WORMS
BLAST

SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTATION
6th November 2001

Version 1.0

Worms Blast
Copyright © 2001 Team17 Software Ltd
All rights reserved
Marketing / Distribution by Ubi Soft Entertainment

Worms Blast official web site at http://wormsblast.team17.com
Worms Blast automated email FAQ at wbts@team17.com 

Note:  Team17 Support web site / email correspondence only available in English language

All Trademarks / Registered Trademarks comprised within this document are fully acknowledged

CONTENTS

1.0	General Issues
1.1	Introduction
1.2	Installation
1.3	Video Configuration

2.0	DirectX Issues
2.1	DirectX Introduction
2.2	DirectX Installation / Microsoft Information
2.3	Direct3D
2.4	DirectSound
2.5	DirectInput
2.6	DX Diagnostics

3.0	Video Issues
3.1	General
3.2	Compatible Chipsets

1.0	General Issues

1.1	Introduction

Welcome to Worms Blast 
Thank you for purchasing Worms Blast from Team17 Software Ltd and Ubi Soft Entertainment. Whilst we prefer our game documentation to be as accurate as possible, it is unavoidable that late modifications are made and therefore we need to bring you up to date with this document. It is recommended that you read this document fully to get the most recent information about key issues related to running the game. This will enable you to get maximum enjoyment and ensure that you have trouble-free play.

If there's a particular item that isn't covered and you need further help, then please consult your printed manual documentation for local area contact details. Please also try browsing our web site initially for further information prior to emailing or contacting us directly.

Media Care
CD-ROM discs can be susceptible to producing errors if not correctly taken care of and there are a few steps you may take to minimise problems occurring:

•	Store the CD-ROM in a location that is not prone to extreme heat or humidity.
•	Store the CD-ROM safely in the case provided when not in use to avoid marking the data surface.
•	Handle the CD-ROM by the outer edge to avoid marking the data surface with scratches, dirt or dust.
•	Ensure that the CD-ROM is not written upon, bent or labelled with stickers.

1.2	Installation

System Requirements
Please ensure that your system complies with minimum requirements if you are experiencing problems.

Minimum Specification

•	IBM PC Intel Pentium II â 350Mhz and compatibles.
•	Microsoft â Windows9x, WindowsMe, Windows2000 or WindowsXP operating system.
•	Microsoft â DirectX™ 8.1 (supplied) or later.
•	64Mb System RAM.
•	100Mb Hard Drive Space. 300Mb free post-install (virtual memory).
•	Quad-speed CD-ROM.
•	Microsoft â Direct3D™ compatible 16Mb video card.
•	Microsoft â DirectSound™ compatible soundcard.

Recommended Specification

•	IBM PC Intel Pentium III â 450Mhz and compatibles or faster.
•	Microsoft â Windows9x, WindowsMe, Windows2000 or WindowsXP operating system.
•	Microsoft â DirectX™ 8.1 (supplied) or later.
•	128Mb System RAM.
•	100Mb Hard Drive Space. 300Mb free post-install (virtual memory).
•	Eight-speed CD-ROM or faster.
•	Microsoft â Direct3D™ compatible 32Mb video card.
•	Microsoft â DirectSound™ 16-bit compatible soundcard.
•	Microsoft â DirectInput™ compatible joypad.

You will most likely experience severe performance problems if your system is non-compliant to the above requirements. Team17 cannot be held responsible for problems sustained if installation on a non-compliant set-up is performed.

Note: This title does not support a native software mode and runs only under a 3D hardware accelerated video display device. The Worms Blast CD must be placed in your CD-ROM drive prior to commencing play.

Performance Improvement Recommendations
As with the majority of entertainment software titles that run under the suite of Windows operating systems, you should ensure that you have the maximum amount of system resources available. If you experience any form of performance problem please consult the recommendations list outlined below:

•	Play Worms Blast directly after initialising your system.
•	Increase your amount of system RAM.
•	Defragment your hard drive prior / post installation of Worms Blast. 
•	Ensure your hard drive has enough free space available post-install should Windows need it to create virtual memory. We recommend that a minimum of 300Mb of space be freely available for this purpose.
•	Set your Windows desktop at a lower resolution and colour depth. The minimum requirement for this is 256 colours at 640x480 resolution.
•	Reduce in game detail to a lower setting.
•	Reduce level of available sound voices.
•	Reduce the level of full scene anti-aliasing (FSAA) if your video card supports this option.
•	Ensure that your monitor display and / or refresh rate are set correctly within Windows.
•	Do not install and run the game on a compressed hard drive and / or partition.
•	Do not run the game while other applications are running. Problems may occur especially with software that puts high demand on system resources or has scheduling options such as disk scanners, disk optimiser programs or virus checkers. It is also advisable to disable the active desktop, if this option is enabled on your system, or alternatively any screen savers prior to commencing play.
•	Do not run the game with background tools resident that either generates a toolbar on your Windows desktop or alternatively has an icon within your Windows system tray.
•	Do not minimise or switch tasks during play and quit out of the game should you require access to the full resources available on your system. Worms Blast is not designed to run at the same time as other major Windows titles and applications. Continually minimising and task switching between the game and other applications may lead to system problems due to the amount of resources required.

Manual Game Installation
If the CD Autoplay function does not automatically run the Worms Blast installation program when inserted into your CD-ROM drive you can install the game manually. From the Windows start bar:

•	Select 'Start'. 
•	Select 'Run…'. 
•	Select 'Open' and in the text box type ‘d:\autorun’. (Assuming that D:\ is the label for your CD-ROM).
•	Select 'OK'.   

Game Save Files
If for any reason you wish to uninstall Worms Blast, all custom made save progress files will be retained within their respective designated folders and will have to be removed manually. The Worms Blast uninstaller will only remove program components that are specified within the original install procedure. Under a default installation the save files are located within the C:\ TEAM17 \ WORMS BLAST \ DATA subfolder if you wish to make a backup.

Note: Uninstalling Worms Blast will not remove any installed DirectX components and these are retained as an extension to your existing Windows system.

Laptop Systems
Because of the limitations of laptop system hardware configurations we cannot therefore guarantee full compatibility with all types that are currently available.

Post Install System Hardware Modification
When any alteration is made to your system hardware specifications, we recommend a reinstall of both Worms Blast and DirectX. This will ensure that no subsequent errors occur due to possible incurred hardware conflicts. 

16bit MS-DOS CD-ROM Device Drivers
If you experience an error code prompt interruption during the installation procedure there may be a possibility that there is a conflict with MS-DOS CD-ROM device driver software. If this is the case then you may require an update to a 32bit Windows CD-ROM device driver to alleviate the problem. Alternatively initialise commands included within your system start up files may require slight amendment. Please consult your CD-ROM drive manufacturer regarding this, in order to successfully remove related MS-DOS CD-ROM (MS-DOS Compatibility Mode) device drivers or alternatively contact your hardware vendor.

Power Saving Modes
Some systems may incorporate power saving functions that could inadvertently interfere with the running of Worms Blast. It is therefore recommended to disable such functions prior to playing the game. 

1.3	Video Configuration

Configuration Launcher
Worms Blast is supplied with a utility for the purpose of selecting and customising video configuration prior to commencing the game. To avoid performance problems it is recommended that when configuring Worms Blast that a lower resolution setting be selected initially. The configuration option can be accessed via the Windows start menu. For example, to achieve this from the default program group please follow the steps below. From the Windows start bar:

•	Select 'Start'. 
•	Select 'Programs'.
•	Select 'Team17'. 
•	Select 'WormsBlast'. 
•	Select 'WormsBlast'.

Note: The configuration launcher will always be made automatically available prior to commencing a game. 

Video Resolution
Allows selection of the display resolution mode between 640x480, 800x600 (Default), and 1024x768.

Note: Take extreme care when setting in-game resolution as some video cards may allow setting of resolutions higher than your monitor may be capable of. Please consult the monitor documentation or alternatively contact your hardware vendor / manufacturer if you are unsure of your monitor’s capabilities.

Hardware T&L
Allows selection of hardware transformation and lighting engine to allow supported video devices to calculate 3D functions rather than your main system processor. If you are unsure if your video device supports this mode then set this option to disabled.

2.0	DirectX Issues

2.1	DirectX Introduction

DirectX from Microsoft is basically a program interface for creating and managing graphic images and multimedia effects in games such as Worms Blast and is a required resource for it to run correctly. The DirectX installation program is supplied with WORMS BLAST to ensure that your computer system complies with the minimum requirements of the game.

Note: If your system requires an update or a complete install of DirectX 8a this will require additional hard drive space. This can of course vary and is solely dependent on the hardware components that are present within your system.

Direct3D, DirectSound and DirectInput (components of DirectX) are utilised by Worms Blast to handle display, sound and controller devices respectively. If you encounter any video, sound or controller related problems with the game then please confirm initially that you are using the very latest available drivers to ensure complete compatibility. Please refer to the DX Diagnostics section later in this document for information on how to achieve this. 

2.2	DirectX Installation / Microsoft Information

DirectX is an extension to your existing operating system and is produced by Microsoft Corporation and is not a product of Team17 Software Ltd. During an initial installation or an update of DirectX it may be possible that this process affects the workings of other programs or hardware components that you have within your system. This is in no way linked to Worms Blast but can be known to occur after a DirectX install completes certain hardware and software driver updates. If you do encounter any problems whatsoever after a DirectX installation please refer to the Microsoft web site at www.microsoft.com/directx for further details.

Note: If you have difficulties installing DirectX through the Worms Blast install procedure please update DirectX manually by running the 'Dxsetup.exe' file located in the DIRECTX8A folder on the CD.

2.3	Direct3D

The Direct3D component of DirectX determines how 3D accelerated graphics are displayed in Worms Blast.  If you are experiencing video problems with your video card there is a possibility that the chipset or drivers are not fully compliant with Direct3D. For further details please visit the Microsoft web site for troubleshooting advice or alternatively contact your hardware vendor.  Please refer to section 3.2 for a list of compatible video chipsets. 

2.4	DirectSound

The DirectSound component of DirectX determines how sound is played within Worms Blast. If you are experiencing audio problems with your soundcard there is a possibility that the software drivers are not fully compliant with DirectSound. It is highly likely that you will require a driver update. For further details on this please contact your hardware vendor.

External Sound Control Systems
Some systems incorporate sound control programs that have to be configured separately from the standard Windows sound mixer. If you experience any problems customising sound within Worms Blast please consult the documentation that was supplied with your sound device.  

2.5	DirectInput

The DirectInput component of DirectX determines how game device input is handled within Worms Blast. Although Worms Blast includes keyboard support, it is recommended that you have a joypad controller connected. All control devices that are intended for use within the game must be installed and calibrated correctly within your computer system prior to playing Worms Blast. Please ensure that you have the very latest drivers for your controller to attain optimum performance: 

Keyboard Limitations
Some keyboards are limited in that they may not recognise certain combinations of three or more simultaneously pressed keys. If this is evident during play this problem is not software based but is directly attributed to the hardware limitations of the keyboard. Usage may also prove problematic on systems with compacted keyboards that incorporate keys that are assigned with multiple functions.
 
Controller Limitations
Some gaming devices do not support simultaneous pressing of more than four buttons with multiple controllers connected to a standard game port. Providing your system supports the USB standard we would recommend an upgrade to USB gaming devices in combination with a single game port device to improve performance in this case. Also if you experience any problems with any device it may be beneficial to temporarily disable the profiling software that accompanied the product. In some cases performance may be improved by allowing Windows to manage device usage.

USB Device Support
Worms Blast includes support for a combination of game port and / or USB HID compliant gaming controller devices for two players on a single computer. It is highly recommended that you do not disconnect or connect any USB devices whilst Worms Blast is running.

Controller Calibration
If you experience any problems whatsoever with character movement during play then your gaming device may be incorrectly calibrated. Please ensure that this is not the case by following these steps below. From the Windows start bar:

•	Select 'Start'. 
•	Select 'Settings'. 
•	Select 'Control Panel'. 
•	Select 'Game Controllers'. 
•	Select 'General'.
•	Select 'Properties'.
•	Select 'Settings'.
•	Select 'Calibrate'.
•	Follow all on-screen instructions.

2.6	DX Diagnostics

The DirectX Diagnostic Utility (DXDiag) that is comprised within DirectX 8a will enable you to establish individual hardware components within your Windows system in order to verify their compatibility. If any components are non-compliant please contact your hardware manufacturer primarily for possible software driver updates.

In all situations we recommend that you update any system drivers for your devices directly from the guidelines that are indicated by your hardware manufacturer. It is also possible to perform basic DirectX driver tests on the main hardware components within your computer. >From the Windows start bar:
 
•	Select 'Start'. 
•	Select 'Run…'. 
•	Select 'Open' and in the text box type ‘dxdiag’.
•	Select 'OK'.   
•	When DXDiag has evaluated your system you will see a text box detailing your system information.
•	Locate the gadget ‘Save All Information’ and click on it to save the data as a text file (you will be prompted for a name to assign to this file and a destination folder).
•	View the file using the Notepad program located within your Windows START \ PROGRAMS \ ACCESSORIES submenu.
•	In the DXDiag text file the Display Devices section indicates the version and date of your videocard drivers. If these indicate FINAL RETAIL or CERTIFIED respectively it is DirectX compliant.
•	In the DXDiag text file the Sound Devices section indicates the version and date of your soundcard drivers. If these indicate FINAL RETAIL or CERTIFIED respectively it is DirectX compliant.
•	In the DXDiag text file the Input Devices section indicates the version and date of your game controller drivers. If these indicate FINAL RETAIL or CERTIFIED respectively it is DirectX compliant.
•	If your components are compliant and you are still experiencing problems it is most probable that the error is not DirectX related. Please contact Team17 technical support for further advice in this case.

3.0	Video Issues

3.1	General

Available Rendering Modes
Direct3D		Native support for Direct3D compliant video devices.
Software	Note:  There is no native support for systems without video hardware acceleration.

Further support for other hardware accelerated video devices may be addressed in patch updates available from the Worms Blast web site. Please be aware that this is subject to individual card specifications, subsequent driver support and overall technical abilities.

Video Hardware Acceleration
When running the game the graphics seem to run at a very slow rate a possible conflict may have occurred between the video driver and Windows hardware acceleration. 

•	Select 'My Computer' with right mouse button. 
•	Select 'Properties'. 
•	Select 'Performance'. 
•	Select 'Graphics…'. 
•	Select 'Hardware acceleration' and reduce level stepping accordingly.
•	Restart the computer.

Alternatively in some cases the hardware acceleration on your system may be set to 'none' and could have actually disabled DirectX. In this case the acceleration level stepping should be increased accordingly.

Multi-Monitor Support
Worms Blast does not support either Windows multi-monitor or custom display modes such as Matrox DualHead, NVIDIA TwinView or ATI HydraVision. If you experience any problem with the game, please disable such functions if present on your system prior to play, as indicated within manufacturer guidelines.
 
NVIDIA based chipsets
It is recommended that you should download the very latest Detonator drivers for optimal performance. This should also address any issues if your video card is exhibiting any form of graphical corruption. Detonator 4 release drivers or above are highly recommended. The drivers may be located on their official site at www.nvidia.com

ATI based chipsets
It is recommended that if your video card is exhibiting any form of graphical corruption please ensure that you are using the latest available drivers. The drivers may be located on their official site at www.ati.com

Kyro based chipsets
It is recommended that if your video card is exhibiting any form of graphical corruption please ensure that you are using the latest available drivers. The drivers may be located on their official site at www.powervr.com

3.2	Compatible Chipsets

Video / Audio Hardware Accelerator Support
The following chipsets have been tested with Worms Blast, but due to the large variation of hardware system configurations and software driver requirements, we cannot therefore guarantee full compatibility with other chipsets (or individual manufacturer types of tested chipsets) that are available.

It is strongly recommended that if you experience any display or audio abnormalities whatsoever that you contact the device manufacturer in the first instance. As an alternative you may possibly obtain and use the reference drivers (provided by the chipset manufacturer) to more effectively alleviate a problem.

Note: When updating drivers within your system, please ensure that you are using a compatible type, as you will encounter problems with non-compliant drivers. Team17 cannot be held responsible for any damage sustained to your system if any such installation is subsequently performed outside of recommended manufacturer guidelines.

Verified Compatible Video Chipsets
3Dfx Voodoo3 2000 / Voodoo3 3000 / Voodoo 4 4500 / Voodoo5 5500
ATI Radeon
Matrox G200 / G400 / G450
NVIDIA Riva TNT1 / Riva TNT2 / Riva TNT2 Ultra / Vanta / M64
NVIDIA GeForce256 / GeForce2 MX / GeForce2 GTS / GeForce2 Ultra / Geforce3
SIS 300

Verified Compatible Audio Chipsets
Creative Labs SB
Creative Labs SB16
Creative Labs SBAWE32
Creative Labs SBPCI128
Creative Labs SBLive!
Creative Labs Audigy

INTERNATIONAL OFFICE CONTACTS

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