme go to 'Control Panel', 'Mouse' and scroll down till you see the cursor. If it doesn't match the set then browse to the 'C:\Program Files\Plus!\Themes\Settlers 3\' subdirectory and select the correct cursor.

IMPORTANT #2

Also with this Theme we have provided 3 different wallpaper/Theme schemes: 1024X768, 800X600 and 640X480 for each of the schemes. Please delete the unused '.JPG' and corresponding '.Theme' files so as not to waste disk space...for your benefit :)

IMPORTANT #3

Digital Themes would like to express our thanks to The Theme Doctor for his advice and review of all our themes. Please visit his site for more reviews and downloads of most, if not all, of the BEST Desktop Themes on the 'Net.

Also, we would like to thank Victor Moberger at 'QDT' (Quality Desktop Themes) for also reviewing and giving excellent advice. Have a chance, don't pass up Victor's site either.

Enjoy!