F.E.A.R. multiplayer demo

F.E.A.R. - First Encounter Assault and Reconnaissance
Multiplayer Demo version 1.0
Readme File
September 20, 2005

***********************************************************************
About This Document:

Thank you for playing the F.E.A.R. Multiplayer Demo.

This README file includes information that pertains to general problems and questions you may have concerning the game or your computer.

***********************************************************************

I. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORTED CHIPSETS
=============================================

In order to install and play F.E.A.R., your system must meet or exceed the following minimum system requirements:

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIRED

• Windows(R) XP, x64 or 2000 with latest service pack installed
• DirectX(R) 9.0c August Edition (Included) or higher
• Pentium(R) 4 1.7 GHz or equivalent processor
• 512MB RAM or more
• 64MB GeForce(TM) 4 Ti or Radeon(R) 9000 video card
• Monitor that can display in 4:3 aspect ratio
• 800MB free hard drive space for installation
• Additional hard drive space for a swap file and saved game files
• 16-bit DirectX(R) 9.0 compliant sound card with support for EAX(TM) 2.0
• Broadband or LAN connection
• Mouse
• Keyboard

In order to play the game at the recommended resolution, detail and performance levels, your computer should meet or exceed the following specifications:

• Pentium(R) 4 3.0 GHz or equivalent processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 256 MB Radeon(R) 9800 Pro, GeForce(TM) 6600 or equivalent DirectX(R) 9 compliant video card with hardware T&L and pixel shader 2.0 support
• Sound Blaster(R) X-Fi(TM) series sound card

SUPPORTED VIDEO CARD CHIPSETS WITH LATEST DRIVER VERSION INFO:

ATI(TM)

Catalyst(TM) Drivers (Windows(R) 2000/XP): v5.8

Radeon(R) 9000 Series
Radeon(R) 9500 Series
Radeon(R) 9600 Series
Radeon(R) 9700 Series
Radeon(R) 9800 Series
Radeon(R) X600 Series
Radeon(R) X700 Series
Radeon(R) X800 Series
Radeon(R) X850 Series

NVIDIA(R)

ForceWare(TM) Drivers (Windows(R) 2000/XP): v77.77

GeForce(TM) 4 Ti Series
GeForce(TM) FX 5900 Series
GeForce(TM) 6600 Series
GeForce(TM) 6800 Series
GeForce(TM) 7800 Series

Please note that attempting to play the game using video hardware that is not listed here may result in reduced performance, graphical anomalies, or both.

II. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
=============================

To begin, double-click the installation file icon. Within a few seconds, the setup application should start. Once the installer is running, just follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

NOTE: During installation you will be prompted to install Microsoft's DirectX(R). DirectX(R) version 9.0c August Edition must be installed before playing. If you elect not to install this version, the game will not be installed.

To launch the game once installation has finished, double click the F.E.A.R. MP Demo icon on your desktop, or:

1) Click on the Windows(R) Start button
2) Select Programs
3) Select Sierra
4) Select FEAR MP Demo
5) Click on the FEAR MP Demo icon

III. NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY
==========================

FUNCTIONALITY

F.E.A.R. is designed to function with Windows(R) 2000/XP-compatible graphics and sound cards. Drivers for these devices are provided by Windows(R) itself or the respective card manufacturers and may occasionally result in compatibility problems beyond our control.

F.E.A.R. does not support Windows(R) 95, Windows(R) 98, or Windows(R) ME since the application requires proper installation and functionality of DirectX(R) 9.0c or higher. Microsoft does not provide or support DirectX(R) 9.0c for these operating systems.

If you experience any problems, it is always recommended that you obtain the latest drivers for your hardware. Driver updates resolve the overwhelming majority of compatibility issues. Most hardware vendors make their drivers available on their web site. If you are unsure of a web site URL for a particular hardware vendor, you may want to try accessing one of the popular Windows(R) software update sites such as:

http://www.windrivers.com

Additionally, a brief list of manufacturer web sites appears below for your reference.

WEB LINKS

ATI: http://www.ati.com/support/driver.html
Creative: http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/
NVIDIA(R): http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
Turtle Beach: http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/support/ftp.asp

IV. MULTIPLAYER NOTES
=====================

Hosting a game on a system that falls below the recommended system requirements can result in poor performance for both the host and all clients.

We recommend that hosts running on a DSL connection set the player limit to no more than 4 players to avoid bandwidth saturation and packet loss. Hosts using a Cable Modem connection may set the player limit between 4 and 16 people dependent upon connection speed and performance. If you experience performance degradation, consider decreasing the number of players allowed on the server.

Please see the serverreadme.txt file in your main F.E.A.R. installation folder for detailed instructions on setting up and running a dedicated server.