NIHILIST README FILE

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



Thank you for purchasing Nihilist. This readme file contains last minute

information which didn't make the manual. Please read it carefully before

you contact our customer support line with any problems.



CONTENTS

--------



        1.  INSTALLATION PROBLEMS

        2.  MEMORY REQUIREMENTS

        3.  MSCDEX

        4.  WINDOWS 95

        5.  MAKING A BOOT DISK

        6.  MULTIPLAYER

        7.  GAMEPLAY CHANGES

        8.  CHROMADEPTH GLASSES

        9.  CUSTOMER SUPPORT (UK ONLY)

        10. CUSTOMER SUPPORT (EUROPE)



1. INSTALLATION PROBLEMS

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

On some machines, particlarly those with VESA video driver TSR programs

installed you may experience problems running the installation program.

If this happens try installing using the command line:



        install -lowres



This will run the install program in low resolution, bypassing the video

problem.





2. MEMORY REQUIREMENTS

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

The minimum memory requirement for Nihilist is 8Mb, but some 8Mb machines

may have problems running the game depending on the amount of free RAM

available. We recommend 16Mb of ram to reliably run the game with all

features turned on and to run in Hi-Res mode.



You can find out how much memory is free by typing MEM at the DOS

prompt. You should get a display something like the one shown below,

except the figures shown will be different from the example figures shown

here. The figure you need is the Total Memory Free (indicated below).



        Memory Type        Total       Used       Free

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

        Conventional          636K        28K       608K

        Upper                 139K       139K         0K

        Reserved                0K         0K         0K

        Extended (XMS)     15,221K       193K    15,028K

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

        Total memory       15,996K       360K    15,636K <--- Total amount

                                                              of free RAM.

        Total under 1 MB      775K       166K       608K



        Largest executable program size       608K (623,040 bytes)  

        Largest free upper memory block         0K       (0 bytes)  

        MS-DOS is resident in the high memory area.



If there is less than 6.5Mb (around 6660k) of free RAM the QSOUND feature

will be disabled and there will be no speech samples. You may also experience

crashes on some of the later, more complex levels. If you find the game is

crashing due to low memory then try turning off videos, save the game

frequently, and play the problematic levels in low or medium detail.



With around 6.5-8Mb (roughly 6660k-8192k) the game will run, but without

Q-Sound. Hi-Res mode will only work with above 13Mb (about 13312k) of free

RAM.



If you are having memory problems, then we recommend that you create a

custom boot-disk. For details of how to do this, please see the section

MAKING A BOOT-DISK later in this README.



3. MSCDEX

---------

Nihilist now requires the CD extension program MSCDEX version 2.00 or

later to function properly.





4. WINDOWS 95

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

Nihilist has been designed to be Windows 95 friendly. However, running the

game under Windows 95 increases the memory requirements between 4-8Mb, and

will run slightly slower than when running under DOS alone.



For these reasons you need at least 12-16Mb of memory to run Nihilist is low

res, and 24Mb(!) to run Nihilist in Hi-res. We recommend your machine has

at least 16Mb of memory installed in order to run Nihilist under Windows 95.





It may be difficult to get Nihilist running on an 8Mb machine running

under Windows 95. Also, due to the fact than DOS7 (The version of DOS that

Windows 95 runs with) uses more memory than previous DOS versions you may

find that you have more memory problems running Nihilist in 8Mb in MS-DOS

mode on a Windows 95 PC, than on a DOS 6.x PC.



If running under Windows 95 we recommend that you disable any screen savers

and programs that indicate incoming mail. The network  mode will work in

Windows 95, but is best played in MS-DOS mode, using DOS network drivers.



Nihilist will run under Windows 3.11, however the game will perform better in

MS-DOS.





5. MAKING A BOOT DISK

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

If you are having severe problems getting the game to run in an 8MB machine,

then you should create a custom Boot Disk.



Note: These commands should be entered from the DOS prompt.



        1. Put a blank floppy disk into floppy drive A:



        2. First you'll need to format the disk, and copy the system

           files to it. Note: remember to hit the ENTER key after each line.



           At your C:\ prompt, type:



           FORMAT A: /S

           COPY AUTOEXEC.BAT A: 

           COPY CONFIG.SYS A:



        3. At your C:\ prompt type:



                A:



           IMPORTANT: Please insure you are editing the files on the A: drive,

                      and not the C: drive. (You can verify this by looking at

                      the prompt - it should read A:\)

                      If you fail to do this you might change the config files

                      on your hard disk and prevent your PC from starting

                      properly!



        4. At your A:\ prompt type:



                EDIT A:\CONFIG.SYS

        

           The MS-DOS text editor will start, showing you the contents of your

           CONFIG.SYS file. You can move the cursor by using the arrow keys,

           and delete characters by pressing the DELETE key.



        5. From the floppy disk version of the CONFIG.SYS file disable any

           non-essential lines by moving the cursor to the start of the line

           and typing REM in front of the line, e.g.



                DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE



           becomes...



                REM DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE



           You need to make sure that you don't disable any lines relating

           to your sound card and CD-ROM drive.



           You can safely disable any lines containing the following commands

           as they aren't needed for nihilist:



                EMM386.EXE

                IFSHLP.EXE

                SETVER.EXE

                COUNTRY.SYS

                DISPLAY.SYS



           Note: if you have a Plug'n'Play sound card don't delete any lines

           containing PLUGPLAY or DWCFGMG.SYS, otherwise your sound might

           not work!



           A typical minimal CONFIG.SYS file might look something like this:



                DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS

                DOS=HIGH,UMB

                FILES=30

                BUFFERS=20,0

                -- ANY SOUND RELATED COMMANDS --

                -- CD-ROM DRIVER --





           Remember to replace the lines starting with -- with your own lines

           for any sound card and CD-ROM drivers that may be in your

           CONFIG.SYS file. Unfortunately it is impossible to specify here

           what sound card and CD-ROM lines will be in your CONFIG.SYS as

           hardware differs from machine to machine.



           When you have finished editing the file, save the file to your

           floppy disk by selecting the FILE menu, then EXIT, then hit Y

           when the editor asks you if you wish to save the changes.



        6. At the A:\ prompt type:



                EDIT A:\AUTOEXEC.BAT



           From your floppy disk AUTOEXEC.BAT file delete any non-essential

           lines. You can safely delete lines containing the following

           commands as they all take up memory, and aren't needed for
Nihilist:



                SMARTDRV.EXE  (This is normally the biggest user of memory)

                KEYB          

                DOSKEY       

                MODE CON CODEPAGE    



           Remember to keep any lines referring to your sound card and CD-ROM



           A typical minimal AUTOEXEC.BAT line might look like this.



                @ECHO OFF

                PATH=C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS

                -- SOUND CARD RELATED COMMANDS ---

                -- YOUR MSCDEX LINE FOR YOUR CD-ROM DRIVE --

                -- YOUR MOUSE DRIVER --



          You must have a mouse driver and an MSCDEX line to run Nihilist.





6. MULTIPLAYER

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

When using an IPX network we recommend to get the best performance that you

connect directly to each machine using DOS IPX drivers, and don't go through

a server if possible.



When using Modem to Modem, you should start Nihilist on the ANSWERING machine

first, then start Nihilist on the calling machine. This avoids possible

connection problems.



When playing multiplayer games you'll see two options at the top right of the

screen, when in the Atrium. These control the multiplayer options.

To change the value click on them with either the left or mouse buttons.



        DEATHCOUNT 01 - This is the amount of times you can be destroyed

                        before getting thrown out of the Kraal.

                        Values are between 01 and 20



        DAMAGE X01    - This is the damage multiplier. It multiplies all

                        damage caused in the Kraal by the appropriate factor,

                        making the game more deadly.

                        Values are between 01 and 15.





7. GAMEPLAY CHANGES

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

We were fine tuning Nihilist right up until the last minute, so there have

been a couple of changes to the gameplay which didn't make the manual.



        1. HULL BOOSTERS - These are now available to buy from the shop at

                           a cost of 500 Kash.



        2. SPONGERS      - These are not available in multiplayer mode.

                           You can buy them, but you can't install them

                           on your ship.





8. CHROMADEPTH GLASSES

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

If you want to obtain a set of Chromadepth Glasses, then please contact the

your local Philips Sales office. The address is in your manual.





9. CUSTOMER SUPPORT (UK ONLY)

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

If after reading this README file you are still having problems then please

contact our customer support helpline on:



        0171 911 3030  Phone

        0171 911 3078  Fax.



Or write to:



        Customer Helpdesk

        Philips Media Games

        188 Tottenham Court Road

        LONDON

        W1P 9LE



Please have all relevant details of your machine with you when you call, e.g.

Make, Model, Processor, Memory size, sound card, video card, and what DOS or

Windows version you are running.



It will help if you are sitting by the machine when you call, as we may

need you to type commands on your system to solve your problem.

Also it's helpful if you can send us listings of your config files,

e.g. CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT when you write or FAX to us.



10. CUSTOMER SUPPORT (EUROPE)

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



Please refer to the manual to find out the address and customer support

numbers for your country.
