================================== M1 Tank Platoon II for Windows 95 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Last Revised: April 28, 1998 ================================== System Requirements =================== IBM PC 133MHz Pentium compatible or faster Windows 95 and DirectX 5.0 16MB RAM Super VGA graphics for 640 x 480 x 256 colors Hard drive (200MB free) Quad-speed CD-ROM drive Mouse DirectX-compatible sound card Recommended ----------- IBM PC 200MHz Pentium compatible or faster 32MB RAM 3Dfx-based graphics accelerator card (for Glide) Intel 740 or Matrox Millennium graphics accelerator card (for Direct3D) Joystick Required for Multiplayer Option ------------------------------- Null-modem serial cable (2 players) 28.8kps Windows 95-compatible modem or faster (2 players) Local area network with IPX protocol (2–5 players) Troubleshooting =============== Q: When installing M1 Tank Platoon II, I get an error message "105" indicating that a file cannot be found. A: This is caused by your CD-ROM reader operating in DOS Compatibility Mode (16-bit mode). Compatibility Mode drivers do not support Windows 95's long file names. Install the 32-bit drivers for your CD-ROM drive by opening the Windows Start Menu and selecting Settings> Control Panel>Add New Hardware. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation. You can determine the properties of your CD-ROM drive in the Windows Start Menu under Settings>Control Panel> System>Device Manager/CD-ROM. Q: As soon as I launch M1 Tank Platoon II, the game exits to Windows and there isn't an error message. A: This can occur with some video card drivers. Download and install the latest drivers from your video card manufacturer's Web site. If you continue to get this problem, open the Windows Start Menu>Settings>Control Panel>Display Properties>Settings and lower the screen resolution to 800 x 600 and/or the color depth to 256 colors. Make sure you do not have any programs running in the background, such as screen savers and virus checking programs. An example of this is Norton Crash Protector. This kind of program can cause problems with games. A general piece of advice (not just for our games but for anybody's) is to make sure no background programs are running. Before launching the game, press Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up the Close Program dialog box. Click "End Task" on anything that's running besides Explorer and Systray. You might also want to download DirectX directly from Microsoft. Contact Microsoft online at the following Web site address: www.microsoft.com/msdownload/directx5/directx5.htm Q: My 3-D graphics accelerator uses the Voodoo Rush chipset and I am getting a blank screen when I try to enter a mission. A: The update now supports Voodoo Rush cards in 3Dfx Glide mode, so the game will be fully functional when you enter a mission. Q: When I start up the War College, I get an error message about QuickTime. A: If you open your CD-ROM using Windows Explorer, you will see a program called "QT16" in the DSG folder. Double-click on "QT16" to install QuickTime. Q: I have selected "Glide" in M1 Tank Platoon's video configuration, but the game does not work. A: You need to visit your 3Dfx card's manufacturer to download the latest version of the Glide drivers. Our update will add Direct3D support. This will allow the game to be played with a wider array of 3-D graphics cards. Q: I cannot use Alt-Tab to switch between M1 Tank Platoon II and other Windows applications. A: M1 Tank Platoon II is extremely resource-intensive and should not be used with any multitasking programs. It is strongly recommended that you shut down all programs before launching M1 Tank Platoon II and avoid using Alt-Tab. Q: How do I uninstall M1 Tank Platoon II? A: Go to your Windows Control Panel and choose "Add/Remove Programs." You will see M1 Tank Platoon II listed. Never uninstall a Windows game by merely deleting its folder. Q: In my Main Map screen and Battle Planner, buttons either flicker or they cannot be seen. A: In the update, you can press Alt-F to remove the flicker observed in the Main Map screen and Battle Planner when using video cards that do not support the "DDraw BlitSync" function. (If you have the Diamond Viper 330 video card, press Alt-F to correct the Main Screen blackout.) Q: I do not see a "Quit" button in the Main Menu screen. How do I exit the game? A: After you install the update, open the Main Menu screen and select the Configuration screen. Turn off the "Menu Bars" in the Configuration screen so that the animated menus become disabled. The Quit button will now be displayed in the Main Menu screen. Alternately, you can press the standard Windows command, ALT-F4, to immediately exit the game. Q: Right after the opening videos, I get a blank screen where the main screen should be. A: The update corrects problems with video cards that are missing certain functions. Try pressing Alt-F. Q: I have an Orchid 3Dfx video card and the game won't work in 3Dfx Glide mode. A: Visit Orchid's Web site at www.orchid.com and download the most current video drivers. This will solve your video card incompatibility. Q: What cards are supported in Direct3D? A: Direct3D may be used with the Matrox Millennium and Intel 740 cards. Multiplayer ========== Q: When I start moving in LAN play, some users' games exit out to Windows. A: The game needs time when starting for everyone to get synchronized. Before moving the platoon, everyone should stay at the initial staging area until all players can see one another. Q: We're playing on a local area network (LAN), but we're seeing "phantom" tanks or "phantom" players who appear to be destroyed but who can still maneuver. A: The game needs time when starting for everyone to get synchronized. Before moving the platoon, everyone should stay at the initial staging area until all players can see one another. Q: Besides being more stable and reliable, what other enhancements does the update add to multiplayer mode? A: The host can no longer jump into other players' tanks. Player names are now associated with in-game chat messages (which stay on screen much longer). Also, other players' smoke grenades will now appear on your screen. Q: How can I get the best modem head-to-head performance? A: You should connect to another modem using TCP/IP. Q: I cannot seem to get the Single Battle to work on our LAN. A: Multiplayer is intended for Random and Campaign modes only. Note that some of the larger maps can cause synchronization errors on some networks. Q1: I'm trying to exit the mission by clicking on the "Exit" button in my map view, but it just takes me to another screen. Q2: In the LAN game, the mission does not end although the objective is complete or all players' tanks have been destroyed. A: To end a mission, type Shift-Q and wait for the commander to issue orders to stand down. Q: How do I play M1 Tank Platoon II on the Internet? A: M1 Tank Platoon II is not designed for the Internet. While it may be possible to play 2-player games via the Internet, you will probably get unpredictable results. Network play is limited to LANs, which can better handle the large amount of data M1 Tank Platoon II sends and receives. Q: We're using TCP/IP for our LAN network protocol, and it doesn't seem to work. A: For TCP/IP connections, ensure that Dial-Up Networking is set to "Don't Prompt" to use "Dial-Up Networking." This is set in the Dial-Up Networking program located in your Start Menu>Programs>Accessories>Dial-Up Networking icon. In addition, make sure that Dial-Up Networking is loaded before starting any multiplayer M1 Tank Platoon II game. Q: I seem to get better performance in multiplayer with smaller battles, and I was wondering how I could get smaller battles than the ones that are available now. A: With the update, we added some new battle scenarios that are smaller in size; they work better in the multiplayer environment. Gameplay ======== Q: I designate a target for my gunner and he confirms, but he doesn't seem to fire. A: In the update, the gunner now drops all other tasks and immediately engages the designated target. Q: I installed the update, but the gunner still does not shoot at the target I designate from the Tank Commander's screen. A: By default, the gunner is holding fire. Initiate the "Fire At Will" command [key F] and the gunner will engage your designated target. Q: My gunners seem to automatically use up the MPAT and STAFF rounds early on in the game. How can I get them to conserve those types of ammo? A: Give your platoon "Hold Fire" orders until their targets are within 2,000 meters. If an enemy target is within 1,000 meters, the gunner will ignore the "hold fire" and engage this close threat. Q: I installed the update, and now my gunner keeps changing ammo without my telling him to do anything, or he keeps repeating "load [ammo]" like an echo. A: This can happen if the joystick hat switch is incorrectly calibrated because the hat switch on your joystick now controls your ammo selection. Recalibrate your joystick in the Window's Start Menu>Settings>Control Panel>Game Controllers> General>Properties>Settings. Q: Why doesn't the gunner shoot the ammo that I select? A: In the update, the ammo you choose will now override the computer gunner's choice. This will not change until you relinquish control of the gunner or the gunner has destroyed the current target. Q: I was told that artillery-delivered smoke was available in the update, but I can't find it. A: Artillery-delivered smoke has a 40% random chance of being available in Movement to Contact and Assault missions. It is listed in the support section of the Map screen as "SPM SMK." Q: I cannot get past the Platoon Records screen to create a platoon. A: To create a platoon do the following: (1) Left-click on one of the blank panels in the Platoon Records screen; (2) Left-click on the "Create Platoon" key below your highlighted blank panel; (3) Enter your desired platoon name in the pop-up box and press Return; (4) select your desired "Service;" (5) Left-click on the lower left and right arrow buttons to select your insignia; and (6) Left-click on the text above the insignia (e.g., "1st Marine" or "1-32 Armor"). Q: I am having trouble saving a mission in one of the prebuilt (NATO or Gulf War) scenarios. A: Those missions are not meant to be modified. "Save Battle" should be used only for Campaign or Random. Q: How do I accurately engage targets from the Gunners Primary Sight? A: To hit a moving target, lase the vehicle for a couple of seconds while keeping the reticle in one spot in the center of the target mass. While still lasing the target, squeeze the trigger and the round when fired will hit the target. This is the same procedure that the military gunners must use. (Note: If the reticle is drifting to the front or back of the vehicle, the battle computer will miscalculate the speed of the target, thus causing the player's shot to miss.) Q: How do I back up my tank? A: After coming to a complete stop, press the down arrow key (decelerate). When held down, you will start moving in reverse. Q: Why do my tank drivers run my tanks into each other? A: This most often happens when the drivers are of skill rating "Poor." The ranks of your drivers can be raised though the use of medals, promotions -- and most importantly -- experience. Q: In the Map screen, how can I determine elevation? A: In the update, the Map screen has been enhanced. By pressing the "L" key, contour lines will toggle on and off. This new feature allows you to view terrain elevation levels much easier in the Map screen. Q: I have the update and I cannot get the Scan/Auto button to light either by clicking on it with the mouse or by using the keyboard keys. A: The Scan/Auto mode will automatically change to the Search mode when the joystick is moved. Therefore, if a joystick is drifting, the mode will continually switch to Search. In your Windows Start Menu, select Settings>Control Panel>Game Controllers>Advanced. Confirm that the device ID number is set to #1 and that the joystick is properly calibrated. To calibrate your joystick, select Settings>Control Panel>Game Controllers>General>Properties>Settings. If your joystick manufacturer provides its own calibration, use their designated calibration. If you have more than one joystick port, disable the one not in use -- an active unused port could produce "ghost" signals. Some joysticks can experience "heat drift" if plugged into some sound cards. If this is a problem, you may want to consider a dedicated game controller card. Drift can also be due to worn parts; check your joystick's manufacturer's Web site for their repair/replacement policies. Q: I have a ThrustMaster joystick and I can't seem to calibrate it. A: ThrustMaster has a calibration program called ProPanel, which can be downloaded from their Web site at www.thrustmaster.com. Q: My chase view [F8] is difficult to stabilize. A: In the update, both the mouse and joystick controls allow for panning in the Chase View. The joystick functions automatically. A left-click of the mouse initiates control and a right-click halts panning. This feature functions like the GPS and Commander's Outside Hatch view. Q: I cannot tell what direction I'm facing in the Tank Commander's Hatch view [F7]. A: In the update, the tank's hull and turret are now visible in the Tank Commander's Out Hatch view, which gives the Tank Commander added situational awareness. Q: In the original M1 Tank Platoon, you could select whether the machine gun was stable or not relative to the turret. A: The 50-caliber will now turn and bounce relative to the turret and to tank movement. Pressing the "K" key will stabilize the machine gun, like in the original game. This feature was added in the update. Q: The turret clock in the Tank Commander's screen is too small to read. A: In the update, the CITV turret clock is enlarged so it is much easier to read. Q: It seems as if I'm not vulnerable when I stick my head out of the Tank Commander's Hatch. A: In the update, Tank Commanders using the 50-caliber are now more likely to be killed by artillery and enemy fire. Q: I can't always tell what's happening with the text messages in the upper left corner. A: In the update, more explanatory text messages have been added for features such as Arrow-key Driving, Smoke Generators on/off, and air/ground mode. Q: The tank interiors always look the same regardless of time of day. A: This is changed in the update. Now, the interior cockpit views have been altered according to the time of day of the mission. For example, your cockpits will appear darker in night missions than during day missions. Q: I see a "seam" in the sky when I play in 3Dfx Glide mode. A: This "seam" in the sky has been removed in the update. Q: The enemy helicopters do not seem to be much of a threat to my tanks. A: In the update, helicopter engagements have been enhanced so that they pose more of a threat to your tanks. Q: When I switch to my Coax Gun and then back to the Main Gun, the Main Gun is not loaded. A: In the update, you can now switch back and forth from a Main Gun round to the Coax without having to reload the Main Gun round. Q: Sometimes my Main Gun fires a volley. A: In the update, the Main Gun will fire only one main round at a time. Q: I can still see the commander's position even though the commander has been killed. A: In the update, you will see a blank screen in the Tank Commander's Cockpit when the CITV is damaged. Likewise, if the Tank Commander is dead, you can no longer manipulate the 50-caliber machine gun. Q: My gunner has been killed, yet I can still see the Gunner's Primary Sight (GPS) screen. A: In the update, the GPS screen will be blank just like the CITV if the gunner or both gunner and tank commander are killed. Q: I don't see any smoke coming from my damaged tanks. A: In the update, both friendly and enemy vehicles will pop smoke to cover their tracks when damaged. Q: How do I command my driver to turn the hull to gun? A: In the update, you can now move your hull's position relative to the turret so that you can provide maximum protection when engaging targets. Pressing Shift-G in the Tank Commander's Out Hatch view will turn the hull to the 50-caliber's current direction. Pressing Shift-G in the Tank Commander's Cockpit will turn the hull to the CITV's current direction. Manual Errata ============= Q: The manual says there is a binocular view, but I can't get it to work. A: This has been corrected in the update. Binoculars and Night Vision Goggles (NVG) have been added to the Tank Commander's Out Hatch view. The "Z" and "X" keys toggle the binoculars on and off, while the "T" key toggles the NVG on and off. Q: The manual implies that I can bring up vehicle damage reports in the commander's cockpit [F1]. Why doesn't this work? A: The map screen [F3] is an enlarged view of the IVIS. Click on the individual tank on the Map Screen or click on the vehicle in the selected platoon on the upper right of the side of the screen. You will then see the damage report for the selected tank. Q: The manual implies I can give the platoon sergeant's vehicle separate orders and the others will follow. Why doesn't this work? A: Orders are given by selecting the whole platoon or by splitting tanks off of the platoon. With this process, each tank can be given orders. Update Issues ============= Q: My computer crashes after I install the update. For example, when I go to the Tank Commander's Out Hatch [F1], I get the "black screen of death." A: Confirm that you have not used a 16-bit software program to extract the update. You will need to use a 32-bit extraction software program such as Pkunzip for Windows 95 (www.pkware.com) or WinZip (www.winzip.com). These programs can be downloaded from the Internet as free shareware programs. Q: I cannot get all the buttons on my joystick to work, and some key commands found in the manual and keyboard chart do not seem to work. A: The update now has fully functional joystick buttons and key commands. Q: Is there a night vision view from the Tank Commander's Out Hatch in the update? A: Yes. In the update, press the "T" key in the Tank Commander's Out Hatch. Q: Now that I have installed the update, I get an error message when I use my saved platoons from M1 Tank Platoon II. A: We recommend that you create new platoons in your updated version of M1 Tank Platoon II.