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- JETFIGHTER III
- 3Dfx / MMX UPDATE #2
-
- By popular demand, here is the first 3Dfx / MMX version of JetFighter
- III. This version is being provided on an "as-is" basis and is
- considered an "Alpha" release. Please read this entire document for
- VERY IMPORTANT information about this version.
-
- INSTALLATION
- ------------
- - Thoroughly read this document!! Very, super, MEGA important!
- - Download JF33DFX2.EXE (it is about ?? size)
- - Copy the update file into your JetFighter III directory by typing:
- COPY A:\JF33DFX2.EXE C:\JF3 [Enter]
- - Switch into the JetFighter III directory: CD \JF3 [Enter]
- - Decompress the update by typing: JF33DFX2 [Enter]
- - Apply the patch by typing: UPDATE [Enter]
-
- RUNNING JETFIGHTER III
- ----------------------
- - Run JetFighter III as normal, and press [Shift][V] when in the
- simulator to enter 3Dfx mode.
-
- This version is a "quick port" and does not necessarily take FULL
- advantage of either the 3Dfx or MMX technologies. However, it does run
- MUCH faster! We wanted to post this version as soon as possible to let
- our customers enjoy JetFighter III at a MUCH higher frame rate.
-
- 3Dfx INFORMATION
- ----------------
- This version of JetFighter III should run on any 3Dfx based graphics
- accelerator. In general, you should see a performance increase of 400%
- or better. Because we wait for the vertical retrace synch to reduce
- flicker, you will see a maximum frame rate of 60 frames per second.
-
- [Shift][V] Toggles between 3Dfx mode and VGA mode. Great to show off
- your new graphics card!
- [Ctrl][B] Toggles bilinear filtering on and off. Bilinear filtering
- will reduce the texture "aliasing" or jittering in the background. This
- will make the image look softer and a bit "blurrier".
-
- MMX INFORMATION
- ---------------
- This version of JetFighter III will automatically detect and use MMX
- instructions if your computer supports them. MMX provided between 5 and
- 15% performance increase over the non MMX version. Because MMX code is
- currently only used in the graphics rendering portion of JetFighter III,
- MMX will not currently speed up the game if you are already using a 3Dfx
- graphics accelerator.
-
- DISCLAIMER / FEEDBACK
- ---------------------
- This is an "alpha" 3Dfx version of JetFighter III. This means that not
- all of the features have been implemented, and problems may still exist.
- We have tested this 3Dfx / MMX version of JetFighter III in-house and
- have corrected any problems that we have found. However, problems may
- still occur and we are looking for your feedback. Please send any
- comments or suggestions to jf3team@missionstudios.com. DO NOT send
- regular JetFighter III technical questions to this address!
-
- REQUIREMENTS
- ------------
- - An original retail version of JetFighter III installed and working
- properly on your hard disk.
- - 16 Meg of RAM. The original JetFighter III would run in 8 Meg, but
- this update, and all subsequent versions of JetFighter III will require
- 16 Meg of RAM.
- - A 3Dfx based 3D graphics accelerator card installed and working in
- your system. These include:
- - Diamond Monster 3D
- - Orchid Righteous 3D
- - RealVision Flash 3D
- - Hercules Stingray 128-3D
- - Quantum3D
- - Guillemot MaxiGamer 3Dfx
-
-
- LIMITATIONS / BUGS / UNFINISHED ITEMS
- -------------------------------------
- - VERY IMPORTANT: Some installations of the 3Dfx card create DOS
- environment variables which prevent the simulator from running. We have
- attempted to remove these automatically, but we may not be aware of all
- the possibilities. If you have trouble running the game, or see the
- message "grSstSelect: non-existent SST", or see garbage in the upper
- left of the screen when you attempt to fly, then you must remove these
- environment variables manually.
-
- These environment variables look like:
-
- set SST_RGAMMA=1.75
- set SST_BGAMMA=1.75
- set SST_GAMMA=1.75
- set SST_VIDEO_24BPP=1
- set SST_SCREENREFRESH=75
- (and so on)
-
- These variable may also be set by a batch file called TWEEKS.BAT or
- something similar.
-
- If you have problems as mentioned above, YOU MUST REMOVE THESE
- environment variables! This can be done by putting a REM in front of
- all the lines that begin with SST_ or FX_. Or, you can simply run the
- batch FIX3DFX and it will "nullify" any 3Dfx environment variables.
-
- It is possible that we have not "nullified" all possible environment
- variables in our batch file below. If JetFighter III still won't run,
- you should check your autoexec.bat file for any SET commands we missed
- and add them to the batch file.
-
- Of course, the next 3Dfx update for JetFighter III will not require any
- changes to your environment variables.
-
- - This version DOES NOT include the F-14 and therefore SHOULD NOT be
- used with any of the missions on the Enhanced Campaign CD. A version
- with the F-14 will be available soon. Until then, DO NOT select the F-
- 14 in Free Flight or Instant Mission modes and DO NOT run any missions
- from the Enhanced Campaign CD! You will get an error.
-
- - This version does not check for a 3Dfx card, so don't hit [Shift][V]
- if you don't have a 3Dfx in your system. The program will probably
- exit. A new version that automatically detects the 3Dfx card will be
- uploaded soon.
-
- - The 3Dfx mode will only look correct in 640x480. In other resolutions
- you will see the game in a small window on the screen.
-
- - Due to the limited resolution of the 3Dfx Z-buffer, you may see some
- strange effects when clouds intersect the mountains, and when buildings
- intersect distant terrain. We are working to reduce this effect and
- will post updates when it is remedied / reduced.
-
- - This quick 3Dfx port uses EXACTLY the same textures and color palette
- as the original JetFighter III. We are working on improved textures
- which will dramatically improve the look of the game when running on 3D
- hardware.
-
- - With bilinear filtering turned on [Ctrl][B], you may see some textures
- exhibit "seams". This is a problem with the texture art and we are
- working to solve this.
-
- - In some cases you may see a "hesitation" or "tearing" appear in the
- scene. This is due to an extremely fast frame rate, usually above
- 45fps. We are working to reduce this effect.
-
- - The distant scenery may look strange at times due to incorrect
- textures being displayed.
-
- - Very distant runways may be visible through some parts of the terrain.
-
- - Some missions that start on the ground may cause the simulator to
- crash.
-
- - You may see stray pixels from the HUD on the right edge of the screen.
-
- - On some systems, the sound may become garbled. We believe this is due
- to DMA conflicts between the sound board and 3Dfx texture uploads. We
- are working to fix this situation.
-
-
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- ---------------------
- Q. I can't get into the aircraft! I get garbage in the upper left of
- the screen.
- A. See the section above on how to remove the 3Dfx environment
- variables. This will be fixed in future updates.
-
- Q. Hey, this looks just like VGA mode!
- A. Did you hit [Shift][V]? You must press [Shift][V] to enter 3Dfx
- mode!
-
- Q. The 3Dfx version won't run on my computer!
- A. You must have a retail version of JetFighter III, and then update it
- with this 3Dfx version in order to run the game in 3Dfx mode.
-
- Q. I can't run any of the missions on the Enhanced Campaign CD!
- A. You're Right! As mentioned above in this file, this first 3Dfx
- update does not include the F-14, which is required by many of the
- Enhanced Campaign CD missions. Hang on, and the next update will
- include the F-14.
-
- Q. Why didn't you make the textures better? It looks drab.
- A. As we mentioned at the beginning of this document, this is a QUICK
- PORT designed to give our users a FREE update to JetFighter III that
- runs 4 times faster than the original version. We are currently working
- on exploiting the full capabilities of 3Dfx and MMX. Later enhancements
- will include vastly improved texture colors, additional special effects,
- and possibly even higher frame-rates.
-
- Q. Will JetFighter III run even faster if I have a card with 2 3Dfx
- chips on it?
- A. No. We don't use any dual-pass texturing techniques right now. It
- is possible that later versions of JetFighter III will make use of
- multiple-chip accelerators.
-
- Q. Why did JetFighter III gain so much from 3Dfx acceleration while
- some products only seem twice as fast.
- A. Good Question! The original "software only" version of JetFighter
- II used an extremely sophisticated software rendering system patterned
- after advanced image generators like those used in military simulations.
- This engine included the ability to do perspective correct texturing,
- light source shading, smooth shading, z-buffering, haze and transparency
- all at the same time. This makes the image look fantastic, but slows
- the game down because of all the calculations required to draw the
- images. Fortunately, the 3Dfx chip is capable of handling ALL of the
- features that we needed, and it does them VERY quickly, so it
- accelerated almost every part of our drawing.
-
- Most other games don't use such a complex renderer and therefore don't
- take as full advantage of the 3Dfx chipset as JetFighter III does.
-
- Q. What do I have to do to get MMX working on my system?
- A. Nothing. If your computer has a MMX chip in it, JetFighter III will
- automatically detect and use its MMX features.
-
- QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK
- ----------------------
- If you have questions about this version, or have some suggestions for
- us, please send e-mail to jf3team@missionstudios.com. Please understand
- we are a small company and due to the popularity of this update we may
- not be able to answer all of your e-mail directly, but we will note your
- comments and suggestions.
-
- For non-3Dfx related technical support, please e-mail our customer
- support staff at t2support@take2games.com. Sending regular technical
- support questions to any address other than t2support@take2games.com may
- considerably delay the response.
-
-
-