Komputer for Alle 1999 Ekstra 101 Spil/K-CD_1999_Ekstra_101_Spil.iso/Cards/Championship Spades/_SETUP.4/Group12/Faq.txt

Text File | 1999-02-20 | 58KB | 1,047 lines

                     Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
                         Championship Spades v6.2
                       last updated January 20, 1999

We have taken great care to put the answers to the most frequently asked
questions below and keep this list up-to-date. Please take a few moments to
see if your question is answered here first. If you still need help, you
can email us at [e-mail] with the specifics of your problem. If it is
a bad bid or play, please use the 'Report a bad play' option to generate a
report that you can email us so we can reproduce the problem with all your
specific game options/players.

Game Questions and Common Problems

  1. Why do the computer opponents always start with 100 points?
  2. My partner took a trick I was winning in round 10 or 11, why!?"
  3. I am getting a page fault in VB40032.DLL or VB50032.DLL, why?"
  4. Why can't I set both the difficulty and players or handicap?
  5. The gameplay is too slow, fast, jumpy, or uneven. Can I adjust it?
  6. I have my own MIDI songs, can I listen to them instead?
  7. I was assessed a bag penalty with only one extra trick, why?
  8. Why did the game end before or after we reached 500 points?
  9. The computer bid Blind Nil with a high Spade, why!
 10. My partner took a trick their Nil was currently winning, why!?"
 11. The computer makes poor plays, why does it play so stupidly?
 12. How do I report a bug or bad play if I see one?
 13. The game or songs are too slow, how can I make it faster?
 14. The game sometimes crashes or locks up, what is wrong?
 15. Any tips for configuring my wave-table sound card for quality music?
 16. I cannot hear the music or sounds or the volume is low, what is wrong?
 17. The MIDI background music sounds of poor quality, what is wrong?
 18. My colors appear wrong or 'inverted', what is wrong?
 19. Is there any way to have multiple players or reset my win statistics?
 20. Is there any way to make the cards bigger or change the spacing?
 21. Is there any way to slow down the computer playout feature?
 22. What is Error 480? Why are some graphics are dissappearing?

Download and Registering Questions

  1. Having problems downloading, can you explain in detail what to do?
  2. Having problems installing, can you suggest any solutions?
  3. It says I'm not registered but I did register! How do I get a
     duplicate key?
  4. What is shareware? I already paid once, why do I have to pay again!
  5. Is there any way to decrease the long 'nag' dialog delay?
  6. I registered over a week ago and still have not received a key!
  7. I dont have a credit card, can I register some other way?
  8. Do I need disks? Can I make my own disks to transfer or as a backup?
  9. Is it safe to pay by credit card over the Internet? Why do you ask for
     my address, bank name, and phone?
 10. Why do you charge so much? I can buy some CD games for $9!
 11. Can I get a free copy? Do you offer any kind of hardship discount?
 12. The game says my evaluation period expired although I just tried it!
 13. I am registered, now how do I download the tutorial?
 14. I already registered and now I see the discount price, can I get a
     refund?
 15. I love this game! Can I link to or distribute copies of Spades on CD?
 16. Can I get a discount on a second license? Do I need 2 keys to play at
     home and work?

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Game Questions and Common Problems

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1. Why do the computer opponents always start with 100 points?

This is correct behaviour. Starting with version 4.0, the game uses a
handicap to make the game extra tough for master players by giving the
computer a head start.

If you do not want to play with a handicap, you can either select the
Challenger difficulty level which will automatically turn off the handicap
but still let you play with and against expert computer players, or you can
manually set the handicap to 0 in the Scoring Options... dialog. Realize
that turning this handicap off may decrease your difficulty level.
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2. My partner took a trick I was winning in round 10 or 11, why!?

This may be correct behaviour. If you are playing with an expert partner,
they are smart enough to realize that you are already 'set' and cannot
possibly make your bid. For example, if you and your partner bid 7 and have
only taken 3 by round 11, even if you take the last 3 tricks, you will
still be set! If the opponents have already made their bid or are only 1
trick away, a smart player will decide to instead try to give those last
tricks to the opponents as bags. Overtaking a trick you already won now
helps avoid taking a trick in a later round.

In this way, you are trying to make the most of a bad situation. You may
have already been set, but if you can give your opponents a few bags, you
bring them that much closer to the bag penalty. This non-obvious strategy
works very well but often suprises many people as a bad play.

Even if it is still possible for you to make your tricks, some endgame
situations can also cause this type of behaviour. Say your opponent is
winning 455 to your 250. The only way to win is to stop them. If you cannot
set them, another sly strategy may be to set yourself but give them lots of
bags so they take the bag penalty.

I discuss these strategies in greater detail in the Mastering Spades
tutorial that registered users receive. If, after this explanation, and a
review of your play history, you still feel the computer made a bad play,
please do send a badhand report to the author.
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3. I am getting a page fault in some DLL, what is wrong?

This is usually caused by a corrupt or incompatible version of a DLL which
other misbehaved programs may have installed. Luckily, it is easy to fix.
To solve the problem, you need to first locate all copies of the offending
DLL. To do this, use Start->Find and type in the name of the DLL you saw in
the error message, such as vb40032.dll. Once you have located all copies,
select them and press the Delete key to delete them. Now, reinstall
Championship Spades and a clean version of this DLL will be reinstalled.
You should now be able to run Championship Spades successfully.
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4. Why can't I set both the difficulty and players or handicap?

The difficulty menu is a shortcut to set all players and the handicap to
achieve the desired difficulty. Any player or handicap settings will be
lost when you use this menu. So, setting either one may change the other.

The difficulty level is calculated based on the opponents and your
partner's skill and memory, as well as the handicap option. If you manually
set all players (including your partner) to expert card-counters and
disable the handicap, you will have a Challenging but not Master level of
difficulty.

To create a more difficult game you must choose a less strong partner,
stronger opponents, and/or add a handicap. This is exactly what the
difficulty menu automatically does for you. The Master level is
deliberately stacked against you. Although the handicap may seem unfair,
how often are you rebidding or replaying a hand that you would otherwise
have lost? You may find Challenging is the most enjoyable difficulty for a
strong, but even and fair game of Spades.
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5. The gameplay is too slow, fast, jumpy, or uneven. Can I adjust it?

You can adjust the speed of gameplay using the slider under the
Options->General menu to suit your own tastes. The number of animation
frames, mid-play screen repaints, and delays after each bid/play/trick are
all tied into this speed setting. Since this slider only affects the
repaints/delays and not the speed of your system, if you find the game
speed starts getting uneven and choppy, you may wish to set the setting to
a slower, not faster, speed. Some bids/plays take more thought than others
and consequently more time. On many systems with the delays very short or
disabled (slider to the far left), this can result in uneven, non-smooth
play. If it seems jumpy or uneven, try a slightly slower setting (like
halfway between the far left and the center of the speed slider).

Due to the game's heavy use of memory for graphics and sound, systems with
low memory (32MB or less) will have difficulty running Championship Spades
smoothly and will be forced to use the hard disk as memory, making the
system slow and uneven. Upgrading your memory is easy and inexpensive, and,
suprisingly, is one of the easiest ways to speedup your system. Also,
occassional pauses to start a new MIDI soundtrack from the built-in MIDI
jukebox are to be expected and are unavoidable.
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6. I have my own MIDI songs, can I listen to them instead?

To listen to your own MIDIs, you can do one of two things:

  1. Copy your MIDI files into the Sounds directory (probably C:\Program
     Files\Championship Spades\sounds. Championship Spades will
     automatically pick a random file from this directory a couple of
     seconds after the previous MIDI file finishes.
  2. Change the default soundtrack directory to your MIDI files directory
     under the Sound Options dialog. You may wish to copy the MIDI files in
     C:\Program Files\Championship Spades\sounds to add to your collection.
     Note that the soundtrack directory does not need to be the same as the
     game sounds directory.
  3. COPYRIGHT NOTE: Since these MIDI files are in the public domain and
     have only been collected for you by the author, you are free to use
     and re-use them for private purposes.

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7. I was assessed a bag penalty with only one extra trick, why?

Are you sure you did not already have some bags from a previous hand? Bags
are accumulated over several hands. This is explained in the Spades 101
tutorial which you can access from the game's Help menu. Basically, when
you reach 10 overtricks (the usual setting), you are assessed the bag
penalty, usually 100 points. This common game variation prevents continuous
underbidding.

If you prefer, you can disable the bags by setting the Bag Penalty to
'Never' under the game options menu if you do not want to play with them.
You can also press the Help button on the Scoring dialog for an explanation
of the penalties/bonuses.
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8. Why did the game end before or after we reached 500 points?

The official Spades rules from Hoyle states that games will be played until
one team or player reaches 500. In addition, if any team or player is above
0 and the opposing team or player goes below -250, the game is won by the
team with the higher score. The game still counts as only 1 game. The -250
ending is meant to prevent the game from lasting forever and to prevent
both teams from continually bidding Blind Nils and other over-aggressive
tactics. If you wish, you can set the ending negative score to -10000 under
the Scoring Options dialog to disable the game end on reaching negative
scores.

If both teams reach or exceed 500 points on the same hand, the player/team
with the most points wins. If both teams/players are tied, another hand is
played to break the tie until someone is both over 500 and their opponent's
score.
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9. The computer bid Blind Nil with a high Spade, why!

This is correct behaviour and is part of the risk of a Blind Nil bid. Let
me explain a bit more:

You bid 'blind' which means you must bid BEFORE you see your cards.
Typically, it is a desperation bid when you are far behind and will lose if
you don't get some serious points fast. This also means that if you have
the AS or any other high cards, you may automatically lose.

You can enable card swapping which helps. Personally, I would just turn off
Blind Nils since they are so risky. In most cases, the player was way
behind and in danger of losing so the player took a risk to try and
catchup. Aggressive players are even more likely to bid this aggressive
bid. After release 5.1, Blind Nils are off by default due to this
confusion.
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10. My partner took a trick their Nil was currently winning, why!?"

This may be correct behaviour. If you are on the last hand of the game,
other things can affect your bidding and playing. For example, let us say
you are winning a game 454 to 259 and bid a conservative 5 to put you over
the top. If your opponent bids Blind Nil and 1, your partner may decide
that the Blind Nil is no threat and just concentrate on making your tricks.

I discuss these strategies in greater detail in the Mastering Spades
tutorial that registered users receive. If, after this explanation, and a
review of your play history, you still feel the computer made a bad play,
please do send a badhand report to the author.

As always, please send in a badhand.txt report and I will be happy to
review the plays and your comments and determine if there was a better
play. The game has improved dramatically over the years due to user
feedback.
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11. The computer makes poor plays, why does it play so stupidly?

First, make sure you are running the latest version of the game. In
particular, there were 300+ improvements in the 4.0 release, another 400+
in the 5.x releases, and another 200+ in the 6.1 release. You can always
upgrade for free to the latest release from http://www.dq.com/spdown.shtml.
As a bonus, unregistered users will have their evaluation period reset so
they can give the latest release a full trial.

Next, make sure you are playing against expert computer players. You can
look at the skills of each player by clicking on the player's face. You can
quickly set all players and game options to a more challenging difficulty
level by selecting Challenging from the Difficulty menu. Beginner players
(notably Merlin and Junior) will make poor bids and plays fairly often.
Average players (notably MsPotts, Ricky, and ProfPlum) usually play well
but don't always bid or play an awkward hand correctly. They also dont know
about signalling, finessing, aggressively setting, and other advanced
techniques that expert players (LadyLuck, Sparky, and Red) do.

Other factors such as aggressiveness and memory can also affect a play
since an expert player with a poor memory may 'forget' that a partner
signalled or previously trumped a suit and therefore not lead it. Likewise,
a shy player may not risk sinking their own bid in an effort to sink a Nil
or an aggressive player may overbid a hand sometimes. These factors are
meant to make the game more realistic and to allow for more personality in
the computer players. If you prefer a more predictable player, you can edit
all the personalities to be boring, expert, card-counter, conservative,
predictable players.

Finally, do not forget that the current game situation (score, other
people's bids, etc...) can also affect a player's bid or play strategy at
an expert level. For example, a sly expert may choose to bid low in the end
game and dump in an effort to overbag the opponents and survive to another
hand...

If you are already playing against expert players and the computer still
seems to be making poor bids or plays, please use the 'Report a bad play'
option under the Help menu or in the hand summary dialog. See How do I
report a bug or bad play if I see one? for details.

I believe the current release now offers the most competitive Spades game
available. It has been feedback from my many users like yourself that have
helped make the game what it is today. Please help improve the game even
more by providing feedback with sample hands I can use. I welcome your
helpful comments, especially with hands that I can reproduce.
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12. How do I report a bug or a bad play if I see one?

I would greatly like to increase the challenge of the game and quality of
the opponent's AI. I have already improved it dramatically over the last
few releases using feedback from players like yourself.

Could you please use the 'Report a bad play' option under the Help menu the
next time you see a misbid/play (during the hand play)? You can also report
a misplay from the scoring summary dialog under the 'Other...' button. You
can then email me the file and I can reproduce the exact hand, see how it
was played, and figure out what was wrong so I can correct it.

This file also lists all of the options you are playing with. Championship
Spades has so many options, almost every person is playing a slightly
different game with slightly different affects on play. With so many
variables (score, personalities, options, bids, previous plays, etc...)
this report should list everything I need to reproduce the problem.

You can just paste the text from this badhand into your email program and
send it to the author at [e-mail]. Thanks for your support and
feedback!
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13. The game or songs are too slow, how can I make it faster?

First, make sure you have set the game delay under Options->General to the
left (faster) side. Consider getting the 6.1 release which does include
more variation in speed control and more optimization for slower machines.
If v6.1 continues to be slow even when set to Faster, try a couple other
things:

  1. Consider shutting-down any applications you may be running in the
     background. In particular, network and system programs like FTP,
     Netscape, Explorer, and Norton System Doctor can take significant CPU
     time & memory away from the game.
  2. Is it intermittently pausing after a trick completes? If so, you may
     have taunts enabled but have the volume or sound turned down. Taunts
     are played synchronously, which means the game is paused until the
     sound finishes, which can take several seconds. You should see a
     balloon displayed on the player who is taunting. You can disable the
     taunts under either the General options or Sound options dialogs to
     eliminate this pause.
  3. Switch to 640x480 256-color resolution. Higher resolutions eat more
     memory and the graphics take longer to draw. Except with a few tables,
     the game uses an optimized pallette so it will look just as good under
     256-color but will run much faster. You may find the Microsoft Quikres
     PowerToy helpful for this. You can download it from our Windows 95
     MustHaves page.
  4. Verify your temp directory is empty (usually C:\TEMP or
     C:\WINDOWS\TEMP). If not, remove the files from it. Also, make sure
     your hard drive has a few megabytes of disk space left.
  5. Make sure your disk is not too fragmented. Try running a disk
     optimizer/defragmenter such as Norton Speed Disk or Microsoft Defrag.
     If your system is several months old and you have never defragmented
     the disk you will see noticeable slowdowns in fast-paced programs such
     as Spades.
  6. Try disabling just the background soundtrack (Sound under Options
     menu). Older sound cards and/or drivers do a poor job of multitasking
     MIDI play. If disabling improves speed, you should check your sound
     card's manufacturer for newer MIDI drivers. This is particularly true
     if the songs seem choppy and the tempo uneven. If your sound card is
     causing the problems, this will speed the game up. You will either
     have to play without music or get a newer set of drivers or sound card
     that can keep up with faster games. Championship Spades uses both MIDI
     backgrounds and WAV sound effects simultaneously during play. This is
     usually even more stressful on a sound card than typical shoot-em-up
     games.
  7. See the next topic, Game crashing for additional sound-related
     suggestions.

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14. The game sometimes crashes or locks up, what is wrong?

The vast majority of the time this is a problem with your sound card
drivers. Especially if the error message says something about WINMM.DLL or
it frequently locks up when changing music soundtracks. You can quickly
verify it is a sound-related problem by disabling all sound (Disable all
from Sound Options...).

Unfortunately, I have little control over the sound drivers. Since
Championship Spades uses both MIDI background songs and WAV sound effects
simultaneously during play, this is usually even more stressful on a sound
card than typical shoot-em-up games. However, here are some tips that
should help:

  1. Download and install the most recent sound card drivers for Windows
     95/98/NT from the manufacturer's site (for SoundBlasters, try
     www.soundblaster.com). This often immediately corrects any problems.
  2. For wave-table sound cards (e.g. AWE32/64), try the configuration tips
     in the next section first.
  3. Change the IRQ and/or DMA settings for your sound card which may be
     conflicting with your mouse or other devices in your system. Consult
     your sound card documentation for additional suggestions.
  4. Try stopping all background programs/drivers in case of
     incompatibility. You can do this by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del and choosing
     End Task on all programs EXCEPT Explorer and Systray, which are
     required. For example, there is a known bug in some mouse/trackball
     pointing software that can cause intermittent lockups. I usually make
     a habit of doing this before running ANY game to improve performance
     and stability.
  5. Try disabling just the background soundtrack (Sound under Options
     menu). I have had reports that older sound cards with older drivers do
     a poor job of multitasking MIDI play. You can still enjoy the game
     sounds but wont have the background music.
  6. If all else fails and the game is too unstable with the sound on, you
     may just have to disable all the sounds from the Sound Options dialog.
     You can also force the game to start without sound by adding the
     '-no_sound' parameter.

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15. Any tips for configuring my wave-table sound card for quality music?

If you have any of the recent SB16, AWE32, or AWE64 SoundBlaster cards,
there are some subtle configuration tips that they do not explain well.
Incorrect configurations can cause slow play, poor quality, and
intermittent lockups. These tips may also apply to other wave-table sound
cards as well.

  1. First, make sure you have the latest SoundBlaster drivers. Creative
     regularly updates their drivers every couple of months and I have
     noticed a steady performance and stability improvement with each
     revision. It is easy to download and install from their Web site at
     www.soundblaster.com.
  2. Second, do NOT use WaveSynth as this bypasses your sound card and does
     MIDI via software. This slows your system down, can cause WAV files
     not to play, can cause problems in half-duplex mode and can also cause
     lockups. To verify/correct this, choose Start->Settings->Control
     Panel->Multimedia. Under the MIDI tab, make sure 'Creative Wave
     Effects for AWE' is selected, and NOT 'WaveSynth-WG'.
  3. Third, if you want your MIDI songs to sound much better, make sure you
     have loaded the highest-quality (i.e. largest size) SoundFont you can.
     To do this, go to your AWE Control Panel (under your SoundBlaster
     group), select the main (first) bank and load your SoundFont from the
     SFbank directory. If you have a 4MB card (like the SB AWE64), then
     select 4gmsynth.sf2 and click apply. Your MIDI songs should now sound
     much better. If you don't have these files, you need to install them
     off the SB installation CD-ROM. Just make sure to reupdate your latest
     drivers AFTER you install off the CD-ROM.
  4. Finally, if you still have problems playing sound files simultaneously
     with the MIDI songs (especially if you MUST use WaveSynth for some
     reason), you might try disabling the full-duplex setting. This should
     be under the volume control panel or the Device Manager properties for
     your sound card. Uncheck the full-duplex box. Full-duplex is rarely
     used by most people and is for simultaneous recording and playback
     (such as for teleconferencing).

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16. I cannot hear the music or sounds or the volume is low, what is wrong?

If you cannot hear either or both the game sounds and music, try:

  1. Verify the volume for both Wave (game sounds) and MIDI (music) is high
     enough and not muted in your sound mixer (varies by card). Use Ctrl+V
     to bring up the Windows Volume Control or select Volume from the
     Options menu. The music soundtrack is labeled 'MIDI' and game sounds
     are 'Wave'. They can have different volume settings (usually MIDI is
     set lower so you can hear the game sounds over the background music).
     Adjust or unmute to suit your listening tastes.
  2. Verify that Soundtrack (top checkbox in Sound options dialog) and/or
     game/sounds are enabled. They can be individually disabled from the
     Options menu under Sound options. The settings are then saved and
     restored the next time you play.
  3. If songs are not playing but game sounds are, verify your MIDI mapping
     is correct. Choose Start->Settings->Control Panel->Multimedia. Under
     the MIDI tab, make sure 'Creative Wave Effects for AWE' or some other
     appropriate device is selected, NOT 'WaveSynth-WG' or 'Midi Out'. See
     your sound card manual/Help for more details on MIDI mapping. Many
     games do not use MIDI so Championship Spades may be the first one you
     have tried.
  4. If you still cannot hear any songs and you have a budget sound card,
     your card may either not support MIDI songs or it may not have the
     MIDI drivers installed. Consider downloading the latest Windows
     95/98/NT drivers for your sound card.
  5. Also see configuration tips in the previous section.

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17. The MIDI background music sounds of poor quality, what is wrong?

This is usually because you have an older sound card using FM synthesis for
MIDI musical instruments or it is not mapping properly. FM
artificially-created instruments do not sound anywhere near as good as
digitally-sampled instruments that a newer wave-table sound card would
produce. MIDI files store the pitch and timbre of notes to replay the song
rather than storing an actual digital recording. This makes the files much
smaller and easily replayable. It does, however, also mean that the songs
will only sound as good played back as the sound card they are played on.

If you believe your sound card does support wave-table sound (e.g. AWE),
see configuration tips in the previous two sections.

I *highly* recommend the SoundBlaster AWE64 Gold. It has excellent
wave-table synthesis as well as gold connectors for static free playback.
And, being a SoundBlaster, it is also compatible with all your older games.
Break down and pay the $79 and enjoy an orchestra in your PC! In the
meantime, you may wish to disable the background soundtracks and just enjoy
the basic game sounds which should sound decent even on an older sound
card.
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18. My colors appear wrong or 'inverted', what is wrong?

You should be using a 256-color or higher display (the colors WILL look
poor on a 16-color display). I have had some reports of wrong colors from
people using outdated Win95 video drivers, usually in conjunction with
DirectX (a Microsoft library supplied with several Windows 95/98/NT games
and multimedia applications).

You can try switching to a high-color (32,000 colors or true color) mode
using the Display option in the system control panel. Also, it is always a
good idea to obtain the latest video drivers for your particular video card
from the manufacturer (most have web pages with the drivers available for
free download).
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19. Is there any way to have multiple players or reset my win statistics?

New in the 5.1 release, the game tracks statistics seperately for each
player based on the player name used. When you change player names, you
will track wins, losses, and other information by that name only. This
means that members of your family can share the same game and even compare
game statistics by simply entering their name when they play. You could
also try different strategies using different names and then compare them.
If you have multiple players, you may wish to enable the 'Name prompt on
startup' option to remind them every time they start playing.

New in the 6.1 release, the game will also restore different game settings
for each player if the autorestore option is also enabled.

From the Players Statistics dialog (off the View menu), you can compare the
last 4 players statistics or reset the current player's stats by pressing
the reset button. The game will track more than 4 players, although only
the last 4 will show in the comparison dialog.

NOTE: If you ever find the list incorrect or with duplicates, you can
correct this by going through the 4 player's names again using Change
name... Then return and the list should be properly restored.
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20. Is there any way to make the cards bigger or change the spacing?

Yes. Switch to 640x480 256-color resolution or any other resolution that is
more comfortable. The cards will be smaller on a high-resolution screen
such as 1024x768. This is intended to allow people to more easily run
multiple applications at once. However, this size may be too small for some
to read, especially on a 14-inch monitor.

You may find the Microsoft Quikres PowerToy helpful for this. It allows you
to quickly switch resolutions without rebooting. It is already included
with later versions of Windows 95 and all versions of Windows 98. If you
dont have it, you can download it for free from our Windows 95 MustHaves
page.

New in v6.1, the game will space the cards out wider if you size the screen
larger. If you find the spacing too wide, simply size the screen a little
smaller and the cards will re-space properly. Now if you maximize the
window on a high-res display the cards will space out more making them
easier to read.
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21. Is there any way to slow down the computer playout feature?

Yes and no. The 'computer playout' function is designed to finish an
obvious hand quickly and is not adjustable. If you wish to analyze the
plays, use the spacebar or popup menu 'default play' command instead. This
command will play the hint-suggested card, much like the playout function.
In this manner, you can basically 'step through' the tricks in a hand. You
may also wish to adjust the game speed on the Options->Game so the computer
players will play faster. New in the 6.1 release, the playout delay is
relative to the game speed. Playout is always faster than normal play, but
it is still based on game speed, so to slow down playout, slow down the
game speed by a little.
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22. What is Error 480? Why are some graphics are dissappearing?

The latest versions have grown so much with features that they no longer
run on 16MB systems. If you do not know how much memory you have,
right-click on My Computer and select Properties. Then click the
Performance tab. It will say how much memory you have at the top. If you
have less than 32MB, try the following techniques to minimize memory usage:

  1. Consider paying $50 to upgrade to 64MB (you can do it yourself!) and
     enjoy a faster and more powerful system!
  2. Make sure you close all other applications before playing Spades.
  3. Change the screen resolution to 640x480x256 color by right-clicking on
     your desktop wallpaper and choosing Properties->Settings.
  4. Disable all sounds and music from the Sound Options menu in the game.
  5. Disable dealing of cards and taunts from the General Options menu.

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Download and Registering Questions

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1. Having problems downloading, can you explain in detail what to do?

  1. Print this document out for later reference.
  2. Connect to the Internet and run your favorite Web browser (Netscape,
     etc.).
  3. Choose Open Location from the File menu and enter
     http://www.dq.com/spdown.shtml
  4. If you are running Windows 95/98/NT (you have a 'Start' menu), you
     need spades32.exe.
  5. If you are running Windows 3.1 or OS/2 (you do not have a 'Start'
     menu), you need spades16.exe.
  6. Right-click on the appropriate file and choose 'Save As...' to
     download. Normal clicking may not always work.
  7. You will be prompted for a location to save the EXE file, choose C:\
     if you are not sure. If you are not prompted, you may need to cancel
     and try again.
  8. If the download fails or you get an error, try the <1>, <2>, or <3>
     which are alternate mirror sites, all of which contain the current
     version of Spades.
  9. If you continue to have problems, you may want redial in to your ISP
     or try again at a less popular time of day, like in the morning.
 10. After it is done downloading (~8-20 minutes), exit your browser and
     logoff.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Having problems installing, can you suggest any solutions?

  1. Open an Explorer or File Manager window to the place you downloaded
     the EXE or ZIP earlier (C:\?).
  2. Double-click the EXE and choose Setup to start the game installation.
  3. After InstallShield comes up, change the default installation
     directory if you wish, otherwise just press Next until done.
  4. If the installer gives an error, seems to be for a different
     application, or loops forever, there may be an old installer left that
     did not clean up after itself properly. The easiest way to solve this
     is to run WinZip, Pkunzip or some other archive tool on spades32.exe
     (yes, it really is a ZIP file) and manually extract all files to an
     empty directory. After extraction, run the setup.exe program manually.
  5. You should now have a Spades icon on your desktop to start the game at
     anytime. If not, you may gotten an incomplete or corrupted download
     and you need to redownload the file again.
  6. When you startup Spades for the first time it will prompt you if you
     wish to take the Spades 101 tutorial, select Yes.
  7. Enjoy!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. I upgraded or reinstalled my system and it says I am unregistered! I
lost my registration key, how can I replace it?

Sometimes upgrading, recovering, or modifying your system (e.g.
reinstalling Windows or upgrading to Windows 98/NT) can lose your game
registration information. It will then revert back to an unregistered state
and will nag you or perhaps even prevent you from playing. If you have your
name and code printed out or the email filed away somewhere, just select
'Enter key' from the Help menu and re-enter your code to re-register the
game.

If you don't have your code or email anymore, email the author at
[e-mail] with your registered name, email, and approximate
registration date and I will send you a replacement registration packet
with your unlock code and download information for the latest release.

NOTE: Versions 5.x and later include some anti-hack prevention measures
that prevent unregistered users from using the game like a registered user
without actually paying for the game. If you obtained your game from some
questionable source and have never registered, you may need to register
now. I am not accusing you of anything, but am just pointing out another
possible explanation.

Remember, upgrades are always free for those that have supported the work.
Simply send me your name, email, and approximate date and I will be happy
to look you up and send you a replacement key. Thanks for your support!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. What is shareware? I already paid once, why do I have to pay again!?

I am sorry if you were misled or misunderstood what shareware is. Let me
explain a bit more:

Shareware is a marketing method, not a type of software. Unlike software
marketed through normal retail channels, where you are forced to pay for
the product before you've even seen it, the shareware marketing method lets
you try program for a period of time before you buy it. Since you've tried
a shareware program, you know whether it will meet your needs before you
pay for it. Shareware programs are just like programs you find in major
stores, catalogs, and other places where people purchase software - except
you get to use them, on your own computer, before paying for them.

Consumers who purchase shareware programs receive a level of product
support that exceeds what traditional software manufacturers deliver.
Shareware users who need support often speak directly to the actual
developer of the program, who is intimately familiar with how it operates
and therefore can provide excellent technical support. Shareware authors
often fix bugs in programs and add features quickly, based on feedback from
users.

Shareware VENDORS distribute shareware versions of programs, charging a
small fee for the costs of disk duplication and advertising, plus a small
profit. Most shareware AUTHORS allow this type of distribution so you'll
have a chance to try their programs. However, NONE of the money paid to a
shareware VENDOR goes to the AUTHOR. If you try a shareware program, then
continue to use it after the trial period, you must pay for and register
the program. The same principal applies if you buy a shareware disk at a
computer show or find a shareware program on a CD-ROM disc or at a store.

Unfortunately, I do know that some disreputable VENDORS fail to explain
what shareware is or mislead the purchaser into thinking they are BUYING
"100 Windows 95 Games" for $19 or less, which is a direct violation of the
distribution license for Championship Spades. I do apologize if you were
misled, by I have no control over what these people do. Anyone can download
my program, slap it onto a disk and claim to 'sell' it. PLEASE, if you
would be kind enough to send me the name of the company (preferably, with
an address), I will report them to the Assoc. of Shareware Professionals
(ASP) who try to prevent the confusion and anger that these vendors can
cause.

However, there is some good news. Since early versions of this game were
distributed (which you probably have), I have lowered the price to $29. I
also offer a hardship discount to students, seniors (65+), and military who
can register for only $19. Also, the most current version of the game,
available from "http://www.dq.com/spades.shtml, is probably a much more
sophisticated version than the early copy you obtained, with significant
new features and even more challenging players. Feel free to download the
latest version from this site. As a bonus, upgrading will reset your
evaluation period and you will have a whole another 30 days to evaluate the
game before registering!

As a registered user, you are also entitled to a number of extra benefits
for registering:

  1. Key to disable the nag screens via email within 2 business days
     (usually 24 hours).
  2. Personalized version of Championship Spades with your name by using
     the key.
  3. Code to download extensive tutorial based on an 8-week 'Mastering
     Spades' course I taught.
  4. Lifetime registration (I *never* charge for upgrades). Updates are
     available several times a year.
  5. License for both versions (you may use your code in either the 16-bit
     or 32-bit versions).
  6. License to use on multiple workstations (e.g. at home and work) as
     long as not simultaneously used.
  7. Automatic notification of upgrades via email. Your email address will
     be kept confidential.
  8. An even better Spades game in the future by supporting updates.
  9. Ability to participate in the Beta testing for the network version
     that is being developed.
 10. Freedom from guilt while addicted to Championship Spades at home and
     the office.

I hope you will find shareware and the idea of 'trying before you buy' a
great idea and will support my product and the many other quality programs
available.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Is there any way to decrease the long 'nag' dialog delay?

Yes. First, if you register, this 'nag' dialog will disappear once you
unlock your copy of Spades. This dialog is my only means of reminding
people of their obligation to register and without it people would just
continue to use the software without paying for it.

However, due to popular request, in the 5.x release I have made the timer
much shorter for first-time evaluators. The timer will then become longer
and therefore more of an incentive for those that continue to 'evaluate'
the game for long periods without registering. You can download the most
current release from http://www.dq.com/spdown.shtml. As a bonus, your
evaluation period will be reset when you upgrade to the latest version.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. I registered over a week ago and still have not received a key!

You can confirm your order status directly with the author at any time by
emailing [e-mail]. I do send out keys within 24 hours of receiving
your order.

IF YOU REGISTERED VIA THE INTERNET, did you provide the billing address and
bank name to Public Software Library? They are trying to protect you, the
cardholder, and thoroughly check that a card is valid before processing a
charge. Unfortunately, they often just ignore orders that are missing
information. Also, since you cannot order using the student/senior/military
discount via a charge card, your order may have been ignored if it has some
kind of note indicating the special $19 or student/senior price. In any
case, you will need to re-register via the Web site or by sending a check.
PSL and the author both check for duplicates so do not let that concern
worry you. Again, keys usually go out within 24 hours after your order.

IF YOU REGISTERED BY CHECK, when did you send it? US Mail takes at least a
week, sometimes even more... Keep in mind that US Mail can be slow around
some holidays... Did you send it from overseas without sending it airmail?
Sorry, I cannot control the Post Office. I do send the key out within 24
hours of receiving a check. If it has been over two weeks since you mailed
the check, please either contact the author or re-register. I do check for
duplicates.

If it has been over two weeks or you have questions, please email me at
[e-mail] and I will try my best to correct any ordering problem that
may exist as quickly as possible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. I dont have a credit card, can I register some other way?

You CAN register via check, postal order, or money order for $29 US. If you
really want disks (not just the unlock code and tutorial emailed to you),
please enclose an additional $9 to cover disks and shipping. You can make
your own disks and save this charge.

If you send proof of eligibility (photocopy of ID), you can also take
advantage of a special hardship/thank-you discount I offer students,
seniors (65+), and military (retired too) for $19 US (you save $10).

*PLEASE* include a printed copy of the order form from the help file or the
order.txt file with your name, address, phone, EMAIL, and platform (16-bit
or 32-bit) preference CLEARLY PRINTED. Mail check and info to:

Christopher Williamson
610 Parthenon Court
Lafayette, CO 80026
USA

P.S. If you are sending from overseas, make sure to send it Air Mail or it
may take months to get here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Do I need disks? Can I make my own disks to transfer or as a backup?

You probably dont need to pay the $9 for disks. You receive your key to
register your copy and turn off the reminder screens via email right away.

You can still upgrade via the Web regardless of whether you choose to have
disks sent to you. The disk contains the same thing that you can download.
The registration key that is sent to you will unlock either the disk or the
Web version. For this reason, the vast majority of people do not get disks.

You can also make your own disks from the downloaded Web version free of
charge. You can download the game and split it onto 4 disks which you can
then install on some other non-Internet computer:

  1. Print out your registration email or write down your name/key
  2. Download the latest SPADES32.EXE from http://www.dq.com/spdown.shtml
  3. Run your favorite ZIP utility (WinZip, etc.).
  4. Open SPADES32.EXE inside WinZip or Pkunzip (it really is a ZIP file).
  5. Extract all the files to some empty directory.
  6. Move files: disk4.id and _setup.4 to a floppy. Label as disk 4.
  7. Move files: disk3.id and _setup.3 to a floppy. Label as disk 3.
  8. Move files: disk2.id and _setup.2 to a floppy. Label as disk 2.
  9. Move the remainder of the files to a floppy. Label as disk 1.
 10. Insert disk 1 into another computer and run setup.exe to install.
 11. It will install and prompt for the other disks when needed.
 12. 'Register' your new copy using your name/key written down in step 1.

I charge $9 for media and shipping largely because shipping disks out costs
more than you might think and to discourage people who really dont need
disks from ordering them. You can always make your own free of charge.
Also, since the game is updated frequently, disks I send out become
out-of-date quickly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Is it safe to pay by credit card over the Internet? Why do you ask for
my address, credit card bank name, and phone?

We use the Public Software Library, a well-established distributor for over
12 years to process our credit card orders. They have a secure, encrypted
web site (you will see a little lock or key in the bottom-left of your
browser) which prevents hackers from stealing your credit card number. They
do NOT forward this card number to anyone else (even myself, the game
author).

PSL asks for your address and bank FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION. They want to be
sure that the credit card belongs to you. They verify your mailing address
by calling the bank that issued it. This same information is printed on
your card and, whether you realize it or not, it is often noted by waiters
and other clerks that handle your card in-person. See PSL's explanation on
security at http://www.pslweb.com/security.htm.

I have never had any incidents from any of my 1,500+ registered users nor
have I personally had any problems using my card to order hundreds of
products via the Internet from secure Web sites.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

10. Why do you charge so much? I can buy some CD games for $9!

That is the great part about shareware, you can try before you buy! I feel
the game is better than any commercial Spades game, which would cost at
least $29 in the store, so that is why I charge what I do.

HOWEVER, due to popular demand, I have lowered the price on the game to $29
(from $39 originally) and I also offer a $19 hardship price for students,
seniors, and military.

Realistically, by the time PSL takes their fee, VISA takes their fee, and
everybody gets their cut, the only real way I can afford to keep updating
Championship Spades regularly is by charging $29. I think you will find the
quality of my game much higher than those $9 and $19 CD game collections
such as Bicycle's card games. These games typically provide little
challenge to the Championship Spades player!

Don't forget your $29/$19 does include:

  1. Key to disable the nag screens via email within 2 business days
     (usually 24 hours).
  2. Personalized version of Championship Spades with your name by using
     the key.
  3. Code to download extensive tutorial based on an 8-week 'Mastering
     Spades' course I taught.
  4. Lifetime registration (I *never* charge for upgrades). Updates are
     available several times a year.
  5. License for both versions (you may use your code in either the 16-bit
     or 32-bit versions).
  6. License to use on multiple workstations (e.g. at home and work) as
     long as not simultaneously used.
  7. Automatic notification of upgrades via email. Your email address will
     be kept confidential.
  8. An even better Spades game in the future by supporting updates.
  9. Ability to participate in the Beta testing for the network version
     that is being developed.
 10. Freedom from guilt while addicted to Championship Spades at home and
     the office.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. Can I get a free copy? Do you offer any kind of hardship discount?

I am sorry, but I cannot afford to give away registrations for Championship
Spades. I have put THOUSANDS of hours into this mature game and am finding
it difficult to justify the time and money spent to improve the game and,
in particular, to support network multi-player gaming. I am not financed by
any large gaming company, I do not plaster my page with banner ads and am
not sponsored by anyone other than my happy registered users.

However, I do understand that some are on limited means and cannot afford
the registration. For this reason, I have dropped the price to $29 and am
willing to offer a $19 reduced rate for students, senior citizens, and
military personnel who are on limited incomes. Simply enclose proof of
eligibility (photocopy of ID) and print out the order form contained in the
game's help file along with a check for $19. See How to pay by check for
details on paying by check. NOTE: You cannot use the online credit card
service through PSL with the special $19 rate since the Visa fees would
barely cover the costs. If you want a key immediately, break down and spend
the extra $10 to register online with a credit card.

Also, do note that even for the $19 registration you still get full
support, lifetime free upgrades, no shipping, no sales tax, removal of the
nag dialog, extensive play tutorial, participate in the multiplayer Beta
trials, and peace of mind that you have helped promote a quality shareware
game and are not making some gaming corporate CEO rich off stock options.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. The game says my evaluation period expired although I just tried it!

It sounds like someone else already downloaded and tried out the game and
may (or may not) have uninstalled it. Either that or the system you
purchased may have had Championship Spades pre-installed on it. In either
case, the evaluation period started when the first game was played. Also,
it does remember your install date even after you uninstall it to prevent
people from re-installing it and never registering...

It is also possible you or someone else may have been attempting to test
for Year 2000 compliance and set the date forward. If you do this, the game
will note when you set the clock back and will not change the evaluation
period. This is to prevent people from simply changing the date to get
around the reminders.

If do not have the latest version (very likely), you can upgrade to the
latest version by downloading it from http://www.dq.com/spdown.shtml and,
upon installation, it will automatically reset your evaluation period.

If you have the current version and are past your evaluation period, you
can contact the author at [e-mail] and I will give you a code to
extend your evaluation period one-time only.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

13. I am registered, now how do I download the tutorial?

Did you attempt to use the password for the tutorial? This is different
than the key you used to brand the game in your name. It is contained in
the email registration you received along with your key. It must also be
ALL lower case.

The direct URL for the tutorial is http://www.dq.com/mstspade.shtml

You will also need to use a browser that supports security. Netscape or
Explorer are known to work. Email the author if you still have problems or
have lost your registration email.

Download the sptut.hlp file for your version and move it into your Spades
directory, probably C:\Program Files\Championship Spades, to install it.
The next time you run the game, select Mastering Spades from the Help menu
and enjoy!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

14. I already registered and now see a lower price, can I get a refund?

Older versions (1.0 and 2.0) included my initial 800# phone registration.
In response to complaints about the $39 price, I changed the registration
over to electronic (no 800#) which allowed me to drop the price to $29. I
have tried my best to eliminate the older versions out there. However, I
cannot remove all the old copies out there (particularly on CDROM) with the
800# still on it. Therefore, people who call the 800# to charge the
registration will still be charged $39. You will actually see a different
product #15729 for the $39 800# and #30170 for the newer $29 version.

Recently, as a thank-you to seniors, students, and military, I also added a
$19 price (check only, no credit cards) to cut them a break. To qualify for
the price, however, they must mail in a check directly to eliminate the
credit card/PSL charges.

Since PSL has already taken the charges out for the 800# and/or credit card
order you already placed, I cannot refund you the difference without taking
a loss myself. However, if you still feel you were misled or are otherwise
unhappy with your game, please let the author know at [e-mail] and he
will personally mail you out a refund check.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

15. I love this game! Can I link or distribute copies of the game on CD?

Absolutely. Feel free to link to either the Spades home page at
http://www.dq.com/spades.shtml or the Spades download page at
http://www.dq.com/spdown.shtml. You may freely re-distribute the game along
with all documentation. This includes posting it on any BBSes, Web sites,
or CDROMs. The only condition is that you must explain what shareware is
and that this game requires registration beyond the evaluation period. You
must also not misrepresent who the author is. For details, descriptions,
icons, screenshots, and download URLs see the vendinfo.txt file that is
included with the game.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

16. Can I get a discount on a second license? Do I need 2 keys to play at
home and work?

Yes, you can get a discount on a second license. To order a second license
via check, simply fill out the order form and pay only $19 for the second
license. Make sure to include the name for the second license if you are
purchasing it for someone else. If you do get two licenses with the same
name when ordering online, email the author and I will change it for you.

Also, my licensing DOES allow you to have a copy at home and work with only
a single license as long as the copies are not run concurrently. Generally
you do not need to purchase a second license. However, if your
wife/kids/husband plays at home while you play at work, you do need to get
a second license for them. Obviously, giving copies to friends and
relatives and re-using your key on their system would be in direct
violation of your registration agreement. When the multiplayer version
becomes available, unique licensing will be enforced.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
c1999 DreamQuest(TM) Software