MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris (r) for Windows 95 by Kesmai Corporation
                      Copyright 1996, All Rights Reserved



Welcome to MultiPlayer BattleTech!

Last Updated: 11/19/96


This is the Readme file for the CD-ROM version of MultiPlayer BattleTech
for Win95.  After installing this version you will have everything needed
to run MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris.

The CD-ROM installation contains all the latest files for MultiPlayer 
BattleTech: Solaris for your Online Service.

Service-specific instructions can be found in the 'readme.txt' file that
will be installed to the main game directory after installation.

You must install MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris for Win95 directly 
onto your hard drive to play.

Minimum Requirements:
=====================
- An IBM compatible 486DX-66 computer (Pentium is recommended)
- 8MB of RAM (12MB recommended)
- A hard disk drive with approximately 10 megabytes free.
- A 2MB local bus video card and monitor capable of 640x480 resolution 
  and 256 colors.
- A mouse
- Windows 95
- DirectX II (or later)
- The appropriate Online Service software 


MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris Installation 
========================================================================


- Double-click the file SETUP.EXE (or execute this file by "RUNning" it
  from the FILE menu).

- Within the SETUP program, accept the default installation directory
  or type the directory that you want MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris 
  installed into and answer any other prompts that come up during the
  installation process.

- Once the installation is complete, you should refer to the 'readme.txt'
  file found in the directory where you installed the game for instructions
  on how to play the game on your preferred Online Service.   


On-line Manuals:
===============
The CD-ROM version contains a set of online manuals.  You can either 
install the manuals to your hard drive, or leave them on the CD-ROM.  In 
either case, you will need to execute ACROREAD.EXE to install the reader 
for the manuals.  Once that is complete, you can open the files located 
in the "MANUALS" directory with the .pdf extension.


General DirectX Notes
==================
Multi-Player BattleTech: Solaris requires the installation of 
Microsoft's DirectX (tm) package to run.  This package is included in 
the download and is installed with a MS supplied setup program when the 
game is installed.

This package will likely replace your existing video (and possibly 
audio) drivers with ones that are designed to support the release 
version of DirectX (we currently use the DirectDraw and DirectSound 
components).

The new video driver may or may not have all of the features that your 
video card manufacturer's driver supplied.  If this is the case, we 
suggest you contact your video card manufacturer for information about 
obtaining a suitable replacement driver (one that both provides support 
for the Release version of DirectX and any enhancements that you were 
used to with the old driver).


Manual Addendum:
================
Complaint Button
There is a new button found in MPBT: Solaris. The button graphic is an 
'!' mark inside an inverted triangle. The button allows users to lodge a 
complaint if someone in the game is being disruptive or using abusive 
language. 

When a player clicks on this button, all relevant chat text and/or comm-
star messages are saved to a log file where management can review the 
incident for possible action.  There is no further action needed by the 
player. Kesmai Corporation can then use these logs of to report 'terms of
service' violations if necessary.

Abuse of this feature (ie. hitting the complaint button repeatedly 
and/or for no good reason) is itself grounds for having action taken 
against _you_, so please use this feature as it is intended.

New Player Walkthrough
New players start in the Solaris Starport Arrival area. Just follow the
instructions in the lower right display to take the walkthrough tutorial.
It’s quick, and you won’t get lost on Solaris! 

Help
MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris now includes a full Windows Help file. When
not in combat, this can be launched using either the "Help" button or the
<F1> key. While in combat, the <F1> key displays a list of combat commands.

Exit Button
An Exit button is now part of the role-playing interface. This will return
you to your on-line service.

Novice and Unranked Sanctioned Battles
In sanctioned battles, Novice and unranked MechWarriors may fight only other
Novice and unranked MechWarriors.

Bogie Indicators
Combat bogie indicators point up if the bogie is above you.

Graphics Preferences
To make the best use of your computer’s speed, you may toggle combat texture
mapping on and off. This can be done from the Graphics Preferences dialog, or
while in combat using the following keys:

CTRL Z    Radar Texture Toggle
CTRL X    Sky Texture Toggle
CTRL C    Mountain & Building Texture Toggle

The following keys select the level of ground texture mapping:

CTRL A    High Level of Ground Texture
CTRL S     Medium Level of Ground Texture
CTRL D    Low Level of Ground Texture
CTRL F     No Ground Texture

The following key toggles whether ground texture is drawn for your entire
field of vision, or just in your immediate vicinity:

CTRL H    Draw Close Range Only Toggle 


------------------------------------------------------------------------
 MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris (r) is a registered trademark of the 
Kesmai Corporation,
 Charlottesville, Virginia USA
 Copyright (c) 1996 by Kesmai Corporation, all rights reserved.
