Gabriel Knight 3 Demo
Version 1.0
Readme File
11/9/99

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About This Document:

This document contains last-minute information about Gabriel Knight 3,
including questions you may have concerning the game or your computer.
Also ways to increase the performance of Gabriel Knight 3 are included.
If you have a question, check to see if it is addressed here.

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I.   MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
II.  GENERAL TECHNICAL ISSUES
III. GENERAL GAME ISSUES
IV.  3D HARDWARE ISSUES
V.   SOUND HARDWARE ISSUES
VI.  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
VII. CONTACTING SIERRA


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I. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
************************

WITH 3D ACCELERATOR (with 4MB+ of video RAM)
Windows 95, Windows 98
Pentium 166+, 32 MB RAM,
SVGA, high color (16-bit)
4x CD-ROM drive
Windows-compatible sound card
Mouse, keyboard

WITHOUT 3D ACCLERATOR
Windows 95, Windows 98
Pentium 233+, 32 MB RAM,
SVGA, high color (16-bit)
4x CD-ROM drive
Windows-compatible sound card
Mouse, keyboard


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II. GENERAL TECHNICAL ISSUES
*****************************

ALT-TABBING

Numerous issues have popped up when alt-tabbing between the game and
other applications. It can, depending on you system configuration and
applications running, crash the game. We recommend not alt-tabbing. Some
card specific issues will be listed under Hardware Issues below. On a
Voodoo 2, alt-tabbing and opening the display properties in Windows
while the game is running will lock up the game. We also recommend NOT
running other applications while playing the game.

OBJECTS FLASHING OR DISAPPEARING

If models (characters, chairs, papers, etc...) disappear when the camera
is NOT moving, go into the Graphic options under Right Click Toolbar
Options button, and disable Incremental Rendering.

DUAL MONITOR SYSTEMS

The game should be played on the primary video card of any system that
has dual monitors. If you play on the secondary video card, you may
experience problems with the cursor leaving trails.

WAIT CURSOR INTERUPTING GAMEPLAY

The spinning wait cursor may continually interrupt gameplay. We have
seen this happen when the frame rate becomes extremely low (less than 2
frames per second). If this occurs, try dropping the texture quality to
low.

WIN98

The game has exhibited no problems while running under Win98 systems
that have all the latest patches applied. If you have not updated your
version of Win 98 lately, please visit the Windows Update page at
www.windowsupdate.com and download all of the critical patches.

MOUSE TRAILS (ASYNCHRONOUS MOUSE)

Some systems may have problems with GK3's asynchronous mouse. This
feature speeds up the perceived frame rate by updating the mouse cursor
more frequently than the 3D display. However, some systems (including
betas of Windows 2000 and multiple-monitor setups) may leave flashing
cursors behind on the screen as you move the mouse. To disable the
asynchronous mouse feature, run regedit.exe and go to the registry key

  "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sierra On-Line\Gabriel Knight 3 Demo"

and create a new key called "Debug". Under this key create a new DWORD
value called "GEngine DisableAsyncMouse" and set its value to 1.

POOR PERFORMANCE DUE TO FRAGMENTED HARD DRIVE

We make heavy usage of the system page file, plus a fragmented drive can
seriously affect the performance of resource files. To defragment your
hard drive and page file, do the following:

  1. Right click on My Computer. Choose Properties and then the
     Performance tab. Click the Virtual Memory button, and choose "Let
     me specify my own virtual memory settings", then check the box for
     "Disable virtual memory". Shutdown and restart Windows.

  2. Run the Disk Defragmenter (available from the Start menu at
     Program -> Accessories -> System Tools), and follow the
     instructions given by the program to defragment your system drive.

  3. Right click on My Computer. Choose Properties and then the
     Performance tab. Click the Virtual Memory button, and uncheck the
     box for "Disable virtual memory settings", then set the option back
     to "Let Windows manage my virtual memory settings". Shutdown and
     restart Windows.



*************************
III. GENERAL GAME ISSUES
*************************

SETUP/UNINSTALL ISSUE

Uninstall will only remove files that were copied during the install
process. All other files, such as screen shots, will remain
on the hard drive until the user removes them.

GRAPHIC NOVEL

Viewing the Graphic Novel requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Acrobat Reader is 
available for download from www.adobe.com.


MOVIE SOUNDS STILL PLAY WHEN SOUND IS MUTED

The movie player used by GK3 does not allow for the sound to be
disabled. If you mute the sounds under the sound options, all sounds
will still play in the movies.

UNDOCUMENTED FEATURES

  1. Clicking the middle mouse button is the same as hitting the escape
     key. You can use this as a quick "skip" button for sequences and
     walks.

  2. Ctrl-left click will inspect/uninspect objects (even in inventory).

  3. While holding down the left button to move the camera, also hold
     down the right button to get the same "strafing" effect as the ctrl
     key.

  4. While holding down the left button to move the camera, also hold
     down the middle button to get a special "flying" effect (this has
     no key equivalent).

RESOLUTION

Gabriel Knight 3 supports the following resolutions: 640x480, 800x600,
1024x768. If your card supports these resolutions they will appear in
the list box under the Graphics Options on the Right Click Toolbar.

DIALOGUE OVERLAPPING

Certain dialogue lines will overlap by design. If it is happening
everywhere, turn the texture quality to low. This should reduce any
delays due to camera cuts. 


***********************
IV. 3D HARDWARE ISSUES
***********************

Gabriel Knight 3 uses Direct 3D, and should work on any card (with 4MB
or more) that has Direct 3D 6.1 drivers and can render textured
triangles.

Gabriel Knight 3 requires DirectX 6.1 or later. For a copy of DirectX 
go to www.microsoft.com/DirectX

Make sure you have the latest versions of the device drivers and BIOS
updates for your display hardware. Most graphics card vendors make them
freely available on the Internet. We've found that this will solve most
problems with Gabriel Knight 3.

Graphic configuration is set on the Advanced Graphics Options on the
Right Click Toolbar in Gabriel Knight 3.

The following section explains the known driver and compatibility issues
for specific chipsets at the time of Gabriel Knight 3's shipping. If you
have any questions about which chipset is incorporated in your graphics
card, consult the documentation that accompanied your card, or contact
the card manufacturer.

3DFX RUSH

With the current drivers, Gabriel Knight 3 supports the Voodoo rush in
software mode only. Check with 3DFX for an updated driver that offers
support for Gabriel Knight 3.

3DFX VOODOO 1

Gamma can not be changed from within Gabriel Knight 3. In order to set
the gamma for these cards, you need to exit the game, go to the Windows
control panel (right click on the desktop background), and select the
Display applet. Choose the Voodoo tab, and adjust the gamma control.

Be sure to get the latest drivers from your card manufacturer or
directly from the 3DFX site.

3DFX VOODOO 2

Alt-tabbing and opening the display properties in Windows while the game
is running will lock up the game. This is a driver issue that 3DFx is
aware of. Before changing the Windows display settings, save and exit
the game.

Gamma can not be changed from within Gabriel Knight 3. In order to set
the gamma for these cards, you need to exit the game, go to the Windows
control panel (right click on the desktop background), and select the
Display applet. Choose the Voodoo 2 tab, and adjust the gamma control.

If the intro video runs choppy, updating to the latest drivers will
solve the problem.

The cursor may get lost on the right and bottom side of the screen as a
side effect of alt-tabbing.

Be sure to get the latest drivers from your card manufacturer or
directly from the 3DFX site.

3DFX VOODOO 3

When the game is run at a different resolution than the desktop,
alt-tabbing may result in only the top left portion of the desktop
being visible. To work around the problem, run the game at the same
resolution that your desktop is set to.

3DFX BANSHEE

Be sure to get the latest drivers from your card manufacturer or
directly from the 3DFX site.

When running with the latest drivers, you may experience some shadow
distortions on walls/doors. Setting lighting level to low will correct
this.

3DLABS PERMEDIA 2

Alt-tabbing away for a long time causes items to flash. If this is
occuring, please update your Permedia 2 card's BIOS and drivers.

The Windows task bar may show through the game window. Updating your
Permedia 2 card's BIOS and drivers will solve the problem.

If items are flickering in the game when the camera is NOT moving, turn
off incremental rendering on the Graphic Options of the Right Click
Toolbar.

ACCELGRAPHICS ACCELSTAR2 (3DLABS PERMEDIA 2)

Movie playback is choppy when playing in software on the AccelStar2.

ATI ALL-IN-WONDER RAGE PRO

Please download the latest drivers (version 4.11.2560, dated 5/21/99 works).

ATI RAGE SERIES

If distant objects look foggy or hazy, disable mip-mapping on the
Graphics Options of the Right Click Toolbar.

ATI 3D RAGE II

This card does not support Direct X 6, 6.1, 6.1a, or 7 D3D hardware
acceleration. The game will not run on this card in harware mode.

DIAMOND FIRE GL 1000

This card does not have DirectX 6 drivers. Gabriel Knight 3 supports
the FireGL in software mode only.

HERCULES TERMINATOR BEAST (S3 SAVAGE 3D)

This card will lock up from time to time if you have an Intel LX
motherboard. If you do not have an LX motherboard and still experience
lock ups, download the latest (BETA) drivers from the S3 web page. We
have found that version 6.13.28 will clear up these periodic lock ups.

MATROX MILLENNIUM II

We recommend playing in software on these cards.

To do so, look under the troubleshooting folder and use the GK3 software
shortcut to start the game. If you would like to use a secondary card
(such as a Voodoo), edit the shortcut so that the target entry reads as
follows:

        "C:\Sierra\Gabriel Knight 3\GK3.exe" -secondary

NVIDIA TNT

If the bottom half of the screen is flashing, updating to the latest
driver and BIOS (from nVidia’s web page) will clear this up.

S3 VIRGE

Gabriel Knight 3 supports the Virge in software mode only.

S3 TRIO V2

Gabriel Knight 3 supports the Trio V2 in software mode only.

S3 TRIO 64V2-DX/GX

Gabriel Knight 3 will not run on this card.

TRIDENT 9660

Gabriel Knight 3 will not run on this card.


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V. SOUND HARDWARE ISSUES
*************************

AUREAL A3D

After playing the game for an extended period, users with Aureal A3D
soundcards and chipsets may experience Windows "blue screen" crashes.
You will be allowed to continue playing by hitting any key, but all 3D
sound will be played back as 2D sound, thus some sounds will be
extremely loud (footsteps, fountains, birds, etc.). If this happens, we
recommend you save your game, and reboot your machine before proceeding.
This crash is due to a problem with Aureal's A3D drivers.

CRYSTAL AUDIO PNP (OEM)

On an IBM Aptiva (which has an onboard OEM Crystal Audio PNP sound card)
we've heard intermittent sound squelches.


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VI. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
*******************************

What can I do if the game is too dark?.

  Some monitors are darker than others, but Gabriel Knight 3 provides
  controls to correct this problem. You will need to adjust the gamma
  settings under Graphics Options on the Right Click Toolbar. This is
  used to adjust the game's display for different kinds of monitors and
  room brightness. If this still doesn't work, you then may need to
  adjust the brightness and contrast of your monitor. This is usually
  done by adjusting buttons or knobs on the front of your monitor, but
  all monitors are a bit different so you may want to look through your
  monitors documentation to be sure.

  Some places in the game are intentionally dark, and turning up the
  gamma too much can ruin these scenes. Some graphics cards also have
  support for controlling how bright the display is. If your card's
  device driver supports this, you can find it by going to the Windows
  control panel, and selecting the Display applet. Some hardware cards
  do not allow hardware gamma correction. In this case the gamma slider
  will be disabled on the Right Click Toolbar when running with 3D
  acceleration.

What can I do if the game looks washed out?

  The most likely cause is that your monitor is slightly brighter than
  average and the default game settings are for a darker monitor. You
  will need to adjust the gamma settings under Graphics Options on the
  Right Click Toolbar. This is used to adjust the game's display for
  different kinds of monitors and room brightness. If this still doesn't
  work, you then may need to adjust the brightness and contrast of your
  monitor. This is usually done by adjusting buttons or knobs on the
  front of your monitor, but all monitors are a bit different so you may
  want to look through your monitors documentation to be sure.

  The most common problem, especially on new computers, is that "black"
  isn't showing up as black, but more of a dark gray. Turn the contrast
  down on your monitor until the borders around the edges of the picture
  are totally black, then slowly turn it back up until it just before it
  starts getting visibly lighter. You may need to adjust your monitors
  brightness back up after you do this. Some graphics cards also have
  support for controlling how bright the display is. If your card's
  device driver supports this, you can find it by going to the Windows
  control panel, and selecting the Display applet. Some hardware cards
  do not allow hardware gamma correction. In this case the gamma slider
  will be disabled on the Right Click Toolbar when running with 3D
  acceleration.


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VII. CONTACTING SIERRA
***********************
On-Line Sales

CompuServe United Kingdom: GO UKSIERRA
CompuServe France:         GO FRSIERRA
CompuServe Germany:        GO DESIERRA

Internet USA:              http://www.sierra.com
Internet United Kingdom:   http://www.sierra-online.co.uk
Internet France:           http://www.sierra.fr
Internet Germany:          http://www.sierra.de


Copyright (1999 Sierra On-Line, Inc.)
